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Just short of a week back from the vegas trip and I’ve already been back in the daily rat race. hit the ground running and am busy studying for round 3 of finals as an evening student. Part of what makes the experience more complicated are the unexpected tasks and deadlines that spring up during your full time, rent/expense-paying job that you absolutely cannot neglect or disregard for the obvious reasons. Things are never as bad as they seem, or course, but its like a jenga tower tipping over, even a little amount of stress and it FEELS like everything is going to tip over, regardless.
Vegas was fun fun and more fun. Seeing all of the family all in one place was more than worth losing the extra cash on slot machines spewing song and dances, lobster pots, aztec symbols and darth vader (penny slot themes, don’t worry). I even got a chance to see my first Cirque de Soleil performance, the Beatle’s LOVE rendition. Growing up I remember listening to so many Beatles songs and watching the cartoons, watching the remixed songs was like a nostalgic trip and a new experience all mashed together. It’s amazing how such seemingly simple songs have inspired generations of fans into pondering the meaning and spirit of music. I can’t think of any group or musical artist in today’s scene that can even come close to what the fab four did in their short time together.
A few nights later I ate at the Emeril’s Delmonico steakhouse, feasting on a superb ribeye. The service there was so prompt and polite it struck me as kind of strange that I was actually being waited on, even realizing that even the steep bill and generous tip calculation that was due for the meal didn’t faze me. I guess its part of growing up and getting a real job, 9-5 more or less. Although old habits and mindsets don’t die easily. One thing for sure, Vegas is definitely a destination for living it up, living the fantasy life, even for a fleeting moment. It is however not so much a destination for relaxation however, since I’ve been back it feels like I’ve been wide awake for the past week and and am in need of a good, G-rated nights sleep.
Meanwhile life in the district goes on, the new party set to take over the leadership of the U.S. congress is excited to move in and take charge. Many of the predictions and arguments I raised during the run up to the Iraq war have come true, although the people I got into animated arguments with on the merits of US neo-conservative foreign policy are long gone. I keep hoping that one day we’ll be done with this mess and be focusing our attention on more important and relevant concerns than world domination, oil, and no-bid contracts.
Wishful thinking still, I know. Still, I can’t help but cling to the hope that things will work out for the better eventually.