I often walk down memory lane, for I know I will run into you there (Unknown).
We slept in.
I woke up, made coffee and took it to Lynda who was still in bed. She said thank you and sat up to take the cup from me. Once she had an opportunity to sip her coffee, she asked if I slept well? I said not really but it is just fine. I will be okay.
She asked what was the plan for today? I said perhaps we should tell at the front desk that we are going to stay for another day. She said it appears to me as you have made up your mind. I said not really but right now there are too many things going in my mind. Also, I forgot to call Adam last night. Before we do anything or go anywhere, I need to call him. She said go ahead then perhaps we should go and have something light for breakfast. I know we already had breakfast 2:00 in the morning. I went in the living room and called Adam at work. Came back after 10 minutes to tell Lynda that Adam is doing just fine. It only took few minutes for us to get ready and go down.
I went to tell the girl at the front desk that we will be staying one more day and she said Dr. Ali, Cliff was trying to reach you. He called you on your cell and it was busy. I said, thanks. Lynda had already got a table in the restaurant and was waiting for me. I said, guess what? They cannot extend our stay for another day? I said, guess again? She said, I don’t know. Just tell me. I said let’s go back to our room as I need to make a telephone call. She said I thought you already spoke to Adam. I said I need to call Cliff. She asked if we got the house? I said I don’t know. He called when I was talking to Adam on the phone and left a message with the front desk.
As soon as it rang, Cliff answered the phone. I said good morning, Cliff. He said I didn’t know that you are a doctor. The girl at the front desk said she will make sure that Dr. Ali gets the message. I said I am not a medical doctor. I told you that I am in computers. I have a Ph.D. in computer science. Not a big deal. He said WOW! What an unassuming guy.
I said what can I do, Cliff? He said how fast can you transfer funds from Canada? I said why? Did we get the house? He said, yes, indeed. They called me back this morning as last night when I presented your offer to them, they were not impressed. Perhaps it had to do with the last offer that they had, it didn’t go through. The bank didn’t approve the mortgage. I said I didn’t know that they had gone through that experience, Cliff. Cliff said I know that.
I said can I ask you a question? He said shoot. I said, am I taking undue advantage of those folks by making an offer like that? He said, no. You’re being a smart buyer and protecting your money that you worked hard for. I said, in that case, let me tell you that the bank we deal with in Canada has a financial entity here in the states which makes it faster to transfer funds. What all I need is the financial information of the account where you want the funds to be deposited. Cliff gave me the information that I needed. Cliff said perhaps you can come over here when you are ready to discuss the details including the closing date, etc. I said it sounds great and knowing the fact how Lynda’s brain works, she would be interested in going back and looking at the house again. Probably, she would like to take measurements as she will have to think about buying furniture and everything else for the house.
Cliff said I will tell you what. Once we finish with our meeting this afternoon, I will have Judy to take you two to see the house again as I am not authorized to give you the key yet. Judy will introduce you to the management team there and she will also take you to meet some of your neighbours. Furthermore, she will take to the local mall which is very close and show you where you can do your grocery and furniture shopping. I said Judy is great. You are lucky to have somebody like her, Cliff. He said we all are trying to look after our clients. It seems to be working, Mir. I said we will see you around 2:00 PM, Cliff and got off the phone.
Lynda was listening to our conversation and as soon as turned the phone off, she jumped on me and said you did it again my big hunk. I said we did it. However, how am I going to explain it to Adam? She said good luck with that I am going down to celebrate by playing some machines. Now that we are going to live in Las Vegas, I may have to continue to play machines to contribute to the local economy. I said I will see you there in a few minutes.
By the time I got down to see Lynda, it was almost time for us to go to see Cliff. Lynda wasn’t too impressed with my delay, and she wanted to know how Adam took it. I said not very well which caused the delay. Initially, he thought I was joking around but when he realized I was serious, he said I am not sure if I can handle the company, dad. I am working with you only for a few years and I don’t have the computer background, either. It was hard for me to explain to Adam that I have been trying very hard to change the image of our company in so many ways. Because of my technical background, we managed to get the company going but to improve and sustain our profitability, we need to become management consultants. Last few contracts did help us to put us on the map, but we need to keep proving that we understand the business, therefore, we also understand how and where technologies can help organizations to improve their productivity as well as their proficiency. Lynda said why didn’t you explain it to Adam as you did to me which made sense to me.
I said, that wasn’t the time to give Adam a lecture. He was upset and he was not going to be able to comprehend at this stage. In a way luckily, Adam didn’t have to go through what I had gone through to understand the trick of the trade. Initially, in my time, we technical people thought we could design solutions to business problems with the focus to improve the profitability and we got carried away with that notion. In other words, we were so focused on the technologies that we didn’t bother learning about the problems that businesses were suffering from. It backfired terribly and we scared potential clients. My MBA helped me a lot to understand business priorities and things I had gone through while working in the computer field also taught me a thing or two. I continued, I am sure if Adam had some patience and allowed himself to use what he learned in his MBA; he could go long way. I really believe that Adam needs to have enough courage to make his own mistakes like I did. Adam already learned a great deal working with us and he doesn’t need his daddy to be there all the time. I said in any case, he is going to transfer the money I asked him to do. Perhaps you should have a word with him when he is calmed down. Lynda said, I will talk to him tonight.
We had a very good meeting with Cliff. He said realizing the fact that you are already here and eager to live in your home, he will get the current owners to clear out everything as soon as possible. He said probably they needed only a week, and you will have to manage by living in the hotel. We agreed with Cliff.
Judy took us back to see our house in Henderson. Just minutes away from one of the world’s most famous entertainment destinations, Las Vegas. While Henderson was the perfect spot for a family getaway or easy business trip, it was an excellent spot for families to live there without getting too many interruptions. There was everything from shopping and culture to outdoor recreation and entertainment. They said Henderson was the safe, easily accessible, and charming heart of Southern Nevada.
Judy had brought with her a measuring tape and a notebook for Lynda to make notes. When we got to the house, Lynda wanted to go around and visit the house again. She started asking Judy about the neighbours. I thought she may ask Judy to take her and introduce her to the neighbours, but she decided to deal with the things we were going to need before we move in. We had nothing with us except some clothes for holidays. I said while you two are doing something meaningful which we needed, I will walk around and go back to the club house and see if anybody is still there. Lynda said I am going to take the measurements only for the major things we need to buy right away and as far as the changing the drapes, etc., I am going to leave it for later. She also said give us an hour and come back as I want you to take me and Judy out for a nice supper somewhere here in Henderson. Judy said you don’t have to do that Lynda. I will help you out and it is my job to do that. I said I think Lynda has an excellent idea and three of us deserve a break. I said I know how to go to the clubhouse and come back because everything on the park appears to be close by, and I walked away.
I didn’t have any problem finding the club House.
As soon as I entered the club house, I saw the same guy chatting to somebody else. Right away he walked towards me holding his hand in the air to shake my hands and said cannot stay away, can you? I said good afternoon to you, too, sir. He said my name’s David and yours? I told him my name and told him that my wife’s name was Lynda. David said it was my pleasure to make acquaintances, Mir. David asked me if we made up our mind? I said, yes, indeed we did and got the house. David asked which house.?
I told him and David said that’s a very nice house and you two will be happy there. He continued, we don’t live too far from your house and if we can be of any help, please let us know. I said, thanks for the offer. We are new and we could use any help you can give us. He said one of you must be a social animal otherwise you wouldn’t buy a house here in this park.
I said, not me, my wife is indeed a social animal, she has been a part of the Sorority for a long time, and she’s known for organizing social activities. David said, we need her here as a part of our social committee. David asked when are we planning to move in? I said a week from now.
David said the timing is good. We have a meeting scheduled in a couple of days to discuss the upcoming party to celebrate our Independence Day on July 4th. He continued – I serve on that committee, and I think it is an excellent idea for two of you to join us. What do you think? For a minute, I didn’t know what to say. Finally, I said it sounds great, David but we are not going to move in until a week or so. David said, don’t worry about that. You both come for the meeting and buzz us here at the clubhouse and I will let you in. In the meanwhile, I will tell everybody that you both are wonderful people. I said how much that’s going to cost me? David said for attending the meeting? No, for lying to tell people that we are wonderful people. David said, I thought you Canadians have no sense of humor. I said, obviously, you don’t know anything about us Canadians. Yet, you folks claimed to be our cousins. David said, we should continue this conversation some other time, but I take it that you both will be attending the meeting. I said, yes, indeed, and thanks for inviting us.
I said I will just walk around one more time to check everything out before I go back to our place.
The time I got back, those two were almost ready. Lynda was very happy with the help that Judy provided, and she said Judy knows a nice place for the supper but before we do that, she would like us to go to the mall where we can visit stores for the furniture and grocery etc.
The main mall in Henderson called the Galleria at Sunset. It was located on The Sunset Avenue across from Sunset Station Hotel & Casino.
The Galleria at Sunset mall was open in 1996 in Henderson which was the third largest and fastest-growing city in Nevada. The airwaves, newsways and roadways were packed with advertisements and people heralding the opening of Henderson’s first and the valley’s fourth shopping mall. The Galleria had opened its doors and 100-plus stores to the public in an area of the valley that just a few years ago was as unlikely a place for large-scale development as was the Maryland Parkway site in 1968. It was easy to take for granted in 1996 the building of a multimillion-dollar regional mall in the southeast valley. Green Valley jump-started a record growth rate which had catapulted Henderson into the lead of Nevada cities which encourage and welcome good and responsible growth. Included in the mall are bookstores, home stores and outlets specializing in electronics, clothing, sporting goods and groceries. Banks, restaurants and dry cleaners also have found homes nearby.
If my memory serves me correctly, there were the following major stores in the mall:
- Macy’s;
- Dillard’s;
- JC Penny; and
- Kohl’s.
When we got there, there was a huge parking area where hundreds of cars parked. Judy parked the Limousine away from all other cars and explained to us that once we go in and browse, Lynda also should consider going into Macy’s where she will find everything she will be looking for. She added as a matter of fact they have a specific section where they also provide a kind of “consulting” for customers free of charge. Lynda liked that idea. We walked around praising the set up and attractions of the mall until we reached to Macy’s.
Judy helped us to go to the section she was familiar with and asked for somebody. As soon as the lady showed up, Judy introduced Lynda to her saying that they bought a home in Mountainview Manufactured Homes which needs all kind of help with the furnishings. Lynda said we are Canadians and come from Ottawa. The lady said, no, you can possibly be a Canadian. You’re indeed English, more to the point, you’re a Cockney. Lynda said it’s long time ago when I came to Canada and Canada is my home as well as my country. She said my name’s Wendy and I will do almost anything to help you. Would you like to make an appointment. Lynda and Wendy figured it out to have a meeting to discuss the plan and I thought that will be great. Once we were done, Lynda asked Judy where she would like to go for a nice meal?
Judy said why don’t we go to Sunset Station Hotel & Casino which is only across from here. She continued, because I want you to see the beautiful casino where we would have so many choices to have dinner. We were captivated as soon as we entered the casino. After walking around for a little while and looking at the list of restaurants, we decided to go for the buffet. There was a huge hall with 760-seat buffet. The buffet, called the Feast Buffet, was a prominent feature of the property. It offered a variety of dishes, including classic comfort food, Asian stir-fried dishes, pasta, and made-to-order specialties. We took our time and enjoyed the buffet and later we learned about the casino a lot.
The Sunset Station Hotel & Casino was opened on June 10, 1997 (Only a few days before we arrived in Las Vegas) as Henderson’s first hotel-casino resort. It was Station Casinos’ flagship property when it opened in 1997, a resort that easily could have been built on the Strip instead of in suburban Henderson.
Sunset Station includes a 163,951 sq ft (15,231.5 m2) casino, as well as 448 rooms in a 21-story tower. Standing 230 feet, it is the tallest building in Henderson. The hotel tower was renovated in 2016. The casino measured 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m2) upon opening, and included 2,800 slot machines, 40 table games, a 208-seat sportsbook, a poker room, and a keno lounge. In late 1998, the casino introduced health-conscious slot machines that incorporated stationary bikes and treadmills.
Sunset Station features a Spanish/Mediterranean theme. The interior was designed by Las Vegas-based Morris & Brown, which referred to architecture in Spanish cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Segovia, Seville, and Valencia. The work of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí prompted the Gaudi Bar at Sunset Station. The central feature of the 140-seat bar is a 6,000-square-foot (560 m2) stained glass ceiling composed of thousands of glass pieces and weighing 12 tons. The resort interior also includes sky painted ceilings inspired by The Forum Shops, a mall on the Las Vegas Strip. Exterior facades, resembling Spanish villages, were created by a Hollywood film set designer.
The property opened with various restaurants, including a 760-seat buffet. Gordon Biersch Brewing Company operated a restaurant and 11,000 sq ft (1,000 m2) microbrewery. However, the company ended its lease in March 1998, upon realizing that its premium alcohol did not appeal to the resort’s budget-minded clientele. The casino took over the space and reopened it as Sunset Brewing Co.
Upon its opening, Sunset Station included a video game arcade and child-care facility. A 13-screen Act III movie theater opened a year prior to the rest of the resort. The facility has since been taken over by Regal Cinemas. A $45 million resort expansion began in 1998, on the property’s south side. The project included construction of a parking garage, additional movie theater screens, new meeting space, and the Sonoma Cellar Steakhouse. More casino space was also added, for a total of 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2).
