A cold snap in Montana in December means waiting in panic to see if the cracking sound you heard when you tried the car door handle was it breaking off or just ice shifting. The handle lived. Brian’s wiper blades not so much.

Chuckled as Brian reported back that he saw our next door neighbor racing the trash truck to get his can out and did so in his socks through the fresh and plentiful snow on the driveway.

Asked Brian how his day was and received a chipper, “I only had to deal with a skunk’s head so I didn’t get smelly!” I think it means he had a good day?

Visited a pharmacy near the Strip and realized many of the basic sundries are kept locked up. Booze I get, but lotion???

Got accosted by food and entertainment hustlers trying to offer up discounted options while walking on the Strip. Was asked if I liked steak (No), was asked if I gambled (No), and did I like shows (No). Was then promptly asked why I was in Vegas then. Exactly.

Gaped at Brian when he meekly shared that the stripper dressed as an elf smacked his ass as we passed after rejecting her bid for a photo. This is why I’m not a Vegas person.

Decided all the hassle and Vegas shenanigans were worth it after seeing Adele in concert. My god, does that woman put on a show. If I get COVID, it WILL still be worth it.

Continued to do Vegas our way by birding on the UNLV campus and visiting various art exhibits. Gambled only once when Brian spotted a Conan the Barbarian themed machine. His $20 was gone by the time I finished taking his photo.

Found the mall located on the Strip and cheered. A multistory shopping center even better than what I experienced during my childhood. It had everything you could want (including a cupcake vending machine!) as long as you didn’t want a bookstore. 🤣

Visited The Neon Museum, a boneyard chock full of historic Vegas signage. Oooed and ahhed appropriately.