Okay, this winning thing has just got to stop. It's beginning to get ridiculous. (And yes, it's past midnight as I'm writing this, so... oh, forget it.)

This afternoon was spent at the MGM Grand's Grand Adventures Theme Park. Now, I like a good rollercoaster ride. I like having the bejeezus scared out of me, speeding down a 70 degree turn at 80 miles per hour. If you like that too, then skip MGM's Theme Park. Go somewhere else. This one's about as much fun as watching someone watching paint dry. (I should point out that the park does have one or two water rides, so stop on by if you feel like beating the heat with a little added fun.)

The only other good thing I can say about the park is it's home to the world's tallest Skycoaster, measuring in at a height of 250 feet. It's not a bungee jump, and it's not skydiving, but it's somewhere in the middle. I did one on the boardwalk at Atlantic City (200 feet, I think), and it was awesome. A rush like that isn't felt much where else, unless you have a parachute attached to your back.

As dusk dwindled over the city, I headed over to the Sahara for a show that I saw on a billboard in passing. Boy, was I glad I saw that! Back in the 80's, there was a comedian who used to have specials on the cable channels. He speaks his mind, he explains things goin' on in the world in a hilarious way, he has a strange knack for inventing unusual things, and, well, he smashes food with a sledgehammer. That's right, boys and girls, tonight I saw Gallagher, live and in person!

For those of you in or travelling to this area, be sure and stop by to see this show. For those of you who've seen his shows, you know how messy it can get. Well, I was just on the edge of the splattering target area. It's a rather strange experience sitting front row in a Vegas showroom, and absolutely everything from where I sat to 40 feet back was covered in plastic. Chairs, chandeliers, tables, people.

Needless to say, the Sledge-O-Matic (which has been modified for improved velocity and range of... uh... it splats more people with food) was not a letdown. Unfortunately, there's a drawback to seeing Gallagher live. Everytime he hits a plate of honey meshed in with ketchup and cottage cheese, you have to duck for cover and miss seeing it.

The show ended just after 10, and after discarding my food-covered plastic poncho, I headed back to my car and drove north up Las Vegas Boulevard to The Fremont Experience.

You may be asking yourself, "Hey, Henry? What's The Fremont Experience"? Well, I'm glad you asked that.

In the heart of downtown Las Vegas (the Strip is not downtown) is Fremont Street. A long stretch of sidewalk scattered with casinos and stores everywhere you turn. Above you is an arc'd ceiling stretching about four blocks that covers the whole street. Every hour on the hour (up until midnight), anyone standing outside is treated to an incredible five minute light show. It's basically a giant four-block overhead video display, and there are apparently four different "shows" that go on. Tonight, I saw Odyssey and Viva Las Vegas, the latter of which was a very classy tribute to Las Vegas and some of its more famous performers.

The complimentary magazine in my room has this to say about it...
"An exciting pedestrian promenade surrounded by ten fabulous casino/hotels, the Fremont Street Experience boasts a signature attraction unlike any other in the world - a one-of-a-kind light and sound show derived from over 2 million lights and 540,000 watts of concert quality sound that come alive each night beginning at dusk. The beautifully landscaped promenade is lined with bench seating, a refreshing mist system and several aesthetically-designed retail carts, selling an array of interesting items. The shows run nightly every hour on the hour from 6 p.m. - midnight. The Fremont Street Experience also hosts special seasonal events. Phone (702) 678-5777 for more information."

Yup. That about sums it up.

Heading home, I drive by the Stratosphere, the tallest building in Las Vegas at the north end of the Strip. It was a few minutes before 1am, and tickets to the top stop selling at quarter till. I checked my wallet and saw eight bucks, plus whatever change I had in my pocket. Onto the casino...

It seems that when I do win on these slot machines, I had been mysteriously drawn to them. Yes, I won again tonight. And yes, it was just as I was about to finish and go home to bed. I had five pulls on the level left, and I hit (5) 7 (5). Now, when you get one of the (5)'s, that means you're paid five times whatever you would have won. (Say you get a (5) and two single bars. You'd win five times what three single bars would get you.) So, here I was with a 7 and two of these (5) things. If I had gotten three 7's, I would have won 180 quarters. I figured I'd either won five times that, or ten times that.

I won twenty-five times that. $1,125 to be exact. That brings my four day total to $2,925. All this on slot machines? C'mon... there's gotta be something goin' on here. That ain't normal.

Anyhow, I quit. I'm putting my money in a safe (keeping a teensy bit cause I have to eat and stuff, ya know), and I'm going to thoroughly enjoy using it for the rest of my trip! Woohoo!

See you on the road...

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