Vegas Baby!

So I'm in Vegas. Out here to work once again, as every trip this way has been. I'm really never all that excited to be here. It's such a monument to all that is gluttonous, glitzy, and over-the-top extravagant that is all show with little behind it but seedy, greedy ugliness. In other words, the epitome of what Muslims hate about our society. Still, there are some interesting things to see. And some good food to be had at very reasonable prices. I had to get up at 3:30 this morning to get the car parked off the airport and catch a 6:00am flight. Airline travel sure isn't what it used to be. I almost missed getting my bag checked as the cutoff is an hour before flight time. I was a few minutes past. The shuttle from parking stopped at just about every airline with a load of old and slow tourists packing piles of suitcases and United was last in line. I had a hunch I might buy a few minutes grace by checking my bag at the curb and it worked. So I avoided the small expense and considerable inconvenience of having to buy all new toiletries as you can't have any kind of liquid or gel in carry-ons any more. Robert was traveling with me and we were both whipped once we got to the MGM Grand. It's a major hike just to get from our room to the ballroom where the event is. It's about a 15 minute walk, no kidding. We found the guys who were already here, hung out in the ballroom a while where the lighting trusses were being rigged, got a snack and then both took naps in the room. I woke up about 7:30pm and saw the sight above out the window. Nothing quite like a desert sunset. Now it's off to find the rest of the crew and see about some of that great food.