Two Weeks Out.

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Closing down to trip one of 2018.

Seems like the wait for his one has been interminable, and that's because it FUCKING HAS BEEN. Four full months is a haul for me between trips. As it turns out what I thought was going to be a pretty well-spaced year of April-August-December has now had a wrench thrown in by the impromptu June Nine Inch Nails trip. That one's just a shorty but it still requires cost and savings.

Hopefully the slot gods are kind to me in 2 weeks so I can bank a little for the coming trips of the year. If I could come back with a grand that would be ideal so I could pay down some debt and be in a good position for the more or less back to back summer trips. I'm not going to skimp on this first trip though, I'm budgeted for $800/day and I'll spend that much if need be to get the most out of the trip.

In any case, this coming trip is pretty much good to go. I've paid all bills needing paying beforehand - including one that I wasn't really counting on having to pay but such is life in the big city. I'm poorboy for the next two weeks but I'm used to that in the run up to the trip and it is no big deal. The local Grocery Outlet has really helped me here by keeping my food costs pretty low. It's not always the best or freshest stuff and it's hit or miss on selection but it's damn cheap.

The Vegas playlist is more or less done, I may add or subtract one or two tracks next weekend (my last to work on it) but it's fine as is and is good. It's a odd one, mostly down-tempo/ambient tracks, none of the usual "birthday" or "Vegas" or "party" tracks this time. Just needed something different to break up the usual suspects. Lot of Boards of Canada and nujazz/lounge-y type stuff. I don't need "Viva Las Vegas" every trip to hype myself.

As always looking forward to the time at Cosmo - the room is not going to be the gorgeous One Bedroom Terrace Suite I had a couple years ago but it's still going to be a step up from the places I've been staying the past year, with the possible exception of Caesars. As previously noted it will just be great to be on the property.

I'd love to say I have a bunch of new places I'm going to check out but that'd be a lie - I will no doubt haunt the usual spots, but since I have no real plan to speak of this time maybe I can branch out a little. I'd like to check out a couple new bars that opened up since I was last there and I can split the tried and true food spots that I have coupons for with some new spots. Eating well should be a hallmark of this trip.

Anyhoo, maybe one last check in before I go but it's final countdown time and I'm all set for the birthday bash in the desert. T-minus 2 weeks.

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