Two lips.

Home at last.  Pretty flowers.  My sweetie.  My pretty birdie. 🙂

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Looking up.

One last walk around the town before heading home tomorrow.  This is a glass ceiling dome inside the Paris casino.

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And this is an enormous Dale Chihuly glass art installation above the lobby of the Bellagio.

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Hydroluminous.

I finally made it out.  I took the monorail up the Strip to see the fountains out in front of the Bellagio.  Then I walked back to the MGM Grand.

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It was well worth the trip, even with a sore back.  I hit Walgreen’s on the way back and picked up some heat pads.  Hopefully that will help.

Spaaaaaaaah.

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I managed to seriously strain my lower back overnight.  And all day today I have been terribly uncomfortable; not able to find a sitting or standing position where I wasn’t in pain. Sheesh.
Coincidentally, I had made an appointment for this evening at the hotel spa for a massage – which was fantastic.  Perfect timing.  I still am sore but I am as relaxed as I’m going to be.  It’s a very nice place.  I might need to squeeze in another treatment before I leave.
Here’s a few more shots from inside…

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Bright lights.

A view up Las Vegas Blvd.

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Showtime.

Tonight the conference is hosting a concert in the garden arena of the MGM Grand.  Carrie Underwood is treating us to an evening of music.  On the floor you can see upwards of  8000 IBM-ers, clients and friends cutting loose.  I’m enjoying seeing colleagues from current assignments, as well as those I haven’t seen in over ten years or more.

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Exit row aisle.

Flew to Las Vegas today. I don’t really need it, but I simply must have an exit row aisle seat when traveling coach. It makes those tall guys green with envy.

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I was hoping to get a good shot of the LAX airport tower, but didn’t have an unobstructed view. Can you spot it?

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I’m staying at the MGM Grand. Come on by and see me. I have plenty of room!

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Mmm mango marg.

I love Saturdays.  And I love Chuy’s mango margaritas.  Monte prefers their Texas martinis. A good combo.  After dinner we took a walk around the hood.

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Three birds.

I found myself taking 2 pictures today. After looking at them, they had something in common- both pictures of birds… so to speak.
First one taken while on a walk after work.

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Second one right before dinner – Monte’s latest technique for grilling chicken … posed by me 🙂 Brined grilled chicken cooked with applewood chips. Yummy!

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Yellow wildflowers.

Monte brought home some of the yellow wildflowers that have cropped up everywhere on the last few weeks.  These are called Greenthread (Thelesperma filifolium).  Very pretty.

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Tuesday night at the chez.

We had a bit of a late start for dinner.  But it was worth the wait.  Monte whipped up some pizza dough and Julie and I were on toppings duty.  We played a few rounds of rummikub – a fun tile game that’s a mix of rummy and dominoes.  Try it. You’ll like it.  That goes for the pizza or the game. 🙂

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Full Snow Moon.

Not a good shot, but the only one I have of tonight’s full moon.  You get the picture.

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Through the woods.

Seen on a trail in the greenbelt near our house. A lean-to teepee kind of shelter. If it wasn’t so dry here I’d want to make s’mores.

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FaceTiming with the bird.

Keeto discovers FaceTime. Hippest bird in the hood.

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