Las Vegas

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and obviously on Facebook too. Apparently the money I took to Vegas also stayed in Vegas. It's a good thing that the Casinos were not the first thing on our list, well except maybe on my mom's list but she adapted. Upon waking up and having coffee with cheese cake we all headed down to the swimming pool, the weather was a little on the hot side but otherwise perfect so we headed to the bar ordered some drinks and went to dip ourselves in the pool. The water actually felt cold which made it very refreshing.

Ha, ha, apparently we all have different taste in drinks.



Swimming is always going to make one hungry so after an hour or so my sister and mom decided they had enough and headed back to the room to make some very delicious tortas. Ummmm were they good or what? It was then decided that we would dress up and go out for dinner and then once again to the casinos. Me, I didn't take dress up clothes so shorts and a polo did the trick but everyone else looked like Barbie dolls, OK except maybe my brother in law whom didn't even resemble Ken either. lol





Then it was off to the strip, we wanted to see the Belaggio Fountains show but trying to find parking nearby was next to impossible so we ended at another hotel with lots of stores and the decor was so pleasing to the eye that we just pretty much decided to stay there and not try a different one anymore. We got there too late for the buffet but we found a nice sit down restaurant in there that was open 24 hours.









So, as you can see, we did have a terrific time in Vegas. It was wonderful time well spent with the two birthday girls (mom and sis) my brother in law, my lil sis from Cali and of course my fiance.

Looking forward to the next trip and or next adventure.

Peace!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Just a quick not to wish my mom a Happy Birthday today. This is her, mother of five, grandma of many, and great grandma of a few more. My mom is a fighter, an economist, an entrepreneur, a cook, a gardener, a counselor, a friend, and many other wonderful things. Keeps us on edge, and still kicks our butts when needed. Me, I try to walk the right path before doing something I know she won't like, although I have done a few of those too.

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My Mom's Portrait

If you are getting bored with the current theme on my posts just let me know, I don't know that I'll change it but at least I'll know what's on your mind.

My family knows it all too well but some of you my readers already found out that after nine years of living in this house I had no frames and no art hanging on my walls. There is one frame in my room that has my first three grand kids and a big nice frame mi chica bought when we first moved in, but other than that I had nothing so I am pretty excited these days as I am finally hanging stuff that means something to me and that is not mass produced and store bought.

Mi chica pretty much has left it all to me and she is pretty much in tune with what I am putting up so even though this is only the beginning I think I have enough to give you guys a virtual expo of what my walls are looking like thus far.

First is my mom's portrait. This portrait is not painted but burned in a piece of leather. It was done by a Mexican artist but unfortunately I don't have her name, she happened to be a customer of a dry cleaners business where my mom worked for a while. My mom had it folded and put away in an old suitcase and had had it for many years before I pleaded and begged for her to let me have it.

When I used to live in L.A. I worked for seven years for a lighting store at the Pacific Design Center in Beverly Hills and walking through all those showrooms with state of the art furniture and stuff always gave me ideas of what I would like. A salesman at the store and dear friend of ours was an art connoisseur and avid collector and when I showed him the portrait of my mom he knew exactly where to take it for me and how to have it framed. I knew nothing so I totally agreed with his advice and expertise.

The piece of leather then was mounted into a white backing without being cut or altered in any way, shape, or form and a lucite box was custom built to house it. The box is made of a very strong acrylic material and there's a space between the piece of leather and the acrylic. I remember asking him if it would get scratched over time, he said probably but it will have to be a very long time. It has now been over 25 years since the portrait was framed and three weeks ago I cleaned the frame before I hung it on the wall and it looked as if I had just picked it up from the framer. I now know he knew what he was talking about.

The custom work was very pricey for a then 22-year old warehouse employee even considering that it was specially priced for my friend but it was totally worth it. This frame is still going to be with us for a long, long time and I don't have to fear it is going to fall appart anytime soon.


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My Life Is a Routine

I stare at the screen and nothing happens, I want to see letters appear and spell words but the truth is that it remains white for quite a while. There is a lot I could write about, there is always so much to tell, but I want to think of more uplifting posts, I want to write about hope, and good times, and positive vibes. Instead I come up with sort of the same thing over and over.

Does that mean my life is a routine. Yeah, it probably does, and yeah my life is a routine. That's why the immediate task at hand is to live life to the fullest. You have to think about tomorrow but realizing that tomorrow isn't here yet. Therefore live the today at hand and don't waste a minute.

Today is the day I spend the night at my mom's. I like to go there directly after work because I get the chance to stay with her longer, never mind that we both go to see her telenovela and we fall asleep. Even while catching some zzzzs we still keep each other company. The conversations we have while she is serving me some of the delicious food she cooks are priceless, and I thank God each day for letting me have her one more day.

I also visit her on Wednesday and Thursday but these two days I only stay with her for an hour or two, then it's off to my own house where I wait for my wife while playing with my grand kids.

I guess routines are not too bad after all. If I get to do the things I like and see the people I love I say keep the routines coming, the secret is in not making every day the same.

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Happy Birthday Mom

Today is a very special day because my mom reached her 75th birthday. To say she is excited is an understatement. Last night she was telling me that she never thought she would reach such a milestone.

Well, my mom is still here and is the axis of our family unity. I have mentioned before that my dad and mom came to the US in hopes that they would give us a better life that what we could have had in Mexico. It all started as the two of them here, leaving us all behind in Mexico until one by one they brought us all here.

Well, the days of just the two of them are long gone, the family grew, and grew, and grew to what it is today. On any given major occasion there can be as many as a hundred of us, and it is thanks to them that our whole family is united.

My father passed three years ago but I know tonight he'll be with us to celebrate my mom's birthday.

Looking forward, I know my mom will continue on her journey just as God has it planned for her. Hers is a story of success and good examples as to how life should be lived. However we all know how easy it is for her to also be abrasive and how easy it is for her to argue. Oh yes, she will argue until you give in or at least pretend to give in. Her rule number one is probably the one that says "Mom is never wrong".

So I invite you to join me to congratulate her and to wish her a very happy 75th birthday.


Me and my mom on Father's Day 2006

When they all say I'm your favorite
It fills my heart with such joy
And my face displays a big grin
That they all fear it'll explode.

Who am I to be so lucky?
Why you never tell me, no.?
What has bonded us together
I don't really want to know

All I know is that in this life
I better enjoy you now
I won't leave it for tomorrow
Cause tomorrow may not come

Yes today I count my blessings
And I thank our God above
For you reached another birthday
His present for us no doubt

75 years ago
In a little country town
You started your wonderful journey
What a great life you've had

You have tought us to be noble
You have tought us to be wise
I don't know why we don't listen
But I promise I will try

Today I thank you for bringing me
Into this wonderful world
That allows me one more time
To tell you Happy Birthday dear Mom


Happy birthday mom, I love you with all my heart and soul.