Las Vegas

I continue to be amazed at the place!  Karen and I have been there more than a dozen times and I can't get over the ostentation.  I say that in a positive way.

We don't gamble, but walk through the casinos often.  I think there were as many gamblers as I've seen in a few years.  It was hard to tell on the Strip, though, because likely many were inside, out of the intense heat, or by the pools.

The heat was intense--two days hit 117 degrees, tying all-time temperature records.  The other days were 115, 112, and 111.  How unsettling to find the temperature 109 degrees at 11 PM!  I ran one AM at 100 degrees and two at 98.  It cooled off one day, all the way down to 93.  These AM runs came around 6:00.  And, I was not the only one out there running.  I didn't count closely, but one AM I saw another couple dozen runners on the Strip.  I only ran the Strip two days, heading out past the airport the other days.  But those AMs were not as tough as running, say, this AM here in Michigan--at 70-some degrees and heavy humididity.

I did find myself wearing down.  It was likely the heat which had a sapping effect.  But it was also, likely, from chasing with the kids.  It was a go-go-go trip.

I remember, years ago, people telling me how cheap food and drinks were in Las Vegas.  Karen and I had never been there until Matt moved out to take a job.  I was anxious to see steak and prime rib dinners for $3 and $5.  Yeah, right!  Sometime between my friends' visits and ours, the Las Vegas folks figured out they didn't have to give low-cost meals.  The buffet this time, for six of us, with tip, was more than $250.  Oh, the food was good, very good, and there was a lot of it, both in volume and variety.  Other restaurants have followed suit.  I stopped at a drug store to pick up a 12-pack of soda and was stunned to find the price--$7.49!  That's not a 24-can case, but a 12-can pack.  I opted for water. But, we always eat well in Las Vegas.  Since we don't gamble......

Matt and Linda watched the kids while Grandma and Grandpa went to see Human Nature:  The Motown Sound at the Venetian.  Wow!  What a show!  I think it's my favorite of all the shows we've seen out there.  The group--Human Nature--is promoted by none other than Smokey Robinson.  Each of the four group members sings very well.  They don't try to copy the original song or dance routines, but give their own renditions.  Well, they pretty much dance like white guys from Australia.  But they were very entertaining, interacting with the audience quite well.  In shows I like, I often find myself singing right along with the performers.  Karen often elbows me to stop.  Not this night, since Human Nature frequently urged us to sinc along with them.  I think, although I thought Human Nature was good and the band was terrific, the key to the show was the Motown Sound--all the songs. They have a grandeur, a greatness of their own.  I plan to take in the show again on a future trip.

People are, for the most part, rude and inconsiderate.  At first I singled out certain groups, but came to the conclusion it's most people.  They don't walk on the right. They don't move over.  They don't squeeze in on elevators.  For that matter, they don't let those on the elevators get off befor they try to get on.  Obversely, the workers are pretty good at working with people.  Of all the folks we dealt with, only one or two seemed as if they thought they were put out dealing with us.  Of course, I sort of figured out one of out waiter's tips/pay.  While we had breakfast, about 45 minutes in the restaurant, I calculated that the guy would pick up at least $34 in tips; that doesn't include his base pay and I figured on minimal tips (Karen tips very well and likely, in Vegas, more folks tipped well).  And I couldn't see all of the tables in his section and, remember, we were in-and-out in about 45 minutes.

I had a nice lunch with an Amherst buddy, who has a law office--a branch--in Las Vegas.  We meet when I get out there and, as usual, I enjoyed it.

I think K is planning our next trip for Nov or Dec......  Maybe it will cool off a bit by then.