Awesome birthday!!

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Thursday the 26th( Thanksgiving day) We woke up about 4.30am as we didn't want to sleep in. Had breakfast and drove to Orlando airport. We dropped our car off in a long stay parking place and they dropped us off at the airport. Over here we had to check in on line last night and print out our own boarding pass, we also had to pay $15 per bag on line. Its $20 per bag if you do it at the airport. We had a good flight over to Vegas, we flew over the Meteor crator and Hoover Dam on the way in. We were meet at the baggage carousel by a man with a sign saying my mame. So we grabbed our bags and followed him. Out the door and into the Limo parking area. Good one Perry!! Yes we were going by Limo to pick Perry and Lisa up. So he happily opened a bottle of wine for us in the back and we were off. We pulled up at New York, New York hotel to find the Moletas standing outside. It was awesome to see them and we all had a great laugh about the Limo.So we got two more glasses out and all had a drink while driving down the Las Vegas strip.He took us around to Treasure Island Hotel/Casino and checked in. We got rooms just down from each other on the 26th floor, so we had a great view out over Las Vegas. We dropped off our bags and went out for a late lunch, then came back to the room and opened a bottle of Moet that Perry and Lisa had bought for the special occasion. 1/2 of Lisa's bag was full of stuff for us by the looks of it. Tori had put her order in for Pineapple lumps!!We went down for our 1st night of many at gambling. Came away with more than we started with , so thats a good start. Walked down the strip and watched the Volcano erupt in front of the Mirage Casino as Perry and Lisa hadn't seen that yet.
Friday , Today is black Friday as they call it as its the 1st day that most shops actually get out of the red and start making money for the year. They have amazing sales everywhere, some shops opened at midnight. In Inverness, Leanna got up at 4am to go shopping, Gran and Tori went at 6am just to see what all the excitement was about. We had breakfast then got a taxi down to the outlet mall about 10am. The TV shows were all about the shopping and the Macy's parade in new York where 1 million people came to watch the huge balloons being walked down the streets of New York, they were happy as it wasn't too cold or windy for a change. Alot of the shops had 1/2 price or 30-40% off alot of stuff. Kylie and Lisa had a field day!! By lunchtime Perry and I had had enough , so we got a taxi back to the hotel. The thieving bugger took us the long way around so he could get more money, thats the problem when I actually know the way around after driving around before. So we decided bugger this we will get a rental car as it will save us money. Couldn't pick it up till after 4pm , so Perry and I went for a walk down to New York New York as Lisa had left their 230v-110v adapter in their room. After abit off shagging around and talking to security , they said we couldn't go back into the room. The security guy said I'll take you down to lost property and see if you can find one in there. So we found 2 of them in there!! Next we went on the roller coaster that Georgia and Alysha had told us about. Perry was a bit nervous but it only had one loop in it, Great view and a good ride, but it was over pretty quick. The rental car place picked us up from the hotel and tok us to get the car. After we signed up off we went , out the gate turned right to head back to pick up the girls and whoops its a six lane one way road and were going the wrong way!!!! Luckily there was a entrance to a carpark right there so we shot in there and turned around. Not a good start. Found the girls and headed home. We managed to get tickets to see Bill Cosby as he was in Treasure Island tonight only for 2 shows. We got them at 2 for 1 which was even better. We went to the 10pm late show. He walked out onto the stage in a pair of trackpants and crocs, looked like he was hanging around in his hotel room and just walked down here.Parked himself in a chair in the middle of the stage and told jokes and his view of life at las Vegas and other things. He was hillarious, not bad for an old bugger.
Saturday we jumped in the car and headed out to see the Hoover Dam. We stopped and introduced the Moleta's to one of our favourite restaurants , Taco Bell!! in Boulder City, Looked at some awesome boats across the road, then set off to the Dam. Then we hit a huge traffic jam, we still had 6 miles to go according to the GPS, so as we were crawling along with the traffic we decided to change our plans . We turned off and headed around Lake Mead. We stopped off at the boat ramp and a couple of campgrounds around the lake to show the Moletas the type of places we have been staying in. It really is incredible the effect the low lake level is having. Campgrounds that used to have a lake front are now just dust bowls and miles away from any water. Then we drove around the lake, Perry drove for awhile to get the hang of it. We drove to the Valley of Fire national park, stopped at the visitor center and then drove up through the valley. The red and white rock formations were amazing, similar to Zion and Bryce but different shapes and sizes. Had a quick drink in our hotel before driving down to Mandalay Bay hotel to watch 'Lion King'. Lisa had booked it months ago and lucky she did as it was fully booked. We had great seats, close to the center. The costumes were amazing, the Giraffes walk around on stilts and look so real. Alot of the animals came walking out from the stairways and walked down the aisle to the stage. I think shows like this must be hard to do as everyone already knows the storyline but with the incredible detail to costumes and props and the stage that lifted up and down and went round and round it kept it interesting all the way through. Of course the music to it is always good to listen too. Then we hit the machines for awhile, got to bed about 1am. An awesome night out!!!
Sunday, we've been having breakfast in our room every morning. Makes life easier for me to at least I have a good breakfast. The others bought a loaf of bread and are having toast and coffee for breakfast. The 1st morning the girls went down to Starbucks to get a coffee, then they found out if you sit at the machines and play them you can get a coffee for free, we just give the waitress a $1 tip, way cheaper than starbucks!! yeh right, I don't want to know how much they spent on the slots while they were getting their FREE coffee, BUT hey we're in Vegas. Today we drove out to a Walmart that had a Target across the road, so we left the girls there and Perry and I went went looking at Pick up trucks. We could look but not touch as they were all closed as it was Sunday. We drove out to the Las Vegas speedway to have a nosey around. They had the Richard Petty experience going where you can drive a Nascar . $450 for 8 laps of driving by yourself after some tuition or $110 to be a passenger for 3 laps. They were getting up to about 130 MPH. For that sort of money we just watched. There are 13 different tracks at the speedway, they had some funny looking midget cars racing on one of the other tracks, we went around the back to watch the drag cars but some guy had just blown his motor and they were cleaning the track. So we just drove around the carpark and looked at the awesome trucks and trailers as well as the different types of cars around. Finally the girls had run out of money!!Lisa bought another suitcase , so thats not a good sign. Went down to Fremont street for a look around at night. Had dinner in one of the casinos as they were advertising $11.99 meals, very nice too. Watched the show on the roof at the top of the hour, then walked down and watched these guys ride their motorbikes upside down in the cage of death. I remember as a kid going to the A & P show and seeing a guy do this. Well these guys ended up with 3 of them in there following each other around going round and round and upside down, awesome!!
Monday we drove out to Hoover dam , this time there was no line and we drove straight there. I'm sure it was busy just because of the long weekend. Perry and Lisa took the tour while Kylie and I went for a walk around the top of the Dam and sat in the sun and had a drink in the cafe. Perry like me really enjoyed the tour as its really interesting hearing and reading about its construction. Stopped at Taco bell again on the way back into Vegas. Stopped at the Dodge dealer and got some info on their trucks. The girls managed to get tickets to Mystere, a cirque du soleil show as we walked back into the hotel. So while they went to that Perry and I went back up to Fremont street and had a cheap meal. Perry had a steak and lobster meal for $11.99. Then we went to one of the many Gentlemens clubs around the place, bit of an eye opener.
Tueday we just walked around the strip for awhile, then Perry and I went for a drive to find some stockcar parts. Found this shop we were looking for and when we walked in we got talking to Peter Sloman from Wanganui!! He was New Zealand saloon car champion in the 80's, very interesting to talk to now we have an American connection if we ever want to buy any stuff from over here. While we were there Kylie rang to say they had just got us awesome last minute tickets to go and see ' Cher'. So we shot home , got changed and headed over to Caesars Palace for the 7pm show. We were 14 rows from the front, some of the tickets were worth$250 where were sitting , we got them for less than 1/2 of that. She made an awesome entrance as she came down from the rafters on this flying platrorm. She talked and joked with the audience for a bit then got in to it, She was amazing, she got changed into a different outfit for evry song. She said she would start way back with old Sonny and Cher songs and work back to Old Cher songs!! She had a huge cast of dancers and entertainers to keep the show going while she was getting changed. We didn't realise we knew so many of her songs. Three young girls caused a bit of a stir as they had the very front row seats and as soon as Cher started singing, they stood up and started dancing, much to the annoyance of the people behind them. After the ushers were asked to step in they sat down for most of the time. After the show we had a challenge to do before we went out for dinner.We all started with 20 bucks and would meet back in 1/2 hour. What a sad bunch, I won with $20.25. I think I got down to about $3 before getting back up to that so I cashed in. Lisa had about $13, Perry and Kylie were broke!! LOL. We found a nice restaurant but the meals were huge, I got a whole chicken with a can of Bud light lime up its butt and some brocolli!!! UUmm
Wednesday the 2nd , my birthday. We went downstairs and had breakfast in the cafe looking out on the pool. There were even some people swimming and sunbathing out there, crazy!! Lisa gave me all the cards and presents they had bought over. Thank you to everyone who sent stuff over, Awesome we've got some more money to go gambling with again!!Perry and i got a t-shirt each with our ugly mugs on, like the ones we had when we were 12 years old.!! Thanks Lisa. Mum gave me a photo album of photos that I had sent them over the last 20 years, that was pretty cool, as well as three readers digest books from 1969, 1979, 1989, good reading for on the plane. I gave Perry his book, ' Summer of '69 ' that I made up for him with heaps of photos and stories from alot of people from the last 40 years of his life. Then we dropped the girls off at a different Walmart to get some last minute things, Perry and I went and talked to some truck guys before we had to drop the rental car back. Perry and Lisa had bought me a bottle of Moet for my birthday , so we had some drinks before heading over to the Venetian hotel. Were we went on a gondola ride which was awesome. We were serenaded by our Italian singing guide, it was cool. We had a very boring but a nice meal that I like, fried rice from 'Panda Express' . Then we went to win our fortune in Vegas !! I got down as low as $1.50 and up to $130 but as usual after about 2 1/2 hrs we went home with nothing, These flash casinos weren't built with their own money.
Thursday , without a car we just walked up the strip. I took Perry up to ESPN zone .Its a 3 storied sports bar with an awesome arcade. Perry and I went boxing, Perry laughed when I took off my sweatshirt, it wasn't long before he could see why. It gives you a great workout. We played basketball and ten pin bowling as well as throwing footballs. We had to go to Hooters while we were here so thats where we had lunch. We all enjoyed gambling in there as we all made money.Couldn't get Kylie off her Dukes of hazzard machine. Bummer we had to go at 3.30pm to go and watch the Nascars drive down the strip. 12 cars were here with their drivers who are hugely famous here in America, a bit wasted on us kiwis. Jimmie Johnson who won his 3rd title in a row was in there but we didn't know what he looked like!! LOL. We went into the MGM hotel to see the lions, but they were asleep on top of the glass walkway. Went to the Outback steakout for tea as they have a gluten free menu, as well as some very nice other food. Caught the $7 deuce bus that gives you 24 hrs of travel up and down the strip. Went back and watched the motorbikes in the cage again. Watced the show on the roof as well. Kylie and Lisa went to this dodgy looking little casino that was outside advertising free drinks and you could also win money if you went in there. After a disgusting drink they hung around playing old machines that takes quarters waiting around to win some cash. Perry and I left them to it. Watched the spray painters at work doing their amazing pictures. When we got back to Treasure Island we had apple pie and coffee at midnight in the cafe and the place was humming. Kylie and Lisa are addicted to gambling!! so we left them to it and went up to our rooms.
Friday, woke up to find my wife next to me so she must have come home sometime during the night !! LOL. We packed up our bags and caught the deuce bus up to the Stratosphere. Perry wasn't too keen on doing any of the rides but after getting the speech about this is our 40th and its time to push the boundries!! Up the elevator we went to the 108 floor and had a look out the 360 degree glass windows. awesome view. First we went on the Insanity ride, Its a claw like thing that 12 people can sit in , in couples. It takes you out over the side of the building and then starts spinning us around and around. The faster it goes , the more it throws you out , to the point were you are looking down the side of the building,awesome!! Next was the x-scream ride , a small roller coaster ride that sends you out 27ft over the side of the building again but you feel like you are going to just keep going and at 1000ft up its a pretty freaky feeling. Last was the big one, four seats next to each other that shots you up even further towards the sky then lets you free fall back down before bounced back up again. Lisa bailed on this ride for very good reasons too. It was terrible gut wrenching feeling coming back down, but a good ride. So we all got the terrible looking photos of ourselves at the moment we thought we were going to die , to laugh at for years to come. From there we had a quick lunch and then headed for the airport. We all checked in and then sat down for a minute and said 'WOW, that week went quick'. What an awesome week it was , thanks so much guys. When I booked our trip I guessed that I would just have a very quiet 40th birthday until Perry decided about 2 months before we left that hey we should meet up in Vegas. Brilliant idea mate, After 5 months on the road, I didn't think going back to Vegas could be so fun. We just had a week to remember for the rest of my life anyway. So we said our good byes before Lisa started to cry as we will see them in less than a month. Had a good flight until about an hour out from Orlando when the captain came on and said its going to be a bit rough from here into Orlando tonight as its raining pretty heavy there at the moment. Well he wasn't wrong , we bumped around all the way in. I had my little paper bag out in front of me , but luckily didn't need it. We got wet getting to our car and it poured down all the way to Mum and Dads, got to bed about 1.30am.
Saturday we got woke up at about 9am by two bouncing kids that were dieing to come out and wake us up even earlier!! Had a quiet day just hanging around the house. Went down and picked up our portrait photos, they look good. The kids have had a good week I think, Joshs levels have been brilliant, typical. They went ten pin bowling, golfing with Poppie. A couple of old guys thought Josh had a brilliant swing as good as Greg Norman (they reckon). They went to Russell Stovers the chocolate place. Watched alot a videos by the look of it. Tori has worked out how to watch the Disney channel on the computer.
Sunday I spent most of the day trying to set up an E-bay account and put the trailer on there, what a hassle that is. You would think they would make it easy like on trade-me. Dad, Josh, Tori and I went for a game of golf around the little 9 hole course just around the corner from Dads place. The hometown local won by a couple. Kylie started on the suitcases and working out whats going to fit and whats not. The kids started going through all their stuff also.
Monday, just another quiet day catching up on washing and packing stuff up.
Tuesday we packed up and I took the trailer around to a guy we looked at buying a trailer off way back when we first got here. But he has closed down , Dad said he was there last week. So then we headed over to Tampa to meet up with Kylies long lost relative. Muriel turns 90 in January and lives in a gated community along with 10,000 other people. Its huge, but very nice. we managed to find her place ok, even with a big trailer on the back. Caught up with her for a couple of hours before heading south down to Chris and Leanna's place in West Palm Beach. Had to stop at IHOP for tea along the way. As the rest of the country is bracing itself for snowfalls this week , we arrived to a muggy 26 degrees down here at 9pm. Lovely!! So we just parked on the lawn for the night and will sort it out tomorrow.
Wednesday, Lucky the air con works good in the trailer as its still as muggy this morning. After getting in contact with someone from E-bay I finally got the trailer on there ! Yah. Kylie went down for a hair cut, while the kids spent the day playing on the wii playing golf. Tori had great fun playing with their electric guitar. Chriss's cat had a mishap last night , so Dad is taking it off to the vets to see if it has a broken leg. We booked a hotel room down in Key West as we will head down there tomorrow with Mum and Dad

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Photos

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Two big kids!!

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Cruising in the Limo!!

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A quiet day out sight seeing.

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The fab 4 at 'Valley of fire'.

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Strange rock figures at Valley of fire.

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The birthday boys at Valley of fire.

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Wierd but beautiful.

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Leelee on the phone even in America!!

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A couple of HOT babes Perry and I picked up in the babe magnet!!

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Nascars at Las Vegas speedway.

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Nascars going over the tunnels that got us into the center of the track.

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Perry's new stockcar transporter and trailer!! Yeh right!.

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My dinner!!

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Perry and Lisa heading down to Freemont street.

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The honeymoon couple!!

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At the oxygen bar, don't they all look revitalized!!

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The lovebirds being serenaded.

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The awesome view out our hotel window from the 26th floor.

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Perry boxing at ESPN zone.

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Kylie parked in front of one of her favourite machines, Dukes of hazzard.

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Jimmie Johnson driving down the strip.

Comments

[Hayley]

Awwwww
LOVE the birthday boys tee's Paul lol! Looks like you all had a blast!

[Pies]

Where have you been
Hi Guys. Thught we had lost you guys there. Glad to have you back. Happy birthday Paul , what an great birthday you had. Not long now before you get back. All the best Cheers Pies

[Lisa]

got the shakes going on!!!!!
Awesome blog and pictures Mr Claridge... sure was one hell of a week.. The best!!! was a rather expensive week I must say lol, missing my gambling partner thou, lifes just not the same without our $1 Vodka's and pokie machines.... jeepers was totally shattered by the time I got on the plane in LA to come home.. was so over waiting at airports for hours.. was great to finally be home after 20 odd hours!! Suz had dinner all ready for us when we walked in.. what a great sister in law aye. Kids loved their stuff and I have hidden one full suitcase of stuff for xmas. Tori and Josh hope you are enjoying the pineapple lumps. Enjoy the rest of the your trip. Not long too go now, xxxxx

[Dave O]

Awesome
Big Boy I had to break out my new reading spec's...unreal adventure made me think of my last trip to Florida , hey catch you up when your back as I'm away 18th Jan. Dave

[Trace]

4oth birthday
hi there! Looks like your 40th was a blast!!! Very jealous!!! you need to come up with something bigger and better for the 50th now! Enjoy the rest of your trip. make every moment count...never know when you'll be able to do it again. Say merry Christmas to your family for me. Love trace

[kylie]

awesome a new pokies buddy for us!!! sounds like vagas was fantastic, glad it was a birthday to remember. cant believe your journey is almost at an end, it seems to have flown by. looking forward to having our walking buddy back . x

[leanne]

what a 40th
Wow! sounds like you had a blast. Have started saving our pennies already, Vegas sounds like fun. (Something about those damn pokies..all the pretty pictures and sounds)..Glad you had a great birthday, looking forward to seeing you in the New Year. Take care. luv leanne x

[Simone]

Bloody Awesome
Wow talk about an amazing blog!!! Yes Super Jealous - would so of LOVED to have been there but the Big Wednesday I brought when you sent out the invite didn't come thru!!! Bugger! Very cool photos and what a way to spend yr 40th - you should saw some incredible shows too! Bonus! Glad you're into the pokies now Kylie!! Enjoy yr last few weeks! Will see you soon! YAYYYYY!!! :)

[Jill]

Cool
Awesome newsletter. Your week sounded fantastic. What a way to finish it all off for you both. On the countdown now to return back to the cold south (N.Z). Hope all your final plans go well for you all. We drive over to florida for our Xmas break on Saturday and come back to El Paso around the same day you're leaving the U.S. So safe travels. Hope settling back into normal life goes well. It's so amazing what you all have completed and how well you have done it. All the best. Hope to catch up with you again in 6 months.