Testing Your Self Control While Living
In A City Of Sin by Paulette Thomason
Every day in Vegas is not only an
adventure, it's also a test. This is especially true when public
drinking and weekend long parties are the norm.
There are lots of temptations waiting
to present themselves to every unsuspecting visitor. But what's even
harder is being a full time resident. It's so easy to lose
everything, including your mind, if not kept aware of the dangers
that await the resident who dare act like a tourist. Time is easily
lost in a blur of free drinks and grocery store gaming machines.
Although, for the cautious Las Vegan,
this can be one of the best cities in the world. This is especially
true for the folks living in Henderson. This is a beautiful town just
east of Vegas that boasts the most public parks per resident. The
Pavilion Arts and recreation Center is an outstanding facility with
free shows that feature celebrities and authors performing on stage.
The best part of Henderson though, in this author's opinion, is the
District at Green Valley Ranch. This area is like a small town in and
of itself.
But as family friendly and exciting as
these places may be, getting caught up as a regular gambler or
drinker will bring these perks and niceties to a screeching halt.
I've seen plenty of decent family men accidentally win a couple
thousand dollars while passing by a video poker machine in the local
7-11. Then watched in amazement as that same lucky bastard loses
every penny of the couple thousand, plus every penny in his bank
account, plus every penny he could borrow from every resource
imaginable. Finally he loses his family when they pack up and drive
back back to from where they came. Leaving the former hero of the
family struggling for motel fare and buffet coupons. Lots of people
have lived on the free popcorn at Slots O' Fun.
You see, even though everything under
the sun is possible and available in Las Vegas, moderation and self
control is essential. Not every beer offered must be consumed every
night. Not every line needs to be snorted until it's gone. And not
every spare dollar needs to be run through an electronic machine in
hopes of transforming one dollar into three.
Success really comes from staying
healthy and enjoying clean entertainment at least 80% of the time.
The trick is to survive for years, not to burn out in months. There
is a lot of money to be made by the hustler who is sharp and in
control. Let the impulsive morons spend all their capital, drink till
they puke, and spend all their daylight hours in bed. It's the
disciplined resident who will claim the biggest jackpots for sure.
All it takes to prove my point is a
quick stroll through any locals casino, grocery store, 7-11, or
laundromat. Take a good look at the faces sitting in front of those
machines. Not one of them are joyful. In fact, this is the most
miserable group of losers you have ever seen. Every one of them are
slouched over, chain smoking, pale as ghosts, and stuffing every last
penny into a robot that eats cash and shits nothing.
As a
part time adult entertainer I am
presented with offers of party favors and temptations to gamble every
day. At first, I would give in often and indulge. The thinking was
that as long as I was going to be up all night, why not make it worth
the trouble? And sometimes it would help the night to go faster.
Trust me, it's damn hard to communicate with a room full of drunk
guys and not be drinking yourself. Other times I would be with
friends who are buying $500 bottles at an exclusive spot. When
cocktails turn into bottles, over indulgence is almost guaranteed.
This was all fun for a while, but I started to notice that rolling
out of bed the next morning was getting harder. And sometimes the bed
I was rolling out of wasn't mine! Then I started to notice my
personal responsibilities and chores were no longer getting done. But
when my money started disappearing I knew the only solution was to
pull my head out of my ass and gain control of my actions and
thoughts.
Changing bad habits, as I quickly
learned, happens in a split second. Desire for a healthier life has
now led me to one of the most successful and rewarding periods of
time in my life.
Failure is not a geographic affliction
where Las Vegas is concerned. Failure only comes from weak character,
poor self control, and a refusal to use the brain that you were
blessed with to lead you to your dreams.
Las Vegas is a mysterious lady who
rewards all who respect her wishes. But lose your mind and rub her
the wrong way? She will burn you like trash and leave you to die in
the desert.
By Paulette Thomason
I'm pretty sure
anyone who is familiar with Las Vegas probably is a tiny bit familiar
with the Rio's 'Show in the Sky'. If not, the show has been taking
place in the Rio Hotel in Casino since 1997.
Sad to
say though, that next month the Show in the Sky will be performing
its last show on Saturday, March 30th at 11 pm. Caesars Entertainment
recently disclosed that they are in fact shutting the show down for
good. They didn't disclose their reasoning on exactly why the show
must come to an end, nor did they state what it will later become.
Still kid friendly? Ehh... they do what they can.
