Vegas is an endlessly interesting place. One of the great things about being here is that I feel like I'll never run out of stuff to see or do. So from now on, I'm carrying my digital camera with me every day, and if I happen to get a snapshot of something funny-haha or funny-strange, I'll be sure and share it. Like today, for instance. I got to class a little early (traffic was actually moving close to the speed limit on I-15), so the doors were still locked when I arrived. So I hung out on the balcony for a few minutes, like a smoker getting my fix.
I looked down and noticed a body sprawled out on the sidewalk below, like it had been thrown off of the building. Of course, the building is only two stories high, so I figured they'd live even if that were the case. After a couple of minutes of wondering how this dude got there, a cement truck came rolling by and laid on the brakes sending a loud squeal in all directions. The body suddenly came to life, looked around to make sure that they were in no imminent danger, then slowly deflated back into a heap on the sidewalk. At this point I realized that it was a woman sleeping off what had to have been a most interesting evening. Traffic started getting heavier, making it impossible to have a nap, so she slowly got to her feet again and shuffled off down the street, using parked cars and telephone poles for support.
By this time the doors were unlocked and I went inside to begin my day. But tomorrow, I'm gonna bring my camera. Because you just never know when you'll see a body flung off the roof of your building...
Mikey
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
It's gonna be a good day, Tater...
After the lightbulb went on for me at school yesterday, I was looking forward to another day of actual learning and applying my newly-gained knowledge, so I was up and out the door early today after a pretty good night's sleep.
Turns out that I had an hour to kill before class, so I decided to drive over to one of my favorite places in Vegas--the restaurant at the Ellis Island casino--and have one of their dirt-cheap monster omelettes. I figured it would be better to have the big meal in the morning instead of coming home at 7pm and fixing a frozen pizza or a lasagna or something.
Anyhow, while standing at the hostess station waiting for a table, I noticed their daily specials. And today was a great one--Steak, eggs, hashbrowns, toast for $3.95. Sold! I sat down, ordered a tall OJ and the steak & eggs special, and started studying while waiting for my food. Most people would make fun of a two-dollar steak, but I gotta tell you, for the $5.37 it cost me with juice and tax, it was the best steak I've had in a very long time. And whoever they had running the grill knew exactly what 'medium rare' and 'over easy' meant, so as far as bang for the buck goes, Ellis Island has another winner. (Don't get me started on their home-brewed rootbeer, or their chicken & ribs special for $6.95...)
It was a great start to another great day in Vegas. The sun was shining, it was in the mid-seventies with a slight breeze going, and the girl with the nice cleavage and the low-cut wardrobe in my class asked me to hang out with her sometime next week--we're gonna play hookey from school and go downtown, play three-dollar craps, and drink margaritas all day. Should be another fine day!
Mikey
Turns out that I had an hour to kill before class, so I decided to drive over to one of my favorite places in Vegas--the restaurant at the Ellis Island casino--and have one of their dirt-cheap monster omelettes. I figured it would be better to have the big meal in the morning instead of coming home at 7pm and fixing a frozen pizza or a lasagna or something.
Anyhow, while standing at the hostess station waiting for a table, I noticed their daily specials. And today was a great one--Steak, eggs, hashbrowns, toast for $3.95. Sold! I sat down, ordered a tall OJ and the steak & eggs special, and started studying while waiting for my food. Most people would make fun of a two-dollar steak, but I gotta tell you, for the $5.37 it cost me with juice and tax, it was the best steak I've had in a very long time. And whoever they had running the grill knew exactly what 'medium rare' and 'over easy' meant, so as far as bang for the buck goes, Ellis Island has another winner. (Don't get me started on their home-brewed rootbeer, or their chicken & ribs special for $6.95...)
It was a great start to another great day in Vegas. The sun was shining, it was in the mid-seventies with a slight breeze going, and the girl with the nice cleavage and the low-cut wardrobe in my class asked me to hang out with her sometime next week--we're gonna play hookey from school and go downtown, play three-dollar craps, and drink margaritas all day. Should be another fine day!
Mikey
Current Events
I don't watch the news on TV much--I get most of my news over the internet these days. Normally, when I have more time on my hands I'm usually up to speed on things, so I feel like I'm behind the curve on the whole Terri Shiavo controversy. I could go on a rant, but I'll leave it to the experts who are more in-the-know. But I've got two immediate thoughts about the whole thing:
1) Thank God she isn't black.
2) I hope her "husband" ends up the same way someday. Karma, that's all.
I really should know more about the situation and have an informed opinion, but there's only so many hours in the day. I hope she finds comfort and peace in her last days.
Mikey
1) Thank God she isn't black.
2) I hope her "husband" ends up the same way someday. Karma, that's all.
I really should know more about the situation and have an informed opinion, but there's only so many hours in the day. I hope she finds comfort and peace in her last days.
Mikey
No More Goofing Off...
I really enjoyed being a Gentleman of Leisure these past few months. Basically, I haven't done a damn thing as far as work is concerned since last July. That's when my company was 'merged' and my workload went from "Light and easily managed" to "Damn near non-existant". Then of course I got laid off at the end of December, so that gave me two more months of doing nothing while waiting to move here to Nevada.
After I arrived in Vegas I immediately enrolled in dealing school, and that kept me busy for a couple of weeks. But March Madness rolled around, and I found myself goofing off for a week while all of my friends were in town. Then I got sick and spent a week in bed. That time has now passed, and I spent the entire day today in school--like seven hours straight, working on my craps game. I've been playing the game for years--but dealing it is a different animal entirely--and just today the lightbulb went off for me. And it went off before anyone else in my class, so while they were there scratching their heads and wracking their brains trying to come up with answers to all the ridiculous prop-bet questions the instructor was tossing out, there I was answering them all in my head and keeping my mouth zipped to give others a chance to 'figure it all out'.
Not that I'm an expert--not by a long shot. But today I reached the summit of 'competency'. While the others in my class are struggling with the green felt crevasses and ice fields, I get to enjoy the view for another day or so. In the meantime, more study and practice, but I *think* I may be ready for an audition in a week or so. We shall see.
Anyhow, the point of all this is that it's nice to actually be making some sort of progress, instead of just floating along like I have been for the past several months. Sure, I'd love to be sitting around posting on Travel2Vegas.com all day, but now I actually have better things to do!
Mikey
After I arrived in Vegas I immediately enrolled in dealing school, and that kept me busy for a couple of weeks. But March Madness rolled around, and I found myself goofing off for a week while all of my friends were in town. Then I got sick and spent a week in bed. That time has now passed, and I spent the entire day today in school--like seven hours straight, working on my craps game. I've been playing the game for years--but dealing it is a different animal entirely--and just today the lightbulb went off for me. And it went off before anyone else in my class, so while they were there scratching their heads and wracking their brains trying to come up with answers to all the ridiculous prop-bet questions the instructor was tossing out, there I was answering them all in my head and keeping my mouth zipped to give others a chance to 'figure it all out'.
Not that I'm an expert--not by a long shot. But today I reached the summit of 'competency'. While the others in my class are struggling with the green felt crevasses and ice fields, I get to enjoy the view for another day or so. In the meantime, more study and practice, but I *think* I may be ready for an audition in a week or so. We shall see.
Anyhow, the point of all this is that it's nice to actually be making some sort of progress, instead of just floating along like I have been for the past several months. Sure, I'd love to be sitting around posting on Travel2Vegas.com all day, but now I actually have better things to do!
Mikey
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Finally Settled in Vegas
Well, I know it's been a couple of months, but what a crazy couple of months it's been. I finally made the move from Nashville to Las Vegas--what an adventure that was--a story for another time, however. Anyhow, I started dealer's school as soon as I got out here, and aside from a week of goofing off with my buddies for March Madness, and a week on the deathbed with some sort of funky illness that damn near pulled the plug on me, I'm back at it, shuffling, cutting, dealing, and practicing.
I'm pretty much done with the blackjack part of school, I just need to practice my technique. I'm probably still a couple of weeks away from mastering the art of dice dealing, but since it's such a complicated game and difficult to deal like an expert, I don't feel like I'm behind at all. I figure that by the end of April I should be gainfully employed at some break-in casino trying my best not to embarrass myself.
Life in Vegas has a surreal quality about it. Just from my trips to the grocery store I've deduced that most every stripper and/or cocktail waitress in the city lives in my neighborhood, or at least shops at my Albertsons. The parade of fake cleavage in the produce aisle was something I was unprepared for when I began this adventure. I should have been, however--I share a house with both a stripper and a cocktail waitress. It may sound like a lot of fun, but the reality is well, actually kind of normal. They're just like normal roommates except for the hours they keep. Well that, and some of the interesting clothes I've seen them wear...
It's also nice having a great view of the Strip off in the distance as I begin my daily commute every morning. I was worried that I might be tempted to go gambling a lot, but I've discovered a couple of things--I don't like to gamble by myself very much, and spending a week on the Strip with my buddies was just about enough 'Vegas' experience for me for awhile. I've also found that I'm gonna have to learn to say 'no' on occasion. I've only been here a month, but it seems that every weekend somebody is in town that wants me to meet up and play craps or go drinking. I cannot participate in everyone's vacation and expect to be successful here. I'm looking at my experience here as a means to an end, and not an endless parade of free drinks and gambling stories, so my desire to visit the casinos is almost nil. In fact, I'm hoping to work two jobs, just to keep me out of trouble and keep me from spending money. That sailboat won't buy itself!
That being said, I have to mention what a great time I had last week. It was the annual March Madness ritual where my buddies gather in Vegas for four days of gambling, cigars, basketball games, and general buffoonery. On top of that, about twenty or so new friends from the Travel2Vegas.com message board made the trek out and spent the weekend keeping me sauced and entertained. It was truly an epic week that could never be topped.
Anyhow, now that I'm here, settled, and moving forward, I'll begin my regular updates.
Viva Las Vegas!
Mikey
I'm pretty much done with the blackjack part of school, I just need to practice my technique. I'm probably still a couple of weeks away from mastering the art of dice dealing, but since it's such a complicated game and difficult to deal like an expert, I don't feel like I'm behind at all. I figure that by the end of April I should be gainfully employed at some break-in casino trying my best not to embarrass myself.
Life in Vegas has a surreal quality about it. Just from my trips to the grocery store I've deduced that most every stripper and/or cocktail waitress in the city lives in my neighborhood, or at least shops at my Albertsons. The parade of fake cleavage in the produce aisle was something I was unprepared for when I began this adventure. I should have been, however--I share a house with both a stripper and a cocktail waitress. It may sound like a lot of fun, but the reality is well, actually kind of normal. They're just like normal roommates except for the hours they keep. Well that, and some of the interesting clothes I've seen them wear...
It's also nice having a great view of the Strip off in the distance as I begin my daily commute every morning. I was worried that I might be tempted to go gambling a lot, but I've discovered a couple of things--I don't like to gamble by myself very much, and spending a week on the Strip with my buddies was just about enough 'Vegas' experience for me for awhile. I've also found that I'm gonna have to learn to say 'no' on occasion. I've only been here a month, but it seems that every weekend somebody is in town that wants me to meet up and play craps or go drinking. I cannot participate in everyone's vacation and expect to be successful here. I'm looking at my experience here as a means to an end, and not an endless parade of free drinks and gambling stories, so my desire to visit the casinos is almost nil. In fact, I'm hoping to work two jobs, just to keep me out of trouble and keep me from spending money. That sailboat won't buy itself!
That being said, I have to mention what a great time I had last week. It was the annual March Madness ritual where my buddies gather in Vegas for four days of gambling, cigars, basketball games, and general buffoonery. On top of that, about twenty or so new friends from the Travel2Vegas.com message board made the trek out and spent the weekend keeping me sauced and entertained. It was truly an epic week that could never be topped.
Anyhow, now that I'm here, settled, and moving forward, I'll begin my regular updates.
Viva Las Vegas!
Mikey
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Night Train
I don't think anything puts me in a good mood faster than old Guns 'n Roses music from back when we weren't quite sure if Axl was a complete farking psycho. I mean, I had an idea, but I was willing to give him the Tortured Genius free pass. Not so much anymore, basically he's been relegated to Too Stupid To Take Advantage of a Good Thing status. But for awhile there, total lightning in a bottle. Appetite For Destruction is up there at the top of the list of Greatest Albums of All Time. I'd have to think about which other ones I'd add to the list, maybe The Joshua Tree, but that's just off the top of my head. I'll have to revisit this topic at some point
Anyhow.
The ghetto sled is now fixed. No more Big Pimpin for Mikey. I can actually leave the house now, which is a great thing. Having been stuck in the house with no car for the past several days has really sucked. I've watched enough tv to know that whoever came up with the Geico and Vehix.com commercials are the spawn of Satan and should be eliminated with extreme prejudice in the most painful method possible. Good grief. What horribly annoying ads. Whatever happened to great ads like the Nissan commercial with GI Joe and Barbie, with Eddie and Dave providing the soundtrack? At least the Super Bowl is this weekend. So I got that going for me, which is nice.
Anyhow.
The ghetto sled is now fixed. No more Big Pimpin for Mikey. I can actually leave the house now, which is a great thing. Having been stuck in the house with no car for the past several days has really sucked. I've watched enough tv to know that whoever came up with the Geico and Vehix.com commercials are the spawn of Satan and should be eliminated with extreme prejudice in the most painful method possible. Good grief. What horribly annoying ads. Whatever happened to great ads like the Nissan commercial with GI Joe and Barbie, with Eddie and Dave providing the soundtrack? At least the Super Bowl is this weekend. So I got that going for me, which is nice.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Bring out the Gimp!
I'm shuffling around my house like Ozzy Osbourne today. Somehow I twisted my back this weekend and standing up is quite painful, not to mention walking. In fact, I wait until I'm GOOD and ready to even go to the bathroom.
If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis...
Actually, is hasn't gotten to that point yet, and I'm feeling better this evening than I was yesterday. It's happened to me before--most recently about three years ago--so I'm sure I'll get over it before having to resort to Miyagi sticking needles in me. I should be fine by tomorrow, but I just don't want it to happen again for awhile--I've got a truck to load and a cross-country drive to make in a couple of weeks.
Oh, and to make things worse, I was at Kroger this afternoon buying a few groceries. After I loaded my purchases into the trunk, I went to put the cart back in the corral instead of leaving it there to scratch somebody else's car. The lot attendant was out gathering up a few more and when I went to add mine to her train she picked it up to shift it and she dropped it straight down on my pinky toe! I was wearing topsiders that offered no protection from falling objects, and the pain felt like I was being punished for disobeying the law of gravity or something.
Damn Newton and his enforcer thugs.
I think a few splashes of rum might ease the pain.
If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis...
Actually, is hasn't gotten to that point yet, and I'm feeling better this evening than I was yesterday. It's happened to me before--most recently about three years ago--so I'm sure I'll get over it before having to resort to Miyagi sticking needles in me. I should be fine by tomorrow, but I just don't want it to happen again for awhile--I've got a truck to load and a cross-country drive to make in a couple of weeks.
Oh, and to make things worse, I was at Kroger this afternoon buying a few groceries. After I loaded my purchases into the trunk, I went to put the cart back in the corral instead of leaving it there to scratch somebody else's car. The lot attendant was out gathering up a few more and when I went to add mine to her train she picked it up to shift it and she dropped it straight down on my pinky toe! I was wearing topsiders that offered no protection from falling objects, and the pain felt like I was being punished for disobeying the law of gravity or something.
Damn Newton and his enforcer thugs.
I think a few splashes of rum might ease the pain.
Friday, January 28, 2005
I Hate Cold Weather
Good grief...All of middle Tennessee is under a severe winter storm warning tonight. It's raining/sleeting/snowing and the temperature outside is not at all conducive to hanging out under a palm tree and drinking rum. It's time to go to my happy place.
Waitress, I need two more boat drinks!
Waitress, I need two more boat drinks!
That is all. Now go outside and shovel the driveway.
Another Sabbatical
Here we are at the tail end of January 2005, and I find myself with lots of free time on my hands. For those of you who are unfamiliar with my situation, it goes like this: Due to a merger/takeover by a company better run than the one where I was employed, I find myself laid off from the brokerage industry for the second time in four years.
It’s ok, though. I’m getting a generous severance package and I had grown extremely bored with watching little red and green numbers flash at me all day and taking trades from people barely qualified to cook my burger. No offense to you food service types out there, but some ‘financial advisors’ I’ve dealt with were scarier than a Saudi flight crew after a night of lap dances.
Anyhow, my last day of work was December 31st, so I’ve had lots of free time on my hands this month. No alarm clocks, no deadlines, and no paperwork. In fact, I haven’t even filled up my gas tank since New Years Eve. Another benefit of having no place important to go—I lost my wristwatch, but didn’t even notice for two weeks!
As much as I was looking forward to the time off (because I got to the point of dreading sitting in my boring office all day), sitting at home almost feels like a jail cell now. I’m trying to save my cash, so I’m not out shopping, running around, or eating out at restaurants. I’ve read everything I can get my hands on, figured my budget over and over again, made lists, and now all I do is surf the net and play solitaire all day. I’d watch television, but even though I’ve got about 200 channels available, there’s rarely anything worth watching. Besides, all the favorite channels—ESPN, History Channel, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Food Network—they all repeat their programming every three hours. So I’m extremely bored. And I still have three weeks to pack my stuff.
On the bright side, I talked to my soon-to-be new roommate again last night. Turns out she used to be a stripper.
I can’t wait to get to Vegas.
It’s ok, though. I’m getting a generous severance package and I had grown extremely bored with watching little red and green numbers flash at me all day and taking trades from people barely qualified to cook my burger. No offense to you food service types out there, but some ‘financial advisors’ I’ve dealt with were scarier than a Saudi flight crew after a night of lap dances.
Anyhow, my last day of work was December 31st, so I’ve had lots of free time on my hands this month. No alarm clocks, no deadlines, and no paperwork. In fact, I haven’t even filled up my gas tank since New Years Eve. Another benefit of having no place important to go—I lost my wristwatch, but didn’t even notice for two weeks!
As much as I was looking forward to the time off (because I got to the point of dreading sitting in my boring office all day), sitting at home almost feels like a jail cell now. I’m trying to save my cash, so I’m not out shopping, running around, or eating out at restaurants. I’ve read everything I can get my hands on, figured my budget over and over again, made lists, and now all I do is surf the net and play solitaire all day. I’d watch television, but even though I’ve got about 200 channels available, there’s rarely anything worth watching. Besides, all the favorite channels—ESPN, History Channel, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Food Network—they all repeat their programming every three hours. So I’m extremely bored. And I still have three weeks to pack my stuff.
On the bright side, I talked to my soon-to-be new roommate again last night. Turns out she used to be a stripper.
I can’t wait to get to Vegas.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Big Pimpin'
I drive a ghetto-sled. It's a big green Lincoln Continental thats on the far side of 100,000 miles. It's a comfortable car and runs great, and I *love* not having a car payment. However, there are a few little things that need some attention. My air conditioner compressor died in September, but luckily it's been cold since then and it hasn't been an issue. But I'm moving back to the desert next month, so the repair bill is looming.
The most interesting quirk of my pimp-mobil is the air-ride system. It has a mind of it's own. Sometimes the car wants to be a lowrider, sometimes it wants to be a hot rod--all jacked up in back and hugging the pavement up front. The downside to this is that I have absolutely no control over it. I'll be driving along just fine, then I'll hear a beep, see the idiot light come on, and suddenly I feel like I'm driving two-ton pickup truck over a washboard road instead of a luxury sedan trimmed in fine Corinthian leather.
It's rather embarrassing driving it through the ghetto to get to my house, too. The homeys on the corner must think I'm mocking them or something. But since it's not a true low-rider, they think of me the same way the popular kids with the OP shirts in high school did when I tried to sit at their lunch table in my Kmart Hobie.
I'm finally getting it fixed next week, but I don't know which one will be the bigger number--the repair bill or the Blue Book value.
Mikey
The most interesting quirk of my pimp-mobil is the air-ride system. It has a mind of it's own. Sometimes the car wants to be a lowrider, sometimes it wants to be a hot rod--all jacked up in back and hugging the pavement up front. The downside to this is that I have absolutely no control over it. I'll be driving along just fine, then I'll hear a beep, see the idiot light come on, and suddenly I feel like I'm driving two-ton pickup truck over a washboard road instead of a luxury sedan trimmed in fine Corinthian leather.
It's rather embarrassing driving it through the ghetto to get to my house, too. The homeys on the corner must think I'm mocking them or something. But since it's not a true low-rider, they think of me the same way the popular kids with the OP shirts in high school did when I tried to sit at their lunch table in my Kmart Hobie.
I'm finally getting it fixed next week, but I don't know which one will be the bigger number--the repair bill or the Blue Book value.
Mikey
A new Hurricane Mikey...
Due to expense and technical issues, I'm going to take down the previous HurricaneMikey.com site and give Blogger a try. This just seems so much easier to make updated posts with. I'm sure there are going to be plenty of limitations and frustrations, but for now, I think this is the way I want to go. In the meantime, once the servers change over, the old hurricanemikey.com address should forward to this site.
We shall see.
On the news front, I start packing for my Vegas adventure tomorrow. I've got the wardrobe boxes from the Uhaul store ready to go--I can't wait to put away all of my winter clothes for good! Of course I don't leave for another month, but I don't want to forget anything.
Mikey
We shall see.
On the news front, I start packing for my Vegas adventure tomorrow. I've got the wardrobe boxes from the Uhaul store ready to go--I can't wait to put away all of my winter clothes for good! Of course I don't leave for another month, but I don't want to forget anything.
Mikey
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