The Last Week of Vegas

 Last Sunday Jim, Fonda, hubby and I had a chill day. We hung out at Sam's Town, losing money (at least I did), then had dinner at Aces and Ales. It has great food not so much in looks. We had a nice time. We picked them up Monday and went to lunch and then the airport. I felt so bad as their plane was delayed a couple of times. They finally got home around 2:00 AM. Yuck! Just so excited them came out to Vegas and was able to get home safely. 
Monday night we had dinner with Robert, that was also a good time. It has been nice seeing him throughout our time here. We also went out to dinner on Friday, guess where, you guessed it, Aces and Ales. 

Hubby, Robert and I

Last night in Vegas and the moon was looking marvelous. 

Tuesday, we went back to Fremont Street and had some fun walking around the Mob Museum. Didn't have a chance to see all of it because we had dinner plans. How crazy is this, my ex-husband's ex-wife met us at the Golden Nugget for dinner. She lives in Kennewick, Washington and just happened to be on a girl's trip the same time we were here. I don't think we have seen Sandi in over 15 years at Tara's wedding in Vegas. We sure had a nice time catching up, talking about children, grandchildren and what has been going on in our lives. Almost two hours later we were done, and Sandi went to catch up with her sister and cousin. "Keeping it real", when Tara had to go on visitation, Sandi was the only one I could trust to keep her safe. It was so hard letting Tara leave and that really helped develop my prayer life, praying to the Lord was the only thing I had (and Sandi) to make sure Tara came back home to us. "rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer," Romans 12:12 (NASB)

"Life is short, HEELS shouldn't be." anonymous.

Vegas, baby!

Showgirls!

Cocktails anyone?

The story of the Mob in America begins in the 19^th century, in the poverty-ridden ethnic 

neighborhoods of big cities. First came the Irish, then the Chinese and Italians, 

then the Jews from Eastern Europe. Fleeing famine, political and religious 

persecution, they crossed oceans in search of a better life, but each immigrant

 group faced discrimination from those who had arrived before them.

This phone booth stood inside the Four Deuces, a saloon, brothel 

and gambling joint named after its address, 2222 S. Wabash Avenue, in 

the Levee vice district south of downtown Chicago.  The Four Deuces was

 the headquarters of the Chicago crime syndicate run by Johnny Torrio

 and his protégé, Al Capone, in the early 1920’s. The building was 

demolished in 1966, but the phone booth was preserved in the home 

of Chicago television personality Bruce Newton for more than 30 years.

In the 1920’s, the railroad relocated its repair yards to Caliente, Nevada. 

Between that and the Great Depression, Las Vegas needed more than 

divorce and gambling to thrive. The Boulder Canyon Project Act, which 

authorized development of what would become Hoover Dam, addressed

 that problem. Construction on the dam began on April 20, 1931.

The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre was the murder of seven Irish members 

and associates of Chicago’s North Side Gang that occurred on Saint Valentine’s 

Day 1929. The men were gathered at a Lincoln Park, Chicago garage that morning. 

They were lined up against a wall and shot by four unknown assailants, two dressed 

as police officers. The incident resulted from the struggle to control organized crime 

in the city during Prohibition between the Irish North Siders, headed by 

George “Bugs” Moran, and their Italian Chicago Outfit rivals lead by Al Capone.

 The perpetrators have never been conclusively identified, but former members

 of the Egan’s Rats gang working for Capone are suspected of a role, as are members

 of the Chicago Police Department who allegedly wanted revenge for the 

killing of a police officer’s son.

Louis Buchalter, known as Louis Lepke or Lepke Buchalter, born February 6, 1897, 

was an American mobster and head of the Mafia hit squad Murder, Inc., 

during the 1930’s. He was one of the premier labor racketeers in 

New York City during that era. He was executed after being convicted 

of murder, using the infamous “Old Sparky” electric chair after being 

sent “up the river” to Sing Sing Correctional Facility.

Fun fact: Al Capone put in a furniture shop next door to the Four Deuces as a front. His business card read: “A. Capone, Antique Dealer.” The merchandise was strictly secondhand junk, and if someone actually called about buying furniture, Capone would reply: “We ain’t open today.”

 

Sandi, myself and hubby.

We have had some great times in Las Vegas, but it is time to leave. My last day of gambling was a lot of fun and I actually left the casino with some extra money, not a lot, but at least I wasn't broke.  

Roadrunner, if he catches you you'er through.

Pretty sunset, thank You, Lord!

Saturday, we headed to our Harvest Host site, Stutt's Ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona.

Someone is watching me.

Beautiful skies on the ranch.

Someone was playing with their food. Hay on his fly mask.

Just another beautiful view here on Stutt's Ranch.

This morning we headed out to the KOA in Tucson, Arizona, for a week. More on that journey on the next blog post. Thank you for joining us!

If there is something special you would like me to take a picture of, please let me know!

 
Drop a comment for me and let me know your thoughts on the blog.

God, the RV & me...