Vegas Part Deux

Okay so that was a test...and you responded...and I laughed because who does that?--- "Everyone comment me?"?? Pppllease! As they would have said to me in the 1980s ---gag me with a spoon...
...so I will not ask anyone to do that again unless it is entirely for a good cause. Promise.

Las VEGAS
As I am sitting here trying to recount what we did on what day I am coming into a little blip in my memory bank. So those of you that were there feel free to correct and forgive for any erronerous re-telling or misrepresented dates and times.

On Saturday we all tiptoed into another hotel pool...at the Tropicana Hotel.
Some more fun was had...this time our whole group was able to sun and splash and lie in the shade of giant palm trees (which provide not so much shade)
But I have to say this, I heart palm trees.

What is it about them that makes you feel like you are really on vacation? I mean I could have a vacay at a garbage dump...and if there was a palm tree and a blue sky and I looked up (and plugged my nose) I would feel relaxed.
But I digress...

As usual we applied more SPF per capita than anyone else in a 1,000 yd perimeter. Hey, we're cancer survivors...what DO you expect? While everyone else lathered on the cooking oil and tried to fry their skin to a nice glowing bronzy crisp...our idea of fun (despite popular misconception) is not another biopsy...thank you very much.

Aside from the cute little colorful drinks...there was even more ways to help you spend your hard earned cash wet gambling.

I am not a gambler. I do not profess to be one.
I do not know when to hold them...
I do not know when to fold 'em...
I do not know when to walk away...

but hey, I do know when to run---a big grizzly bear, an armed intruder...a stale fruitcake bearing neighbor... trust me I'd probably know when to run.

But I could not resist the novelty of a swim-up blackjack table. I gave my friend Stefanie $20 to play blackjack so that I could see the process. It was thrilling when we won $5...but the rest we quickly lost. Subsequently the game after us was nearly ended by a rather intoxicated and splashing guy who completely hosed the deck of cards--and incited the wrath of the bikini clad dealer and her equally feisty manager. Good times...yeah...a good time to leave. Quit while you're ahead---and someone's getting yelled at.

Later that Saturday evening ....we had another nice dinner in and prepped for yet another night out on the strip. For our lively crew of Mak-A-Dream alums, getting ready to hit the town is almost as fun as hitting the town itself.



The taxi drop off point was the Hotel NEW YORK NEW YORK...where I wandered with friends from table to table looking for roulette...I just wanted to try but with a $20 minimum and cigar smoking men packed in with no hole for a bystander...I hesitated. I was intimidated. Gamblers are everywhere...serious gamblers...afterall this is the city to draw them.

Don't get me wrong...it's not to say that a dealer won't take the money of a naive Upstate New Yorker...but its the serious high rollers that bar (or at least dissuade) you piling on in.
Then it was on to the club Diablo...which had a roof top bar.

Live music- there was a singer who was doing her best Kelly Clarkson. But our group just ran around the roof like a bunch of kids let off a school fieldtrip bus at Six Flags on a sugar high.

There were scantily clad dancers on the roof and that was great fun for the boys.
But there was fun for the girls too. Namely the cops, who stood around that place with arms folded, looking like extras from Chips...but they cracked a smile when they saw our group.
Perhaps we don't look menacing, it was easy for them to see, I suppose.

They seemed friendly as they laughed openly at my own signature dance...which thankfully (that I know of) no one has on video-- but involves grabbing one leg at the ankle and jerking around convulsively (with some rhythm). That won them over and they uncrossed their arms posed for a photo. That is how you officially know you are a good egg...when cops pose for photos with you. Evidently Stef had the same idea and she happens to be a good egg too. They posed with her as well, but she's a little more legit with her own badge to flip out when necessary.

Robert, Jeff, Ansley and I split off from the crew to make our own entertainment near the Belagio. It was the last water show of the night and we didn't want to miss it. But after the show...we decided to do an impromtu performance near the fountain.... I can't recall which of his songs we sang---but I'm certain we would have made Neil Diamond proud. Had we thought of it we would have tossed down a cap for people to stuff dollar bills into...hey, gotta pay for our $5 water bottles somehow

We met many strangers who were kindred spirits, shall we say...and we had moments. In particular an exciting Bohemian Rhapsody sing-a-long on the escalator into Caesar's Palace that will probably go down in the books. A bunch of partying ladies ahead of us joined us as the rest of the crowded hotel looked on...Thunderbolt of lightning...very very frightening..... Now we do not have this on video either. Ya just had to be there.

And then my moment with the real Guitar Heroes....these performers who just cracked me up. The truth of the matter is these gentlemen were likely college guys who bought matching guitars on an impulse buy...but I can't resist people who can break it down.

A---ha...Hmmm? So I still haven't told the story about the infamous rap artist encounter...well I ran out of time. But I promise I will recount that on the final installment of this blog series...
and you won't have to comment...not unless you really want to...





:)

Vegas a go go!

Back by popular demand...another blog post...thanks to encouragment from my pal, Val!

Toward the end of 2008 the super amazing friends who I met last spring at Camp Mak-A-Dream decided it was time for a reunion.
I was so excited, but at the time my disappointment overcame me because I was certain with all my expenses this year and a trip that had already been booked to California... there was just no way I could do it.

However fate stepped in and on my return from California a bump was offered from United Airlines. I jumped at the chance for the round trip voucher they threw my way.

And so it was that on Memorial Day wknd I was on my way to see my pals...in Vegas baby!

There are many adventures to recount...
Take for instance sneaking into the Flamingo Hotel's pool and having a crazy game of volleyball in the pool. If the story ended there...well I'd end it there...but my friend Val got us the hook up. Somehow Val in her bathing beauty glory attracted the attention of a club promoter who just handed her tickets to an album release party at the Mirage's exclusive JET club for none other than recording artist Mike Jones.

Now mind you, I say none other...as if Mike and I were buds. For the sake of truth in blogging I will admit that I had no idea who Mike Jones was.

But no matter...we had free ladies passes to this event at the Mirage Hotel's totally off the hook club, Jet. We looked at the line in horror, but no our passes worked...and a little bit of the Cancer card, to again be truthful.

Hello? Ten Cancer survivors on vacation together ...Paris Hilton, you can wait yo damn turn.

Well, we weren't sure what would be coming the way of our guy friends as they came in with us. It would take some doing...(and yes our guy friends had to fork over $40 to get in) but we ladies were able to be fast-tracked "fo free"past all the waiting and obviously annoyed revelers in line for entrance. People actually sneered at us as we bipassed the line led by a very accomodating bouncer. The looks on the faces of the dressed to the nines without wearing much hoochies were more like "WHO ARE THEY?"

What awaited us inside was quite a scene...the likes of which this group of cancer survivors was really taking in in all its glory. I'll spare you the blow by blow details but...you can take a look at the pictures and see...it was fffffffffuuuuuun!

THIS video was taken prior to "jumping the rope" so to speak...you can see the anticipation was mounting...


So that was just Friday night folks...and you know the night life is what peiople actually go to Vegas for. But for us the meaning of the trip was not lost on the crazy Vegas strip. We rented a house in a quiet residential area just a few miles outside of the bright lights of Vegas.We were in business with a pool table, a fully stocked kitchen complete with a grill and hot tub out back. With wallet savvy friends who wanted to capitalize the most out of our time together we ate a lot of our meals at the house. In case your planning a trip with a large group of people to Vegas I would highly recommend this as a budget friendly option...




Okay, so I have your attention...FYI, it takes a while to write and compile these posts (and I'm a busy girl)....so if you wanna hear more about my trip to Vegas and an eye witness verified encounter with Lil Wayne you have to make it worth my while.

They say what happens stays in Vegas...but I'm willing to hedge a little and tell you the rest if you're tuned in. So if I get some comments requesting me to post the second installment...I will forfeit the stays in Vegas mantra.

Vegas Chapter Two?...It's up to you!