Another Trip!

After recent trips to Baltimore, San Francisco, and Europe, I'm enjoying being at home. But, fate calls again, and I leave this Friday for my fourth (and final, for awhile I think) trip of this Spring and Summer: Las Vegas.

LV isn't on my list of favorite places. I don't gamble, and the shows playing there have zero interest for me. I'm one of the minority who DETEST Cirque du Soleil --I find acrobatics set to spooky and dreamy music tedious. In fact, the only time I enjoyed one of their performances was when it was lampooned in the movie "Knocked Up."

I checked the list of shows playing next weekend, and the only performer I'd see, I can't: Bette Midler. I think there's a federal law preventing a straight man from going to a Bette Midler show unaccompanied by a female,

Anyway --Dr. Barry's sister Phyllis is getting married Sunday, which is why I'm going. I've known Phyllis since she was 15, and, although I don't see her or speak to her too often, feel close to her. She's a Broward County teacher who knows tons of people, and figured it would be impossible to have a wedding locally without either inviting 500 people or offending many, so she opted to do the Vegas thing.

Wifey's back is still iffy, so she can't go, though she DID go to Atlanta and is planning another trip there soon. So, my law partner is going as my date, since he LOVES Vegas, and always looks for an excuse to go.

Phyllis, having a keen and wonderful sense of humor, is sitting Paul and me at a table with some gay friends. Hmmm...among drinking gay men in Vegas...there ought to be a few blogs on that when I return.

The only other time I was in the desert city was 1996. We had just settled a huge case, and decided to host a firm retreat there (actually Paul did --I would have taken folks to Key West or NY). We paid all expenses for a group of 14 --with rooms at the Mirage, meals, limo rides, etc... PAul's girlfriend at the time was a former, um , dancer, whose best friend from LA was living with a casino owner. She ended up killing him for his money. Paul got away from HIS femme fatale with his life, though quite lighter in his wallet.

That trip was out of a movie --watching goon bouncers lifet people out of the way so that our party could have a table at a premier restaurant (the casino owner was CONNECTED).

This time, I'm reading "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" for inspiration, although I think I'll stay away from the hallucinogenic drugs. I might enjoy a cocktail or two over the long weekend.

As a last minute development, our good friend Stuart is joining us. We owed him a co counsel fee, and Paul suggested he take it out in tickets and a room, so Stuart will be flying out with me on Friday. He was one of the merry pranksters along for the ride in 1996, so we'll have plenty to reminisce about while we're in the 110 degree heat.

Stuart's goal is to sit at the pool at the Bellaggio and watch the gorgeous women. I figure I ought to be able to help him out in that regard.

So --off to Las Vegas on Friday. Who knows what's around the bend?