Dinner Party...

Was just writing about diet pills in my last post...and here I am talking about food??

We invited two families over for dinner last night. The kids came earlier at 3 pm for games and a swim, whereas the grown-ups came later in the evening. 

This is what the adults had....

--------------------------------------

Starter

Salmon & Cream Cheese Vol-au-Vents

Fried Aubergine & Cheese Mini-Patties

Pitta Bread and Tzaziki

Soup

Cream of Mixed Mushroom

Main

Roast Whole Leg of Lamb

Roast Potatoes

Mixed Salad

Gravy

Dessert

Tiramisu

Banoffee Pie

Coffee

And Lots of Wines, Bubbly and Beer!!!

--------------------------------

The Salmon & Cream Cheese Vol-au-Vent was really easy as I bought the ready-made pastry cases. All I had to do was fill them with cream cheese and top with slices of smoked salmon. Would be nice if I had some dill for decoration....but I certainly wasn't going to buy a whole big bunch for a few sprigs. This is the only photo I have from the list of foods....taken just this morning as they are the leftovers. 

For the Fried Aubergine & Cheese Patties, I made the mixture much earlier in the day from roasted chopped aubergines, feta cheese, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, egg and chopped parsley. My maid then shaped, coated with flour and fried them when required. ....Yes. These are very fattening!!!

The Tzaziki was as per H's birthday....

I used three different types of mushroom for the soup - Button, Portobello and Shiitake. Roasted them first, then pan-fried them with some butter and onions; before adding them to the chicken stock; and then finally blended the soup. I wanted to add some cream as the final touch...but realised I had forgotten to buy the cream. Oh well.... a much healthier soup, I supposed. 

Couldn't find a smaller lamb leg, so ended up with a Leg of Lamb that can feed 8 people (Kiddies had spaghetti bolognese and the mini-patties). Roasted the potatoes towards the last hour of lamb-roasting time (total of approx 3 1/2 hours). Sorry no photo as guests were already here. Not so nice to be taking photos in the kitchen while they wait. Cheated with the Mixed Salad. Bought ready-washed and prepared salads from the supermarket. 

Prepared both the Tiramisu and Banoffee pie on Friday. Yes. Two very decadent and sinful desserts! Again, forgot to take picture when they are still whole. The leftovers are too messed-up now to take a photo. :-)

Also baked a batch of cupcakes...thought the kids might want a snack after their swim, plus I wanted to give some to my boys' Mandarin teachers...for patiently tolerating their nonsense in class.

The Odd One Out

Pretty Daisies....

I'm PINK and Sexy!

PINK and Sweet...

Should have taken a photo of my nicely set-up table...Donno why I forgot. Anyway, here is one of the two identical arrangements I had for my dinner table...

WARNING: GROSS description from hereon....do NOT read on if you can't stomach it.....err also kinda MALU lah.

I actually didn't eat that much. Can't really eat if I'm the one that does the cooking. 

Think that's the problem. 

Didn't eat much but DRINK and DRINK and DRINK!

Had wines, bubbly, kahlua (in my tiramisu) and beer...think the combi was too much.

One family left at about midnight...as the kids were tired and pestering to go home. The other family, left the kids at home, thus continued on to have more drinks out on the patio till about 1.30 AM.  When I went to bed, I already felt uneasy...and wanted to p%ke but thought to myself "don't...don't...so sayang" so went to bed very uncomfortably. Sleep was rather disturbing as well, head was spinning all over the place. SHiaks

Must be about 3ish AM in the morning when I beh-tahan. Woke up and went to the toilet in the darkness of the night. Didn't want to blind my eyes, so kept the lights off. Thought I want to be smart....don't want to be too high from the porcelain throne (in case projectile not accurate and I would have to clean-up the sides) so squat to p%ke. Thought closer, less mess.

That was definitely a DUMB-@SS move!

The force of my stomach muscles were sooooo GREAT that while I p%ke, I pee-ed as well! 

Summore my p%ke was not sekali-gus. I could feel my stomach going like spasms like that...and with each wretched pull of my stomach muscles, a projectile of yucky wine and whatever alcohol products propelled out. The force of the projectile was so great that I absolutely could NOT control my bladder muscles. 

Literally, I was p#king and pee-ing simultaneously!!

Bleah......blardy h@ll...my bladder was blardy FULL to the max summore!

What to do???

Turn on the bl@rdy lights to start cleaning myself and the floor lah!!!!!

Maid gone off this morning summore...

Geezzz... and woke up this morning with a bl@rdy hang-over! 

Never felt so sh!tty ever. Made myself a HOT bowl of soupy chicken maggi mee, took a panadol and went back to bed. H nudged me at about 11.30 AM; to tell me that he's bringing the boys out to have lunch and to buy DVDs....leaving me to continue to zzzzzzz. 

The moment they came home, S1 asked if I was better.....heheheheheheh... 

NO more drinking like a fish!! Or at least I should fill my stomachs with some foods first....

BTW, did I mention that my dinner party was a success? :-)

To Binge or Not to Binge?

Okay. I have to admit that I somewhat borrowed my post title from Shakespeares' Hamlet. But it is really the right question to ask ..."to binge or not to binge" when one is at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

- Do you binge and then starve for a few days after?

- Or perhaps starve a few days, and then binge?

- Or pop a couple of diet pills to suppress your voracious appetite?

- Binge but not forgetting to take some fat-burner pills 30 minutes prior?

- Or would you be sensible enough to eat just enough?

So what type are you?

Got sent back again!

Remember my post about S2 being sent home from school on Tuesday and Wednesday??

Well, I did insist that he go to school on Thursday. As usual, sent him off onto the bus at 6.45 pm. As about 9.30 PM, I got a call from his school again.

This time, it was the Head Nurse. 

I knew her personally....as her son used to be in S2's class. We went on chatting about S2's conditions...as to why he only coughs badly in class and NOT in the nurse's station nor at home. She then asked if S2 is unhappy about his class; and stressed that at his age, he may have difficulty voicing-out. 

Anyways, she told me to collect him from school as the teachers were rather concerned about his BAD cough....and that he may be coming down with a flu. So it's better to let him stay at home to rest. YES. Stay at home on Friday too!

So...off I trot to school again. 

As I entered the Nurse's station; I saw S2 laughing and chatting with a fellow classmate. She's also been sent to the Nurse's station.

I asked them if it was a PLOY to get off-school. Heee heee...

After picking up S2, I decided to drop by at Carrefour (since I have a dinner party planned for Saturday...and sending S2 home first would be too time-consuming). The whole time we were there, NOT a single cough out of S2. And the moment I asked "where got sick?", he would cough so hard as if he was gonna belch!

Aduh!

I did take him to see an Allergy Specialist later that day....S2 IS allergic to something which I donno what. That something triggers his asthma. Some allergens will be quite mild, and others will put him in a state of wheeziness. So..want to check what exactly he's allergic too. After the results are out, I want to bring him to the Bio2000 (sci-fi???) place that uses electromagnetic waves to check for allergies as a confirmation....

As I had given S2 Actifed for his cough, the allergy test could not be conducted. Had to wait for a week for the medication to wear off.  The specialist did prescribe S2 with an additional inhaler ...which had to be used even if there is NO attack. I read the inhaler insert and it did say that it should be continually used even if there is no symptoms of wheeziness. 

So...will see how this goes...

Belated Post - Birthday Gifts

This post should have been completed waaaaaaaaaaay back to September. 

Anyway, better late than never lah.

Birthday dinner was with H and both the boys over at Portovenere (Italian restaurant) at Ritz-Carlton. Can't remember what I ordered exactly...but it was something PORKY. :-) 

After the bill was settled, the wait staff brought a small tiramisu cake with singular candle...and proceeded to sing the birthday song. Lucky the restaurant wasn't full...otherwise would be quite malu (embarassing)! Overall, the meal was pretty good. (S2 has requested that we have his birthday dinner here the next time)

When we got home...still had two cakes to blow. Both of the cakes were gifts.

Bakerzin's Strawberry ShortCake from Sis from SIN

(The delivery guy must be driving recklessly....as the cake was partly damaged. I complained to him and he offered to replace it. But I just accepted it as it is....Taste still GOOD lah)

The Harvest's Rich Chocolate Cake from a Local Friend

(Gave a BIG chunk to the staff....like 3/4 of the cake!)

Gucci Moon Bag

(This was my birthday present from H.....Errr. Actually, I chose it myself, and he paid for it. Got this LARGE bag for our US trip. Have to say very GOOD for travelling. Can put all sorts of JUNK...camera, wallet, lip-gloss, H's wallet, brochures, cardigan, medicine pouch, mints etc.... I look pretty good carrying it too!!!!! Heeeeheeee)

What am I to do?

....with S2 that is.

Let me start at the beginning...ie. Monday, 10th Nov. 6.

Time is 6.20 AM.

S2 announced that he 'lau-sai'. I told him to go wash up, change and wait for the school bus. Then proceeded to get him some medicine.

When to check on him. He was still sitting on the throne. I had a peek. Not much of a 'lau-sai'. He did stain on his underwear a little bit. Told him again to wash, change into new school shorts. 

S2 immediately asked "what if I lau-sai in school again?".

I was very skeptical of this boy....remember the time that I was leaving on a flight? 

Read here. 

Mom did pick him up from school but she said "where got lau-sai? Summore want to follow me out and want to eat KFC!".

So I said "Eh. I'm not grandma. I'm not going to laugh over it if you make me go all the way to school to pick you up!". 

S2 reluctantly boarded the bus to school on Monday. 

Then there's Tuesday, 11th Nov. He boarded the bus for school at 6.45 AM. 

At 9.00 AM, I got a call from the school nurse ...informing me to come collect S2 from school as he was coughing and wheezing badly. I was due to attend a Coffee Morning/ Lunch at a friend's house. Made apple crumble and vanilla custard for dessert at the do. 

BUT I had to go to school right?

So off I went to school to pick S2. Only reached home about 10.30 AM. 

With a "supposedly" sick kid. I told my friend that I had to cancel and got my driver to send the dessert over without me. :-(

Was a sick kid sleeping and resting?

Noooooooo. Insisted to go on the computer and did all sorts of nonsense. Not only that, had to bombard me with non-stop questions.

 *sigh* Why can't they keep him in school? At least give me some hours of peace and quiet.

On top of that, he wasn't coughing much at home too.

And today, Wednesday 12 Nov...

He was perfectly okay when I put him on the morning school bus. 

Again...I got a call from the nurse at about 9.00 AM.

This time, I asked if she could keep him in the Nurse' Station for observation, and I would call later to check on him.

I did call her about 10.30 AM. She said he was fine, and since it was break time, that fella has gone out to play with his pals... 

Duh????

I told her to talk to his teacher and see if he could stay in class rather than being sent home....blah blah blah.

Not long later, his class teacher called. I'm sure he must think that I am a BAD mommy. 

(see my previous post on how he might think I am a SLACKER mommy...). He said he'll keep Ethan in the class for the time being, but would send him home if need be. And then went on about how he should rest at home etc etc etc. Told him that he was perfectly ALRIGHT when he is at home. Thus it's really difficult to decide if it was really necessary to keep him at home. 

*sigh* 

And guess what?

S2 turned up at the doorstep at about 1 PM. Teacher actually sent him home on an earlier school bus!

Don't want to pick him up ...He also can find his way home! 

Again...not much coughing at home. When you ask him "where got cough?"

He'll go on a 'forced cough' streak! 

Went on the computer like forever...Of course when S1 came home, he was pretty upset that S2 got to SKIVE from school AGAIN!!

So...What am I to do?

Send S2 to school tomorrow or NOT???

Day 7 - New York & New Jersey

We arrived at JFK New York early in the morning of Thursday, 16th Oct at 6.20 AM.
(We took the RED-eye out from Las Vegas the night before)
Our flight, which was on Delta was MOST uncomfortable. Our seats could NOT recline whatsoever. Not even a wee-bit.
As a result, H was wide-awake throughout the flight. Certainly RED-eyed indeed!!!!
Me? I did catch about forty-winks despite the discomfort.

First thing that we did was to proceed to Budget to pick up our rental car....or should I say van?
It was a 7-seater with ample boot space.
When H saw it, he asked "Waaa..you intend to buy alot of things is it??". Actually, this HUGE vehicle was the cheapest on the list. Even cheaper than those compact economy ones. And cheaper by quite alot too, if I might add. Booked it through CarRentals.com. I have to say that this online site is quite good (NO. I am not doing a paid post). It allows you to see a list of offerings from major rental car companies in your selected pick-up location and hire-dates. You simply pick and choose from the list. 

Why do we need a car in New York City?
Well.....that's because we are going OUT of NYC . 

To be more precise, we are heading for....... Woodbury Common Factory Outlets!
This place is definitely a  MUST-GO for shopaholics! 

Even NON-shopaholics would find loads of goodies here. 

We did get a Garmin GPS from Budget. But somehow, this particular unit that we got was a bit 'fann-ying-chee-tun' (slow reaction) and didn't give the turn-right command on time. And because of that, we missed a turn and had to re-route through a residential area. H was a bit p%ssed with the detour. I on the other hand, thought it was a good detour. Got to see the RICH New Jersey FALL colours of REDS, BROWNS, ORANGE, YELLOWS... and houses all decked out in their Halloween decor. 

Didn't know why I didn't take any photos of this picturesque site.

:-(

On reaching Woodbury, it was still waaaaaaaay too early. Shops were still closed and H was zombiefied from non-sleep the night before. 

So what do two 'sor-lous' (silly man) do?

We parked, reclined our seats and slept in the car!

Hahahahah...

Think we slept about an hour. By then, shops were starting to open....and we were both REFRESHED and ready to go SHOPPING!

What did I buy in this particular outlet? Cannot really remember totally...but I remember another pair of Cole Haan's, a Cole Haan wallet for MIL, a Coach wallet for mom, my Wedgewood India-design coffee pot, 2 x Calvin Klein tops (which costs USD 5/- each!!!) and donno what. Been to so many factory outlets that I donno what I bought from where... will post all purchases (except the wallets...given to mom and MIL already) in a separate post.

Some were having like BIG BIG sales with clothes all over that I donno how to look nor buy. Loads of Emporio Armani stuff starting from USD 10/- but like I said, donno how to rummage. Didn't buy anything from Tods nor Bottega. Didn't have anything I like. :-(

There were other brands like Prada, Gucci, CD, Crate and Barrel, etc etc. The thing that I wanted to buy very much was an Espresso Machine...but H said that it would be 'ma-fann' (troublesome) as the voltage is different. 

:-(

Anyways, we left Woodbury (which is in NY state) in the afternoon and headed back to NYC.....passing through New Jersey again. This time, I did take some photos...but as we were on the highway all the way, couldn't get better pictures of the beautiful foliage.

RED, ORANGE, YELLOWs...at Woodbury's Carpark

FALL Colours from the Highway

En-Route back to NYC

On arrival in NYC, we checked into our hotel, Shelburne Murray Hill on 37th E/ Lexington and left our baggage with the concierge....then immediately headed out to return our rental car on 43rd Street East. The walk back to the hotel was quite leisurely.  The hotel is part of a boutique hotel chain. Rooms were quite nice as they were newly-refurbished with LCD TV and Aveda Toiletries. Though this room is slightly bigger than the one in San Fransisco, the price is like DOUBLED. Room rates in NYC is crazily high! ...that's why we took the RED-eye over so that we can at least save one night's room rate!

Initially, H asked if I wanted to stay at The Plaza. I checked the rates and it was at an exorbitant price of over USD 900! GILA lah. I could buy sooooooooooooooooooo many things with that money man!

Had a shower and abit of a rest before heading out towards Grand Central Station (42nd E/Lexington) and Times Square. We had dinner at Red Lobster ...*BURP*

Weird and Silly!

I had the weirdest of weird dreams last night!!

First, I dreamt that this guy (one of H's friend) jilted me for my schoolmate from secondary school...and married her. Of course I was devastated!!! 

And then suddenly, my dream continued with 'Mr. Big' as the leading man.

Do I hear you say "Mr. Big who?"

Remember 'Mr. Big' from 'Sex and the City'???

Well...that's him.

Story or should I say dream started off with him drifting back to into my life after many years of non-contact....we broke-up maaaa... (hahahhahah..funny, I know. I woke up laughing). 

When I saw him, I heart ached for him. Yearning for his hugs and kisses (Ehh....the feelings in my dreams d@mn real okay!!!)

Anyway, we were somewhat working together...and he was as his usual flirty-self.

Of course I tried to distance myself away from him, and at the same time being pulled by this great force of magnetism. :-)

But I remained strong and avoided him whenever possible. 

I also had constant reminders from my friends on how he HURT me when he jilted me, (ehhh...this is continuation from the first dream...just donno why the leading man can fully-change into a different person one leh??!?!?) how devastated I was; and that I should NEVER EVER let this man into my life again...

Somehow, in between....there was a part that I wanted to return 'the engagement ring' that he gave me years ago. (Blur-blur lah this part)

Aiya...but my heart very 'gian' (yearn?) for this fella, and accepted a lift from him.

But hor...I donno why 'Mr. Big' can speak Cantonese one wor..... very good lah him. Hahhahaha. Really. Whole time in the car, we were speaking Cantonese.

And yes. This 'Mr. Big' is also a RICH guy like in 'Sex and the City'. 

He was going on-and-on about something...and then asked if I wanted to have his baby!

Don't know what happened, and we ended up in an orphanage supervising some kids in their colouring.

Alamak! This time, all of us conversing in Mandarin. 

For those who knows me, you know my Mandarin is the worst of the worst...how to converse in Mandarin? And 'Mr. Big' conversing in Mandarin?

I supposed our relationship would have gotten back on-track (and perhaps some hanky-panky too??? heeeeheee) if not for this wretched thing...

Yup. Alarm ringing...... Doo-doo-du-dut. Doo-doo-du-dut (the sound is like that ma...I'm using my Nokia phone as alarm lah).

Time to wake-up. To wake my two school-going monsters. 

Back to Reality....

Guessed I won't know how hanky-panky with this guy works out.....

Smarter Next Time!

Remember how I complained about the hotel that we stayed in Las Vegas?
I supposed I thought that I was already IN Las Vegas, ....testing my luck in a weird form of 'gambling' when I put a bid into an 'unknown' room. In this case, the potential winnings would be a room in a TOP NOTCH hotel. Unfortunately, lady luck was not on my side and I 'lost', and got a room at a hotel that was not up to expectations. On hindsight, I should have just looked through all the las vegas hotels that were available, and select one that suits us best. At least, I would not be caught by surprise. :-(

Well, next time I will be smarter. 

Yes. I'm sure we will be going to Las Vegas again...one of these days. :-)

New Dining Table?

Both H and I are planning a small dinner party this Saturday. So far, we've invited two Australian families. H was contemplating if we should invite more people, but thought otherwise as it would be too big a squeeze to fit more than 6 adults at our current 6-seater dining table.....unless we go out and buy a BIGGER dining table. He actually said "you can buy a bigger dining table, if you want". I would actually love an 8-seater. Problem is that I don't want to spend too much on it. Wonder if there is a discount furniture shop in my area. Not only it has to be affordable, it has to deliver quick as well!

Updates - 7 November 2008

Thought that I should do a general update post...since I've been bombarding my blog with my US holiday posts lately that 'other stuff' seems to be getting left out.

'Slacker Mommy'

This must be what S2's teacher is thinking about me. 

Why?

No. 1 - I have not been signing S2's Home/School Communication Book. It's supposed to be signed on a daily basis; to acknowledge that I am up to speed on the daily happenings/ requirements in S2's class.

No. 2 - S2 did tell me verbally that his teacher said that he needs new shoes (*gulp*) and have his eyes rechecked... I had been dragging my feet until the teacher had to put it in WRITING in the Home/School Communication Book....and even then, I took awhile to do all these things.

No. 3 - I have not been diligently supervising S2's reading. And teacher had made a remark in S2's Reading Diary. (*Double Gulp*)

Finally did get him a pair of new school shoes on Wednesday...and he wore it on Thursday. The moment S2 came home from school, he said "Mr. M said I look smart in my new shoes."

I wonder if the comment was meant for this 'Slacker Mommy' with the intent of saying "It's about time!!!!"

Four-Eyed Boy

My four-eyed boy's vision has gone worse. *sigh*

From his previous 1.00R/1.25L to the current 2.00R/2.25L.

Thus had to change his lens.....d@mn expensive here summore. H's eyes almost popped out when the guy told him USD 45/-. 

Yes. Just for lens only. No frame. Re-using the old frame that we bought from KL. 

Octavian

"Oct who??"...was my immediate question.

'Octavian is the nephew of Julius Caesar, or more popularly known as his adopted son.'

Did you know that??

That's what my son told me.

S2's learning about the Romans....and there's going to be a ROMAN DAY early next month, and he wants to be Octavian. And you know what that means to mommy?

She'll have to search the net to find a suitable costume that is easy to be tailored. :-P

This is what she has come up with this morning...not exactly Octavian though but more of Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony.

I think the first one is more like Octavian...and quite easy to have it tailored (No lah. Of course NOT by me, but a professional tailor).

What say you?

No More Guest Room

Well, we now do not have a guest room. Last Sunday,  S2 decided that he WANTS his OWN room. He was even willing to give up the 'shared tv' in the old room. Give up the en-suite. Previously, when the idea of separate rooms came up; it was always an argument about WHO would be the one leaving the bedroom with the ensuite and TV. (I wanted to remove the TV out from the room....but unfortunately, it has no real place to go.)

 :-(

We proceeded to convert the 'guest room' to S2's room. Posters of 'Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and something else' were put up (Somehow...S2 shares the same interest in ancient history as his dad); as well as some of his paintings from last year. Still need some clearing up to make the room look better (like sorting out their old toys...wanna bring them to the orphanage). Will post some pix when the room is in better shape.

As for future guests (errrr...nobody ever visits us other than my parents!), ie. when we have them; will get S2 to move over to S1's room or if it's grandma, surely the boys want to be together with her. Will see how when the time comes. 

And since S1 has his 'privacy' now...he locked his room door last night. 

Mmmmmmmmm...why? I wonder.....     ;-D

heheheh

No.8

Or 'Ah Patt'...that me!

But apparently not 'patt' enough!

We were all at Best Denki's opening last weekend....and I saw that people were queuing. Lots of people. I just didn't know what. Nor did I ask. 

Only much later, I found out that they were queuing for BIG discounts for the HP Minibook and Brother Laser Printer.  For the HP Minibook, 10 units were available with approx. USD 200/- off, and for the Brother LP, 15 units were at a price of USD 50 from an original of USD 150/-. When I realised the potential big savings, all the units were gone!

H commented that next time, when I see people queuing. I should just queue. No need to ask...and then added "ying koi patt, yau mm patt"!

hahahhahaha

Stupid ISP

Didn't have internet connection since Sat (1 Nov) till Wed (5 Nov)...thought something wrong with the line etc. Finally 'beh tahan' and called the ISP. 

They said that we haven't paid our bill. 

Apa-lah! Pay what when the bill indicates ZERO amount due??

Of course I screamed at them and told them to re-connect IMMEDIATELY.

Waaa....sure enough, it was connected immediately. 

So now. NomadicMom is happy :-)

Day 5 & 6 - Las Vegas

*Gulp* Only on Day 5 - Las Vegas
These days, am so long-winded ah.

Started the day with queuing....for discount show tickets.
Errr...H was NOT too happy about having to queue (as he was standing under the sun with a very annoying background music) for the discount tickets....as the discount only accorded a small saving of approx. 15%and NOT the 50% discount as we thought. Anyway, got tickets for Cirque du Soleil's Mystere and to the BODIES exhibition.

Then we proceeded to Wynn's for brunch. Really wanted something CHINESE and read that the Wynn has two Chinese restaurants. We opted to eat at the more casual red8. H had Penang Fried Kway Teow, and I had the Taiwanese Beef Noodle...Both dishes were rather authentic and good!

red8's Decor

I really like the Wynn. The hotel is very tastefully-designed (even the one in Macau is too). If we come to Las Vegas again, don't mind staying here. :-)

After brunch, we strolled all the way down The Strip from Wynn to Luxor and then back up again! Yes. One end to the other...Of course, we did stop in-between...to take pictures, drink a glass of wine or two, have a scoop of ice-cream, placed some bets on the roulette table, buy some souvenirs (magnets lah) etc.

Venice in Las Vegas?...The Venetian

And Paris too!

The BODIES exhibition was over at Luxor. Have to say it feels quite weird to see REAL human bodies preserved by a polymerisation process. It is eerie yet a marvel! Got 'conned' into buying the souvenir photo.... Okay. Okay. NOT conned. But just being a SUCKER as the 2 photos of us cost USD 30!

Also experienced my FIRST AQUA-MASSAGE! It was quite pricey for 7 minutes. Think it was USD 15/-. But H said that I should try it and see how being massaged by water feels...since I like massage so much. Basically, you get into the machine whereby the water jets are programmed to emulate a masseuse. I have to say that there was a variation of "pressure points" and "swedish" techniques. But of course NOTHING beats REAL HANDS!
No. Won't get wet as there is a lining in between.

A View of my Butt!

What else did we do?

We had some drinks in The Bellagio (Yes. did managed to see the famed musical fountains, more drinks at the MGM Grand, had ice-cream in the Pallazo. Oh yeah... H and I shared a burger in the Venetian.

Halloween Decor at the Bellagio

Courtyard at The Palazzo

Ice-Creams Galore!! .....at The Palazzo

After dinner and ice-cream, it was time to catch Mystere at Treasure Island.

Despite of our last minute discount tickets, we had pretty good seats. Am quite pleased with our seat location, and the show was pretty good too! After the show, the free Sirens performance (which takes place outside of TI) was on.....H thought it was pretty boring, thus we only stayed for about 10 minutes. By the time we got back to our hotel was about 11-ish already....to find out that our rooms were NOT made!

Day 6 - Still in Las Vegas

We checked-out of our rooms in the morning; left our luggage with the concierge....and proceeded to buy discounted tickets again. This time, we need NOT queue as the previous day's tickets constitutes as a VIP pass... We bought half-priced tickets to watch Dirk Arthur Xtreme Magic at the Tropicana. The MAIN reason that we bought these tickets was because it was the ONLY show in the afternoon (all other shows were at night)...and we wanted to KILL time....as we would be taking the RED-eye out to New York later.

This time, weren't so GUNG-HO to walk the whole length of The Strip . Used the Monorail instead....but still had to walk some ways to the station!

We had lunch at Wolfgang Puck (a celebrity chef, I think) Bar & Grill restaurant over at the MGM Grand.

Cover of Menu
(I think?)

One View of the Restaurant

Restaurant's Wine Cellar

One of the Glass Panels in the Restaurant

H's Steamed Mussels....Delicious!

My Veal Ravioli...Yummy!

As for the Xtreme Magic, though both H and I are NOT magic show fans, I have to say that Dirk Arthur is quite good. H missed a whole chunk of it though......as he was zzzzzzz!!! Yes. I'm serious. Unfortunately, the hotel is not very nice. Old and kinda rundown already.....

Even after the show, we still had time to have a drink at MGM Grand's Centrifuge Bar.

We also took the monorail to visit Aladdin's. Another old hotel. Not very nice. But according to H, was THE place in the old days.... as portrayed in many old movies.

Stratosphere...

(Photo taken from the Aladdin Monorail Station)

Where did we go for dinner?
red8 again! But this time, we had rice and dishes...

After dinner, it was time to pick-up our bags from The Trump International (NOT staying here again EVER!) and head to the airport for our RED-eye flight to New York....

Crayfish Party

Remember I said that I was going to a Crayfish Party on the 31st of October in my last post?

H told me that the dress code was Smart Casual......

"Are you sure?" was my immediate question to H. It is HALLOWEEN after-all....
"I still have my witch's hat with orange hair and the ugly fingers... I can come as a WITCH".

H insisted that it is Smart Casual. :-(
And I was hoping to have some fun..... :-P
So...okay lor... I wear my new white top, long beige trousers and beige heels lor...

H went to Marriott directly from work, and I was to meet him there.

Waaaaaaaaa........... LUCKY I didn't come in my WITCH's GARB!

Most ladies were in Cocktail Dresses lah. I felt so under-dressed...but lucky still smart.
How STUPID and WEIRD if I really came as a WITCH??

Anyway, this Crayfish Party is for charity... It's a Nordic tradition. Basically, we sing (Nordic songs, of course), drink schnapps and eat crayfish.

Forgot to bring my camera along, so photos taken from my mobile is ultra-blurry...

Crayfish Party Props...

More Styrofoam Crayfish

Big Poster of Crayfish
View of Stage

Half-Naked MC
(First time I see half-naked man clad in just a towel as MC)
My Glass of Water
A BIG Plate of Crayfish and Dill

The starter was a mushroom and spinach quiche, and the main course was CRAYFISH, of course!

The two BIG plates of Crayfish on our table was refilled each time it was emptied. It was in the typical style of how ang-mohs eat their seafood...i.e. COLD. In the beginning, it was okay...but after about 20 COLD crayfish, you start to yearn for the Chinese-style ones...i.e. cooked in garlic or curry sauce or baked in black pepper or something. Yet...more COLD crayfish kept coming. Basically, eat with the dill and mayonaise. After awhile, my hands just got sooo COLD from peeling the COLD crayfish. So NOT shiok. Gave up after that...

When I was washing my hands, I only realised that I was suffering from some kind of allergic reaction from the crayfish. My fingers were all blotchy RED! Lucky my lips didn't puff up, nor did I suffer the same BAD reaction that I did last time where I had to be hospitalised.

Dessert - Raspberry Mousse

One of the Props...(took this one home with me...)

In case you are wondering... H works for a Nordic company....

Back into the Groove...

Am more into my regular schedule this week.....after 'refusing' to get out from my holiday-mood. When I got back and was confronted by fighting between the two boys, I was like "I need another holiday". And you know what my two monkeys said "GO. GO." And you know why?? 

Because while I was away, Grandma allowed them to play their games during weekdays! 

Plus Grandma tend to spoil them and let them have their way!!!

Anyways, this week is BACK TO USUAL BUSINESS... went back onto my weekly Oil Painting class on Monday. Was kinda tired of re-touching my water lilies for the 100th time; managed to 'borrow' a spare canvas from a friend...and proceeded on something new. My current work-in-progress are two Balinese Dancers.....will post a pix when I am done. Now it is only 15% completed. 

Scrapbooking also re-commenced on Tuesday. Played with my new 'toys', i.e. the acrylic stamps that I got from my trip. Perhaps a little too over-enthusiastic as one of my pages seem TOOOO cluttered with stamps now! Also indulged in my once-a-week privilege ......Scone & Cream. *Gulp* which is why I have also re-commenced on my gym visits. :-P

An aunt was in town (actually, still in town) and I went to her hotel to meet her yesterday. Didn't know where to take her, so just took her to the nearby wholesale market. Too much stuff that she said that she didn't know how to look nor buy. :-)

Oh yeah...and had to revert back to my MOTHERLY ROLE too.

S1 had his teacher-parent conference yesterday (Thursday, 30th Oct) at school. 

Waaaaaa....had to meet soooo many subject teachers..and at different locations. But have to say that we did quite well...managed to see all except two of his subject teachers.

Mostly they have POSITIVE things to say about S1. 

But do these angmoh teachers actually would say negative stuff about students? I donno....

And was in school again today...this time for S2's Art Project. Basically, to help out during their class Art Period. The kids' project was to make a 'Roman Mosaic' on a flowerpot, using egg-shells. Sounds and looks easy...but I tell you NOT easy at all. Need very nimble fingers!!!

And tonight...will do my WIFEY ROLE.... 

Errr...before you all have notti thoughts...it's not what you think. Not the bedroom role, okay!!!

I am just accompanying H to a function....not exactly know what to expect. Just am told that it's a 'Crayfish Party' at the Marriott. A Nordic Tradition, as I am told.....

The Low Down on Trump International...

No. This is definitely not a paid post!!!

No. I did not specifically SELECT The Trump International Hotel and Towers.

Let me tell you how I 'landed' onto this hotel...

H had been telling me about the 'Name Your Own Price' option on Priceline.com.
So...being the curious 'ole me, I went to try it out. Basically, all you need to do is select the date, city, location, star rating and the price that you would pay.
The name of the hotel is witheld until you've won 'a bid'.
Easy enough...

The location that I selected was 'ON the Strip' for 5-star hotels...
And when the result came...it was The Trump International Hotel and Towers. I tell you, immediately, I was sooooo disappointed! I was hoping for maybe the Bellagio...
:-P
Then went on to look at the hotel websites, read reviews etc.... Hotel website says it's at the corner of Fashion Drive and Strip...and reviews said otherwise...Reviews were also NOT so positive about this 5-star hotel. So, was a little apprehensive about this hotel...but was still open-minded...

The lobby, rooms, bathroom were all nice. Check out their site for photos...Even have an LCD TV in the bathroom....whatever for? Really got such terror TV-addicts? For financial tycoons that need to watch the news while soaking in the tub???

But then, the location is definitely NOT on the STRIP. I was telling H that I got cheated by Priceline. It takes about 5 -10 minutes walk to the STRIP (depending on how fast you walk lah...). I mean most times, we cut through Fashion Show Mall...but after mall hours, we have to walk on the road. Certainly NOT on the STRIP!!!!

I did request for a room on the high floor...as there were many reviews on TripAdvisor that the noise from the freight trains behind the hotel was unbearable...So, with a room on the high floor, we weren't disturbed by the blaring horns as some guests have complained.

The low-down was.... On the next morning, my toilet got blocked!!! (errr...lucky it didn't overflowed!)
AIYO! How can a 5-star hotel be like that?
And this is a spanking new hotel in Las Vegas. Not some crappy hotel in the middle of some Sumatran Jungle!

Anyways, called housekeeping to sort it out. Informed them that they could get right to it as we were leaving the room. That was about 10.15 am....

We only got back into our room at about 11.30 PM....as were entering our room, we saw that the day's newspaper sitting at the entryway. H then said "Eh...don't tell me they didn't make-up our room".

ADUH! Really. Our room was NOT made up!
If I was staying at some shit-hole, I wouldn't be complaining....but we paid good money here!!

Okay, nevermind. H called Housekeeping to complain but told them it was pointless to send someone to clean our room at 11.45 pm ! But could they please send some clean towels!!!
We waited like FOREVER for our towels....... and then H made another call to complain...

I went in to shower. AIYOOOOOOO... NO HOT WATER!!!
What to do?
Just wash my hands and legs and my ahem-ahem....
Just as I was finishing, the water then only turned lukewarm...enough for me to wash the rest of my bits without freezing my @ss off. And I am that kind who lurrrrves HOT showers.
Knowing me...I was complaining the whole time...whinging that my third-world country shower is more powerful and hotter than Donald Trump's.

I think H called Housekeeping to complain again....and later, the manager called to apologise. It was quite funny as H remarked to me"As Donald says 'You Are FIRED'". I was like "huh? you really told him that?" Hahahha.. Of course not lah.

The next day, the water was warmer but still not my usual HOT. :-(

Not only that...the room had a little kitchenette with all the spanking gleaming appliances....but when I wanted to boil some water, found out that the stove was "locked". Didn't bother to call housekeeping to sort it out...thus ended up drinking water straight from the tap. The appliances just for show or what??????

And also expected a 5-star hotel to have a well-stocked minibar in the room. 

NADDA! Not even bottled water. All they had were coffee, sugar and cream.

Is it a norm in the USA that there is zilch minibar in the room or what? 

Just kept telling H that the 5-Star hotel that we have in this third-world country is waaaaaaaaay ahead man!

Don't think the hotel is at a decent occupancy rate...as there weren't many people around. We wanted to have a drink in the hotel lobby bar...but it was rather deserted.
No fun with no people, right? So gave it a miss.

Will I stay here again???
Definitely NOT!!

Day 4 - Bakersfield, Barstow, Las Vegas

RISE and SHINE ....early in the morning of Day 4. Monday - 13th October 2008.

We had a light continental breakfast (included in the rate) at the hotel. Perhaps for H not so light...as he had two eggs, and waffles... I only had half a muffin. Mind you, it was a HUGE muffin. After breakfast, we were on the road again.
Our first destination were the FACTORY OUTLETS at Barstow, which took us about 2 hours drive from Bakersfield.

Polo Ralph Lauren, Guess, Coach, Nine West, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Ultra Diamonds, Kenneth Cole, were some of the brands at the Tanger Outlet. As H was a mission to get rid of my 1980's wardrobe...I was on the roll! Let's see, what did I buy here? Basically, only hung out in two shops, i.e. Kenneth Cole and Ann Taylor (sale here!). Think I bought two pairs of slippers and two blouses from Kenneth Cole. And from Ann Taylor; two shirts, a cardigan, some long and 3/4 pants. After about 2 1/2 hours here, we decided to head towards Las Vegas.....as we wanted to check out the Las Vegas Premium Outlet....BUT not before stuffing ourselves with good 'ole KFC first!!


Driving to Las Vegas from Barstow took another 2 1/2 hours.....Drive was on the Interstate Highway...so NOT too bad. Not like the remote road from Monterey to Bakersfield the night before...

Las Vegas....HERE WE COME!

The route from Barstow to Las Vegas was through the Mojave Desert.....

Miles and Miles of Barren Land..

On arrival in Las Vegas, we went straight to the outlet.

:-)

Errr...here I bought two pairs of shoes from Cole Haan, two pairs from Stuart Weizman, some other stuff....can't remember. Will post ALL my purchases in a separate post. But I tell you...really cheap compared to back home. Not only the stuff were at outlet prices, a lot of the stuff were going at 50% off too! Yes...my shoes were 50% off factory-outlet prices. This outlet...is a MUST-COME.

By the time we were done here, it was almost 7 pm. And we head off to check-in at our hotel.
Where did we stay?

Trump International Hotel and Tower......before you go "waaaaaa...Trump wor", I will have a SEPARATE post to blaaaah about the hotel.

Anyway, we checked-in, showered and then headed out to return our rental car. Took a cab to the first hotel on the south end of The Strip, i.e. Mandalay Bay. Had a buffet dinner there. Basically, we just ate crabs and more crabs. Just simple steamed Alaskan Snow Crabs dipped in butter. Yes. There were loads of other stuff...prime rib, lamb, turkey, pasta, pizza, Chinese food etc etc...but we just homed-in on the CRABS!!!!!

Did I mentioned that we tried our luck at the roulette table at the Mandalay Bay?

SHUCKS! Lady Luck NOT smiling on us... :-(

What to do?

But to head back to our hotel for zzzzz. Perhaps better luck the next day???