Twilight Zone or Evil Disneyworld

I must admit, the glamour and sparkle of Las Vegas was hard to resist. The food buffets as far as the mouth could reach. The shows from white tigers to blue men put my artistic nature into overdrive.

I have never been in such a place before that had so much to offer. Did I like it? Sure. I loss my money in the slot machines, hoping to win a new car. I desperately wanted to get that loud siren to go off, or to hear the constant stream of quarters hitting the money catcher. I heard it in the distance as I went by. I only managed to win a few, lose a lot.

I must have entered 20 casinos in three days. My favorite was Paris. Ahhhhh Paris. The eiffel tower, the french bakeries, the streets to stroll on, even street painters, and the men in berets singing Italian on the waterway of Venice....

There was a constant stream of tourists to that fair city of Paris. It was only when I looked up, and saw the painted sky that I realized I was still in Las Vegas. Then I noticed there were no windows out to see the real world. I couldn't find a drinking fountain, and there was no clocks to be found. I was trapped in either a Twilight Zone episode, or an evil DisneyWorld.

It was time for a commercial break, so I went outside. The streets were so crowded. Old people, young people, small kids, lots of families, lots of hookers, lots of drunks. So many nationalities. I love to hear foreign languages spoken. It makes my world bigger to hear them. People seemed to be polite. And there were always people on the streets happily handing out free
business cards to their place of business.

Driving down the strip was fun. I learned to drive it really fast. I managed to "almost hit" a grandmother dragging her small grandson across the street. She had a determined look to get across the street, no matter what.

I didn't realize how many roller coasters they had in their fun city. They came out of buildings and went underground. The hotel I stayed at even had one at the top of the tower, 1200 feet up. I enjoyed racing thru parking garages, with a van load of people. There's nothing like going fast, up and down those lanes, with the concrete pillars looking like they'll take your head off any moment.

I understand the city never sleeps. Well, I did. I could have gone out drinking to all hours of the night, but I didn't want to ruin the next day of recovering from all the booze. There is a small line that drinking people cross over when they drink too much. If you aren't crossing with them, they look really stupid. If you are, then it doesn't matter. Anyway, I was saving my energy for getting womped in the women's hockey tournament. (that's another story)

Would I go back? Yep. I was just getting the hang of the roulette table. The day I checked out of the hotel, I took my free complimentary chips ($10) and headed for the first uncrowded, no players within 25 feet table. I admitted that I was a newbie, and placed my bet. One chip was for Jake, one was for Sammi. Whatever I won I would split between them. I won, then I lost, then I won, then I got brave, then I got stupid. When I reached $100, I dragged myself away from the table and cashed in. On the way out the thought cross my mind "I could give the kids each 10 dollars. They would never know" Then I realized that is bad gambling karma. I will need all the help I can get next time I visit Las Vegas.

Hockey Momma

We came in second!!!

to last that is. The good news is we weren't the worse.

but let me take you back to the beginning...

I'm sitting on the plane, visualizing taking someone out on the rink. My hand brushed my watch, and the crystal was gone. The second hand had poked me. How odd, I thought. Time was not only standing still at the moment, but was trying to get my attention. Then I broke a fingernail. I got up to use the restroom and my favorite earring was just barely hanging on....

I'm not superstitious. Here I was leaving for Las Vegas and all this happen in the first five minutes or so. My thoughts went to "I wonder how many pieces I might be coming back in!"

We arrived safely, I might add. Checked into the Stratosphere. It looks like the Space Needle in Seattle except it has a roller coaster on the very top. We all sat around as a team and looked scared. I was of course, trying to be brave, and not telling everyone about the run of bad luck on the plane.

Our first game was at 11:00pm. Before we went in to face our enemy, we gathered around the car, and I had everyone join me as we prayed for the rapture to take place immediately. I know God answers prayer. I felt for a moment that he had abandoned me. But I realized He was telling me to go in there and kick some butt...

We got womped! I would have kicked some butt, but I couldn't catch them. Those butts were fast! There were college girls who where born with skates on their feet and pucks for pacifiers. They were gracious winners. We decided as a group that we were going for the sportsmanship award.

We lost the sportsmanship award in the next womp! Their butts weren't quite as fast, and I was able to kick a few of them. Our confidence was building.

We lost our third game, but at least we had a few goals. I got tangled with one of them, wouldn't let go of her, and she wasn't able to score. I want to tell you I saved the game, but they were too far ahead by then. So it didn't really matter much, except I look good on the video.

Our fourth game was much the same. Fast butts, a few kicks here and there. More points off our sportsmanship award. But this team was fun. They were only about one level above us. As we were playing, I got to leaning on one of the defensive players -- she looked at me and said "Hey, another old player like me" which I quickly replied "Yeah, so lets be easy on each
other!" The players on the bench were wondering what in the world we were talking about.

By this time I was going thru the grieving process. Mad that this old body just couldn't do what I wanted it to. Then I got embarrassed that I was even there. Then I decided what the heck, it will make a great story. I can honestly say that I played in a tournament with the first women hockey player in the NHL...

They did at some point in the games, divide the Great Ones from the recreational ones...It didn't help.

Here are some comments overheard in the arena:
Bless their hearts!!!!
Keep trying!
You all are looking better!
Why don't we have as nice of jerseys as them? (We at least looked good)
Skate Hard!
What the hell am I doing here?
I think I'm going to throw up!
You aren't out of it yet!

We left the tournament, not in last though. We got second to last. I met lots of wonderful female hockey players of all ages. Mostly younger though.

That was the fun part.

I found myself in the casinos, still leaning on people to get them out of my way.

They are having this tournament next year.
Am I going?


Are you nuts!