I’m subtitling this getting there…
Today is my first time flying with the new assigned seats via Southwest. One good thing, you can see how booked is the flight. 48 hours ago I had the option for a free seat upgrade, but only on the first leg of my flights today. At that time there were only 12 open seats; however, the 2nd plane was completely full, 😟 no free upgrade.
Getting through security was a breeze, but they had to pat my left ankle down again. I wonder if I should talk to my doctor about that? Also my crocs set off an issue so they had to be x-rayed. Some much for not having to take off my shoes. 🤷♂️

Now I just need to wait for my plane to arrive and then I’m off.

I’m sitting here smelling the food from the cafe by my gate and trying to decide if I should get something or was the donut I had a few hours ago will get me through? My layover in Houston is pretty short, gambling I have time to grab a quick bite.
Speaking of gambling… That is the theme of this week’s trip. Viva Las Vegas! I had luck the one and only time I played blackjack and I’m hoping to have enough luck to pay for meals and shows. It would be great if I could roll the cost of this vacation over and use it for my summer trips. 😁🤑😇
Enough for now be back soon.

I am now going to be landing 2 minutes before my other flight starts boarding. Crossing my fingers I don’t have to run across the airport
OMG!!! I’ve never had my name called over the PA at an airport until today. Needless to say, my flight to Houston was delayed by over an hour. We even just sat on the runway for 30 minutes before being given clearance to takeoff because of the air traffic in Houston. I did make it to my connection, but when I looked at this flight to Vegas from Houston the other night it was fully booked. I think less than half the seats are filled. All those 5Ks I run came in handy today. I was only partial winded speed walking from gate 2 to gate 43. On to Vegas.
Well, first we had to stop in Lubbock, Tx. Almost moved here as a teenager when my dad almost got transferred for work.

I can say I was in Lubbock. 👍🤷
Finally, heading to Vegas 2 hours late.
Enjoy some pictures from the window of the plane.










The first thing you see when you get off the plane isn’t a “Welcome to Vegas” sign its the other welcome, slot machines. Large, multi-color and blinking machines where you just push a button and hope the programmers have a setting that lets you win.




Even with all the blinking lights and machines promising you money if you are lucky, navigating the airport wasn’t too bad. There is plenty signage directing you to the tram that takes you bag claim and travel options, rental cars, uber, shuttles, you’ve got the idea.
I decided to use Uber on this trip, for no particular reason. Wow, the app has change a bunch since the last time I used it. And to be honest with all the warnings about making sure your driver is your driver, I wonder why I even used it. There are even warning now for you to state your name for the drivers safety. Ignoring all that, my driver was friendly and efficiently got me to my resort.
After getting into my room, I was hungry. I’ve only eaten pretzels and pistachios so I tried the Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad.

Salads are not my normal go to meal, but I’m on week 8 of a fitness challenge with my gym and the weigh-in is when I get home. I’ve been showing moderate success and I’d like to keep the momentum.
With something in my tummy I set out to see if I could find a 3:2 payout Blackjack table at the Linq or the Flamingo. I was out of luck. The Linq didn’t have any tables open, just digital machines and the Flamingo had mostly 6:5 payout with $15 buy in. There was one 3:2 table but it was $25 buy in and I was only planning on risking $20 for each try. Tomorrow I will head to Treasure Island or Excalibur. Google shows that they have 3:2 tables with lower buy ins or I will have to take an Uber to the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas. It was recommend for the best Blackjack tables in Vegas.
Enjoy some of the scenes walking the strip and looking in the casinos.









Now that I’m back in my room, I was changing into my night clothes and realized I didn’t pack any shorts or pants. I only have 2 pair of workout shorts and the pants I wore today. So, I guess I have to go shopping for shorts tomorrow or make use of the resorts laundry room.
Ok, local time shows it to be 11 PM but my internal clock is starting to feel the 1 AM that it would be in Texas. So I’m going to wrap this up here. I’m meeting with the resort hostess tomorrow to get discount tickets to see the Wizard of Oz at the Sphere. Oh speaking of the Sphere, I’m on the opposite side of the resort this time, so no wake with The Sphere this time.

Until tomorrow, which is St. Paddy’s Day… (FYI this is the only day I plan on drinking, after I buy shorts.)

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