the half-asleep girl on the tv-glamorized vegas:
"be careful in vegas," she says. "there are lots of people who die in vegas.... at least two an episode!"

when did i get too old for the vegas life? had a great time with sete in vegas this weekend, but we didn't really partake of the typical vegas life. yes, we ate at a buffet, we walked the strip, we checked out the casinos and the scenery, we checked out a bar with a live band, and we each gambled exactly one whole quarter. livin' it up, let me tell you!

we did, however, do some cool stuff. other than the typical touristy gigs, we also went to see mystere... anyone who has seen a cirque du soleil show knows exactly how amazing the human form and musculature can be. this show was no different, and we were treated to the fascinating strength and beauty of dozens of acrobats, gymnasts, and dancers. the slow-motion strength tricks are the most incredible to me-- two men move in synergistic fluidity and lift, hold, and turn each other into handstands, one-armed lifts, and other positions with the ease of lifting feathers. such grace in strength.

we also went out to red rock canyon national conservation area, just west of vegas and full of desert sandstone beauty. we clambered among the rust- and sand-colored uplifts, took a small hike to a hidden creek, and ventured around the 13-mile scenic drive. i love finding the lesser-known natural treasures among the glitzy human features of a town like vegas.

some of the odd highlights of the trip:
1) slot machines EVERYWHERE. i've witnessed this before, but it's kind of insane. the slots are in the airport, the grocery store, the gas station. vegas is not a town for addicts.
2) ninjas on the trail. sete and i were walking along our merry way, and i was listening to her telling me about her cousin's bachelorette party the previous weekend. i was leading the way, and i looked up ahead and saw two young men dressed entirely in ninja-style black garb. they stood up on rocks flanking the path and let us pass between them, but not before i stopped in my tracks to get the attention of my wayward friend. she was absorbed in her story and did not notice me trying to catch her eye, so she was quite surprised when we walked past these two oddballs. we were close enough to other people to think it funny rather than frightening, but wha...?
3) crazy psycho landlady. sete rented a room for a month from a batty old lady, who harped on sete for not mopping the kitchen floor (among other things). she wanted us to stay and chat, and it was all we could to do get out of there as fast as we could. she would complain sweetly but pointedly about things that should not have been harped on when sete had respected the house as much as she had. oh well, some people just need an excuse to complain.
4) seedy puerto rican diner. we found the one puerto rican restaurant in vegas. i'll tell you how to find it if you're in the area and have a craving for mofongo.

there were other things of note, but i'm too tired to think of them right now.