R&R Report Two: In the California Sun

It's sunny again today. And hot. Very, very hot, despite the assurances of our family and locals that we're experiencing unseasonal coolness. More random notes from a vacation in paradise:

1) Long night time trip to La Quinta via Twenty-Nine Palms and Desert Center. Stars shine brightly though our rented minivan widows. The dark desert highway gently undulates beneath us, mimicking a slow ocean swell. As we get nearer the base, young men in nice cars begin to pass us, swiftly. Marines, enlisted, doing what all young elisted do: spending almost the entire month's pay on a nice, nice car.

2) Suddenly in familiar territory, on I-10 heading for Highway 111. We gape at the growth since our last visit. Home Depots abound. Houses abound. Unlike in the winter months, there are no Saskatchewan or Alberta plates, though a few lonely Maple Leafs flutter over the occassional trailer or condo.

3) We arrive at the home of family. We are welcomed in casually, as if we've never been gone. Feels great. The next morning: pancakes with real maple syrup and the Los Angeles Times. Hugh Hewitt's being too nice; the Times is a bloody mess. Headline the first day we were here was something about Bush's foreign policy "changing" to a policy of liberty and democracy promotion in the Middle East.

Er...that's been the policy since (at the latest) early 2002. Beyond pathetic.

The next day's Times brings word that National Security Advisor Hadley is too nice. Bolton is a meanie; Hadley is too nice. Senator Biden is juuuuuuuuust right.

Like we said, beyond pathetic.

4) On the patio, kids in the pool. Water-wings are holding. Sky is blue, the sun is blazing, the Coronas are cold, cold, cold. Perfect.

5) Sour note: old perceptions are being changed, perhaps forever. We can't quite shake the feeling that we are somewhere a bit foreign. Cruel stereotypes turn out to be sadly true: most of us (we included) are too damn overweight. And the dress! We have become a nation of slobs, uncaring about the image we present to the public sphere. Does this mean something, or is it insignificant?

6) Took in a Dodger game on TV last night. New ownership should be shot for what they have done to Dodger Stadium. Note to Red Sox fan who owns the Dodgers: our colors are blue and white. Inexplicably, walls and railings are now black and orange. The fact that we're playing the Detroit Tigers (interleague play.....pleh!) adds to the illusion that the Dodgers are on the road. Took comfort in the following: Vin Scully was calling the game, Farmer John was advertising, and 76 was back on the globes above the twin scoreboards. Dodgers looked damn good, by the way.

7) More culinary treats: P.F. Chang's, Del Taco and a home-grilled New York Steak over the past two days. Wow.

Turned on the radio and heard Dion, the Spinners and Sam Cooke all in a row. Turned on the TV and watched Animal House. It's good to be home....

Next Stop: The O.C.

R&R Report One: Viva Las Vegas

First stop, fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada! We're arriving in LV first to attend a dear friend's wedding. It's our first time in Vegas with our kids, so we're a bit worried about keeping them engaged in Sin City. What follows are random notes and observations to date:

1) We arrived in Houston. Baggage lost. Damn. CPB officer gives us the customary "welcome home." It felt customarily excellent to hear it, lost baggage or not. We have exactly 5 minutes for lunch. Solution: Taco Bell. Damn near had forgotten how good those bean and cheese burritos can be.

2) Flight to Las Vegas on a clear day. To the right: the Grand Canyon. To the left: Hoover Dam. The modern-day sprawl of LV in the middle of nowhere, as shocking as always. It appears to these older eyes that remember yesterday that LV is an unlikely spot for a town of that size. Amazing.

3) We check into the New York-New York. It's our favorite place in LV. Worst fears about bringing kids to LV realized when security yells at us as our 3-year old veers off-course for 2.2 seconds, brushing up against a slot machine that is less than 4 feet from the registration line. One of us walks over by the bell desk to take shelter with the kids while the other completes check-in. The kids sit down in a corner behind a newstand. NY-NY staff person comes over to tell us the kids can't sit there. He suggests a bench. We point out said bench is in a bar. He says, "no, a bench outside."

Lovely customer service. We've never been made to feel so welcome.

4) The room, unlike the service, is specatular. We jump on the beds, unpack a bit and turn on American cartoons. The kids are thrilled.

5) Okay, enough wasted time, time to start eating. We hit Il Fornaio: veal, chicken, roasted potatoes, the works. Washed down with Italian beer, which isn't too bad. Damn fine meal. Back to room, we all collapse.

6) A day in Vegas: kids love the giant MnM's store. They love even more the arcade at New York-New York. A good time was had by all. The new Wynn resort looks fantastic, with a golden fronting that reflects the desert sky that reminds one of the old Desert Inn, which it replaced. The Venetian looks grand, as does the Paris. Off the strip, though, LV looks and feels like a very sad place. We have to say it's not our favorite American city, though there is something undeniably American about it.

7) More food adventures: actual French Toast, good/bad American coffee, eggs that taste normal....later, Burger King (just for you Smiley!) with two of Jack's tacos which we cannot believe are still only 99 cents. Whoa, a little too much. Dinner: In N' Out. Your correspondent was in hog heaven. A very unhealthy day, diet wise, but it was all sooooooo good...

8) A Las Vegas wedding. It was great to see our friends and to celebrate.

9) On the road at night. Desert air, stars bright. We pass a sign. "We're in California!"

Cheers erupted.

Next Stop: Palm Springs. See you soon.