What They Don't Tell You About Vegas: Hard Water

As I come upon my 10 year anniversary of living in Las Vegas, I feel there are many good and bad things to share.  One of the things they don't tell you that is bad is the hard water situation.

The Las Vegas Water District doesn't find anything wrong with the hard water situation.  However, it does have a huge impact on how you live day to day.

First of all, it tastes so horrible it will send you running straight to the bottled water in the nearest store.  You will get a Brita pitcher and think all your problems are solved.  You don't stop to think about how much you use the water out of the tap and how the hard water stains are starting to ruin your life.  Your Kerig machine stops working, and your glass shower door looks terrible.  Your hair looks pretty bad too, and you spend more time in the shower on vacation just to get good hair days again.

Some people do the insane thing and get a water softener for their house, which is bananas expensive.  I'm not even sure if they work, if someone knows I'd be happy to hear from them.  I can't imagine it being worth the cost.

If I was starting all over to decide to move here, I wish someone would have told me about the hard water situation.

The Linq, The High Roller, The New Vegas?

I've been down to the Linq three times now, and I'm still not sure where to park.  This is not really a tourist problem of course, so I'm sure it's one they aren't planning on solving anytime soon.  As it stands now, I park at the Caesars  parking garage and walk across the street.

101 Things to Do with Husband...in Vegas

So, you know how the whole "adding in bed to your fortune cookies" thing goes?  I find myself doing that with "in Vegas" sometimes.  A friend posted an article called 101 Things to Do With Your Husband, and I found myself adding things that would make it more "Vegas."  Here are a few of my suggestions;

Plant a favorite garden...by just going down to the Bellagio Conservatory.

Shopping for something new for you and for him...at the Deja Vu Love Boutique.

Picnic on the beach...If you can sneak into Mandalay Beach.

Whale watching...well, no whales here, but you can watch for whale tails on the strip.  Just pick a bench anywhere.

Mini golfing...Mini Kiss Golfing.

Play frisbee...in the club with someone's stray thong.

Head to a local museum...maybe one about the Mob or Atomic Bombs perhaps.  That's normal.

Lay in your backyard and look up at the stars...or just the light shining from the top of the Luxor.

Head to an amusement park...or just to the only ride we have in town that isn't another person.

Plant a tree...if you can find ground you could legitimately dig into in order to plant a tree.

Create a special space outdoors for the summer...wait, outdoors?  In Summer?  Are we building an small casino just for ourselves?  Is this how Steve Wynn started?

Head to the casino...hey wait, this one actually worked!

Oh, the Tourists We Know...

I'm in the middle of a barrage of visitors right now.  A few weeks ago I had my friend in town for a conference, and last weekend I had someone who hadn't ever had a "Vegas Weekend" before, and tomorrow my family comes in for an early Thanksgiving.

The one who had never had a "Vegas Weekend" before was the one who got the most lost in the bright lights of Vegas, even before she left the airport.  Her luggage was the last one out, and then she promptly walked the wrong way to passenger drop off instead of passenger pick up.  I had circled passenger pick up about 5 times by the time she realized this, so the 6th trip around I finally got her.  Of course, it was about 11pm by then, and she was hungry. 

Because it was close, we headed to Town Square and were ignored by all the staff at Cadillac Ranch, even though the guy in front insisted they were still serving food and we could sit anywhere.  After 20 minutes we left, and by that time the only place I could think of that would still be open was Peppermill.  We got great service there, then headed home.

I drove her to Excalibur to join the rest of "her girls" to start her weekend.  I invited her via text to a couple of things I had already planned, but they had their own plans to attend to.

Sunday morning comes around, and just before 8 AM my phone starts to vibrate until I check who is calling, and it's her.

The connection is bad (I blame Excalibur) but she seems to be in some sort of panic.  Turns out her friend slept in and missed her flight.

RULE No. 1 of Vegas: Never, EVER make yourself leave in the morning, because you will be hungover and you will miss your flight.  This, to us locals, is just common sense.

I tell my friend, call the 800 customer service number of her airline and get another flight, no problem.  Then she asks me if I can come down there and drive them.  Remember, I'm still wiping the sleep from my eyes at this point; because no one should be up that early on a Sunday unless they are worshipping.

RULE No. 2 of Vegas: 24/7, there are cabs waiting right out front of any hotel on the strip.  They are waiting for you.  They want to take you anywhere you want to go, including the airport.

This is what I told her, then waited about an hour for her response.  She was obviously still a little drunk, which is understandable in a Vegas weekend.

But I'm still thinking I'm going to forget to tell people I live here from now on.

Articles in Other Places

I wrote a couple of articles for While Las Vegas Sleeps, and forgot to link them here!  Bad Me! Go check them out:

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a total scam!

Yes, I'm a Chubby Girl

Tourist Tip #3

I know this is getting a little heavy on the show aspect of it, but this goes for everything. When you make reservations for anything; Shows, Restaurant reservations, spa appointments, whatever: CHECK TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS CORRECT!

If you walk away from that desk/computer, and your paperwork says a date that is not correct, you could be royally screwed.

Lets take the spa appointment for example: If you booked a massage for 12:30 on Thursday, but your paperwork says 1:45 on Saturday, guess what? They have you down for 1:45 on Saturday, and someone else might have that spot at 12:30 on Thursday by the time you realize your mistake. Never walk away until it's all set. I don't care that you are holding up the line, it's better to have a few people mad at you then you furious at yourself. Because it's your fault that you didn't check the confirmation paperwork. Not theirs.

Seriously, while you are busy in your own head, 98% of those employees are reading the dates and times back to you, telling you if there are no cameras allowed (see last post) and giving you all the imperative information you need. If you get to the door and declare, "They never told me that!" You are a dirty liar. That is why you get that look from them. You were told, you just didn't listen.

This is why us locals say the tourist's IQ drops at the airport. But that's a story for another time.

Tourist Tip #2

 (original blog date May 2, 2008)

We know you want to take pictures, but this ain't your kids high school play. These productions are upwards of 50-200 million dollars in production costs.

One, your picture is gonna suck anyway. Yes, even if you use a flash, you tool. Stop it. Two, you are bugging everyone around you. Flashes distract and detract from the action. Three, you are really gonna be popular when someone of authority comes to tell you to put it away. If this is the second time you are caught, they WILL take your camera away and you can pick it up after the show. Refuse to relinquish your camera, and you'll be taken out of the show. Seriously, just try it.

If you actually paid money to get into the show and no one specifically told you it was okay, then just assume it's not. When you are out on the strip, go crazy. When you are sitting down, don't pull it out unless someone encouraged you to.

And if you try it in the strip club, expect your jeans to get a little dirty as you get thrown out.

Tourist Tip #1

 (original blog post date April 26, 2008)
I think this might turn into a weekly thing, but it was brought to my attention that things need to be said to tourists before they leave for Las Vegas. If you live here, this is common knowledge, but you and I know that sometimes the tourists need some help.

Tourist Tip #1

If you are at a show, and something is keeping you from enjoying said show (i.e. another guest is bothering you, you are to close to the speakers, your view is being blocked by someone large, whatever) you need to get up immediately and speak to a supervisor or manager.

Why? Because they will always do their best to move you to another seat. But as soon as that show is over, it's over. You can complain all you like, but they can't do anything for you because you didn't come to them in time. The sooner you get up and talk to someone, the better.

And don't rely on them just throwing someone out who is bothering you. They have to see that the other person is being disruptive before they can take any action upon them. And 9 times out of 10 they will be complete angels by the time the management comes around. So just settle for being moved to another seat, and thank them for doing so.

Remember, they always want people to have a good time so that they will return. But don't limit their options for your happiness.