Vegas

So, I think I'm going to post my National Championship pictures in four groups: Vegas, California Drive, Pasadena, and Hoover Dam. First...Vegas. We stayed at Sam's Town. Dad and I both had a good time and didn't lose all of our money. We have pretty good luck in Vegas together. However, I couldn't win at Blackjack to save my life. However, I did win $200 in Video Poker.





The lobby. So massive. It was very impressive.

They had a mountain in the middle of their lobby that had a light show at night. It was fun. Very patriotic. There's a bar where I took the picture and that's where Dad and I watched the show and had a drink.

Ready for the Big Game!!

Well, my Dad (and current HERO) got me and him a ticket to the ROSE BOWL. I spent all Monday on the Internet looking up flights. There was nothing going into LA without 3 stops. So, we decided to fly into Vegas (muahaha). Yeah, the airfare cost us $1000. So, probably won't be travelling quite as much this summer, for sure!

We spent Tuesday night in Vegas at Sam's Town. It's a really nice place, pretty good distance from the strip. I liked it though. I ended up winning $200 at one of those "Game King" video poker things after losing $60 to blackjack. I ended up winning another $20 from the same machine and then hit the sack. My dad played Craps (which I should have done) and ended up winning a couple hundred too. Damn, we have good luck together!

So, then yesterday, we rented a car and drove to Pasadena. OMG, so awesome. We passed through the Mojave desert and beaaaaaaauuuuuuuutiful California mountains. My dad is NOT a traveller, so of course, no cool touristy things. Haha, in fact, we ate dinner at Outback Steakhouse. WTH, you know, we're in LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA and we eat at an Outback that we could get in Houston, but whatever. After dinner, we drove to the Rose Bowl to see what it looked like. There were vendors in tents already set up by the road so my dad got us matching hoodies and I got longhorn face stickers, earrings, and ticket holders. We also got Reuban and Lucas some shirts. Prices were outrageous though. And there's a 10% city tax in LA!! Holy crap!

Today, is the big day. The Rose Bowl. UT versus Alabama. We've beat them every time, except once we tied. I'm hoping there's one more game in that streak! I'm already ready to go but we don't leave for 2 hours. :/

Get this, though. We're taking a limo to the game with Bo! Heh heh heh. I'm excited.

I, of course, in the rush, forgot my camera uploading cable so will have to do all the pics when I get home. I just have to say that I consider myself so fortunate to have the people I have in my life. It's not just having a dad with mad UT hook ups. It's the mom back home. It's my principal at work who lovingly let me off work with no consequences. And family and friends on FB and beyond who are always so excited for everything going on. I've had so many wonderful opportunities in my life that I am so grateful to God for and I am so thankful for each and everything God puts in my life. ( I know, I know but I just have felt such an overwhelming graciousness this week.

Last Weekend of Christmas Vacation

It always comes down to the last days of a vacation period and you go, "What the heck happened to my vacation?!?" Even though I tried to keep blogging I still feel like I wasted it. But, enough of that business. Let's talk about the rest of Dallas.

So, once I got to Dallas I totally got lazy. I wouldn't say lazy as much as COLD. Well, I forgot a jacket (because you don't really need one in Houston. Wellllll, even though Dallas is only 200 miles north it's quite a big difference temperature-wise. On my first day, Tuesday, I believe it snowed almost ALL afternoon. It was magical!! I had the blinds open and the blanket on all day. It was great.

The next day, the sun came out so I explored the AW Perry House and Museum and Historic Downtown Carrollton. Again, I've seen these places a million times but never photographed them, and I needed the research for the wcities.com job. Enjoy the photos!

Oh, and update: After I left Dallas I stopped off at the lakehouse to see my aunt. I dropped off Matt's flag gifts and got my jacket I had left there a week or so ago. Then today, I drove home. I'm trying to clean up a bit and watching the bowl games. I'm hoping to get some Houston trips and errands run the rest of the break. It was fun while it lasted!


AW Perry House and Museum. Funny story: The sign said "Open" so I went to open the door. It wouldn't open. So I kind of leaned down to look in the window and my hair got caught on the wreath. So the lady comes to the door and I'm like stuck on it and she's kind of weirded out. Haha, I'm.......a loser.
I liked this pic too. I must have a thing for old timey looking lampposts.
The barn...there wasn't any path to walk there although it kind of looked open. There was an old man walking around the area and I had just watched a freaky episode of Cold Case and Law and Order so I didn't really feel comfortable checking out the old-looking barn alone with that guy in there. Plus it was really windy and the windmill in the top left hand corner was making this really weird banging noise that I started psyching myself out that I would die in there. Oh, and I had just watched Changling, too so yea, no barn discovering.


I liked this one...with the lamppost and all.
All lit up
Agave is where my grandma and I ended up eating dinner later that night. It was good Mexican food but the mango margarita was definitely the best part. :)

Christmas Vacation 2009: Day 10

Wow, has it already been 10 days? I have another week left but it feels like my vacation is wasting away already. Well, today I drove from Houston to Dallas (again) to get some entries for my wcities.com articles. My editor said my entries were "flawless" so I'm super energized to get more.

Today I went to the Addison Town Hall and talked to their visitor's service director. Nice woman. Beautiful house. Then went to dinner with my grandma at a not-so-good restaurant. I looked for the old school house and cotton gin in the book I'm using but didn't find anything. So I'll be calling in the morning to find out the details about what Addison's historical buildings are or if they're still even around.

I have LOTS planned tomorrow. If I get plenty done then I may be spending Wednesday in Arlington or Salado. We'll see! Keep ya posted. :)

Christmas Vacation 2009: Day 8 (I think)

Well, since I last posted I cut all my hair off. Enjoyed a fun Christmas with my parents (doing absolutely nothing and loving the break and stress-free feeling). And now I have a little over a week to travel anywhere I want. :)

Today I wanted to see Yuletide at Bayou Bend in Houston. The house was built for our first native Texan governor Hogg. His daughter (weird sense of humor) Ima Hogg spent most of her life here and collected many antiques and pieces of art. The house was beautiful, each room decorated in a time period's Christmas decoration. The gardens are much better in late February and early March when I hope to return. But, for now, here ya go.

Still haven't made plans for tomorrow, though....Hmmmm (can't go too far since I have NO clean clothes).

Funnest bridge ever!!!
Gardens
See, I'm not lyin' it's important!




The Butterfly Garden
Cupid with my heart ripped out of my body......(you don't wanna know)

Christmas Vacation 2009: Day 2

So, today I started at Aunt B's lakehouse that I got to on Saturday. We had a lazy morning then went into Dallas. We visited Nana Bev and I dropped off gifts. We ate at Babe's restaurant in Carrollton. Then Aunt B and I went and saw Betty Buckley perform at Addison's Water Tower Theater. Great show! Fun day!

Weekend Update with Brandy

So, exciting weekend...

Spent time at The Nutcracker Market in Houston and then the FFA Craft Show in Cypress. Much fun shopping for gifts!

Then, Saturday morning was invited to go to COLORADO with Aunt and Uncle Barbara and Terry this summer as soon as school gets out!!!