VIA LAS VEGAS

My friends and I decided to get away for a day or so. No special reason except to unwind and have a little fun. Decided on Las Vegas. I hadn’t been there in about six years and was curious to see some landmarks I hadn’t seen before. There were four of us going but, at least, one another friend wanted to go but found out too late to get off work. I think if we plan further ahead next time we could take a crowd.

Got to our hotel at Stateline around seven. Drove into Las Vegas the next day. A lotta changes. A lot. When I first went to Las Vegas years and years ago, the Tropicana was one of the big hotels. Now it’s a dwarf. Jeez, some of those new hotel-casinos must cost more to operate than a small country’s annual budget.

The Silverton Casino Lodge is attached to the largest sporting goods store I’ve ever seen. Pro Bass. Could’ve easily spent a day there. If you think I’m crazy, check it out. Next time I think I’ll make hotel reservations there. Two-story high aquariums and indoor waterfall with live ducks among other attractions. Very cool. The cocktail servers wear pants that at first glance you think are bell-bottoms until you realize they’re mermaid outfits. Fun.

We checked out the Flamingo, Mandalay Bay, and the Luxor. We strolled inside the Paris. Nice but the outside with the Eiffel Tower all lit up is way cool. I actually took pictures. Yes, I did. The Bellagio was decorated for Chinese New Year and was breathtaking. And the water show out front was impressive. (Sidebar. I couldn’t tell you the last time I drank a Tequila Sunrise but that’s what I did this trip. The Bellagio’s sunrise was one of the best drinks I’ve had anywhere. End of Sidebar.) Cruised Caesar’s Palace. At one of the shops there, I saw a desk box for papers. It was six hundred dollars! I kept my hands in my pockets while we were there. We ended the day having burgers at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Good damn burger. Then we headed back to our hotel

We left at noon the next day for home. Getting away for a day plus was relaxing. I needed it. Oh, yeah, nothing big time in the gambling arena. My friend, Jenny, hit two hundred on a slot machine. That was the biggest win during the stay. But, at one point, I sat down at a two-dollar blackjack table with ten bucks. I left with eighty. Nothing major. Except for a short while I was one of my boyhood heroes. I was Maverick.

Now it’s back to the real world. End of Period weekend. Inventory and the monthly reports. Found a Jury Duty summons in the mail when I got home. Tax time, too. Y'know real world stuff.

Wahhhh!!! I wanna be Maverick again!!!!