To celebrate my graduation, Randy took me on a spectacular vacation. We spent four days in Las Vegas with a sightseeing trip to the Grand Canyon. I had so much fun! THANK YOU RANDY!

Our arriving flight gave us a preview of the dramatic landscape, bringing us in over the canyon. We stayed at the MGM Grand Hotel, a very short cab ride from the airport. From the window of our room, we could see planes coming and going. We could also see the Statue of Liberty, a roller coaster, the Luxor pyramid, and the incredible lights of the city. Overstatement is an art in Las Vegas.

Our sightseeing in the city included a visit to M&M World, a walk through the Hard Rock Café, a daytime trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, a nighttime trip to the top of the Stratosphere, and of course, some time in the Casino. Randy won enough at Blackjack to cover what we fed into the slot machines. I'm less of a risk-taker; my favorite machine was the nickel Wheel-of-Fortune. We rode the roller coasters at New York New York, Circus Circus, and the Stratosphere. The ride at the Stratosphere was at the top of the tower. It was the smallest coaster, but the most exhilarating ride.

The Canyon Tour was breathtaking. Our plane took off from Boulder City with the pilot and nine passengers. In our one-hour flight, we flew above Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, and followed the canyon into the airport just outside the park. The close-up aerial view of the canyon is truly magnificent. From there, Dan, our tour guide, took us on a bus trip to three observation points along the South Rim. The crisp edges of the mountains, the colorful layers of the canyon, the great shadows created by the sunlight…Wow!

Our vacation also included much wonderful food. We feasted on gourmet Italian at Il Fornaio. At Emeril's, Randy enjoyed raw oysters and steamed shrimp, while I delightfully dined on double chocolate torte. The steak and prime rib at Monte Carlo were superb. On our last night, we gorged at the Japanese Steak House at the Tropicana.

Before we left, Randy bought a digital camera to document the trip. It took some great shots. He picked out a few for this web page.

The fantasy world continued through our trip home. We arrived back in Tampa for the end of the Buccaneer game against the Redskins. They gave us a few scares, but the Buccaneers are going to the NFC Championship Game!

Texas J. Pussycat remained at home to rule the universe. His good friend, Quiara, visited him daily to honor him with Pounce treats.