Happiest of Birthdays

 

I don't quite know where to begin, but I am solo blogging today as my 50th birthday really did allow me to take centre stage and enjoy Vegas, friendships and family, both near and far.  It went by in a blur, the photo captures all of that!

New York is maybe the city that never sleeps but as my stylist Crystal told me later in the day, no-one sleeps in Vegas, and with perhaps only a handful of hours under my belt since we arrived, I can't really disagree.  There really is so much to do, and so little time, and that perhaps can be how I view life as I roll through the 50th milestone, and continue as I mean to go on, enjoying every moment.

It did start with a call to the hotel gym where Dave and I did a little bit of cardio work without perhaps ever fully risking too much cardio harm today. On that note, I did sadly see someone on the Linq boulevard getting the full CPR yesterday, no idea if they pulled through, but another timely reminder of the clock that is ticking. And that, is where I turn away from such maudlin thought.

We did go back to said boulevard for an American birthday breakfast, a couple of the recent arrivals having found the perfect booth to start the day. I hit the Las Vegas breakfast for all it was worth, 3 eggs sunny side up with some crisp bacon and a small mountain of little potatoes and peppers to add a little bit of Vegas fairy dust to the taste buds and kickstart the day. The 2 accompanying Americanos and toast complemented it nicely also.

Strolled back to the casino and did a bit of a minor walkabout call to the kids at home, whilst a couple of the lads I am with familiarised themselves with the slot machines, and the Caesars reward scheme.

Determined that the mornings full grooming would be put on ice, and instead went to the less than icy Caesars pool, my oh my, the heat.... but the cool waters of this ancient (ha ha) manifestation helped a little keep the body temperature in check, and I did briefly dive in .. well, when in Rome ....

You then go indoors and find a Game of Thrones video game to play for a little while and relax in the air conditioning environment whilst waiting to catch up with friends for lunch.

I had spoken to the kids and my parents back at home during time at pool, my birthday there was almost over, but not in Vegas, just beginning ..

All of the crew out here assembled at the Cheesecake Factory in the Forum, some of them even had cheesecake. I would have but the clock was ticking, and by the time I had a savoury appetizer (small cheese burger wraps, very tasty parcels of 'mincy' tangy goodness) and opened a few cards and lovely thoughtful gifts from the gang out here. They are sponsoring me to enter a poker tournament tomorrow, I don't fancy their chances of getting a payback.

I had a 3pm appointment with my stylist Crystal in the hair salon here. A very relaxing hour it must be said, not someone who naturally embraces this kind of thing (well I didn't have a haircut for 2 years in the pandemic) but was a great way to get ready for the evening with a bit of information on the way my hair parts, and a lovely head massage that I almost drifted off too. This not sleeping lark can be a little tricky now and again.

Met Chrissi back at the room who had also had some hair work done further down the Strip and we donned our glad rags for an old style/new style night out in Vegas.

 Our first port of call was the swanky cocktail bar Vanderpump Great to see almost all the crew in fine attire, we did manage to smuggle in Tom who is far too attached to his backpacker days when abroad.  The chat was excitable, the drinks really added some extra enthusiasm. I had a cold blooded orange and bourborn cocktail and a spicily and rudely jalapeno kicking one entitled checkmate bitch!

Very quickly our carriage awaited, and most of us (after many photos) had an hour in the party bus to let the cocktails do their work and to tour the downtown and northern strip parts of Vegas. Chrissi and I got married in these parts so our driver kindly did a swing past the Little Chapel of Flowers for us.

Our eventual destination was the Italian American club, old school rat pack, crooning and cavorting type of place. It was amazing, the ambience immense, the service top class, the food to die for. And no-one got taken in to 'the office.' In fact the accompanying cabaret sang many songs for us and my mate Karen stepped up and dueted on Viva. My that girl can sing.

The food I had; a starter of banana peppers, no bananas and some spicy sausagey, tomatoey substance that really laid some strong foundations for the rest of the evening. My main course was penne rustic which almost felt healthy in terms of the amount of green spinach that I fought through the jungle of in every mouthful along with the pasta and meat itself, in a delightfully light sauce. Too much for me to eat though, as it was cocktails all the way with an 'old fashioned' and limoncello. A rendition of happy birthday and a couple of bites of Italian dessert cannoli.

Didn't want to leave the family establishment, best to be part of this kind of family I think, I was in full Mob narrative by the time we ventured back outside. 

The heavens had opened again, torrential rain, but our Uber safely took us back to the Cosmopolitan and the Vesper Bar.

From rat pack it was onto 60's style James Bond, we were looking the part, I felt the part and the Vesper cocktail was the finishing touch in this stylish establishment. Connery, eat your heart out.

People were beginning to tire by now but 4 of us still managed to wander over to the Bellagio for a piano bar night cap and some further reminiscences.  I think that took us outside of my birthday, and maybe that's for another day and another blog.