Pure Stupor Tour 2006
Beginnings
Santa Barbara Mission/Solvang
Brunch/The Illusionist/Grocery Guy
Will Rogers State Park/Surf II
Intermission/The Dinner Guests
How Did We Miss the Mad Greek?/I Want to Rock n Roll All Night
Enroute to The Caine Mutiny/Fly Away Home
Saturday (10.28) - T minus one day to seeing the Head Rooster
We packed ourselves, Jesse (the roaming gnome), Randy the Representative Rooster, some alarming unnaturally colored cheese puffs, and water into the rental (affectionately referred to as the Pimp Mobile - yes it was that big) and were on our way. After 2 hours on the road and half way through our cache of CDs, we started to see signs for the "Mad Greek" restaurant. Andy was reminded of her dear Constantine and it was decided that we at least check out what they had to offer. Alas, the driver *ahem* was not sharp enough and missed the exit. As the chance for a little Mediterranean cuisine disappeared in the rearview mirror, we all felt a bit disappointed and sad at the missed opportunity to dance, break plates, and say Opa!
You see the effects of Las Vegas before you even arrive. We had barely crossed the border into Nevada when we were accosted my a humongous outlet mall complete with hotel and attached casino. If you're never been to Nevada, it's hard to think of it in any other way after that. Road-weary, we headed towards the hotel in Boulder City (a suburb) which had a surprisingly nice view of Lake Mead. Both rooms had nice balconies and were spacious enough that no one had to sleep on the floor.
(Saturday Oct 28th, continued)- We decided to postpone taking our "disco nap" until after we'd eaten, after the long 6hr drive peppered with ravens and chevron's few and far between we were hungry. The hotel's front desk had recommended a mexican place (Lor may have grabbed a business card?) which was nearby and we zipped off in the long-silver-ride. I remember Ysa asking the waiter if the bean dip, salsa and chips (complimentary appetizers) were made on site. I ordered a diet cola which tasted nothing near the realm of cola and in which I later found a cherry hiding out in the bottom.
We decided to spend some down time at the hotel before heading back out and into Las Vegas with an ETD of 9pm. Lor started off reading an interesting looking book but ended up rolled into the blankets with just a hint of hair visible not long after. Ysa took a shower and flooded the floor. I sat in one of the chairs near a table with my feet on the table and read a book. After calling the front desk for more towels and settling into books (back into a book for me), we made a few jokes about Lor having placed a dummy in the bed/pillows under the sheets and that she'd really taken off, that old classic. Grey Poupon anyone? We lasted almost an hour before also ending up on the beds with eyes shut. After our respective refreshing moments (Ysa, Lor and I were in one room, Andy was in another so I don't know what she did) we got ready to go out. Someone threated if I didn't put on some make-up Lor would be more than happy to do my face! Needless to say I put a little here and there and tried to stay away from the full lighting of the bathroom vanity.
Andy came over on time and we left to pick up someone she knew from a Constatine Maroulis board. An amazing set of detailed directions later we picked up Susan from her dimly lit home. A few u-turns later we were pointed the right way to McClaren's airport and our first stop in Vegas, Paris/Bally's.
Posing for a photo op, the group found a stranger was entering our photo. Turns out it was (Vegas, not Aussie)Susan's husband! We all shook hands and greeted him and walked him back to his table. Andy & Susan decided to go grab drinks and catch up- leaving Ysa, Lor and I to head for the shiny slot machines. My own gambling streak ended when I lost 75cents, and came away with a credit voucher for a quarter. Not long after, Lor and I became separated from Ysa (whose adventures we later heard included a pastry). We pretty much walked around aimlessly, at one point we thought about walking above the casino on a bridge but the elevator was out of order and we didn't see another way to get up. We'd been told about free drinks if you were around the tables, machines but we never managed to catch the eye of any of the woman with trays.
I bought a cute Paris piggy bank in one of the convenience store/gift shops and Lor got a Mountain Dew. After a while we started to think about finding our lost friends and managed to track down Andy on her cell. As we were walking toward where she was Ysa found us (as if she'd known all along where we were!). Andy was nursing a margarita (1/4 of which proved to be more than adequate!) and gunning for dessert. I agreed I could go for some dessert and Ysa found us two places with beautiful crepes. As both crepe places closed on either side of us (prior to our getting orders in) Andy and I wept a little, on the inside. Ysa (ever the tour guide!) then made the mistake of telling Lor and I that she'd come across a bar with dualing piano's that take requests. Lor's eyes lit up like saucers as she put a hand on my back and took off running (with me in tow) toward that bar. We love us some dualing pianos! Lor was clever in that she worked her way right into the depth of the crowd and near the bar, so Ysa, Susan and Andy did not see us right away from their vantage point of waiting outside, until we saw them and waved.
Pulling us away, I remember being promised we could walk the strip (fresh air, woo!). First off though Andy's need for food had to be addressed. Andy and Susan found a restaurant that was open, after losing Ysa, Lor and I again! Ysa, starting to look a bit determined not to be lost again, went off to find them and misplaced Waldo and I (well she told us to wait by a convenience store, where I looked at tourist goodies and Lor caught up on celeb. rags). All together again and for good, we had some tea and treats. Thank you again for the taste of your hot cinnamon bun Ysa! (Yes Susan, I did everything I could to promote the idea of hot jam donuts coming to North America!) Outside at last, we crossed a few overpasses, rode a few escalators, met some men we couldn't reach (despite their asking us to high 5 them) and took the stairs just to get across the street to the reknown Caesars Palace.
We took the Augustus (Caesar, not Dimitri) route to the restroom, and had a celebrity sighting when Gene Simmons walked past. It was about 2am (and this was after the "fall back" time change was factored into it), so we started to make our way back to the car (escalators, stairs, elevator full of pot aroma). We went back through the now quiet Paris, which was quite lovely that way, and parted with Susan who stayed behind to go home with her husband. I made us stop the Marquis for a few souvenirs for those back home (ever an agenda!) on the way down the strip. Finally all in the car and no one leaving, we rocked to 80's tunes back to the hotel. We snuck in (3am or was it 4?) and decided to leave the hotel the next morning no later than 9am. Lor and I planned to get up an extra bit earlier and catch the 8am sunday morning church service.
Ysabella and Jin