I’m calling this one the “planes, trains, and automobiles” vacay. You’ll see why if you read to the end.
The plan was to visit my mom in Pasadena, and my sister-in-law in Vegas. It was fair all the way around in that respect, with only mild inconveniences, as is normal for any trip of any substance.
I took the day off both before and after, just to decompress a bit. Having said that, in retrospect I should’ve taken the Friday after as well, as it was sort of a short day back…no worries.
So we left on Friday at noon-ish, as Claire needed the car to go to therapy. Erika brought one large and one small rolling suitcase, plus a bag and a fanny pack. Apparently carrying a fanny pack over your shoulder is the hip and happening thing to do. The one Erika got me was too small and stayed in the duffel the whole time. I packed a nice Tumi duffel with packing cubes (got rid of my Hilfiger one), and a Timbuk2 messenger bag-they were perfect, though the shoulder strap padding on the duffel could’ve been softer-carrying it through airports was a bit of a pain. We also took an L.L. Bean canvas bag full of food and drink.
Easy peasy at the station-we were in the fancy lounge again, and skipped all the lining up. On the train, into our roomette. Small but perfect for two. Hung out for a bit, the train started, we went to the dining car for lunch. I had a nice burger. The food is generally good on the train. Came back and sat around, looking out as we left our familiar surroundings. Erika was uncomfortable facing backwards, so we switched places. The seats are pretty comfortable, though not luxy. After awhile we went back to the lounge car. Erika did a reading, and I read from the tablet-finishing up a half-started book-Zinn’s history of America. Erika did some coloring in her tarot book, and had me do a reading. Pretty much the same as I’ve been getting.
We had dinner later, and sat with 2 older people. I had the steak, which is the thing to get. Good as always. We went back and watched things go by, then the steward turned down the beds. I was on top, and it wasn’t level left to right. Made it hard to sleep, though miles better than Business class.
Up and to breakfast in out usual late-ish time. You get to the Redding area overnight. Had a nice breakfast, and we kept the lower bed down the rest of the way. Really quite comfy that way. Watched the countryside roll by, then into the Bay Area. It gets pretty funky as it goes through Oakland and San Jose-a ton of burned out cars alongside the track. Then the central coast from Salinas to SLO, then the real coast, which is always a lovely ride. It cuts in towards the Valley just around Oxnard, then it’s suburbs all the way to Burbank.
We get off the train, go to get our car, and the reservation was messed up-pickup and dropoff at Burbank airport! That’s not going to work. And the way we wanted it was way expensive. We dilled around trying to get something, but it’s 10pm on a Saturday, and nothing is working. We finally gave up and took a taxi to mom’s. Sleep, drive around trying to get breakfast, Erika’s favorite painting is sold. We finally got a rental out of Long Beach airport, so I drove mom’s electric there, started it charging, we got the car no problem-it’s an SUV. I wait for the car to finish charging, Erika drives off and promptly gets a check light, takes it back and gets a sedan. Drive back, get our stuff, say bye. Go to the Hat for lunch.
Start the drive. The traffic was nice, had to stop for a potty break, then at an outlet where I got a pair of shorts, then drive, drive drive through the furnace that is the road to Vegas. 114. yow, though nice in the car. We get there after dark, get gas, get to the MGM Grand. Dill around finding where to go, Erika gets out with our stuff, I go park the car on the 5th level of the parking structure. It’s hot.
Get inside, get our room, the key doesn’t work, go back and get another room! Get there, get Nathans for way expensive, settle in, sleep, breakfast in the room-nice, but again spendy-we got a mimosa. Hang out waiting for Tam & Bob, our room looks out over the airport and the Tropicana demolition site. Fun watching everything happen.
Tam & Bob get there, we go down to the pool and settle into lounge chairs in the adults only pool. It’s roasting and the pool is like bath water. Drinks are super expensive-$30 for a 20 oz margarita. We close the place, go upstairs, then to dinner at a “bargain” burger place in the casino, that wasn’t a bargain. We walk around, watch an ’80’s revival band, got to bed late. Lost Erika in the casino, we missed each other.
Up, had breakfast at the buffet-not bad, not great. Took their car to go to the pharmacy and look at witchy stores. I almost got to play a hand pan. Ate at a Del Taco. Back, down to the pool-Tam & Bob got the lounges outside of a cabana. A fight almost happened. Decided to go Downtown for the evening. Took an uber. It’s very loud, but cool, with all the people and the roof. Ate at a casino-Asian. Got donuts for breakfast. Back on the double decker bus-sat right at the front on top. To bed, up, coffee and donuts, then off to the airport.
Hung out waiting for the plane to open, dropped off the big suitcase, security. Ate at a bagel place, waited. On the airplane early, comfy seats in first class! Easy flight, meh food. Got Erika’s bag, Claire picked us up, and home!