Sin City And Missing Feathers

We arrived back from a fun-filled family trip to Las Vegas to a cold and snowy midwest.  It was a shock that left us wishing we had been able to stay at least another day or two. Another day to lounge by the pool or check out the things we didn't get to (a 117,000 gallon saltwater fish tank or the masquerade parade at the nearby casinos) would have been perfect. Even with the missed sights and the Excalibur hotel/casino power going out (funny how it was back up in no time in the casino section of the establishment, but it took two hours to come back up everywhere else), the trip was well worth it. I was a little concerned at the beginning of the trip because the first night Lauren said she didn't like it. It was too big, too noisy, and there were too many people at the casino (you have to walk through the whole casino to get to the hotel), but by the third day she said it was fun, and by the last day she said she wished we could stay longer.

Perhaps you're wondering "Why in the world would they take their child to Las Vegas?" and I wouldn't be surprised to hear you ask. Most of the reactions I received after mentioning we were "spring-breaking" in Vegas were looks of shock and disbelief. "Vegas with a child? How could you?" they seemed to say. Well, there are plenty of things to see and do in Vegas with children. Namely Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, the Atomic Testing Center, and the M&M Museum, not to mention all of the cool and free things to see at the different establishments. Things like the fountains at the Belagio, circus acts at Circus Circus, the lions at the MGM, and the gondola and canals at the Venetian.  But what about all the things that put the "sin" in Sin City? Well, I figure it was better to take her when she was 6 and oblivious to most of it than when she's 10 or 12 and "gets" it. Of course, Lauren wasn't oblivious to all of it. There was that billboard of the feathered gal with her whole backside in plain view - a nice looking tushy I have to say - but when I caught Lauren eyeing it I knew I had to say something. So I leaned over with my hand to my lips and whispered in a giggly 6 year old manner, "Her butt is showing". Lauren laughed. We then talked about how her dress was missing some feathers and needed fixing. It worked. And there were the pornslappers - those men (and women!) standing on just about every street corner slapping their deck of cards before handing one to any available looking man to pass by. Lauren wondered what they were doing and why so many of the cards ended up on the ground. A simple statement about them being not nice pictures of women and she was satisfied.  Other than that, there really wasn't anything else seedy or trashy to make us wish we hadn't gone. No stumbling drunks, no fighting, no nudity. And we were out walking the strip on St Patrick's Day to boot!

So, plenty to do and plenty to see and actually a decent place for a family vacation. 

Now That's Talent!
Mood:  surprised
Topic: Yowza!
What's a girl to do if she can't sing, dance, or play a musical instrument? Why, grab a knife and skin a muskrat, that's what! Get a load of this. Do you think the contestant should match her gown to the color of the fur, the blood, or the guts? Hmmm...tough call.

Aha!
Mood:  bright
Topic: Lauren
The truth comes out as to why Lauren was Jonesin' for that little inhaler. Apparently her best friend at school has asthma and once in a while Lauren gets to go down to the nurse's office and watch while her friend gets a hit off her inhaler.  So I guess she does want things other kids have, it's just not the normal every day things I would expect.

Too Funny Not To Pass Along
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Cool

 An old friend from my E2E days posted these on her blog www.SuburbanHippie.com and I just have to pass it along. Enjoy

 

Wickedly Funny

Monday, February 4, 2008

 

Jonesin'
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Lauren

I expected Lauren to want Barbies like all the other girls. I expected her to want a Razor scooter like the kids down the street. I expected her to want all the usual things all the other kids have. Instead I have a child who

• wants braces (they're sparkly and shiny)
  
• wants to play the violin (not that I mind since I also play the violin, but it's just seems odd for a child to have been wanting to play violin since she was 3)
• and is happy ecstatic to have an inhaler

Yes, an inhaler has brought true joy to the life of my child. She has a two week old cold which has camped out in her lungs and while she has no fever, she does continue to have a nasty cough. So after consulting with the pediatric nurse, Tony shuffled her in to see the pediatrician fully expecting him to consider us over reactive parents and send us on our way with a "wait it out". She came away with a prescription for an antibiotic and an inhaler. She was none too pleased about the antibiotic but the thought of that inhaler had her excited and she could not wait to get to the drug store to get it. While waiting to make the trip, she told me all about the nurse explaining how to use it and even insisted on giving me a demo with the spacer. After we actually filled the prescription, the first thing she did upon entering the house was to show her father. "Look Dad! Here's my inhaler!". The excitement was palpable. If only, instead of 10 minutes worth of crying and trying not to drink the whole dose, she had as much eagerness for that anitbiotic! Of course, she wanted to use that wonderful inhaler...right away. We let her and all was right with her world.

Deep Thoughts by Lauren
Mood:  sharp
Topic: Lauren
On Long Flights: Pretzels and juice - you can't live on that. 

Democracy - Six Year Old Style

Lately whenever Lauren complains about not wanting to do what her parents want to do, we have been telling her that "it's two to one and the majority rules".  Last night on our way to the caucus, we explained the reason for it, why it's important, and why so many people were on their way there. After Lauren indicated that she understood, the conversation went like this:

Lauren: Dad, who are you voting for?

Tony: Obama

Lauren: One for OB (her nickname for Obama). Mom, who are you voting for?

Me: I think I'm going with Hillary.

Lauren: (happily) Well, I vote for OB. That's two for OB, so you lose. OB will be president.

 

 

Magic Bullet
Mood:  silly
Topic: Lauren

It is definitely time to have a talk about marketing with Lauren. Just about every Sunday morning after the few cartoons are over and she is flipping through the channels, Lauren will happen upon an infommercial. I can tell when it happens because my leisurely reading of the morning paper is interrupted by "Mom, come in here! Quick! You have to see this!". By the time I get in there, she can recite the whole schpeel and becomes insistent that we buy it. Sometimes, when I come right out and say no, she actually gets upset.  One product in particular that she absolutely will not forget about is the Magic Bullet Blender. You know the one. It chops, it grates, it blends. It whips, it grinds, it steams. It's microwave and dishwasher safe.  Even knowing what she knows -  "You could mix vegetables in with fruits to make a delicious drink. Kids won't know vegetables are in there! But I will know because I saw the commercial." - I believe she could actually sell them herself.

Snow :-) Traffic :-(
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Rants

After my 14 mile, 2 HOUR commute home – 40 minutes of which was ONE city block long -  I have only one thing to say…

Stay the fuck out of the intersection if there’s not enough room for you to make it through before the light turns red!

Bastards! It was only about 5 inches of snow, traffic didn’t have to be so bad.

Interesting Similarities
Topic: Family and Friends

My mom was the only daughter of her mom. I am the only daughter of my mom. Lauren is my only daughter.

When my mom was a few months old, WWII started. When I was a few months old, Kennedy was assassinated. When Lauren was a few months old, terrorists flew into the Twin Towers.