Las Vegas 2008

It’s now Wednesday and I have been here for 4 days. It’s a bit of an enigma this city. A bit like heaven and hell all rolled into one. Some things are absolutely incredible but other show the darker side of the city. I am enjoying the hotel and the beautiful sunny weather but the crowd have booked far too many shows for me so tonight I am throwing a sickie (as it were) and giving them a miss. As someone who doesn’t go out very often this is rather like being thrown in the deep end and drowning so I needed a little air. It is nice to be on the computer for a little while again. It’s an experience here but I am missing home already. In truth I can’t wait to be back. I don’t mean too sound selfish but have to be honest. The one good thing is that Mike has had a great birthday. I have taken loads of pictures but want too load them properly so that may have too wait till I get home.

Here’s the itinerary

Sunday -Land -Eat - Bette Midler (The showgirl must go on…great) If I have that much energy at 6o plus I’ll be happy. Not so sure about the ‘f’ words though….!

Monday - Book the Grand Canyon trip $359 each - Visit the Luxor and MGM Grand - Watch Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian. This is a great show…absolutely fantastic. It enthralled me from start to finish.

Tuesday 6am - 10am trip to the Grand Canyon - Birthday Breakfast for Mike - Champagne toast in the room (courtesy of David and Ray) and then sunbathe at the pool for the rest of the afternoon. Dinner was taken at the Eiffel Tower restaurant which was excellent if ever so expensive.

Wednesday - Breakfast and sunbathe by the pool. Then a trip to the Venetian and the Mirage hotels before heading back to the hotel for a sleep while the others have dinner and then go to watch ‘O’ with Cirque du Soleil followed by ‘Jubilee’ at Ballys. I am so happy not to be going even though its been paid. Hope that doesn’t sound too selfish but I need a break from glitter and feathers.

Thursday
Fell much better after a long sleep (was in bed from 4pm till 8am which is a record for me I have to say.. No regrets lovely to have some time away from the group. Spent the morning sunbathing and then in the afternoon went to Caesars Palace where Mike bought a crystal torpedo with a glass jellyfish inside with his birthday money. At night went to see the Mamma Mia show which was on at the Mandalay Bay theatre. I had forgotten there were so many Abba songs. The show was ok and I enjoyed it. However I think the singers on stage were enjoying it even more than us…then had dinner at the hotel and came home.

Friday
Breakfast - pool and then off to see the Bodies exhibition at the Luxor….a bit macabre but weird to see what is inside you. How does it all fit in there? Gourmet buffet night at the hotel and it certainly was. I think I had a taste of everything. I was in bed for 10pm after watching the fountains for an hour. I think the fountains are the best thing here…cannot really be described and have to be seen. It’s the last day tomorrow. Now that came around quickly. We didn’t see anyone else from the party yesterday.

Saturday
Weather has been I the high 70’s all week but rain and cool weather forecast next week so we have been really lucky with the weather. Last sunbathe this morning but the weather was cool and a little hazy so we headed off to the Wynn hotel. Now that’s another splendid hotel. In the evening off to see Jersey Boys (story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons) which is a great show but again not sure I needed all the ‘f’ words. This was followed by dinner at the Top of the World Restaurant in the Stratosphere. Despite my reservation that was a great show and followed by a delicious meal. By the way don’t go to the top of the Stratosphere and watch the rides after eating…it gives you ever such a queasy feeling. Definitely don’t attempt the ride…unless you’re completely mad.

Sunday
Time to say goodbye (which is also one of the best fountain songs) so get to the airport only to get a four hour delay…we are all comatose o the way back and get into he UK at 11am.

So a list of good points first (this assumes you have a lot of spare dollars)

The Bellagio hotel is everything you could want it to be and more or try the Wynn hotel
The musical fountains at the Bellagio…aquatic fireworks and a marvel of technology.
The food and flowers at the Bellagio (fresh every day)
The staff at the Bellagio who were always courteous
Americans or 99.9% who were always so well mannered and friendly
The Grand Canyon from the air but I would have liked to raft the Colorado whilst looking up at the canyon scale. The scale is breathtaking…I am lost for words to describe it.
The Phantom of the Opera show at the Venetian…amazing!!
The detailed replicas of world cites is unique and inspiring.

So now the bad points

Gambling appears to be compulsory (you can play just about everywhere)

Everything is relatively very expensive

Everyone is assumed to be awake till after midnight so lots of noise till then

In a desert where does all the water come from and why does it taste so bad
High rise towers blotting out the sun.
Hawkers trying to give cards all the time (for naughty girl’s services.)

There seems to be a lot of naughty ladies here.

Despite my moans earlier once I’d had a good sleep on Wednesday night I felt much better and enjoyed the rest of the week. Las Vegas is a great city.

What lies in the wood and takes heart in the soul?
Looks toward a crescent moon and makes a wish
For the other when the very wish could be theirs
Or gives of their all till there is nothing left to give
Makes a smile grow strong within a furrow of sorrow
With water wrung free from a gentle, giving soul

What waits and hungers for the smallest affection?
Given not enough to demand such devotedness
For under the stars sits a rainbow upon your shoulders
I should be ashamed and yet you show your strength...
Your love toward me through every minute of every day
Love everlasting as inviolable as night and as deep as sleep

What hides within the indigo night calling me ever onward?
Tis the spirit of you and I see the hand framed within moonlight
Faltering it waits as I stretch out my hand to take hold of you
For even in the dark alone and amid the howling of wolves
I do not feel fear or doubt anymore for that which is blessed
Has took me for thine own and I shall never be unloved

What waits within the highest clouds that bestride the dawn?
Warmed by the rays of the sun breaking upon a green world
Golden kisses of light that touch your skin and shower
Across your senses like the beginning of summer in autumn
For you can never not be unheeded, for the time is finally come
For no more doubts, for I take your heart within my world

What waits within the gladden years that shall pass us by?
The wonder of you taken by the joy of me, for we are alike
Two souls flying free on a wind of change that keens and bears
Us ever upward toward eternity and beyond for we foundlings
Cried lonely tears within a bitter world and the universe listened
See the stars fly by so fast as your hand holds mine always

A silent sky awaits us, as the last sounds must die and wither away
To bring once again peace and harmony to the autumn nights

Packets of mathematics and elements bundle haphazardly into organic equations
Spanned across the continuum, arranged into time and collecting seconds
Such were flaws that all was lost and time began to live outside its equation
Such is our life upon this bundle of oxygenated carbon we call Earth home
For time takes away all that we grew into and refreshes itself among the young
Such is tonight when the cold wind tasks the trees to shed invisible leaves
To bring cold into the bones of the weakening as they tread through the night
I think of coming spring, softly sigh, for time passes so fast through one lifetime
For there are no constants within humanity all is ever change and growth
Summers to yet come, less than summers taken and how the heart should weep
We should leave so soon this world created outside order in a barren cosmos
Yet in discarding rules of order thus did chaos enter through an unknown door?
To create love and honour and how I love you now that we are found again
For you were the sum of my calculations and again all is order in my world

For within the storm is always calm. It nestles safe within the middle of a world in motion and it is a benison for me. For the calm is you and I swim through this time and space to be within your calm and stay within forever.

For the stars may sit content within the vastness of space and twinkle hope among all that see. Yet I have found my hope and promise of all that is good and though I may never touch the stars I may love and touch you for always.

The wind moves across the land flowing along hills and valleys like a voluminous curtain of chill. Come at last in silken strands of ice that are ushered in by the howling of vixens against the full of the moon. I stretch out my hand and try to take hold of the essence of winter as I gaze at the silver orb overhead through the crystal latticed cobweb hanging from the tree. Within such a sweet moment can come a revelation that buries into the soul. The truth awaits one who has the patience to wither in the cold and not step back into the warmth. For revelations are delicate things and subtle to impart wisdom. Yet faith guides and teaches and when I open my eyes you are there. For the snow is coming and I shall see every flake that falls with you by my side and as the moon sets our fingers entwine to defy the frost.

For that which we covet secretly is a burden and only honest admission of its unattainability sets us free.

So we can leave politic time again…I am glad the election is over
For the talk of politicians and would-be patricians bores people
Old enough to see the real truths and wish so much for a world
Where we can simply be at peace with all we share and love.
Tell me, is that so hard to believe for the worlds future children?
The dollar now may shakily reign, but still the world trembles
With fear at the downward slipping of each percentage point
Yet I never tremble at thoughts of the green bills for I learnt
The world in the end shall take us all rich, poor, black or white and
All shall be as children underneath a destiny that guides us invisibly
To a better place we share selflessly with Earth’s other creatures
I go to paradise and you are my guide and partner to its domain
The world may seem paradise now, the best is to come and enrich

Men alive to sunset, dawn and the surety of a true and endless love

It’s the end of an era. Mike has officially retired from work. He worked his last shift on Friday and they had a ward party. Saturday he hired a room and 60 people turned up to eat potato pie and dance to a disco. I think he had a good time. He was well thought of at work judging by the number of cards he received...I’ll probably get around three. Best wishes for your retirement Mike

Thurs 6th Nov 2008

Made a new friend tonight. At first i thought it was a bird eating bread off the neighbour's garage roof (well it was dark) but soon realised it was a very hungry cat. I gave her some tuna and she was the most affectionate thing imaginable. Hope she gets home ok and i'll be keeping an eye out for her again.

On a cool Chicago night in the fall
What came today may help us all

Dreams cascaded and took flight
November 4th became a healing night

Hopeful voices do all now plead
Come soon change and swiftly lead

We the world watch and hope with you

Make us proud in all that you do

Soft blows the clarion call of winter through a man
Yet there is something else calling me more
The thought of your presence beside me
Through all the seasons brought by eternity
Only one thing is sure now, and that is
Your warm giving heart beating gently with mine
The slow steady beat of love that moves our lives
To a vital dance of joyful ecstasy and passion
A dance ever without end and its moves
Learnt through intuitive touches and thoughts
For the rhythm deep at its foundation is simply,
A great love for the world and now it is ours forever
And we shall never let it end once we have touched

I walk up the hill past the Cedar tree I photographed. I am having the greatest thoughts. It is like I am floating through heaven with a chorus of birdsong to brighten the way. I took a picture of the sun dappling on the wall with the thin shadows from the trees along the stonework. At the top of the hill I can lean against my fence and look for miles to the hills in the distance. Here come and see the view. All of this is my little gentle life and I share everything of me with you. There is nothing I could ever do that would not have you all right there at the centre of it all. This is my world and you are always at the very core. Looking into the distance I call out to you and send such loving thoughts that you must hear them. It is the most wonderful view of rolling hills and fresh green fields lower down where every vestige of autumn has vanished. One of my greatest joys shall be sitting here with you soon.

For the sun sinks low and makes me wonder why it cannot rise till morning. Just as I cannot change who I am or where I belong in the slice of time called my life that I am within. Always to rejoice in a world that constantly changes from the safe borders of familiarity that has bonded me a quarter of a century. Quickly we become drawn into the machinations of a world aglow in desire. Wanting all we achieve nothing but a slow, lingering slavery that holds without chains. It is the willing bondage of inertia as the years slip by and apathy mounts a ‘coup-de-grace’ on our dreams. Yet one dream she may not have for it is the only one that has ever come true and I shall never let it fade. For I always dreamed above all of being loved and you have all made it true.

For someone took a slender brush of the finest camel hairs and painted across a blue sky all the patterns and colours I had only seen in dreams. Delicate floating feathers and vapour flowers that tell a story for those with the eyes to see…and I look up at those floating fairytales and think of you. For the beauty of the heart is mirrored within the sky and loving you helps my eyes to know where to look to see it