Well I have always felt if there is a place that can survive even in the worst of times, it would be Vegas.  With that being said, I just know how they are holding up given the grim economic times.  44 and Goldie are on their way out there today so it will be interesting to hear what they have to say about the state of Vegas, but that will come in another post.

I have to assume that things are tightening up because I got an offer the other day from Planet Hollywood that was just amazing.  The offer was for free nights over New Year’s  or right after for 4 nights, with gaming credits, spa, and reduced entry to their “extravaganza”.  Unreal.  I have never been offered anything over what has to be the busiest time for Vegas.  On top of that, I almost never play at PH, so who knows what they are offering their actual regulars.

Stay tuned for 44’s post and we will see if anything is actually happening in Vegas to stay there.

It still amazes me how Vegas can affect people in so many ways.  Our friend LL is a prime example of this.  In a previous post, we had talked about how she only gambled the one time on her first trip out and wouldn’t you know it, a winner.

She actually sent me a picture that we had taken that I didn’t even know about.  Look at that grin.  You can actually see the “Vegas” come over her.  Now she has the bug like the rest of us.  It’s a beautiful thing.

I think that the allure of what Vegas “is” and what it “isn’t” has always been a very powerful thing.  This is something that everyone defines for themselves, which is why that catchy slogan about what happens and what not still resonates with so many people.

It’s a great town with endless possibilities.  Your Vegas is most certainly showing!

So this has been an absolutely crazy time.  Lori, being a stockbroker, has been completely buried with the Market virtually eating itself every day for the last two weeks.  I actually thought that we would have two “guest” posts from a couple of guys who just went out there, but basically they have “FAIL“ed me (MDF loves this term, and frankly I do too).

On top of all of this, Vegas is hurting.  I am getting calls from casino hosts, emails, mailers; you name it.   At least I know that postal service will not be going under any time soon since I am getting offers every day now from all of the various casinos.  They miss me, and I miss them (Sad Face).

Not to fear though, 44 and his lovely wife are going to sneak away for some well deserved R&R and maybe I can get a guest post from them (cough, cough). 

Thankfully I have had some great College football games to hold me over until Lori and I can make it out to the desert. 

So at least I have some great shots of UF vs. LSU this past weekend.  I have had a perma-grin on my face for the last 72 hours!  Hopefully the UF/GA game will be equally grand (re: big win for the Gators).

We are well into the college football season and with that comes our annual “away” game trip.  The Gators have been consistently good since I first went to school in ‘93 so I have been very fortunate to have many wonderful football Saturdays in the fall.  This year Lori and I went to the UF vs. UT game in Knoxville, TN.  I have a cousin who lives there and her husband was nice enough to provide amazing tickets, so we were there with the quickness.

It was a great weekend on many levels, but here are some of things that I took away from the game:

1. I am now 5 for 6 in games at Neyland Stadium that I have gone to; it’s like a home away from home.
2. There is not one piece of flat land in a 25 mile radius of Knoxville. 
3. The UT “T” is a pretty cool thing to see live.  They also have an announcer who has an incredibly booming voice; “It’s Football Time in Tennessee”. Very Cool.
4. If you wear Blue then you will be padded down and searched at the gate upon entry.  If you wear Orange or White then you get a smile and a “have a nice time”.  JWB could have been my co-pilot!
5. Although “Rocky Top” is not the Tennessee fight song, it’s the song most associated with the University.  It is played on every touchdown or big play.  It’s sort of a big deal to Vols fans.  This year it was only played 3 times during the game.
6. Fulmer is a nice guy, a winning football coach for many years, and has the street that the Stadium sits on named after him.  This game was the beginning of the end of an era.

I wonder what odds Vegas is giving on Fulmer lasting to the end of the Year?  It took losing for Mississippi State to get the Zookster fired for the Gators a few years back.  Would losing to Kentucky do it? There needs to be a prop bet on this.

I just don’t know how they do it.  Since we went to Boston over the Labor Day weekend, I am guessing that Vegas is missing us. 

The number of offers that we have been receiving is only slightly out of control.  This is normally a good thing; check that, it’s a great thing.  However, finding the time to go has been nothing short of challenging.  So the offers just keep piling up.

The only thing I can say is that getting rated is a nice thing.  Oddly enough, the most aggressive casino has been Planet Hollywood.  I have only played there on maybe 2 occasions.  Yet they have been sending in offers at about a 2 a week clip.  It’s crazy.  I guess in this down economy you do what you need to do to get the crowds to come.

Now it’s just about finding some time.  Vegas is calling…