Vegas Baybee!

We started the morning with breakfast and the Sunday paper around the kitchen table. Grandma pointed out several articles that show that people are mean and the world is going to hell in a handbasket. After everybody was up and fed and read, Grandma and Steph went out to go pick up Barb and pick up tickets for a show we would go to later in the day. I stayed behind to do my blog homework, and Grandpa is less mobile these days, so he stayed behind as well.

Gramps and I talked and talked for quite a while. I fiddled with the DVD player again, trying to find a better place for it, and managed to get the disc stuck in there again. Grandpa and I discussed his work history, and how he made the decisions he did. We discussed his health and what he wants for the future. We just talked our jaws off. Before you knew it, it was time for lunch, and we made some chicken sandwiches. After about 4 hours the ladies finally returned. It turned out that Barb had them go shopping with her in the big big big Vegas strip mall, and then parked quite far away from the Riviera which was where they had gone to pick up the tickets. I wasn't there, but they actually made it sound like fun.

Barb and Grandma at the mall

Stephanie asked Grandma if she had a card deck, but when Grandma went looking for cars she discovered some photo albums she had put together. The last time Steph and I visited Grandma Steph asked to see pictures, and Grandma didn't have a lot. I guess in the interval Grandma put some pictures together. We spent the rest of the afternoon examining them. There were lots of pictures of Barb and Debbie, and pictures of Grandma and Grandpa when they were young and didn't know any better.

Looking at pictures

By the time we had exhausted the picture supply it was time to go out for the evening. We threw on some more decent clothing and headed out to go pick up the Queen of Vegas fun, Barb. Barb has a huge 2 bedroom apt just a little ways from Grandma and Grandpa's, it has a very Barb-like green decor. Barb took over the driving from there, and we were all glad for it. Vegas freeways are not all that congested, but they move fast and they are full, and they seem to be configured to give good views rather than get you to your destination.

Post pasta stuffing

Our show was at the Riviera, so we made a quick decision to eat at one of the 3 restaurants at that casino to limit our plethora of options. We first opted for a buffet, but it was closed, so we went to the italian restaurant. The food was good, though a little on the pricy side, and we were all stuffed by the time we walked out the door. We had budgeted a little more time for dinner, so we had a little time to kill before our show started. Grandma and Barb each gave us $20 to play, since we are flat broke at the end of our long trip, and we all committed to giving it back to Vegas. Steph and I tried to win a car at one of the penny slots, but big surprise, we didn't win it. Grandma and Barb came away ahead and we all headed into our show "Splash".

Outside the show

Splash is an old time Vegas revue, which is just what we wanted. We had a booth just off the main stage. The show started with a little video montage of the start of Vegas through today. I guess Vegas was founded in 1906 so they were playing up the centennial aspect. At the end of the montage, the curtain raised and about 15 topless girls came out on stage singing and dancing. I expected there to be something like this, but they really came out and shocked you with it in the first act. They had a little 10' by 20' ice skating rink in the middle of the stage that they randomly had people skating on, and Elvis impersonators, tons and tons of costumes. At one point a Wayne Newton impersonator was singing his heart out with obviously stuffed pants, making the girls giggle hysterically. A couple of Argentinian guys came out with a percussion and comedy act. They mercilessly picked on this guy in the front row "Edward". We all had good laughs at Edwards expense. At the end they even had a 10' steel ball that 3 motorcycles zipped around in. Overall, the show was over the top. It was fun and racy and exciting. We had a great time.

A picture they wanted us to pay $40 for. So I took a picture of it for free.

After the show, Steph and I hit the bathroom, and by the time we came out, Grandma had won another $50 on the machines. I guess Vegas likes the locals better. We headed back to Grandma's and slept the sleep of the satiated.

Grandma taking Vegas for all it's worth

That is all.