Elvis Has Left the Building

Like roughly half of BLS, I went to Vegas last week. We stayed at Planet Hollywood (our room's theme was "Empire Records", in case you were wondering) and in our roughly 48 hours on the Strip, I learned several things:

1. I want the job of designing fountain shows choreographed to music for the Bellagio. I'm probably fooling myself into thinking this is a relatively stress-free job.
2. When going anywhere in Vegas, take your camera, for Pete's sake. Can't take it out on the casino floors, but if you don't, you miss your opportunity to have a picture with either Penn or Teller after their show.
3. Hearing Teller actually talk three feet away from you is somewhat akin to your team having won a championship with the odds against it - you're pleased with something that had nothing to do with you, but is rather surreal all the same.
4. Do not fool yourself into thinking that winning at roulette once means you have some special skill at winning again.
5. In fact, winning at anything means you will soon lose at everything.
6. On the other hand, free drinks are fabulous no matter what you're playing and losing at. And it makes those silly penny slot games extremely distracting.
7. Finding a cheap place to eat is the biggest win you'll have in Vegas.
8. When feeling too anxious about the money you've lost or spent, spend more money ($14) and take a ride on the New York New York roller coaster - I giggled like mad, anyway.
9. If you see your husband with lots of chips at the poker table at 2 pm, resign yourself to the fact that he'll come up to you without any chips at all at 6 pm. Smile and ask where you're going to dinner instead.
10. Two nights are not enough to see everything - plan a return trip on the plane ride home.