Sounds Greek To Me

After two days in the mountains we have returned to civilization, including internet access. I think I really need to start where we left off. The last night in Vegas went according to plan, which actually means the unexpected is the norm. We had dinner and then took Emily and Zachary to the Bellagio to see the "O" show. The ride to the Bellagio was one of the highlights of the trip, when I think about it every taxi cab ride we take is funnier then the last. The way we work it is Chris sits upfront and the three of us sit in the back. His ability to strike up a conversation and befriend someone who he just met is impressive. After jumping in the cab he told the driver we were in a hurry and needed to get to the Bellagio in ten minutes, the driver said he can do it in three and wasn't kidding. Chris isn,t shy about telling the drivers the best way to drive and ask them how they pronounce there name and where are they from. He was shocked with the guy named Tom and told him so. Speaking of taxis I didn't realize the only way to get a cab is at a taxi stand at any of the big hotels. The lines on a Friday or Saturday night is fifty to a hundred very intoxicated people waiting to be driven to the next club. The time on line goes pretty quickly when watching the fashion show, the working girls and the guys trying to figure out if the girl being overly friendly is working or not(I am guessing she, hopefully a she, is working). Our last cab ride was the most memorable one of our stay in Sin City ( first use of sin city the entire blog I think, i should be congratulated, didn't use Lost Wages either come to think of it, you all should be impressed). After taking Emily and Zachary to the Bellagio Chris and I went to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville located across the street from Caesar's Palace (when anybody says across the street in Vegas don't assume it really means it is close to your current location, give yourself plenty of time to get there). Our cousin Tom (who The Big Cat stays in touch with over the years) was a great host and the place turns into a terrific night club later in the evening(the band was great but that should be no surprise considering where they are playing on a Saturday night). My concern was having the kids meet my cousin after their show ended and getting them now into a packed club with a line outside and police and security at the front door,(by now I hope you have all figured out how that problem was solved without any input from me) As I was leaving to meet the kids Chris said before you go you have to meet some friends of mine (friends? We had only been in the place for two hours) as he introduces me to the head of security and the guy greets me like an old friend and says" he can't wait to meet the kids ,they sound great, make sure you don't wait on the line just come right to the front"
I said to myself, my brother could be the greatest wingman since Goose in Top Gun( FYI, can't go wrong with movie references while blogging). We stayed at the club, listened to the band and The big Cat realizing it was Juniors birthday night disappeared again(guy could be Houdini for all I know by now) comes back with cake and sings happy birthday to Zachary(I didn't even know the place had cake). Finally we left to go to the hotel(Excalibur)by going to the taxi stand at Cesar's, line was long, people watching was great and when we finally got to the front and said where we were going a girl jumps in the back (minivan) and says I am gong there too. She proceeds to tell Emily her life story (she was from southern California and her friends left her, actually I think she left them)at the same time Chris is upfront having a conversation with the driver who was Greek. The Big Cat then to the amazement of everyone speaks to the driver in perfect Greek, the driver fist pumps him turns up the greek music full blast starts signing and laughing and the two of them act like long lost friends. We laughed all the way back to the hotel and asked Chris what he said to the driver. Apparently one of his friends from seventh grade was Greek and taught him a few choice inappropriate words that he is still able to string together when necessary.
The sheriff, true to her nature, helped the taxi cab crasher back to her room and we woke up early the next morning and continued the road trip north to June Lake on the east side of the Sierra Nevada's three hundred and fifty miles northwest and fifty degrees colder. I will continue to write from the road, but if I type any slower(thanks for letting me borrow your iPad Terry)we won't be able to do anything else. My next post we hopefully have photos of the snow(yes snow)and lots of it.