Missing Vegas story
So, I found a story that I wrote while in Las Vegas and saved to my docs then forgot about it….here it is…
Ahhhhh…… Las Vegas,
What can I say about the city that never sleeps? You can get anything you want here 24/7. From haircuts to hookers (illegal in Clark county) to getting married….want great pizza at midnight? Head to Naked City. Want a cocktail? There are dozens of bars open. Car wash late? No problem, sir. Want to see a great personal interaction……go into the local grocery store off the beaten path at 2 in the morning in nice clothes and buy a bag of coffee…..the clerk will be surprised that you are not the normal night creature wandering around.
We were playing poker at Red Rock Casino on last Tuesday and had finished up and headed for the condo when we saw these two very inebriated men on a moped. They looked almost identical…shorts, Red and white football jerseys, cowboy hats in American flag motif, the necessary sunglasses and beards and carrying a takeout bag. These two guys were very distinctive. Well…… last night at Red Rock I had cashed out and was waiting for R.P. to join me when I saw one of those guys walk by me (6 days later), wearing exactly the same clothes and carrying his takeout bag….. Vuja De anyone?
I sat at a game last night and the guy next to me looked like death warmed over….looked and smelled as though he had not had a bath in a week (maybe why the seat was open?), looking at him it appeared he had been in a fight or car wreck, he had black eyes and bruising on his arms. He even had what appeared to be a hospital bracelet on. The locals knew him…he lost a pot to me and tried to pull back his last calling chips and got caught trying to cheat me…..perhaps he’s done that before and that’s why he looks like he got his face thumped on?
We went to our “Have to go to lunch at least once” restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi at Paris. They serve the best Lobster roll and a fabulous prime rib dip sandwich…both have to be experienced to get the full effect. We sit on the front deck in the shade and eat as we watch the tourists go by and the marketers hawk their particular scam. It’s fun to watch them both. This town is a constant source of entertainment for R.P. and I. We enjoy watching all that is going on. We guess at the tourists occupations and their relationships. We chat up complete strangers at the poker table or even the dinner table next to us.
A personal rant on time share salesmanship…..
I get that they need to get you to go to their presentation and all, but seriously, do not badger me. They get paid on commission for getting warm bodies in chairs at the “short presentation”. They are like locusts, constantly buzzing in the background, waiting to swarm the fresh crop of tourists each hour. My standard answer to them is either “no thanks”, or “I’m local”. They are easily recognizable by the two standard opening statements “how long are you in town” and “would you like to see a free show”. Most a benign and can be ignored but last year I actually had one walk up in front of me and put his hands up to stop me. I rebuffed him pretty hard (R.P. always says it’s strange when I go “all cop” on someone). He almost got himself hurt. Anyway, enough on that……
On being “local:
R.P. and I have spent enough time in this area that we think of ourselves as “semi-local”. We know where the best places to eat are (not just the most expensive or advertised), many of which have become famous from television. We almost always drive down and even when we fly we get a car so we can get around without having to use the taxi system. We almost always stay in a condo as opposed to one of the big casinos so we can get away from the hustle. We lay in groceries, relax and have coffee till late in the morning, and then decide where we want to go and what we are going to do for the day. No rush to have to go to a restaurant for breakfast, no need to go to the lobby for coffee. Having a car allows us to get out and do the local things like going to Red Rock, The Springs or valley of fire.
