Tonight there was a spectacular sunset over the Las Vegas valley and the mountains surrounding it. Sometimes I really appreciate the view from my patio. Although it is always pretty awesome, tonight it was just one of those rare nights that make you go “wow”.
Here is a video of the sunset:
I am looking forward to the 4th of July, there are little fireworks stands all over the place, it should be a pretty fun night to take some videos!
One of my favorite places is the Ethel M Chocolate Factory Cactus Garden. Here are some of my cactus images, click to see them and more. Will post some of the photos of the holiday lights in a few days… cactus in lights is something this east coast native thought she would NEVER see… 
I am sitting in a Penthouse Suite at the Mirage, working on my laptop on a glass covered table, listening to Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra, and Kim and Tam Pinegar, looking out of floor to ceiling windows at the Volcano, the TI, the Wynn, Casino Royale, the Venetian and Harrahs. If I stand in the bedroom and look really hard I can see the Imperial Palace. From my home I can see the entire strip, and the mountains and Red Rock canyon, but once in a while it is nice to be in the middle of the action. To see it up close… and to absorb the energy and the inspiration that comes with it. There is energy here… lots of it.
This is the second time I have stayed in a Penthouse Suite here, the first time was a surprise “gift” of a night from a friend and his son that had the room and didn’t need it for that night. It was during that June 2005 trip that I mentioned below. It was a very turbulent time in my life, and that day I had walked from the Riviera to the Mirage to see the suite that I thought they were staying in. I walked in the door, found them and said “I decided walking here that I am tired of just getting by, I want more.” My friend said, “if you think you got inspired walking, wait until you see what we have for you.” A few minutes later, after showing me around the suite he handed me the key. I cried. He doesn’t know that, I went in another room and literally started crying. He was right, this place is inspirational. The view, the ambiance, the elegance. Some people wouldn’t be very impressed. It is impressive to me. That particular suite was a corner room, and it overlooked the Pool and the Dolphin Pools. I woke up and looked out to see dolphins swimming in the desert. And out the other window was the Bellagio fountain show. Those are impressive things to see, especially in the middle of the Mojave Desert. And I had never been in a hotel room that had a separate room for the toilet (and a bidet!) and a room for the jacuzzi and sinks and shower…. The suites here are bigger than 90% of the apartments in New York City!!!!
Tomorrow morning I will wake up to the sun rising over the strip, I will be able to see it from bed. If you are looking at the Mirage from Las Vegas Boulevard, my room is on the top floor, in the middle, right above the word Love. Right now the horns are going off to announce the start of the Volcano show… time for a 5 minute break to watch the fire on the water…. followed in a few minutes by the TI pirate show, with fireworks. I love fire, this is a great way to spend Easter night. I’ll post some pics of the rooms and my “office” in a couple of days, I didn’t bring the cable to download the pics from the camera, oops
My friend Vinny told me about this great dueling piano show at Harrahs Casino that features twins. I figured that since he was a guy and they were hot blonde chicks that it would be a mediocre to fair show that would be most enjoyed by men drinking lots of beer. I was wrong. They are a pair of talented, lovely ladies that can not only play mean pianos, but know how to entertain a crowd and get them to do just about anything they want them to. You can catch Tamara and Kim at Harrahs Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9pm to 2am. They are in the piano bar right inside the doors, there WILL be a crowd. Check them out on their website where you can see video and even purchase their cds.
I just read on the Red Rock Canyon website that the area of the Mojave desert where Las Vegas is located gets 4 - 6 inches of rain PER YEAR… per year? I knew it didn’t get much, but damn!!!! We would get that in an HOUR back east.
One of the first places off the Strip that I visited was Red Rock Canyon. I absolutely love it there and find solace in the mountains. I go there when I feel bad and my spirits rise. I have a collection of photographs from Red Rock Canyon that are available for sale as posters and gifts on NevadaGifts.net.
Here are a few of my favorites:
I love this particular peak. It is usually “green” and stands out in contrast to the rest of the mountains.
People tell me there is no “green” in the desert, well they are incorrect There is plenty of green stuff growing throughout the desert and the mountains. I love the contrast of the plants against the red and ivory patterning in the rocks.
I knew in 2003 I wanted to move to Las Vegas after my first visit here. Before that I was living in Rochester, New York with a 2 year stay in New York City. Until I went to Las Vegas that first time I didn’t think I would ever live on the West Coast. I was a confirmed East Coaster. I lived in Manhattan for one year, and Queens for a year, and when I left to go back to Rochester for family reasons, I swore I would return to New York City someday. That is until September 2003.
I went to Las Vegas alone to present at a Sewing Convention, about how to design a website. A friend was supposed to do the presentation and needed to cancel and asked me to substitute. I was tied up with the convention stuff during the days and only got out to the Strip in the evenings. I was only there 3 days, and I walked the entire strip plus went up the Eiffel Tower outside of the Paris Casino. I was entranced and felt peaceful there. It was a very unpeaceful time in my life, so feeling serene there was a pleasant surprise.
After that trip I told my family that eventually I would live there, and my son agreed he would like to live there too. He was tired of cold too
I didn’t get back there until June 2005, for an affiliate conference. This time I was going to the conference as the photographer, I knew one person that lived there, but had never met him. I didn’t know many of the people that were attending, only “knew” them from online forums and from my work online. I almost canceled the trip, but I got over my anxiety and went. The moment I walked off the plane I knew I was home. An incredible feeling of well being came over me, one that I still have. Before I moved here it happened each time I visited as I entered the valley either by air or driving through the desert from California. It hit me at the same spot driving each time.
They say home is where the heart is. For now, my heart wants me to be here.