Money Get AWAY You Get A Good Job With More Pay And You're Okay Money It's A Gas Grab That Cash With Both Hands And Make A Stash New Car Caviar Four Star Daydream I Think I'll Buy Me A Football Team Money Get Back I'm Alright Jack Keep Your Hands Off Of My Stack Money It's A Hit Don't Give Me That Goody Good BullSh********
Pink Floyd
Dark Side of the Moon 1973
THURSDAY:
I planned on having my act together by Wednesday Evening but plans are only ideas. This leads me to my scurrying around morning , last minute food prep , loading the ice chest , and then packing the car by 2:30pm.
Merged onto the I-70 West by 3:30pm and feeling so groovy. My mental check list was unable to find a single oversight or able to picture items that I left behind. Could I really be this on my game?? I mean we have ONLY been making this trip for over two decades now. MARCH MADNESS BABY
The Dude & I normally travel at day break and catch the sunrise somewhere in Utah. The Dude fulfilled his duties of obligations at work so we were trekking out for our first evening trip to Sin City. Dynamite
I was rather surprised by the lack of Spring Break travelers on the open road. I appreciated the sparsely flow of cars because the slow lane through Utah is radically torn up in a big way. Diving quickly into the fast lane avoiding potholes without traffic was a bonus. The winter weathering and big rigs with chains has chewed that slow lane up miserably. Potentially Dangerous Really
We only stopped once for gas in Beaver Utah which was just over the half way point. The air temp wasn't bad but the chilly desert winds were horrendously bone chilling. We grabbed one of my prerolled bean , melted cheese, and marinaded chicken burritos out of the cooler and continued driving on south without skipping a beat. Bliss
Our drive was beyond smooth , no issues , and one gorgeous sunset as the icing on top of a brilliantly covered day. I definitely enjoyed traveling this stretch of highway in pure darkness. Totally removes all the boringness out of the equation. I just held the wheel , watched for animals , allowed the car races to fly on by us , and then the light pollution of Vegas shined on like a homing beacon. One of our easiest 6 hour drives yet. Way Cool
FRIDAY:
We stayed with a husband and wife team that once claimed residency here in GJ back in the day. They are great folks and I had no idea how accommodating they would become. Rock Stars
Their home is located east of downtown and sits pleasantly nuzzled inside a gated community. Their lavish backyard is butted up to a golf course so almost no noise. Airplanes, well yes. But daily traffic, not at all. Vegas is an arid desert and the morning humidity off the fairway is a bonus while sipping a cup of morning joe.
Our host offered to show us around two older casinos near by and The Dude & I were so stoked he did. Old Sam's Town Casino was a hoot and that's were I was happy to post my dollars. Super simple sports book and very little smoke. Score
Absolutely no lines to wait in so betting was a piece of cake for sure. My only complaint, nothing the casino do about it, your only able to place halftime or odd bets on-line using an app. HorseSh*t !! I prefer to bet the over / under on the halftime score and typically do well with that strategy. Such As; when teams are playing at elevation, they usually come in under. Opening day was happening in Denver ( The Mile High City ) but I could not bet that halftime score. Drag
A tremendously whipping feature of the casino was this atrium in the middle of the hotel towers. Piped in jungle soundtrack kicked A$$ and all the water features drew a crowd. I found serenity while walking around this place after spending a visually stimulated morning in the sports book.
Sam's Town even offers up a 52 lane bowling alley in the basement of the hotel. And there were all kinds of folks bowling away. Couldn't wrap my mind around it because it never occurred to me that a hotel /casino would have bowling lanes available right then and there. Can U Comprehend
After I placed my $5 bets, that is right, five dollar bets, we boogied on. The tournament was full of upsets on that Wednesday before we departed from GJ. All of these college kids are big , fast , agile , and able to shoot from anywhere. My confidence was fairly low on Friday and I happily made small bets. Except for one. Bix then asked The Dude & I to wear these white shirts that he gave us. His profession is in advertising and he shoots these blank teeshirts and adds advertisements later on. We modeled with handyman tools , standing next to the engine of his car , and here is a photo of me with a basketball in my hand. Classic
ST PATTIES DAY:
After my brief modeling career wrapped up, Freemont street would be the next destination on our radar.
The Dude & I checked into our hotel room at the Downtowner Boutique just after the 3pm check in time. Check this out, the quad area had been transformed into a mini gold course and IT IS FREE. They removed that old cracking swimming pool and laid out a very creative course with blue Astroturf for the water features, white Astroturf representing sand traps, longer green turf for a rough, and proper green turf as a fairway and putting surface area. Way Cool
For those of you that have been following our March Madness Vegas Tours over the decades, you are well aware of our routine. The idea is that we change outfits every time we make a trip back to the room for a fresh cocktail.
It's a solid move as the envying stays fresh this way. Example being, a group dressed up as oompa loompas. Now at 10am, super fun. 1pm, little bit old. By 3pm, two of the gals were soup sandwiches. Around 6pm, even their outfits appeared a bit rough. And at 8pm, only two dudes remain standing. Total Sh*T Showing Of A Group Theme
Let the field trip begin. The wind off the desert floor was chilly. The temperature was ideal when wearing the wigs but the wind was down right freezing. So I was thankful I wore my pants under my skirt. Almost all of my outfits required a jacket in oder to keep from freezing while waiting on a band, an act, or simply moving freely about Freemont Street.
Our friend K drove down from GJ on St Patties and she was pretty stoked to hang with us. Her birthday was earlier that week and this would be her first visit to Vegas. She knew that The Dude & I have our act together and would look out for her. Which we did of course.
Definitely amazed by the amount of party goers and the police force was on full display. Apparently there were some issues leading up to St Patties so the force was pronounced and I am way cool with that. No belligerent drunks , no fights , and everyone was there to have a damn good time. And That We Did
Back in the room for grapes and elevating the feet. Another outfit change and a beautiful freshened up cocktail in hand. Here we come Freemont Street. We posed for a number of photos with random strangers and who knows how many photos I was actually in. Classic
The live bands were basically cover bands but those stage acts were something to witness live. All the aerialist were flipping about and slide of hand magic shows were highly entertaining. We always enjoy walking through the older casinos and check out the fading style of old tables and penny slot machines. Never played that night but worthy of a look see.
We escorted K over to the swimming pool at the Golden Nugget. That place is a must as there is a full on Shark aquarium in the middle of the pool. The Dude was a preferred member back in about 2003 - 2006 and the Nugget was the place to stay back then. Nothing like floating on your back in a swimming pool with sharks casually swimming right by ya with only a slab of glass separating us. Eerie
All the north to south streets Downtown were blocked off and stages were then erected for performers. The photo below was during a U2 Tribute Band's Set. High energy and loads of wacky humans mulling about. The common theme was partying on St Patricks Day. NCAA Tournament & St Patties Day Baby
The three of us obviously caught the last act of the evening at 2am. The Freemont Experience Light Show also ended with a 2am showing. Back to the room for chatter, setting up our coffee marker , and giggling away as our heads hit the pillow. Another top shelf St Patties Day was had. YES
SATURDAY:
Our meals over the weekend were ridiculously fabulous. The Dude & I brought two ice chest full of prepared homemade meals and our host family whipped out these tasty breakfast burritos for lunch. Excellent meal for after we checked out of our hotel and a perfect fit before we rolled over to Sam's Town Casino to collect some cash. The Host prepared those burritos and I hopped on doing the dishes. Well Oiled Kitchen
My two bets for this day were rowdy as I shied away from the tournament due to all the upsets. The girls NCAA Tournament was also happening and I saw a mediocre point spread between power house Villanova over Ohio Valley Tech. I had to place a $5 bet on that one. My other bet was Calgary Flames over Philadelphia Flyers. Easy Peasy
The Flyers are a complete Sh*t Show and a $5 spot sounded pretty legit. 2 zip Flames after the first period and I felt solid about the situation. Both teams scored a goal in the second period but I wasn't really paying attention. As I peaked back up at the board, 3-2 Flames with 3 minutes left. Sure as SH*T, The Flipping Flyers tied it up. Couldn't believe my eyes. So Pissed. Then, 42, because 42 is always the answer, 42 seconds into OT, The Flames rip a top shelf for the win 4-3 and I collected my $4.55 cash in hand. Another $4.55 after Villanova crushed the tech school. Phuc Yeah
If you remember , a few years back , our cousin resurfaced and The Dude & I drove down to Prescott AZ to reconnect. Well, she made the 4 hour drive over to see us this time. From Left To Right - Wendy , The Dude , & Bix
Our host family threw together two wonderful homemade veggie pizzas and we supplied marinaded robust chicken tenders for the BBQ. Which Bix barbecued to perfection. The Dude also made up an amazing sprouted bean salad to go with all the food that night. We ate like kings , shared stories / ideas , and pleasantly caught up with family dynamics and what nots. Very Cool
We eventually talked our host family into hitting the south to mid strip with us and another field trip ensued. They drove us to the new MGM Parking structure and that was a trip in itself. They lined the parking spaces with little LED Lights. A green light hovers over an empty space to park and a red light means no available spots. This eliminates useless driving up and down parking structures seeking out a place to park. Simply locate a green light and there ya go. Technology I Tell Ya
The Bellagio was mesmerizing!!! Check out these massive bubbles!! Fake but still so trippy. We caught a typical Bellagio water show for sure and I believe that I remember an Elton John tune during the show but I could be mistaken. I have some sweet LIVE FEATURE photos from the show. Well, at the time it was pretty sweet but the next day proved to be rather basic. In The Moment
I carried the backpack that was full of tasty Mutant IPA cans we brought along with us and one frozen gel pack. We sipped our cold brews while we walked from casino to casino and the people watching was off the hook during this particular Saturday Evening on the strip. And tons of laughter was had that night. The five of us walked, gawked , and laughed out load at whatever we wanted to.
I absolutely love the Flamingo and we trekked on over that way. The back side of the Flamingo provides a fascinating hangout area. What a great location to check out after the busy hustle and bustle of the strip. We gathered ourselves once again and with bells on my shoes I shuffled my tintinnabulation A$$ on down the strip. High Steppin
As we arrived back at the car, my Garmin reads 9.4 miles / 15.12 kms and The Dude registered 21,078 steps for a calculation of 9.68 miles / 15.44 kms. Now our friend says, " If you asked me to go on a 9 mile hike, I would have been like, YOU'RE CRAZY !!!"
SUNDAY:
Sunday was a bit of a slow start for sure. I woke up and literally had no idea what time it was. It was a whopping 7:15am and I headed towards the coffee maker. I scooped out some homemade yogurt from the cooler , added fresh fruit that The Dude brought along , and obviously added granola and nuts. We eased into the day and followed through with our previously discussed plan. Throwing Plastic
The drive across town wasn't all that bad as we drove from the east side of Vegas to the west side. I love this course and its layout. So Peaceful
This park was built in a flood wash and transformed into this wonderful walking path. There were dog walkers , moms pushing strollers , and us random disc golfing players. 18 baskets with proper tee pads and mostly mid range throws.
We both threw a stellar round and managed to NOT throw a disc in someones backyard. So That's Cool
Once again, the temp was doable but the breeze of a storm front worked my hands over. But our precise throws removed all those chilly vibes away. And I just happened to be a birdie machine which warms up the heart. After decades of playing this game of Disc Golf, playing courses around the world, my mechanics are finally in sync. My putts are accurate , my drives are controlled , and my vision for the lines are holding true without constantly second guessing myself. Not at all bragging here but happily finding my rhythm.
After we played, it was off to the Asian Markets to stock up on goodies. I mean, we had to because we were already on that side of town. Nice
Yes, you are reading this right. That is Pork Tongue and a very appetizing Pork Stomach. Fresh and ready for the Crockpot. Yikes
My biggest challenge these days are finding clean products. These Asian condiments and sauces all have MSG's added now. I wish they would steer away from that SH*T. 10 years ago, these markets sold clean products and I will never understand why they added all these chemicals that our bodies don't even recognize.
But what I did buy is half the cost and the candies are always well received. Meaning, I always purchase a few small bags of Ginger Chews to give to friend here around the Valley. We shopped around and filled our list and made our way back over to Sam's Town to catch the afternoon games.
Could have been the Oats , Wheat , And Barley talking but The Dude threw down a three team parlay bet. Was originally going to JUST BET ON Fairleigh Dix but morphed that into a three game ticket.
Guess what..... Fairleigh Dickson covered , UConn dominated , and Northwestern also covered the spread by one basket. $5 dollars quickly became $33. 70 !! Take That Marquette Golden Eagles
Now the Miami bet was a no brainer. Vegas opened up that line with Miami giving Indy 3.5 points. I Almost jumped on it because I knew that The Hurricanes should win but would definitely cover that spread. The line began to move and the next thing I knew , MAIMI was now given a point and half because Vegas thought Indy would win. So I stream rolled my belly full of brews up to the counter and dropped $25 on the game. That was the alcohol talking but it paid off as Miami abused Indy. Stoked
This was a banner day!! I threw well , cashed out some sweet winnings , and this would be the first time that I have ever been in Vegas for a rain storm. And Mother Nature Unleashed
We parked our car in backwards on the second floor and our view was overlooking this water shed canal. The water levels were rising with every trip out to the car for a new can. At one point, an entire cardboard home was rushing down the canal. The amount of trash floating by was shocking. Big City Living Sucks
But Damn Sam's Town Pays Out!! I bring this up because I have to air my one complaint from the whole trip. Vegas has removed all coins from the betting floor. That Is Right. No Coins Paying Out When Some Hits On A Slot Machine. Money is all transferred on a hotel card or a payout slip that the machine prints. It was kind of a drag not hearing a machine dropping a hundred bucks in nickels. And that would be my negative two cents after a splendid three days of excitement. Yahooo000
MONDAY:
We once again stumbled from our separate rooms and found our way over to that welcoming full coffee pot. Everyone get a big kick out of watching me set up the coffee marker before bed. But they sure enjoy having a fresh brewed pot with minimal efforts.
After we loaded up the car, we once again stopped off at Sam's Town to collect. Those little $5 dollar bets really add up quickly. Fueled up the automobile and started driving north towards the Air Force Base. We weren't quite sure what was up at the time as 50 to 100 men with BIG A$$ telephoto lens lined the side roads. I mean one guy had a holster style grip for his camera and the lens was a long as his thigh. Massive
After we passed by them, here comes the
Air Force Thunderbirds in a diamond formation with a tail of white smoke from each jet. Those jets have a very distinct bird painted on their bellies of those fighters. Talk about a stand out decal against the altocumulus. Now we get it with all the camera gear. Apparently the squadron was arriving in Vegas for an air show the following weekend. Got It
The car made it to Beaver Utah once again for fuel and we loaded up a wrap for our road lunch travels. Mother Nature turned blustery as another cold front moved across Utah.
We were very fortunate to have a tailwind but the roads quickly became dicy. I kept both hands on the wheel while The Dude played DJ. I don't mind conditions like these when I am the driver. My confidence in my abilities goes without question and all stereotypes of deadly episodes were never presented. Smooth Sailing
In the photo above, the fast lane is completely covered in slush and the slow lane was rather manageable at speed. There is something special about the desert after a good Spring Storm. The contour lines present themselves and the colors have a pop quality that you just have to experience for your self. Magical Really
Before we knew it, the 6+ hour drive was comes to an end. The full three day bender was nearing closure. Another very successful trip to Vegas was had.
The Dude & I even mentioned how our drive both there and back was eventful for sure but not a burden. Our travels to Vegas in the past always offered up the moments when we just wanna get there. Or we chat about another two hours of driving or popping off about ONLY passing through Green River. But this trip, it was just another drive. A Fantastic Drive
RATZ RAZE:
Hit the ground running and the reentry was rough!! Here is a week of photos wrapping up the month of MADness. And it is already the 9th of April ? What The Flock Of Seagulls
Somebody Hit The Lucky 7 Years Of Age And Scored Some Cold Hard Cash
The planet line up on the 28th and 29th of March was fascinating. The planetary alignment showcased five planets and THE MOON. Totally visible in an almost arc shape. Mercury , Venus , Mars , Juipter , And Uranus dominated the night scape. Love It
My game, unreal
An Old 1948 Willy's
Friday Night Bike Night Started Up Again On That Last Friday Of March & The Theme Was BIRTHDAY. Friday Friday Bike Night of April's theme was WOODY CREATURES and then it is over to the Mesa Theater to catch The Dead Floyd show. STELLAR SHOW
Above was our Birthday outfits and below was our Bunny / Bear Woody Creatures get up during Friday Night Bike Night
REPLACING A MOTHER BORAD - Like I knew what I was doing - But It Worked
Then Replacing Filters
A Little Snow Fell This Year Up On The Grand Mesa. Just A Splash
Tis The Windy Season As Those Pressure Gradients Are In Motion Once Again
Happen To Be Watching These Guys Again - They So Rock
And I leave you with my bracket. Once Again, I am not bragging here!! My bracket was awful but good enough for the win. Thank You UCONN. The popular picks in our pool were AZ , Zags , Bama , Kansas , And Kansas St. Me and two other predicted The Golden Eagles to win it all. So with 93 total points, 23 owners in the tournament pool , $10 buy in , check me out strutting my stuff. Boom Shakalaka
Stay Strong My Friends ,
Cheers
