Sad Sack: Las Vegas Four

People were spread out around the casino. Some were playing Black Jack or a variation, some were at the Craps table and some at the Roulette table. Mostly they were having fun, whooping when someone won and moaning when someone lost. But definitely an air of fun.
Then there were the Slot Machines. Many folks slouched in the chairs that go with each machine, cigarette smoldering in hand or ashtray, drink nearby and a defeated look on their faces. They pushed the buttons again and again and seemed to find no joy at all. You have to wonder about these “sad sacks”. Las Vegas is a holiday destination that is supposed to be fun. I had fun. I saw lots of people having fun. But not at the slots. It seemed like these players were down to their last chance, and losing.
I could be wrong, but it looked like the atmosphere of defeat hung around them like a fog. I had planned to spend a bit of time on the slots myself, but after seeing the company, walked away.

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Las Vegas Three

It started as anxiety, and then quickly changed into alarm, then to pure pleasure. Sound like something interesting? You bet it was interesting. My first helicopter ride was an unbelievable experience. This was no ordinary ride around the beach front or up and over some county fair somewhere. We went over desert, up over mountains (lowish, but damn they looked tall from above) and then, drum roll, into the GRAND CANYON. First over, then into.
Anxiety began to build the day before the ride. I can’t stand heights or edges. Even standing on a second floor balcony I usually hold on to the railing. Tall buildings? I don’t even like to look down from a window. So this ride posed some scary scenarios. The day arrived and the trip was delayed. More anxiety. We finally sat in a small “theater” and watched the safety film. Seat belt, water landing, fire, DEATH at every turn. Then onto the tarmac, into the bird and the jet starts to whine. I sat on the outside by the door that was one sheet of Perspex (or some kind of plastic) and could look almost straight down ---- a long way down.
The rotor turns slowly and anxiety turns into alarm. Am I actually going up in this plastic and tin can? The rotor begins to really move and suddenly we lift a foot or so off the ground and spin slowly. Man, this is beginning to be cool, not scary. Then the pilot (a child really) moved the controls and off we went. Up and forward, gaining altitude and speed. There wasn’t time to stay alarmed or scared or worry about the fact that only ¼ inch of plastic and a belt was between me and a long fall. There was too much to see! It was just plain pleasure. Fun. Exciting. Glorious. We cruised over the desert and mountains to the end of the Grand Canyon, and flew up over the rim. Then, we dropped about 1500 feet below the rim and cruised around inside, looking at the sides, the river, the --- everything!!
Because we got a late start, we flew west back to Las Vegas as the sun set and by the time we got there it was dark, and the “strip” was ablaze with lights. Treat after treat after treat. When we landed I realized that there was never a moment of anything but awe and wonder the whole time. No fear or anxiety or even airsickness (the pill might have helped here). I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thanks Sue and Bob for a wonderful experience.
Image: www.partner.viator.com/en/2511/search/3422_G02

Las Vegas Two

Next day we went to a real Las Vegas “Show Girl” show. Feathers, costumes of magnificent design, the Titanic sinking, Samson and Delilah, dancers, singers, extremely strong men, rope/rock twirlers, and breasts. Lots of bare breasts. Now here is where this gets interesting so if you don’t like breasts stop reading. I have always liked breasts and this show with perhaps 20 or 25 topless (most of the time) young women dancers was amazing. Not sleazy pole dancing or striping. Only Show Girls showing wonderful young and lithe bodies. No tattoos, no piercing visible. The variation of breasts was astonishing even to a mature (don’t ask my children about this) biologist. Even my wife mentioned the vast differences. And all beautiful. There was an equal number of “topped” women dancers and they were equal in talent and beauty in all regards.
I have a very difficult time understanding why this important part of the female anatomy is villianized and conceived of as shameful by certain groups. So, back to the interesting part: after a few minutes of being draw to the breasts, the view widened and the show became a whole piece of work, with some woman topless, some not, some men topless, some not. The bare breasts were noticeable but in the context of the action, not as objet d’art, but as part of the costume in a sense. These dancers and singers were very good at their art, and with or without tops would have been good at their art. So why topless? Brings in the tourists. Why big strong men? Brings in the tourists. Why feathers? Same again.
Everyone should see one of these extravaganzas once in their life. Not for the breasts, though they are lovely to see, but as a whole work of theater. Definitely worth the price.
http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/nevada/las-vegas/las-vegas-show-girls

Las Vegas One

We checked into the Hotel (a giant pyramid). The next morning we took a drive out into the Mohave Desert to Red Rock Canyon. Guess why it’s called that? Yup. Red sandstone. Lots of it. And beautiful desert plants mostly in spring flower. This is the perfect time of year for desert flowers as luck would have it. A rattle snake, a jumping rat of some kind, some pictographs, a discussion with a ranger on invasive grasses and control burns, and old sandstone quarry, some folks (nuts in my opinion) repelling (abseiling for Europeans) face down. Everything you could ask for in a 13 mile drive. Oh, and my “Senior” pass got us in for free. What a treat.
Image: www.lvlg.com/lasvegas/attracts/parks.htm