Viva Las Vegas

Thursday night, late, I was out at a bar with Jenni and Mark. Mark mentions that it's his birthday tomorrow (Friday). We start brainstorming ideas. I had some good ones--climb the electrical towers that go across the Bay and run across the Dumbarton Bridge at night pushing a stroller with a fake baby in it. Eventually though, we asked ourselves the stereotypical question all 20-somethings ask themselves: "Well, we could do Vegas?"

Done. So the next afternoon--after Jenni bailed because she had to work--Mark and I hopped a flight to Vegas. Spending 24 hours in Vegas is a great way to celebrate your birthday. As we were driving down the strip with it's horrible traffic and over-the-top gaudy lights and architecture, I remember thinking: "you know what, I like Vegas." Once a year, or so, it is quite fun.

Best of all, Lindsey and Jessie joined up with us. Lindsey scored free tix to the world premier of the new Elvis Cirque du Soleil show. (trailer) I will spare you the blurry pictures, but I definitely gave a "what's up" to Morpheus from the Matrix, the Apple guy from "I am a mac, I am a PC", Ryan Secrest, Kevin from the Office, and even Regis! Not to mention, the oogling Mark and I did of all the beautiful women that hang around such events. The Elvis show was *a lot* of fun--I kept giggling like a little kid.

Some pics that we took.

Jenni's "win face" that we were supposed to take with us to Vegas and consult when playing bingo.



Mark reading quietly, sagaciously, at our room in the Bellagio before going out. Yeah, that's right, Bellagio, we are sort of a big deal (a vc and a student, busy owning the world).



Pre-show, Lindsey and I talked with Chris from Zowie Bowie (vid) for a while. He is my favorite Vegas act--40 year old aging rock star that does covers of Top 40 and carries on mindless banter with his ditzy (or is she just acting?) girlfriend.



More pre-show pics, I look like I am at a picnic.



Antics. Also, horrible photos, sorry.



We said goodbye to the girls and Mark and I had some alone time. This is me losing money at the quarter slots. I was sure I was going to win. One of my favorite quotes, walking through the casino with Mark.

Me: "How do you feel about gambling?"
Mark: "Well, it doesn't fall into the moral bucket for me--it's pretty much what I have done in my career for the past 7 years."

A romantic walk we took in front of the Bellagio fountain, just the two of us. A kind man offered to play us AC/DC on his harmonica for money. I said no before I realized that he just offered to play us AC/DC on his harmonica! Our loss.



Meanwhile, back in SF, silicon valley's king of finance (Mark) and stanford's brightest student (me) spent over an hour trying to find where we parked.