I miss the BIG bathroom...

Got home last Sunday. That room at the Bellagio was impressive. I think that may be the first 5-star room I've stayed in. I liked it. I liked it a lot. I should get to like it more often. Yes, I think I shall...

I miss the BIG bathroom. The pretty sink:


The yummy I-could-stay-in-here-forever shower:


The deepest soaking tub ever:


Then the beds*sigh*:


The wardrobe complete with robes and slippers!


The view. I like mountains. We don't have mountains in Iowa...unless you count Mt. Trashmore at the city dump. I don't:


Lori and I ate at several places and everything was so good but my favorites have to be our breakfast food. And I don't even like to eat breakfast! The first morning I had a Berry Crepe with whipped creme and fresh mint. Mmmmmmmm...I could go for that right now:



And the last morning I had an Almond Brioche and a cup of fresh orange juice. Maybe I want this one right now:


We went to Cirque Du Soleil's KA. Amazing. Breath-taking. And just for fun we hit CSI: The Experience. (I got a free T-shirt there!). And some shopping at the Outlet Mall. One night we stayed up until 1:00 A.M...Lori and I live large, you know. Party-girls are we...stop giggling, Jaina.

I had fun but I was glad to see my peeps again. It's nice to have someone to miss you when you're gone...

~Beth

VEGAS, BABY...

I'm headed to VEGAS, BABY for a few days with my buddy Lori. We went together a few years ago. Lori won $13. I lost $3. You can tell we live large. So, I'm thinking I'll be hitting it big this time around...or else beginning my new career as a Black Jack dealer...

See ya!

~Beth

New Haircut(s)...

About two weeks ago we found out our fuzzy boy Yuri needed surgery. Actually 2 surgeries. His parathyroid was causing his calcium levels to be off the chart and because of the increased calcium levels, he also has many, many bladder stones...again. This was very disturbing news. Yuri will be 14 this year. And the surgery was VERY expensive. We had lots of questions...Will he even survive the surgery? How long will it take for him to recuperate? Do we put him through this? How do we pay for it?? Should we even spend this much on a dog? Well, after a lot of family soul searching, we thought it all came down to quality of life and once we substituted the word "friend" for the word "dog", the answer came a little easier...we'd go ahead.

Oh, it was a such scary day. The surgery took a while and we were worried but finally the phone call...He's doing well! Surgery was on a Thursday and the Doctor thought we might be able to bring him home on Sunday afternoon. But there would be a need for daily testing to check his calcium levels. Still, in for a penny, in for a pound. Apparently, he became "vocal" after his surgery. (He IS kind of dramatic. Once our vet was going to draw blood and he howled on and on for 10 mins. The tech came out and said "Just so you know, we're not hurting him. In fact, we haven't even started yet." That's just what Huskies do.) They had to sedate him a bit and he found his "happy place".

Saturday morning the vets called. Yuri could come home already! YAY! (They were probably tired of his howling!) So while the people went to get the Puppy-Boy, others stayed home and waited. And watched.


I was surprised. He looked so good! I expected, well, something less than good. He couldn't wait to get out. Straight out the door; never looked back. And he wasn't exactly thrilled with the "cone of shame". ( No pictures. Too embarrassing.)

But he did have a new haircut...a fuzz-less tummy:



And an even less fuzzy throat. (warning: stitches involved in this one):




He was a little subdued but resting comfortably. Sweet boy:




Oh, life is so good when you're on the mend and feeling better and back with the family who missed you.



Do we love you, Fuzzface ??




yep...

~Beth

50 Things...

So I was reading along today (Ok, it was Dear Abby)and there was a letter printed about a woman turning 50 but couldn't bear to BE 50 and decided to STAY 49. While most of the response letters were predictable: Be satisfied you're alive, Live life to the fullest, Be happy, yadayadayada...one letter had the BESTEST idea! Make a list of 50 things you've wanted to do or haven't done in a while and do them at 50. What a wonderful way to look forward. To embrace. To enjoy.

So because I'm close enough to "sneeze on 50", I decided to give it a try. I'm making the list...I've got 6...

I never have been able to act my age...



Here's to the fun of it...
~Beth