California and back

While in Anaheim, California last week, I enjoyed the lovely West Coast weather...

but only while I was walking between hotels and the convention center.

Snow-capped mountains in the distance and palm trees were taunting me the whole time as I went from meeting to reception to dinner to meeting.

The red carpet of Oscar night was just 20 miles from where I was staying. Disneyland was just behind my hotel.

On Friday night, I watched a spectacular fireworks show at Disneyland from my hotel room.

I did enjoy a brief lunch out in the California sun at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

But then it was back to meetings.

The southwest deserts provided beautiful views from the plane ride home.

A quick circle out over the Pacific Coast, and we were soon over baron sand and mountains.

I connected in Las Vegas, which definitely helped the travel time home go by much quicker.

The Las Vegas Strip (circled above) is right next to the airport, but I only saw it from the plane's window and from the window at the airport terminal.

I did, however, win $21.75 on a slot machine from a $1 bill. Not a bad return.

I'm always amused at the arial view of the Grand Canyon on the fligh from Vegas to Lubbock. It was somewhat of a cloudy day, but I still got to see most of it in its majesty.