June 25, 2020: The Wifey

My wife and I are very different people; they say opposites attract. We do have many things in common, like our love of travel, our love to have fun. When you combine those two things, it’s easy to understand why we love Vegas. The wifey and I have been together to Vegas more times than all the other trips I’ve had there combined. We did take that plane ride from Chicago to Vegas, but when we both lived together in California, that’s when we really upped the ante.

Here’s how it typically went. We’d reserve the rental car for early Saturday AM pickup. I’d floor that bad boy through the desert early Saturday morning from Los Angeles to Vegas. Quick tip: don’t ever leave to Vegas from LA on a Friday night, and don’t ever, I mean ever, come back from Vegas on Sunday afternoon; we learned both of those lessons the hard way. So Saturday early AM, flying through Death Valley. We’d enjoy a little light breakfast, some cookies or brownies maybe. By the time we got there, it was on. Few times, maybe more than a few, we’d stop in Baker, CA, at that greek restaurant whose name I’m drawing a blank on right now. We’d request early check in. Get there, change in the room, and head to the pool. Let our weekend begin.

My wife is not a gambler; if she wins $10, she wants to quit. I’m not a big slots guy, but sitting at slot machines next to each other pressing our luck is our thing. Yeah, we’ve played some paigow too; easy game to have a few drinks at before heading out for the evening. But the slots… Top Dollar baby!!! We hit a few times; more than not, we donated. Still, I have a couple pictures of her with a winning slot ticket. We’d sometimes play in the early AM, after taking a quick walk around the pool area; it was a blast.

Gambling wasn’t the main attraction on these trips. We would always go to a show. The Beatles Love, Elvis, Phantom of the Opera, other Cirque de Soleil shows, stand up comedians; I can’t even keep track of them all there were so many shows we went to. Then of course came the nightlife. Sometimes we’d chill at a bar, other times we’d hit the club. One time we saw Floyd Mayweather in Pure at Caesar’s; that was a fun night… Yeah, we’d party our asses off; one night on top of the Palms was a memorable night too. We’d hit a late night spot to eat, crash for a bit, and then hit the pool… at the Flamingo of course. That is OUR spot; love it there. I know, maybe I’m cheap, and don’t want to check out the “nice” hotels, but I really do love it there. We did have one visit where the room looked like shit, but they have renovated since then; the Flamingo is back in the circle of trust, although we will definitely check out some other ones in the future. We did stay at Planet Hollywood too recently.

We continue to go pretty much every year; with my father in law being out there, it’s an easy decision. Better he lived there then say Wyoming… haha. But yeah, we were planning of course to go this year as well, but with this COVID stuff… maybe a road trip? But then we have to stay at numerous hotels. Maybe a plane ride and stay at a hotel off the strip, away from the crowds? But then we have to be in the airports. It’s not an easy decision; I’ll leave the final one up to her, although you know I’m ready. When will the next chapter be written?