Comments on: Without An Address, You Can’t Go Home

By: eyeandpen

eyeandpen — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:00:58 +0000

Funny post! I enjoyed reading this entry! I think Vegas would be a fun place to live!

By: Tom Bentley

Tom Bentley — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 22:22:30 +0000

Annie, my parents were married in Vegas (and probably were at the craps tables an hour afterwards). And we stopped by Vegas on our annual trips to our relatives in Colorado and Iowa every time, so I was fascinated by the spilling slots (and the spilled drinks) from an early age. My parents were too busy gambling to get divorced.

By: Annie Dennison

Annie Dennison — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 15:19:35 +0000

I knew it! What happens in Vegas does NOT stay in Vegas. And a wonderful story it is, Tom. High-stakes gambling has never been my thing, except in love, so what intrigues me about Sin City is a different type of lure for many visitors there: of elopement (over 100,000 each year) and, not coincidentally, easy divorce.

By: Tom Bentley

Tom Bentley — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:52:59 +0000

Susan, I understand your comfort in knowing it’s not easy to get to Vegas, because I succumb to many of its allures when I do go, which isn’t that often. I still love to gamble, despite the cruelty of your chances. And still enjoy the free drinks at the gaming tables, though I know that makes my already spotty math skills even spottier. It is one of those jarring places where you loosen the restrictions on good sense that you might normally have.

By: Tom Bentley

Tom Bentley — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:50:09 +0000

Suzanne, because I lived there, and shopped in stores, and paid my bills and walked through neighborhoods, there was a semblance of normalcy, though the glittery Vegasness of it all still colored most interactions, even in a subtle way. And you can feel the flames of Hades on many a corner—the blatant sexual panderings you mention are a component of the place that is crassly sad. But for all that, it remains for me a place of perplexed fascination.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 18:13:26 +0000

Great story. That is why I live in tennessee. I long for Vegas like a vampire for blood! Even though one knows it is a decadent, wallet busting, sleep depriving, calorie laden and in the end mind numbing place to be, I love being there and don’t plan to give it up any time soon! Needless to say, I don’t step foot in the Indian casinos here or Atlantic City in the east. I know they can’t hold a candle to my beloved!

By: Suzanne Fluhr (Just One Boomer)

Suzanne Fluhr (Just One Boomer) — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 04:28:19 +0000

The insides of casinos remind me of Hades—-not that I’ve ever actually been to Hades—-that I consciously know of. I have visited Las Vegas twice. Once it was the airport we flew into on our way to showing our then 12 and 8 year old sons the Grand Canyon. When certain other members of our extended family (on my husband’s side ;-)) heard we were going to Las Vegas, they decided to meet us there.They stayed at New York, New York. We stayed at the Showboat, well off the strip. It had a small casino, but we picked it because of its reasonable price (I just read that it went bankrupt and was demolished) and, more remarkably, because it had a 106 lane bowling alley. We spent our one full day there, walking up and down the Strip gawking. The boys ended up with several flyers (featuring naked ladies) for strip shows, escort services and massage parlors. I think the fact that these were actually handed to them impressed them more than any of the casinos.

I returned most recently when my husband had a conference at Caesars. While he conferred about mesothelioma (now, there’s a juxtaposition), I wandered around the casino, looking for a way out. (I completely understand that trapped feeling you described). We attended a Cirque de Soleil performance and got the hell out of Dodge the next morning, heading for the antithesis of Las Vegas — Zion National Park (wholesome outdoor natural beauty).

I have a high school friend in Las Vegas, so I know that “normal” people actually live there, but it is one of those places that feels anything but normal — as you so engagingly described.

By: Tom Bentley

Tom Bentley — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 15:39:43 +0000

Hey Penny, thanks! And yes, there is always more to learn, but I had to edit some of the “Not safe for work” material so that I won’t be excommunicated by the Catholic church.

By: Penny Sadler

Penny Sadler — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 10:30:17 +0000

Tom, as usual I am thoroughly and completely entertained. I agree with “good beginning for a novel,” comment. I am certain there is more to learn!

By: Tom Bentley

Tom Bentley — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:04:50 +0000

Nicole, there IS always a story there! You can’t say that about a lot of places, even if the Vegas stories can get out of hand. But I suppose that’s one of the elements that makes them worthy of the telling. I will try to keep ’em coming, thanks.

By: nicole | the wondernuts

nicole | the wondernuts — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:42:38 +0000

Well, there’s always a story when in vegas. This one’s pretty awesome. It might even be hangover status. You ought to keep them coming =)

By: Tom Bentley

Tom Bentley — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:38:29 +0000

Dave, absolutely! It’s like the New York, New York casino and the Paris casino, with the miniaturized street scenes and buildings and the stage-set character touches—you know you’re not in Paris, unless it’s the Paris on Mars.

It’s all such a strange charade—but very American in its surface glitz and often desperate shadow below. But comic too.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:06:06 +0000

I recently completed watching the Hangover series trilogy and movies #1 and #3 reminded me of the unique emotional impact that this town can trigger in some folks. I find the “hyper reality” of the inside of some of these casinos intriguing – from the painted sky, to the canals. I think I am referring to the Bellagio Casino in particular. I was in Bellagio Italy last month, and let me tell you this – Bellagio Casino in Vegas no way resembles the “real thing”. But maybe it is not supposed to. After all, its in Vegas baby.

By: Tom Bentley

Tom Bentley — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:04:17 +0000

Dave, I don’t think I’m related to Jim, unless he owes me money, in which case, please tell him to get in touch. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to post here, and for enjoying the video.

By: Tom Bentley

Tom Bentley — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:02:56 +0000

Sister C, you DO need to post some stories. You were there much longer than me, so I based all my criminal activity on your model.