Shiny @ MindSay

- Forgot to mention this one.  When we arrived at Las Vegas, we were asked to please remain at our seats, even though the seatbelt sign was off and the door was open.  We figured there was someone who needed assistance that they wanted to get off the plane first, or there was some sort of medical emergency back in Coach.  Instead two LVPD officers got on the plan and headed to the back.  After a minute or so, they came back up front and said the flight crew and gate staff standing around in the galley "Nope...it's not the guy."  and off the plane they and us went.  Most unusual...

- We saw Cirque du Soleil's Love.  It was the most incredible thing ever.  Visually stunning, and of course fabulous music, set, and costumes.  I was so moved at parts, that I admit, I got a little choked up and teary eyed.  I can't wait until we can go back and see it again.  One thing we've been wondering - what happens under the big bed sheet during “Within You, Without You”?  Anyone?

- After our room to-do upon check-in, Shiny was told by the manager that they would comp the room upgrade.  So before heading to bed we checked at the front desk we wanted to make sure this was taken care of.  Satisfied that it was, we headed upstairs.  This morning when checking out, we were told the upgrade charge was still on the bill, so we explained the situation to the desk clerk who took care of it.  What we didn't know was that not only did they refund us the upgrade charge, but comped us our first night stay as well.

- We didn't gamble once, we had a total of two beers over the weekend, and tragically only spotted one Trekkie. 

- We suffer through a timeshare spiel and came out of it not with a lifetime of vacation dreams, but $100 cold hard cash and a free resort weekend.

- When Av came home he ran down the hall and jumped in my lap giving me the biggest hug ever.  Then he ran over and gave Shiny a giant one as well.  Being away was great, but coming home to him was pretty great too.

So finally, after 6 long years, Shiny and I have ditched - I mean lovingly left - our son behind and gone away on a grown up vacation!

So far...
- We have flown across the country First Class enjoying our complimentary beverages, lunch with real cutlery, and snacks.

- Upon arrival at our hotel, we learn that our room is not ready yet, so we pay for the suite upgrade to get in a room right away. But upon our arrival to said room we find it still occupado. Security becomes involved, as no one is registered in there but us. They move us to another suite on a lower floor and comped us back the upgrade. Best 2 things about this? We are already getting more than 50% off the room thanks to a business connection, and hearing the warning come in on Officer Ron's radio giving the heads up about a large group of guests coming in dressed in "Star Trek costumes." Fun!

- We are also on the lookout for any "celebrities" as in past trips where we have found comedian Greg Proops and Moby (different occassions).

Should be a rocking weekend!

Tonight marks the start of the Yahrtzeit, or the Hebrew date anniversary of, Shiny Mom's death.  It's still been a difficult thing at times for Shiny and us to still deal with.  Last week was particularly tough for Shiny, as it was the English calendar date anniversary.

While the two of us have been discussing it, we haven't really discussed the anniversary with Av.  This morning in the car he randomly asked me about Savta (Hebrew for grandmother).  Why did she die, why did her body stop working, where is she now, will she come back, and that he misses her very much and he's sad that Abba is sad.  I answered his questions with the same answers I've been giving him for the past two years.  Because her whole body stopped working and even though the doctors tried really hard, they couldn't get it to work again.  She is buried in the ground in the cemetary, but we will always have her in our heads and our hearts.  She's not coming back.  I miss her too, and you can give Abba a big huge hug when he gets home tonight and let him know that you miss her too.

Then I asked him what he remembers about Savta.  And for the first time he replied "Nothing."  He said that he didn't remember her.  So I told him about all the things that they used to do together - playing on the computer, putting together puzzles, how he thought it was silly that she knew all the words to "Bippity-boppity-boo" and would always sing it when they watched "Cinderella" together.  That she made a very special Passover just for him.  And she loved him very very much.  I also told him that tonight we would be lighting a special candle to remember her by, and we'll do that together as a family. 

I then mentioned the pictures of her that we have hanging in his room (one was taken at our wedding and is of our two moms together) and then he went off on a tangent about what they are wearing in the picture (Why did you tell them that they could wear black to your wedding?) and then kept going on a tangent just about my mom and going to visit her before he got distracted by shiny objects (fire station).

It makes me sad to think that the only memories he will have of her will be acquired memories from what we have and will tell him about her.  I debated whether or not to even mention this to Shiny when we all got home this evening, because I didn't want to add to whatever he was already feeling.

In a seemingly random tangent...

This afternoon I had to go to "Ladytown" as Shiny calls it (aka - the Woman doctor) for my annual exam.  She wants to run some extra tests to check somethings out.  Fine.  (For the record, I'm not super worried that it will be anything serious.)

Early in our marriage I was having issues which we would later turn out to be diagnosed as a totally innocuous every day thing.  But initially my doctor wasn't sure what it was.  One possible diagonsis was PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) which while commonly associated with an STD, can also be caused by other things as well.  Feeling quite unwell, I bowed out of a big family dinner at Shiny Parents house.  Shiny went, and when the family expressed concern as to my well being, Shiny announced to the whole table that "They think it might be PID."  Well Shiny's mom was horrified that he announced this.  He didn't think was a big deal.  When Shiny got home that evening, he presented me with a "gift" from his mom.  It was an early edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves."  She gave it to him so that we could learn more and be more informed about my feminine health.

So tonight when I was filling in Shiny on how the trip to Ladytown went and some extra tests that my doctor wanted to run, and on top of that feeling down about my craptastic day at work, and the conversations with Av, and missing Shiny Mom.  Shiny says... "You know what would cheer you up?  Let's read "Our Bodies, Ourselves."  And with that, balance was restored in my world.

Yes, today is shiny 's birthday!  Go make noise on his blog! :)

Hey! Radio show! Tonight!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/shiny

Shiny Snogs Too Much -- The All - British Show!

9:00pm EDT / 6:00pm PDT

Join co-presenter cas and me as we discuss all things British in our outrageously absurd fake British accents!  You can participate as well in the on-line chat (easy registration required) or by calling in LIVE to the show!



Hope to see you there!