Notes on Las Vegas

October 21st through November 1st, 2012

Lake Lucerne
We made it to Las Vegas on Sunday, October 21st, just a bit too late to bet on the early games but in plenty of time to enjoy the 70's and 80's (℉).
Lake Lucerne
We also made it in time to see a movie being shot (Last Vegas) and a giant tribble on a stick that turned out to be a microphone. There was also Kevin Kline.
Lake Lucerne
The fish in the giant aquarium behind the check-in at the Mirage never fail to impress.
Lake Lucerne
I especially like the ones with the long noses.
Lake Lucerne
The Vegas sports book at the Mirage. An easy and ecological way to flush away unwanted cash cluttering your wallet. Sundays are particularly fun here. Watching 6 football games at the same time with 100's of new friends takes the sting out of foolish bets involving the Bears and their 2 game habit of winning but not covering the spread. Shortly after taking this picture I was told by a very nice/direct/serious man with a badge that it was not permitted to take pictures of the sports book. So now you know.
Lake Lucerne
Taking pictures of the volcano in front of the complex however, is perfectly legal.
Lake Lucerne
Taking pictures of the Bellagio fountains is also fine.
Lake Lucerne
Not sure if it's legal to smack golf balls at incoming planes at the Callaway golf complex near the south end of the strip, but it's a lot warmer than the Nicolet Country Club's range this time of year and we missed every plane anyway.
Lake Lucerne
I had always operated under the assumption that boats were manufactured. It seems that ADM has come a long way in the past few years. Not sure if this is called a canoe tree or a boat bush but the crop this year is impressive.
Lake Lucerne
'Tis a fine crop of Grumman, English.
Lake Lucerne
Shortly after we unsuccessfully tried to pick a nice ripe fishing boat, we ran into a fellow Knott Lane resident here for a convention or he ran too far down Hwy Q while training for the O'Keefe triathlon or something.
Lake Lucerne
Boat bushes are all well and good but, if you visit the area, you must see Hoover Dam.
Lake Lucerne
It could be noted that Lake Mead is low.
Lake Lucerne
In a pool on the Arizona side that should be more than 50 feet deeper, we thought we saw a bunch of fish
Lake Lucerne
Zooming in confirmed it. There were fish. Big 'uns.
Lake Lucerne
The new bridge downstream is even more impressive and a bit scary to walk across.
Lake Lucerne
Some of the best things about the dam are the artifacts left over from its construction over 75 years ago.
Lake Lucerne
In addition to the weather, golf, tennis, the dam and not betting on the Bears, we try to make it to Las Vegas for Halloween. The costumes can be very clever.
Lake Lucerne
This year featured condiments.
Lake Lucerne
A rare female "Waldo" was spotted.
Lake Lucerne
Monkeys and Bananas!
Lake Lucerne
Texting Spiderman.
Lake Lucerne
And South Park's very own, AWESOMO!
Lake Lucerne
While driving away from the strip, the sky was somewhat Tomcat-y
Lake Lucerne
The slopes in Colorado are open.
Lake Lucerne
The sun was rising as we entered Wisconsin. The Ice-In contest, lake level measurement and more will be up soon.


-Nemo, not a Bears fan.