Well, I'm back, despite a 3-hour flight delay in Vegas yesterday, which made me miss my Austin to Dallas flight so I spent last night, courtesy of SW Airlines, at a Comfort Suites, which, btw, was better accomodations than my hotel in Vegas.

I just had to see for myself what all the fuss was about that so many people venture there at least yearly, sometimes more.

First, the pros:

1. The sky is really clear and blue and the surrounding moutains are really cool to look at.

2. People, for the most part, were really nice.

3. Alot of the stores in my hotel were open 24/7!

4. It was kinda smarmy, but I loved the Bellagio fountains.

5. Cops on bikes everywhere made me feel incredibly safe while walking alone on the strip.

Now, the cons (and I'll try to hold it to 5):

1. Greed on display is just not fun for me to watch, and you have to really search to find a smiling, happy face at the tables and slot machines there.

2. 115 degrees (and it doesn't matter that it's a dry heat).

3. Why, on god's green earth, don't they have mass transit to and from the strip to the airport? I mean, tourism is their biggest industry so it's just blatantly f*** the ozone/bow down to the Saudis watching all those cabs and hotel shuttles carrying two or three people each when it'd really be quite easy to hook up the monorail that goes from one end of the strip to the other to the airport.

4. Call me a prude, but I think that there are just some times of the day when you shouldn't drink alcohol, and I don't care where you are, I don't want to breathe your second hand smoke! Take it outside!!!

5. All those guys on street corners, tapping the cards that advertise "girls to go" and "strippers on call"...hey, they are someone's little girl, guys!

I know, I know...my idea of a good time on vacation is The New Yorker Festival or a tour of the monuments in DC. Boston is really great with all of its museums and all. I don't even mind a little mindless fun on the beaches in San Diego (I love the Pacific!) or shopping and walking in San Francisco, with their average temps in the perfect 70s. There are other nice places I've been to as well, many I would love to re-visit.

But Vegas, I gave you a chance, but it's just not a love connection, sorry. Knowing you, though, you won't miss me much.