Drive from Vegas to Tulsa Oklahoma...and final Vegas thoughts.

[Dead Money]

It is 1210.5 miles from my doorstep in Tulsa to my doorstep in Las Vegas.

My brother in law and I shared the drive, here are the highlites.

We, with my lab and his Jack Russell, did it in about 18 hours. (The wives flew, my treat, money well spent, personal sanity in close quarters is priceless)

Straight shot down 93 to Kingman Arizona left on I-40 east.

Gas in Vegas was 3.87,
Gas in Williams Arizona (gateway to Grand Canyon) 4.49.

Snow still visible in shaded areas near Flaggstaff, gas there was 3.89

Speed limits were 75.

I set cruise on 82, cabin temp 68, Rock Cd's on HIGH..

Clear sailing, lots of spectacular vistas, Indian Blanket stores, Meteor Crater, Petrified wood forest etc.....been there done that.

New Mexico, even prettier vistas, and sky.
Gas in Albuquerque (albucrazie to the locals) was 3.49.
Scarfed up a Jack in the box steakburger...(brother in laws idea) over spiced piece of protein.

Saw some road runners zipping along, my dog on a short "potty walk" managed to find a desert hare sleepin under a bush..a short chase, and much baying later, we continue.

As we approach Texas, there are massive thunderstorms on the distant vista...

11:30 at nite, next to zero traffic, GROOM TEXAS...cruise on 82...opposite lane, a car does a 180 degree and paces....F#@K me....HYPO ...(highway patrol)....pull over, have license and registration out and seatbelt firmly on....

Flashlite appears in back seat then front seat....."Sir" you were running just a little fast..

I reply, brother in law sick, 2 dogs car sick, trying to get home after vacation...blah...blah...

Goes away..., returns,"gonna write you a warning....."

I am a senior with a clean record, my brother in law (38) averages a ticket every 6 months.

THANK YOU, SIR...I WILL BE MORE CAREFUL, blah blah blah

I think speed limit should be 85 on the interstates, with trucks delegated to right lane at 65, no passing...

Many truck drivers appear not to give a flying f#$k, passing another truck about a half mile an hour faster uphill, blocking both lanes.
All of a sudden we were showered with rubber particles from a truck blown tire miles ahead, when we caught up to him he was down to almost the metal rim....a serious accident waiting to happen...ever got a flat from a steel belt blown strip?
Rolled down the window and gave him the one finger salute...what a douche...

Uneventful otherwise..knock on wood...



I will add some final Vegas thoughts in this thread and you will not hear another Vegas comment from me, UNLESS, I cash in the June WSOP senior event, or am Shanghied to a female only "Topless Pool" and ravaged by several horny 25 year old blond Swedish swimsuit models...

till next visit....:0008

 

[Dead Money]

Vegas, what is its future?

Vegas, what is its future?

No one has an accurate crystal ball..

Vegas legalized gambling in 1931. With the guidance of the mob, quickie divorces, great entertainment, easy air travel, opulent surroundings, managed to thrive and prosper thru the decades of up and down economies and the ever changing social and gambling scenes.

In response, Vegas population booms, housing development explodes, jobs everywhere, the good times can't stop.

Flash ahead to 2008...the USA hits a brick wall....years of foreign wars, banking crises, oil shock, depreciating dollar, jobs shipped overseas, massive unemployment, housing values plummet,
retirees equity down the toilet..(does anybody see things getting better soon in a sliding empire USA?)

No more discretionary extra income, casinos being built everywhere, (Wynn and Kraft want one back east...why would a New Yorker go to Vegas?)
Online gambling, it will come back even stronger.

Vegas will have to re-invent...but how?
IMHO they have milked the cow near dry...how many times can you recycle Circus Soleil?
How many more magicians can they pull out the hat?

It is very telling when you walk into a vast Vegas casino and instead of the jammed aisles of the past, you see a much more open expanse...my brother in law proclaimed at the MGM..."you could roll bowling balls, and not hit anyone"

The older seasoned gambler-tourist, with a few bux in their pocket will return over and over, if for no other reason than good memories.

The future life-blood is the younger generation....I doubt their Walmart jobs will garnish them the extra money to tear themselves away from their Computer Game consoles, Ipods, etc, to even care to make the pilgrimage.

The coming years will be VERY challenging....and by the way, they sunk a third soda straw (this time in the bottom) of Lake Mead, that will catch the last drops when there is not enough water to turn the turbines.
Have to keep those "in the frickin'" desert golf courses green...

Here is allocation list for generated power..


Arizona - 18.9527 percent
Nevada - 23.3706 percent
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California - 28.5393 percent
Burbank, CA - 0.5876 percent
Glendale, CA - 1.5874 percent
Pasadena, CA - 1.3629 percent
Los Angeles, CA - 15.4229 percent
Southern California Edison Co. - 5.5377 percent
Azusa, CA - 0.1104 percent
Anaheim, CA - 1.1487 percent
Banning, CA - 0.0442 percent
Colton, CA - 0.0884 percent
Riverside, CA - 0.8615 percent
Vernon, CA - 0.6185 percent
Boulder City, NV - 1.7672 percent

Enjoy Vegas while you can....THEY seriously need your continuing patronage.

 

[jhawksoon]

In my opinion the problem is the exhorbitant prices of things. I went there for the first time when I turned 21 about 10 or so years ago. Been back around 20 times. I've been able to see the changes that have been made. Back then a flight from Oklahoma to Vegas- $99, now it's $300-$350. A room was less than $100, now it's twice that. Food was affordable, and finding a $5 table wasn't that hard. I think people see the minimum $15 tables and decide just not to play. I think it's easier for people to be slowly bled dry than to think about how many hands they can play at that minimum. One more reason you have all of these play and pop guys.

 

[Dead Money]

Vega, baby.

Vega, baby.

Leaving this AM for Vegas..I remember well those $99.00 flights.

Flight now $400.00

Strictly a poker playing outing..kudos to our wives for sanctioning it.

May do WSOP Senior event, in my case, probably a waste of money.
I do much better live play...will at least check into it.

Figure there will be plenty of live play all over town.:00hour

May put a hefty wager on OKC series to annihilate their Eastern opponent.

 

[Packers4Life]

Good luck and win loads of cash!!!:toast:

 

[Dead Money]

weather

weather

gonna be 110+next week....

.....never thought I would see dedicated valet service for poker

 

[EulaB.]

spam

 

[kneifl]

Great insight

Great insight

No one has an accurate crystal ball..

Vegas legalized gambling in 1931. With the guidance of the mob, quickie divorces, great entertainment, easy air travel, opulent surroundings, managed to thrive and prosper thru the decades of up and down economies and the ever changing social and gambling scenes.

In response, Vegas population booms, housing development explodes, jobs everywhere, the good times can't stop.

Flash ahead to 2008...the USA hits a brick wall....years of foreign wars, banking crises, oil shock, depreciating dollar, jobs shipped overseas, massive unemployment, housing values plummet,
retirees equity down the toilet..(does anybody see things getting better soon in a sliding empire USA?)

No more discretionary extra income, casinos being built everywhere, (Wynn and Kraft want one back east...why would a New Yorker go to Vegas?)
Online gambling, it will come back even stronger.

Vegas will have to re-invent...but how?
IMHO they have milked the cow near dry...how many times can you recycle Circus Soleil?
How many more magicians can they pull out the hat?

It is very telling when you walk into a vast Vegas casino and instead of the jammed aisles of the past, you see a much more open expanse...my brother in law proclaimed at the MGM..."you could roll bowling balls, and not hit anyone"

The older seasoned gambler-tourist, with a few bux in their pocket will return over and over, if for no other reason than good memories.

The future life-blood is the younger generation....I doubt their Walmart jobs will garnish them the extra money to tear themselves away from their Computer Game consoles, Ipods, etc, to even care to make the pilgrimage.

The coming years will be VERY challenging....and by the way, they sunk a third soda straw (this time in the bottom) of Lake Mead, that will catch the last drops when there is not enough water to turn the turbines.
Have to keep those "in the frickin'" desert golf courses green...

Here is allocation list for generated power..


Arizona - 18.9527 percent
Nevada - 23.3706 percent
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California - 28.5393 percent
Burbank, CA - 0.5876 percent
Glendale, CA - 1.5874 percent
Pasadena, CA - 1.3629 percent
Los Angeles, CA - 15.4229 percent
Southern California Edison Co. - 5.5377 percent
Azusa, CA - 0.1104 percent
Anaheim, CA - 1.1487 percent
Banning, CA - 0.0442 percent
Colton, CA - 0.0884 percent
Riverside, CA - 0.8615 percent
Vernon, CA - 0.6185 percent
Boulder City, NV - 1.7672 percent

Enjoy Vegas while you can....THEY seriously need your continuing patronage.

Thought your two posts were excellent, fantastic insight, I have been there over a dozen times and I really love it. It has gotten more expensive though and soon it will be obsolete if they get legalized sports gambling in other states like NJ. I think it may be on it's way with all of the weed bs.

kneifl

kneifl

 

[joe_fale]

there is no way the us govt will legalize sports gambling in other states