Sunday, April 30, 2006

Photo Journalism

I didn't post yesterday because I took an impromptu trip to Wendover with Timm. Wendover is a small casino town just over the Utah border, in Nevada. (A fact that is clearly delineated by a painted white line in the middle of the road, defining the 'Utah side' against the 'Nevada side'. Or more meaningfully, the side where gambling is illegal, and the side where it is not.) We are not gamblers; Timm was Scuba certifying a group of scouts at Blue Lake and literally begged for my company. It was only a 24-hour trip, and I really didn't want to go. Really, Really, really. I tried to focus on how sweet it was that it was so important to Timm to have his family there, even for the short time we would see eachother (mostly in the 2 1/2 hour drive each way.) So I consented under much badgering. This is Timm looking happy that we are getting on our way:

This is me trying to look hopeful that it will not be as utterly horrible as I forcasted it to be:

This is Bella looking completely oblivious to the boredom and frustration of (an albeit small)roadtrip that would follow:

I had never been to Wendover, mostly for good reason I have decided after having been there. So I had never seen the salt flats either. This is a picture of them I took from the window of the moving car, for those of you who also have never seen the salt flats. It's weird- it looks just like snow, doesn't it? But it's salt!

This is a bizarre and ugly 'sculpture' that is on the way out there too. Presumably it is a 'ball tree' from which sports equipment grows, which was apparently hatched from an egg. Mm hmm...

As soon as we got there Timm had to take off to the lake to teach, leaving me to put Bella down for a nap in the bathroom of our room. She did pretty well- she cried for about 10 minutes, but then took a good nap. This is a picture of what I can only assume is a Breathe Right nose strip. That's right- it was on the headboard of one of the beds in our room. (Not the one we slept on!) I was thoroughly grossed out. Then I took a picture.

This is the casino where we had dinner: The Rainbow. Clearly, it was designed by someone on an acid trip, or at least very familiar with the stuff. It was enough to give you an instant migraine, or a seizure, or both at the same time. I couldn't belive how attrocious and gaudy it was. I snapped this blurry photo one second before a very patronizing man, addressing me as 'sweetheart', told me not to. (Ick.) We paid $50 for a seafood buffet. Let me clarify- a friend of Timm's paid for us to eat at the buffet. I never would have spent the money, especially considering how little I actually ate.
All in all, it wasn't a completely horrible trip. It was still a sacrifice that I did only for Timm. (traveling with a baby is always a sacrifice.) It wasn't too bad, but I'm glad we're home. That is my photo journalistic view of my trip to Wendover. My one, and only, trip to Wendover.

{p.s. I forgot to mention one great bonus for going to Wendover. It was defnately better than a walk through Walmart. Translation= My aunt Denise, "dpw" is known to tell you that "You need a walk through WalMart" if you are being hard on yourself for any reason, particularly physically. A walk through WalMart always puts things in perspective, when you judge yourself against everyone else. I know that sounds harsh, but it's true. Despite the fact that I felt like trash because I had my one-year old at a smoky casino, after eating at the buffet on Friday night, I instantly felt thinner, prettier, better dressed, MORE dressed, and sophisticated than I had previously. Again, it sounds harsh, but it's true. Try it and see.}

9 comments:

Jill said...

Okay, wasn't it worth it for stories like those? I can't believe there was a breathe-right nasal strip on the headboard, that's hilarious! (And disgusting.) What did Bella think about all those crazy lights in the casino? Was she mesmerized or overstimulated?

Good for you for going, it's definitely amusing from my point of view. One more question...do you always sit in the backseat of the car with Bella?

Rin said...

Good job for going!

I told my sister about Denise's comment about Walmart while we were there one time and my sister paused for a second and looked around and realized how true it was. I was shocked that she hadn't noticed before though. Maybe the living in our own worlds runs in the family.

jt said...

I don't usually sit back there with Bella, but she needed the company and distraction on the road trip.

Bridget said...

This was a great post jessie! It reminded me of my trip with Matt to Las Vegas-it was a business trip for him. I enjoyed seeing the famous sites but it was interesting to see the type of people that are attractd to that type of place and then exposing my kids to it!

Anonymous said...

I, too, am having a hard time getting past the Breathe Right strip. Glad you got a little Walmart perspective, though all you needed to do was to look at that gorgeous picture of yourself looking out the car window!!

Robin said...

Wow...that is almost seizure inducing.

And interesting perspective, the Walmart one is - though sadly, I can see how it can be true. That, or go up to Cabela's. Oh boy.

Anonymous said...

You guys all look so cute, how could the trip have been anything but fun? You seemed glad to be home on Saturday for sure.

And as a WalMart employee, I feel great almost everytime I am at work. The later it gets, the better you feel about yourself- that is when all the really interesting people come out of hiding. Granted the Lindon WalMart is a little better than say, the Orem one. That one is just plain freaky and I feel dirty if I ever go there- which I don't.

michelle said...

So true about the Orem Walmart, Hannah! Sick. The Lindon one is way better.

I'm with Denise, Jess. That picture of you in the car is sickeningly cute. How can you be so dang photogenic?

I'm glad the trip turned out better than you feared (I was being all pessimistic with you) and that you made Timm happy by going. I don't know if I would have had the fortitude to go. I'm so glad you snapped that photo before the patronizing man told you not to take pictures! That is truly a sight, and I'm amazed that you didn't have a migraine or a seizure.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I just don't know what to say about all of that, but the photos are all sooooooooooo cute! I had to go back several times to view them and admire my offspring! (and Timm too!) I think that is the first time I have seen Bella's teeth! Your hair is getting so long! That casino picture is a good one for me to use in a "very bad idea, poor design" seminar! All in all, very entertaining!

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