Old news? I'm sure you're used to it by now.
So, we went to Las Vegas. This would be the 3rd time since we've known each other that we've gone together. The first time was for my cousin, Amy-Lou's wedding back in 1994. Let's just say, there was a wooden chapel, an approximate 5 minute ceremony (in which I of course cried), a lot of champagne, some finger sandwiches, a car ride in the Rio Parking lot, pee on his pants, a lost pearl necklace, 3 hours of sleep over a course of 3 days and a long drive home. The best weekend ever.
The second time was just a few years ago we drug our old butts there for a spontaneous over-nighter for New Year's Eve. It really seemed like a good idea when we came up with it. We left at 4am, were checked into the hotel by 11am, and ready for a rousing night on the strip by 5pm. The only problem was our hotel was not on the strip and this is a tip for all of you ever considering going to Vegas for New Year's; DON'T DO THAT. Unless you're going to get a hotel room right ON the strip, it's not a good idea to even go there. You see, they close down the strip to all vehicles at 5pm. No cars in, no cars out. Luckily we figured out a way to get to where the action was via a cab on the outskirts, and then only had a short walk to get to so called action. We did have a fun night. All TRENTI-MILLION of us. Just us and a few GA-Zillion of our closest friends. Woo Hoo, 2010..! UGH. Once we rang in the new year, the nightmare began. Long story short, no cars in, no cars out, remember? There were so many people roaming the streets and sidewalks that we couldn't get to our "short little walk" to where the cab had dropped us off earlier, so we started walking south towards our hotel. OFF THE STRIP. We walked and walked and walked. 3.5 miles later we had reached a spot where we could catch a cab that took us all of 300 yards to our hotel. At 3am in the morning after being up since 3am the previous day, and just walking all that way, I'm telling you that was the best cab ride of my life. (Well, minus that hilarious cab ride once in Boston when Mark wore his Bill Clinton mask and stuck his head out the window while yelling, "Yeah, I tried marijuana once and I INHALED..." but we'll save that for another time!) Long storylonger short; I won't ever do that again. Oh sure, I'll go to Vegas on New Year's, but I'll make reservations way ahead of time and I'll step up and pay for a nice little hotel ON THE STRIP. Oh and I'll fly there like the rich people do.
This time, we had the pleasure of staying at a Time Share (thanks Manheim) and it was very nice. TL went over a day before I got there and handled some work stuff and then I got to fly in to begin our weekend!! We stayed pretty low key actually, but we still had a great time. Our big event was attending the Eagles concert on Saturday night at the MGM Grand. It was amazing. I've been a long time fan of the Eagles ever since I was in attendance of their now very famous "Long Night at Wrong Beach" last concert before their breakup. That was my very first concert I'd been to, and after it, I was hooked. It was the summer of 1980, I'd just gotten my driver license 25 days earlier and I remember packing up my mom's 1977 Silver Vega, with 4 of my friends and up to Long Beach we went. WTF mom..? Anyway... I don't really remember much about that night 33 years ago, and I especially had no idea they were fighting that night and on the verge of a breakup, but I knew I'd be a life long lover of all things Eagles. I like them all, but Joe Walsh has always been my favorite. His attitude, personal story, love affair with Stevie Nicks and immediately identifiable singing voice has always attracted me. Love him. This time seeing them, I can't explain it, but let's just say I was in heaven. Their music is so familiar, so rich in my history and listening to them live is the best way to go. I felt much of the night like I was literally transported back to my youth, I could see my high school friends right there with me, I could hear them all singing along with me and I felt them all dancing around me... Best Concert Ever.
So, we went to Las Vegas. This would be the 3rd time since we've known each other that we've gone together. The first time was for my cousin, Amy-Lou's wedding back in 1994. Let's just say, there was a wooden chapel, an approximate 5 minute ceremony (in which I of course cried), a lot of champagne, some finger sandwiches, a car ride in the Rio Parking lot, pee on his pants, a lost pearl necklace, 3 hours of sleep over a course of 3 days and a long drive home. The best weekend ever.
The second time was just a few years ago we drug our old butts there for a spontaneous over-nighter for New Year's Eve. It really seemed like a good idea when we came up with it. We left at 4am, were checked into the hotel by 11am, and ready for a rousing night on the strip by 5pm. The only problem was our hotel was not on the strip and this is a tip for all of you ever considering going to Vegas for New Year's; DON'T DO THAT. Unless you're going to get a hotel room right ON the strip, it's not a good idea to even go there. You see, they close down the strip to all vehicles at 5pm. No cars in, no cars out. Luckily we figured out a way to get to where the action was via a cab on the outskirts, and then only had a short walk to get to so called action. We did have a fun night. All TRENTI-MILLION of us. Just us and a few GA-Zillion of our closest friends. Woo Hoo, 2010..! UGH. Once we rang in the new year, the nightmare began. Long story short, no cars in, no cars out, remember? There were so many people roaming the streets and sidewalks that we couldn't get to our "short little walk" to where the cab had dropped us off earlier, so we started walking south towards our hotel. OFF THE STRIP. We walked and walked and walked. 3.5 miles later we had reached a spot where we could catch a cab that took us all of 300 yards to our hotel. At 3am in the morning after being up since 3am the previous day, and just walking all that way, I'm telling you that was the best cab ride of my life. (Well, minus that hilarious cab ride once in Boston when Mark wore his Bill Clinton mask and stuck his head out the window while yelling, "Yeah, I tried marijuana once and I INHALED..." but we'll save that for another time!) Long story
This time, we had the pleasure of staying at a Time Share (thanks Manheim) and it was very nice. TL went over a day before I got there and handled some work stuff and then I got to fly in to begin our weekend!! We stayed pretty low key actually, but we still had a great time. Our big event was attending the Eagles concert on Saturday night at the MGM Grand. It was amazing. I've been a long time fan of the Eagles ever since I was in attendance of their now very famous "Long Night at Wrong Beach" last concert before their breakup. That was my very first concert I'd been to, and after it, I was hooked. It was the summer of 1980, I'd just gotten my driver license 25 days earlier and I remember packing up my mom's 1977 Silver Vega, with 4 of my friends and up to Long Beach we went. WTF mom..? Anyway... I don't really remember much about that night 33 years ago, and I especially had no idea they were fighting that night and on the verge of a breakup, but I knew I'd be a life long lover of all things Eagles. I like them all, but Joe Walsh has always been my favorite. His attitude, personal story, love affair with Stevie Nicks and immediately identifiable singing voice has always attracted me. Love him. This time seeing them, I can't explain it, but let's just say I was in heaven. Their music is so familiar, so rich in my history and listening to them live is the best way to go. I felt much of the night like I was literally transported back to my youth, I could see my high school friends right there with me, I could hear them all singing along with me and I felt them all dancing around me... Best Concert Ever.
