Part 16 - Christmas Day - No sleep for the weary

On this particular day, years past, my son would wake me up at the crack of dawn to find out what MasterCard bought for him. Now past the age of that little excitement, he is spending the holiday with his girlfriend (buried in 15†of snow), while I am touring Vegas. However, not one to forget who birthed him, he calls to wish me a Merry Christmas… at the ungodly hour of 10am. Are you having fun, Mom? Yes.

The conversation is brief. I picked up your present at Armani Express yesterday. I’ll be back late tomorrow night, so you can come over on Monday and retrieve it, ok? He begs to know what it is. Clothes, of course. Then I tell him I have to go, sleep awaits.

Although not ten minutes after I hang up the phone and settle back in for that well deserved sleep, it rings again. Hey Lacy! Merry Christmas. It’s the pilot I met at Caesars yesterday. He’s scheduled for a quick charter this afternoon and then off to his family’s for their celebration, but should be free after 9pm tonite. Do you want to catch some dinner later? I’m way too tired to think about later… and offer up an apology, with a promise to call when I get up.

Thankful for the heavy curtains shutting out the day, I flip over and curl up again under the covers. But it’s not to be….. less than an hour later. ring….ring…..ring It’s Greg. He’s back in LA, but wanted to call and wish me a Merry Christmas as well as offer up an invitation to a NYE party. Hmmmm…. NYE in LA? I’m awake now… and my mind is racing, thinking of a way I might be able to make the trip. Contemplating the offer, I tell him it’s tempting but I would have to rearrange a whole heap of logistics… could I call him back?

So much for sleep. *sigh* Little did I know, that this would be the last of those precious zzzzzz’s until I returned home.

Not bothering with another shower, I throw on some clothes and decide it’s time to spend some of my money. Up to this point, I have parted with only a few dollars on gaming. Too busy riding elevators, I guess. So I head down to the casino floor and wander past the tables. I bypass the $5 blackjack games, looking for one populated with more than just your average tourist.

I find it at a single deck game, but after winning a few hands, the 2 best players at the table move to leave and so do I… much to the disappointment of Sammy, a dealer from Chicago and quite the character. It’s early yet and I can see the novices are out in force, so not one to give the dealer an edge, I call it quits for the time being and head out to the strip… in search of some food.

All the hotels are offering up a special Christmas buffet, but I just got up and am looking for breakfast, not turkey and dressing. After a tour through NewYork NewYork (except for the 24 hour restaurant, no breakfast to be had here) and not interested in the black void they call the MGM Grand, I wander down to Paris for some crepes and a latte, close enough to breakfast and a little people watching in their ‘plaza’. Which is a total rip-off of Caesar’s Forum Shops, complete with the illusion of a sky and cobblestone streets.

I stop at the casino on my way out and win another $30 at video poker, before trying my luck across the street at Bellagio. After dropping a $100, I opt for a tour of their Christmas display (lame ) before exiting the casino to find the sun has set… and Christmas ‘day’ is officially over.

[ January 14, 2005, 05:57 PM: Message edited by: Lacy ]

 

Who could possibly deny you the 'mother of the year' award??

 

As a single mother, from his 3rd birthday on, I held 2 jobs to make sure he didn't have to go to school in Goodwill clothes, participated in all of his school activities (including a stint as a line judge thru 6 years of football games) took him on all my trips, criss-crossing the country and beyond... and made sure he received a stellar education that prepared him for his current study.... medical research. He's a genius, although the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[ January 14, 2005, 06:16 PM: Message edited by: Lacy ]

 

You know Lacy, for such a classy , upscale individual like yourself, you should know that A/X is Armani EXCHANGE, and not express. funny how we can all name drop.. given we know what the name stands for..

oh another thing... did u screw up any calls as your six years as a premier line judge?

 

As a genious, I am sure he could wrap this tale up post haste. Apples and oranges...

 

Ohhhh, such a picky drinker, my dear. He requested his gift from this store. It was my first time there. In retelling the tale, I remembered the AX but after several weeks and a zillion other stores, the meaning of the acronym failed me... *sigh*. In that, I'll let it slide. I find it more humorous I believed the Belushis were Armenian.

As for the games, I call the ball in or I call the ball out... how hard is that? No replay at the jr and varsity level, so my skill in those calls will never be known. At least I was participating.

[ January 15, 2005, 06:54 AM: Message edited by: Lacy ]

 

He finds my tales quite amusing. I finish one...and start another, so the length is inconsequential. Although I have reached the last day of this story, so your pain is almost over.

 

How fitting that this creature would be spending Christmas holidays alone. Boggles the mind.

 

Did you just agree that this TR is a 'tale'?

 

Is this over yet?

I'm eager to read some real trip reports without having to weed thru all of these posts.

 

At what point do you find the teeth in your toilet?

 

I believe you are referring to 'telling tales', baz. You find cause to doubt the story happened and that's alright with me. It's human nature to be skeptical and I will not fault you for that. Suffice it to say, this was only one small adventure. Many have come before it and still more are anticipated before I’m through.

 

I am just waiting patiently to hear what Joan and Melissa have to say...

 

Someone so hip and in like you ... only the first time in an A/X???

I think you belong on Maury Povich... the title of the show? I'll leave it upto other members to decide. I'm not kidding either.

 

Are we there yet?
I'm hungry.......Can we stop and get something to eat?
I have to go pee, Dad....