Las Vegas - Arrival
I arrived in Las Vegas mid Sunday, and took a brief respite before continuing my grueling preparations for the conference session I am running this Thursday. So I hopped on a bus, and headed off into the desert.Nevada is a pretty beautiful state, in much the same way the Moon or Mars is. It is very barren, but the landscape is awesome. I even saw honest-to-god tumble weeds migrating down the valleys.
Yes I went out to the middle of the desert to engage in some dangerous and lung-destroying activities. I was inhaling fine red dust, sand, and exhaust - all while enjoying the comfort of my 4 wheel ATV.The tour group had about 16 of us running through various crags and valleys, being every mindful not to run over the prized and endangered "Desert Tortoise". You can net a $25,000 USD fine just by *intimidating* a desert tortoise. Don't do it.
They gave us 2 breaks to restore our fluids. Our throats were parched from the never ending supply of red dust and sand that flew into our nostrils and mouths. Thank god they supplied goggles, but if I had known better I would have used a bandana at the least. It was a little chilly, but a fleece "jumper" (to you Brits aka CAB) and gloves seemed sufficient. When we were done with the water we walked around a bit to explore.
I took advantage of that and seeked out a nearby outcropping of red stone to climb up on. No safety equipment, and the rock cleaved naturally with too much force... but I made it to the top. It was a good view, and it wasn't long before others wanted to usurp my precarious spot on the rock to get their own shot of glory.Nevertheless, I made it back - the night driving was exhilarating and my confidence on the ATV had grown so I was starting to take more risks - going off the path, darting between trees, and doing both the forbidden activities I has sworn not to do: "fishtailing" and "hot-dogging".
Actually I still don't understand what "hot-dogging" is.
So I leave you with the view from my hotel room - at the MGM Grand.
Labels: business trip
posted by Blight @ 2:57 AM
8 Comments:
Man, you're just living the good life, eh? Conferences, business trips, hockey games, ski trips.
Cool! Going to try your luck at the Blackjack tables?
Definitely! But only after I finish my work... I do my lab this Thursday. So maybe on Friday I'll have time to gamble a little bit.
Man, hookup all the free stuff. Free drinks, free playing cards, free meals.
And use the washroom at the Bellagio. Luxury...
Remember to get really pooched at the Blackjack table, so that you'll play better.
Acctually, last time I was in Vegas I won 190$ US and drank their bar dry. Score!
Have fun down there!! Don't lose too much. I drove through Vegas in the early 80's coming back home from LA. Stayed 2 hours, lost some money, left. It was night so didn't really see anything but lights.
Well I'm back and I still have my shirt(s).
I learned a valuable saying: "Leave while you're ahead, otherwise you'll leave with nothing."
I had to catch myself a couple times from chasing my losses etc.
I played roulette and a couple games of video blackjack - in the end I left ahead a little bit, then I spent my limit ($200) on some expensive food. I figured that I could have lost it all so I might as well get something for the money.
MMmmmmm, food. I think, honestly, if I had tonnes of disposable income, I'd spend a lot of it on expensive food. The few times that I've been out to an expensive restaurant (ie. Hardware Grill here in Edmonton), got some good wine, spend a couple hundred on a two person bill, I think I pretty much died from sensory overload.
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