The Plan, 4/15

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Have fun.

Just have fun, goddamn it.

The last two trips have not been a whole lot of fun. Not unmitigated disasters (though Xmas wasn't far off), just not really much to write home about. This time I just want to go and really enjoy myself without having a whole shit ton of expectations.

Usually I make trip plans months in advance, so by the time the actual trip comes around I'm so amped I don't think the trip itself can ever measure up. I'm not sure how it happened but I've been putting so much pressure on these 3-4 weeks a year to be a blow out that when it inevitably doesn't live up to those expectations I come back disappointed, or worse, am disappointed while I'm still there. Not good.

I've set myself up on this one to succeed. I'm keeping it to a tight 3 day trip. In Friday morning, out Monday afternoon. No early wake up calls or late flights out on the last day where I'm just wishing I was home. It'll be checkout and head more or less straight to the airport. I'll be back home safe and sound in my hobbit hole by 5p Monday.

I'm not going to put any pressure on the itinerary either. It's my birthday weekend, so I'm just basically planning to eat well, drink well and not get too wrapped up in the whole "Vegas" aspect of the trip. I've made reservations for both Friday and Saturday nights at good restaurants that are close to or in Monte Carlo, and don't have any show plans or other happenings scheduled. It'll be good to stay somewhere other than NYNY this time, too (though I love that place).

I'm taking the usual $1K per day but I'm not going to gamble as much as I did last time. I spent SO much cash on the machines the last trip, I really am going to skip most of it and spend time in bars trying against all odds to be social. I've been seeking out the empty spots on the bar lately, this time I'm going to try to get close enough to other humans to maybe have a (gasp) conversation or two. I don't have an issue doing this here in the City but for some reason there's been a wall up against it in Vegas (unless the conversationalists were hookers).

Not as much in the way of freebies this time, aside from the room. I have $50 in Freeplay and $25 in resort credit as part of the offer (meh) and will probably only have one mid-range myVegas reward to cash in. Fine. Only have two bloody weeks to save up for this trip.

No "friend" obligations to worry about this time, I'm a wolfpack of one, as I prefer it. Let's see where the 3 days take me and try to fucking enjoy this one.

Otherwise it may be the last one.

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