Warming Holiday Memories

As promised, I made it home for Christmas, making it possible to see all the kids open their gifts . . . but not before stopping off in Vegas for some birthday fun with my friends! We stayed at the new City Center resort off the strip (we were the first guests to stay in our hotel room that had just opened two days before!). The Vdara Spa & Resort was relaxing and beautiful, offering a respite from the casinos and sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower and the Bellagio fountains. Hitting the blackjack tables Saturday night, I mustered up all my birthday girl luck to win $200--and, while the Imperial Palace wasn't the most sought after locale for a Saturday night out, it did offer cheap gambling tables and celebrity impersonator dealers!

Driving home from Vegas Sunday night, I managed to nearly miss the blizzard that hit the Eastern Seaboard over the weekend . . . Christmas was nice and relaxing with a high of 70 (aahh!). We made plenty of new memories to last another year.

Nicole informed me that she's already flown alone to Berkley and sees "no difference between Berkley and NYC . . ."; she can come see me, really! Well, here's to hoping that either she or I will be able to fly come early Spring.