Cobalt

We were in Los Angeles so Tim could do some work and then attend a big awards show in Hollywood. No surprise...I wasn't allowed to attend. But here I am, all dressed up to hang out in the W Hotel lobby next to Whiskey Blue, the best (or "only") club in Westwood.

While I hung out in the Lobby of the W Hotel, Tim arranged for a ride to his big party in an Acura MDX through a special promotion offered by the W Hotels and Acura. Here's Tim all dressed up in a tux in front of the Kodak Theatre for the GLAAD Media Awards and VIP Dinner. Can you believe he thought there was going to be a red carpet rolled out for him to walk on?

Tim told me he saw Janet Jackson, Cindy Crawford, Sharon Stone, Ellen DeGeneres, Kathy Griffin, Sally Fields, Rachel Griffiths, Billy Baldwin, Rex Lee from Entourage, Leslie Jordan from Will & Grace, Marc Chery of Desperate Housewives, and more. Well...I'm not sure I can believe him. Here are pictures from the event, but I didn't see Tim in any of the pictures. His excuse was that no cameras were allowed and that he had to check his in after he entered the theatre. Sure...

Well, I think I had more fun in Westwood at the W Hotel since no dogs were allowed at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

This was my first stay at a W Hotel. I'm glad we stayed here. In fact, I'm wondering why this was my first time. Tim says he loves the W Hotels in NYC. Hmmmmm. Maybe he's been holding back on me.

Suite deal! We were upgraded to a suite. I had my own bedroom and Tim got the couch in the living room/work area. I have to say, I feel pretty cool in this hip hotel.

Wow. Wonderful. Westin's Heavenly Bed. When will Tim buy us one. Would you please stop taking pictures. Where's breakfast?

Tim wants to take a cab to go five blocks, but it's a beautiful day to go for a walk. Can you believe that he actually did? We walked about 20 blocks as Tim took pictures and did research for our other website LoftsinPittsburgh.com.

Here's the view from our room on the 23rd floor of the Westin hotel next to the Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

While the rest of the country goes about its business, Capitol Hill is a bustling fun place for a dog...something I discovered during my week-long vacation "away" from Tim while he traveled for work to Los Angeles and Las Vegas (I didn't go because Las Vegas has very few dog-friendly 4-star or 5-star hotels).

I stayed with my friend Teresa at her 3-story brick row house (built in 1910), located on Capitol Hill just a few blocks from Eastern Market (which is still open). Each morning, we went on walks around the neighborhood. During the day, I lounged in the kitchen when it was filled with bright sun light or upstairs in a comfortable bed. On one special day, Teresa took me on a surprise visit to her workplace where I had fun exploring the cubicles and learned to avoid the chairs on rollers. In the evenings, I greeted Teresa with my barks and wagging tail. Each evening, we would take a walk around the neighborhood.

During my week on Capitol Hill, I didn't see any congressmen, justices, or lobbyists. I've been told that they exist. But just as my vacation ended, they started their 2-week spring break. I'm going to have to speak to Tim about increasing the length of my vacations to at least 2 weeks.

In early March, Tim had to fly from Washington, DC to Las Vegas to work at a technology conference at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, then fly to Los Angeles as part of a week-long trip. I was very disappointed when Tim told me that I couldn't go on this trip because the MGM Grand (a 4-star hotel) did not accept dogs and it was impossible to find a nearby dog-friendly hotel with such short notice.

All I got was the following postcard of Las Vegas...stamped from Washington, D.C.!

Well, after searching on Kayak.com, I have to agree with him that Las Vegas isn't dog-friendly. There are only three 4-star hotels that accept dogs:

• Hampton Inn Las Vegas/Summerlin (3 miles to the MGM Grand)
• Westin Casuarina Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa (7 miles)
  
• Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa (9 miles)
  

and two 5-star hotels that accept dogs:

• Four Seasons Las Vegas (9 miles)
• Ritz-Carlton (17 miles)
  

While Tim said he missed me, I could tell he really liked staying in the contemporary West Wing accommodations of the MGM Grand. He said the room was very sleek from the luxuriously comfortable king-size bed and the Bose Wave radio alarm to the TV behind the bathroom mirror and the large, frosted glass-enclosed shower with dual shower head. The room was just 350-feet and at the other end of a very long hall. But when you are working in Las Vegas, rather than having fun...modern luxury touches of a boutique hotel trumps having a big room without a luxurious feel.

OK...this sounds like a marketing brochure. Remember, I wasn't there. I got the "marketing spin" from Tim when I asked him to tell me what I missed.

I bet I would have enjoyed visiting Las Vegas if the hotels were more dog-friendly, but don't feel sorry for me. I had a blast while Tim was away. You can read about my vacation "away" from Tim.