Day Three - Lion's, Tigers & Dolphins

Our third day started out great - we woke up and went out to the living room to get our day started and someone had decorated the condo for Cindy's birthday!  There were balloons, signs and streamers.  Guess Cindy isn't the only one who can cook up a suprise for Sister-Friend Week.  It was so sweet of Rene and Chris to do that! 

We then discussed what would be on our agenda for the day and decided that we would go over to the MGM Grand and see the Lions first.  What a nice display they had, we got to see the lions walk overhead and play with a toy on the glass walkway.  They had a cub that someone had paid $200 to hold for five minutes and we were able to watch them pet and love on it.  As we were leaving the MGM, a girl asked us if we wanted to go watch a t.v. pilot and give our opinion and that maybe we could win a prize.  Sounded like something fun (and free!) to do so we went.  It was a pilot for a show about two sisters who own a cupcake shop, kinda like a version of Ace of Cakes.  At the end, you give them your opinion and demographics.  Turns out Rene and Cindy were in the right demographic group and we were told if we wanted to come back and do a panel discussion they would pay us $80 each.  We went to sign up for that and there was only one spot left.  We had already been to Hard Rock and priced the jacket and shirt Rene wanted to buy for Marissa and guess what, it was almost $80.  So the decision was made for us and Rene signed up to go back the next day.  What an unexpected blessing!
After that we walked down to the Mirage and went and saw the dolphin and tiger display they have there.  It was fun to watch the dolphins swimming around and doing their thing with the trainers.  Most of the tigers were napping but we got to see them, even if they were mostly laying down.  It's always neat to see the beautiful animals Heavenly Father created and the many varieties they come in!  Of course the whole time, we were hugging Chris and trying to make every moment count because after that, it was time for him to go to the airport.  We went back to our condo and spent another hour just visiting before his shuttle came.
Then it was time to get ready for the first show we saw, Lion King, at Mandalay Bay.
All I can say about that show is "AMAZING!"  The talent of the performers to do the puppetry and their songs, etc. is beyond anything I could ever hope to do in all my days of high school musicals.  The sets and costumes and orchestra were top notch!  I am so thankful that we were able to see that show - thanks Terry for the birthday present of two tickets, it was just what a drama geek loves!
After the show we went to eat at the House of Blues.  The music was very good.  Again, the talent people have is so inspiring.  They played a lot of good songs from groups we all know and love and it was enjoyable to sit and listen to a live band playing.  The food was o.k. but not anything to write about.

Then the excitment really rose a notch as we opted to splurge for a taxi ride back to Summer Bay.  We knew right away that our taxi driver was going the wrong way but he wouldn't believe us and even got beligerant about it.  He was so offended (and probably embarassed that we were right) that he started driving like a mad man and swerving across the highway and roads.  The icing on the cake was when he missed the turn into the resort and Cindy politely (well, not really politely) pointed that out.  That sent him over the edge and he became outright rude.  In all, we were charged almost $5 more because of his mistake and so when the total was $17.30, Cindy asked him for change from the $20.  Let's just say, taxi drivers don't appreciate not getting a tip and will actually crumble up bills and throw them at their customers! 

Don't worry though, it was all good in the end because we changed into our suits and headed for the hot tub to soak and laugh away all the stress of the episode now known as "The Taxi Ride from Hell".

Day Two - Family BBQ

Day two started with a trip to the grocery store, courtesy of the timeshare shuttle.  We decided to take advantage of the beautiful outdoor cabana with BBQ grills and got hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixings.  We also bought some stuff to help us keep to our budget and eat at our condo and save our pennies for the really nice meals.  We really appreciated all the wonderful services and ammenities that they had at Summer Bay.  After unpacking the groceries we called Aunt Michelle (our mom's baby sister) and she came in from Pahrump to spend the day with us.  It was so wonderful to sit in the cabana and let Chris do the grilling.  We got to visit a lot and just had a great time catching up on everyone's lives.  One of the places we really wanted to see was Freemont Street so we decided that we would go down there.  I had read about a show called "Marriage Can be Murder" that was playing at a hotel down there, so we decided to get tickets for the show that night.  Michelle was kind enough to be our taxi and stayed and joined us for the show.  It was so funny and you had to pay attention to see who was the murderer.  They really included the audience as much as possible and everyone felt like they had a "role" to play.  Before the show Michelle and Rene played a few slots, Cindy played some Blackjack and Chris played some poker.  None of us are usually gamblers but we had fun for the few minutes we did and I think we all lost a few dollars.  Goes to show that one should never try to bet any money they can't afford to lose.  After the show we walked around Freemont Street, watched some of the light shows on the giant overhead screen and did some shopping for gifts and souveniors.  Then it was time for Michelle to drive home and so she dropped us off at on the strip and we went to watch the Mirage Volcano.  They have really done a good job rennovating it!  What a fun thing to watch.  We then caught the shuttle back to our place and spent more time visiting and joking around.  It sure was nice to have Chris with us, he was so funny telling us that he was there to take care of his two dowager sisters!  Soon that will be the truth, I just hope he is as happy to do it when we need it.  LOL

Day two ended the same as Day One - sitting in the hot tub and soaking away all our troubles.

Day One & Our Suprise Guest!

The Fabulous Cushing Sisters have two Fabulous Cushing Brothers.  Our youngest, Chris, lives in Phoenix with his family and it's hard for him to see Rene and Don since they live in Kansas with their families.  In fact, it had been over three years since Rene had seen Chris.  Unknown to Rene, Chris and I cooked up a suprise for her at the Vegas airport.  Chris was able to fly in right before our planes and we met Rene at the baggage claim.  She was expecting to see me, but was completely suprised to see her baby brother.  Once she recovered from the shock, we got in a taxi and went to our timeshare condo.  The place we stayed at was called Summer Bay Resort and it was great!  We had a beautiful one-bedroom apartment/condo with all the ammenities and transportation to the Strip.  We quickly unpacked and took the shuttle to the Strip.  We walked the entire north end of the Strip and had a wonderful dinner at Ceasar's Palace's Buffet.  Who can complain about eating prime rib, crab legs and shrimp cocktail??  Everything we tried was yummy and we loved the dessert bar with it's mini desserts.  They even had some sugar free desserts so Chris was able to enjoy them too!  After dinner we walked to the Bellagio and watched their beautiful fountain shows and then went inside to their Hanging Gardens.  All I can say is "WOW!" what a beautiful place and I am in awe of the talent it takes to make such a wonderful spring display.  One our walk back down the Strip we saw the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile cruising the strip.  Of course, we had to take pictures of that too!  We also started our picture collection titled "People of Vegas".  Watch for it in the sidebar, once I get Rene's pictures from her camera.

Day One ended with a good hot tub soaking and lots of laughter and joy at being together!

Two More Days to Work and then It's Vegas Baby!

Well, it's been a long week so far with lots to do to get ready to have a week off.  I still need to write the annual reviews for my department and get them approved, type up the minutes from our last stake meeting and get myself to the Scottrade office to do the next step in closing out our investment club.  I know if I concentrate, I will be able to accomplish everything and still go see my favorite blonde chic for lunch at her house tomorrow.  It's going to have to be focus, focus, focus at work and then again at home.  Terry is being sweet and doing my laundry, thank goodness for "Laundry Boy" and his ability to get the whites white and not shrink sweaters.  He's even offerred to be my prep chef if I will cook him a few good meals tonight and tomorrow so he has leftovers for a few days next week.  I love my Laundry Boy, so I will do it!!  Thanks to all our family and friends who think we are being fun with this blog.  Well off to work I go......3 full days left, then church and then my flight!!!  I am getting anxious to see my sister and give her a big hug!  - Cindy

A Gray, Cold Day in Doodah...

It’s Tuesday, March 16th and we are 5 days away from our fabulous Las Vegas vacation! I’m looking out my window at work and it’s another gray, cold day here in Doodah. I can’t wait to become reacquainted with the sun. My sister Cindy and I are going to do our best to squeeze every bit of life out of next week that we can. Restaurants, shows and shopping, oh my! No one can make me laugh and forget all my troubles like my sister. She and I can have fun together anytime, anywhere. What better place than Vegas to hang out with your BFF?

People watching will be our main sport, I’m sure that you will see more than one picture of “The people of Las Vegas” posted to our blog. I’m also sure that somewhere in cyberspace our picture will appear on someone else’s blog under the same category. I’ll be sure to give them the ol’ Cushing salute.
Last night I bought a new pair of tennis shoes for all the walking we will do while we’re there. I also had my Dr. refill my Lortab prescription because of all the walking we will do while we’re there, lol. Funny how in my youth it used to be sex, drugs and rock’n’roll, now it’s sleep, prescription drugs and ear plugs. When the hell did I turn into an old person???? Oh well, can someone pass me the Metamucil? - LeRene

Why We Chose this Name for Our Blog

When I was looking for a name for our little blog, I googled Cushing Sisters, having no idea of the infamous "Fabulous Cushing Sisters" and their lives.  Once I started reading a little about them, it became obvious that although we may share a name, there is little else about our lives that is similar.  However, my sister and I live our own kind of fabulous lives....

While you are waiting to read about our adventures, here's an excerpt with some history on the original "Fabulous Cushing Sisters":

Socialites: A History  by David Patrick Columbia

The Cushing Sisters and their family at the wedding of Bill and Babe Paley, July 1947, at Greentree, the Whitney estate in Manhasset. L. to r. rear: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cushing, Minnie and Vincent Astor, Bill and Babe Paley, Jock and Betsey Whitney. Front row: Sarah Roosevelt, Tony Mortimer, Mrs. Harvey Cushing, Amanda Mortimer, and Kate Roosevelt.


"There also were those girls from Boston, the Cushing Sisters whose father was not rich but was revered and esteemed by the public because he was America’s first neurosurgeon. Their real status, however, as socialites, was determined by their marriages (and affairs).
The middle sister Betsey married in 1930 to James Roosevelt whose father Franklin D. two years later became President of the United States. That marriage produced two daughters, a divorce and a second marriage to John Hay Whitney, one of America’s wealthiest men. The eldest Cushing daugher, Mary Benedict, known as Minnie, took up with real estate heir Vincent Astor, as his mistress (he was still married to his first wife, Helen Huntington), and they finally married in the early 40s. The youngest, and real beauty of the Cushing family, Barbara (known as Babe) married the blue-blooded Stanley Mortimer, who she later divorced and married for a second time to William Paley, the broadcasting tycoon (founder of CBS).
Like many young ambitious socially women who came after, the Cushings had a powerful mother whose aspirations, not unlike the typical stage mothers, influenced them to marry rich and marry up. Although these girls were already “socialites” by the terms of the day, like so many others, they aspired to, they quite naturally in time took on an air of old society. Manners reigned (at least in public)."

At My Sister's Humble Service

As always, she commands and I follow.  Today my sister sent me an email about our upcoming Sister-Friend Week in Vegas.  I can't believe she is up and having clear thoughts after her wild night last night partying with Elton John and the Piano Man.  But, she is and it's my eternal burden to tag along behind her and do what she thinks is a good idea.  Usually, she is right and today is no exception.  Her email suggests that we create a blog so we can post our adventures in Vegas and drive our husbands and family crazy with our outlandish behavior.  I agree that we should find ways to torment our dearly beloveds and so here is our blog.  I hope she doesn't mind that I'm taking it a step further than just our Vegas trip.  Afterall, we have had some pretty good adventures over the years.......but that is for a later posting......until then, the countdown (according to Rene) is 17 days.  But who's counting.............