Anniversary Trip

I believe she was truly surprised when we got to the airport and found out we were going to Las Vegas.

We stayed in the pyramid spa suite at the Luxor complete with hot tub by the windows overlooking Las Vegas.

We had a nice (albeit pricey) dinner, gambled, toured the city and took a tour to the west rim of the Grand Canyon.

It was romantic. It was adult. And it was fun! But too quick. Now we're back to the real world.

I'm Back!

I'm back from Vegas and still working on catching up on my sleep. I think my last three nights, including travel home, totaled about 9 hours worth.

Didn't win much but played a lot. Ate a lot. Drank a lot. And golfed horribly. Holy crap did I suck!



Above is the view from our hotel room. The space-ship looking thingy is actually the covering for the taxi stand at the main entrance. What I can't figure out is how we entered through there and after a series of lefts and rights ended up directly over it. Just didn't make sense.



At 3 a.m. I was reduced to playing slots like this one above. Not normally my thing but the craps table, the blackjack table and the Let It Ride table didn't want to play nicely with me. Jackpot Party did. And a Party we had! Well, for a while. Then I gave most of it back.



Of course, we golfed. I know, shocker! Actually, I'm not sure one could call what I did golf. It was more related to hiking. As in climbing over boulder after boulder looking for lost balls.


Until I befriended Wilson The Cactus. Sad when he drifted away. He was quite a companion to me.


We also did an ATV excursion which was fun. I have stories to tell about that, but I'm not going into it now. Perhaps another time. Anyway, a few of my readers have asked about a picture of me. Well, the one above isn't of me. Its my buddy. But I looked nearly identical to that picture. So there you go!




A view of Vegas at dusk from the 18th hole. Alas all things must come to an end. These are just the pictures I took with my cell phone. My buddy (above) had a digital cam and will forward me pix and I'll post them if you all are interested.

Surprisingly Not Annoying

Well folks, one week from tomorrow I will be headed off to Las Vegas for 4 days of golf, gambling, ATV-ing and general R&R (except for my liver - he might have to work a bit harder).

There's 8 of us going and one has already notified us he hurt his back and golf and the ATV excursion are in jeopardy. As an aside, I'm so thankful for my general back health. Though I've had very minor issues at times, I can't imagine dealing with a 5.5+ hour flight on Southwest with a bad back. So good luck, buddy.

A few of the guys will just play poker whenever we're not on the golf course. So, periodically, I'll pop in and see how they're doing but I can't just sit in one room playing poker all day, every day. Cool guys like me and the Fonz need more action!

One guy, G, won't go on the ATV trip because his wife thinks he'll kill himself. First, I think he needs some balls. Second, would that place be in business long if they lost one or two of their patrons every trip? I'm pretty sure its a nicely controlled environment, but whatever. Seems, he's the controlled environment.

Another buddy, I'll call him B2, is the obsessive sort. On the one hand, he's great to go away with because he gets so excited and we get a kick out of that. He really has genuine fun when he does stuff and its contageous. On the other hand, he obsesses every little detail. I mean everything. (How close are the rooms? Where will we eat every night? Are we seeing a show? Are we not seeing a show? What are you going to wear? (Yeah, he really asked me that.) Don't forget your GPS. How about check out? Can we stay late? No limo this year, think a cab will be hard to get?) Whereas, I'm more of a go with the flow sort of guy. Normally, his behavior would irritate me, but for some reason with B2 its comical and sweet. He calls me 2 or 3 times a week (for the past 15 weeks or so) to update me on how many days are left, or remind me to bring something or ask what else I want to do while out there. The rest of us have a big laugh about it. He comes across at motherly, but its tempered by his enthusiasm.

Apparently, last year he was bumming that he didn't "do more". I guess one night he just kind of hung out in his room and did nothing. He's a big gambler, so if the tables are cold he loses lots and he had been pretty beaten down. That was the night I went on my little escapade involving copious gambling, inbibing and eating. My best buddy, B1, is going with us for the first time (his wife granted permission if I promised not to take him to a strip bar - I did. We won't). He and I are more similar in that we like to have a few more beers than the other guys and cruise around and check out the scene more. We're more into the roaming party, you could say.

If the tables beat us up, perhaps we'll hang out in a bar and play Keno until the wee hours or do a bunch of casino hopping. There's always fun to be had. We'll just go with it. I hear one of the casinos has Beer Pong even. How cool is that? I'm sure to check that out. I was pretty good in my day. Being able to consume large quantities of beer and having a modicum of hand/eye coordination served me well back in college (and after for that matter).

Also, B1 one is not an experienced gambler who tends to be protective of his money. To set him up, the other weekend we did a mini casino night where I taught him a bunch of games and dealt a million hands and we're going to do it tomorrow night too. At the least, we can practice drinking some beer.

This year B2 says he wants "in". That means he wants to hang out with me. (Hey! I'm fun dammit!) And B1 will be with me 24/7 I'm sure. So, that's fine by us, but he's already trying to plan it. He's called to ask what we're going to do, where will we go, what's the plan? We don't know. B1 and I, being so damn cool, don't plan. We just do. If B2 wants to come along, that's perfectly fine. He just better keep up.

Phish & Chips

We've booked our second annual trip to Las Vegas. We will have 6 guys in attendance late this February and I'm already looking forward to it.

A cool thing about going away with all guys is everyone can, and often do, their own thing. There's no allegiance to doing things "together". We were 5 guys in the hotel lobby after golf. Two announced they were off to play poker, one decided to head up for a nap, one announced he was off to play craps. This one decided to do some sightseeing.

After meandering through a few casinos and gawking at the marvels of architecture and over the top opulence I felt a need for a grass-roots casino. I craved a darker, more gritty place to lose money and I found one. I can't remember the name, but I believe it was attached to a Denny's or a KFC. The Mirage or the Rio weren't about to offer $2 craps with a Grand Slam Breakfast, but Denny's Casino and Diner was.

I would estimate I arrived there at about 4pm. I left after 1am. Nine hours sure can fly by when you're having fun. And fun I had. I never left the first table I approached except to pee. There were a bunch of people in town for the NASCAR race and I delighted in all our conversations about that, Vegas and where we were from. The beer was flowing, the table paying (sort of) and I had a blast.

Eventually, however, I had nearly run through that day's gambling allowance of $300 so I decided to head back. As I stumbled out into the warm evening I marveled at the number of people on the sidewalks at that hour. And most of them had a drink in their hand. Where else can one find just as many, if not more, people on the sidewalks at 1am as there were at 1pm, not to mention holding drinks? Perhaps New Orleans?

Anyway, during my 5-block walk back to the hotel, I spotted a sandwich board advertising golf shirts for $10. I checked them out and they were nice quality complete with the Las Vegas logo and all. I perused the shirts, selected two fearful there must be some mistake. I half-expected there was some catch, or I was reading things wrong or my buzz was causing me to hallucinate. But the total was $20 so I gladly handed over the bill.

On my way back to the sidewalk I passed a kiosk that was selling drinks. Since it had been 15 minutes or so since I had a drink, naturally I stopped still amazed at a drink kiosk in an open-air mall after 1am. But who was I to complain. So, I took further advantage of my good fortune and purchased myself an adult beverage to occupy myself for my walk back. An hysterically huge and fruity beverage at that. It was delicious, but then it better be for $15.50.

After finding my way back to the sidewalk my stomach not-so-gently reminded me I hadn't eaten and I was too far to go back to Denny's Casino and Diner. Since boozey fruit and beer haven't made the FDA food pyramid (yet) I found solace in Ben & Jerry's that was, of course, open. I selected their Phish Food Waffle Cone and forked over the $9 or so. This thing was friggin' huge in yet another indictment of Vegas opulence or gluttony. And, just a tad messy. At least it was big enough to make up my evening meal. So I had that going for me.

What I didn't have going for me at this point was any element of "cool" by this point. Picture if you will a guy, face sunburned from golf and pool-time plus beet-red from drinking 13 plus hours, holding a bag of shirts under his armpit, with a drink in that hand and a huge messy ice cream cone in the other all the while navigating pedestrian and vehicular traffic down the main strip of Vegas. I'm not sure, but civilians may have been poking each other and pointing. But I didn't care.

At one point, while waiting with 100 or so of my newfound friends at a crosswalk as I chowed down on my dessert/dinner I realized just how ludicrous I must have looked. Every movement I made was awkward as I tried to balance three items, two of which were messy, in two, unsteady hands. I'm sure the ice cream was getting on my nose, chin and lips but I had no way to wipe it off since I've never practiced, nor possess the flexibility, to napkin my face using my feet. I was sober enough to know how stupid I must have looked but drunk enough not to care.

Eventually, I found my way back to my room, with the help of some hotel janitorial person to see my cell phone had had one missed call and the following text messages:

5:20 pm "Meeting for dinner at 6 if you want to go"
8:30 pm "You playing craps?"
8:55 pm "Dude, where are you?"
10:15 pm "Where are you?"
12:25 am "You ok?"

Guess who never heard, nor checked, his phone? Um.....me. It was a guy vacation though. There was no lecture about inconsideration or about how they "worried" about me. Although I guess they did. I should have been more considerate. Oh well.

Stay tuned to see how things turn out this February.

Welcome!

Ah! There you are! Welcome to the land of decadence and excess. Las Vegas. Where bigger IS not only better its the only way we know. The American way. You'll find that everything is big in Vegas. Gaudy too. And expensive - unless its free. You see, there's no in-between here. Its either comped, or its expensive. Unless you prefer to go off the strip for a steak and shrimp for $7.95. Hmmmm.....I'd pass. Anyway, need a cab? No! You need a limo. Its the only way to travel. We highly recommend it and we'll get you to your hotel in a jiffy. Comped by your hotel of course.

Excuse me? Oh, you're hungry after traveling? But of course. Six peanuts and a Coke didn't fill you up in your five hour flight. Well, no problem. We have so much to choose from. And, of course a regular portion will simply not do and even if it did, we would have nothing of it. Bacon and turkey club? Here you go! Take it apart if you must.....there's physically no other way to eat it unless you can disengage your jaw like a snake. How was it? Good. $18.95 please. We'll comp it later off your hotel bill if you gamble enough.

Speaking of hotel bill, of course you require lodging. How about a 3,000 room monstrosity with 40 or so stores and restaurants in the lobby. A theater? We have two. Bars? Oh, about 10. Surely, you'll be impressed as we all try to outdo the others with our architecture, shows, size, features, originality or just plain outlandishness. Actually, that word doesn't exist here. To be outlandish you would need something to compare it too. Can something be outlandish or garish if everything is? No more than one could be tall in a world where everyone is the same height. But then, we're archaic having been built about 14 years ago. Probably implode the thing in a few years and start fresh. Until then, enjoy! And yes, we have a mini bar in the room. With sensors! Only touch what you plan on eating.

Shopping? Hell yeah, we have that! More than you could ever dream of. You'll lose yourself on the Vegas strip where there apparently are NO planning and zoning ordinances. Were you can build space needles with roller coasters on top or go on a singing guided gondola ride down the canal inside the mall inside the hotel that houses the casino. Were you looking for deals? Hmmmm....afraid we come up just a bit short on that. Sure, you can find stuff in kiosks and the like for a bargain. Oh wait! We may have a pair of sunglasses on sale for $295. Over there....by the Rolex store.

Thirsty while shopping? We have enclaves adjacent to bars where you may purchase something to your taste. Pina Colada. Good choice. $12.95 please. And, of course you can walk around with it from store to store. Or even take it outside on your excursion to visit other garish hotels.

Speaking of hotels, want one that looks like a jet black pyramid complete with laser shooting out the top that can be seen from space? We have it! How about one replicating New York City complete with "taxi-cab" roller coaster throughout? Not a problem. Its down near the one with the 24/7 circus happening inside. No, not the Harley Davidson, Playboy or Hooters themed one. The other one. Over there. Take a right at the full sized pirate ship. Shows every 30 minutes by the way.

Tired from all that shopping? Wish to relax? Please, then, visit the hotel pool. Of course its huge...we know no other way....with a waterfall....and an adjacent porpoise exhibit....near the white tiger display. Yeah, that tiger. The one that tried to eat Roy. Keep your hands clear.

Gets hot in the sun. Its dry too. We are in the desert afterall. You must be thirsty again from soaking up our gorgeous sunshine. Perhaps you'd like a strawberry margarita. No ordinary margarita will do my friend. You require a margarita of epic proportions. A belly bloating cross-eyed inducing concoction. And yes, you can take with you if you don't finish by the pool.

Gambling? Golf? Shows? We have that too. World class of course! Well....maybe Celine Dion is. Not sure Donny Osmond or the Amazing Jonathan qualify as world class.

Anyway, you must be tired from an endless diet of gluttony only interrupted by negligible amounts of sleep. Oh, you got three hours last night? Ah, you're fine then. And yes, the bar is open at 6am if that's your thing.

We're certainly glad you stayed with us. We're VERY glad you kept going back to the craps table even though they were beating you up. Blackjack wasn't enough even though you were winning. You just had to throw them bones! Good for you! Least you earned a few dinners on us from you comp points.

Thanks. Have a nice trip home to normalcy. Please, please, come again. We'll have the limo waiting.

NouveauBlogger - OUT!!!!!

Ok, sorry for that Ryan Seacrest impression.



But.....

Because I am headed off to......

And when I'm not hanging out in 85+ degree temps here.....

I will be chasing the little white ball here....

Or here.....

With copious amounts of....

And....

Plus a night out with....


Please set my wakeup call for Thursday, so that I'm not late calling out from work.

Gambler's Anonymous Time?

Well, I started Superbowl weekend most appropriately; by going to the casino on Friday afternoon (www.mohegansun.com). Since its one of the biggest gambling weekends of the year, thought "why not? let's get it off to a banging start". Would have been more banging if I won....ended up losing $67 after about 3 hours of craps. Not too bad I guess. I've certainly done worse.

Got home in time to take the family out to a nice little dinner, although I felt quite rushed. The place took an hour to seat us (after telling me 35 mins) and I had a poker tourney to get to. So I scarfed down my steak and potatoes and broccoli and beer and left Mrs. Blogger with The Little One to finish their almost complete dinner. Dropped $80 on the table and dashed through the snow (yes, snow! finally got some here.....about 4 inches), paid my $35 entry fee and played well, but got knocked out too early. Rat farts!!! Placed about 16th of 32. Also, kicked in $25 for a future big money tournament that I'll no doubt suck at. So I have that going for me.

On Saturday, Mrs. Blogger really, really had to get some studying done so I took The Little One out of her hair for a daddy/daughter day and we had an absolute blast. Went to my niece's basketball game (which I didn't bet on - would have lost if I could have found some action) and they got trounced by about 25-4. With 4 mins left in the game, the powers that be turned the scoreboard off so as not to embarrass the girls. They're only 10 so that's pretty cool. Then TLO and I went to the driving range and hit a large bucket together before heading to Wendy's for a nice long dinner. I think I ordered almost everything on their menu. Man was I stuffed. All-in-all a great day (but no gambling). So I had to make up for it on Sunday......

Ah, Superbowl Sunday. The big party starts at 3 and I was first to arrive at 3:01. After the masses trickled in we played cards and bet on the game. All sorts of weird bets, too -- like over/under on field goals, fumbles recovered, teasers. Anyway, I lost $42.50 playing blackjack, lost $40 playing poker, won $20 in the scoring grid, won $100 on the game (yay Colts and the over in a teaser!!!) and collected $33 I won from fantasy football earlier in the year. Net result.....plus $50.50. Almost good to be back at work and able to breathe.....almost.

Hello, my name is Nouveaublogger and I DON'T have a gambling problem....honest! No really! I'm okay. I swear! By the way, five weeks to Vegas!!!

Waa Hoo!

Early March.....me.....here!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mirage

Let's see.......golf, poker tourneys, blackjack, craps, FREE food and drinks....I'm soooooo there!