kathy holmes, writer & singer

Similar to Florida’s “Evacuation Route” signs along Pinellas County, Las Vegas has signage with “Flash Flood” warnings. You wonder how often and how far-reaching these will be. I remember watching a TV show about a flash flood in Vegas where people were trapped in their cars.

So, yesterday, I experienced my first flash flood. First, I heard thunder and recalled how I had lived in the “Lightning Capital of the World” in Florida, and I figured it wouldn’t be too bad. Then the rain came. Used to pouring rains in Florida, I didn’t give it another thought. In fact, I decided it was time to take a break from my freelance work and rest on the bed with the cats.

Soon after, I heard a loud whoosh that I couldn’t ignore. I peeked out the bedroom window and saw water rushing down from the nearby mountains beginning to flood the street behind our house.

Wondering how bad this might get, I noticed my neighbor in his backyard and I went out to talk to him. (He gave me a tour of his brand-new pool at the same time.) Thankfully, he’s home during the day (night-time bartender) and a native to Las Vegas so he could fill me in on what to expect.

He said we were both lucky we had chosen the houses we had. He and his wife had looked at the house on the left side of the “canal” and we had first looked at the house on the right side of  ther “canal” down the street. At first, we both had the same idea - if you live next to the canal, you’ll only have one neighbor, but then we each dismissed those houses - that canal is there for a reason and what happens during a flash flood? Yep, those people were a bit flooded. You can see the flooded street in front of those houses in the pic below.

By the end of the day, the rain had stopped and the water had receded, leaving a big muddy mess. This morning somebody - the city, perhaps - is cleaning up the mess. And while I doubt we’ll put in a backyard pool, this does tell me I want to pave over the backyard. Cement seems better than mud right now.

From earthquakes to tornadoes to hurricanes and now a flash flood. What an interesting life!

Who didn’t grow up reading Nancy Drew? I was curious about the movie so I finally saw it on HBO. Check out my thoughts on moviezen. This is the 2007 movie, that is. Did you know there were other Nancy Drew movies back in the 1930s? Check out Nancy Drew,,, Detective, Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (one of the first Nancy Drew books I read), Nancy Drew… Reporter, and Nancy Drew, Trouble Shooter. I wonder if these can still be found?

My dh reserved a table at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas for my birthday dinner. We chose a time where we would arrive early enough but still be dining late enough to see the Bellagio fountains perform across the street lit up at night. We had dined at Mon Ami Gami before at lunch inside the main dining room. This time they led us out to the much-prized patio. And because the weather had cooled off to under 100, the weather for dining alfresco was perfect.

Not realizing we would be dining outside, we had left our sunglasses in the car, but soon the sun began to set behind the low clouds hugging the mountains in the distance. It was an amazing evening, and we were treated to fabulous service, a superb meal, and an exciting but romantic setting. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else on the Strip or anywhere but Las Vegas, for that matter.

Our Dining Extravaganza

First, our waiter brought us 2 glasses of water and a delicious French baguette with butter and the tastiest shredded carrots I ever had. And I thought my friend from Montreal performed miracles with carrots (not a favorite veggie).

Appetizer:

(R & K): Sea Scallops Gratinées - caramelized fennel, onion marmalade, mussel cream (the best scallops ever)

Wine:

Kathy: Champagne - Marquis de la Tour - Loire, NV
Rich: Chardonnay - Vouvray - Domaine Gaultier, 06

Entrée:

Kathy - Steak Classique - maítre d’hôtel butter, served with Pomme Frites
Rich - Steak Roquefort - blue cheese sauce, served with Pomme Frites

Dessert:

(R & K): Profiteroles - vanilla ice cream filled pastry, fudge sauce

We were given special treatment on our last meal at Mon Ami Gabi and we didn’t dare hope it would be just as good but it was even better. While waiting for our reservation, we stopped by the elevator to the Eiffel Tower restaurant and were invited to take a personal tour of the restaurant and kitchen where there must have been close to 20 chefs. People stared at us, wondering who the VIPs were.

The hostess was wonderful, the view looked amazing from up there, and we will definitely be back. After getting reacquainted with Paris Las Vegas, we can’t wait to book a stay there sometime. I may become a Francophile without ever going to France. But it must be in my genes. How ironic that it’s my dad who loves to speak French, but it’s my mother who is endowed with double French names in front of her French maiden name, and is so unaware of the French side of her.

In the meantime, check out the finale to our glorious meal and show, complete with Bellagio fountains performing to Sinatra’s Fly Me to the Moon. It was a superb ending to a perfect night out on the Strip.

Skipper is never very far away from a book.

That makes him the perfect writer’s cat.

As my dad says, “Kitties are smart.”

Sunday is my birthday and listening to Intercot on Live365, browsing Classmates.com and looking out our backyard that reminds me so much of our backyard in Orange County is taking me down memory lane - not that it takes much to do that anyway.

I remember so well that last birthday at home before we moved from southern California to Oregon - a very traumatic move that I never got over until now because only now do I feel like I’m home again. It feels like I’ve picked up right where I left off. No wonder I find myself writing a YA (young adult) novel - perhaps my heart is still 15.

But I’m also reminded of another fabulous birthday - the night before my birthday at Disney World. We were seated at the Cantina in Mexico enjoying a margarita and watching Illuminations in Epcot. It was simply a magical night and I couldn’t imagine a better way to have spent that milestone birthday.

I had an early birthday celebration at Disneyland in May, but we have a couple of things planned this weekend, too.