The world comes to Las Vegas.

Before I moved to Las Vegas, I visited here about 3-4 times a year. Like so many million other people I made the trip to the Gaming Mecca with a sense of excitement mixed with just a touch of dread. The excitement is obvious, the dread came from knowing that I would likely be headed home with a much lighter wallet. Oh well, I'd get home and start saving for the next trip. Eventually, I reached a point where I couldn't stand my occupation (I hesitate to use the word career) of over 15 years. Distribution Management had sapped the life right out of me. Screw it! I quit! I packed up the Buick and headed West. The world would now come to visit me.
Last Thursday found me picking a freind up from the airport. Ironically, another friend would be arriving later that night. One friend I hadn't seen in 7 month and the other I hadn't seen in at least 4 years. Consequently, I spend the weekend playing Tourist. The slot machines that had punished me on Wednesday evening seemed to taunt me. I have now had 4 consecutive winning days on the evil contraptions. I should jump back on that wagon! NOW! Thursday night found me playing $2-4 HE at the Palms with yet another friend who happened to be in town for a Casino Chip Show. I managed a $59 win even though my nut flush on the turn lost to my friends King high straight flush on the river.
I went back to work at Noon on Sunday. The room was rocking and full. When the game started, the $2-4 and $4-8 games stayed full. There were 4 NL games in progress when the game started but almost immediately 14 seats opened up. One game consequently closed. I was moving through the lower side during most of the game. I think that it would have been a good idea to just close all of the poker games for the duration of the Big Game. More attention was being paid to the TVs around the room than was being paid to the cards. Games came to a screaching halt when a big play took place on the field. I took a 1 hr EO and headed to the sports book to watch the last 2 minutes of the game.
The cruise is coming up with alarming speed. I should be packing and taking care of other little chores but here I sit. I work today and tomorrow at noon. Tomorrow night I fly to NYC on the red-eye. I would imagine that there are some things that just won't get done prior to my departure. Crap, I just looked at my vehicle registration and noticed that it expired on 2/5. I guess I'll have to get a smog check on the way to work today and try to renow online when I get home tonight. I really thought that I had until the end of the month. Oh well. Need a hair cut. Need to pack. etc etc.
Back in the box in 3.5 hours.