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".