Toto, I don't think we're inside the Beltway anymore. After the flight to Phoenix, we immediately picked up the rental car and headed northwest (out Grand Ave. for you Phoenix folks). Here we're in retirement heaven near Sun City.	Before long, we were out on the open desert, on a not-so-well-kept-up state highway. But the sky was clear, the sun was warm, and blackjack and free drinks awaited.
There, that's a little nicer to look at. Not too far south of Kingman.	A self portrait. So the camera got in the way. Darn. Too bad.
Most of the stretch from Kingman to the Arizona-Nevada border is pretty flat, but as you get closer a weird moon-like feel starts to emerge (especially late in the day with the low angle of the sun).	Hoover Dam. A special pilgrimmage for BW and I, not because of its historic impact on water management but because it was the location for a particularly great scene between Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty in Lost in America.
No pictures of Las Vegas, I'm afraid -- besides, they don't allow cameras in the casinos, anyway. But we spent our time downtown, flitting from blackjack table to blackjack table and generally performing respectably (except for around 4:30 on Monday morning when JD start laying down $10 and $15 a hand bets and then splitting or doubling). Soon it was back to Phoenix for Christmas with the Walsh and Chilinski blended family.
Bill's sister Jennifer and her boyfriend Anthony had the Chilinski home perfectly decked out for Christmas. And, oh yeah, there were one or two presents under the tree.
Pool tournaments are a vital part of any gathering at this house. Here Gary shows the crowd how it's done.	Even Bill got into the spirit (of course, the hat wasn't actually purchased...).
Well, you didn't expect that spirit to last when he was confronted with cutesy teddy bears, did ya?	But soon it was Christmas morning, and the opening of the loot began.
Jenn wins the prize for Most Loot of 1997--if it didn't have carrots or bunnies on it, it was clothes.	Here Jennifer and Anthony pose with their cookbooks, and are also modeling the lovely bedtime wear they received on Christmas Eve.
Terence didn't do half bad, either, from the luggage and kitchenware to a copy of his beloved Showgirls.	Kenneth quickly had his nose in The Bud Collins Encyclopedia of Tennis, and was strolling down memory lane with visions of Martina and Chris dancing in his head.
Amazingly, at the end of the holiday, we were all still able to smile--here Jennifer, Molly, and Kenneth show off both pearly whites and family togetherness.

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