Sunday, I attempted to surprise Jodie with a 3 day getaway to the Mirage sans Moxie and of course that never works. She found out from checking my iphone where I had forgotten to remove my email receipt for the room, and then her brother spilled the beans as well but I didn’t warn him it was a surprise so I can’t blame him either. So while it wasn’t a surprise it was a fabulous escape.

We checked into the Mirage Sunday afternoon on the 20th anniversary of the original opening of the resort and got a rate of $80 a night plus $50 in credits to the Buffet. They upgraded us to the 24th floor with a partial view of the strip, which was really nice. The rooms have just undergone a complete renovation and while don’t compare to the rooms at Encore they are really modern and a few steps above a Marriott which is what I am used to.

Our first order of business was a bite to eat at BLT Burger in the casino. Burger joints are all the rage in Vegas and everyone is trying to out do each other. BLT Burger is Mirage’s offering and is in the space previously occupied by Sigfried and Roy’s white Tigers. We shared the Kobe beef sliders. There were three in all, one was with too strong blue cheese, one was the signature BLT which was too smoky and the last was with barbecue and onions which was the best of the bunch. They were a little under-cooked but still okay which is better than the last two places I have ordered burgers at and they said they can either get them medium well or well done, if they don’t trust the quality of their meat why should I. Back to BLT, they are also known for their milk shakes which was the high point of the meal. We shared a Twinky Boy which is Vanilla Ice cream, a Twinky and Carmel sauce blended, and it is to die for, is should that read it is to die from. So good…

Next we took a nap from the over dose of sugar and watched some TV which is much more enjoyable without a little girl asking to watch Mickey the entire time. After the amazing race we went out for a walk and dinner. We went next door to Joe’s Stone Crab at the Forum Shops of Caesars. This is a Lettuce Entertain You re-do of the original Joe’s Stone Crab from Miami Beach and they do a really nice job. We shared a bowl of the Stone Crab bisque, the onion strings and 5 Large Stone Crabs. Everything was top notch and just delicious. Glad that there is another one in Chicago.

Next was a walk through the rest of the forum shops and to buy some Christmas presents for Moxie at F.A.O. Schwartz. By this time it was 11 and they were closing so we sundered back to our room.

Monday, we actually slept in which is a big deal for me, also sad that 8am is sleeping in, i’ll take what I can get. We started over at the Forum shops where we left off and went through Caesars to see all the new construction from the past few years. It doesn’t even look like the same Caesars. We walked back to the mirage and used our free passes to Sigfried and Roy’s secret garden and looked at the Dolphins and tigers and lions oh my. It was really interesting and amazing to see. They have all 40 of Sigfried and Roy’s animals right there at the Mirage. It isn’t something I would probably do again and I doubt I would have done it if I would have had to pay for the $15 per person admission as it just isn’t that much to it, but I’m glad we got to see it.

Next up was a nap and then something else we didn’t have to pay for. Dinner at the Mirage Buffet, Cravings. Jodie and I went back when they first opened and it was really good. This time not so much, Not one thing stood out, and no where close to being worth the $50 it should have cost. We ended the night with a walk through the Grand Canal shops at the Venetian and watching the newly redone volcano at the Mirage.

We were both able to sleep in again Tuesday morning and started out with breakfast at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon in the Venetian. It was very good but over priced. We then got a late checkout and went back to bed till noon.

After we checked out we drove down the strip to the Planet Hollywood resort to have a sandwich at Earl of Sandwich. Their sandwiches are so good. My first experience was at Downtown Disney when they opened their first one in 2004. They have branched out a little with about 13 locations across the US mostly in Florida and Texas.

We then drove back to the in laws to our little princess who was glad to see us.

So this week work took me to Pittsburgh on business. We had 2 all day meetings discussing an upcoming project which I will be a part of. I also found out that I may have one more trip before the end of the year, Maine, and while Maine isn’t the best state to be in in December I always enjoy it, but the flight will be a little long.

That brings us to Thanksgiving week. We started by taking Moxie to ‘My Gym’ at the district in Henderson.

I'm not a fan of the ball pits either.

On the incline board with mom

We are looking for some activities to keep the Mox busy over the next month while we are still in Vegas. It doesn’t really compare to ‘The Little Gym’ that we are used to from Arizona and will have Moxie in again when we get to Illinois. It was very corny and I felt Moxie looking at us and saying: ‘Mom and Dad, I’m so above this, why are they talking down to me.’ The highlight was BBQ afterwards at Lucille’s and a nap. While Mox and I napped Jodie helped her mom get her Grandma home from the hospital. She had surgery to get a vein that was 90+% blocked cleared out on Wednesday. She’s now home and doing well.

Today is Sunday and I had a big surprise planned for Jodie. I arranged for Jodie’s mom to watch Moxie for 3 days and made reservations at the Mirage from Sunday-Tuesday just to get away since I have the week off. So like usual Jodie ruined it by seeing an email with the reservation confirmation, so I had to cancel it. Ok, not really but maybe that would teach her not to look at my mail. One of these days I’ll surprise her but I just don’t know how yet. Any suggestions?

Thursday we are having Thanksgiving dinner with Jodie’s Family and a couple of tag alongs, . Jodie and I are responsible for the Dressing (Aunt Irma’s Famous) and the potatoes (Jodie’s Famous).

Moxie is talking more than ever and always has something to say or contribute, she is just amazing. Jodie took her to the park on Thursday with her cousin and a friend and she just couldn’t get over how kind and sweet our little girl is.

I think that is going to all for now, I’ll post some pictures of our mini trip when we return.

31 days till Florida, not that I’m counting.

Misc Pictures:

Our View of the Strip from Mon Ami Gabi a couple weeks back

Blue Diamond Road to Bonnie Springs

Blitzen

Moxie testing out her Jedi Mind Tricks

The New York Times has published the first half of a list of 100 things that servers should never do. It’s very interesting and a lot of my pet peves are on it here are a couple and a link to the article.

2. Do not make a singleton feel bad. Do not say, “Are you waiting for someone?” Ask for a reservation. Ask if he or she would like to sit at the bar.

7. Do not announce your name. No jokes, no flirting, no cuteness.

17. Do not take an empty plate from one guest while others are still eating the same course. Wait, wait, wait.

31. Never remove a plate full of food without asking what went wrong. Obviously, something went wrong.
NYT Link

Sorry for all the postings today but I have a little time so I’m taking advantage of it.

Moxie is doing awesome, enjoying the time with Gus (the in laws dog) and of course grandma and grandpa. She has this new thing where she makes me backup across the room and then puts her hands up close to her and says ‘i’m gonna get you, i’m gonna get you’ and then tickles me. it is the cutest thing I have ever seen and want to tape it but she will stop the minute i try.

Sunday we took her to bonnie springs ranch in Red Rock Canyon which is an old ranch that has a petting zoo and old west town and train and restaurant. She LOVED petting all the deer, and goats and pigs. They had a reindeer, two bobcats and a wolf. We had lunch at their restaurant and walked around. Had a really great time. I’ll post pictures as soon as I get them off my camera.

Yesterday she wore her first ponytail. It was so cute, very short but it still counted.

A long overdue update.

I haven’t updated since my cross country move, which was a lot of fun. It took about 2 1/2 days and I took the same route my parents brought my sister and I on when we went out to California on back in 1985. Went through Gallup, NM, by the petrified forest where my mom still has petrified wood from, Oklahoma City, where someone got a crown replaced on June 6th 1985, i think it was my dad. And then up through Missouri and Illinois to our new home in Woodstock. When I got to Woodstock, my mom and aunt were there to help. I got Moxie’s room put together and my office but the rest will have to wait till I get back in January.

View out my office window in Illinois

For now I’m back with the girls in Vegas at the In laws. Next up with the move will be for me to drive our truck back the same route to Illinois in early January, and then I’m flying Jodie and Mox out 2 days later. I decided that the 2 day trip will be a little too taxing on all involved and it will be worth the cost of airfare.

So we loaded the moving truck last night and it was so cute. Moxie brought out all her toys one by one and put them in truck. As she was coming down the ramp if Jodie or I were in her way she would say “Excuse me”.

Something wrong with the video but close your eyes and listen.

Don’t let my wife hang pictures.

I think this is going to be one of the quickest house deals in the history of house deals.

We listed it on Friday 10/2
They Saw it Wednesday 10/7 and made an offer
We countered and accepted the terms on 10/8 and entered escrow
Home Inspection was today Saturday 10/10 with no issues I might add
Garage Sale Saturday 10/17 come and take a look
We will be out on Wednesday 10/21

Got to love a Cash Buyer so we don’t have to deal with a bank.