Day 16-LA County Dept. of Health urges masking indoors

Dinner at Buddy V.’s at the Venetian…

Pool cabana at the Mirage…

7/14/21. Wednesday

6:30 – I didn’t sleep well last night so it is hard to wake up and get out of bed.

7:30-8:30 – Shower. Lotion. Shorts and a tank top. Make-up. Our room doesn’t have a Keurig so no coffee (sad face emoji).

8:30 –9:00 -  I open the curtains and wake up L.  She’s mad  because I only gave her a 30-minute notice.  I didn’t know I was the alarm!! – I thought she had an alarm via her phone. I ‘publish’ today’s class content for my summer class.

9:00-9:30 – L. checks her phone and sees that M. has been texting for the past several hours about possible reservations at The Pantry restaurant. M. is notorious for being unable to sleep and wakes most mornings at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. - today is no exception.  At 7:00 a.m., the line for The Pantry is so long that M. decides to put our name on the wait list.  After a 2-hour wait, S&M secured a table and are waiting for us. Right now.

L. is finally ready and we go fetch my Mom. L. and I continue to mask everywhere we go. 

9:30 – 11:00 - By 9:30 we are seated with S&M at a booth at The Pantry. It doesn’t disappoint. I’m in desperate need of coffee and it comes fairly quickly. I order the Breakfast Sandwich with scrambled eggs, ham, truffle mushrooms, and gouda – very, very good. Las Vegas has very little al fresco dining so we are indoors because most things are located inside casinos. I mask whenever I walk through a restaurant or use the bathroom, but it’s not possible when you’re eating and drinking. I’m glad we’re all vaccinated but I also worry about catching something else…maybe not as lethal, but I don’t like being sick.  I haven’t had bronchitis in almost 2 years and it’s been wonderful.

11:00 – 11:30 –We’re finished. S&M and my Mom head for the pool and our reserved cabana.  L and I return to our room where I change into my bathing suit and L. into her dress. She has a 3:00 massage appointment later today.

11:30-5:00 – In our cabana and I spend the entire day alternating between the cabana, the chaise lounge, and the pool, sleeping and reading Widowish. It’s really hot in Vegas, but our cabana has misters and fans – it’s so nice! A fruit plate and bottled water is included in the package. At some point during the day, I split a sandwich with my Mom. Nobody is masking, but, hey, we’re outside.

5:00-6:45 – Pool staff kick us out at 5:00 so S&M and I return to our rooms – we’re on the same floor – with plans to meet at “the penthouse” for Happy Hour at 6:00 before our dinner reservations. L. is back from her massage – she says it was incredible!

L. and I take the elevator(s) to the penthouse and my Mom has ordered a wonderful bottle of champagne ($109) and it. tastes. Incredible!!!  Drinks all the way around and we decide to order a movie – Wrong Turn. Unfortunately, it costs $11.99 and is absolutely horrible. We pause the movie.

6:45-9:00 - Time to go!  We leave and walk over to Buddy V.’s, a wonderful Italian restaurant, at the Venetian. I really love this place!  A major part of the aesthetic consists of numerous rolling pins, all with different designs, hung everywhere – the rolling pins even form makeshift walls. Tonight, there is live music (read: singing) at the restaurant and it’s good!  It’s been a long time since I’ve heard live music. I get the Cheese Ravioli and two glasses of excellent champagne. Everything tastes amazing.

We eventually leave and return to the penthouse.

9:00-10:00 – At the penthouse and we resume watching Wrong Turn. S&M call it a night and leave. I can’t let Mom’s $109 bottle of champagne go to waste so L. and I stay and watch more of the movie, trying to follow the stupid plot line, until L. begs me to leave.  For all of you readers out there, don’t ever bother streaming Wrong Turn – it’s just awful. I finish my last glass of champagne and L. and I take off with strict instructions to meet at the penthouse tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.  M. made reservations for breakfast, since she has a $100 credit for this particular restaurant, and driving is involved. Two elevators later, L. and I are back in our hotel room.

L.’s friend, T, sends L. a video of her (T) playing with the dog. She seems to be doing okay.

10:00-11:00 – Light packing and night time routine. Bed. Wonderful day!!!