MAGGI PICAYUNE

Everyone knows by now that my cat Molly is ill and I probably should’ve done something sooner, like before I left town. I feel really bad too. She didn’t have any symptoms, she just looked obese. We figured that Molly would be back to normal once everybody in Chez Maggi had returned to our standard routine with work.

So this has also affected my traditional play-by-play on hanging out in Las Vegas, an old precedent laid out from our wedding in 2003 and refined during the dude trip of 2005. I think the process has been more amusing for myself due to the frequent silence from others. I probably should chalk it up as disinterest because others have differing opinions on what a vacation should be. For example, a French person “enlightened” me about how “Vegas isn’t real.” I really wanted to answer with, “No shit Sherlock!” However, the city has a special place in my heart, I have never had a bad time here, I actually get to relax here and Europe is terribly expensive (airfare, accommodations, etc.) plus my wife has even less time than me.

Therefore, I’m just going to post the key things happening and maybe some pictures.

Firstly we were not here when LV received its annual rainfall in an afternoon resulting in flash floods. That happened the day before. We did see the after effects: odd puddles, sediment in the streets (especially on corners) and the resort’s lazy river was closed for two days to be cleaned.

The weather has been spectacular! It’s hot without being blistering awful. This means it’s great for the pool but not unpleasant when walking about. Staying in the shade remains the wisest tactic if you must walk.

Gambling wise, my luck has been mixed. Roulette and video poker have been a bust. Sports a push (Packers won/beat the spread; Cowboys were humiliated; NHL lockout is under way). Craps…wicked! I’m up $69 after two sessions. Summaries will be below, I can’t stop doing that.

The annual owners meeting was alright. Our resort company changed its partnership for exchanges, something I don’t care to deal with. Admittedly the new exchange company made it easier through a point system, we just didn’t want to pony up the cost of another deed to join. I wouldn’t have called a complete swindle, another week here every other year was tempting along with the flexibility to stay at Wyndham hotels or properties. Paying off the car and then buying a second vehicle are the pressing priorities for the Maggi Republic in Fiscal year ’13. It was the plan last time until we got the deal which was too good to pass up. This pad may have cost us $18K plus interest (off the cuff I estimate another $3K) yet we came out ahead; new contracts run at least $30K. We did receive Cirque du Soleil (Beatles: Love) tickets for our time, a story down the line.

What is the new thing we’ve learned from trip number eight? Our timeshare has a laundromat (where I am now while writing!). This means I will pack fewer clothes to free up the suitcase space. More presents to bring back for you readers!

Somara and I have hit most of our usual faves: Pinball Hall of Fame (twice), the LV Gun Store and Palace Station (twice). It was great to see Mike at the concierge desk, what can I say, I’m a fan of continuity. We did check out Caesars Palace’s new buffet the Bacchanal which will give the Bellagio’s some real competition. I thought M’s could, Somara didn’t like it as much as I did. Paris for breakfast remains tentative. We discovered a good comfort food joint in CP too, Munch Bar. The chili and cheese-covered tater tots were excellent as they feed two!

The laundry is about wrapped up. Sadly, nobody’s numbers have won. There may be a couple more to cover. Oh, Jose is the only winner. He went in with me on the Packers’ game. We were communicating via SMS during the game too.

Gambling Report:

• Video Poker: Somara 4, Steve 2 ($64.25, $26.25)
• Somara: Not sure, she usually does well against me and she’s still tallying things up.
• Steve: Sports +$4.10; Roulette -$15; Craps +$69; VidPoker: -$53.75

We’ve been here for over 24 hours now but there’s a couple themes to this trip, the first one is relaxing so despite both of us having Clear 4G Wi-Fi connections (thank you Mike at the Concierge desk!), there will be (probably) fewer posts. Summer 2012 was hectic especially during the last month as we juggled a household and a half plus the well being of seven cats. We’ve earned a serious rest ergo the days will be filled with lounging around the pool/hot tub/lazy river. The latter is offline due to Las Vegas receiving its entire annual rainfall in an afternoon the day before we arrived. I also set a personal goal for myself…I will try to read an entire book because I’m a slow reader who rarely has the time. May of you probably say, then stop writing dumbass! Nah, I think other distractions can be weeded out since prolific writers I admire/respect are voracious readers.

Theme number two is LV12 being the 15th anniversary of my first time here. Even with the economy tanking, change remains a constant here. Fifteen years is equal to a couple generations for other cities. As the cliche goes, if you haven’t been to Vegas in the last five years, you’ve never been here at all.

Yesterday’s travel was the smoothest I’ve ever had, it’s absolutely worthy of being in this post. Getting through TSA was miraculously quick; Austin’s airport has the crappiest set up for processing passengers. I loved the brand name on the “x-ray” machine to ensure I’m not a terrorist…Rapiscan, I prefer to pronounce with a long e. I’ve said it before, I will say it until my dying breath, all this moronic measures the country has undertaken for “safety” are bullshit. Eventually there will be another punch in the nose by terrorists (odds favor America’s homegrown white supremacists like McVeigh) and we’ll collectively realized we gave up our civil liberties for nothing.

Enough editorializing but I did get an extra pat down for explosives…on my wallet. Watch out my Pinballz loyalty card is dyno-miiiiiite!

The flight had few bumps! I was peeved over the 20-minute pause in El Paso, Southwest doesn’t to a non-stop trip on Wednesday mornings. In their defense, we arrived five minutes early.

All else went our way: the rental car, the room (we got the view we wanted), the Wi-Fi dongles, show tickets, and all achieved by noon Vegas time.

One thing hasn’t changed in 15 years, the skanks and douches you see all over this city. They exist everywhere but their density is higher in LV. They started their rude antics early on the shuttle bus to the car rental complex. A pair of extras from Jersey Shore demonstrating their lack of patience and class. The Onion is right, stereotypes are a time saver!

Lastly, all you FB users, check out the adventures of Tiny Elvis.

Initially, I thought they had the longest lasting marriage amongst my personal circle of friends but they’re number two. Then again 2012 is an election year so I’m probably on the outs with them for political/idealogical reasons.

Today is about the Silders.

A great Sunday celebrated with White Castles for lunch, a Catholic mass with an update on the Bears’ game (they lost yet it couldn’t dampen Paul’s joy), dancing, an open bar and a hilarious anecdote involving Paul’s father barging into the bathroom looking for a groomsman named Wally. It’s funnier if you hear the words said in the soutside accent.

With my current vacation underway, it has come full circle a bit. I’m on vacation (just longer than three days), there will be drinking and the Bears are going to lose to the Packers tomorrow. Hey, before I left Austin the current spread was +13.5 against.

If you know these friends, drop ’em a line, congratulate them.

The vacation gods definitely hate the Maggi Republic since we both have been fighting off head colds or allergies, it’s hard to tell around Central Texas. I only know to blame the temperature drop that went down over the weekend.

We have our caste boarded passes from Southwest, free baggage, sure; gouging you on getting on the plane is their scheme now. We have our room arranged and even made contact with our concierge friend we made from the last trip, even if he can’t pull through on which building we want to be in, I’m still going to give him a thank-you gift.

What else? Tickets to Adam Ant are ready! Other tentative plans are coming together as well: LV Gun Store to shoot zombies and Cylons, the Pinball Hall of Fame and a museum we need to pin down first.

Any bets you want placed, you need to reach me via e-mail or SMS, you know how to reach me. I will only spot you five bucks though.

Three decades ago my family relocated to Houston…and the moving never really stopped until recently for all of us. It makes me wonder, what is the definition of a move? I’m going with it being being relative to the relationships you lose in the process. For example, changing apartments while remaining in the same city, that’s a move with a lowercase M. Not much changes. Going across continents, nations, states or changing cities, there’s a capitol M on move there, especially with kids and teenagers. The gray area happens with large cities. When we shifted from Houston’s West side to the Gulf-Freeway (Southeast side) region, it was equivalent to our past experiences moving within Illinois; new schools, new friends, new etc, so yes. Vacating the Austin apartment to the house in Pflugerville, not really; the daily commute shifted, different HEBs, a change in restaurants and movie theaters.

Anyway, I continue to live in our (used to be just mine until 2008 with the refinancing) house in amazement. I have stayed put for over a decade. I reside in a city, not some crappy giant suburb which claims to be a city (see Indianapolis, Bloomington-Normal) too. For many of you, this may seem routine but 30 years ago, I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to shake the “gypsy curse,” and be stuck as the new kid every other year.

On to the next few years!