Las Vegas With The Ones I Love!

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::Warning, this blog is VERY long::

My family is gay. Not in just that happy, giddy way -- I mean, they're gay, they're gay ---gaaaaaaaaaaay. Allow me to explain (by the way, those are lyrics to one of my songs). My mom and dad were married for 25 years and knew each other well before then. They had a lovely marriage and were (are) great friends. They divorced 10 years ago. To make a long story short, they BOTH came to the conclusion that they were...well....better off as FRIENDS shall I say. For many people it takes years to realize who they are way deep inside. In that process they had me (thanks guys). I joke with my partner April that I was born with a pride flag. Please don't tell me being gay isn't genetic! OY! For the love of all things pink and flashy -- I am here to say -- YEAH, RIGHT! LOL! I knew I was gay from age 11!! I just knew. Yes, I had crushes on guys and still think many are gorgeous -- but I always had deep feelings for girls. For some people it is a choice -- but whatever -- that is an issue for another blog! Anyway, to make another looooooooooong story short -- both my parents have new partners and are very happy. I am happy for them. I couldn't have two greater, loving parents. Trust me, as CRAZY as all this sounds -- we are a very close, very loving family. Our family is a cross between The Bird Cage and Meet The Fockers (Ben Stiller's family). Just ask April -- she adores them. We call Mom & Elizabeth "da mammas" and Dad and Freddy "da pappas" -- yup. I am very serious. I can't count the # of gay cousins, aunts and uncles in my extended family. I think we invented the gene. Woah.

OK, so my family is gay. The end. Thank you and good night (takes bow)....LOL!

OK, OK...Let's continue....as a "gift to myself" for my 30th birthday, I really wanted to take my parents and mamma # 2 (Elizabeth) to Las Vegas. April and I discussed it and surprised them with a weekend getaway! We were going to be in Vegas anyway -- so why not?? My dad had never been to Vegas so I knew it would be quite the adventure. My dad is a VERY silly man. He could make a deaf & blind person laugh. He could make a person with no legs dance. He could turn tears into laughter. I should also add the fact that he is a very nervous man as well. He gets nervous about a lot of stuff. Put it this way, this flight out to Vegas was the first flight he took in almost 25 years. The last time was on a trip to Disney World when I was 6!!! I remember him saying that he thought the Atlanta airport looked like a space station -- that was it for him -- until now. After surprising my parents with the trip -- they (and I) could hardly wait for the day to arrive. That day was June 16! Vegas, Baby!

This weekend was filled with so many laughs, crazy experiences and all round fun -- that I had to KEEP NOTES....Seriously! Let's begin, shall we?

Mom, Elizabeth and dad departed Providence, RI on the 8:30am flight to Vegas on Friday, June 16th. All three are anxious flyers (well, my mom really isn't) -- so they prefer the first row. Actually Elizabeth NEED'S-- must HAVE -- GET OUT OF MY *@!&!*& WAY -- REQUIRE's the first row. If this doesn't happen -- they aren't flying! LOL! For those who suffer with anxiety disorder you know what I mean -- for those who don't -- we aren't insane, trust me! ANYWAY -- the mammas encountered a very RUDE woman seated in the first row, isle seat. She didn't want to sit next to either of them. She was starting to cause a scene. My dad was seated in the second row (which he didn't mind,...especially since a handsome southerner was seated next to him)! BUT, the second he saw the cranky woman start a scene with the mammas his feather's went up and he started a cock fight! He somehow managed to get her to switch seats with him, but she wasn't happy about it. I don't understand why some people are so mean? She didn't have an anxiety disorder -- she just "didn't want to move" -- and wanted mom & Elizabeth to move because she was uncomfortable by they're uncomfortableness!?? OK, so the plane hadn't even left the ground and there was a ruckess! Luckily that was the last one! Although, as I type this they are in the HOPEFULLY "friendly" skies on their way back to Providence!! Hmm??? OH BOY!

Ape and I were waiting for them at the airport. I was so excited to see the smiles on their faces and my dad's waving hands! The look on his face would be one I would see the entire weekend -- one of amazement! After our hugs and kisses (very big in our family) we were on our way! Everyone couldn't stop talking about the flight! They had flown over the Grand Canyon and the pilot had done some weird dive/curve thing which gave them an amazing view. So much so my dad's mouth invented a new shape!!! LOL! He said it was unlike anything he had ever experienced. They all said that actually. I could imagine. Ape and I (and actually the mammas too) had been to the Grand Canyon before but never FLEW OVER it! I couldn't imagine that! They were also impressed with Lake Mead's beautiful blue color. Right there -- that experience -- I knew this trip was already worth every penny!! :-)

As we drove down the strip my dad was in a state of utter amazement! Mom & Elizabeth had been to Vegas once before so they knew what to expect. My dad was like a little kid! Some of the sayings that came out of his mouth were hysterical. I can't remember the exact words but as I try to recollect I have a smile on my face and know I was laughing hard! I know there were a lot of WOW's and THIS IS AMAZING's!!! Within 10 minutes of being in Vegas we saw our first Elvis impersonator near some tacky gift shop. It was SUCH a VEGAS moment -- soooooo funny! I think my dad sung out the window to him?? My dad was in hysterics! I think the "strip" seemed surreal to him, as it does to most first time visitors. Vegas is a world unto itself. There is no place like it. If this was his reaction during the day, I knew it would be 10x's greater at night! I thought he (and everyone) might need a respirator from laughing so hard!!

Our first stop was at Harrah's for lunch at Toby Keith's new restaurant, I LOVE THIS BAR & GRILL. My mom & Elizabeth (and April & I) are Toby fans -- so they were excited to go. My dad didn't really know who he was except for what we told him and my nephew, Michael (who is another fan). Like mentioned in a previous blog, Toby's restaurant is like a high-end honkey tonk. Very Americana and sleek. I got da mammas all excited when I told them the waitors give out "free shots" of liquor everytime they play I LOVE THIS BAR! No, da mammas aren't raging alcoholics -- quite the opposite -- that is why them wanting free shots was so funny! My mom was the first up when the song came on. She ran up to that bar, opened her mouth and got her free shot. See, anything FREE impresses da mamma. She doesn't care if it was a used baby diper if it is free -- she wants it! LOL! Ok, I am embelishing...but you get the idea. She was even more excited when the handsome cowboy came by on a little motor bike and hit her (and Elizabeth) up with another FREE shot! Da mammas were ON FIRE BABY! April watched in envy, my dad's eyes were huge, and I just munched on my burger and snapped pictures (gotta take the pics). The food is very good here, however, da mammas weren't too happy with their nachos. As a matter of fact, 1/2 way through eating them....they sent them back. Yes, you read that correct....1/2 way through...LOL!!! If I was 16 I would've been SO embarressed, but at 30 you appreciate this stuff and laugh at it. This is what makes parents --- parents!!! It was very funny although I do remember chewing quicker and looking behind my back a lot. I am sure da mammas have an entire different view of this event -- but this is how my eyes saw it. They had a nice serving.....decided they didn't want anymore....sent it back....and weren't charged. They were already winning in Vegas!! Woo-hoo!! Free snacks and shots!! My dad on the other hand, with each bite of his meatloaf sandwich, made sounds that I never thought I would (or should) hear from him! LOL! He said he would fly to Vegas just for that sandwich....that's how good it was. My dad is Italian and a hell of a cook, so for him to say that -- it had to be awesome. I sat back and looked at how happy everyone was! This trip was off to a great start!

With full stomachs we proceeded to our next stop -- the FREE $50 slot pay of course!!! I had everyone excited! I felt like a little tour guide as I led everyone outside to Casino Royale. They all received their $50 free play......and they all lost......except....April. Ape won $250.00 at this dungeon of a casino! By the way, I should mention I won $800 the day before at MGM Grand...$787 to be exact and April won money too -- I think $250 and $200 or $250 and $100 -- something like that. Between my $787 win and the $450 at Treasure Island -- that paid for most of this trip! Nice! OK, back to April.....she won $250! She was at The Wheel of Fortune .25 machine and was about to walk away--but my dad convinced her to stay---she did---she won! Awesome! I on the other hand started to get emphysema! For the love of GOD....does everyone in Vegas smoke? I saw people who smoked so much they look like petrified wood! They really puff away in the OLDER casinos. It's like there is a "club of smokers" that gather at the old casinos and puff in glory all day long as they play the penny slots and chat! It started with a tingle in my throat. Cough...cough. No big deal.....had a water....coooooooooough.......had a Pepsi.....hack...cough...wheeze....where are those damn liquor shots??? LOL! Before I knew it I was popping cough drops in my throat because it was so dry and hurt from all the smoke. Going outside didn't help much either since it was 100 degrees! WOAH!!!!!!!!! I tried not to make a big thing out of it and figured -- "I'll be fine"! After leaving Casino Royale losers and petrified (except April, of course) -- we checked into our hotel, New York New York Hotel & Casino.

START SPREADING THE NEWS....(OK, that was tacky, I know....I randomly break into songs....I sing Hello Dolly and Cabaret to my cats and Speck all the time).....NYNY Hotel & Casino is REALLY cute! It is designed as a mini-scale NYC with a replica of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Little Italy, Central Park and Coney Island. They really went all out designing this place. I was able to get us a special rate that included 2-for-1 lunches, free drinks, spa visits and more. We were also in Park Ave rooms which are their newly remodeled rooms. My parents, especially my dad, were like little kids when they stepped inside. My dad's mouth opened and he was almost in tears--that's how EXCITED he was! His excitement was/is so infectious! We sat "da parents" down and went to check-in. Afterwards we sent them to the players club sign-up desk. They were all excited because I told them they'd get $25 FREE slot play for being new members.....well.....because of the "special package" rate I got, they weren't eligible for the free $25! Da mammas, of course, tried to "fix this misunderstanding" with their Federal Hill charm -- but alas, no FREE $25 for da mammas and pappa! 😞 BUT that was OK.....they were so happy they didn't care! Plus, they'd make up for it with "free" towels etc., -- a'hem.

We gambled a little, all lost, went to our rooms, freshened up and met downstairs for our night's entertainment at The Pussy Cat Lounge....I mean for pizza.. -- Sarila's or something like that. The pizza was OUT OF THIS WORLD good! OH MY -- they had thick and thin pizza. We tried both and they were delicious, however, my favorite was the thick slice, of course! ;-) When I say the slices are HUGE -- I mean they are HUUUUGE! One piece is more than enough. Two if you are really hungry. Three is pushing it. If you are ever in NYNY casino and like pizza -- please go here -- you won't be disappointed. I am sure there is an original in NYC -- but I honestly can't think of the exact name and I already wrote too much about pizza anyway??

After dinner mom & Elizabeth decided to stay at the casino and hang out, maybe go to bed early since they were up really early and hadn't slept much (at all) the night before. My dad on the other hand was reved to go! When we walked out of NYNY it was dark and Las Vegas was ALIVE! The first sight my dad saw was Excalibur's castle lit up and the roller coaster that goes around the outside (and inside) of NYNY! I wish I could put sound waves on my blog because the sounds of amazement and OOOH's and AHH's he made were PRICELESS! He was having the time of his life and couldn't believe what he was seeing. My dad is like me in that respect, or rather I like him.... we appreciate and get excited over EVERYTHING -- the littlest things make us excited. People usually laugh at us because we are so crazed! LOL! I just have to say, my parents are so cool. My mom is 55 and my dad is 64 -- both act 35! They know everything about the "latest" anything -- if that makes sense? They are into music, fashion, theater, concerts -- everything -- that is why Ape and I love hanging out with them because they are so "with it"! Plus they are KIND and will make you feel like a million dollars. They accept everyone with open arms. Anyway -- back to dad and Vegas!

The ride down Las Vegas Blvd (a.k.a. "the strip") with my dad was SOOOOO fun! I know I keep saying it, but he was like a little kid! He couldn't believe his eyes. He must've thanked us 1,000+ times for this "experience" -- that made us feel like a million dollars! We felt SOOOO happy about doing this!! It was so genuine and heartfelt. Our destination was -- Downtown Las Vegas -- "Old Vegas"! We drove past the 24-hour wedding chapels and seedy/funny motels on the way, which are impressive in their own right. I joked with April that we should "tie the knot" at Viva Las Vegas, a place that specializes in themed weddings---she was game--I chickened out!! We saw one motel charging $0.00 -- no lie! I joked with my dad and told him we were taking him to a cat house outside town...lol! We eventually hit downtown. Fremont Street is an amazing place. It is a whole other world from "the strip"! There is so much neon, glitter and glitz that you feel like you are in some trippy movie from the 1960's! It is spectacular, crazy, fun and PURE VEGAS! THIS is VEGAS! Places like Binion's, Four Queens and Golden Nugget are must do's -- at least for a while. Another MUST do is the 'Fremont Street Experience' which is a nightly light show (every hour I believe). They close all the lights off on Fremont Street and project a high-tech imagery on an overhead screen set to music. It is pretty surreal to be on this street with a gazillion lights lit, have them turn off, and then watch this show on top of you (although the show in front of you -- the people -- is even more entertaining). At times it gets so bright you'd think it was the middle of the afternoon!! After the show the lights come back on -- which is pretty cool in itself. The only downfall about Downtown Vegas is, THE SMOKING -- but of course. My dad is a smoker and even HE said it was crazy. He said he didn't even have to smoke because of the air in the casinos!!! The people in these older casinos are like smoking aliens! They are close to 100, very wrinkled, and smoke these looooooooooooooong cigarettes that I've never seen before! There is so much smoke downtown the machines puff smoke!! I can' tell you the amount of smoke I inhaled in the hour we were down there! All I can tell you is that April looked baked and my dad never lit up one cigarette. We were all in a smoked haze. There was this one guy on a motorized cart (which they rent at Alamo by the way...yup) -- hooked up to an oxygen tank -- SMOKING -- COUGHING -- and playing the nickel slots. I had my cell phone in hand ready to dial 911!!! MY GOD! I also never saw more cowboys with tight jeans and WAY too tall hats walk by. Weren't they warm???? YES, we understand (or rather don't) your Texas pride -- but c'mon?? Is THAT buckle necessary? Those cowboy boot heels -- my God!!! It felt like a scene from Urban Cowboy!!! Anyway...back to my declining health....OY.....My throat was burning so bad! I started getting "that feeling" --- the -- GET ME OUT OH HERE -- panic feeling! That -- it is 99 degrees at 11:00pm and I am smoking 14 packs of cigarettes at once....and I am a nonsmoker panic. The -- WHERE THE HELL IS MY CAR and CATS panic? The APRIL FIX it panic! The ride back to NYNY was a fog! I just needed to be in my hotel room, smokeless, wash the smoke off me, and sleep. I left my dad and April in a trail of dust when we pulled into NYNY and ran up to my room (past a pregnant bride no less). AHHHHHHH.......cold, fresh a/c.....my throat never felt as bad as it did that night! I don't know how, but I managed to fall asleep and wake up feeling much better the next day. Whew! This was the first time I ever had this happen to me in Vegas! Maybe there was a smoker's convention in town???

Day two, Saturday, actually starts with one of the funniest stories I have ever been able to tell in a blog. When April, my dad and I got back from downtown Friday night -- we each went to our room. Apparently my dad was so exhausted he fell asleep with his cloths on, on top of the spread and didn't wake up until 7:00am the next morning. Well, when he did -- he was in a state of confusion! He had NO IDEA where he was, his bed didn't look slept in and he was completely "out of it"!! When he finally figured out he was in Vegas -- he tried calling both mom & Elizabeth's room and mine & April's but kept getting a busy signal (he forgot to hit the 50 + room number). So he, of course, was getting nervous. Being only 2 rooms down from my mom's room he opened his door, saw the maid and said (and I quote), "Honey, you don't even need to do anything to my room -- it doesn't even look like I've slept in it. I had no idea where I was! I don't need anything sweetheart except maybe some hair products. I have a morning routine. I smoke 3 cigarettes, drink a cup of coffee and take a shit." -- Umm -- I couldn't make this up if I tried!!! Sorry about the BLUNTNESS of this quote, but how could I NOT share this info in my blog? C'mon, right?? Anyway, he also said there was a young guy sitting outside someone's door who said, "way to go" to him! He didn't understand why. My dad, still in a panic about not being able to reach us...knocked on our door.....I heard this knock but ignored it thinking it was someone who had the wrong room......he then knocked on my mom's door and said he had to call her.....lol....why he couldn't talk to her through the door I will never know.....he went back to the room, still not knowing how to dial, and glanced at himself in the mirror and noticed that he was only wearing briefs, LIME GREEN briefs to be exact, and his hair was sticking straight up! LOL! YES, he spoke to the maid, a young man, and walked in the hallway -- in nothing but his briefs -- my mom says he was still talking after he said "he was going to call her" in the hall and she asked (through the door) who he was talking to and he said "anyone that will listen"! He couldn't believe he was only in his briefs! (THANK GOD I SHOULD AD)!! No wonder the young man said, "way to go" and the maid was laughing!!!!!! Yeah....this is my family. Need I explain myself anymore? Now, like I said, if you knew how my dad talks -- the sound of his voice -- you would understand how hysterical this was. April is STILL laughing about it. I had one of those -- thank god I am 30 years old moments -- does this happen to everyone whose parents visit Vegas??? God I love them!

We all met downstairs around 11:30pm (fully clothed thank you very much) for lunch at Nine Fine Irishman. This is the real Irish deal. The decor is beautiful, funky and classy -- not to mention the food. Wow, the food is delicious! Both April and I ordered turkey sandwiches, my dad ordered shepherd's pie and Elizabeth and mom got fish & chips. I never saw so much food!!! They piled it high at this restaurant. So much so I shared my sandwhich with everyone. I had to take out 80% of the turkey because there was too much. Everyone shared with each other. We also had a delicious fruit & cheese platter as an appetizer. It was great. What made it even BETTER were the 2-for-1 lunch coupons we had!! Remember, FREE is big with my folks! LOL! Keep the DEALS rolling!

After lunch we decided to take a ride to beautiful Red Rock Canyon. My dad was very excited to see the REAL Nevada. Red Rocks is a great getaway from the strip. It is like 20-25 minutes away and worth the drive!! The area near the new Red Rock Hotel & Casino is so built up with tons of shops and restaurants. You can make a whole day of this area if you choose. Stop at Red Rock Casino, get lunch at Salt-Lick BBQ, do some shopping/gambling, take a scenic drive/hike through Red Rock Canyon and head back to your resort! We opted to head straight to Red Rock Canyon. My dad was at a lost for words. I remember the first time April and I saw this place AND the first time mom & Elizabeth saw it -- it is SO different from Rhode Island and SO serene. My dad loves nature so this was a wonderful experience for him!! We took lots of pictures and enjoyed the extremely scenic 13-mile (?) drive. We saw adorable chipmunks and even a jackrabbit!!!! SOOOO CUTE!!!

After Red Rock Canyon we decided to go to The Venetian Hotel & Casino. This beautiful property is made to look (and feel) like you are really in Venice and boy do they do a great job! Once again, my mom & Elizabeth had been here before so they decided to hang out by the slot machines while Ape and I took dad on the grand tour. Leaving da mammas stranded at the slots, we proceeded to the Canal Shops and St. Marks Square. My dad was SO impressed! He loved how the ceiling looked like a sky and how ritzy/beautiful everything was. We stopped for a snack at the bakery and had a great time chatting and munching away! On the way to St. Mark Square we saw a beautiful wedding. They were married on the bridge of the canal where the gondolas pass by. Once we got to St. Mark's Square my dad's jaw dropped open again and the OOH's and AHH's began -- BIG TIME! It is an impressive area. The designer's didn't skimp on this resort. It is so elegant and beautiful. You do feel like you are in Venice, Italy. I have heard people say it is even better than the real one as it is cleaner and doesn't have pigeon poop. Personally I think that dirt and pigeon poop make it more authentic, but this version is just as nice! :-) Realizing over an hour had passed since we left da mammas we headed back down, hoping they had struck it rich, only to find they hadn't! But they didn't care -- they were having a great time. I think my mom was playing the nickle machine, one nickle at a time for a while. Too cute! LOL! I played the $1 Wheel of Fortune and won another $100, which I gave to my mom & Elizabeth to "play" with.

After the Venetian, I needed a break. My mom, dad & Elizabeth decided to go to "The World's Largest Gift Shop" Bonanza to do some essential tacky souviner shopping! Ape and I decided to head back to NYNY to do some essential "freshening up" and meet them for dinner. We were going to go to Margaritaville but by the time they called (9pm) Margaritavlle had 2+ hour wait!!!! Plus April and I were VERY worn out, dehydrated and tired -- so we told them to get dinner on their own and we'd meet them when they got back to the hotel. Next thing I remember is waking up at 12:15am and not knowing where anyone was! April was snoring away and I was "out of it" --- very confused! I called my mom's cell and was 1/2 asleep as I asked where they were?? They had grabed a quick bite, hung out at the casino dueling piano bar, gambled a little and were now back in their rooms. They didn't want to call just in case we were asleep (which we were). Knowing they were OK and not kidnapped by Wayne Newton or worse Barry Manilow, I fell back asleep and didn't get up until 7:30am the next morning -- Sunday, Father's Day (today).

My dad called around 9:00am and started singing "I just called to say I love you" and said he had to come to the room. When he got to our room he was like a Mexican jumping bean!! He had gone downstairs around 5:30am for a cup of coffee and played some machines and won around $250!!!! See, it doesn't take much to impress me or my parents. We are easy going people. To us, $250 might as well be $250 million! He was also crying and saying what a wonderful time he had/was having and how amazing this was and what a great way to celebrate Father's Day! It was very emotional and sweet. I couldn't have felt better inside. I told him that I would meet him, mom & Elizabeth downstairs around 9:30am for breakfast at Il Fornello. They were heading home (should be landing as I type) today and this was a great way to end the trip. We had a very friendly, Italian waitress from Boston who we felt like we'd known forever. We also had an amazing breakfast (2-for-1!! Yeah baby). After that we all gambled and lost more money...lol...and before we knew it -- it was time to drive everyone to the airport for their flight home!!!! The weekend had been a perfect 10!!!! WOW!!!!

Listen, when I first sat down to write this blog I was going to write it word for word just as I remembered it.....I wanted the humor of the trip to come across exactly as it was (like when we saw a woman that looked just like Oprah and was swearing or how my dad pronounced Rita Rudner -- Ruda Ragnar or how he went up to a machine, had me take his picture, and pretend he hit $20,000 that morning in front of a bunch of Asian tourists or better yet -- how Elizabeth sat next to a guy on a bench outside NYNY who just happened to be from her home town of Fall River and -- GAY -- he said he thought he was the only one only to have my dad give him a rundown of our crazy situation), but I realize the humor -- the REAL humor -- is something that had to be EXPERIENCED. It would take forever to write. It is one of those --"you had to be there" kind of things. So many funny situations happened that we -- my mom, Elizabeth, April and my dad all "got" --- they might not make sense in a blog. That is the beauty of it. They are things/situations that WE got. We all got along. We all had fun with each other. It was so relaxed. So peaceful. So easygoing. So silly. So crazy. So FUN! We laughed more than anything. It wasn't about the gambling, it wasn't about the restaurants, it wasn't about the sightseeing --- it was about being with each other and enjoying, respecting and cherishing the time together. There are looks my mom gave me that every time I think of -- I will laugh or things she did that crack me up (my mom stole malt vinegar from the Irish Restaurant -- I find this very funny). The feeling I got when my mom said thank you and I love you at the end of the trip is something that can't be expressed in typed words. I can't describe that in a blog. There are Italian hand motions that Elizabeth made that will always crack me up or the way she said I was awesome and rocked that just don't sound the same "typed". Ways that April walked or looked after losing/winning another $20 on a machine that I giggle just thinking of or the numerous times she called me "mamma" and said she loved me and how great an idea this was-- and the look --- that LOOK of amazement, wonder, appreciation and love on my dad's face will always, ALWAYS make me feel like I left Las Vegas a millionaire. I love my family.

Until next time...

Happy Travels!
-Des

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Photos

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Me and Dad - Vegas

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Me and Mom - Vegas (using special picture effect)

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Me and April - Vegas (using special picture effect)

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Dad at Toby Keith's - I love this bar & grill

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Mom & Dad - Toby Keith Restaurant.

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Elizabeth - Toby Keith Restaurant.

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Dad & April- Toby Keith Restaurant.

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Mom getting her "free" shot- Toby Keith Restaurant. Oh my.

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My dad LOVED his meatloaf sandwich- Toby Keith Restaurant. Oh my.

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Dad - amazed - The Strip.

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Dad trying to win a gazillion bucks at Casino Royale!

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April WINNING 1000 quarters on the Wheel of Fortune Machine at Casino Royale.

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Dad and mom entering NYNY Casino.

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My dad loved the clean smell as you walked inside NYNY! Ahh...fresh air!

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Notice the irony of this picture....um....mom????

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My dad was SO excited when he went outside (for the first time) at night!!

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Dad - loss for words!

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Dad - Welcome to Downtown Las Vegas!

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Look! That Neon Cowboy came to life!!! Yee-ha! Heeve! Cough! Weez!

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Fremont Street - Downtown Vegas.

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Dad & Chip or Dale?? Fremont Street.

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Dad - typical look of WOW! Downtown Vegas.

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Downtown Vegas - OR - "Deep in the Heart of Texas" (clap, clap, clap)

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Urban Cowboy???

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My dad -- like a little kid -- Fremont Street.

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Fremont Street Experience.

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Fremont Street Experience.

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Fremont Street Experience.

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Amazed papa! LOL!

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Fremont Street Experience.

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Fremont Street Experience.

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Fremont Street Crowd.

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Fremont Street Cowboy!

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Mom & Elizabeth - Nine Fine Irishmen Restaurant - Free gift??

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Dad - Nine Fine Irishmen. Really, what can I say?? LOL!

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Inside Nine Fine Irishmen (that doesn't sound right).

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Outside Nine Fine Irishmen.

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Nice man, named Davio, from Fall River. Thought he was the only gay one...HA!!!! Meet the family Davio!!!

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The mamma being "misted" -- NYNY Casino.

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Vegas, Baby!

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Vegas, Baby!

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Vegas, Baby!