Postcards from the Funny Farm

“What a trip” Las Vegas can be.
My 10 year old son Brandon and I are seen here sharing a couple cool ones (cokes that is) at “The World of Coke” museum in Las Vegas right in the heart of the strip. This is just one place we went on our vacation last week that were “family friendly” places. Las Vegas is a great place for adults: you can drink for free, gamble your nest egg (should you choose!), see great shows, dance, etc. But Las Vegas also offers plenty for kids as well. Our goal was to get into a mental place I call “vacation psychology.” I hope my kids made it there. From the looks of things, they did. I also had at least one event that got me in that zone. SCORE!

This Las Vegas slogan of recent years is kind of funny: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” What do you think that means? I have my ideas. At first it sounds sardonic, mischievous, but I try to keep an open mind and accept everything until proven wrong.

There is a psychology in vacationing that is a “wow” so-to-speak. It takes you away from the daily grind and see something truly marvelous. Now does that have to be secretive? Not in my case. We went to a children’s museum that was ok, buffets that were tasty, and walked the strip to pick up tasty snacks here and there and all that was great. My kids did the “Build-a-Bear Workshop” and we ended up spending a hundred bucks on that. I know that sounds steep, but you should have seen their faces. All people, small or large, need to take care of their brain through vacation psychology.

Vacation psychology for me happened during a Cirque de Soleil type show. The announcer said that a recent “Miss Wyoming” was about to do an interpretation of that new song “Too Late to Apologize,” which I kind of liked already. She came out and did a ballet type routine suspended from two large red ribbons. It was the most amazing set of “human tricks” I have seen in a long long time. The song was moving and the amazing dexterity of this young acrobat was truly inspirational. Whether vacation psychology is better when it’s secretive, I will never know. In my case, I am glad that what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas. Sometimes it makes it to a blog and other people get to experience it too. (The YouTube video of “Too Late to Apologize” is linked at my online diary.)

In this post, I want to promote CRISS ANGEL Believe at Luxor Las Vegas. Furthermore, I want to let you know about the current Text Message contest where you could win 2 tickets to ‘CRISS ANGEL Believe’. (awesome opportunity!)

Most people have prior knowledge of Houdini. he was arguably the greatest illusionist of all time. His tricks consisted of chaining himself in odd places and then escaping them in front of large audience the world over. In many ways, Harry Houdini and Criss Angel do the same thing. If you have seen Criss Angel on TV however, you know his act is upgraded with effects and of course: television. This doesn’t mean Criss Angel doesn’t take great risks as Harry Houdini did. In fact, the stuff he does is pretty scary. It keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I’ve seen his show “Mindfreak” on tv and I can tell you he doesn’t hold back. I recall seeing one where he put hooks into his back and was lifted by a helicopter. YIKES. I’ve heard his live shows are stellar and you walk away staggering once you’ve seen his illusions. He is playing next at the Luxor in Las Vegas and as you know Vegas is so close to us, we can almost hear them setting up from my backyard. Okay I’m exaggerating. But it’s only 3 hours away from me.

The Cirque de Soleil performance called “Believe” is quite exciting. The concept of belief is all but disappeared from our society today so I find the concept and title alone to be exciting and worth going to see. To go into the amazing acrobatics of a Cirque de Soleil show and be touched with Criss Angel’s magic to boot will be a treat indeed and one everyone in the area (or who can get to the area) should try and experience. What a combo!

Finally, I want to touch on the current Text Message contest and the information and give you the text codes for the contest (Text ‘Believe’ to 22122 to win 2 tickets to ‘CRISS ANGEL Believe‘). If this sounds cool to you, wouldn’t free tickets rock? I just texted mine in with fingers crossed!

I could write 1,000 posts about Vegas. It’s become one of my most favorite places to vacation. It makes sense since after all my wife and I got married there and had a great time doing so back in November of 2002. Vegas gave us its “off-color” blessing and we have been traveling back as much as we can every since.

The best place to stay is every place! But after that, I like the Luxor. It’s a wild Egyptian place that feels like a museum that rocks. The elevators, for examples, go up the pyramid diagonally and are labeled “inclinators.” If you’ve never rode in one you owe it to yourself.

We’ve been a few times in the summer and therefore start thinking about Vegas in the summer months. Now that we have our own pool, our backyard will have to suffice for now but I guarantee you we will be back. We go nearly every year.

I think our best vacation though was our wedding. It consisted of a stay at the Luxor, the Blue Man Group show (amazing), a trip to the movies, the MnM Museum, the World of Coke, and some yes … time in the all too magnetic casinos! They are everywhere and each on has different lures. So far, we’ve had great times in Vegas but none has topped the wedding one! Did I mention it’s a great place to get hitched ;) If I haven’t said enough, make sure you check out Things to do in Las Vegas for yourself! To close, make sure you take advantage of the special promotion where a person can win a handheld GPS by simply signing up for a newsletter at Trusted Tours & Attractions.

If you are planning a trip, make sure you check out the online travel guides.

My next vacation, btw, is set! Things to do in New York City are many. The one I want to do is see a taping of Dave Letterman’s Late Show.

When it comes to most things, I am really not a stickler for anything. This is especially true when it comes to staying in hotels. I would rather spend the extra money, for example, that one of the ritzy Las Vegas hotels would cost me on gambling and fun money and stay in a cheaper place. Some people are different. They prefer the nicest they can afford. I prefer the cheapest that exists. Let’s face it, for the most part they all have their new soap, fresh towels, and the usual amenities. Is it worth 50 bucks more just for the prestige of a name?

Another way I’m not picky is with movie theaters. There are so many fancy schmancy ones popping up over here lately you would think they were government subsidized. We went to see 10,000 BC the other night at one and it was a ghetto theatre (to put it bluntly). I didn’t care. The movie was good and I was glad to be with my wife, what more could I ask for? Do I need the state-of-the-art stuff to be entertained? Not hardly. Some of the greatest memories I have of going to the movie involve a humble theater.

What are you just not picky about?