One for the Money Movie

A proud, born-and-bred Jersey girl, Stephanie Plum's got plenty of attitude, even if she's been out of work for the last six months and just lost her car to a debt collector. Desperate for some fast cash, Stephanie turns to her last resort: convincing her sleazy cousin to give her a job at his bail bonding company...as a recovery agent. True, she doesn't even own a pair of handcuffs and her weapon of choice is pepper spray, but that doesn't stop Stephanie from taking on Vinny's biggest bail-jumper: former vice cop and murder suspect Joe Morelli - yup, the same sexy, irresistible Joe Morelli who seduced and dumped her back in high school. Nabbing Morelli would be satisfying payback - and a hefty payday - but as Stephanie learns the ins and outs of becoming a recovery agent from Ranger, a hunky colleague who's the best in the business, she also realizes the case against Morelli isn't airtight. Add to the mix her meddling family, a potentially homicidal boxer, witnesses who keep dying and the problem of all those flying sparks when she finds Morelli himself...well, suddenly Stephanie's new job isn't nearly as easy as she thought.

The film is based on the first novel in writer Janet Evanovich's bestselling Stephanie Plum series. Rumored to be the start of a film franchise. The production will shoot in Western Pennsylvania from July to early September 2010 (7/21/10). Pittsburgh will double for the book's setting of Trenton, New Jersey (7/21/10).

Janet Evanovich's Overall Thoughts: "I think the movie was very successful in translating the tone of my book. In fact, I think it enhances it. This is an action adventure film. The movie is fast paced. It is sexy, it is funny, it is Jersey. I love the movie. Even if I didn't write the book I'd love the movie (1-25-12)." Janet Evanovich's Thoughts on Stephanie Casting: "Katherine Heigl is so talented. She's bold, she's brave. She's afraid. She's vulnerable. She's sexy. She has this wide range of emotions in this movie and she just nails them all. She walks like Plum. She talks like Plum. She absolutely is Stephanie (1-25-12)."

I went to see this movie with Robin and Margee; they both have read all the books, and were way excited to see the movie. It was a little slow; I do think that Sheri played LuLu and Katherine played Stephanie Plum very well. The reviews said it might be the worst movie of 2012; I don't think it was that bad, but it did have a view slow parts.

Lady Liberty made out of Jelly Beans

On the second floor of "New York, New York Hotel & Casino" on the Vegas strip at "It's Sugar" there is a replica of the "Statue of Liberty" made out of jelly beans. Anyone walking by has to take a photograph.

It is for sale if you have $30,000; it's bound to be sold soon!

I did notice a few bare spots; they say it's where visitors have been sneaking away free jellies since this store has opened. Maybe they think a few out of 254,093 jelly beans will not be noticed. WOW!

9/11 Tribute at NY NY Hotel & Casino in Vegas

On 9/11/01 people spontaneously brought flowers, candles, flags, t-shirts and other memorabilia to New York New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to create a makeshift shrine and tribute to the fallen heroes. A permanent exhibit was installed at the base of the Statue of Liberty at the hotel in 2003. The items people brought are now permanently archived at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

I guess you just don't think that people at Las Vegas would even think about remembering the fallen; you think they are only wanting to gamble and make it rich.

I wished that I had more time to check out the exhibit beside this tug boat below the Statue of Liberty on the Vegas strip at New York, New York Hotel while I was there, but knowing that it existed showed me that there's more to Vegas than gambling!

Random Thoughts by Me

You know life is really what you make it; you will have days you are down, and days that you are completely happy. That in mind; there's always something running through my mind. I believe you have to like yourself before you can truly be happy. My random thoughts:

1. My dear, dear friend Abatha thinks and worries way too much! She is an amazing, caring person that I completely rely on for advice and encouragement.
2. Ankles are a very important body part when you want to exercise; one false move, and they are hurting. I just started exercising after a surgery on my Achilles heel tendon two years ago. Oh boy!
   
3. My poor chiropractor is trying to teach me how to have a conversation with him; that way he can figure out what's going on with me, he says he can't help if he doesn't know what's going on. Good Luck Dr. Hinz! It is nice he cares, but I'm stubborn.
   
4. It seems like every time I go out to eat, they bring me the wrong thing. O'Charley's brought me out tilapia when I ordered salmon; Burger Up brought me out a burger with peppers, and I didn't order them on my burger. Argh....
5. I don't like dieting, or as I say: " Watching what I eat for the rest of my life."
   

Next week will be completely better, and it is an accomplishment that I'm still smiling! Thanks to everyone who helped make that smile happen, even me.

Aureole at Mandalay Bay - Art Wall with Body Parts in Vegas

Wine angels, high-tech gadgets, and fine dining characterize Charlie Palmer's Aureole at Mandalay Bay. The exterior of the restaurant, a wall embedded with sculptures of body parts,
is the first sign that this Las Vegas restaurant offers a different kind of experience.

The four-story glass wine tower is the centerpiece of Aureole. Over 9,000 bottles of wine await a wine angel's touch—the lovely ladies who
"fly" like aerialists to retrieve the bottles. An iPad holds the wine list, which is probably a good idea considering how long it would be in printed
form. Tech-loving guests will enjoy the gadgetry that assists them in navigating the extensive wine offerings.

The food is American, but with influences from many cuisines. One of the signature dishes is the wood-grilled filet mignon with a cabernet sauce. As with any restaurant of this caliber, the menus change seasonally. Diners can choose from two rooms: seats in the main dining room allow guests to watch the wine angels, while a table in the Swan Court offers a view of the swan pond. Meals are more expensive in the Swan Room, and menus in the two areas are slightly different. Three-course prix-fixe menus begin at $75 per person. A happy hour in the lounge (5-7 p.m.) is a way to enjoy some of Aureole's fine food and wine, but at a more affordable cost.

Even the happy hour was still a little expensive for me to eat here, but I was so amazed by the artwork. Especially the wall outside the restaurant with all the body parts. How did that artist come up with that idea?

Oatman AZ Hotel & Restaurant

In 1921, a fire burned down many of Oatman's smaller buildings, but spared the Oatman Hotel.

Built in 1902, the now-Oatman Hotel is the oldest two-story adobe structure in Mohave County, a Mohave County historical landmark and is especially famous as the honeymoon stop of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard after their wedding in Kingman on March 18, 1939. Gable fell in love with the area and returned often to play poker with the miners. The Gable/Lombard honeymoon suite is one of the hotel's major attractions. The other is "Oatie the Ghost." "Oatie," actively promoted by the hotel's current owners, is a friendly poltergeist whose identity is believed to be that of William Ray Flour, an Irish miner who died behind the hotel, presumably from excessive alcohol consumption. Flour's body wasn't discovered until two days after his death and it was hastily buried in a shallow grave near where he was found.

When you get hungry, make your way to the restaurant. They are famous for their barbeque and buffalo burgers. I ordered the barbeque, and it was so good.

Then, if you're a fan of dollar bills, you've reached dollar bill heaven,

as the place is covered with them, as dollar bills are attached to the walls and ceilings of the place, and just about everywhere else you can imagine. Picture this: Dollar bills everywhere! The dollar bills are marked by the owner, and then stapled to the wall.

Jim helped Grady mark his bill,

and then Robin and Jim helped him staple it to the wall. Wonder if it's still there?

In-N-Out Burger - Family Atmosphere Even Now

In 1948, the first In-N-Out Burger was founded by Harry and Esther Snyder

in Baldwin Park. Harry's idea of a drive-thru hamburger stand where customers could order through a two-way speaker box was quite unique. Harry's idea caught on and California's first drive-thru hamburger stand was born. Below is what they look like now. Check out the menu, only a few choices to choose from.

The Snyder's business philosophy was simple: "Give customers the freshest, highest quality foods you can buy and provide them with friendly service in a sparkling clean environment." These principles have worked so well over the years that they are still the company's fundamental philosophy. It was almost three years before a second In-N-Out was opened. In-N-Out grew from 93 locations to 140 at the time of 1999. Below is Robin and Jim dining in the Laughlin, NV location on the strip.

Though times have changed, little has changed at In-N-Out. The menu-burgers, fries and drinks-is still the same basic menu customers have enjoyed since 1948. Everything is still made fresh to order. There are no microwaves or freezers. Customers may observe french fries being made from hand-diced, fresh, whole potatoes. And the shakes are made from real ice cream.

In-N-Out remains privately owned and the Snyder family has no plans to take the company public or franchise any units. All Associates are treated like family. Many Associates have been with In-N-Out for over 20 years, some even worked with Harry and Esther in the early
years. These relationships and the commitment to the company's philosophies continue to make In-N-Out a very special place to work.

Isn't it nice to think that a large chain of restaurants like In-N-Out Burgers still has that family atmosphere today, and it takes care of it's employees like family. I also heard that the employees get to take an annual trip to Hawaii; may have to suggest that to my boss. If you are ever around a In-N-Out Burger, stop in and have a splurge day. It will be worth the splurge.

THINGS YOU REMEMBER

Driving to work this morning while it was flurrying snow; I started feeling a little down, and then memories starting popping into my head. They were memories of my family who weren't with me anymore, but they were funny memories of what they used to do.

1. One way I remember my oldest sister, Wendy, is by eating the things she loved. That's probably why I can't lose anymore weight! - Pecan Shortbread Sandies, Ruffles and French Onion Dip, Wedding Cookies, Swedish Meatballs, Porcupine Balls and so much more. So I am eating Pecan Shortbread Sandies for breakfast this morning in honor of Wendy to the tune of 460 calories, and now you understand the weight problem.

2. Almost every time that my Dad would ride with me, he would say the following: keep both hands on the wheel (10 and 2), don't follow to close, and make sure to stop completely at any stop signs (no California stops) - I kept both hands on the wheel this morning.

3. Then I remembered that my Mom was just as scared of snow as I am; my Dad would have to take her to work when it snowed. Now Robin has to bring me to work when it snows.

It's so nice to remember the good things about your family that have passed away! I do have one worry though; what kind of memories and what can I do to remember Robin when that time comes? Robin loves to drink beer, drive in the snow, and doesn't eat enough to feed a chicken. I might be in trouble, but maybe I'll lose weight!

The Chandelier Bar in Cosmopolitan Hotel Vegas

The Chandelier on the Las Vegas Strip offers a truly one-of-a-kind, only-in-vegas type of
nightlife experience: a crystal-enshrouded bar —
a literally inhabitable chandelier. The hot spot is a favorite of celebrities such as Beyonce, Jay-Z,
Vince Vaughn, Kim Kardashian, and even on the show "Castle".

The tri-level venue designed by the famed Rockwell architecture group seats 500 guests nestled among its shimmering strands of 2 million beaded crystals. The high-energy first floor of blends effortlessly into the casino, features a DJ and is devoted to intricate specialty cocktails. The second floor provides the most exclusive experience, serving drinks with molecular garnishes delivered table side from a modern bar cart. The separate cocktail kitchen designated for molecular exploration is stocked with a sous-vide vacuum, a Pacojet to make spirited sorbets, a spherification center and a complete index of chemicals used in molecular gastronomy.

One resulting cocktail is the Fire Breathing Dragon, made with raspberry, lemongrass and Thai chili and garnished with a dehydrated raspberry that is treated with liquid nitrogen. Once you bite down on the raspberry, it releases a sort of smokey substance, hence the fire breathing.

The third floor, overlooking the entirety of the casino, exudes femininity and offers yet another take on creatively infused cocktails. Floral elements like rose, violet and lavender essences are used to make a mix of modern and classic drinks. Cocktails include Bed Thyme, made from chamomile and lavenders syrups with thyme cognac and pear liqueur, and Violet Femme, a gin and elderflower cocktail rimmed in violet sugar with edible violets.

Walking by this amazing bar within the Cosmopolitan Hotel is such an amazing experience. You can't take your eyes away from all the strands of crystals draped from the ceiling. I was mesmerized. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to go in. It was about 1 a.m. in the morning, and Debbie, Robin, Jim, Grady and I were all very tired and had a long walk back to our Hotel. You have to at least see the outside of this bar if you are in Vegas.

Boxing Champion Joe Louis - Ceasar's Palace Vegas

In a tribute to the champ stands a statue of the great Joe Louis chiseled from Carrara marble in Ceasar's Palace. It is the same stone Michelangelo used to carve his famous “Pieta.” The alabaster likeness of boxing’s Brown Bomber is one of the biggest conversation pieces on the property, and it moves around the property. You never where you will find it!

It stands 7 1/2-feet tall, about a foot and a half taller than the man himself. But then, that is as it should be — Joe Louis, larger than life. Louis, considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest, heavyweight champion of all time. Louis was the son of an Alabama sharecropper; rose to stardom in a segregated America more than a decade before Jackie Robinson would break baseball’s color barrier.

Louis enlisted in the Army at the prime of his career and the height of his popularity. He spent nearly five years fighting exhibitions, entertaining the troops and becoming Uncle Sam’s biggest ambassador. He even donated entire purses from two of his championship defenses to the war effort. Incredibly, after being honorably discharged from the Army, Louis was relentlessly pursued by the Internal Revenue Service for back taxes. He was forced to fight well beyond his prime and even launch a pride-swallowing career as a professional wrestler in an effort to pay off his debt. His life became a downward spiral that included drug abuse and sporadic episodes of paranoia. Ironically, it would be Las Vegas that would come to his rescue.

Ash Resnick, a rogue character from Las Vegas’ colorful past who had met Louis while the two were standing in line for their Army physicals in 1942, was a Caesars vice president when he put his old pal on the payroll as a casino host in the early 1970s.“Mr. Louis’ job was to be adored by sports fans until his death in 1981. Thanks to Las Vegas, Louis always had a little walking-around money in his pocket, a roof over his head and that familiar cowboy hat he liked to wear on top of it. Vegas loved him, and it was he had many special times there.

Joe Louis: America’s Hero ... Betrayed by some...the grandson of slaves became one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time, served as an iconic figure during World War II, and carried himself with dignity and class through numerous setbacks. “Joe Louis had an astonishing career. Retaining numerous knockout records to this day, he was a pillar of democracy and strength in a tumultuous period.”

Creamy Grape Dessert - Skinnytaste

Ingredients:

1lb green seedless grapes, washed and dried well

1lb red seedless grapes, washed and dried well

8 oz fat free Chiobani Greek yogurt

4 oz light cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup agave (or sugar)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:

2 tbsp brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)

Directions:

Cut grapes in half and set aside.

Mix yogurt, cream cheese, agave and vanilla until blended well. Stir grapes into mixture, and pour in large serving dish.

Combine brown sugar and crushed walnuts. Sprinkle over top of grapes to cover completely. Chill until ready to serve.

www.skinnytaste.com

Servings: 8 * Serving Size: 1/8th * Points: 5 pts

Calories: 171.2 * Fat: 7.9 g * Protein: 5.3 g * Carb: 33.8 g * Fiber: 1.6 g

Words of Wisdom from my experience: not all green grapes are seedless, I used splenda instead of agave or plain sugar, used splenda brown sugar, used pecans instead of walnuts, and my Greek yogurt was not Chiobani. It still turned out really good and it actually can cure a sweet tooth in case you are trying to not eat a lot of sweets, give it a try!