Monday, September 25, 2006
Vegas Baby!
Normally, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, but not this time. Maybe that's because we didn't break any laws or drink ourselves into oblivion.
My mom and sister were comped a suite at Treasure Island, a.k.a. TI. (Yes, it's hip.), so Ben and I decided to tag along. However, my last few trips have been a bust. Not because of all the money that was lost, but due to travel arrangements gone awry. The last time we made the cross desert journey, Cal Trans was doing road construction and thought it would be a great idea to close one lane of the two lane freeway to stand around and look at their tools. A 4 hour trip was an almost 7 hour trip. The time before that, as we were heading home, the freeway was shut down due to a snow storm so I had to buy a plane ticket to fly home in time to be at work the next day. I got about three hours of sleep that night due to delays and returned to a classroom of 36 students. And the time before that, my mom, sister and I were in the midst of another freeway closure due to a huge forest fire and we had to drive on a one lane road that may or may not have been paved for about 9 hours. I refuse to drive to Vegas anymore.
So this time we arranged a flight. We booked it early so unlike that flight due to the aforementioned snowstorm, it did not cost me the equivalent of a flight to Hawaii. However, the only available flight that was suitable for our work schedules left at 10:20 at night. All of you can imagine how exhausted you are after a week of work, but I feel that it is magnified when you work with children. I was so tired that all I wanted to do was lay down on the ground of the airplane. I could not get comfortable at all so I was just adjusting the entire flight. I was ready to claw my way out of the plane that was delayed, BTW, but I could not. They placed the only handicapped person on the flight in the aisle seat of our row. I had to straddle him to get in the seat, saying, "Sorry sir, I am going to straddle you now." To which he replied, "Oh, that's fine." So I decided that one lap dance was enough and we would be the last ones off the plane.
When we finally got to the luggage claim, we had to wait an hour before our bags were transported from the terminal to the carousel which is a short tram ride away. Normally, I would not check a bag for a 36 hour trip, but due to "tightened" security, toothpaste, lotion, and soap are not allowed to be carried on. However, scissors, screwdrivers, and knitting needles were good to go (I am completely serious about this. We referred to TSA.gov) And you know how many people crochet in Vegas?!
I ventured outside of the airport only to notice the line for taxis was approximately 1,000 people long (not an exaggeration) so I stood in line and waited. I got to the front before our bags even began to circulate the carousel and had to tell the security guard in charge of the taxi line that I was waiting for my husband who was experiencing som asthma issues and would be out shortly. After seeing him yell at a few patrons, I did not want to be humiliated so I felt that I had to lie. (Yes, I am going to hell.) I called Ben to inform him that he was doing asthma treatments, but that did not stop him from running out of the airport with our bag, throwing it over a fence and then jumping the fence himself to where the security guard and I stood to which I could only say, "Glad you're feeling better, honey."
When we finally got to the hotel, we noticed that the suite we were promised was now a double which is fine considering how little time we actually spend in the room. As a matter of fact, my mom did not sleep at all. She's nuts. Ben and I stayed up to gamble, but we were delirious. I played this one game called "Hot Flashes" which my sister later commented on its sexist nature. (People with Masters degrees can't just play a game, ya' know?!) Anyways, I earned a bonus session and won like 10 free spins. And every time the wheel would spin, the number of X your win is multiplied by would change. Ben had just walked over. As the marker landed on 12x, I informed Ben that I would not win anything because it wasn't 2x. But I was wrong. Had I been playing the max bet, I would have won the jackpot which was 50,000 nickels. However, I did win 12,000 nickels. Because of delirium and exhaustion, Ben and I struggled to calculate my winnings. After several attempts with the cell phone calculator, we decided that it was $250.00 and I continued to play. Then Ben said, "If 400 nickels is $20, than 12,000 nickels is like 600 bucks." I could not believe him despite his rational reasoning, so I cashed out and sure enough, I had won over $600. Unbelievable! That has never happened to me. People don't even win when they play near me. In fact, I have been called the "Black Dahlia" and the "Plague" by my sister on trips to Vegas where I sit next to her and all her winnings turn to zilch. I am what you would call "the cooler". The casinos should hire me.
I was just thrilled. The flight was paid for as were our tickets to the Cirque du Soleil "Love" show and I still had money to spend.
The following day, Ben and I slept in, went to "breakfast" at 2:00 p.m. which was also comped. We just hung out, walked the Strip to several casinos, including Ben's favorite, Barbary Coast. You're probably thinking, "Why is that his favorite?" Well, it's one of the few places left in Vegas where you can bet $1 rather than $10 on roulette. My friend Alyssa, who lives in Vegas, says that the Barbary Coast occupies valuable Strip space and won't be there much longer. Later that night, we met Alyssa and her boyfriend Jason for dinner. We went to a nice tapas restaurant in the mall near the Mirage. We ordered a lot of different appetizers that were quite delicious and filling. We had a chicken empanada, goat cheese in tomato sauce on garlic toast, bacon wrapped dates, shrimp, salads, and meatballs along with a pitcher of black raspberry sangria. Alyssa gave us the Cirque du Soleil "Love" program and then Ben and I were on our way to the show.
We headed to the Mirage around 10:00 p.m. with the show about to begin at 10:30. We were welcomed by ushers in "English" type costumes and English accents (fake, I'm sure). We found our seats and looked through our program. The Fool from the show walked around putting hearts on people and spewing messages of love and peace. Oh, the wise fool! Then the show began with a bang! Colorful confetti shot out from the ceiling and the Beatles blared from the 6,341 speakers in the theatre that seats 2,013 people. It was awesome.
If you love the Beatles, you must go. Along with songs, they played a Beatles' Abbey Road recording session. The show told the story of the music, beginning with the war that nearly destroyed Liverpool, its rebirth, the hysteria of the Beatles, with the psychedelic and spiritual phases, and the break up. I loved it! I have never heard the Beatles played loud for an audience of 2,000 before and realized as any Beatles fan must, that the Beatles, though half of them are dead and the group is no longer together, that the music should be played for large groups of people still. The show was not your typical (less circus and more dance with circus mixed in) Cirques show, however the props and effects were interesting. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was done with millions of twinkling lights that could not be seen before the show began and a diamond covered girl on a bungee cord. The stars sparkled and flashed and it was so cool that I almost couldn't stand looking at it, if that makes sense.
They played While My Guitar Gently Weeps which is one of my favorites and Blackbird was not performed by the Beatles, but spoken by the teacher of the uncoordinated birds. They never played the song, but just teased us with a few notes. I wish they had played that song. They used projected images of the Beatles in both silhouette and as they really looked. It was awesome. Ben kept getting scared because confetti and streamers were constantly being shot at him. It was classic. Ben only started checking his watch about 20 minutes before the end and later commented that he prefers the dare-devil antics of the crew in traditional Cirque shows like Dralion which we saw years ago. I, however, loved the music and the stories that the songs tell. If you're a fan of the Beatles and Cirque du Soleil, you must see this show. It is beautiful and made just for you. And although the tickets are a bit pricey, the "cheap" seats ar still very close to the stage. Ben and I sat in the mid-level seats and it was wonderful, well worth the money.
The show ended and for me, that truly was the conclusion of our Vegas trip. Ben went to sleep shortly after the show and I hooked up with my mom, lost some more money and was in bed before 3 a.m. We got up at 5 to make our 8:52 a.m. flight (the latest departure we could find). Treasure Island provided limo transportation from the hotel to the airport which was our final luxury before flying coach.
When we finally arrived, we had one more laugh as my mom got her luggage off the carousel. Stuffed in one of the pockets was a large hook and chain. My mom's guess was that it was from a garment bag, but it sure looked like the hook that a masochist would hang himself from at freak show parties. It was hilarious the way my mom pulled it out, only to stuff it back in quickly, recognizing what it may have looked like. Apparently, she too has seen that episode of Real Sex on HBO.
We said our good-byes and headed home. On the way, a wasp flew in our car, hit Ben in the shoulder and bit me in the back. There has to be meaning in that, don't you think?
My mom and sister were comped a suite at Treasure Island, a.k.a. TI. (Yes, it's hip.), so Ben and I decided to tag along. However, my last few trips have been a bust. Not because of all the money that was lost, but due to travel arrangements gone awry. The last time we made the cross desert journey, Cal Trans was doing road construction and thought it would be a great idea to close one lane of the two lane freeway to stand around and look at their tools. A 4 hour trip was an almost 7 hour trip. The time before that, as we were heading home, the freeway was shut down due to a snow storm so I had to buy a plane ticket to fly home in time to be at work the next day. I got about three hours of sleep that night due to delays and returned to a classroom of 36 students. And the time before that, my mom, sister and I were in the midst of another freeway closure due to a huge forest fire and we had to drive on a one lane road that may or may not have been paved for about 9 hours. I refuse to drive to Vegas anymore.
So this time we arranged a flight. We booked it early so unlike that flight due to the aforementioned snowstorm, it did not cost me the equivalent of a flight to Hawaii. However, the only available flight that was suitable for our work schedules left at 10:20 at night. All of you can imagine how exhausted you are after a week of work, but I feel that it is magnified when you work with children. I was so tired that all I wanted to do was lay down on the ground of the airplane. I could not get comfortable at all so I was just adjusting the entire flight. I was ready to claw my way out of the plane that was delayed, BTW, but I could not. They placed the only handicapped person on the flight in the aisle seat of our row. I had to straddle him to get in the seat, saying, "Sorry sir, I am going to straddle you now." To which he replied, "Oh, that's fine." So I decided that one lap dance was enough and we would be the last ones off the plane.
When we finally got to the luggage claim, we had to wait an hour before our bags were transported from the terminal to the carousel which is a short tram ride away. Normally, I would not check a bag for a 36 hour trip, but due to "tightened" security, toothpaste, lotion, and soap are not allowed to be carried on. However, scissors, screwdrivers, and knitting needles were good to go (I am completely serious about this. We referred to TSA.gov) And you know how many people crochet in Vegas?!
I ventured outside of the airport only to notice the line for taxis was approximately 1,000 people long (not an exaggeration) so I stood in line and waited. I got to the front before our bags even began to circulate the carousel and had to tell the security guard in charge of the taxi line that I was waiting for my husband who was experiencing som asthma issues and would be out shortly. After seeing him yell at a few patrons, I did not want to be humiliated so I felt that I had to lie. (Yes, I am going to hell.) I called Ben to inform him that he was doing asthma treatments, but that did not stop him from running out of the airport with our bag, throwing it over a fence and then jumping the fence himself to where the security guard and I stood to which I could only say, "Glad you're feeling better, honey."
When we finally got to the hotel, we noticed that the suite we were promised was now a double which is fine considering how little time we actually spend in the room. As a matter of fact, my mom did not sleep at all. She's nuts. Ben and I stayed up to gamble, but we were delirious. I played this one game called "Hot Flashes" which my sister later commented on its sexist nature. (People with Masters degrees can't just play a game, ya' know?!) Anyways, I earned a bonus session and won like 10 free spins. And every time the wheel would spin, the number of X your win is multiplied by would change. Ben had just walked over. As the marker landed on 12x, I informed Ben that I would not win anything because it wasn't 2x. But I was wrong. Had I been playing the max bet, I would have won the jackpot which was 50,000 nickels. However, I did win 12,000 nickels. Because of delirium and exhaustion, Ben and I struggled to calculate my winnings. After several attempts with the cell phone calculator, we decided that it was $250.00 and I continued to play. Then Ben said, "If 400 nickels is $20, than 12,000 nickels is like 600 bucks." I could not believe him despite his rational reasoning, so I cashed out and sure enough, I had won over $600. Unbelievable! That has never happened to me. People don't even win when they play near me. In fact, I have been called the "Black Dahlia" and the "Plague" by my sister on trips to Vegas where I sit next to her and all her winnings turn to zilch. I am what you would call "the cooler". The casinos should hire me.
I was just thrilled. The flight was paid for as were our tickets to the Cirque du Soleil "Love" show and I still had money to spend.
The following day, Ben and I slept in, went to "breakfast" at 2:00 p.m. which was also comped. We just hung out, walked the Strip to several casinos, including Ben's favorite, Barbary Coast. You're probably thinking, "Why is that his favorite?" Well, it's one of the few places left in Vegas where you can bet $1 rather than $10 on roulette. My friend Alyssa, who lives in Vegas, says that the Barbary Coast occupies valuable Strip space and won't be there much longer. Later that night, we met Alyssa and her boyfriend Jason for dinner. We went to a nice tapas restaurant in the mall near the Mirage. We ordered a lot of different appetizers that were quite delicious and filling. We had a chicken empanada, goat cheese in tomato sauce on garlic toast, bacon wrapped dates, shrimp, salads, and meatballs along with a pitcher of black raspberry sangria. Alyssa gave us the Cirque du Soleil "Love" program and then Ben and I were on our way to the show.
We headed to the Mirage around 10:00 p.m. with the show about to begin at 10:30. We were welcomed by ushers in "English" type costumes and English accents (fake, I'm sure). We found our seats and looked through our program. The Fool from the show walked around putting hearts on people and spewing messages of love and peace. Oh, the wise fool! Then the show began with a bang! Colorful confetti shot out from the ceiling and the Beatles blared from the 6,341 speakers in the theatre that seats 2,013 people. It was awesome.
If you love the Beatles, you must go. Along with songs, they played a Beatles' Abbey Road recording session. The show told the story of the music, beginning with the war that nearly destroyed Liverpool, its rebirth, the hysteria of the Beatles, with the psychedelic and spiritual phases, and the break up. I loved it! I have never heard the Beatles played loud for an audience of 2,000 before and realized as any Beatles fan must, that the Beatles, though half of them are dead and the group is no longer together, that the music should be played for large groups of people still. The show was not your typical (less circus and more dance with circus mixed in) Cirques show, however the props and effects were interesting. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was done with millions of twinkling lights that could not be seen before the show began and a diamond covered girl on a bungee cord. The stars sparkled and flashed and it was so cool that I almost couldn't stand looking at it, if that makes sense.
They played While My Guitar Gently Weeps which is one of my favorites and Blackbird was not performed by the Beatles, but spoken by the teacher of the uncoordinated birds. They never played the song, but just teased us with a few notes. I wish they had played that song. They used projected images of the Beatles in both silhouette and as they really looked. It was awesome. Ben kept getting scared because confetti and streamers were constantly being shot at him. It was classic. Ben only started checking his watch about 20 minutes before the end and later commented that he prefers the dare-devil antics of the crew in traditional Cirque shows like Dralion which we saw years ago. I, however, loved the music and the stories that the songs tell. If you're a fan of the Beatles and Cirque du Soleil, you must see this show. It is beautiful and made just for you. And although the tickets are a bit pricey, the "cheap" seats ar still very close to the stage. Ben and I sat in the mid-level seats and it was wonderful, well worth the money.
The show ended and for me, that truly was the conclusion of our Vegas trip. Ben went to sleep shortly after the show and I hooked up with my mom, lost some more money and was in bed before 3 a.m. We got up at 5 to make our 8:52 a.m. flight (the latest departure we could find). Treasure Island provided limo transportation from the hotel to the airport which was our final luxury before flying coach.
When we finally arrived, we had one more laugh as my mom got her luggage off the carousel. Stuffed in one of the pockets was a large hook and chain. My mom's guess was that it was from a garment bag, but it sure looked like the hook that a masochist would hang himself from at freak show parties. It was hilarious the way my mom pulled it out, only to stuff it back in quickly, recognizing what it may have looked like. Apparently, she too has seen that episode of Real Sex on HBO.
We said our good-byes and headed home. On the way, a wasp flew in our car, hit Ben in the shoulder and bit me in the back. There has to be meaning in that, don't you think?
# posted by RZV @ 10:32 PM 
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Sounds like a great getaway. That is so awsome that you won $600. I would have just died. A couple years ago when I was up just a couple hundred dollars, which I later lost, I was ecstatic. Crazy what a little money rush will do. The Love show was described so well that even if I don't get to go myself I feel like I've experienced it a little anyway. I'm glad you had the chance to see it. You are a great storyteller! Love you, Sasha
your blog is insane! I just read about the wedding, it made me tear up as I sat at my desk eating frozen vegan pizza.
I haven't seen real sex, what happens? people do it in the oddest ways these days...
ryan.
I haven't seen real sex, what happens? people do it in the oddest ways these days...
ryan.
# posted by 
: 2:37 PM
: 2:37 PM
Its time for another story. C'mon, you are in full swing back at school, there must be some fun, disturbing, hilarious, or otherwise worth mentioning student stories by now. Have you moved in with grandma yet? I'm sure that will provide plenty of reasons to write. How was your Thanksgiving? So, there you go. . . several ideas to get you going. I hope to see something up soon m'dear. Oh, and by the way. . .do you mind if I put a link to your blog on my blog? What do you think? You comment so much on mine that I know there are others that would enjoy reading more from/about you. I hope all is well and I love you!
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