A Vacation from my Time Off

You know what I don’t understand?  Bathroom attendants.  I mean really, why does there need to be a guy in a tuxedo in the bathroom, opening the door, directing me to a urinal, and holding a towel out to me after I wash my hands?  I’m capable of doing all of these things easily on my own.  The point of these people is completely lost on me.  And no, I didn’t tip him.

I encountered this bathroom attendant at a restaurant in Las Vegas over the past week.  Not even an upscale place either, just a small place on the strip near New York New York.  Really good food though, to be sure.

I was in Las Vegas for a couple of reasons.  One, a friend from back home in Ohio and her husband were out having a time-away-from-the-kids trip, and she asked me if I wanted to come down and see her, since it’s been a while.  Two, I used the trip for a change of scenery for my photography, since I’m sure people are getting tired of my trees and mountains, and three, I just wanted a break from the dullness of my life since becoming occupationally challenged last January.

I admit, I love Las Vegas.  It’s a bonus that I live close enough to drive the distance.  It’s a bit far, right at six hours, but in all honesty it’s not a bad drive.  Interstate the entire way, and desert for a good 99% of the drive, so although there’s not much scenery, at least traffic and speed limits aren’t much of an issue.  I rented a car, since my poor aging Ford Taurus has her long trips days behind her, and the car I got had satellite radio, so after coming across a station that was nothing but hair band rock from the 80s and 90s all of my driving entertainment was settled right off the bat.  Singing along to Warrant and Winger and Whitesnake and Ratt and Skid Row and Scorpions and Honeymoon Suite and Motley Crue and Dokken and Queensryche and Damn Yankees, etc. made the time fly right by.  I suppose I could have taken a plane, but I’d have needed a car when I got there anyway, so I decided to make the drive.  It was relaxing in a sense. 

I stayed at the lovely Hooters hotel and casino.  I’m kidding about the lovely part, but then I’m not picky about hotels at all.  Give me a bed and a shower and I’m happy.  Besides, when you’re in Vegas, you don’t spend time in your room anyway.  At $20 a night, I couldn’t complain about the price, and Hooters is only a half-block off the strip.  Not a bad place at all, and I’ll definitely stay there again.

As for gambling, well… I’m not a very good gambler, so I don’t really even bother.  I played penny slots.  Lost about $20 I think all together, so it wasn’t a big deal.  I’m just not lucky in that sense, and I’m smart enough to know it, so I don’t gamble.  Like I said, no big deal.

I do love the food though, and if there’s one thing Las Vegas has in abundance, it’s traffic, hookers, washed-up entertainers, Mexicans promoting call girls, Asians taking pictures of absolutely everything in sight, fountains, construction, scams, time-shares, old people good food.  My diet definitely went by the wayside over this past week, and I’m gonna have to be good again for a couple weeks to make up for it, but it’s worth it.  Food is essential to the Vegas experience.

So I got a much-needed recharge, got to see some friends I haven’t seen in a long while, and had a really good week.  Unfortunately, I’m not happy with any of the pictures I took, but that just means I’ll need to go back, right?  The point is I needed a little lift to my spirits, and I’m glad I decided to go.  I’m glad my friends invited me down, and I’m glad for the opportunities I have in my life. 

Viva Las Vegas.