Holiday Weekend

We had a great weekend in a really long time. Spent the holidays in the most non-traditional way - yes in the "City of Sin" - Las Vegas and in Grand Canyon.

We started Thursday evening from chicago, got into the mood of upgrading to First class and the flight eventually got delayed because of a thunderstorm in LV. Believe me there was no sign of a drop of water in LV. I need to check the American Dictionary for the word "thunderstorm" - you never know - a wind could be called Thunderstorm here. It was so damn windy and cold the night we landed.

Friday morning, we started for Grand Canyon. The drive was beautiful and V loved it. The first stop at Hoover Dam wasn't all that exciting. The history behind the construction - how thousands travelled to Nevada to find a job amidst "The Great Depression" of 1929, how dead people were thrown a flock of dead sheep and the work continued.


Some Facts : Did you know that
1. The concrete used to build the dam is enough to lay a 4 lane freeway from California to New York or a sidewalk around the world.
2. It was built by 6 companies for it was too complicated in those days to be built by a single company.
3. It was named after President Hoover who gave enough funding and accelerated the completion of the dam by 2 years.
4. It is also known as the "Boulder Dam".
5. Initially planned to be constructed in Boulder City, geologists decided it was too broad to be constructed there. So it was built near the black canyon but retained its name as the "Boulder Project."

The view of Grand Canyon from the South Rim was breathtaking. Different shades of colors, snow clad valley amidst green trees was worth viewing. It was so cold and snowing all the way. But we enjoyed every minute we spoent there. I'm so glad we did this trip. Want to take dad sometime there. Would love to have mom too but she refuses :(

Anyways so after the triresome journey to Grand Canyon it was our rendezvous with the 25c slot machines. The coins rattling out in bunches from my neighbour's machine still echoes in my mind. The drive it to win it on our own was so immense that we didn't realise how we spent $60 in no time. Casino hopping in that bad weather was all we did throught out the day Saturday. Started with Madam Tussauds, then onto The Ventian followed by Caesars (our lucky one and as I write this Friends episode where Joey dresses as Caesar flashes in my mind), then MGM grand, Bellagio and finally ended at Bally's.

I don't know if people really win at Vegas. All I saw was losers and losers. The urge to play is so high that Vivek didn't stop even at the airport. Everytime I do laundry and get 4 quarters for a dollar and the coins come down the change machine, the sound reminds me of our time at Vegas. The memory of Las Vegas will stay with me forever and that is one place I would never want to visit again!


Moments of Impulse

1. Upgrading to first class by paying $80..
2. Surrendering to the 25c slot machines even at the airport when you know the chances of winning are bleak.
3. Buying a 2 feet tall "cold" white teddy bear that occupies 10% of my modest living space.

I thought until Saturday that I had a good control over myself. However on introspection, here are my
Moments of Addiction

1. Seeing Friends every evening from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. C
2. Sandra Brown novels
3. 25c slot machines
4. Law and Order on USA
5. Reading blogs every morning

Maybe I'm not too clear on the thin line about habit, boredom and addiction.