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John and I spent last week in Las Vegas with Jeff and Judy to celebrate Jeff’s new job, and we had a great time.  The weather was warm and sunny, but cool in the evenings.  It was so nice to be able to walk around and enjoy the sun.  We saw Terry Fator, the ventriliquist that won America’s Got Talent last year.  It was a great show and a lot of fun.  We went to the Valley of Fire State Park which is beautiful.  These huge red rocks are just jutting out of the desert, and some have Indian etchings on them.  Very cool.   We drove by Lake Mead on the way out and headed back to Vegas to the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop which is featured on the show Pawn Stars.  Jeff and Judy watch the show, and they got to see one of the guys at the store.  Then we went to Cafe Heidelburg which is a little German deli and diner in the older part of town.  Jeff and Judy ate there 12 years ago, so we looked it up.  It was delicious.  We also went down to the old strip and saw the Gold Nugget and the old, old casinos.  It was pretty cool, but I don’t think Iwould stay down there.  (Sorry Judy.)  We went to the Minus 5 bar near Mandalay Bay which is a bar made out of ice.  It is 5 degrees below 0 Celsius, and the bar, walls, glasses, signs are all made of ice.  We put on big coats and gloves and went in.  It was very “cool”.  We also did the ultimate in “supreme hogery”.  The hotels have buffets that you pay a daily price, and you can eat as much as you want the entire day!  I was mortified that we were doing it, and then they made us wear a wrist band the entire day!  I called it the “the mark of the glutton”.  It was great food, but we obviously ate more than we needed to.  All in all, it was a great trip, but we were glad to be home.  I missed the kids so much.  It is always nice to get back to see them.