SEVEN DAYS IN LAS VEGAS...BADA BING

I'm sure a lot of people don't believe Las Vegas is the place for some R & R...but 365 and 24/7...there are millions of people flying into the place (and out) who love nothing more than the chi ching of the machines, the green felt of the gaming tables, and shows that don't exist anywhere else on earth quite like those is Las Vegas.

I can tell you that seven days together (alone) for me and Allen has done wonders for us both, and that we had an awesome time being able to come and go when we felt like it...had no time lines or responsibilities for anyone or anything...and we were spoiled pretty bad as well.

We were pretty excited when we boarded the plane in Portland, but it soon turned into an endurance contest for the two hour flight when a lady in the seat in front of us got very sick.
We braced for the 'throwing up' part of it...but when things started coming out the other end of the poor thing...we thought we were going to join her in the barfing adventure. All we could do is bury our noses under the necklines of our garmets and try to think of anything other than what was going on with the lady in front of us.

Once that was past we were able to breathe again, and the vacation could really start for us.

There are some funny stories to share, and I won't be too wordy as time is not on my side at the moment...but it's been a long time since I posted, so wanted to get some news out there to those who care about the life and times of this Blogger.

The 'Beatles' were honored with a new show by the Cirque Du Soliel, and it was really awesome. We were front and center in the second row and the performance was just stunning. All of the music was 'Beatles', and four children sort of represented them in the play/circus acts...on a musical medley of some of their greatest hits.

The costumes of course were breathtaking, but the show itself (at the Mirage) is something that should not be missed by anyone heading to Vegas. I think Allen has every album the Beatles ever produced, and then those by Lennon, MCartney, Ringo and George Harrison after the Beatles split up...as this was music from our 'Era'...so I think it had special meaning for us.

I am so glad that the chills and thrills of the old circus have been transformed into these musical masterpieces because the skill of the performers is hard to describe...the new addition of 'break dancers' and ballet into the mix was pretty mind boggling, and Allen and I both agreed, "We LOVED the Love Show"...as every song was about Love.


Now also during our Era, one of the longest lasting performing ICONS were in their Hey Day as well...THE ROLLING STONES...so, even if we wern't able to take in other shows...we had free tickets to see the Rolling Stones in Concert at the MGM Grand. Mick Jagger may be looking a little more 'jagged' at 63...but he still prances and dances like he always did...and the show was just awesome. I did notice that most of the audience was a little 'gray' around the temples...OK so most of them had almost total gray hair if any hair at all...kind of like a 40th Reunion...but once the show began...thousands of people turned 18 in just a song or two.

Of course, it was our unfortunate luck to be seated behind some Southern California vatos who felt it their duty to stay standing during the entire performance as they got drunker and drunker...and then to keep their hands high in the air and almost hit the one behind them in the face now and then. When they were asked to give those behind them a break...they loudly claimed that they didn't give a shit and went about their business. As it turned out...all cameras (including ours) were confiscated before the show and these 'dear people' got theirs through somehow and were taking pictures...so when Allen asked if we could be moved...he also reported the camera...and the usher (a lady about our age) gave them such an intense 'beady eyed look'
they became so uncomfortable...they left before the Stones were through with the concert.

Fortunately for us, we were able to be moved to seats that had no one in front of us...a real blessing...and were able to enjoy the show along with all the other old codgers who were content to stand and dance here and there...and then be seated to enjoy the show. Sometimes you have to wonder if some folks were raised by wolves?

The ROLLING STONES have been touring for more than 40 continuous years, and with Jagger now 63, you have to wonder how many more tours they have in them? They are definitely world ICONS and just to be able to see them 'live' was a thrill for both Allen and I we won't soon forget. An added perk is that our show tickets gave us a free membership into their 'official fan club' so we'll get discounts on Stones stuff...and pre show tickets if they tour again, and discounts on any albums they produce. It was a great adventure...to say the least!


One of the few remaining 'old style' Casino's in Las Vegas...THE STARDUST...closed it's doors on November 1, 2006 fot the last time. Everything in the HUGE place was open for "Inspection" during the time we were there...before the Auction that has been going on for the past five days. Modern technology made it possible for us to attend the auction by 'webcast' and we were able to pick up some things for the restaurant at a fraction of their real value. We would have been able to buy more...but while I was bidding on one of those nice trashcan/ashtray's you find all over Vegas Casinos and Hotels...I somehow punched in for 15 of the damned things...and it has taken me two days on the phone and by email to MAYBE get them taken off my invoice.

Needless to say, that put a big dent in my Auction activity and there is only one more day of the live auction so hopefully by morning I will have an email or a phone call saying I am not stuck with the trashcans...and the price tag for them...and I can pick up a few more pieces of History that I, or Allen actually would like to have. lol The Stardust is also the last Casino standing that had known ties to the "Family" and was a place Allen and I stayed often in our younger years. We liked to play there because they still had a lot of the old fashioned machines and gaming events, and one of the first Vegas Shows we went to "Into the Night" played there for ever... but like many other's before them, after 48 years...the Real Estate it rests on begs another fabulous and modern Casino to take it's place...probably bigger than any other as that is the way they seem to build them now as more and more people worldwide make Vegas a vacation destination.

It was also bright and sunny the whole time we were there which is sort of like having a 'sun break' during Oregon's gloomy rainy season. We're planning a trip to California for Christmas this year to again escape the gray skies and rain...as we are becoming more and more Oregonian all the time...as the spring, summer and fall here are so perfect...the best time to take a vacation becomes the winter months.

Allen thought the Marquis spreading across the entire top of the Mirage for the BEATLE'S LOVE SHOW was so impressive, he took this picture from our 19th floor suite at Harrahs Hotel and Casino...and also took the photos below of our suite itself. We had room service many times during our stay...at all hours of the day and night...and I did enjoy the big jacuzzi tub as well. The two rooms were perfect as Allen took the living room and couch for his area to snore his little heart out...and I didn't hear a peep from my digs in the Master suite. How sweet it was!





Now here is where I have to tell you another 'funneeee'. After the Beatles Love Show in the Mirage, I parked myself on a slot machine and Allen decided to go back to Harrahs to take a nap after playing himself for several hours. The show itself wasn't until 10:30 at night so it was after midnight when it ended and a few hours from that is when Allen wanted to return 'home' for a nap...


Well, he reached our hotel room and put all the souvenier stuff down and realized a loud snoring was coming from my bed in the next room. Upon closer observation, he saw about a 6'5" 300 pound man snuggling my pillow just snoring his heart out...with the smell of booze wafting from the room as well. The guy had obviously been drunk and was basically passed out.

Allen thought, "Oh My God~! How did I end up in someone elses room?" and slowly and quietly retreated to the door to check the room number. Suddenly, the shock sort of fell off him and he looked around and realized that all of our 'stuff' was all over the place...and the only thing that didn't belong...was this huge man sleeping in my bed! He called Security and soon the place was abuzz with four or five big bubbas...and a couple of little guys who seemed to be calling the shots.

Apparently, this fellow did indeed have room 1952...but found his way to the Mardi Gras Tower (which was out tower), and his wife was waiting for him in Room 1952 in the Carnival Tower. It took some time to get the Security people there because the front desk people kept asking Allen if he had "let the guy in by mistake'? Believe me...it's not something Allen would do by mistake. Then they wondered if Allen had left his door open somehow? Allen does not leave his 'stuff' exposed to theft if he can help it...and he reminded them that he had called the cleaning ladies to do our room before we left for the Beatles Concert. Allen finally said, "Look, it is like the story of the Three Bears and Goldilocks, I am one of the Bears...and Goldilocks is sleeping in my wife's bed...so i would appreciate it if someone could come up here and get Goldilocks out of here."

A staggering hulk of a man was awakened by a herd of Security people...and fairly good naturedly vacated the room...after which everyone apologized profusely of course...and it was noted that the guy was having trouble with his key in our door...so some new Security guy let him in his room. What could they do to make it up to us? Well, for starters...Allen wanted the sheets changed before Mama came home...which was promptly attended to.

Of course, I would have given a million dollars to see the look on Allen's face when he first laid eyes on 'Goldilocks'...but just the thought of it still makes me laugh out loud.

I don't know why, but I have always been fairly lucky at gambling..(and my husband is generally the opposite), and due to circumstances beyond our control we went to Vegas with less money to play with then usual...one of those circumstances being an incredibly high number of Medical Bills our Insurance didn't pay for Allen's surgery...and a couple of vacant houses and a new business we are still scratching our heads over. Anyway, after one day of pretty much playing the game "Random act of kindness" with Slot Machines I play when I don't have enough money to try to outlast them...this "Kindness" came my way and I called Allen down to take a picture of it. This event gave us more freedom to go for some gusto...but I took half of it in 'check form' to put toward the Medical mountain...and it did make a slight 'dent' in it.

The rest paid for our entire trip. The only hard part was the recycling of money through the ATM machines to balance out the winnings...as I have to do at the end of each year to avoid paying taxes on the winnings...and then, taking the money from those ATM visits and putting them back into the bank for the next cycle of bills coming our way on the first of the month. It's sort of a pain to have to do this at the end of the year as I count out the big 1099's I've gotten this year as well as those before this year...but you can only deduct from your 'winnings' the 'losses' you can prove through drawing money out from a casino atm...

...so it is an exercise I've become accustomed to over the years...although it appears that one of my children was going through my desk recently and found these ATM slips and believed her Mother is buying the Casino, and without ever asking me about it, passed it along to everyone else in earshot that I am squanding their inheritence. I was irritated by this before I left, but now it just makes me smile, as very few know how many times that 'second job' I go to about once or twice a month has made a way to help us during a cash flow crisis...or even to help others when they needed it.

I don't know why I have been 'lucky' three times more than I have been 'unlucky'...but I think if I was as 'unlucky' as many I know, it would not be any fun anymore. I don't like to lose. My Dad was pretty lucky too when he played, but my step Mom was just the opposite. In any event, our vacation was the perfect antidote to 'sweating the small stuff'. lol

Now, my husband Allen has one show he loves beyond all others...he calls it 'his soap'...and it is the SOPRANOS. He knows each character intimately, and when I have watched the show with him (I am not a big television watcher) Tony (the main character) reminds me of someone I know very well...Tony means to do good...but he is just so obnoxious and reactive...he become vicious over nothing. Of course, for a crime boss...he is pretty smart in a sort of childish way.

So, when I saw that there was an 'interactive' show going on called "Last Supper with Tony before he goes to the Big House" with all the characters from the SOPRANOS...I had to plan that surprise for Allen, so we bought tickets to the Dinner Theater and I surprised him with it.

What a blast we had sitting in the premium seats with the 'crime family' at our table. It was so Italian it reminded me of many feasts in the past with my Italian step family in the Bay Area growing up...the arguments, the debates, the kids acting out...of course, it had nothing to do with 'set ups' and 'pay offs'...but these characters stayed in character no matter what and we were in the middle of it all.

Since it was interactive, the mob ladies swooned over Allen now and then, and the Mob guys flirted with me...and it was fun playing along with whatever was going on, and I even played with the Italian accent I learned so well growing up and we laughed like crazy. The Dinner was authenic as well...and we started right in with the anti-pasta...and while it was tempting to partake in the 'wine part' of the dinner...since it has also been said that I have returned to a 'drinking life'...we thought better of it even if 'what happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas' was true.

If I ever did return to that 'life' after 18 years of NOT...it would be with Black Russians and Segrams and Seven...and not with crappy wine or beer, but should we ever become 'terminal'...there are lot's of new 'mood and mind altering things' on the market we might discover when all hope is lost for life in the future. We're kind of go for the Gusto folks...in almost anything we do...for good or evil...so I don't think we have become the type of folks who could turn around and 'drink like ladies and gentlemen' for very long without getting into serious trouble very quickly...so we'll just stay accused and NOT rather than accused and DO thank you very much.

Anyhoooo...with that said, by the end of the evening and the Grand Finale, I felt like part of the 'Family' and I guess they thought I was too...so they brought me up on the stage for the last big production number with the cast and a couple of other audience members who interacted with the drama as it unfolded...and as you can tell, I didn't enjoy it a bit. What a riot.

When we went to various shows and events and places in Vegas, it was nice to have limos to cart us around because traffic gets pretty snarly at times...especially on the weekends. We were dressed up some here as our 'coach' awaited us...to take us on another adventure, and with just a phone call they would return to get us when we were ready and bring us back to our 'digs'.

You can take the woman out of the City, but you can't take the City out of the woman...and as much as it may chaff some that we thoroughly enjoy this "Vegas life' so much occasionally...(normally we like to hit Vegas about three times a year, but this year we haven't been able to go since Joey's wedding and last New Year's Eve)..we plan on going right on with us as long as these again 'frames' will allow us to. As the year's get shorter, we've learned that there are different strokes for different folks and not everyone is going to agree with another's outlook on life and the living of it...but as we close in on our own 18 years of married life, we find that we still care about and love each other, and even with an occasional 'Downer Time' here and there, and another set of 'problems' to solve, we are blessed beyond our wildest dreams.

We've got the beautiful forests and trees surrounding us, pristine beaches and the seashore to visit whenever we want, and a good Legacy for our Grandkids...and kids and grandkids that make us proud...and friends we enjoy hanging out with...on motorcycles and in other adventures. We've taken some time to talk about the new 'Dinner Theater' for the restaurant, and have had so many musical artists respond to our advertisement for entertainment we'll be set for months of throwing Dinner parties (for a price) for new friends we've yet to meet.

WE still have Aunt Opal and Cousin Vickie and her grown sons to look out for Faye when we take these brief 'respites' from responsibility for others...and our grandson Tom to 'bring Gramma coffee' when he lands at home at the right time, and to laugh and share the day with as well, and we have Aunt Faye (almost 96) still hanging in there going for the gusto herself as a good role model after all these years....and we've got Jordan around to tell us about the latest in happenings in her life, and Emily who shows us how clever and sweet a three year old can be...and Jon who can climb a ladder and change a lightbulb easily due to his 6'4" frame now almost 18 years old, and we are still looking to the 'future' rather than the past, and I think that is a good sign.

...and we have each other, for better or worse...as companions and friends to travel our own road and to the beat of our own drum...as when all else fails...sometimes that is the best thing to have of all. So, we'll just go on through life, being who we are...and hopefully, in the end, that will have been good enough for the Big Guy in the Sky...who knows our hearts are in the right place even if we are just two 'wild and crazy' kids who probably will never conform to the 'shoulds and goods' others might prescribe for us.

You can walk through life because it is good for you, or you can take a cab when you don't want to take the challenge of the traffic yourself, or you can drive when you want to take a route no one else knows....or you can take a limo now and then just to snuggle back in those deep luxurious seats and be pampered for a little season. We've done and will continue to do all of it...since we just aren't the kind of folks who like to stand on the curb and watch everyone else going somewhere by playing it safe and secure and familiar.

I want to thank all of you who have emailed and written me while I was in my 'funk' and especially those who offered encouragement and support, some family...some friends. It meant a lot to hear the 'words' "How can I help"...even if my own 'depression' had to be an inside job for me to resolve. I'm glad you were there for me. For those who didn't care, or who even kicked some dirt in my face during that time, I thank you too. It helped me to see bullshit from a good grade of apples...and that clarity mattered more than anyone really can understand.

I'm relieved and rested now...and ready for the next challenge in life heading our way...and for those who assume things (they don't know about completely...or understand fully)...are facts....a simple reminder that 'ass u me' is one truth that is always self evident.

Peace out!