84 Reasons I Miss Vegas, Redux

Last Tuesday, LM and I booked our first trip to Vegas in early April. This will be my 14th time to Vegas, or somewheres around there anyway, and her second, but our first time together. Now, a little over 5 years ago I was in a similar position as I am right now in terms of number of days before Vegas. Then I had 84 days, now I have about a week longer.

The reason that the 84 day thing is significant is that, in my pre-Vegas excitement, I decided to list 84 things about Vegas I was missing. One for each day between the first post and setting foot back in Vegas. I think I made it to number 9 before abandoning the idea. This time, I'm going to attempt to make it a weekly thing instead of daily, and broaden the scope from things I miss about Vegas to things I am looking forward to on this trip. I'm also going to be more flexible about the posts, because with rigid rules it's easy to just stop after you miss one or two. This time, not holding myself to anything strict, I will be more likely to carry on with it between now and our trip.

So to start this one off, here are the 9 things I used the last time. I won't expand on these, since there are explanations with the old posts, but I may refer to some of these and how they will affect this trip.

1. Cafe Gelato inside Bellagio
2. Sports books
3. Free drinks &
4. The waitresses who bring them to you
5. 25 cent video blackjack at
6. O'Shea's
7. Crazy cab rides
8. Where you are allowed to take your drink with you
9. Yearlong dry air = no sinus problems

I do have to mention that #1 on this list is ALWAYS number one on my list of things to do in Vegas. Every trip I have taken to Vegas since my second one when I found Cafe Gelato, I have gone there immediately after checking into my hotel. This will not be the case on this trip though. I usually take morning flights to Vegas to maximize my time there, but this time we'll be landing at night, after the cafe is closed. Big changes, but I am happy with both. At first we wanted early flights, but found out how much more expensive they were to book. So instead of maximizing our time there with an early flight, we decided to take a cheaper night flight....one day earlier. This will give us about 12 more hours in Vegas, and saved us a few hundred dollars. We are actually landing 2 hours later than originally planned, because I waited a day too long to book the trip, but that will actually make it easier to get everything together before we take off.

I'm also fine with breaking the tradition of hitting Cafe Gelato immediately upon my arrival, because this is a very different kind of trip for me. Going with LM, and only LM, will make this different and a little more special because I usually went to Vegas in a group of three or more. This one will be just for us, and we can do whatever we want, when we want without worrying about anyone else. That alone will be nice.

So on to the new list. First and foremost will be flying into Vegas. This will be the first time my plane approaches Vegas at night since my first trip in 1997 and the first time LM will see the lights of the city as she lands. Like I said earlier, I prefer morning flights so I can maximize my trip time, but anyone who flies into Vegas absolutely HAS to do it once when the lights of the city are shining. It's a completely different experience.

I've Got a Notion to Say....

....well, not much really.

My sleep the last couple days days has been limited to about 4 hours each night, and an hour or so of a nap yesterday. Even with the limited hours, the sleep has been so sound that I am not feeling the effects I normally would at this point. I'm never this awake on this little sleep....unless I am in Vegas.

Ah, Vegas. I had a random Vegas memory flash into my mind this morning. Not sure exactly what I smelled, but something that hit my nose DEFINITELY reminded me of something from Vegas. I didn't press too hard to figure out what it was. Instead I just sat back and enjoyed the brief distraction.

Not sure when I will be in Vegas again, which always bothers me, but not having any vacation time available bothered me in a different way this morning. I got an e-mail overnight about an available spot on the disaster relief trip to New Orleans this year. The plane ticket is paid for, and I am pretty sure the room and board is taken care of again, so all I would have to do is sign up and go....but I can't.

I've been wanting to go back to the region since our first trip, but haven't been able to for one reason or another. This time I could physically go, there's nothing on my schedule next week I couldn't cancel or rearrange, but I just can't afford to take the time off without pay. Sooner or later I will make sure to get back there and check out how everything has bounced back, in the areas that it has, but I guess I am just not meant to travel right now.

OK. On to the ultra random playlist chosen by Mr. iPod this morning....

Morning Music 10-29-09

1. No Rain- Blind Melon. "I just want some one to say to me I'll always be there when you wake Ya know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today So stay with me and I'll have it made"

2. Bark at the Moon- Ozzy Osbourne. "Howling in shadows Living in a lunar spell He finds his heaven Spewing from the mouth of hell And when he finds who he's looking for Listen in awe and you'll hear him Bark at the moon"

3. Disturbia- Rihanna. "It's a thief in the night To come and grab you It can creep up inside you And consume you A disease of the mind It can control you I feel like a monster"

4. Sick Muse- Metric. "Everybody, everybody just wanna fall in love Everybody, everybody just wanna play the lead....Pull your little arrows out Let me live my life The one I'd better lead All the blondes are fantasies"

5. Move B*tch- Ludacris. "I'm doin a hundred on the highway, so if you do the speed limit get the f*ck outta my way"

6. Supermassive Black Hole- Muse. "You set my soul alight"

:-D

7. Lust for Life- Iggy Pop. "I'm worth a million in prizes With my torture film Drive a GTO Wear a uniform On a government loan"

8. Tell Her About It- Billy Joel. "You'll never let her go But that's just the kind of thing She ought to know Tell her about it Tell her everything you feel Give her every reason to accept That you're for real Tell her about it Tell her all your crazy dreams Let her know you need her Let her know how much she means....When you love someone You're always insecure And there's only one good way To reassure Tell her about it Let her know how much you care When she can't be with you Tell her you wish you were there Tell her about it Every day before you leave Pay her some attention Give her something to believe....Just a word or two that she gets from you Could be the difference that it makes"

9. Notion- Kings of Leon. "Got a notion to say what doesn't feel right I just wanted to know if I could go home"

10. All I Really Want- Alanis Morrisette. "What I wouldn't give to find a soulmate Someone else to catch this drift....And all I need now is intellectual intercourse A soul to dig the hole much deeper"