Saying Goodbye To June!

Our family room.

My workstation and Bindys space!

This is a front view of our home.

WOW...can't believe we've been here nearly a month already! Time has flown by! Yes, we are still enjoying the sunshine - the heat....well, since we don't play outside much - we haven't noticed that .....yet. The weathergal is predicting temps as high at 112 this weekend. THAT will be another "first" for us.

Since our last chat, we've been busy getting to know more of our surroundings. Randall and I have made a couple of trips around the Southern Highlands area (this is what our neighborhood is called). The construction is incredible with several more housing projects in progress as well as businesses galore! While our neighborhood is secluded, it is only a five minute drive to the nearest large shopping center. Very convenient! It includes a Smith's grocery (YES, that is the name!), a huge ACE hardware, full service salon, Subway, Chinese restaurant, Sushi (Randall's delight!), MacDonalds, Terribles Gas Station (Yes, that is the name!), Bank of America, UPS store, Walgreen's, and several more I can't remember!

Yesterday, we were able to cross off one of the important "to do" items off of our list. We traveled across town to one of the 4 DMV offices. Ok.....you wouldn't think that was a major deal... however, here in Las Vegas there are approximately 6000 new residents a month and only 30 days to get your vehicles licensed and drivers licenses updated or you'll receive hefty fines. We arrived at the DMV at 9:30 in the morning. I must tell you, a positive attitude is needed when you first see this place....not to mention what you first see as you walk through the doors. It looks like a large business complex with a parking lot that could pass for something outside a Walmart. The inside is comparible to a huge auditorium with desks that line the walls and LINES of people everywhere that extend throughout the building. VERY overwhelming!! Of course, there were no noticeable signs anyplace as to what to do first.....and we needed the FULL service - licenses for all of us and the cars too! The first line was apparently for customer service.....to TELL us what other lines we'd need to stand in. Once we got through that one, we went in separate directions. Robert and Randall took the car & truck out to a different building for a inspection of vin numbers and removal of license plates. I took all the forms and found a vacant corner to fill everything out. Once those jobs were complete - we met back up to stand in lines again (this time to make sure we had all of our forms, ID, etc.. in order) to receive a waiting number. Ours was A260. Oh my gosh! There were letters A through E and numbers up to a thousand for each!! According to the reader board, the A's were at 191. An hour later, we were called. Robert and I were done in approximately 30 minutes.... We didn't know ahead of time, but Randall would have to retake his written test (everyone under 25 is required to do this) before receiving his new license. So......over to the testing room, wait 20 minutes in line, wait for Randall to complete his test, (HE PASSED!), wait in another line for a new number, wait to be called, get the paperwork confirmed, then all of us head to the photo lab for a picture. Another line to get the photo taken, another line to receive the finished license (Randall looks like a gangster and my eyes are closed), and we are DONE! Half a day later! We are now official! Oh......and we have consecutive license plate numbers for the rigs! Pretty cool!

We stopped on the way home for Subway then spent the rest of the afternoon just doing domestic stuff at home.

One evening last week, we visited the Luxor resort. While we have stayed there in the past, they've remodeled a lot of the inside. The second floor now hosts a huge food court along with the arcade, IMAX theater, and several other attractions. After wandering around in awe, visiting the shops, and enjoying a sandwich from Quiznos, we separated. Randall couldn't decide if he'd do the IMAX or the arcade (ended up in the arcade)(better chance of meeting girls) and Robert & I headed downstairs to try our luck at the slots. We all met back up about an hour and a half later for root beer floats and then headed home. It was dark as we left the city so we were able to view all the lights up close!

The Loft

This is our LOFT. The room is at the top of the stairs and runs the total width of our home and half the length. Amazing space for "family" time! Above is Randalls corner :)

This is Robert in his "space". My desk is to his left.

Misc. Photos!

Moe

He hasn't decided if he likes it here yet - Dad hasn't been around much during the cleanings & feedings so there hasn't been anyone to torment. Also, running on the ceramic tile has proven difficult......so he has limited his guarding of the birdroom to barking from the top of his cage. Silly bird. Moes cage sits to the far left back of the birdroom.

Scully

Having her picture taken isn't something she enjoys. Actually, anything "I" do around her isn't enjoyed........as you can tell by those beautiful puffed up feathers!

Her cage is located to the front left of the birdroom.

Rosie! She sits in the corner to the right of the window. Due to her nervous behavior, we've never given her a window before. Since she seems to have calmed down over the years and did FANTASTIC during our move - we have given it a try! She seems to enjoy the change! Isn't she beautiful!!

BIRDROOM! A central room in the downstairs area. Originally, this room was probably supposed to be the formal dining room as it sported a chandelier type light that hung down the middle of the room....something we changed out as to all the "head bumping" that occurred. We haven't put up the bird lights as we used before but have instead opted for the full spectrum type that fit in a ceiling fixture. This room is VERY bright throughout the day which makes for more chattering and singing!

Viva Las Vegas!

The above photos are a few of the plants from our front yard.

This week has settled down a bit from last. Randall and I have unpacked and put away all the household "stuff", hung all the pictures, and even made the garage look half-way organized! We're basically ready to put up shelves out there, get my shop set up, and get back to business! I am definitely ready! My customers are starting to call/email as this is their busy time of year.

Poor Robert - he is exhausted from working everyday. Hopefully he'll decline any more overtime for awhile and take a break! He loves his new job and that it isn't a chore to get up and go to work! However, the move and then working everyday straight - he is feeling a bit on the tired side. He mentioned this morning that he was feeling a bit overwhelmed as there were things he WANTED to do at home and there just hasn't been time. )I used the

same comment on him as he has me so many times) "it will still be there tomorrow!"

Randall is still hanging out with me during the day. This will be his last week of "vacation" as job hunting starts! Unfortunately, the job he wants is not open until he turns 21. Most of the casino property jobs are like that unless you get into property maintenance (yard work) or food service......and we all know how much he ENJOYS that kind of work. NOT!

With school being the first priority, a job only needs to be part time and bring in his spending money. Hopefully, he'll not stress out on it and just choose something. It will get him out of the house a bit for the summer and give him a chance to meet new friends.

Speaking of summer - I'm thinking it has arrived in Las Vegas! Everyday has been sunny and warm.......however, yesterday it was 102 and today is forecast for 106! The house stays cool but dang, that is just getting up there in degrees! I can't imagine having to work outside in that heat. With all the construction going on around town - no wonder all them guys are so tan! (yes, I noticed).

We definitely have desert plants in our yard - the flowers have been in full bloom for two weeks now! I've posted pictures for you all to see! Amazingly beautiful for such a dry climate!

Haven't seen anymore of them ugly bugs - thank goodness! There was an article in the local paper a couple of days ago regarding this being ROACH season. After reading it, we will definitely use precaution to avoid inviting these gross inhabitants of nature into our home. LOL....even Randall is careful about leaving crumbs behind in the kitchen! :)

We did some brief exploring last weekend. First stop - a trip to the local WalMart for a few items on the list and discovered they have a NICE grocery store. We've never been Walmart fans as they tend to have the reputation of imported items. However, I was able to find "made in the USA" items for purchase. Even the produce was from California and Florida! The prices are extremely low compared to most markets so we may shop there from time to time.

Second stop - (with a lot of groaning from the boys) was a dollar store....or ($.99 Cent Store) as they are called here. This place was bigger then any I'd been in before. They have a full size grocery department that included not only the can goods but deli, dairy, frozen, and bakery foods! These were labeled local products - with the same brands as Albertsons and Safeway (Safeway is called something else here - I just can't remember what right now). There was also a nursery!! PLANTS!!! $.99 cents each!!! About a half hour later, I walked (or was gently pushed by my kid) out of there with an armload of cactus and a few other items we "needed". I will definitely be back. Oh.....the bill was interesting! We have tax here! 13 items came to $13.75. How strange after living in Oregon so long!

Third stop was a brand new casino/hotel that was only 10 minutes (at the most) from our home! Interestingly, all the hotels sport a type of theme or something that they are known for. This one is called South Point. It hosts a HUGE equestrian arena. Folks come from all over to participate in the action. This particular weekend, the events were sponsored by a horse breeders association. (Did I mention that there were cowboys everywhere?) The cool part about this was all the events are FREE! Apparently, this is the way some of the properties are attracting visitors!

They also host a wonderful buffet. We all had our favorite choices and took a brief tour of the facilities afterward to walk off some of our dinner.

This property has several movie theaters, a huge bowling ally, big arcade, a few other eateries, and of course the casino itself. While Randall checked out the arcade, Robert turned his $5.00 bill into $55.00 in about a half hours time. Lucky guy!

Well, it is time for me to get this posted, off my chair and busy! (In other words, run up and down them stairs a billion times). I'm behind in a few things as the darn flu bug hit me earlier this week. Took me off my feet for two days!! I'd sure like to know where that came from! Other then a raspy throat, I'm back to feeling great!

Thank you for all your comments! It is great hearing from everyone! Keep in touch and let me know how you all are doing! Sure miss everybody!!

We'll see you all in a few days via the "BLOG"!

Love,

Crystal

We've Arrived!

We arrived in our new home on May 30th about 6pm in the evening. Just in time for rush-hour traffic! THAT was not an experience I'd recommend for the faint of heart! Sheesh, you'd have thought that everyone was on their way to a fire the way folks drive out here! At one point, I asked Robert - do they have a speed limit on these roads?? His reply was (knowing where I was going with this) "sit back and close your eyes.". Like THAT was going to happen!
Well......we made it to our home!

The last few days have been spent unpacking and getting settled in. Robert went back to work on Monday the 4th so it has just been Randall and I during the day. We've actually managed to get everything from the garage that needs to be in the house unpacked and put away! This home has a ton of storage space compared to our last house......so finding a place for everything has been relatively easy. FINDING it again has been a bit harder! LOL......we're not used to three bathrooms and a laundry room PLUS all the storage closets so just locating a towel proved comical!

During one of our many searches for certain boxes in the garage, we ran across our first glimpses of "nature". A freakin' huge beetle looking critter! Bigger then anything we'd seen in Oregon! While Randall ran for a giant stick (like you are really going to find tree limbs in the desert), I jumped from my shoes and ran screaming into the house! Darn thing acted like it was following me!
The rest of the day was pretty much uneventful after that. Neither of us wanted to go back out there.
That evening, I passed by the door leading to the garage and heard some loud chirping.
After doing a search on the Internet for the local "critters", what we apparently have is a type of cricket. A BIG cricket. Anyway.......he hasn't been seen or heard of since that night. Thank goodness!

Birds have settled right in to their new environment! They did very well on the trip out here. We took the five bigger parrots in the back seat of the truck while Randall took Buzzy and BUG as well as Bindy (the guinea pig) in the SUV. Our gang road in silence for the most part.....maybe the occasional peep or screech from Rosie when a log truck got to close. Randall let us know during the first half of our journey - he wanted to trade passengers. Apparently, Buzzy insisted on singing, chattering, and whistling the entire time. Who needs an ipod when you have a tiel!!

The trip itself was uneventful. The scenery definitely changed once we left Bend and headed for Burns. You could obviously tell we were in the desert. There wasn't a tree in sight! Once we left Burns and headed for the Nevada border - we didn't see one piece of civilization for nearly an hour! Not one car, human, home, etc!!! We did see some buffalo and the occasional hawk though. That part of the drive was a bit weird....especially coming from the city! It was near dusk so being out in the middle of nowhere was spooky.

We spent the first night of our trip in McDerrmot, Nevada.....a small community on the border of Oregon and Nevada. It consisted of a casino, restaurant, gas station/7-11 type store, and a motel that boasted about 10 rooms! The rooms were actually quite large and comfortable. We had a good night sleep and were headed back out on the road by 8am the next morning!

The rest of our day was spent driving. We made excellent time getting to Las Vegas. The roads are scarcely traveled and in great shape! The speed limit is 70 most of the way. Not much to look at though.....lots of cactus, beautiful mountains, and sage brush. I actually enjoyed being able to see where we were going....for miles and miles...

Well......now that we have arrived and we've nearly finished with putting the home together - we are ready to start adventuring out! Randall and I did a MapQuest of a couple of places nearby and will set out today to visit Goodwill (drop off stuff we don't need) and a Whole Foods Market! Sound exciting?? LOL.....we'll visit all the FUN places and tell you about them once we figure out the important ones first!

Hope you all are doing well! Please write and let us know whats been happening in your neck-of-the-woods!

*HUGS*
Crystal