Vegas Baby...Vegas!

Before we get any further from Las Vegas (we are in Sacramento and heading north) I thought this would be a good time to visit a couple buddies in Nevada. Billy and Duane are both dear friends and I was looking forward to some great eating and drinking while Donna holds down the fort in California.

While this might not look amazing, I can tell you from experience it is. First stop in Vegas with Billy and Duane is Bonefish Grill. Bonefish was one of Duane and my hot spots until they pulled their only restaurant out of Las Vegas two years ago... but have since come back. On Wednesday they have an appetizer special called "Bang Bang Shrimp" which is awesome.

Later... after dark I tortured Duane by wanting to visit the strip and casino's at night.

We visited Bellagio's conservatory, something rarely done while I working there. The theme seems to be "spring" in Holland which is great since this was my father's birthplace.

These wooden shoes were over 7 foot long. Bellagio spends 100K's dollars changing the conservatory 5 or 6 times a year depending on the season.

Besides the massive amount of money spent on the Bellagio Fountains (when we opened...yes, I was part of the opening crew in 1998) that welcomed for the first time customers to Bellagio and this chandelier of glass flowers in the front desk ceiling by Dale Chihuly reportedly cost 10 MILLION dollars!!!

Across the street from Bellagio is Bally's, Planet Hollywood and Paris. (they have an awesome view!)

34 years in the business with 22 in Las Vegas, and I finally get to act like a tourist...ha ha. These girls are street performers who work for tips...much like just about everybody in Vegas.

The next day I took Duane to one of our favorite "locals" joints. The California Club downtown panders to Hawaiians big time and one of the restaurants upstairs is called Aloha Specialties where the teriyaki Chicken with rice and siamin bowl were Donna's favorite. 

The Vegas downtown continues to fight the aging process but not always winning the race. We went into every casino and there were some good ones, but unfortunately some others that drag it down.

This is as close to a "million dollars" I'll ever get!

I kept telling Duane to take the picture and he kept saying "wait a second", ok now I see why he did that...and I don't think it was to get some better light on this old fart! This is the pool at the Golden Nugget.

The Golden Nugget has always had a couple of great examples of gold and since my first love is geology I have always loved looking at them and dreaming. The "Hand Of Faith Nugget" is the largest in existence at this time.

Anna, Donna and my favorite ever cocktail waitress (at PT's Gold on Eastern) and friend has always made us feel welcome every time we walk in the front door.

Donna and I feel like "aunts and uncles" to Anna's daughter Sierra. We went through the full nine months of pregnancy with Anna and feel so close to the family.

Duane got a call that his son, Jed, won a coloring contest with Nevada Health District and we went to pick up Jed's prize. Jed is well on his way to a planned profession...architecture.  

Ok, back to eating and drinking. How many bars have tables with their own drafts built into the customers table? Here brothers Darren and Duane, can fill at their pleasure!

The next night Duane and I met up with Pete, a fellow crap dealer, and spent the night reminiscing about the good old "Vegas" days.

I couldn't really leave Vegas without a trip down memory lane by stopping at the Black Mountain Grill for a plate of Sesame Beef Sate with Spicy Peanut Sauce. 

The broken hammock might indicate that Duane and I have done an excellent job of eating and drinking the last 6 days but in all fairness I believe the hammock may of had some weather issues....well, that's what Duane said anyhow.

I got a haircut to surprise my wife (she's been hinting) for when she picks me up at Sacramento Airport. Duane and I are having breakfast overlooking the whole valley up in the Anthem golf course.

My thanks to Tass and Duane for a great stay in Vegas...I loved it.

Aaaaah, my wife, my dogs, my shower and my bed........love it! Had a great time but good to be home.