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Daily Diary Notes - “March”

03/31/2009 - My mother and sister arrived on the trip from New Hampshire to Tahoe, where my mother is moving into a senior housing facility. Mom looked great for 86 and having driven most of the trip. Because my sister had to be back to work on Friday they only stayed one onight instead of the planned two. After a couple of house catching up, we all went to the dinner buffet at Green Valley Ranch where everyone enjoyed crab legs, as well as the many other selections. We then came home and talked the night away.

03/29/2009 - Today we went to concert by the Henderson Symphony Orchestra at the Pavilion up the street from where we live. It was a fantastic performance. Click here for a review. When we got home we watched the final round of the PGA tournament at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida which we recorded while we were at the symphony. Tiger Woods, coming from five-stroke deficit, rolled in a 16-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win for the first time since having knee surgery nine months ago. He is just unbelievable to watch.

03/28/2009 - Spent most of the day poolside finishing a couple of good books. Went out for dinner and the home to watch some show we had recorded.

03/27/2009 - After some poolside time we went tothe new "M" Casino for a couple of free breakfas buffets. Probably one of the best we have had in some time. Then went to Walmart to do some shopping. We watched our latest Netflix movie, Milk with Sean Penn. We both thought is was very good and could see why he won an Oscar for his role.

03/26/2009 - Not much doing today. We went to "Sweet Tomatoes" for lunch because they sent me a free birthday dinner coupon. Connie likes the salad bar there. It was then up to GVR for a little gambling and back home for TV and bed. We are so boring.

03/24/2009 - Today after our visit to the casino, we went to the Opus Too for dinner. This is a restaurant in the Culinery Institute just up the street from where we live. I've been meaning to go there for a couple of years, and for some reason just got around to it. It was excellent. Click here for a complete review [Opus Too Review]

03/23/2009 - Yesterday I played pool with my downstairs neighbor and today I played with another neighbor and friend. We play a combination of straight pool, eight ball and nineball. Both were good days for me as I handily beat them both. Marc and I went to the garage to work on projects for a short time, but it was too cool.

03/15/2009 - One thing about staying home and nursing colds, it gives you plenty of time to work on the computer and read. As a result I've spent the last couple of days working on "Travel" collages and slide shows of our Grand Canyon Trip. I know I sent some of these pictures or slide shows out individually, but can't remember who got what. So here is a list of all the items related to this trip that are posted on my Project Gallery Blog. Just click any of the links below to view a collage, slide show or pictures. Grand Canyon Collage 01, Grand Canyon Collage 02 Grand Canyon Pictures & Slide Show Grand Canyon Railway Collage Sedona Arizona Collage Sedona Pictures & Slide Show

03/13/2009 - A few weeks ago a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to work for him dealing charity poker tournaments. So, today, in spite of my cold, I spent a few hours dealing in a tournament benefiting the SNYTF (Southern Nevada Youth Tennis Foundation) at the World Trade Center. Besides appearances from some World Series of Poker bracelet winners, I got to meet and talk with Yancey Arias and his wife lovely wife Anna. His latest role was in the 2009 TV Series "Knight Rider". To learn more about him click here ... Yancey Arias. Even though the work was not hard, it was a long day and I was glad to get home.

03/12/2009 - We have been sick ever since we came back from our Grand Canyon tour. Not much doing. I did finish reading [The Cleaner] by Brett Battles and thought it was excellent. Click the title for our review.

03/09/2009 - The second day of our trip we awoke to a snow squall. It was cold, cloudy and windy and stayed that way all day. After a buffet breakfast, which, thank goodness, was much better than the previous night's dinner, We boarded the train for the 2-1/4 hour ride to the Grand Canyon. We had tickets in the Luxury "Chief" car which was very nice. On the way up we were served drinks and snacks consisting of fruit, cheese and crackers. Click here for pictures and more info [Grand Canyon Railway Collage].

Even though the weather was not the best, we were amazed at the majesty of the Canyon and were still able to get some good pictures. Many of the buildings at the rim are over 100 years old and still standing. We toured the [Lookout Studio], the [Kolb Studio] and the [Hopi House] and really enjoyed them all. Click on the previous titles to see and learn more. Click on the following links to see our pictures of the Grand Canyon. The first picture represent the very first view we saw as we approached the edge of the "rim" [Grand Canyon South Rim]. This next link is to a slide show representing collection of the pictures we took. [Grand Canyon Slide Show].

The train ride back was even more fun than the ride up. We were entertained by a harmonica playing cowboy, a singing cowboy and comedian, and were served free champagne and more Hors d'ourves. Their was even a train robbery for the kids in the other cars.

03/08/2009 - On the first day of our trip we traveled beyond our destination point of Williams, Az. to Sedona, Az., known for its many red-rock monoliths. We found Sedona at the mouth of a beautiful 20 mile ride through Oak Creek Canyon. As you travel the area you move in and out of the 1.8-million-acre Coconino National Forest, home to the largest stand of ponderosa pine
trees in the world.

After a wonderful lunch at Ken's Creekside restaurant, we met up with our traveling companion's parents who drove over from Phoenix, and toured some of the many shops at Tlaquepaque, a beautiful shopping area known as the "Art and Soul of Sedona". Set amidst
towering sycamore trees, flowering gardens, sculptures, and tiled courtyards, it is an exquisite shopping experience.

On our way out of town we stopped, and climbed to the Chapel of the Holy Cross.Designed by Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Chapel appears to rise out of the surrounding red rocks. Along with its towering cross, it offers and awesome panorama of buttes, valley and sky that are a source of inspiration and reflection. Check out my collage on Sedona. [Sedona Collage] It was then back to Williams and the Grand Canyon Railway motel for checkin and our free buffet which was the most disappointing moment of the day.

03/07/2009 - Check out our latest Netflix movie review of [Priceless].

03/06/2009 - The weather is actually nice enough that I have been able to go to the pool for a dip in the spa and some poolside reading the past couple of days. It appears that I caught a cold on opening night of the new "M" Casino. It was so mobbed that I had to park about a mile away and walk. I forgot my jacket and walking back that night at 3:00am it was rather cool. It now seems to have caught up with me and seeing that we are leaving Sunday for our trip to the Grand Canyon, I decided to stay home and pamper myself for a few days in the hope that it might abate or go away. It seems like we haven't done much these past few days except go to the new "M" Resort/Casino. However, after five straight days, I've picked up over $1,200 at the poker tables. One day we met up with one of our neighbors and went to the Buffet for dinner. It was outstanding, probably one of the best we've been to.

03/05/2009 - Spent most of the morning working on a collage for our entry hall. Check it out on my "Project/Picture" blog. Flower Collage

03/03/2009 – Got a cold today. Think I caught it Sunday night at the casino opening walking back and forth to my car without a jacket. This was our best experience to date at the new “M”. We went to the Hostile Grape, their wine cellar located three stories below the casino. Automatic dispensers dispensed your choice of wines by the ounce (1-0z, 3-oz, or 5-oz) Really cool. We then went to Veloce’s on the 16th floor on top of the casino. First of all it has, without any doubt, the best view of the city found anywhere. The food and service was excellent. We then stopped by the piano bar next to the hotel lobby for an after dinner drink, and got to hear a guy play and sing who was quite good. Just the right finishing touch to a perfect evening. It was like being on vacation.

03/02/2009 - Went back to the new “M” with Connie. Again the place was mobbed. She had to stand in line for 2-1/2 hours to get a “Player’s Card” She lost on slots, however I picked up another $400 in the poker room. We had dinner at the buffet and were amazed. The selections were numerous and outstanding and it included free wine and beer. It was very impressive.

03/01/2009 – This was the opening day of the new “M” Resort and Casino. It is only about 5 more miles south past Green Valley Ranch. Connie decided she didn’t want to put up with the huge crowds and traffic jams, and boy was she right. I had to park off the side of the road in the dessert about a half mile away. Good firework though and I picked up $500 playing in their poker room.

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