Janauary 2009

January was an action packed month so here are a few highlights.After spending almost 2 years in braces...........
Murray's smile became more genuine when he had them removed Jan. 9. Now he wears a clear plastic retainer that is still a hassle but is removable for eating at least!

The evening of Jan 10 we flew to Las Vegas. Sunday (11th) we had dinner with Debby & Chuck Schmidt, Stephanie & Robbie , friends who live down there.
Also Sunday evening Ev & Ken flew down from Kelowna & joined us. In 4 days we tried to show them all we have found interesting over the last number of years! Ev said she has never walked so much! Here we are in the atrium of the Bellagio where the decorations were for the Chinese New Year.

We drove out to Red Rock Canyon.

The red rocks formations with the city of Las Vegas in the background.

At Madam Tussauds I had my picture taken with George Cluny.

Murray with Julia Roberts

The four of us in front of some slots. We found the slots very selfish & not giving back even what we put in!

Evelyn learned a little about Roulette.

On Friday Ev & Ken returned home. We had such fun with them. I don't think we have ever holidayed together. We will have to do it again soon.

Also Friday we flew to Fresno to visit with the Piersons.

Sunday Ken & Gloria took us to the coast to see the elephant seals who come ashore there at this time of year to birth.

Here is an elephant seal bull. They have a very unusually shaped head.

All those bumps you see are not rocks but mostly cow & calf seals with some bulls who like to defend their harem! We learned the cow seals come ashore to birth, then nurse on land for 28 days, are bred, leave their young and go back in the ocean . They calves have to learn to swim and survive on their own. Some are crushed by the bull seals when they fight and the mortality rate is high. However they have come back from the brink of being endangered. We were able to get quite close on walkways constructed to keep the public out of danger.

That evening we had dinner at Jeremy & Bibi's house. Bibi sets such a lovely table and her delicious food is a work of art.

Thanks guys for the lovely dinner and visit. Briana is such an affectionate little girl!

The next day we left for home but my camera stayed behind thus the late post! Thanks Ken for sending the memory card with camera to follow when Ron & Connie visit there later this month.

On Sabbath at Ken & Gloria's I was thrilled to reconnect with an old friend from high school days in Saskatoon. Gaylene Soloniuk is now a physician in Visalia. Bob, (Gaylene's husband) Gaylene, me & Murray.

Many Thanks to Ken & Gloria for being such terrific hosts. We always love getting together and they have such neat places to show us.