Nice pics Bruce.. I am glad you and your dad didn't get skunked... Hopefully I can meet up with you soon.
Uropl@tus - Xantusia henshawi (the ones pictured) are protected in California, and can not be exported from Mexico. I do know of some people keeping them illegaly, and they seem to do just fine, and even breed. I have heard of one person (I think in the Check) keeping these are X.gracilis, the sandstone night lizard, but I don't remember who. You can legaly have X. vigilis, and while some might not consider them as 'neat' they are great animals and are easy to keep like most small terestrial geckos. I would be interested to hear of anyone keeping these species in Europe.
-Peter