This past weekend I gave myself an early Mother’s Day present, a weekend away. I drove to Laughlin, Nevada for a bowling tournament.

Something that surprised me:  I had no idea that there was anyplace left in the U.S. where you could smoke indoors.  When I went into the casino/hotel where I was staying I thought I had walked back in time to the 70’s or 80’s peering through a haze of smoke looking for the registration desk.

Something else that surprised me: My car has this funny quirk where sometimes the radio won’t work. Once I turn off the car and start it back up again it resumes working and it only happens once in a great while.  Of course it happened on the trip after a stop for gas.  I didn’t realize it had happened until I was back on the interstate so I decided to sing for myself.  Turns out the only songs I know the words to are Christmas Carols.  Really?  Really.  I tried Springsteen, Tom Petty, John Cougar Mellencamp, Elton John etc.  I had nothing but a few lines here and there.  So I sang Christmas songs for awhile and I did okay with a few (okay two: “Gilligan’s Island” and “The Brady Bunch”) television theme songs from the 70’s.  Crazy.

Something I enjoyed:  An early morning walk along the Colorado River.  The river was so clear and just beautiful.

The Colorado River, my hotel is on the right. 

A surprise place to visit in Arizona:  On my way home I went through Lake Havasu City to see THE London Bridge.  So cool!  I I had a very nice breakfast in the shadow of the bridge at a little cafe.

Yup, THE London Bridge, it just seems so bizarre that it is here in Arizona!

Something I am grateful for:  That I bowled decent, nothing spectacular but I didn’t embarrass myself.  And that I had a safe trip, always a little worried driving across the desert in the heat (though it wasn’t too hot thankfully).

And how was your week?