still in las vegas...

and viva it!

the weather has been nice. rain we've had for the past few days has really cooled the temperature. although, nikki and i sat inside all day watching fellowship of the ring and eating leftovers, so we didn't really notice. yesterday we watched castaway and the ice age. i was surprised at how much i enjoyed castaway and--i'm only telling you guys this because i trust you and you are in the inner circle of love in my life--i cried like 6 times. at one point i went over the the kitchen (i couldn't leave long enough to go to the bathroom) and tore a paper towel off the roll and then in half. i gave the other half to nikki and blew my nose. ridiculous i know. but that movie was really good. i even liked old pencil neck tom hanks after that one. at the end of the movie i actually found myself attracted to him. that was embarassing.

then we went out to the strip, which was predicatably exciting. we went to fremont street, the "old-town vegas" or what have you. we settled in at the golden gate casino where i lost $2.00 in nickel poker and $13.00 in what went by the name "salmon dinner" (only the baked potato was any good). at least my vodka and ginger was delicious, as only a vodka and ginger can be. the waitress recommended a great place to get chicken-fried steak, lowering her voice as she admitted going there when she got off work.

we walked down to an irish country and western bar, where a friend of a friend of a friend was playing drums in his dad's band. they were really great. his dad's guitar had a mother-of-pearl inlay in the shape of texas, and when he sang "marguaritaville" he said, "and i know, it's all charity's fault," to which the small crowd of us cheered and whistled.

we drove back down the strip on the way home and made plans to come back saturday and really do the touristy things: ride a doubledecker purple bus, watch the water show at the bellagio, wander through the elaborately ornate casinos, and visit the world's largest souvenir shop: i need some velvet elvis.

tonight we are going to first fridays, something in the art district that promises to be an adventure. afterwards we are going to a bar to meet some friends.

and who knows, maybe i'll make a detour to visit one of the world famous chapels of love/bells/flowers/romance if things go really well...

charity :)