I turned 10, 18, and 20 at home in the city I was born in. I celebrated my 21st at some waterfront restaurant in SF with my first-ever drink, my 25th in Santa Cruz, and my 30th in LA, trolling Dodger fans after another SF Giants World Series victory the day before. I had plans for my 40th since 2022, but none of them didn’t involve Vegas. I thought I’d go to Hawaii, or Europe on one of those seven-day European tour specials I’d see on Travelzoo. Some plans don’t come to fruition due to life’s curveballs hitting my head, however. (I felt like I’ve taken a lot of those curveballs to my head this year.) And then there are the rare times in life when I hit a grand slam. Finding a great place in Vegas at an amazing weekly rate on my exact travel dates was one of them. 

I usually stay home on my born days, simply to avoid my special day being potentially ruined by assholes being assholes. But I also have this thing where I need to get a massage wherever I travel. In-home massage is costly as hell, so I found a good deal via Groupon at a massage clinic in Summerlin. The soonest opening they had on their schedule was, yep, on my birthday, so I ended up going out. The drive wasn’t bad, I didn’t encounter any assholes, and the massage was amazing. 

I stayed home the rest of the time, though I took some time to explore the rest of the hotel. 

My suite is up there. No, UP there!

It looks like Vegas paradise, but trust me, it was coooooold that day. 

I had the option to go to LA again for my 40th, but there was that pesky blue baseball team and its fans. Naturally, there just had to be a World Series game on my born day, and a closeout game, too. Ten years ago, I sported my Giants hat while roaming the streets of LA, proud to be repping the winners. (Not once did I get jumped, if you can believe that.) I guess the evil gods of that blue baseball team must’ve remembered that because ten years later, guess who would win the World Series, and on my 40th, too? (And thus begins my revenge story!) 

I eased my nerves in my private, jacuzzi-style bathtub, and it was a huge bathtub. With actual jacuzzi jets! The lights were mine, by the way. 

And now, a photo dump of my Vegas adventures that I didn’t post in my previous entry. 

Town Square Las Vegas, near the airport. I went to their Sephora to go mascara shopping, as the one I packed with me had dried out! *sobs* 

A collection of pasties of burlesque dancers, found at the Burlesque Hall of Fame–another place I visit whenever I’m in town. 

The thrifter in me never rests, no matter where I go! So I was glad to see some Savers stores in Vegas. This one was on Charleston Blvd. and I got a rhinestone jean jacket for only $14 there. 

The pirate ship in front of the Treasure Island hotel. Important pro-tip for visitors: the TI hotel is the one place on the Strip where you can park for free!

Shopping at the Forum Shops at Ceasars. I gotta say: it was kind of hard finding this place. You have to be on a certain floor to access the Forum Shops. I do like how their sky ceiling hasn’t changed since my last visit. I remember seeing that ceiling in my first-ever trip to Vegas 30 years ago. 

The LINQ Promenade, where you can have Double-Doubles and sushi burritos, with a view of the High Roller…

…that I’d also take a ride on! More lovely Vegas views!

OK but you gotta wonder who The Sphere voted for…

And speaking of, I got one more installment to this trip. Stay tuned!