By Popular Demand....seperated at birth

What happens in Vegas...

 I have been procrastinating for the last few day over how to finish up the old bloggeroo...(sorry back in Australia now and have already had two meat pies and am saying words like bloggeroo and crikey again...Is bloggeroo even a word?..it is now)...anyways...the last couple of days in vegas we gave up being tourists and trying to see everything and just decided to relax.  Donated a small amount of money to a local card game emporium, lounged around by the pool and basically just enjoyed the fact that we could wear shorts for the first time in a long time.

The trip home didn't feel like it was quite as long as the trip over...I think it was because we slept for most of the flight.  I know they showed like 5 movies on the plane and I only remember what two of them were so I think I was asleep most of the trip...either actually asleep or pretending to be asleep so I didn't have to talk to the Gabitron...don't tell her I said that or I will get into trouble.

I still haven't decided how I am going to finish the blog..maybe I just won't finish and talk rubbish every couple of days about nothing in particular..who knows.

Anyways...I will decide what I am doing with the blog in a day or two...having too much fun getting reacquainted with my couch...and my shower..and my bed...and vanilla coke with actual sugar in it and not corn syrup..and meat pies form the North Adelaide bakery...so many silly little things about home that you miss when you are gone isn't there?

I really should get on the phone and let Mum know that I am home safely...I might just have to tell her that my plane just arrived...I am sure she would be thrilled that I have been home for he best part of four days and haven't let her know we are home....:)

Just a quick one...unless I go on like I normally do

Another classic holiday day...a little sleep in (we kind of slept through breakfast..oh well) and then drove from LA to Las Vegas.  Checked into our suite...very swanky..windows the length of three walls with views of all the pretty lights.

We went out to see "Arcade Fire" tonight (For James benefit, they are a band that has released music since 1992).  I splashed out and got tickets in a VIP section.  Got to love going to see one of your favourite bands sitting down in a booth above the stage with table service.  I think it is the way that all concerts should be..no having to stand around on a hard concrete floor for hours on end making your back sore or put up with that one chick who is always trying to dance even though there is in no way enough room to be throwing your arms around like a ninnie.

The show was absolutely amazing...oh..the back up band was great too...Greg check out a band called "Local Natives" I think you will like them.

No I don't want a freaking star map!!!!

Had low expectations for today but ended up being a really great day.  We drove down to Holly wood to look at the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars are etc, and all the stars on the street.  The only star I found was a guy that looked like Tubbsy, gladly he stood still long enough for us to take a photo.  We then dropped the top on our Mustang and drove around Beverly Hills looking at some of the crazy houses.  On to a spot of shopping along Rodeo drive.  The Gabitron picked herself up three very nice dresses. They all look amazing on her and now she can't wait to wear them out.

Last night we went to our last basketball game of the trip.  Saw Gabi's boy Blake Griffin score a triple double (by botching a putback and making one rebound into two on the final play of the game).  It was great fun.  Last game of the season for the Clips and they were in party mode. I have fed you way too many basketball stories in the last few days so i wont go on with anymore.  The only thing I will say is if I lived in LA I would definitely be a part of Clipper Nation over being a Lakers fan...

Gabi has just popped into the shower and then we are packing and hitting the road to Vegas...I am sure we will be able to find a place for Gabi to wear her dresses there.

I missed a day didn't I?

Monday we spent the day strolling around the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. They have a whole bunch of fish there, then I believe that is the idea.  After the aquarium we had a little rest. It is quite tiring being a tourist.  We headed back to the little Italian restaurant for dinner...they have these Chicago style pizza.  They are basically like a meat pie but with really thin pizza dough.  The main ingredients for the pizza are in the middle of the pie (in this case Mushrooms, Broccoli, Cheese, Italian Sausage) then a layer of pizza dough and then the pizza sauce.  I have no idea how it hasn't caught on outside of Chicago because it was sooooo nice.

We flew out of Chicago yesterday feeling like there was so much we have missed.  Next time..

We spent most of yesterday travelling from Chicago to LA then last night went to see the Spurs play the Lakers.  It was a little bit disappointing (actually quite a bunch disappointing) when I looked down and saw Duncan and Ginobli in a suit and not their uniforms. (Parker suited up but didn't play either).  My disappointment in not seeing those guys play was somewhat eased when the 5 scrubs that the Spurs unleashed on the Lakers had the lead with 5 minutes to go before the Lakers finally came through to win.  The Lakers fans were carrying on like they had just won the championship when really all they did was beat the Austin Torros (and looked like they were going to get done most of the night).  It was a weird night in all really.  The way the Lakers presented the game was over the top and "hollywoodie", that much I expected.  what I didn't expect is leaving feeling like you had just sat through a 2 hour add for all the companies that care to sponsor the Lakers.  It sort of felt like for the most part the basketball was getting in the way of what they were trying to do for the advertisers.  I much preferred the Garden..it actually felt like I was at a basketball game and not a concert.  Speaking of concerts...night after next I am going to see one of my favourite bands in Las Vegas...very excited.

Gabi is having a big long sleep in today...(I did say it was tiring being a tourist, that and she is feeling a little off colour).  I am going to head downstairs and take a few shots on the full size basketball court they have here.  We are staying at the LA Athletic Club, which is basically three floors of hotels built on an exclusive gym that was opened in the 1913.  Think a 12 floor art deco members lounge, like the one at the old MCG but with a pool and a Basketball court.  Anyways...every year they give out the John Wooden award here for the best college basketball player...it was given out just a few days before we arrived actually.  It is sitting down in the lobby.  There is memorabilia from all the UCLA glory days when Wooden was coaching...It is really cool (Strange the things that I think are cool...but we move on).  We have really lucked into some really unique hotels on our trip actually.  I had no idea about the basketball significance of this place when I booked it online from home...I simply booked it because it was close to where we needed to be for the games we are seeing while we are here.  Anyway..I have gone on for far to long about not much at all.  Off to shoot some hoops.  :)

James...tell Hope that Gabi and I are thinking of her and her sore elbow

Segway tour...there is no looking good in a stackhat..none

Me pretending to Ice skate on a Ice rink with no Ice on it

The view from our Hotel window



Fluffikin Bearwalker..(don't ask)

 Have been having a ball in Chicago.  If you are ever planning a trip and trying to decide which cities to visit and Chicago isn't one of them...then make it one of them (depending on the time of year you are coming of course because talking to the locals no one wants to be here in winter because it is stupid cold).  We spent yesterday strolling around, found our way to Navy Pier where the Gabitron made herself a teddy bear (one day the both of us will become adults but not on the cards just yet it appears). 

Today we took a tour of the city on a Segway...great fun (I think it would work so well in Adelaide..imagine cruising along the Torrens, up to Montifore Hill, up past the Zoo etc etc...anyone wanting to put up some capital and get into the Adelaide Segway Tour Company on the ground level let me know).  The weather today was perfect...like beyond perfect (although I might just be saying that because it is the first day in a month were shorts have been a viable option). 

Flavour of the day: food court Roast Chicken...seriously..soooo tender and juicy, the food in Chicago has been top shelf all around.  We went to this great Italian restaurant last night, line out the door, put your name on a list come back in 45 minutes popular but worth the wait ten times over.   Actually...two flavours of the day.  The Strawberry Smoothie that I had on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building...check Gabis facebook for pictures from the ladies bathroom up there...ridiculous view (for the record the mens room has no view but does have a Dyson hand dryer which I have never used and was left out of a conversation the other day when we were out with Crockett the other day...if only I could have used the Dyson a few days earlier I could have made an informed contribution).

We spent the night in tonight...MASSIVE storm on its way and we didn't want to get stuck in it..going to spend tomorrow on a river cruise and at the aquarium...weather permitting.

Me,Nique and the Indiana Pacers

Apologies in advance for everyone reading this that doesn't know a bunch about basketball...you aren't going to find this particularly interesting. (I would suggest that even those interested in basketball might not find it that entertaining either). 

Just got back to the hotel after the walk back from the Conseco fieldhouse.  Had some great seats.  Wore my Al Horford jersey which got me a wave from Al during warm ups which was pretty cool.  Messed around with the new lens i got for my camera the other day, got some pretty good shots from where we were sitting.  Had Nique hang out at the bottom of the tunnel about 10 feet from where I was sitting. Hawks lost...No Josh Smith which was a bit disappointing but overall a super night.

Tomorrow we head up to Chicago for a few nights then on to LA..looking forward to Blake Griffin v the Memphis Grizzlies....should be good.