Occassion Photos- Las Vegas with Stacey- February 1999!
Back in Sept. or so of '98, I was at Blue Planet (a popular Dallas dance club) and won a trip for two to Las Vegas! I decided to invite Stacey, and continue our trend of traveling together (we went together to Norway in Summer of 98). We had a blast! We each landed around 8:30 pm in Vegas on a Friday night and met up at the airport (she lives in Maryland and flew from there). We were both pretty tired after having long days at work and long flights; but we were excited to be in Vegas! It was her first visit ever and only my third. We were looking forward to seeing the free EFX show I won as part of my vacation package that night.So, we caught a shuttle from the airport to the spectacular MGM Grand where we got two nights free stay. On the shuttle we joked around with the driver and other passengers. When we arrived at the hotel, we got to get in the VIP check-in line and found out we had a great room up on the 23rd floor! We also discovered our rate would have been about $300/night if we were paying. Thank God we weren't! Wooo hooo! We went up to our hotel room and checked it out. Not too shabby! We relaxed for a few minutes then went back down to the lobby to pick up our tickets for the EFX show. Normal cost: $75/piece. Cost for us: FREE! Shyah! We made our way through the hotel and found the entrance to the Grand Theatre. Oh! And Grand Theatre it was! It was HUMUNGOUS! The show was starting as we walked in and we were shown our seats by an usher. Fantastic seats up front! So from there for the next two hours Stacey and I oohed and ahhed and clapped and squeeled in delight at the amazing show! I had NO idea it would be so clever, fascinating, glorious and amazing! I was totally enthralled. When it was over Stace and I raved to each other about it. We decided we'd go to bed so we could get an early start in the morning. And that we did. We were up by 7:30 am and ready to explore Vegas.
 | This photo was taken Sat. morning in our room. Outside you can see one wing of the MGM Grand Hotel. |
 | Here's another photo. Marilyn Monroe wanted to be in the shot with us, so we let her. After talking and catching up with each other, we decided to head down to breakfast. On the way to find the Grand Buffet, we came upon the RainForest Cafe and Shop and couldn't resist checking it out. |
 | Stacey loved the RainForest Cafe Frog (their mascot). |
 | I liked the talking tree and monkeys! |
 | I think Stacey likes the frog a little too much. ;-) |
 | Oh, well, shucks, I love him too! |
 | Right before we left the RainForest Cafe, I decided to hang out with a few of my friends. |
 | The Gorillas really seemed to open up to Stacey. I was a little jealous. So we left and found the Grand Buffet where we had a VIP line pass, and thank God for that cuz the line was at least an HOUR long. How can people wait so long? But we got let right in and got to choose from hundreds of different, delicous breakfast items. YUM! After we had our fill, we decided to gamble a little and play the "Wheel of Fortune" slot machines. Had fun, but didn't win any jackpots. Darn. We then decided to take a walk on the strip and visit a few of the other casinos. |
 | First stop was New York New York. Here I am outside of the awesome hotel/casino as we made our way towards it. |
 | This is the MGM Grand Lion! Couldn't resist a photo of this "Master of Beasts" as we passed him. |
 | Got a great view of the Strip as we crossed a walkway that connects the MGM Grand to New York New York. |
 | Just before going inside New York New York, I snapped this photo of Stacey. |
New York New York was spectacular as well. Next to the Casino they have the neatest Food area. It's designed just like New York streets, with street grates and man holes and parking meters and everything! We walked around for a while and Stace got a chocolate icecream waffle cone and spilled some on her sweatshirt. We laughed as she tried to wipe off the stain, but realized it was useless. We then made a decision that would forever change our lives. We decided to ride the Manhatten Express Rollercoaster. Now, let me tell you I thought this rollercoaster was supposed to be pretty tame, but it was actually one of the scariest I've ever ridden... and I've ridden a lot. Actually, it was painful! My shoulders are still a little bruised from it and it's been 3 weeks! It was fun, just very mind-numbing... well, and shoulder-numbing in my case. I don't think I was strapped in tightly enough. Cool. ;-) After we got off the ride, I was afraid Stacey would never speak to me again. She managed to tell me that she had her eyes closed most of the ride. Now, I don't know about you, but I would think that would make it worse. I had been telling her all about the Big Shot ride over at the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino, but here is where she told me there would be no more rides for her. That was OK, since I did get to ride the Big Shot last time I was in Vegas.
After leaving New York New York, we walked down the strip and stopped in at this Cola-Cola place and looked around and watched people do that wall/rock climbing stuff and bought some Ethel-M chocolates. Yummy! We then went down to Bally's and tried to win the car of my dreams... the Jaguar XK8. As you may of guessed, we didn't win. We then visited the brand new Bellagio. Stacey named this hotel as her favorite hotel.
 | I wanted a picture of myself with the Bellagio sign in the background so I asked Stacey to take one. |
 | Stace, what if you crouch down and take the shot, that way you can get the lion, the sign and my face all in the same plane. Pretty please???? |
 | As we left the Bellagio, we decided to take the moving walkway (our feet were tired!), yet despite that, we thought it was fun to run against the walkway so we looked like we were running in place. Yes, we were getting goofy, I'll blame it on the fact we didn't get enough sleep the night before. After totally cracking up over this, we decided we should get a nap in before all the festivities we had planned for that night. Yes, a nap. |
 | So on our way back to the MGM Grand, I saw this little bird and immediately remembered how Stacey had teased me for taking pictures of the pigeons when I was in Norway. "Stace! I gotta photograph the Las Vegas Pigeon! They are so rare and unique from any I've ever seen before!" Stacey laughed and shook her head. She accepted my weirdness. ;-D |
After our nap, we woke up and got ready for our free dinner at Gatsby's. The MGM Grand's nicest Formal Restaurant. So we get all gussied up and went down for dinner. Of course, Gatsby's is a little elegant for either of our tastes and we have quite an interesting time trying to understand the menu. Finally, Stacey decides on ording this chicken thing and I decide to be a little daring and order this assorted meat plate which had Ostrich, Kobe Steak and Lamb on it. But before our meal comes, we get delicous bread and sorbet and ohh!... The waiter brings out two plates and sets each in front of us and says: "The waiter has prepared this especially for you to taste." It's this teeny tiny little thing that looks like toast (about 2 cm by 2 cm in size) and it has some weird suff on top of it. Stacey and I look at each other, repressing laughter. It looked sooo funny! I made Stacey try it first and she commented on how spicy it was. I knew I wouldn't like it so I made Stacey eat my mini-toast thing too. Then our meals came. Mine was very interesting. The meat was a little underdone to my taste, but who am I to interfere with master chef-ing skills? I eat each type of meat one by one. First the Ostrich. Hmm... not bad! Tastes like a mix of Steak and Chicken. Then the Kobe Steak. Pretty rare, but OK. Then the lamb. Woah! So tender! Very good as well. Then in the middle of the meat arrangement there were some delicous mashed pototoes which I devored in two seconds flat. We decide to pass on desert to avoid going over our $100 limit we were given by my package. On the way out, the Bartenders stop us and made some small talk. We promise to come back by the bar before we head on to Studio 54 for the night.
So, back up to the room we go. This time, dressing pretty slutty (oh, alright, I'll speak for myself) and getting ready for a night of dancing at Studio 54 -- MGM's dance club. We then head back down to Gatsby's for what we promised each other would be just one drink. But the bartenders are so nice and quite entertaining, so we end up staying for about 3 of their very strong yet delicous concoctions. We ask the guys to join us at Studio 54 when they're off their shift, but they tell us their not allowed. Employees of the MGM Grand are called Cast Members, and Cast Members are not allowed to go to Studio 54. Stacey and I agree that is a stupid rule, yet we say farewell and head over towards the club, this time walking a little less steadily.
Studio 54 was the best Dance Club I've ever been to in my LIFE! Now only did it have a nice big dance floor, but it played the best music EVER! We stayed and danced our hearts out til 4 in the morning. As we were leaving, Stacey was talking to a guy she had met inside and I decided to run back to the room to get my blistex (yes, yes, we all know about my addiction). Stacey decides to stay behind and talk to her friend, Greg. I get off the elevators at the 23rd floor and start walking towards my room when I notice there is someone walking a few paces behind me. I don't think much of it. But as I stop to key into my room, so does the person. I hear an "Excuse me", so I turn around to see a 40- something, drunk Japanese man. He begins talking in Japanese and I shake my head to say I don't understand him. I wonder if he's lost or what. He then stops talking and thinks for a second. He then kisses the air and points to me. Ahhh! Is he thinking I'm a... ahem... lady of the night? "NO!" I say loudly and quickly enter my room, slamming the door on him. I watch him walk away through the peephole. 'Geez! What nerve', I think as I try not to laugh at how stupid he looked. I immediately find my blistex and then change back into jeans and a sweater. I walk back down to the Casino to tell Stacey about what happened, and then decide to do a little more gambling before going back up to the room. Stace and I went to sleep at 6:00 am that Sunday morning.
We slept until about 11:00am and woke up starving. We decided to try the Grand Buffet again, but the line was so long, and we didn't have another VIP line pass, so we decided to eat at a different restaurant in the hotel, which turned out to be delicous and not that expensive. Both of us were pretty tired, so we dosed up on caffeine and decided to walk around and see the rest of the MGM Grand. The hotel is so large! We walked down Studio Walk and looked in some of the shops, then ended up by the Grand Spa and the swimming pools. We walked outside to check them out, never suspecting to see anyone swimming, but sure enough there were about a dozen people in one of the pools. It was like 50 degrees out! They were crazy!
 | Here is me next to one of the palm trees in the pool area. We decided to go back inside and find another area of shops we hadn't found yet. |
 | This is just one shot of how stunning the MGM Grand is. This is inside by the Grand Spa, at the end of Studio Walk. |
 | Here's another shot, looking up at a tall palm tree. |
We walked to the other end of the hotel and found the other stores, including the Magnet Store we were looking for. We must have easily spent 45 minutes in there, amazed by all the different magnets there were! I had never seen so many in my life! Wall to floor magnets! We each bought 3 magnets and continued shopping when we found the Photograph store. You know, you've seen those places that take your picture and insert your head on the cover of Success Magazine or whatever. It's pretty funny, cuz they do such a good job! It looks so real! Stacey loves it and decides to get one done of her where her head is inserted on a Playboy model on the front cover of Playboy. She is all excited, saying she can't wait to send it to her mom to freak her out. We spend another good hour there watching Stacey's head be meshed on the magazine cover and watching another couple get their heads put on a bride and groom. They wanted to tell everyone they got married in Vegas. It was so much fun! Be sure to check back here soon, as soon as Stacey gets the photo of her on Playboy scanned, I will put it up here. Don't worry, it's only R Rated.
By this time, It was getting close to 6:00 (our checkout time), so we went back up to the room to pack up. We then checked out (once again, VIP) and left our bags with the Bellman. Since our flights didn't leave until later that night, we decided to go out to the strip again, so we took the monorail that goes from the MGM to Bally's and went to the Barbary Coast so I could find $3 blackjack tables ($5 is the cheapest at MGM). I play for about a half an hour and wind up winning about $38. Not bad, and I need it due to the money I had lost to the slots elsewhere. We then went to the Flamingo Hilton and ate dinner at their buffet. Other hotels we visited that night were The Mirage, Caesars Palace, and Harrahs. At 10:00pm, we realized we needed to get back to the hotel to get our bags and get to the airport. We were having a shuttle pick us up at the hotel at 11:00. Stacey's flight was to depart at 12:30 and mine 1:30am Monday morning. Ugh. We knew we had long nights ahead of us. It was sad saying goodbye to the MGM Grand. We had soo much fun and had done so much stuff in so little time. Once we got to the airport, we checked in and departed ways. We were each departing out of completely different concourses. It was sad saying goodbye to Stace again, but I know I will see her soon. I'm hoping to save up enough money to come visit her this summer in Maryland. We have great plans to drive through Delaware to say hi to Darrell (my ex-boss) and then drive to New York City and spend a night there, then drive to Connecticut to see her family.
Winning this trip to Las Vegas was one of the best things that ever happened to me and I want to say thanks to Blue Planet (now called The Millenium) for paying for our airline tickets and I want to say thanks to the MGM Grand for the hotel room, the EFX tickets, the Grand Buffet VIP passes, the dinner at Gasby's at the VIP passes to Studio 54.
Well, neither Stace or I ended up winning any big money, but we now have one more adventure together to keep in our memories and hearts, and that to me is worth more than any money jackpot.
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