A TRIP TO THE RETIREMENT MANSION

OR DINING WITH THE RICH AND FAMOUS

Yesterday we had a board meeting and we were invited to have our meeting and lunch at the home of Sandy
and Bob Miller, the former governor of the state of Nevada. Sandy is one of our board members and a really
gracious lady. We had done this once before but I do believe I was so intimidated I barely noticed my
surroundings. Sandy takes great care to make you feel at home so I really got a chance to look around.

Sandy and Bob have a beautiful home in Sun City Anthem, the Country Club Estates. As you approach
you have to be cleared at the gate house and given a pass. We were expected so, no problems there.

As you approach their home, there is a beautiful driveway, creative design of different colored rocks and
pebbles tiled off leading to the steps to the front door, which. except for the frame is made entirely of
beveled glass (crystal?, who knows) On either side of the driveway. facing each other., are two, two
car garages. Upon entering the house we were greeted by the aroma of food cooking. We entered
the kitchen, which has two dishwashers, two fridges, all paneled so they just look like walls. A long
curved counter (bar) (granite in a speckled brown color) A container with a few potted miniature rose
bushes, and a vase of georgous summer flowers. (more about the flowers later) Drinks, you name it
and it was there., Copper buckets with ice and cold drinks. Pitchers of iced tea, lemonade, water,
and a bucket of exotic Lunch beers. I don't remember all the names but one was a peach beer. It
was not yet 11 am and I chose water. adjacent to the kitchen is the family room. One whole wall
is and aquarium (built in), a lounge chair big enough for two, great for cuddling and a sofa (giant)
Another wall has a large screen televison with two smaller sets above it. I guess so you can watch
all the channels for election results. The other wall is all glass facing out to the huge patio, high on a
hill overlooking the Las Vegas skyline. One section of this wall just out forming a glassed in breakfast
nook.

Going into the dining room, with another view of the skyline was a formal dining table, set for 14, would
have extended for possibly another 10 if needed, witha damask gold table cloth embossed with white.
Down the center were at least 12 small vases with fresh flowers interspursed with glass (crystal) containers
holding florist clay with small purple flowers surrounding off white roses. real napkins and glasses with
ice and lemon already in them. Lunch was served buffet style, we helped ourselves to a salad made
with spinach leaves, fresh as paragus and walnuts with an italian styled dressing a cold pasta salad,
hot vegetable dish, marinated shrimp and skewered beef, and chicken (tempura coated) with a sauce
for the beef and a sauce for the chicken. What a feast. 3 forks, ohmygosh everyone started with a
different one. I started with the one on the outside. The silverware was, of course real silver with pure
gold trimming) Did anyone drip on the tablecloth, Sandy did and when she served dessert, Strawberry
shortcake with real whipped cream, she dripped on the carpen and also on her skirt. Did she Care. NOPE

The dining room was adjacent to the living room, with another huge couch in it. The whole on wall from the
family room, breakfast nook, dining room and living room, and master bedroom, is glace overlooking the
patio, swimming pool and the city of Las Vegas in the distance. For those of you who do now know,
Sun City Anthem is in Henderson, near Eastern Avenue and lake Mead Parkway. It would be shortly
after you get off the I 15 at the Henderson turnoff.

I had occasion to use the bathroom. A simple room with only the potty and a sink. Beautiful fixtures,
good sized room and beautifully decorated BUT the only towels were personal ones, use it and then
throw it in the hamper. Wow the only time I ever did this was with PAPER towels, not real turkish one.
I looked in the hamper which stood open, very decorative, and sure enough those before me had discarded
the towels. OMG at home I use one towel and then when that corner gets ugly I refold it so a clean corner
showes up. You get the picture. I know I used the restroom the last time I was here, but I did not remember
this part. Maybe I just used my shirt tail, or waved my hands in the air til they dried. I'm not sure but
this time I felt, When in Rome do as the Romans do. So i dried my hands and put my nose up in the air
and tossed that dirty towel in the hamper with nary a backward look.

We had a DVD which we planned to watch, but ther tv in the family room wouldn't accept it, so Sandy said
oh, we can go down to the basement and use that tv, but please don't look at my dirty carpet in the
basement. Will I ever have a basement, probably not, Will I ever have a basement with a carpet, No
Will I ever say Pardon my dirty carpet in the basement. LOL

We did go down to the basement, which not only was carpeted, it too had an L shaped couch. One
section was probably 8 feet long and the second one was 6 feet long and that only took up half the room.
the other half was a built in bar, fridge, pin ball machines and games. the kind of room you could really
enjoy during a tornado. BUT, that tv would not accept the dvd either so on to the computer room.
Off the computer room was the laundry room and I could see three of the largest washer and dryers I have
ever seen. Not your ordinary run of the mill white enamel kind either, these were bronze with lots of
chrome. I guess if you can only dry your hands once on a towel, you would have a lot of laundry.

Did I mention Rosa? Rosa helped get the lunch ready and while Sandy cleared the table, Rosa silently
cleaned up the kitchen and did the dishes. Sandy introduced her to all of us. Sandy is truly a lady
with lots of class and a great sense of humor. She is very active in community efforts and sometimes
her efforts have an adverse affect on her husband. Not in a bad way but he is more straight laced and
sometimes gets roped into things. One time they participated in the opening of something and she
agreed that she and Bob would serve the people. SoBob was serving pastries, and some unsuspecting
customer came in and said "didn"t you used to be the governor and he said Yes" Sort of like "oh how
the mighty have falllen:

I did say I would tell you about the flowers. Sandy had bought all these flowers for our lunch and when
Bob saw them He figured he'd better send flowers too, just in case he forgot something.

It was a delightful day. thank you Sandy.