| S |
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Anyway, I'm not in Vegas yet. Actually I am staying at my sister's house in Riverside tonight and I'll be taking off tomorrow morning for Vegas. Supposedly, it will take less than 3 hours to get there from here, at least, that's according to my sister's roommate. That's them in the pic, by the way. Apparently, I'm the first member of my family to visit my sister since she's moved to this place.
And damn, it sure is a big, pimpin' house. 4 bedrooms with a gigantic master bedroom, huge living room and a family room which is mostly empty cuz they don't even have enough stuff to fill up the house! And it's like mad cheap rent too. Of course, this great place for a great price comes at a price... you have to live in Riverside. Which isn't exactly the greatest place to live... but then again, it sure is cheap!
So yeah. I've pretty much
decided to stop looking for a job. I've decided to pursue freelance web
design instead of looking for a regular job. I think I'm just the kind of
person that would enjoy the extra freedom enough to be able to deal with
the lack of stability. Out on my own, working for me, myself and I. Wake
up whenever I want, work in my pajamas, take a day off whenever I want (of
course, it's not a paid day off, but on the other hand, I don't have to ask anybody if I can take a day off or not. I just do it. Car breaks down, I can take it into the shop on a weekday instead of the crowded weekends when all the other worker bees take their cars in. Sounds just right for me!
Plus it seems that I already have some work lined up for me... not bad considering that I've only decided to do this like 2 weeks ago!! So yeah, the main reason I'm going to Vegas is actually for networking... looking for work.
The way I see it, even with the Internet economy the way it is, there's still a lot of small companies out there that still want to establish a presence on the web, or have a website from like 1996 that they want to bring into the 21st century. But because these companies are small and are not really "internet companies" they don't really have enough money to pay someone in a full-time, permanent position to do this stuff... enter me :) At least, that's what I'm hoping for.
I'm still just testing the waters to see just how much work I'll be able to pull in, and if I'll be able to get it consistently enough. But you know, the lifestyle really is appealing to me right now. For example, I can honestly say that I don't know exactly when I'm gonna be going home from this trip. I've got a hotel room pre-paid until Sunday, but who knows, I mean, I got no kids, no wife, no pets, no job... and I could definitely see myself staying a couple extra days. Or not. Who knows, and who cares, it doesn't matter.
I guess that degree of
uncertainty (and freedom!) might be scary for some people. I guess it really
isn't for everybody. But I really think it's what I've been looking for
all this time. Besides, when I am working, I get to play with Photoshop
all day... which really is my favorite thing to do. I don't think it can
get any better than doing what you love and getting paid for it... at home!
Monday, 14 May 2001 Las
Vegas, NV; 4:45pm
| W |
elp I just checked
in about an hour ago, and man am I big pimpin' this trip. I got a free upgrade
to a mini-suite, on the 20th floor of the hotel tower at the Stratosphere.
I have a crappy view, but on the other hand, I got a separate living room,
two TV's a refrigerator and a digital room safe big enough to hold this
laptop computer. I also got an iron/ironing board, and hair dryer (which
I will never use). Oh, and did I mention, I have this room for 5 nights
for only $377 including tax??? Once upon a time, the comabound
chick called me the "True Vegas Pimp"...
And I have a dinner date tonight with one world champion pool player. Anyway. I'm off to meet my good old friend, Las Vegas, Nevada!
Tuesday, 15 May 2001 Las Vegas, NV; 12:01pm
| H |
Who I haven't met so
it doesn't matter anyway. So yeah. The pool tournament... is this huge
convention with a huge amateurs tournament going on (along with a separate
pro tournament). Mens and womens. And there's like thousands of people
trying to get autographs and stuff like that. Weird. The pro tournament
is pretty cool though, it's in the penthouse at the Riviera. I've never
had any reason to press a "PH" button in an elevator before :) Anyway, I don't have
much else to report right now because this trip is gonna be so long, I
have been really taking it slow, not rushing to be always doing something
constantly. I mean, I've been awake for like an hour and I haven't gotten
out of bed yet, and I'm not even hung over or anything. Although I think
I might hit up The Beach tonight. But we'll see what happens.
Las Vegas, NV; 5:30pm
I met a guy at the pool at the Riviera. He's from Texas, but as it turns
out, he spent 20 years of his life living in a house that's practically
around the corner from where I live now. If that isn't wacky, I don't
know what is! I still don't know what I'm planning to do tonight. But
who cares, I'm gonna be here for so long, I don't need to pack my day
full of activities. Just sit back and relax and enjoy my vacation. Vacation
away from unemployment hahaha. I know you hate me, but I love my life
;)
Wednesday, 16 2001 Las Vegas, NV; 6:00pm
| B |
uffets.
You know, I'm gaining weight so I'm like trying to watch what I eat. No,
I'm not fat, but I am putting on a lot of fat. So I tried to shy away from
the buffets. But you know, I have heard a lot about the one at Paris, so
I just had to try it. This is my first buffet this trip. Ok, so what did
I think. Well it was pretty good. The carving station had decent prime rib,
the seafood area had loads of chilled shrimp, and the roasted chicken was
excellent. Most of the pasta dishes left something to be desired. The cheesecake
was good though. Overall a good experience, and I'd recommend this buffet.
The french village theming is done pretty well. I know that there is a certain reader of my journal that loves the Paris hotel, but I have to say that the making the employees use french is really hokey. I mean come on, you've got a bunch of Las Vegans running around saying "bon jour" and "merci" everywhere, and they don't sound french at all. Hey I know that it's a french themed resort, but you know what? Go down the stree to Aladdin and no one is speaking arabic. Why? Cuz we're in America, and most of the people working there are non-Arabic Americans. The funniest was when you'd buy in some money at a gaming table and the dealer would be like "changing 100" and the pit boss would respond "merci". That's dumb. The dealer just told you what was going on in english, why are you responding in french?
They should just give that part up, in my opinion. Anyway, after lunch I headed over to Mirage. Last summer I got a haircut at the salon there and I liked it a lot. I just told the person "just do whatever you want" and it came out pretty good. I tried the same thing this time. I don't like as much as the one I got last year though. But whatever, I needed a haircut, so I got one at a good place with great service.
The plan for the rest of
the day is to not have a plan. Maybe I will chill out at the pool (it's
on the roof) or work out in the gym upstairs. I think I'll go for the pool.
It closes in an hour anyway so I better hurry!
By the way, for Cami and Leanne, this is that annoying Benihana billboard that I was talking about the last time we were all here! They put them back up!
Las Vegas, NV; 11:30pm
Welp, not a whole lot going on. Oh yeah, the fire alarm went off in this
hotel today. Some welders were working in an elevator shaft and set something
on fire. Or something. I don't really know the full details. I was gonna
go to The beach tonight, but I don't think I'm gonna go after all,
as I am not at all in a clubbing mood. So for now I'm just gonna chill
out and watch some TV. By the way, the TV here sucks (even though I have
two of them). I get like no good channels at all. No HBO, not even Discovery
channel. But I do get 3 channels of Stratosphere propaganda. Yay. Oh yeah
that reminds me, I brought some DVDs with me just for this sort of situation.
Namely, Vegas Vacation and Crouching Tiger. Hmm.
Oh yeah, and if you're thinking that these updates are boring, that's cuz all the good shit is in the Casino Diaries section. Unfortunately, if you haven't signed up already, I won't be able to give you an account until I get back home. Too bad for you.
Friday, 18 2001 Las Vegas, NV; 4:30pm
| A |
fter yesterday,
I don't think I'll ever be able to watch regular people play pool ever again.
I spent the entire day yesterday at the pool tournament from 10:30am until
past midnight, watching literally the greatest 9-ball players on the planet
in one room. All day and all night, basically. And it was just simply amazing,
watching these people make shots that to you and me would be an incredible
shot, but for them, is just a part of the game.And shots that we would only
try as a joke, like jump shots, are attempted (and made) frequently. Anyway, after winning a grueling six matches, Jeanette is in the semi-finals tonight against Allison Fisher, the top ranked player, who is pretty much unstoppable these days. ESPN taping and stuff too. My friend Dave drove up to Vegas last night with his family, he'll be coming with me to see that tonight. You may know him better as MrCynical on the riceboy page message board, if you hang out there. Another riceboard member is coming out today too, 2000EX, he is flying in from Hawaii.
Oh yeah, if you're one
of those people who lost their Casino Diaries password, or you want a new
account, sorry, but you're gonna have to wait until I get back home for
that stuff because I can't add or look at accounts from here. Sorry!
Thursday, 24 May 2001 San Diego, CA; 4:30pm
| O |
Oh here's something...
Friday night, MrCynical Dave and I went to The Beach. He liked the place a lot. In his words, it's the "anti-club". Why? You don't have to get all dressed up. It isn't a whole bunch of people flossin' and trying to act like they are all that. It's just a bunch of people having fun. Yes, it is a total meat market, but without any of that fake wannabe "high class" vibe to it. Just kick back and have a good time, you know?
Anyway, some woman twice his age started trying to get her freak on with Dave. That was pretty fun to watch for a few minutes, but then I rescued him and got him out of there. Anyway, not a whole lot else to talk about. But it was nice to be out there for a slightly longer trip and not have to feel like I always had to be doing something. Very relaxing, very fun, and overall one of the best trips I've taken in a long time!