dwgm | Home from Vegas, etc.

Well, Las Vegas was fun, although we won't stay at the New Frontier again. Not that it was a bad hotel. We had a mini-suite on the 9th floor of their new Atrium Tower, and it was quite a bargain at $65 a night. Actually I'm not sure how new the tower is, but it is unfinished. I believe the idea was to have vines and other plants hanging from each level, giving it a lush, jungly look. The narrow planter boxes and the piping for the watering system are in place. But they are empty, and the plants on the first level, where the waterfall is, are artificial. The effect looking up from the first level is reminiscent of the view of the interior of a multistory prison from some movie I saw recently. Grim.

We did have a great view of the thunderstorm last night, and of the pretty swimming pool during the day. The pool doesn't compare with the one at the Mirage, however. In fact, the reason we stayed at the New Frontier was because it's the only hotel on the strip that has Bingo, to which the Grandma is quite partial. Also they have $5 blackjack tables, which are non-existant at night at the newer hotels. However, next time I'll just drop her off to play there and we'll stay at the Mirage or Treasure Island. Or maybe the Aladdin, which is across from the Bellagio and thus has a view of the beautiful fountains.

We ate dinner last night and lunch today at the Bellagio. That is one gorgeous hotel. And the food and service are great at the cafe off the atrium--they are so friendly and helpful! Wanted to see 'O' there, or, alternately, Zumanity at New York, New York, but the 'O' cast is on vacation, and Zumanity is dark Wednesday and Thursday, so we missed out.

While Grandma Bingoed, I went shopping at the huge, beautiful mall across the street. Got some real bargains--lots of sales going. Rested my weary feet at the Food Court before heading back to the room and had enough cash to get a bowl of Avolemono soup (so soothing and delicious!) and a piece of homemade baklava--some of the best I've ever had. Why don't we have a 'Greek Isles' fast food place in Simi? Huh? Huh?

Wrote a response to the

pirates500 "Lost" challenge while we were there.

Lost and Found

She’d been lost, for a while, after Will died. During their marriage, his success and happiness had been hers, too. Jack, attending their wedding in a disguise she still laughed to think about, had given them a small chest of Spanish gold. It had been enough to buy out Mr. Brown, who’d retired home to England, and to make improvements to the business. Her father and James (and Jack too, she suspected) had carefully fostered rumor of Will’s skill as a master craftsman, skills made all the more relevant in light of their great adventure. Within a few years, orders were coming from as far away as Boston, and even London. Elizabeth knew it had given Will enormous satisfaction to be able to provide her with many of the small luxuries she had taken for granted as a girl, growing up in her father’s house. There had been no children, but Dr. Hill had assured them that it was only a matter of time.

But time had run out. An inflammation of the lungs. Who could have guessed? He was so young, and strong. But he’d already had a cold, and that rainy night, when he’d returned from a week’s voyage to a neighboring island, shivering with ague, had been the beginning of the end.

Jack had found her quite literally at the cliff’s edge. Sometimes she wondered: would she have done it? Her father had feared she might, and had sent word to him. They had not met for several years, though she knew of his doings: to everyone’s surprise he had applied for a Letter of Marque and the Black Pearl had become an ally of the crown during its war with Spain. He corresponded, occasionally, and what he left out of these missives James had supplied: how the Black Pearl’s crew had been instrumental in saving the lives of a hundred civilians during the battle of Providence Island; how Jack had orchestrated a cunning and successful attack on a heavily-armed Treasure ship; how Jack and James had sailed into Mexican waters and captured the Viceroy of Spain. Later, she questioned him about these dangerous adventures, but he shrugged, saying if he’d not been well paid he’d certainly not have done it: Pirate! She shook her head, justifiably skeptical of this pretense.

Madness had seized her when he’d found her. Hysteria. Fury. To the empty gatekeeper’s cottage she’d stormed, Jack following in her wake. Shocking them both, she’d virtually forced herself on him, a desperate affirmation of Life. Afterwards he’d scolded her for feeling guilty, and for cowardice. And then, as she’d lain snuffling into his shoulder, he’d asked her: shall I take you away for a while?

James was troubled, but did not object. Her father had half expected it: just bring her back safely. Jack had promised: my word as a scallywag. Laughter and tears, both, as they’d set sail.

Elizabeth looked out across endless, sparkling water, a richer, deeper blue than the Caribbean. Jack came and leaned on the rail beside her.

“Lookin’ for something, Missy?”

She turned, and smiled. “I’ve found it.”

Current Mood: mellow
Current Music: Olympics Opening Ceremony