Embracing the Golden Years by combining Travel, Adventure, and Self-Discovery
Mostly Wordless Wednesday….though of course I have comments! Paris is one of my favorite casinos in Las Vegas, and one I always return to. Partly for the beauty of the casino which looks like an outside Paris street, partly because the chocolate crepes are fabulous, and partly because I always seem to be lucky in the casino!
And now for my very favorite part of Las Vegas……………WINNING!
Next week will find me in Vegas, playing in a Video Poker tournament! I have been a video poker player for nearly 30 years, and I play seriously, but I have never been in a tournament. Well, here is my chance!
I’ve loved poker since I was a child watching the penny ante games my grandparents used to play. My parents were card players as well, and poker was an extended family activity. I grew up playing Euchre, a trump game, at lunch during high school, and with friends. Cards were a big past time where I grew up (Southern Ohio/Kentucky), but once I moved to Dallas I realized cards aren’t played everywhere. My husband, Randy, and I found a few couples to play with, but for the most part, we were not surrounded by card players.
I learned video poker on my first trip to Vegas in my early twenties. My mom and dad took my brother and I to Vegas, and at that time, it was the remnant of the old Vegas. The RAT Pack Vegas. For those who don’t know, the RAT pack consisted of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Sammie Davis Jr, and Peter Lawford. I think those are the guys, anyway. These were people that graced the covers of the movie magazines my mother was so fond of. The legends of Vegas were a large part of those stories. Mom also read a lot of biographies, and the more illicit the better. I often read these books even when I was little, learning about Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedy’s, Frank Sinatra and Eva Gardner and Mia Farrow….when the book The Godfather came out it included a lot about Vegas and the mob. I was raised on conspiracy theories about Sam Giancana, the Rat Pack, the Kennedy’s, Marilyn and Judith Campbell. And of course, the biggest star of all….Jackie O. My first trip to Vegas was like a trip to Disneyland.
Now, even people my age might not remember all of the saga and legend surrounding Vegas, and certainly our kids would have no idea. When I was in my early twenties, Vegas was still a legend….The Sands Hotel and Casino, The Desert Inn, Circus Circus, The Tropicana, The Flamingo which was started by Bugsy Segal the mobster, Caesar’s Palace…..the MGM Grand, The Frontier…..the only ones left are the Flamingo and Caesar’s Palace. At that time you could walk the strip easily….without all of the stairways and weird entrances and the skyrails….don’t get me wrong, the new Vegas is amazing. The techno and out of this world quality is truly….out of this world. But it isn’t the old Vegas….it is an entirely new city.
My mom and Aunt Nonie taught me to play video poker at the Imperial Palace. As time went on, a yearly trip formed. My mother in law, mom, cousin, and I went every year for a girl’s trip. Others joined us from time to time. Mom and Betty (mother in law) had “comps”…. free rooms, free meals…my cousin Lisa and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Those trips were epic. I began to learn how to play video poker….the statistics of it, the math surrounding the odds. I still love to play, although there are plenty of losses to offset my winnings.
It is different now. The new Vegas is a huge, sprawling, bizarrely opulent city. Now it’s me getting comps…and pretty awesome comps at that! The year before my mother died I took her for what I knew would be her last trip….we had a suite at Paris, and she had a terrific time. Both mom and Betty are gone now. Lisa and I took our two girls for their 21st birthdays, but since then, we haven’t been out there together. I would love to start those girl’s trips back up.
Ah, I love thinking about the old Vegas. But the new Vegas waits for me….and I cannot wait to play in the tournament! I’ll blog again from Planet Hollywood! Til then, wish me luck!
I am part of some wonderful online groups for women over 50, and I can tell you these women are all terrific. After 50 there is time to be creative, to build a new business, to start a new life! We are finished raising our children, and freedom opens the landscape. These women are busy writing, cooking, creating, starting businesses….it is so inspiring!
Let me take a case in point. A friend of mine from junior high school/high school has recently started a clothing line that combines fitness, fashion and function! As a former runway model she loves fashion, and loves working out, and these two passions came together to form Turn It On Designer Crossover Fitness Wear (www.turniton.com). It is a great concept! You can go to work, lunch, anywhere you want to, and then transition to your workout, whatever it is, without skipping a beat. Their idea:
Turn It On™ introduces the first truly fashionable line of designer fitness wear. Turn It On styles reflect the fashion runway yet allow you to crossover from fitness wear to ‘every wear’ effortlessly. Turn It On styles are versatile bringing fashion from the studio to the street. Whether it is lunch with the girls, a dinner date, or an after 5 office party, Turn It On fitness fashion makes looking and feeling fabulous as simple as adding accessories, heels, and jewelry to our styles…simply, elegantly, and fashionably. It’s about time luxury has entered the fitness wear market.
Just this week, Juetta West was on Good Day Columbus in Columbus, Ohioto show her new line! Here is the link: http://www.myfox28columbus.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/GDC-Turn-It-On-Fitness-Goes-from-Gym-to-Gorgeous-56184.shtml#.VF1FFfnF-So. It is so exciting to hear about this new clothing concept, and Juetta’s enthusiasm is overflowing.
I’ve already been purchasing, and plan to continue to do so. The fabric is amazing. Now, I am no fashionista, but I do work out, and most fitness clothing I have found to be very lacking. Too tight, too loose, doesn’t breathe….you know the drill. These clothes have a totally different feel. They use a 4 way stretch fabric (not that I know what that means). What I do know is the fabric feels like nothing I’ve ever worn before….satiny yet firm, stretchy and most importantly, it breathes. These clothes are definitely for the fashionable, on-the-go, fitness loving woman. Who knows, I might even turn into a fashionista! Maybe they’ll make a wetsuit line for my scuba diving trips! I should look fashionable underwater, don’t you think?
I want to congratulate my friend, Juetta West, introduce her clothing line to fashionable women who are active, and wish her the very best for her new venture! We are still going strong, Juetta! 50 is just the beginning!
Check out Turn it On!
I admit that I miss autumn in the north. Living in Texas, you don’t see very much color. There is something just not right about hayrides in 90 degree heat! I just returned from a trip through Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, where the foilage is beautiful, the temperatures are cool, and the caramel apples are awesome. Enjoy!
Happy Halloween!
If you care about women, equality, and/or excellence in education, please read on. This is an opinion piece, and it reflects MY opinion.
If you live in Texas and are not registered to vote, shame on you. If you live anywhere and aren’t registered, shame on you. If you live in Texas (or anywhere) and are registered to vote but don’t vote, double shame on you. If you are registered to vote and are a woman, or have a female relative, consider the following.
In Texas, we have Abstinence only sex education. That means there is no real education about sex, just a warning not to have it. The Canyon ISD is reported to be teaching sexual education by shaming students into staying virgins until marriage. Sexual health advocate Katie Gustainis Vela recently obtained what appears to be an instructional worksheet meant for teachers who lecture on sex ed. Vela tweeted a photo of the worksheet — which likens people who have premarital sex to pieces of chewed gum or used toothbrushes. This was reported by the Huffington Post. Now, where does Texas rank in teen pregnancy? 3rd. 3rd HIGHEST in teen pregnancy. Wow. That great abstinence education is really working.
Did you know that Texas is only one of four states that does not have equal pay for equal work protections? Wendy Davis passed a bipartisan equal pay for equal work bill in 2013, but Rick Perry vetoed the bill. When you break it down, women in Texas are paid about .82 cents for every dollar men earn. I thought it was 2014, not 1950. But in Texas, we are far from having equal rights.
Texas Republicans passed a law which would close 60 Texas women’s health centers across the state. Fortunately the Supreme Court has blocked the implementation of the law, which would deny millions of Texas women their federal right to choose ending a pregnancy. Texas also passed a law which was strongly supported by Rick Perry requiring women to undergo a transvaginal sonogram 24 hours prior to an abortion, regardless of the reason the abortion has been chosen or recommended. The New York Times Op Ed columnist Nicholas D Kristof writes, ” “It’s state-sanctioned abuse,” said Dr. Curtis Boyd, a Texas physician who provides abortions. “It borders on a definition of rape. Many states describe rape as putting any object into an orifice against a person’s will. Well, that’s what this is. A woman is coerced to do this, just as I’m coerced. The state of Texas is waging war on women and their families,” Dr. Boyd added. “The new law is demeaning and disrespectful to the women of Texas, and insulting to the doctors and nurses who care for them.” Kristof also writes, “The best formulation on this topic was Bill Clinton’s, that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare.” Achieving that isn’t easy, and there is no silver bullet to reduce unwanted pregnancies. But family planning and comprehensive sex education are a surer path than demeaning vulnerable women with state-sanctioned abuse and humiliation.” I think we can all agree with Bill Clinton on this one…and if Texas would allow comprehensive sex education and support family planning the number of abortions (and teen pregnancies) could be greatly reduced, and hopefully abortion would become rare.
We need lawmakers and executives who support women’s rights, women’s health, and equality for women. These are issues I believe are morally imperative. If you believe women’s issues and women’s health are important, please vote on November 4, and vote for candidates who support women and children, not candidates who seek to control women and make choices for us. Regardless of your stand on abortion (and no one is “for” abortion), please make choices to support women. My vote goes to Wendy Davis for Governor, and if you feel the same way, please vote. It is morally imperative to do so.
We discovered this extraordinary winery in June of this year when we were given a private tour. Quintessa provides guests with a comprehensive look at the vineyard, winemaking facility and underground caves through a unique personal tour. Additionally, we were taken on a walk to the vineyards behind the winery to a scenic overlook of the property and sweeping views of the land encompassing the Rutherford Appellation.
Craig and I became absolutely enamored with Quintessa through this unique experience. We loved the people, the stunning views and of course the phenominal wines so much that we joined their Wine Club. However, to be completely truthful, we truly didn’t want to miss any opportunity to visit! For this year’s Harvest Celebration we invited our dear friends Meg and Doug Pearson to the party on the grounds of the home of the Proprietors Augustin and Valeria Huneeus on the picturesque property of Quintessa.
The celebration was magical from beginning to end. We were greeted with flavorful wine and treated to a vast array of innovative cuisine and lively music. All four of us enjoyed talking with other guests and discovering new friends from Alaska to the Bahamas. The atmosphere was elegant and relaxing and we experienced a memorable afternoon. Augustin and Valeria greeted all of us as if we were family and shared their thoughts about winemaking and invited us to visit the private island on the property as well. Private island? How fun!
1. Welcome to Quintessa 2. Our empty glasses await. 3. A view of their home and party in the distance 4. A tempting cassoulet with beans and sausage 5. Craig happily bringing us wine 6.Proprietors Valeria and Augustin 7. Amazing oysters 8. Meg and I at the entrance to the private island 9. A peaceful seat on the island 10. The four of us standing in the island gazebo 11. View of the vineyard from the hilltop 12. Craig and I visiting the wine caves 13. Tasting “Illumination” in the vineyard
A big thank you to Doug Pearson for photos 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, & 10
The Estate Tasting Experience is approximately 90 minutes and available by appointment only. Tasting fee is $65 per person.
