Blog Over Troubled Water

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Our Thanksgiving guest has arrived. But we won't be setting out an extra plate...it will be a bowl. We are dogsitting Lucy, the pug puppy. So far, it has been sheerly exhausting (but highly entertaining) watching our 4 permanent four-legged family members adjust to the new arrival. There are animals running in every direction..and they are everywhere!

With the exception of a few hissy-fits, the two cats have mostly stayed out of the fray. Mindy, our elder basset hound, showed early curiosity...but now seems more than happy to let the youngsters, including our often rambunctious 1 1/2 year old basset hound Toby, work themselves to exhaustion. If dogs can be thrilled, Toby is thrilled to have a playmate. In a house where his "playing" is more often that not met with scorn, it is certainly a special day to get some full-fledged receptive behavior from a fellow four-legger.

Pugs are often said to be "a lot of dog in a little body" and Lucy (maybe 12-lbs) is certainly giving the 60-lb Toby all he can handle. She is a sweetie pie...equal parts Cabbage Patch kid, Energizer bunny, and pit bull.

Wait...I think everyone is asleep! Don't pets always end up proving you wrong? I knew the "calm" would have to happen eventually, but I didn't think it would be so soon. Ah, yet another reason to be thankful.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
- posted by Ed | 11/26/2003 09:49:00 AM | | Link

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

VCR & TiVo Alert!
If you are looking for a new TV Thanksgiving tradition, check out these two classic West Wing episodes airing on Bravo:

Shibboleth: President Bartlett must pardon a Thanksgiving turkey, but it is up to CJ to choose among the two candidates.

The Indians in the Lobby: Besides the title story, this one is best remembered for Bartlett's phone call to the Butterball hotline.
- posted by Ed | 11/25/2003 12:17:00 PM | | Link

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I do not know why I watch Oprah's Favorite Things show anymore. For those unfamiliar, the queen of all media each holiday season devotes a show to her favorite products of the year. This is the show taping you want to be at. Yesterday, each audience member walked off with just under $5,000 worth of merchandise each! Or a total audience haul of $1.5 million. Much of the hour was spent gaining control of the hysterical audience...and not hysterical "ha ha"...but screaming, weeping, and nearly fainting people!

It just seemed overly excessive. I guess that is the point, the show gets bigger each year. But with the power of Oprah over the years, it reeked of an hour-long infomercial. An Oprah endorsement is often literally worth millions to a company. (Though, I have to admit when she gets behind a product I love, like TiVo I am definitely all for it!)

But did we have to go through over 20 items? It was a true embarrassment of riches. After racking up nearly $1,500 of stuff in the opening minutes you could almost sense the "ok, what's next" boredom of such "small" ticket items like a $25 facial scrub or $38 cake batter.

- posted by Ed | 11/25/2003 09:59:00 AM | | Link

Monday, November 24, 2003

[WARNING: Sappy animal lover blog entry below.]

Are dead birds some kind of omen?

A few months ago, I found a baby bird, not young enough to fly, lying in the backyard ...a bit beat up and unfortunately being attacked in the often cruel "circle of life" manner. I carefully wrapped up the bird and I believe it died in my hands. It was strangely peaceful experience. A relief that the little bird's misery was over. At the time, I had a very sick cat who I was trying to come to terms with about putting down. In some cosmic way, the bird helped in my decision to say goodbye to my Maggie, who was lying limp just on the other side of the door...no longer interested in eating or drinking.

On this chilly Arizona morning (temps in the upper 30s), I went out to find a dying quail. We have a family of quail that often march across the top of our block fence. The bobbing little crew always reminds me of the opening to "The Partridge Family." Again, a bird in trauma with little hope of survival. Feathers were strewn across the patio and around the swimming pool. At first I feared one of our pets was the cause - but there was no evidence of the bird or a scuffle just hours earlier. Likewise, the dogs and our one new sneaky feline escapee were not outside in the couple of hours that had passed since their first supervised outdoor trip of the day.

Again, I carefully lifted up the bird and placed in on the top of the block fence that is often the quail family's "sidewalk." But alas, this story does not end any better than the first...the now motionless bird did not respond to my psychic pleas and miraculously fly away. Again, I wondered whether this is some "sign." Some celestial guilt trip with the biggest bird-eating holiday just days away?

Ok, maybe that is going a little too far. But today's fairly anonymous bird, made me remember the first little one and certainly swelled up some of the emotions that I was going through that time around. While Maggie's "successor," the spunky but very sweet Lola, has eased her absence...perhaps today's little life lesson was to once again appreciate her life at this time of reflection and thankfulness. But still I
don't like when death literally lands on my doorstep.
- posted by Ed | 11/24/2003 11:24:00 AM | | Link

Friday, November 21, 2003

I got a comment...hurray! And here I was thinking I was writing in some vacuum that only 3 people (who I personally know) were maybe reading at all. Thanks Nick, I am a Zionide fan! If there is anyone else out there (Bueller, Bueller.... Bueller), feel free to let me know.

Anyways, Nick's comment definitely got me thinking more deeply about my last post about gay marriage. I agree with you -- having it be a "marriage" would absolutely be the ideal scenario. However, I just do not think the climate right now will allow it. Heck, this is a country that I don't think is even going to consider electing a non-white male president any time soon. Unfortunately, I see same-sex "marriage" further down Acceptance Road... there is significant public opposition, a Republican president and Congress, a Supreme Court with a shaky future (present?), and even "friendly" Democrats who seem to be unwilling to take on the issue. Now I know that the women's and civil rights movements were not easy battles either (and certainly worth fighting for), but I fear waging this battle now will set things back more than they will move it forward.

As I said in the last post, the word "marriage" carries a lot of (too much?!) baggage - and that seems to be the initial (and very high) hurdle. Do I like the phrases "civil union" or "domestic partnership" -- no, not really...they are both pretty antiseptic. But then again, I don't like any of these either: husband or spouse (too "straight"), partner or significant other (pretty sterile), lover (ugh!), boyfriend (getting too old for that). I tend to use "we" and "us" a lot.

Do I want to be "married"? Not really. (Can I still register at Crate and Barrel though?). It is yet another word/label that I am not totally comfortable with. However, would I like the legal rights of it...absolutely! I don't consider "civil unions" or the ilk to be riding on the back of the bus -- across the aisle perhaps -- but as long as I can go along for the ride (and maybe that is settling), that is good enough for me.
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Okay, back to your regularly scheduled trivial blog entry...

This time last week, I was lamenting about Rupert's invincibility and the inability of his fellow castaways to vote him off Survivor: Pearl Islands. Well, what do you know this week the big lizard was mercilessly swallowed up by the island snakes (please, CBS if I wanted to really see that I would watch The Discovery Channel).

It was time for Rupert to go. His hubris outgrew his man-skirt to the point where anyone winning a challenge or having a strategic game thought that did not include him was an affront to morality and goodness. This was only summed up in his exit speech... lamenting over that he always gets hurt trusting people and that somehow winning Survivor would have righted the wrongs he experienced in life. I've watched Survivor seven times now...when are people going to realize that the show is not about trust, goodness, morals, and "deserving" to win?

That said, I know I have been pretty tough on Rupert, who arguably is the most popular Survivor contestant ever. If his portrayal on the show is accurate, he is certainly an upstanding, honest, big-hearted, highly capable, and loyal human being. I was not rooting against him - but just frustrated that he thought his best qualities would take him to the end. His popularity, ability and "goodness" sunk him by the end of Episode 1. I am sure his post-Survivor life will be all the things he wished for even without being the sole survivor. And I have a feeling we'll be seeing 'ole Rupert again...he was mysteriously "unavailable" for the usual CBS's The Early Show morning after interview this morning. Could he be off surviving again?!

- posted by Ed | 11/21/2003 09:13:00 AM | | Link

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Can we just call it a "civil union" and get all this "gay marriage" stuff over with already?! What seemed to be get people's panties to bunch up the most yesterday in regards to the Massachusetts court ruling, was the word "marriage." For the up-teenth time I had to hear George W. call marriage "a sacred institution between a man and a woman." Yes, and I am guessing it took five instances of that sacred institution to create these five guys.

Is it somehow anti-"sanctity" when a person can not visit their partner in the hospital when it is limited to "family" only? Or make a decision in regards to life-or-death surgery? Or inherit a house without being heavily taxed? Or collect death benefits?

The four horsemen of the apocalypse, huh?
- posted by Ed | 11/19/2003 09:01:00 AM | | Link

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

I save ticket stubs. Ticket stubs for anything and everything... theatre, sporting events, tourist attractions, and even movies. Don't worry they are all neatly contained in a ziplock bag, but they are all there. Why I do this, I don't really know. Do I really need to remember that I saw the movie Sling Blade on March 29, 1997 at the Chandler Laguna Village AMC Theater (a $3 matinee no less!)? Probably not, but there are a lot of memories in that bag that is for sure.

I saw a stage production of the musical 42nd Street this past Friday. I was telling my mom how it really did not stand up to my memories of the first time I saw it. Back in my younger days, for three consecutive summers I headed into NYC to catch a Broadway musical. I would first trek into the city with my grandfather to buy the tickets, then return later in the week to see the Wednesday matinee show with my grandmother. 42nd Street was the show of the second summer. I found the stub again yesterday, it was August 1981...making me 13 years old at the time.

23 years later, 42nd Street has come around the corner again. The show has not changed terribly, but life certainly has. My grandfather died of a stroke just 4 years after that summer of 1981, while my grandmother, after a long illness and ravaged by Alzheimer's, mercifully left us just five years ago.

The pretty carefree, but not-terribly cool kid from NJ is now a marginally cooler adult living in Arizona. The wide-eyed youngster overwhelmed by the big city and the buzz of Broadway, now parks his Honda at a suburban theater designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and dares the production to "wow" him. After nearly 50 different musicals (I have the stubs to prove it!) later, that "wow" does not happen as often as I would like.

But even if the show is bad, I still enjoy going. I hope my grandparents do too. They certainly left me with a legacy. More than two decades later, it is me, at least in spirit, who is taking them along to the show now.
- posted by Ed | 11/18/2003 09:01:00 AM | | Link

Monday, November 17, 2003

Just some (okay, many) random musings...

The Bette Midler concert situation (see Nov 13th entry) resolved itself nicely this morning. I was "this close" (visualize two fingers almost touching) to paying the $60 annual fee for pre-sale access to tix (and potentially others for the next year), but received a pre-pre-sale offer since I am a season ticket holder to the "Broadway in Arizona" series. So that was cool, got $89.95 lower level tix (prices ranged from $44.95 nose bleeds to $154.95 floor) two days in advance of the regular pre-sale and five days before the "general public." As I said a couple of days ago, I think it is probably impossible these days to get great concert tix on the day the actually go on sale to the public!
*****
Watched All The President's Men over the weekend since Todd had recently read a book about Richard Nixon. Everyone knows this is a good movie, but it was really interesting to see how far things have come in 30 years... people using typewriters, dialing phones, and [gasp!] smoking in the workplace. Also, keep your eyes out for small roles played by Polly Holliday ("Kiss My Grits" Flo from the sitcom Alice) and Meredith Baxter (from Family Ties)... now I am really showing my age!
*****
Speaking of feeling old, the tennis season finally drew to a close this weekend. The pretty much year-round season is tiring to the players and even for tennis fans such as myself. This year I really took a step back from being a tennis fanatic... stopped writing for an online tennis magazine, attended a couple of sessions as a paying "fan" vs. practically every session for two weeks as media at the local tennis tourneys, and did not religiously watching every match that turned up on the TV. I think part of the reason is that I no longer relate to the players on a peer-level. With the exception of Andre Agassi and the seemingly ageless Martina Navratilova, the bunch of young 20-somethings lighting up their tours seem so far removed from this mid-30 something guy. Now, don't get me wrong I still watch waaaay more tennis than the average American, still check out the tennis scores/news daily, and still try and outwit, outplay, and outlast hundreds of other players on the coolest tennis contest site on the Web.
*****
Hey, I have the same vintage travel poster hanging in my house as Kate Fox (played by Alicia Silverstone) does on Miss Match! I am trying to figure out if that is a good thing?!?
*****
Kinda bummed about Karen Sisco getting shelved by ABC until March. Let's hope the network keeps its promise to give this show another shot on a new day/timeslot. Just don't put it up against another show I am TiVo-ing... I just hate having to watch "live" TV these days (like Friends vs. Survivor).
*****
So, the word is that Debra Messing's pregnancy will NOT be written into Will & Grace...so will she just "get fat" when her marriage to Leo (Harry Connick Jr.) hits the skids as this coming week's previews suggest? There is also talks that NBC is developing a sitcom for Connick... ummm, do they realize he is really not that funny?!
- posted by Ed | 11/17/2003 09:52:00 AM | | Link

Friday, November 14, 2003

Should CBS just fast-forward through the rest of Survivor: Pearl Islands and just hand Rupert the $1 million? I do not know how many more episodes I can stand of seemingly everyone talking about getting rid of Rupert but than wimping out or, as they did last night, simply handing him immunity. Now I know that Rupert's reign will come to an end before the finals (or else this may be the most stupid Survivor crew ever), but I dare say not since Richard Hatch has one contestant seemed to have such a hold over his fellow castaways.

Unfortunately, it looks like we are going to be stuck with dweeby Jon for awhile -- since his is well ensconced as the one everyone feels they can beat in the end. That is, if snippy Jeff Probst does not ring his skinny neck before then. Speaking of annoying, are there any two more annoying voices than Darrah and Christa? I think my ears would bleed if I had to listen to a conversation between those two. And "Ryno"...very scary with your final words... "you have got to remember one thing: I'm on the jury!!" -- ummm, your vote is really not going to matter.

Oh, stumbled across the "unofficial" cast for the All-Star edition of the next Survivor. If it is accurate, it is a pretty interesting mix. Will alliances form between the past returning winners, between people from the same show, or the ever popular gender lines?
- posted by Ed | 11/14/2003 10:34:00 AM | | Link

Thursday, November 13, 2003

Have you noticed the latest trend...trying to getting people to spend even MORE money on concert tickets? It's the Internet pre-sale which allows you to buy tickets, usually good ones, before they go on sale to the general public. This usually involves paying a fee to join a club/program that then gives you a password to use on a Ticketmaster or other ticket site.

I have mixed feelings about it. Part of me thinks it is a total scam to milk more money out of people for already overpriced tickets. The other part does not have an issue with paying for NOT having to camp out outside a department store, speed-dial, or have heart palpitations waiting to see if a web page will spit out something other than "no seats found."

For the Dixie Chicks, I went ahead and paid $40 annual fee to join their official Yahoo Fan club. I really could not care less about the exclusive news or videos on the site, but ended up with 3rd row seats thanks to the pre-sale. I think they were $65/seat tickets...so $85 each for unbelieveably great seats was definitely worth it.

For Celine Dion's Vegas show, I decided not to join "Team Celine." Again, a $40 annual fee to the "club" would allow me to purchase tickets in sections set aside for members. But it takes up to 2 weeks for Ticketmaster to get members into their system. I knew my desired date was going on sale soon, so I did not want to take the chance of not being in the system. Likewise, I heard that the Colisseum did not have "a bad seat." So even without being a member of the team -- and three Ben Franklins later - still had good seats.

This past week I got an email pre-sale offer for Shania Twain...and best of all it was no-strings-attached. The fine print said I was being afforded the opportunity since I purchased tickets in the past 2 years for a show at America West Arena (the Dixie Chicks??). I heard Shania was coming in December, while I like her...I didn't feel any strong "have to see her!" feelings. But here was this offer just tempting me. What the heck... $80/seat later (plus $8/ea "convenience" charge plus $3/ea facility charge, don't you just love that!) we had our seats. I probably would not have got tickets at all, but the lure of "pre-sale" was just too much.

Now the latest. Bette Midler is coming to town next February. I have seen the Divine Miss M once already and it was right up there on the all-time entertaining concert list...so getting tix is a definite no-brainer. Tickets go on sale in 2 weeks, but in my research I stumbled across yet another pre-sale offer. For a $60 annual fee I can join Clear Channel Communications' (the biggest concert promoter in Phoenix) "getAccess" program and buy tickets early. Do I think I will have any problems getting decent tix when they go on-sale to the public? No, but still I have this desire to not worry about it. The $60 seems a little steep, but if I am able to get even one more pre-sale in the next year I think it would be worth it (despite what it seems I really do not go to that many concerts a year, maybe 2 or 3 max).

So does it make sense to spend extra for entertainment "peace of mind" or am I just being a sucker?!



- posted by Ed | 11/13/2003 09:47:00 AM | | Link

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

It was only a matter of time that the tables turned on Bravo's Queer Eye for
the Straight Guy. Both Comedy Central and Bravo are planning "Straight Eye/Queer Guy" programs. But my question is...will it work? Can it be fun without being insulting? After all the whole appeal of the original is a "minority" group having fun at the expense of the majority. Without delving too deep into the "is-it-or-ain't-it DNA" debate, consider the following ethnicity comparison: African-American Eye for the Caucasian Guy. Funny! Caucasian Eye for the African-American Guy...hmmm?

Speaking of Queer/Straight guys, I watched the Return to Mayberry: The Andy Griffith Show Reunion last night...okay, you may ask yourself where is this exactly going?! I have not seen the Andy Griffith show in decades, but something was gnawing at me while watching the reunion show, particularly the clips of Don Knotts' Barney Fife.

Then it hit me, the "modern" Barney Fife is no other than Will & Grace's Jack McFarland! The facial expressions, delivery, and comic situations and timing were freakishly similar. Then Andy/Will similarities, both playing the "straight" man, started surfacing... make me stop before I turn Aunt Bea into Karen Walker!! But really, the next time you are channel surfing and stumble onto Andy Griffith check it out and see whether I need psychiatric help or not!
- posted by Ed | 11/12/2003 08:52:00 AM | | Link

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

I guess I am in the minority in showing any interest in watching movies based on recent high-profile real life dramas. This past Sunday was the "blockbuster" showdown pitting the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping against the rescue of POW Jessica Lynch. On Monday, the entertainment headlines pretty darn cheerfully proclaimed Smart the slim victor in the heavily watched evening of television. Am I supposed to feel good for the Smarts? Bad for Lynch? Well, honestly I really don't care.

Follow the pattern with me:
1) Story captures the attention of the nations thanks to the media
2) Media totally oversaturates nation with said story
3) Capped off with story ending via rescue/capture/return/verdict/imprisonment
4) Walters/Sawyer/Couric (maybe 60 minutes) vie for exclusive interview with central figure(s)
5) Book and Movie deals secured and delivered
6) Repeat

These days, I find myself getting off the train about halfway through item #1. I
just don't have the time or desire to go through the cycle ad nauseam. So sorry Kobe, sorry Scott Peterson (even if Dean Cain is playing you in the movie)... just not jumping on the bandwagon anymore.
- posted by Ed | 11/11/2003 10:29:00 AM | | Link

Monday, November 10, 2003

I do not have any strong opinions about Andy Roddick, but have to say I really know now why tennis players do not host Saturday Night Live. The writers really
did not know what to do with Roddick. I do not know if it is their general lack of familiarity/interest with tennis (Chris Evert has been the only other tennis "host") or that Andy has not really established enough of an off-court personality beyond
teeny-bopper appeal. I just know that in what has been a fairly decent season thus far, Roddick was the lamest host of the year. Also, why he agreed to do the SNL stint on eve of the year-end championships is beyond me. Perhaps this is a guy who relishes distractions as Roddick is pitching a reality series called "The Tour" to the major US TV networks which will follow him (and presumably his singer/actress girlfriend Mandy Moore) from May through September of next year. In a sport where silence is golden, entourages are king, and many players would use a microscope to determine which ball is the fuzziest if they could, why any player would you want a TV crew hovering and capturing nearly every moment is beyond me (especially when you will be defending a boatload of ranking points).

But back to SNL, the Williams sisters and Billie Jean King were not caricatures but just and attempt at laughs as "drag," did Darrell Hammond ever look at a tape of Bud Collins before attempting an imitation of the colorful commentator, and the past/present/future Agassi skit had potential but fell flat (a time traveling Scott
Joplin?!?). Roddick could not even convincingly play himself in two skits and likewise it is never a good sign when your opening monologue is stolen away by last week's musical act. I hate to say the best part of the show was John McEnroe's interference -- Johnny Mc is one of my least favorite tennis personalities (ever!) but his appearances were a welcome relief.

But what I did "learn"...Roddick can pull off blond hair, has good abs, and should not give up his day job.
- posted by Ed | 11/10/2003 08:00:00 AM | | Link

Friday, November 07, 2003

Yet another set of random musings from Vegas (sorry, can't quite promise that it will be the last one either...but maybe):

Martinis: Having recently turned 36, I decided that it was about time I finally got around to seeing what the big deal about martinis were all about. Since I really don't drink alcohol all that much these days, I figured Vegas (a place where I make up for all that non-drinking) was the place to try one... well, try one and eventually two and three! I pretty much have staved off vodka since my freshman year of college (too much of the cheap stuff!), so I wasn't really sure if this was the drink for me. But I have to say I was pleasantly surprised, quite tasty and packs quite the quick punch! Now I finally understand what the "two martini lunch" is all about!

Casino Bar: I do not know if this is the case in every casino, but we were able to get free drinks at a Rio casino bar since I decided to give the bar's video poker machines a try. We ordered a pair of martinis costing a total of $13.50 (eek!)... but when the bartender saw me playing VP he printed out a new ticket for a "comp" price of $8. As we neared the end of our drinks, without asking the bartender offered up another pair of martinis and another ticket. We had not planned on doling out more $$ for drinks, but we figured what the heck! When my luck had run out on VP (of course, more than enough to pay for the drinks!), I asked the bartender if I needed to fill out both slips to be billed to our room...much to my surprise he said everything was "on the house." Now, I know you get free drinks in Vegas...but I was still a little shocked to get 4 premium (and non-watered down) drinks "on the house."

Beverentainers: The Rio has instituted a fun new casino entertainment feature - your cocktail person might just well be more talented than you think. On a regular basis, the wait-staff gets up on stages set up around the casino and either sing or dance. Notice that I was not gender-specific...yes, the Rio also employs male cocktail waiters...something I think Vegas has not seen before. Believe it or not, the beverage service was actually pretty good at the Rio despite these added job responsibilities. Often it seems like you have to send out a search party to get a drink!

I guess this should have been called the alcohol Vegas blog entry!

One last note, be sure to check in on the latest entry on the blog block (it took me a day, but I found it!)... Green Chile Blog - I may end up making "guest appearances" (intentionally or unintentionally, good or bad) in that one since it is authored by the other half of the oft-mentioned "we" in my own entries.

- posted by Ed | 11/07/2003 08:34:00 AM | | Link

Thursday, November 06, 2003

More Las Vegas news (am I obsessed or what?)...there is always something going up in town, so here is a quick construction update:

Mandalay Bay: A new 43-story hotel (all suite) tower set to open shortly.

Wynn Las Vegas: Formerly "Le Reve," this is Steve Wynn's $2 billion resort near The Venetian and TI. The 45-story hotel looks to be nearly complete. A 3-acre lake, 8-story mountain, and a Franco Dragone show are also on tap. Scheduled to open April 2005.

Caesar's Forum Shops: A third expansion underway -- scaffolding and structures are up for a 3-story addition of the mall's previous entrance -- moving it right to the Strip (near the Mirage entrance). Also, on the property's north end some porticos and statues along with the walking sidewalk have been removed. With the addition of The Colisseum, Caesar's is really packing a lot of buildings onto their property. Forum Shop expansion due to be complete Fall 2004.

Bellagio: Barely saw progress on a second 925 room hotel tower. Scheduled to open December 2004.

Monorail: Work continues on the former MGM-Bally's monorail system -- the expansion will take passengers over to the LV Hilton and down to the Sahara. The monorail is expected to return in early 2004, but with an expected $2.50-$3.00 charge (still a bargain compared to a cab ride!). There also appears to be future plans to connect the system to Downtown LV and the airport.

- posted by Ed | 11/06/2003 10:10:00 AM | | Link

Wednesday, November 05, 2003

Ok, Vegas Report Part 2: The Shows. Had a packed schedule of three shows, here
are my thoughts:

Zumanity: This is the new Cirque show playing at New York-New York. It is by far the risque-est and naughtiest Cirque production yet. If you have problems with any of the following, I would recommend NOT seeing this show: naked breasts, naked butts (male and female), drag queens, homoeroticism (male and female), or muscle midgets (I means "small people"). If nothing floored you from that list, go ahead and enjoy the show -- after all it is Sin City! The show transports you to an intimate and lush French cabaret where nothing is off limits. Get to your seats at least a 1/2 hour ahead of showtime as the show begins early with some of the cast interacting with the audience. Don't worry it is not all hot and heavy action either (and a lot of the "nudity" is implied), there are some comic moments. The only quibble I had was some routines with "planted" audience members. But definitely a nice surprise.

House of Blue's Gospel Brunch: Now waaaay over in the over direction! The HoB at Mandalay Bay offers two brunches every Sunday to wash away all the sins from the week. Again, a nice intimate setting where you are seated at long tables with your fellow "church-goers" -- a small buffet with a Deep South feel (grits, catfish, jumbalaya - but also more traditional stuff like eggs, bacon, carved meats). About 45 minutes into your meal, the music began as our hostess Sandra Alexander proclaimed that "this is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad!" What followed was another 45 minutes of rousing bluesy gospel music. Be forewarned that they take their "church" seriously...there was plenty of encouragement to lift your hand and bear witness to the Lord and shout out praises (the line that stuck with me... "When praises go up, blessings come down!"). Now as someone who hasn't stepped inside a house of worship in about 15 years and is probably best described as agnostic -- it got a tad uncomfortable at times not joining in on the Halleujahs! Also, as a white boy with no rhythm at times it was difficult to channel the "soul" of the all-African American performers. All that said, I totally enjoyed this on a pure meal/entertainment level.

Celine Dion's A New Day: Ah, Vegas' hottest ticket...could this possibly be worth the astronomical ticket prices (we paid $150 seat - the "mid-range" price)? The answer is "yes." The scale of this show is immense -- from the beautiful Colisseum,
staggering sets, the largest LED screen in the world, a 40+ member cast, and finally one of the best-selling artists of the past decade, Celine Dion. Now I know Celine is
one of those "polarizing" people -- ranging from love to "icccck." If you are anywhere on that scale from "indifferent" to "love her," I would definitely recommend scraping up the cash and getting tickets. It is a show that wows on so many levels (yet another Cirque de Soleil Vegas production). Don't worry Celine has her "diva" moments - from soaking up the audience applause (for me, really for me?!?) to her characteristic fist pumps to "choking" up when dedicating a song to her beloved child Rene Charles... though the best was when she "introduced" her cast...he ran to one side of the stage and said "Here is the conductor and beautiful voices" and then ran to the other side "Here is the keyboards and more beautfiul voices!" I guess it is too much for her to remember the names of six people...haha! The live band was also given a shout out, though they are caged up under some stage sets. The big surprise of the night was that they were filming/recording the show for a DVD/CD to be released in March 2004 to commemorate the first anniversary of the show.

So, as mentioned in my last entry, definitely feel like we hit the trifecta...Three great and very different shows. They are certainly not for everyone, but if you do not have any of the reservations that I mentioned for each, I would highly recommend them for your next visit to Las Vegas.


- posted by Ed | 11/05/2003 10:35:00 AM | | Link

Tuesday, November 04, 2003

Back from Las Vegas! Think this trip has to rank up near the top of my dozen visits to Sin City -- hit the trifecta with three great shows and ended up leaving with more money than I came with (remember "breaking even" is really winning!). Since I don't like reading long blog entries, I figure I will break things up. So let's start with the gambling/casino adventures. I will try to be as concise as possible!

Like I said, I actually won money this time around. I was doing the math in my head last night -- going over my big wins, but that just made me realize how much more $$ I gave back. You always remember the wins more than the losses - so my initial glee of my take-home earnings (about $400) is now a bit tempered by the realization I gave back way more than that (sheepish admission...maybe $700?!?...eeek!). But having saved up for this trip for awhile, the usual $20 bills played were $100s this time around...so the money swings were definitely a bit more dramatic.

I spent 95% of my time playing VP (or video poker to the acronymically challenged). I know, *NOT* big gambler -- but I play it for two reasons: A) you are not putting down $10/$20 a hand (though some machines let you) and B) given some basic knowledge/strategy you actually stand a chance of winning.

Rio: Did not expect much from the "host" hotel. I heard the Rio had been a good local favorite spot over the years, but that recently machines have tightened up. But staying on the 13th floor proved lucky. Hit $500 in my first afternoon on five-play nickel VP - was dealt a 4-of-a-kind w/ a kicker card for 2000 nickels x 5. The next day hit a 2400 quarters on a the newer Multistrike Poker VP machines (4-of-a-kind w/kicker for a 1200 payout doubled on "2x" line).

NY-NY and Mandalay Bay: At these casinos on 2 different days. They have a reputation of being tight and they certainly were. Money went waaay too quickly at both places.

Caesar's and Flamingo: Not great for VP, money lasted a little longer than at the "quicky" places noted above - but really not too good. These two places have to have some of the oldest cocktail waitresses out there. We were playing in a quiet little nook at Flamingo (along w/ maybe 10 other people) and the waitress looked lost coming back w/ drinks...calling out the drink orders and having the people flag her down.

The Palms: Tons of VP poker machines. Lost, got 1/2 of it back, gave it all back. First time at this casino -- definitely must be stealing the younger crowd (20-somethings) from The Hard Rock. On Halloween night and all there were lots of costumes w/ the girls definitely looking to be seen.

The Orleans: Another off-Strip/"locals" stop. Huge casino with lots of breathing room and tons of VP. Another instance of lack of will-power, would have come out slightly ahead or even, but gave it all back.

Bally's: Not great selection of VP and not the most impressive casino, but in the past I have managed to make my $$ stretch and usually come out ahead... this time was no exception. A couple of hours later, I left with $60 more than I put in (though it could have been $100).

Downtown Casinos: Sunday night headed downtown with the allure of "looser" machines and the atmosphere of "old" Vegas with all the lights and neon. A mixed bag here... early losses at the Las Vegas Club and Fitzgerald's -- but the guide-book dubbed "dumpy" El Cortez was a success. On a single play quarter VP machine with a "loose payouts" sign above it -- hit five 4-of-a-kinds (1 with a kicker-card bonus) -- financially salvaging the night.

Okay, so *NOT* a short blog entry -- but I guess I went to more places than I thought. ..and probably was more of a testimony of my inability to stop while I am ahead and cut my losses earlier.

More Vegas entries to come -- including the shows, construction updates, and miscellaneous other tidbits!



- posted by Ed | 11/04/2003 11:16:00 AM | | Link