To my 2011 resolutions list. 2 years ago

I am so bored, I need to kickstart myself and get out there. So I’m opening this goal up again. 2 years ago

plus I have serious health problems at the moment and am not in the mood for being entertained. Maybe I’ll do this later when I feel better. 5 years ago

Ok, so these things might not be new and entertaining to anyone else in the entire universe, but I don’t care because it’s MY list! This month I learned divination with angel cards – I can read tarot cards so this is something new, and I always find divination entertaining – nothing like leaving people gobsmacked when you give them a reading! 5 years ago

Joined RSVP (online dating service) – I guess to alot of people this is neither new (or entertaining in many cases LOL!) but it is for me – it’s something I’ve never tried. It will at least be interesting to see what kind of experiences I have – it might even give me something to add to this goal! 5 years ago

The first half of the month was all about politics, as the Nevada caucuses came and went. I had participated in a caucus before, but never at this level of involvement. It was a challenge, confusing and frustrating at times, but also new and entertaining. We capped it off by attending a Wine Tasting at the Las Vegas Hilton, which was certainly a treat.

Then last night we did something a bit more mainstream in terms of entertainment. We took Kathy’s cousin and her husband out to see The Association in concert at the Cannery Hotel-Casino. They sang all their hits from the sixties, including Windy, Cherish, Along Comes Mary, and Never My Love. At one time, this group was actually more popular that the Beatles (according to Billboard magazine). I’m very glad we had an opportunity to see them perform. 5 years ago

This was fun! One of those things I’d always wanted to go to but for one reason or another never got around to. Beer and cider in souvenir steins, beesting cake, pretzels and hot German guys slapdancing in lederhosen – mmmm! 5 years ago

I am going to do this for 1 year and see where it takes me! 5 years ago

Last weekend we were invited by Kathy’s cousin to a show at Planet Hollywood: Hans Klok’s Beauty of Magic. You know you are getting old when someone offers you free 8th row aisle tickets to a show on the Las Vegas Strip featuring former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson, and you actually consider NOT going because it’s at 10pm on a Saturday night – past our usual bedtime. Shame on us.

But we did go. And it was fun, new and entertaining. Klok is billed as “the world’s fastest magician” and he lived up to it. Lots of escapes from various containers, excellent slight of hand, and some illusions I’d never seen before. Pamela was a bit of a disappointment, though; she appeared in only a handful of the acts and was used mainly as eye candy, a part she still plays well. (Aside: If she really did have breast reduction surgery, she should ask for her money back.)5 years ago

Once upon a time, in 1981 to be specific, I took a full week off from my day job as an advertising copywriter to disappear and work on a novel. I booked a hotel room where nobody could find me. I only came out of it once a day for food and to let the maid in to clean up. I spoke to no one. Those seven days were devoted entirely to revising the original draft of a 211-page manuscript I had written in the preceding eighteen months. It was an intense week that fulfilled a lifelong dream. It marked my transition from wannabe to real writer and led to the publication of my first book.

Now, the past four weeks have reconnected me to that precious one. I set aside everything this month (NaNoWriMo) to concentrate on writing another novel – my third. I cleared my schedule, avoided distractions, and forced myself to write every single day. The process, although frustrating at times, has been extremely satisfying – for me at least, if not for all the people in my life who thought I had fallen off the planet.

I’ve emerged from this experience refocused on my commitment to writing as my life’s work and confident that I can finish the project I’ve begun. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable month. (And I’ve got the T-shirt as a souvenir, too.) 5 years ago

I met Hillary Clinton at a meeting of the Clark County Democratic Party Central Committee and attended a full-day training in grassroots organizing put on by the DNC. Kathy got a new job at a higher rate of pay than her previous one, and I was accepted by the county’s substitute teaching program (although I will not attend their orientation-training till early December). We celebrated Oktoberfest at the Hofbrauhaus with specially imported Bavarian beer. I finished aerating the lawn, watched the first season of Lost on DVD, completed the outline and basic research for the NaNovel I’m writing in November, and got a clean bill of health from my chiropractor. In the month ahead, I’m looking forward to LOTS of hours of creative writing, more time spent outdoors/exercising, losing some weight, and the relaunch of my publishing website. Onward, upward, and funward! 5 years ago

It wasn’t the event-full month August was, but I still managed some new and entertaining activities during September. I met presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. Kathy & I had dinner with an old friend of mine visiting from Michigan and spent a couple of evenings with Kathy’s cousin, including a country-western concert at the Orleans Arena sponsored by radio station KWNR – The Double Down Throw Down – featuring Whiskey Falls, Ty Herndon and others (pictured). I took a buddy of mine visiting from Hawaii out for a great feast on Malaysia food, too. And I picketed Dick Cheney local fundraiser. 5 years ago

Participating in five peace rallies, attending a AAA-league baseball game, meeting Governor (D-NM) Bill Richardson, seeing the variety show Matsuri at the Sahara Theater, taking friends from Michigan (whom I hadn’t seen in ten years) downtown to the Fremont Street Experience, barbecuing with Kathy’s cousin who moved here recently from California, and camping out in Utah… whew! I’m not going to try to top August’s activity this month. It’s been a great summer. 5 years ago

July’s other new/entertaining activities were: Seeing the new Harry Potter movie in IMAX/3D; meeting Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT); starting work on my (third) novel; and seeing the Buddhist relics of the Maitreya Project. Let’s see if I can top that in August. 5 years ago

Monday was the last night Kathy’s granddaughter, Rose, would be staying with us, and we wanted to do something special, so we took her to the Venetian Resort on the Strip. First we toured Madam Tussauds wax museum, where Rose got to pose with Elvis, Johnny Depp, George Clooney, and lots of other luminaries. Then we had dinner at the Canal Shoppes food court, followed by handmade gelato at an Italian restaurant on San Marco Square. The real treat, however, was the 10pm show of the Blue Man Group. I got comp tickets through the Asian Chamber of Commerce, but the show would have been worth paying full price. Rose loved it, and Kathy and I never laughed so hard, even though we had both seen The Blue Man before when the show was at the Luxor. Afterwards, Rose got to meet one of the cast members in person, and he left a blue kiss smudge on her cheek – a nice souvenir from a wonderful night out. 5 years ago

Our Luau Party on June 23 certainly counts as June’s most new and entertaining event. But on Saturday we spent the afternoon at a new Las Vegas hot spot that has immediately shot to the top of our list of places to visit: the newly opened, 180-acre Las Vegas Springs Preserve.

Kathy’s granddaughter, Rose, has been visiting with us from Idaho, and the Springs Preserve was the perfect place to take a 9-yearold on a June afternoon. There is a interactive museum, The Origen, with everything from puzzles, films, walk-through exhibits, and even a simulated flash flood (which Rose witnessed twice). We went through the outdoor gardens and playgrounds, but passed on the hiking trails – at 108F, it was just too hot for a desert trek. We did, however, take a break in the library, where Rose read a book about desert plants and wildlife. Then we visited the gift shop and cafe (catered by Wolfgang Puck!). Lots of learning to be absorbed about water conservation, desert horticulture and local history. I was elated to find two copies of my history of Las Vegas in the stacks, and I had a talk with the site’s education administrator, Marcel, who offered to link anything online about my book to the LVSP website.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, and we are sure to go back soon. We are also going to be telling all of our friends about this wonderful new addition to the Las Vegas entertainment scene. 5 years ago

Went to catch a Texas Heat/Tarrant County Blue Thunder game last night. I love baseball. Didn’t realize how much I missed it. I didn’t get to see the whole game. My 6 year old lasted as long as her hot dog, nachos, and pepsi. Oh well. 6 years ago

There’s an exhibition ballgame tonight. Think I’ll check it out. Might be fun. 6 years ago

We spent the morning at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, along with Mayor Oscar Goodman (centerstage above) and about 20,000 other participants. Then we had lunch out that the San Genaro Feast, a semiannual Italian food festival. By evening, we were too tired from walking to go out for a Mexican meal, but it was a great way to spend an event-full Saturday. 6 years ago

Last night Kathy and I treated ourselves to dinner at Outback Steakhouse, followed by a show at the Sahara Hotel/Casino.

I had seen The Scintas perform before at the Rio in 2002, but it was Kathy’s first experience and they did not disappoint. Chrissi was in great voice as ever and sang a sweet duet with brother Frank, who also played banjo and piano. Joey did imitations of Mick Jagger, Neil Diamond and Jerry Lewis. Drummer Peter O’Donnell (the “adopted” Scinta) added his usual quips.

We got to shake hands with all of them afterwards and learned that their long engagement with the Sahara will end in May when they go on tour, starting in Atlantic City. They said they will be back in Las Vegas to open for another long run, place to be decided. This is their home now, and I certainly will see them again when they resettle. Among all the variety shows in town, theirs is among the very best… a good dose of heart mixed with pure talent, comedy and audience rapport. Well worth seeing once and again. 6 years ago

Wow! What superb cinematography and art direction. It’s the first movie I have seen in a long, long time that I would pay to see on the big screen more than once. More here.6 years ago

Tonight the Asian Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards dinner, $100-a-plate with a silent auction, black tie optional, at the Las Vegas Hilton. I volunteered to help out as an usher, so I got to attend for free, and I used my own paid admission to bring Kathy along. It went off quite well. The food was superb, including filet mignon and breast of chicken. The entertainment was unique: Chinese New Year lion dance and Korean drummers/dancers (pictured). A couple of my friends received awards for community service. All in all, it was something new and exciting to do on a Friday night in February. The only thing missing was an opportunity to dance and practice the ballroom lessons we’ve been taking. 6 years ago

Kathy and I started taking ballroom dance lessons this month. How much more fun and exciting can an activity be? 6 years ago

Last night I took Kathy to see the Amazing Jonathan show at the Sahara. He’s billed as the madman of comedy and magic, and the tag applies. He’s pretty far out there. The show was much more comedy than magic, almost a stand-up comedy act. His assistant Psychic Tanya was a hoot. I wish we had seen more of her on stage…kind of a blonde Betty Boop. AJ does a lot of sick humor and practical jokes, and the routine is VERY adult, but he does keep the audience laughing, and guessing. The poor guy they chose as a “volunteer” from the audience to assist in the act was up on stage for what seemed like a full hour. I’m not sure I’d recommend this to first-time visitors to Las Vegas. There are much better magic shows in town, and good comedy acts abound, too. It was, however, a nice break at the end of a very long, hard work week. I enjoyed the diversion. 6 years ago

Last night Kathy and I went to Krave’s Harmon Theater for the Soprano’s Last Supper. The only thing I knew about it was that the food was supposed to be good and the show a lot of fun. No specifics.

Well, it turned out to be a party worthy of a New Jersey crime family. Here’s the official line:

Join the Baritone family in a wild satire of the smash-hit series about the culture of an Italian-American mafia family. The show, which includes full dinner and dancing, has the audience sitting in on the mafia commission, getting inaugurated into the Family, and gambling with laundered money.

Tony Baritone, a.k.a T, leads wiseguys, The Feds, and the goyles into a whirling and hilarious plot. His wife, Carmela, knows he is unfaithful and his children are growing apart from him – but The Don struggles to regain closeness with his family and avoid getting pinched.

Everybody’s there from the (unaffiliated) HBO hit TV series, even Dr. Melfi (the Psychiatrist), who gets more and more tipsy as the evening wears on, till she does a little striptease on the stage. We were VERY fortunate to be seated at a table smack in the middle of the mayhem (did my $5 tip to the general manager help?), where we were joined by three of the cast for dinner: Paulie, Christopher and Adriana.

This is no supper for the fainthearted or wallflowers. Foul language abounds, as do ethnic jokes. Audience participation is mandatory. If you don’t get up to dance or join the conga line, you’re likely to feel the muzzle of a gun at your ribs. Not everyone will applaud the theatrical aspects of the show (see a Review here), but if you just put on your party mood and let go, it’s impossible not to have a good time. The show doesn’t occur on a stage. It happens everywhere in the theater for two full hours.

The meal itself started with a delicious caesar salad, antipasto and bread, already on the table. There was balsamic vinegar and olive oil for dipping. When it came time to head for the buffet, our table had to first be “released” by one of the Baritone Family members. While we waited in line, we chatted with wiseguys from the cast. There was chicken in a cream sauce with chives, a cheese-heavy lasagna, rigatoni tossed with sausage, spaghetti with a choice of three sauces, zucchini and tomato, thin-sliced roast beef, ice cream, pastry, brownies, cookies … and all of it was gourmet quality in addition to being plentiful. My only complaint would be the price of the drinks: $6 for a domestic beer anf $9 for a glass of wine. We also paid $20 for a souvenir photo. But hey, ya gotta do the right thing!

In total, I figure we spent about $110, but it would have cost $280 if we had not had a special VIP guest certificate from KSHP.com. This was a wonderful treat and a great way to end the year. It’s also got us excited about trying the other dinner theaters in town: Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding at the Rio and Marriage Can Be Murder at The Egg & I Restaurant. 6 years ago

In 2006 I vowed to try a new restaurant each month. It was one of my favorite goals of the year, and I certainly enjoyed completing it. in 2007, I want to take it to the next level. Las Vegas has sooooo much great entertainment. I’m going to start taking more advantage of the opportunity to see shows and concerts, attend sporting events and festivals. I manage quite a few of these anyway, but by making it a goal and resolution, I’ll think outside the box a bit more. The rule I’ll use for inclusion here is that it must be some entertaining activity I have not experienced before. That will rule out a lot of the annual events I attend.

As a start, I’ve already booked a bunch of show tickets to start using in Jan-Mar. I got a great deal on some 2-fers through KSHP.com. We’ll begin on December 30th, when I take Kathy to the Soprano’s Last Supper at Krave. I have never been to a dinner theater. I think it will be a great way to start our New Year’s weekend. 6 years ago