I'm Good At What I Do

The weather today was chilly and windy so my parents and I bagged Red Rock Canyon and headed to the casino instead. Dinner tonight was at the Yard House @ Red Rock. Big mistake. It was so loud we couldn't hear each other talk. Humungous portions of average food. More is not better. Sometimes more is just more. I should have learned my lesson from the horrible food I got at the Yard House at LA Live in Cali last month. I got the seared ahi tuna and once again it was slathered in sauce. It was a big filet though so I was able to eat around the sauce without sacrificing any substance. It came with brown rice which was packed so tightly I could have given it to Motorcycle-guy to use as a puck for when he plays hockey. Fitting as half the flatscreens in the joint had on the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Talk was labored at the table. Just too loud. Even if I weren't with my parents this wouldn't be my favorite. I'm just not a sportsbar kind of gal. I'm more sit at the bar in a nice restaurant kind of girl. The last time I was at this Yard House I was with Counselor after we went to a party at the home of one of his partners. We met some other of his law buddies there but eventually left and went to the sportsbook bar where he apologized to me for breaking my heart 5 years earlier. I hate that places still remind me of him. 

We finish dinner and head out to the dreaded casino. I hit the slots with my mom again. I just don't get it. As my mom pointed out, "Well, we won't have to worry about you becoming a problem gambler." No truer words spoken. I caught myself looking at people walking by and not even paying attention to whatever was going on with the machine I was playing. All the dinging, the randomness, the ridiculousness of chance. I don't see much value in it as entertainment - but hey, whatever floats your boat. Those gamblers are why I don't have to pay state income tax. People sometimes say it's why I have a job. That's pure bullshit. I have a job because I'm Good At What I Do. It just happens to be at an arena attached to a casino. If I hadn't ended up at the Grand Garden I have no doubt I'd be working in sports, probably at a major sports facility or for a pro team somewhere or maybe still in golf or boxing. But no sense in speculation. What's done is done. Now I'm just working on my exit strategy. But that's for another post...

So where was I? Oh, the slots… when changing machines we see my dad so I hang with him for awhile. He's a much more conservative bettor than my mom. I'm more like him. I don't think he would ever have ever dropped a penny in a slot machine if my mom didn't like to go. But for them it's casual entertainment. They don't buy fancy cars, have expensive jewelry or own multiple homes. They do travel but beyond that, blowing a couple thousand dollars on slots isn't a big deal. They've earned the mind-numbing privilege. 

I managed to walk out with $80. I doubled my money. I'm perfectly happy with that. And I got to spend more time with my ever aging parents. I'm perfectly grateful for that. Tomorrow Bouchon. Thank God. After tonight I need a respectable restaurant.

Remember

My parents are in town this week. Tonight was dinner at (where else) Seablue. They just got in today and are still on central time so it's where we normally have our first dinner when they first get to Vegas. Easy in, easy out, great food, excellent service, you know the drill. It was bitter sweet for us though. Mom and dad won't likely be back before they close so I made a silent toast to the 4 of us: me, mom, dad & Seablue. 

Dad mentioned going to Red Rock (the canyon, not the casino) so I think that's on tap for Wednesday. We'll hit Red Rock (the casino, not the canyon) for dinner that night I'm sure. I'm not crazy about any of the restaurants there but it's close to the park and not a bad place so I'm sure it will be fine. Tomorrow we're headed to the M. My parents and I really like it there. It's small, classy, comfortable, great decor, great customer service. We go there every time they visit. We usually hit Anthony's for a steak or Marinelli's for Italian. I'm thinking Bouchon for dinner on Thursday, the last night they're here. I've been there a couple times and loved it. Mom & dad dig French fare so it'll be a hit. We normally go to Mon Ami Gabi, one of my all-time faves but I'm gonna skip it this year. Last time we were there Counselor joined us. Time to create new memories in a new restaurant. I found it odd they didn't ask me about him but they asked me about Big Rod. I think they secretly wish Rodney and I were dating. They love that kid. I don't have the heart to tell them it will never happen. Rodney is great; he's one of my best friends. Just not the guy for me.

Dinner tonight was early so we were done around 8.00p. They know I hate slot machines so they let me off the hook and we said good night. As they walked away I watched the 2 of them. Married for 55+ years. I'm always amazed at how tiny they are now. They shrink a little more every time I see them. I'm not terribly tall myself; 5'6" flat footed, 5'9"-ish with heels. I tower over them now. My father used to be tall. Or maybe I just imagined him tall because I think of him from the perspective a little girl. I still remember watching him shave in the morning before work. He'd lather up his face, then bend down & lather mine. He'd shave a section on his face, then take a wash cloth and wipe off that same section on mine. I couldn't have been more than 4 or 5 years old. I remember the swishing sound when he shook the razor in the water to clean it off. It's funny what you Remember as a kid. I've said it before, I've got amazing parents. No better role models. I'm a very lucky daughter. Lucky indeed.