In anticipation of the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day/Blogasm in Las Vegas, I thought I’d do a Thursday 13 about Vegas.

1. Downtown. We always go one night, and spend a couple of hours drinking and gambling in the old spots. Lots of neon, lots of people watching, the Fremont Street experience. It’s fun and should not be missed.

2. The Bellagio Fountains. Even better if you can snag an outdoor table at Mon Ami Gabi across the street.

3. The shopping. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s fun to walk in the designer shops with a huge buzz, finger the expensive designer clothes and let the salespeople roll their eyes at you.

4. The Strip. I divide it into two halfs at the four corners of Bellagio, Bally’s, Caesar’s and that scumbag hotel (the Barbary Coast??which apparently has changed its name to Bill’s) on the other corner. Wake up early one morning, and walk the entire thing. Visit all the casinos and throw a dollar into a slot machine at each of the casinos.

5. Card slappers. Last time I tried to get some pictures taken with a few of the slappers. They all refused. Think it had anything to do with their illegal status?

6. The flamingos and African penguins at the Flamingo. They’re just too cute to pass up. I also like walking around the Flamingo, and looking at pictures of the famous guests from back in the day.

7. The Wax Museum at the Venetian. Don’t waste your money visiting it, but stop by the front and have your picture taken with one of the guys/gals outside.

8. The White Tigers and the Dolphin Habitat. See them at Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden at the Mirage.

9. Hooker watching. Sit at one of the smaller casino bars, and try to figure out who’s working.

10. A Buffet – You have to go to at least one good one. Planet Hollywood’s Spice Market and the Bellagio are great. No one says you have to eat like a maniac.

11. The Palms – Just because it’s on television all the time. Worth a quick cab ride to check it out the swimming pools that cantilever off the suites.  Plus the slots are loose.

12. Fireside Lounge – I’ve never been, but it’s on my list. We’re THERE!

13. A martini at Gallagher’s in NYNY. A few seats at the bar and bartenders that will make up a drink based on the liquor and flavors you like.

I’m not usually a fan of comic book type movies, but I am a fan of Robert Downey, Jr.  Based on the trailer, this film was perfectly cast. 

I love the myspace/gang sign reference.

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Whenever we go to Vegas we have to play the Star Wars game and call Ethan while we’re playing. This one’s in the Monte Carlo. Gosh knows, I hope we’ll be able to play it this go ’round. Ethan would be so disappointed if we didn’t play that five dollar bill for him. I don’t think I’ve ever won on it, but it’s a Vegas tradition for us.

For the past 38 minutes, I have watched as a squirrel has climbed down a pine tree, only to return back up the pine tree with…now get this, a pine cone!  Down, up, down, up, down, up.  Why in anyone’s name didn’t the squirrel harvest the pine cones for whatever purpose he’s configured the week before the damn things fell?  He obviously has a purpose for them, because the entire process has not stopped for what is now over 40 minutes.  Had he done a little pre-planning, the pine cones would either have already been used for building a nest, or stored in the already built nest ready for eating.  Not being a squirrel expert, I am not all that familiar with the eating or lodging habits of the squirrel population.  One thing is for certain, squirrels and I have a lot more in common than I ever thought.  The damn beasts are total procrastinating slackers.  Who would have ever thought that one day I’d be comparing myself to a squirrel!  Of all animals, for Buddha’s sake!  The rats of the woodland.  The rodents of the tree tops.  And for the record, now he’s going up the tree with a bunch of fallen oak and maple leaves.  So, does this mean he is a she, and I’m going to have a bunch of baby squirrel running around on my deck in a few days/weeks/months?  Again, not being a squirrel expert, I know nothing about the fertility/pregnancy/childbirth of squirrels.

During my oh-so-important squirrel watching, I have been baking cookies for tomorrow’s gargantuan half birthday celebration.  Oh yes, Ethan is turning 6 1/2!  And since he has a summer birthday, it is customary to celebrate with your school mates on your half birthday.  I’m bringing cookies, and the baking has just begun.  First batch.  Done.  Oatmeal Molasses Chocolate Chip.  And holy smack if they are not the best freakin’ cookies I have tasted in ages.  Of course, that may very well be because it’s been long before Christmas since I’ve tasted a cookie.   Either way, they are worth the calories.  And since, they’ll be out of my house by tomorrow morning, there will be absolutely no temptation to eat the entire four dozen, although I am sure I will have to hide them from Adam tonight.  He would have no problem eating them, and leaving $40 and a note telling me to stop by Dunkin’ Donuts on my way to school in the morning.

And the squirrel continues on with his mission.

Whenever I go to Vegas I always plan to stop by this place for some 70′s styles lounging and cocktails. I want to sit at the firepool, and sip tropical drinks while listening to lounge style music.Anyone want to join me?

Thought I’d share reviews from some of my favorite travel review sites:
Trip Advisor
New York Times
Yelp

Last night, more like early this morning, I had another episode of sleeplessness and luckily something I wanted to watch was on television.  I love everything Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes have ever done, so getting to watch Clerks 2, alone and during the middle of the night was a special treat.  I lust after Jason Mewes.  Not sure why, since he’s a foul mouthed, heroin addict, but damn if he isn’t a cutie.

Nothing is funnier than Jason Mewes doing the Buffalo Bill Dance.  I laugh my ass off every single time I see this. 

Since the first season of VH-1′s Rock of Love, I have been questioning the hair condition of Poison’s Brett Michaels. Having never been a Posion fan, I’m not sure if the bandana and cowboy hat are new for Brett Michaels or something he’s always sported.I didn’t start watching Rock of Love until the very end of the first season. Big fan of trash reality that I am, for some reason this one didn’t intially catch my attention. Probably because I consider aging hair banders to be douchebags. But after one episode I was hooked, and was thankful that VH-1 loves nothing more than a good rerun marathon. What a way to spend a day inside! Douchebag or not, Brett Michaels and a bevy of dirty strippers make for very interesting television.Of course, there are two things you look at when you’re watching the show. Brett’s headbands and his package. His headbands are about 8 inches wide, and his package appears to be an entire 8 inches of chubby girth packed into some faded jeans. As for the length, I bet it ranks right up there with Tommy Lee. Of course, his package could be as big a farce as the hair.  Who am I to say it’s not padding I’m looking at?  Between gazing at his two heads, I also take time to look at the trash that’s trying to win his affection. The pouty fish lips, the damaged bleached hair and the cleavage spilling out of tops five sizes too small. Again, this show has all the elements of quality television. I am proud to call myself a regular viewer of Rock of Love 2, which has just finished its second excellent episode. If you haven’t yet been lured in, then start watching.

Now that you’ve got an idea of what’s in store, back to the question of the decade. Is Brett thinning under that headband?  Does the hairband keep covering more of his head to hide the thinning of his blonde tresses? It’s really hard to tell because he’s never seen without that damn thing on his head, and believe me, I have searched the internet for photos.Watching the show, you can’t help but wonder if he wears the headband to bed. You would think that one of the tramps would expose him when they are kicked off the show, wouldn’t you? And these tramps do sleep with him! It’s very obvious that they have no problem crawling into bed with him the minute another tramp rolls out. Yes, this show is that disgustingly delicious.

If anyone out there knows the truth about Brett’s hair, I will be forever indebted to you, as all my thoughts are currently consumed by Brett’s hair. For the rest of you, what is your opinion?

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We didn’t get the snow we were so hoping for last night, and we told Ethan we would drive to snow if there was any close enough, but that didn’t happen either. Since those plans didn’t work out, we decided to do something that used to be a Sunday tradition for us when Ethan was much younger, and a much earlier riser.

Once everyone was up and ready to go, we headed out for Sunday breakfast brunch at one of the local pancake houses and followed it up with a trip to the boardwalk. Big mistake! We drove down Atlantic, and parked at the Rudee Inlet Loop, got out and proceeded to freeze our tushies off. Cold doesn’t even begin to describe it. Wind ripping off the ocean, coupled with a temperature in the 20s and we couldn’t feel our faces.  Troopers that we are, we kept walking. But only long enough to chase a few seagulls, and look like absolute fools, since we were all improperly dressed for such a cold, cold day.

Despite the cold, we did realize just how much we missed breakfast out on Sunday.  Definitely a tradition we need to start back up.

This is it! The snow we we’ve been waiting for! For hours and hours. Well, I guess the one snowball fight was as good as it gets.