Vegas, baby!!!
Since I had to work NYE, I planned to meet up with the gang in LAS New Years Day. Getting out there was fairly uneventful since it's one of the 6 destinations served non stop from Louisville. I had my small, but understated, room reserved at the Mirage. First time staying there, and I have to say they've kept the place in fairly good shape being almost 30 years old... qualifying for Historical Building Status on the strip. I was a little annoyed that my room wasn't quite ready for me. But they promised to get it rushed and done up shortly. I think it was really just a clever ploy to get me in a casino before heading up to the room. I fooled them, I left the casino... and walked across the street to another casino. Found a nice snack (oysters and beer... yum).
About 45 minutes later I was cleared to go up to the room. My bags would meet me there shortly afterwards. Again, the room was small but sufficient. I unpacked put away the clothes in the walk in closet. And then just relaxed with an extra dirty martini and caught up on the Rose Bowl while waiting for an ETA from the Amherst gang.
I went out to meet them, and have a quick dinner. That's when I discovered the burger place in the back of Paris. Wasn't sure if we were going to eat but i needed sustenance and the sliders seemed like a great idea... not to mention the bartender (who's name was Lala... seriously) was scantily clad in a corset that highlighted her assets. I discovered it was happy hour when she brought two drinks. OK I'll take that.
FINALLY, Adri and Lusya made it into town. And being a little sick and exhausted from NYE and a trip from LA, they decided to sleep and we'd reconvene the next day.
I slept a few hours after doing some gambling and piano bar-ing. The next day we all met for breakfast before piling into the car and off to the Hoover dam. I'd been there before on a trip with my parents and family... about 25 years ago. Wow I'm old. And I'm still scared of heights. I remember seeing a picture from when my parents took my older brothers there for the first time, well before Jamie came around, and seeing a picture of one of my brothers standing on the walls, which behind him was a sheer drop to the bottom of the canyon. Brian looked terrified... and I can't say I blame him. On the return trip 20 years later (with Jamie in tow), a couple uncles tried to get him back on that wall... I thought he was going to invoke his Marine Corps training and really hurt them. Apparently you can be scarred for life... Of course now those ledges are marked "Do not stand or sit on walls"... preventing such nonsense.
After spending some dam time exploring the dam site, we decide we were dam tired and get out of the dam area and back to Vegas. A quick lunch (again at the same burger place in Paris... loved the sliders with Bleu cheese, bacon, and avocado), we split up and went out on our own. A quick stop by the room and I decided to head over and spend sometime at a favorite bar, called Kahunaville in the back of TI. In the past, they tended to make strongish drinks and give out free shots. Things haven't changed.
After a few rounds of video poker, I walked across the street to the Venetian. I really like the way they've done the inside of the place, with the feeling you're actually in Venice. There's also a pop art gallery there I like to dream about buying things in. Afterwards I found myself down stairs in the Bourbon Bar, checking out what they consider to be a vast bourbon collection (with Jack Daniels figuring prominently, though incorrectly, front and center). Amazingly the prices weren't ridiculous, and then again there's the comp if I play a game. More video poker it is.
I soon received notice that dinner would be happening soon, off strip steaks. Good call, the prime rib was tasty and came with a free beer that didn't suck. It had been decreed that we would be meeting up with the bride and groom to be and families and maybe check out a club or two that night. After dinner we headed back to Bally's and met up with the rest of the gang. While waiting on the group to assemble, I decided it was time to take craps. I know the basics of the game (thanks to a iPhone app), and I know it's the best odds in the house. While some of Mo's family tried out slot machines, I found a lively craps table. And oddly enough, won money. I like this game.
We found ourselves heading to Chateau at Paris. Then we found ourselves at a table. Then we found ourselves with a bottle of Jack and a bottle of Goose on the table. The music was good, the crowd was fun, and we partied like rockstars till the wee hours of the night. If you ever get the chance, party with Colombians and Russians. You may not remember the details of what happened but you'll know it was legen...
Sometime shortly before sunrise, I made it back to the room. The next day (not necessarily morning) when I came to, it was decided I needed coffee and food in a bad way. Adri and Lusya walked over for a visit. After a stop at Starbuck's and lunch at California Pizza Kitchen, we decided to go help Lusya find the tattoo she was thinking about. Alas, she didn't get it that day, but has the design narrowed down.
I had made plans to have dinner with my favorite Vegas local. I don't know how long I've known Jill, but it seems like forever. And we have an almost Biannual meet up schedule when I'm in town. We had a nice catch up, and I met her husband, at Cabo Wabo (thought unfortunately it was too cold to sit outside and watch the Bellagio Fountains... note to self, it's cold there in winter). It was good times and I'm always glad to see her. And we agreed to a tentative meet up during warmer times in a couple years.
After first dinner, I met Adri and Lusya for second dinner. Don't worry, I didn't eat a whole meal, just had a nice dessert... in the form of Limoncello Martini(s). Afterwards we did a little gambling and the girls headed off to bed. I kept gambling... bad move. Everything I was up, I lost. Oh well, I did learn some more ins and outs of the game. I kept to my budget when it came to gaming. When I had lost enough money that was it. I like to think it was a wash when I include the drinks and learning experience... and just the fun of a lively craps table with a shooter on a roll. I still don't see how people can play these games with $1000's of dollars... and be ok with losing it. I guess they have better paying jobs than I.
The next morning, after a fairly sleepless night and seeing another Vegas sunrise, I was summoned for the departure to LA. I didn't really feel I needed to ever give up my room, but apparently they want you to keep paying for it. Oh well, we had to leave some fun leftover for LA.
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| Adri, Lusya, and I at Chateau in Paris... Rockstars |
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