Vegas Top 20

So, Vegas was awesome. Instead of outlining my trip in a narrative paragraph, I thought I would present you with a "top 20 Vegas observations list" :)

1 - Vegas is awesome, but is definitely not for everyone.

2 - The $1.99 shrimp cocktail at the Golden Gate is the best deal in Vegas.

3 - Casinos will take you a lot more seriously if you have an expensive cigar, but also carrying a 2 foot margarita kind of cancels that out.

4 - Roulette is the best casino game EVER (if you win).

5 - J.B. and slots do NOT get along, unless the slot machine is obnoxiously huge.

6 - Jay Leno is even more hilarious in person.

7 - Jimmy Buffett rules, but the Vegas Margaritaville kinda stinks (go to the Myrtle Beach one).

8 - Be prepared for extensive fighting and profanity in rooms next to yours.

9 - If you aren't into female "escorts" (ie., prostitutes), avoid the 10 thousand mexican guys handing out "literature" in front of EVERY CASINO.

10 - "The Deuce" is a GREAT idea.

11 - Video poker at the bar is NEVER a good idea.

12 - All fancy casinos look the same inside, and all the cheap ones look the same. See one, see 'em all.

13 - Cirque du Soleil's KA has the most incredible theater and stage. EVER.

14 - No matter what they try to sell you on, Vegas is NOT a place to take the kids.

15 - 70 degree weather in the middle of January = awesome.

16 - The casinos spend your money well - the resorts are absolutely incredible and huge.

17 - Get used to the "casino smell." With the exception of the Bellagio and the Venetian, they all smell the same.

18 - Many dealers don't have much of a sense of humor. I tried.

19 - Don't ever answer anyone who comes up to you and says "can I ask you a question?" Guess what.....you just did.

20 - There are slot machines waiting to greet you in the airport, and I won pretty well on one. (this is an exception to the earlier rule)

So, it was a lot of fun. 3 days was about the most we could take, and there are LOTS of things that we didn't do or see, so a return trip is a definite.

Nice day to be a polar bear....

Brrrrr! I don't think it's been this cold outside since, well, forever. I thought that I had hit my cold record last January when I went ice fishing in Minnesota - the temperature (not windchill, regular temperature) registered -22 while I was there. However, there wasn't any wind and the sun was shining - that felt warmer than what I felt outside today. I bet it's (a little) warmer in Vegas.....

That's right...in one week I will be landing in Vegas to enjoy my Christmas present from Sharon! My buddy Jerry and I will be staying at the Circus Circus at the north end of the strip. I'm not a big gambler, though I have been studying blackjack basic strategy and am hoping to hit the tables for a bit. This is a guys trip, so the ladies will be back at home. We have tickets to see Jay Leno, and there will also be the required Margaritaville stop. Beyond that, we will let the cards fall as they will (pun intended). I've never been before, so more than anything, I'm excited just to see everything - to see how they spend the money they take from us :)

I'll definitely hit the highlights when I return!

Text Messaging, Part Deux

So, Sharon called today and was telling me how she confiscated two cell phones during school today because kids were text messaging.

Now, I'm probably making myself sound old here, but since when are kids allowed to have phones during school anyways? When I was in high school (yes, cell phones were around then), it was an AUTOMATIC suspension if you were even seen with a phone, much less if was on or not. I remember one time that I forgot and had my pager (remember those?) on when I walked into school - I was terrified that a teacher might have seen me.

So, if you disagree with me, or if you are one of these teenage texting maniacs, please answer me this. What is SO important in your current phase of life that requires you to text someone right that minute, instead of waiting until after school to have a CONVERSATION (meaning two people TALKING face to face)? I don't remember cell phone usage being part of the instructional curriculum.

Teachers - take every cell phone you see come out during class.

Students - hang up and learn something.

I'm still alive....

So, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a very happy New Year. We had a great holiday, and John was a blast. Not to sound materialistic or selfish, but I think this was the best "present" holiday ever! I ended up with a GPS system, a Wii (for both myself and Sharon), some new movies and other things, and a trip to Vegas at the end of January (from Sharon - more on that later)!

But anyways.....it's time for my first "observation" of the year - TEXT MESSAGING. I don't want to sound like an old guy who is out of touch with technology, but I think that the whole text messaging craze has gotten RIDICULOUS. It's flat out rude at times. When you are with or around other people (ie., hanging out, at the mall, etc.), put the phone down. Better yet, leave it in the car. While I am an avid cell phone user, I think that the "convenience" has made us go waaaay overboard with things like this. I'm not talking about the occasional texters; I'm referring to those whose phones never quite seem to close. Sometimes, I yearn for the old land-line phones and answering machines (minus the telemarketers). If I'm not home, I will just talk to you later. End of story.

I'm also thrilled to see that the legislation for smoke-free restaurants is back before the delegates again, although I don't think it will ever pass. Smokers constantly talk about their right to smoke, but your right stops where it infringes on mine, habit or not. How would you like it if someone with Tourette syndrome sat down next to you smokers in a bar and and spontaneously shouted obscenities in your ear all night? It would get annoying, wouldn't it? Seems to me that it is the same as you blowing your smoke in my face. You don't ever think about the health of those who are serving you either, do you? So delegates, please put the tobacco companies aside and pass this legislation. Smokers will find another place to smoke.

Maybe then they will also ban text messaging.