Back To The Lake

Evie and Tom,  Watching Henry Play Black Jack

The Petkovsek Sisters

Just got back from Starbucks with two big boys (coffees) and it's sunny outside, a miracle, an entirely different looking Marriott when there are blue skies.  We will have a relaxing morning, get some breakfast because we don't have to leave for the airport till around noon, flight at 3;00, arrive in Buffalo at 10:15, to the cold and hopefully no snow.

Best Breakfast in Las Vegas

Yesterday,  I was up early, 7:00, walked down through the Casino to pick up a couple of coffees for Evie and I.  We relaxed in our luxurious (for us) room, reading, surfing the Net, the usual until 10:30 when Evie met her sisters and Tom took them over to the Mullens, to get things ready for the gathering after the funeral.  Tommy came back to the hotel, picked me up and we went off to a highly recommended breakfast place, Hash House A Go Go, featured as well on Drive Ins, Diners, And Dives.  I can see why.  We got there at 11:30 on a Saturday and there was already a half hour wait for breakfast/lunch.  We were lucky to get seats at the bar within ten minutes, ordered a couple of bloody Marys and just enjoyed the scene.  I ordered the sage fried chicken benedict, with maple reduction, bacon mashed potatoes, biscuit, two eggs, and bacon, enough to feed a couple of people.  Tommy got the HH special, kind of an Eggs Benedict with spinach, bacon, roasted red pepper cream, on a biscuit and mashed potatoes,  you name it, also a huge serving.  Both were amazingly good and everything that appeared on the tables near us seemed equally tantalizing.  We took our time, enjoyed savoring the different flavors, and went back to the hotel to relax for an hour before going over to the Mullens.  I  took a walk through the Casino around noon and about 90% of the players were retirees like me, shoring up their retirement incomes no doubt.  It's amazing to see all the people gambling, enjoying it (basically losing their money), but for most, I suppose, it's entertainment and harmless, as along as you set a limit on your spending and don't go too often.  I doubt many do.

Sage Fried Chicken

Hash House Special

The service for my sister was just perfect, the best part, lots of people showed up, over a hundred I would think and many police officers because, Pat, her husband, works for the Vegas police, maintaining their cars.  It was at a Spiritual Center, in a mall, not much like a church, just a stage in front of folding chairs, but the people were nice, they emphasized that death is really a 'transition,' the new way I guess.  My son Tom read a brief biography of Laura, a few New age songs were played, Laura's daughter, Leah, read a poem she had written for her Mom, a couple of female ministers spoke, then they invited  any one who wished to come up and speak about Laura, a Quaker tradition which I tend to like.  I think about five people got up to speak, did well, I thought and I felt compelled to speak as well for the family though I did not know if I could get through it.  I knew none of the sisters could.  So, it was a nice way to say good by to Laura.

We went back to the Mullens, for a gathering, with lots of food, fiddles we bought at Costco but lots of Laura's friends made food as well, so we had plenty.  It was really a nice gathering, people seemed to want to stay, and it was fun getting to know some of Laura's friends from Las Vegas. And it was good for Pat and the two kids, Leah and Sean, to have their friends there as well. About 7:00, Pat asked all of us to all go outside, as the Mini Cooper Club of Las Vegas, which the Mullens belong to, were giving a salute to Laura.  There we about ten or twelve cars, all with engines running, head lights on, and they gave three taps of their horns, about thirty seconds of silence, then everyone made noise, the Mini Coopers, revving their engines and blowing their horns,  the rest of us screaming and yelling a salute to Laura.  A nice touch

Mini Cooper Salute to Laura

Most people left around 9:30, Evie's sisters cleaned up, and we went home to the  packed, rambunctious Casino for about an hour, to unwind, before going to bed around 11:00.  Some were big winners.  Claire, Evie's sister won $200.00 Friday night, her husband Henry, around a $100.00 on Blackjack, and their daughter Becky won $ 400.00 last night on Roulette. So, some people do win.  O, yea, Evie won $10.00!