Sunday night in Vegas and we are counting down the days until we must return to reality. It has been a good time off from all that goes on back home but I will be glad to return to whatever it is we call normal.

Since we returned to Vegas from California we have stayed at the Wynn/Encore Hotel, then over to the Treasure Island (TI) Hotel, and today we moved to the Rio All Suites Hotel complex. Ms. Kate just continues to get offers for either free or greatly reduced in price hotel rooms when we are at home so we just kind of lineup a a gypsy-style arrangement when we come out here. But, for these four and five star hotels --- it is worth the moving around.

We really enjoyed celebrating the 4th of July right there in our hotel room at the TI. Our room had a great view of the LV Strip and the valley floor to the north and west. There must have been at  least fifty legal and possibly illegal fireworks shows going on to the north and west and they went on for a solid hour before the beginning of the big show three doors down at Caesars Hotel Complex. It was magnificent and we were right at eye level. The traffic on the strip had come to a complete stop for blocks in every direction and we were really glad that we weren't out in the middle of all those people. We had been down stairs earlier in the evening and it was already starting to get "drunk out"! Not the kind of crowds we enjoy.

We've done a pretty good job of staying out of the buffet lines and limiting the number of meals we have eaten. Today for breakfast we ate at a place called Hash House a Go-Go. It is a restaurant that was started by a couple from northern Indiana and has really taken off with a bang here in Vegas. Lots of celebrities have eaten there, and food is great.

Even though we are away from home, our thoughts always go back to our friends and loved ones back there. Through the use of email and Facebook and texting we have been kept informed of how people in our lives are doing and we appreciate that. Our prayers are never stopped for our friends and loved ones just because we happen to be away and out in the yard to play. Having said that, I give God thanks for each of you and the role each of you play in our lives. We'll be home in three days and look forward to seeing all of you. Have a blessed week.