Vegas stories, part five

It Rained

Tuesday morning, I called a friend that was staying in another
room at the hotel. "It rained this morning" she said.
"Oh" I replied.

Going down into the casino several employees looked at me
over the course of the day and remarked, "Did you notice
it rained this morning?"
"Oh" I replied.

Visiting another friend that night, her husband remarked
that it had rained that morning.

Three days later having lunch with some other people, all
of them commented on the fact that it rained Tuesday morning.

Living in Missouri it's just something I take for granted,
all the moisture. I had forgotten what a big deal a little
rain is (officially 1/100 of an inch) in the desert.

Vegas stories, part four

In Business

Several times while in Vegas and surrounding areas
I was approached by people, dollar in their hand,
to sell them a cigarette. Each time I told them
to keep their dollar, but they insisted. Considering
the low tax I pay for my cigarettes in my state a
buck would actually buy me ten cigarettes. I'm sure
in someone's eyes (the state or the feds) the cigarette
for a buck transaction was illegal. As I've told my
husband on numerous occasions, there are so many laws
anymore I probably break ten of them unknowingly
before I get out of bed each morning.

Vegas stories, part three

The Door

When I got my room at the Excalibur, I was later than the rest,
as it wasn't ready earlier. I had left my luggage in a friend's
room. So after I got checked in, I went straight to my room.
Tried the door with both keys - nope. Straight down the hall,
there was a security guard. Went and told him I was unable to get
into my room.
He came with me and watched my earnest attempts before taking
one of the keys and opening it right up. 'Thanks' I told him.

Went and retrieved my luggage from the friend's room and went
back with it to my room. Got out my keys, tried the door again
and again, and nope. Started mumbling under my breath.

A couple of guys that worked there were walking by.
"Are you sure you have the right room?" One of them asked.
"Yep" was my reply, without looking up.
One of them came over, took the key, and opened the door right
up.
Ugh.

Friend and I went out - we went to In and Out Burger, Wal-Mart
and Target (for snackies and stuff). I told her we needed
to stop at my room first so she could open my door for me, LOL.
Thankfully I was able to get the door open then and didn't
have too much of a problem the rest of the week.

Vegas stories, part two

Valet Guy - What Are the Odds?

Saturday night, my last night in Vegas, I was going to be alone
for the first time on the trip. Didn't bother me in the least but
I was delighted when a friend called and told me they were on their
way to spend a few hours with me on my last night there.

For those that don't know, Vegas on a weekend can get kind of crazy.
The parking lots get full and you need a room key to get your
car parked. My friend wanted me to meet them as they drove up so
we could present my room key to get the car parked. No problem, I say.
Ha!
Waiting on them near valet, which was backed up several cars deep,
they called and said they missed the turn and would be there shortly.
So I waited and watched.

A valet guy noticed me and asked if he could help me.
"Nope just waiting for friends" I said. He then asked me about my shirt,
a Bakersfield baseball t-shirt, and we talked awhile about that.
Hehe.
There were at least ten to 15 guys working valet that night.

So valet guy left, and I finally saw the friends drive in. I went
over and got in their car as they were in the wrong lane, and we
went around again.

Pulled up to valet, friend has room key in hand, and
GUESS FREAKIN WHAT?
SAME VALET GUY that was talking to me earlier. He says,
"Hey I remember you - I was talking to you and you said you were
waiting on friends."
We told him we changed our minds about going out.
I told him friend can't drive for shit.

Valet guy laughed and parked the car.
What are the odds of that happening? To get the same guy?
Mama mia.

Vegas stories part one

I brought back many stories from Vegas, but let's start
with the ride home.

3:30am Sunday, September 12th, I took my suitcases to the
front of Excalibur and hailed a cab. Climbed in with the
cab driver and told him, "Airport the fastest way please."
He asked me, "Do you know the fastest way?" I replied that
I was familiar with the area and yes, but offered nothing
more than that.

So on the way to the airport cab driver tells me he is
from Indonesia, and I am his very first fare EVER. Wow.

Driving along on Tropicana, we suddenly encounter police
cars with at least 3 blocks of the road closed due to
an accident or something. Cab driver curses under his
breath. He makes a turn around and goes up a side road
to bypass those blocks. When he gets on the detour, a
residential street, he floors it. I'm not sure what the
speed limit is supposed to be but I'm pretty sure it wasn't
as fast as we were traveling! Get to the airport, he
drops me and my luggage at the door. I give him a good
tip as I am his very first fare. Yes I wondered if he told
all his passengers this, but oh well. He'll remember me.

Checking in was uneventful. Made my way to security.
Security.
I was patted down in security.
O-kay. I really don't care at 4:15am.

Get to my gate somewhere around 4:45. How did I do this
so quickly? Oh yeah the cab driver :) Okay plane leaves
at 6:30, that leaves snooze time.

EXCEPT for the Allegiant gate employee. Little Miss Chipper.
She arrives, coffee in hand, saying a loud boisterous 'Good
Morning' to everyone she passes. I hate morning people!
Then she starts announcing everything about the flight - and it
isn't even 5am yet. By 5am I knew how long the flight lasts,
who the pilots were, how much potato chips sell for on the
flight, and much much more.

FINALLY we board.
Found my seat, buckled my seatbelt, and settled in for a
snooze. Oh wait. Miss Pissed Off gets on the plane and
wouldn't you know it - her seat is directly in front of
mine. She starts off bitching to her poor husband how
someone else's suitcase is in her assigned luggage bin.
She sits down and it's just yip yip yip for awhile.

Then the pilot announces we have a mechanical problem and would
be delayed. Seems there was no water pressure in the bathroom
sink. 5 minute delay he says. Right I say. Sigh. 15 minutes
later the mechanical people decide they don't know what's wrong
and need to just drain the tank and put wet wipes in the bathroom.
5 more minutes they say.

We take off over 1/2 hour late.
'Not a problem' the pilot says. We'll make it up in the air.
Okay time for that snooze.

Halfway through the flight, I'm guessing somewhere over Kansas,
Miss Pissed Off starts yelling for help. Seems another man in
her row was having a reaction of some sort. Flight attendants
come, pilot comes. I thought for sure we'd be landing in Kansas
so he may get medical attention but he fortunately was okay.

We arrive at the intended destination about 20 minutes late, but
otherwise alive.

74's

*I have nothing to blog about so am ripping off quizzes from other
people's Facebook accounts and am replacing the questions with
my own answers.*
Molly

74 ?'s...

1. Elaborate on your default picture?
Ah just pictures of me enjoying myself.

2. What's your current relationship status?
Married

3. Ever have a near-death experience?
I guess you'd call it that, a very bad
car accident.

4. Name an obvious quality you have.
Integrity

5. What's the name of the song that's stuck in your head right now?
The Things We Do For Love

6. Name of a celebrity that you would marry?
Oh wow - I don't know.

7. Who will cut and paste this first?
IDK

8. Has anyone ever said you look like a celebrity?
No

9. Do you wear a watch? What kind?
Not usually.

10. Do you have anything pierced?
No

11. Do you like pain?
Yeah right.

12. Do you like to shop?
NO

13. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
Groceries at the store.

14. What is your favorite lamp that you own?
Who in the hell has a favorite lamp?

15. How many TVs are in your house?
5

16. What is on your desktop background?
A pond in a canyon in the mountains, somewhere
in Colorado or NM.

17. What is the background on your cell phone?
Background on my cell phone? I don't know.

18. What was the last movie you watched in a theater?
ROFL

19. What was the last book you read?
LOL

20. Do you talk in your sleep?
Don't think so.

21. Ocean or pool?
Ocean

22. Did you ever have a party that was busted by the cops?
No

23. Current Crush?
I've sworn off crushes

24. What's your favorite color(s)?
Purple

25. Window seat or aisle seat?
Window, I sleep with my head on the window
and the blind pulled.

26. Ever met anyone famous?
Several people - Katharine Ross, Sam Elliott, Buck
Taylor, many politicians, the current NRA prez, several
more.

27. Do you feel that you've had a truly successful life?
It depends on how one defines success doesn't it?
Yeah I've done well.

28. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?
Cut it

29. Ricki Lake or Oprah Winfrey?
YUCK

30. Baseball or Football?
baseball

31. How long do your showers last?
ten to fifteen minutes

32. Do you know how to drive a stick?
Yes

33. Cake or ice cream?
Ice Cream

34. Are you self-conscious?
At times

35. Have you ever given money to a homeless person?
Yes

36. Have you been in love?
Yes

37. What is your favorite part of the Day/Night?


38. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?
Unfortunately several times

39. Can you tango?
No

40. Last gift you received?
Flowers I think

41. Last sport you played?
I dunno

42. What would you like to spend a lot of time doing?
Computering (oh wait, I already do)

43. Last wedding attended?
hmmm

44. Favorite FAST food restaurant?
YUCK

45. Most hated food?
HOT DOGS

46. Can you sing?
HELL NO

47. Last person that called you?
Well the phone rang today, think I can
remember who all called??

48. What's your least favorite chore?
Cleaning bathrooms

49. Favorite drink?
Coke

50. Have you been on a cruise?
No

51. Are you a vegetarian?
No

52. Do you believe in Heaven?
I think we all have a definition of
our version of heaven. If you mean
we all sit on a cloud playing harps then
no I don't believe in that.

53. Favorite show?


54. What jewelry do you wear?
Not a lot

55. Are you eating right now?
NO

56. Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
Yes

57. Do you make commitments?
As in - yes I have and do

58. Can you dance?
Not that badly

59. Would you ever have plastic surgery?
Depends

60. What do you wear to bed?
Sweats and t-shirt

61. Have you ever done anything illegal?
Yes and I had fun!!

62. Can you roll your tongue?
No

63. What kind of shoes are you wearing?
flip flop slippers

64. What is your hair color?
brown

65. Future child's name?


66. Do you snore?
Sometimes when I'm really tired out

67. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Mountains

68. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?
NO

69. If you won the lottery, what would you do first?
Move somewhere

70. Gold or silver?
Gold

71. If you could be with someone for the rest of your life, who would it
be?
Who I am with now

72. City, beach or country?
Country

73. What was the last thing you touched?
A glass

74. Where did you eat out last?
Chinese tonite

Mean dogs

I've never met one. Seriously.
And I've met an awful lot of dogs.

I believe it's your attitude in most cases
(this does not apply to some situations).

Dog stories - I've come home to a pack of dogs
in my yard. People in the country have this need
(or laziness) to let them run free. I chase
them off. They run, but inevitably there is always
one hanging back, defying me. I go after
him - walking towards him, challenging him,
then yelling "GET OUTTA HERE". He takes off
every time. He's not on his property and he
knows it, and sees me as the alpha of the house.

My favorite 'mean' dog story:
There was this racetrack in New Mexico. It went
under and my husband was hired to get everything
ready for auction. The caretaker had a guard
dog that roamed the property at night, and
sometimes he forgot to tie him up during the day.
I heard stories from bankers and others how
this dog was mean and would eat your tires if
he was loose when you drove up.

I went to the racetrack the day before auction
to film it, it was rich in history. As I was
roaming around the property with my camcorder,
I turned a corner. There was a dog, cautiously
watching me. He didn't wag his tail, he didn't
bark, no growl, nothing. Just quietly watching.
On camera you can hear me say 'uh oh'. I was
sure this was the dog and I was about to be his
lunch. I thought my last moments will at least
be captured on film. I filmed the dog, and
commented that this apparently was the guard dog
I had heard so much about, and the caretaker had
forgotten to tie him up. Welp, nice knowing ya
people.

But as I turned to walk away and looked back, the
dog was still sitting there, watching me. I
tapped my thigh and said, "Well, come on if you're
coming." His tail gave a little wag and he came
running up behind me. We walked all over the place
and he was always at my side. A bit later, a
banker and another person pulled up in a car, the
dog went nuts trying to eat the car. They wouldn't
get out of the car. I went up to the car and
made the comment, "Is this THE dog?" They nodded
yes, looked very embarrassed since I was standing
there next to him, and got out. I told the dog
to settle down. We became fast friends I guess at
that point and he turned and jumped up on me, his
mouth inches away from my face. THAT made me
a WEE bit uncomfortable and I told him to get down.
He worshiped me after that, I guess seeing me
as his alpha. Later the caretaker came and we
talked a while about the dog. The caretaker told
me stories of other animals trying to get into the
property and the dog killing them. I believed it
after seeing the way he attacked a car.

With bears it is important to try to make yourself
bigger than the bear and act like you're not ready
to pee your pants. I guess it's the same with dogs.
If you act afraid, they do know it and will take
advantage of the situation. Let the dog know you
are in control but you are not going to challenge,
and if you are on his property respect that. Of
course never try to outrun a dog, instead once
you have established contact then try to back away
or walk away slowly in a non challenging way.