Forgive and Forget

All I can say is THANK YOU Billy Joel for being an addict and hitting rock bottom during a tour with Elton John. Yes, you screwed me out of (what I thought at the time was) the concert of a lifetime…but I have to admit -- I was wrong. Everything happens for a reason and you were just a small piece in a big puzzle. I have now let bygones be bygones…I forgive you and I no longer carry a grudge (Thanks to Ian and Hannah!).

Bright and early this past Saturday morning I began my whirlwind trip to Vegas to see Elton’s Red Piano concert at Caesar’s Palace. I have to say that initially I did not think that this was going to be worth it…exactly 24 hours in Vegas and 13 hours of travel time just for a concert (I left my house Saturday morning at 6:15am and walked back in the door at 11pm Sunday night)…whew, double whew for someone who doesn’t like travel time that much. My concerns grew even more when our quick little lunch cost $77 before tip!! (2 sushi rolls, 2 small Saki’s and 2 green tea’s). Holy crap! I thought food and drinks in Vegas were meant to be cheap to lure all the gamblers…guess I thought wrong!

After meeting up with Hannah and grabbing lunch we decided it was time to try our hand at some video poker and take advantage of the complimentary drinks. We had just over an hour to play before getting ready for the concert. While we were playing Kelley met up with us - she planned to join us for dinner then show us some of the town after the concert. Video poker was fun! I think we got Kelley addicted and I think I've now become addicted to Justin's Play Station version (played for hours while Denise was doing her photo shoot).

Our dinner was fabulous! Wonderful food, great wine and good company. Hannah picked this awesome restaurant with a Hawaiian flare. My first course was to die for...this Ahi tuna roll thingy. Second course, a rock shrimp salad; main, sesame crusted Mahi Mahi; and a yummy dessert trio that I could barely even try because I was so stuffed.

After dinner we made our way to the concert hall. I STILL can not believe that Ian and Hannah scored 3rd row seats for us!! We were right on the end too, so no squishing through people for bathroom breaks, etc. We met these two really nice guys sitting next to us and started yapping about the concert, which led to how much we all paid for our seats. These guys got their tickets through a scalper and saved a ton. They also mentioned that the scalper told them that the first 3 rows got to get on stage with Elton. I laughed and said they got sold a line! There were at least a 1/2 dozen bouncers lining the stage shoving people away who got too close...there's no way they would let 50 to 100 people up there that close to Sir Elton John!!

The concert was absolutely amazing! Elton was funny and personable, the props were unique (there were evil menacing inflatable boobs lurking above our heads) and meaningful (there was video on a large screen behind the stage that almost brought tears to my eyes). The song choice was great...I even grew to like songs that I had not cared much for in the past. This was the best concert I've ever been to and I highly recommend it to everyone - even if you don't like Elton so much...you will walk away loving him!

Near the end of the concert one of the guys sitting next to me leaned over and said, "see, I told you so!" I thought he was talking about the unique props because he mentioned that earlier as well, so I shook my head and said yeah...just as I was turning to look back on stage one of the bouncers was waving us up!!! No FREAKIN' way!!!! Yes WAY!! We got to get up on stage and dance around the big red piano to "Saturday Night"!!! We couldn't believe it!! What a great Birthday present!!!

After the concert Kelley took us to Mandalay Bay to a cool balcony bar to see the night scape of the city. The bar was pretty amazing, the bathrooms...even cooler! There were a couple of stalls that the entire back was was floor to ceiling window so the john looked out over the city. There were some other neat bars in this hotel so if I ever go back I'd like to stay there.

From there we went back to the room to crash...we had to get up relatively early to catch our flight home. Whew...what a fun, exciting, whirlwind of a trip!

Great Escape Artist

His name didn't happen by accident...PITA is a complete and total Pain In The Ass! A very intelligent PITA, but a PITA none-the-less.

This started a couple of weeks ago when I kept finding the back door ajar. I couldn't quite figure out why because if I pulled it securely tight I couldn't just push it open...the handle actually needed to be turned. One evening we came home to the back door wide open and Madi sitting on the back porch checking out the sights (PITA was in the bedroom looking out the window as if he had no clue as to what was going on). The next morning I caught PITA jumping up and grabbing on to the leaver type door handle, putting all his weight into it in order to open the door. I was a little agitated, but very impressed with his ingenuity. Needless to say, I had to replace my door knob with one that requires opposable thumbs to operate.

This past Friday evening I'm sitting in the living room chilling before my trip to Vegas when I see PITA run across the living room with a lizard hanging out of his mouth. Luckily, the lizard was still alive and given his freedom back by returning him to the great outdoors. Not five minutes later I hear an unrecognizable noise coming from the bed room...as I get up to investigate I see PITA run across the living room with another lizard hanging from his mouth. The first thought that goes through my head is that my Florida room has some how become overrun with lizards. This can not be happening...I don't like lizards! especially dead, bloodied ones!! As it turns out, however, this is the SAME lizard that was just set free mere minutes earlier!! Well, looks like the great escape artist has found a new way out...through the accordioned partition between the window sill and my a/c unit!! He just busted right through, went outside, reclaimed his lizard and brought it back inside to play with!!

Thinking quickly, the hole was covered with a cookie sheet and duct tape (what can't it do??). Now I just need to come up with a more permanent solution and/or a cat door :^O (which goes against my beliefs in keeping the kitties home safe and away from dogs, bears and tire danger - Kolla IS moving back to DeLand).

Irregardless...he's a crafty little bastard that makes me shake my head and smile.

Stay tuned for my Vegas adventure!!