March 3, 2007
Las Vegas

We are safely esconced at the Oasis RV Park (map), deep in the heart of Sin City. This is a very first-class park loaded with very large, full-timer rigs that are worth a lotta bucks. Carly has been duly welcomed to her temporary quarters at Casa de Julie.


After arriving here, daughter Julie had arranged the entertainment for the evening to celebrate Janice’s upcoming birthday (March 19), when we will be south of the border. (By the way, this will be a ‘significant birthday,’ sexagésimo cumpleaños, as they say en espanõl.) We thoroughly enjoyed Celine Dion at Caesar’s Palace. An unbelievably great show with complex choregraphy of about 50+ dancers, stunning video visuals, a stage the size of a couple of basketball courts, a touch of Cirque Du Soleil effects, a talented support band and of course, the star. It was all packaged in the most stunning Las Vegas glitz tradition, showcasing musical/dancing talents and some very talented technology support. I am not a musical critic and can rarely recognize tunes created after 1970, but Celine Dion “plays” her voice like a fine musical instrument. She did so for an hour and a half. Just a unique talent. She will be finishing her four year Las Vegas engagement this year in the event anybody wants to see this one. Bravo!! I think this has ruined American Idol for me... But gracias, Julie.

Going to/from the show we traversed through a few clubs, amazed that these lively (and occasionally intoxicated) crowds were “under control.” As we walked the crowded sidewalks on the strip, giant planes passed overhead at thirty second intervals, descending into the nearby airport, ready to disgorge their cache of flush, overly optimistic passengers, most of whom who will soon be separated from their hard-earned cash. One can only look around at the architectural excesses of this gambling mecca to realize that the city was not built on charity. Yet they come in droves.....pigeons ready to be plucked.

Pooch Carly spent the evening home alone, getting used to life at Casa de Julie. When we arrived back there this morning, Julie was out for a 48- mile training (bike) ride in the Red Rock Canyon nearby and Carly was loudly barking her complaints from inside, which had triggered a canine chorus in the neighborhood. She quieted down upon our arrival, and silence returned to “Howling Heights.”

Have a couple of “fixes” to deal with: A drippy shower-head that needs a new wrap of teflon tape, and a metal mudflap that occasionally hits the tire when we are underway, creating a mysterious rear-end noise which I was able to diagnose.

Heading down Highway 93 tomorrow, we are going half-way to Tucson, wherever that is.