Pugs on Fremont Street, Las Vegas
May 13, 2011
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
City of Las Vegas First Hospital Historical Plaque
City of Las Vegas First Hospital Historical Plaque
May 12, 2011
On May 15, 1905 Las Vegas was established although the area was inhabited well before that. The first 'hospital' was an 8-foot by 10-foot tent at Stewart Avenue and Third Street erected for the railroad workers in 1904. The first doctor (chief surgeon) was Dr. Royce (Roy) Martin, Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad. A second tent was errected at Eighth Street and Ogden Avenue. The first doctor at that tent hospital was Dr. Halle Hewertson, the surgeon for the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad. The doctors worked together providing medical care for the railroad workers.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas
Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas
May 12, 2011
Las Vegas is the city of lights, glitter and glitz! Driving along Las Vegas Boulevard is stunning at night. We have only seen the strip dark once, in memory of Frank Sinatra. Other than that, the lights are always lit at night. Pictured is the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. Isn't it impressive?
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Blog Your Blessings Sunday - My Amazing Husband
We have been married over 30 years. There are times I really have issues with my husband and quite frankly there are things he does that seriously annoy me. It's hard living with another person something I think anyone who has been in a long term relationship will attest to. There are some things that he does simply amazes me! Yesterday was one of those days.
We have been dealing with my husband's unexpected health issues since May 14, during the 18 hour break between Las Vegas and Florida. Since then he has been poked, prodded, hospitalized and undergone a variety of medical tests. Yet he was determined to participate in two community events yesterday. The first was the Jail & Bail to raise funds in support of Crime Stoppers. He was 'arrested' for having 'too sharp of a pencil' and successfully raised his bail money to get out of jail. This was a well worth fundraiser that gives back to the community. Thanks so much to all who supported him in this fundraiser. He raised a little over $300 to help make our community a safer place to live for all.
The second community event yesterday started at 7 PM. It was the Community Relay for Life in support of survivors of cancer and remembering those who did not survive. I went along to take pictures and honestly this was a very moving and emotional event. As I looked through the crowd, every single person there had been affected by cancer on one or more levels. At 8 PM my husband had his beautiful hair shaved off stopping only briefly to honour a generous $50 donation (thanks!) for the mohawk shot. Then his moustache was shaved off. This is the second time that has been off in well over 30 years! But it did not end there. Thanks to another very generous donation of $100 his eyebrows were shaved off. Oh my gosh does he ever look different! Not only did he have monetary support, family and friends as well as clients showed up to give emotional support. I do have to brag a bit as he raised almost $1,400 for this very worthwhile fundraiser in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.
At 9:30 PM there was the Luminary Ceremony and like everyone there, we had purchased luminaries to remember family members who did not survive cancer. Sadly we lit a luminary for my husband's Mom and Dad as well as one for our DIL's sister. Yet we should have lit a lot more :( My DIL, middle grandchild who wants to know when they will put the hair back on Papa, and I left around 10 PM. My husband camped out with his team, continuing the relay until 7 AM Saturday morning.
He did all of this while not feeling well himself. He unselfishly raised funds to help the community, giving back to the community. He's a very community minded person but what he did Friday is quite amazing if you ask me. Kudos to my husband. I am so very, very proud of him!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Looking Down on the Hoover Dam Bypass
Looking Down on the Hoover Dam Bypass
May 11, 2011
Driving through the Mojave Desert is a stark contrast to Las Vegas. It is an absolutely gorgeous drive that brings you out of all the glitz and glitter of Las Vegas, a vivid reminder that this is a desert. It is easy to view the desert as barren land but it really is buzzing with a variety of wildlife. The flora and fauna varies depending on the smaller ecosystems within the Mojave Desert. It really is some of the most amazing natural eye candy!
We explored a bit the day we visited the Hoover Dam. My husband was entranced by the new Hoover Dam bypass. So we went off the beaten track to get pictures looking down on the bypass as it snakes through the desert landscape (pictured). Mind you we were not in a four wheel drive vehicle and my gosh the dirt road we took had a few scary points but we did get those pictures. It was well worth it!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
My Online Stalker is Truly a Pathetic Loser!
[edited July 7, 2011]
[My apologies to my readership other than my internet stalker. This post is directed at my stalker so others can disregard. Normal posting will resume tomorrow.]
Have you ever had a gotcha moment? Well I finally have the proof that my online stalker has been using a proxy server to view my blogs. You see all along I had my suspicions but now I have the physical proof. Apparently "hide my ass" anonymous proxy did not hide this person's IP
-----
Number of Entries: 2
Entry Page Time: 23 Jun 2011 10:00:23
Visit Length: 5 mins 53 secs
Browser: IE 7.0
OS: WinXP
Resolution: 1024x768
Total Visits: 1
Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
IP Address: Bell Canada (74.14.230.164) [label edited to not name my stalker]
Referring URL: www.hidemyass.com/
Entry Page: 5.hidemyass.com/ip-1/encoded/Oi8vZ2FyZGVuZ25vbWVzam91cm5leS5ibG9nc3BvdC5jb20v&f=norefer
Exit Page: 5.hidemyass.com/ip-1/encoded/Oi8vZ2FyZGVuZ25vbWVzam91cm5leS5ibG9nc3BvdC5jb20vc2VhcmNoP3VwZGF0ZWQtbWF4PTIwMTEtMDYtMTZUMDclM0EwMCUzQTAwLTA0JTNBMDA%3D
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Arizona State Line
Arizona State Line
May 11, 2011
The Hoover Dam is very close to the Arizona state line. I like taking pictures of provincial and state welcoming signs as mementos of our travel adventures. They are wonderful additions to my travel scrapbooks. Pictured is the Arizona state line sign on US Highway Route 95 Southbound Hoover Dam Bypass. We have been into Arizona a few times while vacationing in Las Vegas. The most memorable visit to Arizona was a side trip to Phoenix, Arizona to watch my husband's beloved Detroit Redwings play. It would be nice to take a side trip to explore Phoenix, do a bit of sightseeing so perhaps during our next Las Vegas vacation.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The Media in the Casey Anthony Case
The media has turned into a lynch mob towards Casey Anthony, accused of killing her toddler base only on the bare minimum of circumstantial evidence. One in particular, Nancy Grace is about as nauseating as you can get always referring to Casey as "tot mom". What the heck. I'm sorry, but she is being judge, jury and executioner and quite frankly she should be ashamed! It is nothing more than sensationalism but really more like down right sickening. The thing is at most Casey is a victim of sexual abuse and trying to protect her family including the possible coverup of her daughter's death. For all we know either George or Lee abused little Caylee or decided to kill her to get rid of any possiblility of Casey being able to substantiate her claim of being sexually abused. Yet Nancy Grace appears to be the end all, be all spokesperson for the lynch mob going after Casey. She should be working for one of the rag mags like the Enquirer because she sure as heck does not how to report the fact of the news. Here's hoping she never steps out of line or gets accused of doing something she didn't because Karma is a bitch!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Following Up On the Casey Anthony Trial
I started watching the Casey Anthony trial when we were on vacation. Call me morbid but being a victim of murder, a mother and a grandmother as well as being well versed with the science involved, the trial caught my attention. The prosecution has nothing more than circumstantial evidence against this young mother accused of killing her two and a half old daughter. The problem is Casey herself is really a victim of her family. The prosecution has not and cannot produce any evidence that this young mother killed her child. The defense has not produced evidence of sexual abuse by her father, George Anthony since age 8 but they did bring in the fact that her brother Lee was tested to see if he was the father of little Caylee. I listened to the DNA results and what the heck, the state has nothing, zippo, as in nothing not even DNA from a child being in the trunk of a car. They don't even have DNA from the duct tape that was supposedly the murder weapon and that is DNA from Caylee and/or the murder. The only DNA they found on the duct tape came from a lab technitician who contaminated the sample. Come on! Talk about shoddy science! I'm not kidding either. The evidence the defense is presenting is clearing showing the prosecution is out to lunch.
I have a few theories as to what happened to little Caylee, some of them a bit more plausible than others but consider first:
- Casey sold her child for a drug debt or other debt - Casey lost her job at Universal Studios. She couldn't let her parents know so she sold her child.
- Cindy Anthony is covering for George Anthony - Casey implied that George has sexually abused her since age 8. I'm sorry but Cindy would known about this abuse or suspected the abuse and yet chose not to say anything. But the facts are there that there has been a history of sexual abuse in this family.
- Brother Lee might be the father of Caylee - The testing done said Lee wasn't even though he had sexually abused his sister Casey. Seeing Lee on the stand, the first thing that came to mind is he is definitely fabricating the story.
- Cindy Anthony is a narcissist - Talk about an overpowering figure but everything points to her not really caring about her daughter Casey and in fact there are reports of a huge power struggle between Cindy and Casey over the care of Caylee.
- George Anthony admits he saw Caylee drown - Now just give me a break! He is a former police officer and a grandfather. You mean he wouldn't know what to do in that event? What is your first instinct if you saw you grandchild floating in a pool? It would be to call 911!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Blog Your Blessings Sunday - Venting
I need to give a profound apology to those who may have read a very uncharacteristic rant that appeared briefly here last week. I wrote the post and my settings are such that new posts go live at 7 AM. When I realized that the nest day, I removed the post. I was extremely stressed beyond being stressed so used a bit of terminology that I normally would not use. The feelings are still there and I still way am beyond upset but you, the loyal reader of this blog did not need to read it. I was venting, seriously venting. The good thing is with the venting I didn't hit anyone, I didn't name any names other than the Premier of which there is no love lost between us, I just vented. I didn't break or throw anything. In fact, on the surface it looks very much that I'm dealing with what is going on without a problem. Most would not even know anything is going on. Everything appears to be rather normal to the outsider. Venting is a blessing because everyone needs a way to lash out without causing harm.
Blogging is one way I can lash out, let it all hang out and not put on the 'everything is ok' face. For those who read the original vent before I removed it, I stand behind everything I wrote. If anything I was not harsh enough. But anger and venting, while they serve a valued physiological purpose, add to the physical damages from stress.
Yesterday was a wonderful day. I took the internet outdoors, then did a bit of reading and took a bit of downtime. Then I got out the knitting. As I knitted I chuckled a little about how I used to equate knitting with polymerase during DNA replication. Venting is a human emotion not a cellular function, really serving only a release and nothing more. But venting is a blessing or at least is was for me. I am really sorry my venting spilled over here. It won't happen again.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Vivid Colours of Lake Mead
Vivid Colours of Lake Mead
May 11, 2011
The water of Lake Mead is a vivid deep blue tinged with aquamarine that is quite stunning against the reddish rock bordered with the paler bathtub ring of it's banks. From the sky, it is more of a deep navy blue. It is quite impressive!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Looking Down the Hoover Dam
Looking Down the Hoover Dam
May 11, 2011
The Hoover Dam is a huge tourist attraction only 30 minutes from Las Vegas. It is well worth visiting even if you don't take the tour. The drive from Las Vegas to the Hoover Dam is beautiful, driving home there is no doubt you are in a desert. We have yet to take one of the dam tours or flying over the dam but we visit almost every trip. Standing on the dam and looking over is one of the most eerie, profound feelings I've experienced. Definitely do not look over the dam if you have a fear of heights. It surprises me that the wall over the dam preventing visitors from accidentally toppling over is not very high. It's only hip level on me and I'm not very tall. It ends right there too with nothing stopping visitors from sitting on the wall or preventing an accidental fall. It is a magnificent view!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Lake Mead
Lake Mead
May 11, 2011
Lake Mead is located on the Colorado River about 30 mi (48 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada spanning into Arizona. The lake was named after "Elwood Mead (1858–1936), who was the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1924 to 1936 during the planning and construction of the Boulder Canyon Project that created the dam and lake".1. It is the largest manmade lake in the United States, formed by water stored by the Hoover Dam. It is part of the Boulder Dam Recreation Area later renamed the Lake Mead National Recreational Area in 1964. The Hoover Dam is located where the Colorado River meets Lake Mead.
Water from snow melt in the Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah Rocky Mountains is the main source of water in Lake Mead. The water level has been dropping since 1953 and is currently at 39 percent capacity. The bathtub ring is clearly visible in the picture. We were quite surprised at how low the water was. We noticed the lower level even from the plane. The declining water that threatens fresh water source in Las Vegas and surrounding are is noticeable in the casinos and rooms. There are water conservation signs urging visitors to indicate if they want their sheets changed otherwise housekeeping with only make the bed. They only change out towels that have been placed on the floor as towels replaced on the rack indicate the visitor will reuse them. More of the resorts and casinos are using xeroscaping and artificial turf to reduce the amount of water needed for landscaping purposes. We saw a lot less sprinklers in action. The water in the many gorgeous indoor and outdoor fountains is recycled as well.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Wordless Wednesday - Another View of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge
Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge
May 11, 2011
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (Hoover Dam Bypass)
Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
(Hoover Dam Bypass)
May 11, 2011
During our stay in Las Vegas we took a side trip to the Hoover Dam. There is a new bypass that was completed in October of 2010 spanning the dam. The 1,900 foot bridge is the longest single-span concrete arch bridge in the western hemisphere. After touring around the Hoover Dam we took a ride on the bypass. It was very impressive! You can't see a lot of the dam from the bridge though as it was constructed in such a manner to prevent cars stopping for sightseeing.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Blog Your Blessings Sunday - My Husband's Eyes
Sometimes it takes a crisis to remind you to enjoy those little things that really matter the most. There are a lot of things I love about my husband. Like many spouses I take some of these things for granted. If you have been following this blog you will know we were on vacation from May 8 to May 25 with an 18 hour stop over at home. During that 18 hour period my husband had to go to emerg for an unexpected health problem. We arrived home on the 25th, he was back in emerg on the 27th then admitted into hospital on the 29th. The last time he was this sick was back in 1980 when we were living in Edmonton. He does not get sick other than an odd cold and even then it is not enough to knock him off of his feet.
I have spent an aweful lot of time looking into my husband's eyes over the couple of weeks. They are kind, gentle beautiful dark hazel eyes. They sparkle with laughter lighting up his whole face. They are the windows to his soul and my gosh, what a grand soul it is! His eyes shows how much he loves and enjoys his family and life. This past couple of weeks I saw questioning in those eyes and a bit of worry even though he was trying to hide it. I saw a trust, not only in my medical sciences knowledge knowing I won't let anyone do anything to him that shouldn't be done but also knowing as a wife I will fight to the end for him. He was so vulnerable and yet his eyes spoke volumes. He's on the mend now thank goodness but is still undergoing a battery of medical tests. I find myself looking directly into those gorgeous eyes to tell me what he is not saying. May I have many, many more years looking into those eyes!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Casey Anthony
When we were down in Florida, I started watching the Casey Anthony case being tried in Orlando, Florida. This really is a sad case of a young mother charged with the murder of her two-year old daughter, Caylee. There is some speculation that the death was accidental then covered up by Casey's family. The media has turned into a lynch mob already convicting her before all the evidence has been heard. One thing that is coming to light is this was at some level a rather dysfunctional family. I have been watching the live trial on HLN. Honestly, I am going to hold back my take on the unfolding trial other than to say that I don't think she killed her little girl. I do think she is a victim of her family though. It was quite evident on the stand today when her brother was testifying that he was fabricating as he went although the media on their witch hunt claim he is a credible witness. More to come on this...
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Monday, June 06, 2011
The Roller Coaster at New York New York, Las Vegas
The Roller Coaster
(New York New York, Las Vegas)
May 10, 2011
We knew before arriving in Las Vegas that the Sahara Hotel & Casino would be closing during our stay. The Sahara has been operating in Las Vegas since 1952. Many of the casinos on the strip have attractions, some of which are free. The Sahara Hotel & Casino had a lovely roller coaster that the guys wanted to take a ride on knowing they would not be able the next visit. When we arrived at the Sahara, operations were pretty much shut down looking like a ghost town. It was sad to see. We couldn't get a player's card as a memento and the roller coaster was closed down. I bought a drink at the bar to get a souvenir Sahara glass only to find out the almost bare gift shop was selling them two for $3.
The guys were on a quest to find a roller coaster ride. We stopped at New York New York on the strip where they were able to ride the roller coaster there. This roller coaster rises 203 ft with a drop of 144 ft giving a coasting speed of 67 mph. The heartline twist simulates a jet fighter's barrel roll. The guys road the roller coaster twice! The women being of sound mind kept their feet firmly planted on the ground.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Blog Your Blessings Sunday - Health Care
We arrived home from our spring vacation after being away from May 8 to 25 with about eighteen hours at home on the 14th. During our brief period at home between the two legs of our spring vacation my husband was seen in emerg. He was again seen in emerg not a full two days after being home and again a day later when he was admitted to hospital. We are so blessed to have adequate health care in Canada! Despite some viewpoints, health care in Canada is not socialized. Rather health care access is available to all but even that is a bit of a mis-statement as there are many under serviced areas in Canada. Now access to health care does not mean you can afford the recommended prescriptions or treatment. We experienced first hand just how much our health care has erroded. Still when my husband needed the emergency help it was there. Now we are going through the multitude of tests and the help is there. So we are blessed, very blessed!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Saturday, June 04, 2011
My Husband's Health
Things are going at a slow crawl here and while I have plenty of great blog fodder, we have been dealing with my husband's health problems since arriving home from vacation on May 25. He was been hospitalized for a couple of those days. He saw his doctor today who ordered more tests. He had viral gastroenteritis contracted likely during the last day of our vacation in one of the airports. The ongoing problems have a tentative diagnosis that will either be confirmed or disproved by the new tests. He is feeling better. It appears the viral infection has pretty much run its course or at least the worst is over. Now it is the issue of getting to the bottom of the new problems that have popped up. Next week is riddled with medical appointments but that's ok as long as we find out what is going on.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Friday, June 03, 2011
Spiderman
Spiderman
May 9, 2011
You just never know who you are going to meet on the Las Vegas strip or Fremont Steet. Many of the rich and famous were out and about greeting visitors. The Superheros were out as well. I had a friendly chat with Spiderman. He is every bit as handsome in real life as in the cartoons :)
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Water Funnels at City Center in Las Vegas
Water Funnels at City Center in Las Vegas
May 9, 2011
On the lower level in City Center in Las Vegas this is a wonderful piece of artwork rising from the floor. It consists of various sized acrylic tubes. Water is spun inside the tubes creating a vortex or water funnel within the tube. The tubes are illuminated in various colours. Some of the tubes are floor level giving the appearance they may pop up any time. I thought it was quite ingenious!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
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