Bellagio

The Fountains At Bellagio

Friday, October 16, 1998, 9:57:22 PM

I flew to Las Vegas from Washington for the opening of the fabulous Bellagio Hotel with a buncha friends. I had been to other Las Vegas casino openings, Luxor, Treasure Island, The Mirage, The Excalibur, and was extremely excited about this one.

They had the sidewalk in front of the Bellagio all blocked off for the 'invite only' party that was going on while the rest of us were behind the barrier about 40 deep like cattle at the slaughterhouse. So for about 40 minutes we got to watch the parade of rich and famous, and then we got to see the inaugural Bellagio fountain show.

It was amazing. The sound is amazing. The water goes, like, um... really high and stuff. I actually enjoyed Lionel Ritchie's "All Night Long" for the first time.

And they had one to "Con Te Partiro", Andrea Bocelli, I think. That was fantastic. Here - Stare at the picture and have a virtual experience (fast connection needed.)

Even though the volcano at The Mirage has lost some of its 'amazement factor' over the years, I still love to visit and watch the Bellagio fountains when I'm in town. I could stand there for hours.

And they have banana bread french toast in the coffee shop.

Viva Las Vegas.

Australian Outback, 1999

Tough assignment on short notice, post a daily picture that Michael's friends would find amusing.

Hmmm, ... how about "Idiot on a Camel"?

Helpful Travel Tips -

The brouchure is very enticing. A romantic caravan ride into the Outback, there to be served a sumptuous meal.

Helpful Tip #1 - Camels stink.

Helpful Tip #2 - At most seasons of the year, the desert is swarming with Black Flies.

Helpful Tip #3 - The last four miles of the ride look just like the first mile.

Helpful Tip #4 - Camels do not have shock absorbers.

Helpful Tip #5 - The camel immediately behind you, may choose to become romantic with your leg. ( No, I will not provide a diagram ).

Emptying Out

The Final Wager

I took this picture in 1998 when I invited my friend Ryan on his first trip to Las Vegas. Once I finally got him away from the 'Flip It' machines, he commenced to losing his money quickly and easily.

Once the ATM stopped putting out, we actually had to drive him to the bank so that he could either take more money off his credit card or withdraw it directly from his checking account, I can't remember. He'd had a rough couple of days.

This picture was taken a few minutes before we had to leave for the airport. It shows him wagering every last dime he had on him.

It's an interesting hand, too, becuase it can be played two ways.

Most peope would play it 5, Joker, 7, 8 and 9 (a straight) in the back with 10, 8 on top. Playing it that way would generally get one a 'push' because while the straight is very good in the back hand, 10,8 is terrible for the top hand.

My friend Ryan is a man. He played it 8, 8, 9, 7, 5 (a pair of 8s) in the back hand, and Joker, 10 in the top hand.

He lost.

Coffee and Photographs

I recently found a BUNCH of my old digital photographs from the 90s that I had burned onto a CD. I think I'm going to try and post one every once in a great while and try and write some stuff about it. Too ambitious? Well - I'm vacationing from online poker again so I'll have lots of time.

Ok. I'm going to do it. There. I said it.

A picture a day until next Sunday. We'll see if I can keep up with that.

And as a special added bonus, I've invited a friend who is into photography (digital and otherwise) to post his own. Carlucci? You up for it? One a day.

Anyone else who is interested in participating in the 'picture a day' fest, email me and I'll set you up with an account and password.

Remember, though - My Mom reads this blog.

Here goes....

Coffee is the reason that it's midnight and I'm up on my deck listening to beautiful music and enjoying aged tobacco and watching the beautiful moon with absolutely no desire to go to sleep. It's about 60 degrees - This is the life. Olive is quite happy on the roof, too. This deck was worth the price of the house. I love it up here. Nice, quiet, cool, dark. I love it.

So anyway, back to the coffee. While I was enjoying a $3.00 cup of it at Lake Calhoun this afternoon with a dear friend, I was reminded of what it is exactly that gets me to pay $3.00 for a cup of coffee.

I've heard some suggest that you're paying $3.00 for power - That you get to demand certain things (soy, no foam, etc) and have them done. It's not about that. It's damn sure not about the coffee.

It's not.

It's about the chicks.

Folks pay their $3.00 so the cute girl will talk to 'em. And I'm ok with that.

I'm reminded of how shallow I actually am when I recall driving to the usual coffee shop in Washington before work and actually getting back into the car when the realization that a dude was making coffee that day came into view. It's true. We really did drive to a different coffee shop.

When I lived in Washington I had this idea to do a coffee table book of photgraphs of local baristas. I still love that idea, I just don't know about shoving a camera in the face of unsuspecting people and publishing their likeness. Only creeps like me would enjoy it and I'd be getting sued all the time.

But in celebration of a great idea today's picture is one from Seattle. A real-live Seattle barista circa 1998. She worked at the shop that we drove away from when the dude was making coffee.

New Bathroom!

Thanks to Elizabeth I now have a fancy new blue bathroom!

And a $25.00 shower curtain.

Pretty slick, eh?

Sketch for portrait.

Any ideas? Suggestions? You like how he drew out the extra chins?

How about this one?

Olive

Addiction

It's possible I might be addicted to online poker. I can't seem to go to sleep unless I've played it all night long. But they're being extremely nice to me, so I can't complain.

AND....

I got a new camera.

So... Pix soon. Nice little pictures... yes....

I'm GONNA BE RICH!

Oh MY GOD!

You won't even believe the good luck.

I knew it was only a matter of time before my ship came in, well, my fathful readers, it finally has.

I'm going to be rich.

Yesterday I checked my email I came across this:

Dear Sir,

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal
ethics. Let me start by introducing myself as Bill, a staff in the
accounts management section of a Popular lottery establishment here in the
United Kingdom.

One of our winnings of £13,852,529.00 which was announced sometime in
the month of July 2000 with File No: UNL/7587/03, ticket number
47-025458952, serial number 20034 is still floating & yet to be
collected/claimed.

From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this winning a
foreigner by name Benjamin Walter died in August 2000 and since then
nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he
has no family members who are aware of the existence of the winning.
Also Information from the National Immigration states that he was also
single on entry into the UK.

I have secretly discussed this matter with the Lottery Coordinator of
our organizations and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner
to deal with. We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as
the beneficiary of this winning from the deceased and funds released to
you after due processes have been followed.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is a
legitimate fund that does not originate from drug, money laundry,
terrorism or any other illegal act. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon on
any of my private contacts as stated below.

Regards,

Bill
Tel: +44 700 598 0207
Fax: +44 700 580 4322
email: igomakm@yehey.com

I'm gonna be RICH! Filthy, stinkin' rich!

Viva Las Vegas

Sorry about the pause.

I was vacationing in Las Vegas with Elizabeth for a few days. I got to take her to a real Las Vegas show, I got to show her amazingly fantastic Las Vegas swimming pools, world class Las Vegas casino gambing, and took her out for plenty of delicious Las Vegas food.

Vegas ended more quickly than I would have liked, actually. This was the first trip to Las Vegas since 1996 that I didn't enjoy Habib's grape leaves. I need to get back there quickly.

It's a lot of pressure coming up with clever and amusing stuff for your friends to read on your blog on a regular basis, believe me. I enjoyed the vacation.

It's good to be back, however, and here are some fun pix from the trip.

And much to the delight of Elizabeth's father and the miss-raised eyebrows of some of my friends, no - We didn't get married.