I've been floating around at my bank job. Covering branches all over the valley and even up to Park City. The really fun and nervous thing for me in doing these shifts have been that I have covered branches that are located inside the grocery stores I have been working in. I've covered the Sandy store where I managed for the past 5 years. I've covered the store in West Valley where I decided to step down at. I've also covered the current grocery store I have been working at part time, and am returning to soon. It's been weird seeing so many familiar faces, but from the other side of the fence. It was weird working in West Valley and seeing those folk, but it didn't really bother me. Working in my current store was just kind of funny. However, working in the store that I managed for all those years was kind of hard. I miss those people. Many of them I consider my friends. I miss running that store.
It had its moments, but I am a prideful man, and I took pride in that place, and the staff. Now watching someone else do my job is just weird. I know I made the right choice stepping down. I know I made the right choice in trying the bank. I also know I made the right choice in taking a job back with the grocery store so I can be with my daughter more. The thing that is hard is that I didn't choose to leave this store. I was transferred because I was told the West Valley store needed me and I HAD to go. I never got to say goodbye to these people the way I wanted. I miss the conversations with Tyler, my boss. I miss the laughs I had daily with the likes of Arlie, Ashlee, and Travis. I miss being the "big brother" to many kids. I miss the endless geek talk with Geoff, Bobby, and Ben. I miss them all.
Life is a journey, and the past few months have been strange indeed. Luckily though I have this chance to see so many wonderful faces at my old store. I didn't expect to be back in this store, especially on the other side of the counter, but I'm going to make the most of it. Two shifts with my friends and then it's on to the next chapter, this time by my choice.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Opportunity Knocks
Less than a month ago I wrote a blog about my decision to leave my current job in order to take one with a bank. My reasons for doing so were simple. Less stress and more time with the family. Easy choice, right? I've been employed with the bank now for a little over a month. I'm still in the training faze and am really not much of a banker yet. I do enjoy the bank, my coworkers, and the customers. I've even been awarded a service award from my District Manager for excellent customer service. Things are pretty good here. So then why did I just put in my two weeks notice?
Yep, after all the training dollars spent on me by the bank, after telling my previous job (that I have 15 years of service with) that I'm done with them, after having a friend at the bank sticking her neck out for me to even have this job, I'm just walking away. What's wrong with me?
Opportunity. I had an opportunity open up and after reviewing it, it was too good to pass on. The major factor in seeking employment at the bank was the ability to spend more time with my daughter. I've spent much more time with her lately and it has been wonderful for me, and hopefully for her too. See, I'm still currently employeed by my first job. I've been working there randomly to keep my foot in the door. My good friend, Brian, is a manager there. After talking to him we noticed how I could return to work there, making as much, if not more than at the bank, while working less hours, and being home with Lucy when Jill is at work. More money and Lucy is being raised by her parents 100% of the time? Did I really have a choice?
It seems fairly simple to me. I work the weekends, which I did anyways at the store, and then one more day midweek. They'll be long shifts, 10+ hours. But by doing so, I'll be home the rest of the week. When I'm putting in those hours, Jill will be home with our little one. She will always have one of us around. No more daycare. Jill won't have to get up early to get her ready and then come home late after picking her up. No more tears when dropping her off with the sitter (more of Jill's and mine than Lu's). That thought makes me very happy.
So I put in my two weeks today. Even though I haven't been here long, it was one of the hardest things I've done. I've been sick to my stomach over doing so. So many good people at the bank have looked out for me. I feel terrible to be leaving them all so soon. I hope they all understand my reasons. I know my friend, who got me this job, is very supportive. She sent me a very nice text that has helped ease my worries. I've also been worried about letting her sitter know. She's a sweet lady, and I know she cares for Lucy very much. I'm sure we'll still use her here and there when needed, which is ok by me, because I know Lucy loves her too.
So there it is. The craziness that has been my 2012 continues. I'm still keeping my options open for that perfect job too. No need to jump into anything that isn't just right. What's right for my family right now is to make the money I can, and for Jill and I to always be availbe to our girl. I'm looking forward to this new "job" of fulltime Dad. I can't think of a better gig out there.
Yep, after all the training dollars spent on me by the bank, after telling my previous job (that I have 15 years of service with) that I'm done with them, after having a friend at the bank sticking her neck out for me to even have this job, I'm just walking away. What's wrong with me?
Opportunity. I had an opportunity open up and after reviewing it, it was too good to pass on. The major factor in seeking employment at the bank was the ability to spend more time with my daughter. I've spent much more time with her lately and it has been wonderful for me, and hopefully for her too. See, I'm still currently employeed by my first job. I've been working there randomly to keep my foot in the door. My good friend, Brian, is a manager there. After talking to him we noticed how I could return to work there, making as much, if not more than at the bank, while working less hours, and being home with Lucy when Jill is at work. More money and Lucy is being raised by her parents 100% of the time? Did I really have a choice?
It seems fairly simple to me. I work the weekends, which I did anyways at the store, and then one more day midweek. They'll be long shifts, 10+ hours. But by doing so, I'll be home the rest of the week. When I'm putting in those hours, Jill will be home with our little one. She will always have one of us around. No more daycare. Jill won't have to get up early to get her ready and then come home late after picking her up. No more tears when dropping her off with the sitter (more of Jill's and mine than Lu's). That thought makes me very happy.
So I put in my two weeks today. Even though I haven't been here long, it was one of the hardest things I've done. I've been sick to my stomach over doing so. So many good people at the bank have looked out for me. I feel terrible to be leaving them all so soon. I hope they all understand my reasons. I know my friend, who got me this job, is very supportive. She sent me a very nice text that has helped ease my worries. I've also been worried about letting her sitter know. She's a sweet lady, and I know she cares for Lucy very much. I'm sure we'll still use her here and there when needed, which is ok by me, because I know Lucy loves her too.
So there it is. The craziness that has been my 2012 continues. I'm still keeping my options open for that perfect job too. No need to jump into anything that isn't just right. What's right for my family right now is to make the money I can, and for Jill and I to always be availbe to our girl. I'm looking forward to this new "job" of fulltime Dad. I can't think of a better gig out there.
Friday, July 13, 2012
LasVegas Hotel Review 2012 Updated
Las Vegas Hotel Review Part 3
Back in December of '08 I made a list of my favorite Las Vegas hotels that I have stayed in. I updated it again in 2010. Since that post I have stayed in a few more rooms that I hadn't before. So I will repost my original blog but I will add in the reviews of the other hotels I have since stayed in. This review is subject to my hotel stays and not based off how cool the place looks.
20. La Concha. I stayed at the La Concha during my many retreats after high school graduation. It would always be a spur of the moment decision to run off to Vegas with a group of friends. We were all minors and this was a rare place on the strip that let you rent a room under 21 and without a credit card. It was a major dive and I swear one room we had was once a murder scene. The trips were well worth it though. The motel has since been demolished for condos.
19. Westward Ho. The reason this room is listed so low is because I don't remember much other then it looked like a brown Motel 6 room. I was only around 9 or 10 when I stayed here so I don't remember it so well, other then I wasn't into the Cowboy theme. This was around the time MC Hammer was rocking my world. Sheesh... This motel has been torn down and is a future site for a McDonalds.
18. The New Frontier. On my honeymoon Jill and I traveled to Disneyland and had bookend stops in Vegas. On the way out we stopped at the Stratosphere, and on the way home we stayed at the New Frontier. The Casino was dingy and dark. It smelt of Cigars from years past. The room had a nice view of the strip, but the bed was hard, the room smelled, and it felt dirty. It did have some old Vegas charm and we laughed at the beer bottle opener built into the marble sink tops. The New Frontier has recently been imploded and a Swiss themed hotel is scheduled to take its place.
17. The Sahara. The ONLY reason I place the Sahara this high is because of the great times we've had watching The Amazing Jonathan performances. He no longer plays here, but he still performs in Vegas and I highly recommend his show! The Casino is ok if you like to gamble. The food is edible, but the rooms here are hands down the worst rooms I have stayed in, in Vegas. The beds are full size, not queen. The doors do not reach the ground so the hall lights shine in. The walls must be made from cardboard as you can hear your neighbors every move. The rooms do not feel clean, and even though they can be the cheapest room on the strip I suggest you pony up the extra couple dollars and stay at the other cheap hotels like The Stratosphere or Circus Circus. *Update 2012 - The property has since closed. The owner says there is a chance he may reopen it down the road.
16. Harrah's. I stayed here as a kid and they used to shine green lights at the building at night to make it glow green. I remember these lights being intrusive and interrupting my slumber. They no longer shine these lights however, and the room was clean and nice.
15. Stardust. As a kid, the Stardust was my favorite place. Back when Vegas was about the lights and not the huge buildings and crazy architecture. The Stardust seemed futuristic and the pink and purple lights lit up the night. The rooms were simple, but clean. The Echelon resort is being built on the site the Stardust once stood.
14. Imperial Palace. This hotel/casino has the worst car access from the strip. If you are driving south on the strip it takes forever to turn in. The Casino is small, but fun. The rooms are ok, but have nothing to do with the Asian theme of the resort. The only reason to stay here is the low room prices and the excellent strip location.
13. The Tropicana. The room we had here was a corner room, which are much larger then the standard room. It had a really nice view of the strip. But this room was located in the back tower which took forever to walk to from the hotel lobby. The rooms felt too warm even with the ac on. They also had tacky mirrors on the ceiling. Nothing about this room was really great, but nothing was really wrong either.
12. The Stratosphere. This place is my safe bet. I've stayed here many times because of the cheap prices, clean yet simple rooms, fun casino, good shows, and of course the Tower. Nothing about this place is mind blowing, but it has never let me down. I love the Tower and seeing the Vegas lights from 1,149 ft in the sky. The rides at the top are excellent, if not down right scary. The shows we've seen here are fun and between the mall and casino, there is always somewhere to go. If you want to do Vegas for cheap, yet still fun, I recommend this place. Just be warned, the pool is nasty.
11. MGM Grand. As far as a casino and resort, the MGM Grand has it all. It is one of my favorite places to play, dine, and hang out in. They have a lion habitat in the casino with very large lions roaming around. Alright, they mostly just lay around, but it is still awesome nonetheless. But as far as the rooms go, they are clean and comfortable but the walls are paper thin. To make matter worse it seems like the "I'm only in Vegas to get drunk and act like a retard crowd" choose this hotel. *2012 update - The Lion Habitat has closed. They are also remodeling the front entrance by the large gold lion. We were told by an employee it is part of the re-branding of the property. I guess we'll see what happens.
10. NY NY. Like the MGM Grand, I love the casino and theme of this hotel. The restaurants here are all great. There is a little cake shop that Jill and I like to stop by and visit. Every time I go to Vegas I spend a good amount of time in this place. When I got the chance to stay here last May(2009) I was very excited. My friend Andrew got free tickets to the Pacquio VS Hatton boxing match and two rooms at the NY NY for free! That trip was so much fun, my brother Keven came down too, and we all had a great time. The room itself was fairly large, but the beds and amenities seemed sub par far the resort and its price class. The pool is probably the worst on the strip.
9. Excalibur. I have a love hate relationship with this casino/hotel. I love the location, the theme, the casino, the restaurants, and I always park here when we go walking the strip. I do not like the rooms or the tiny pool though. The price here has come down in the past few years to make it a good choice, but the rooms are dingy and boring. But the good outweighs the bad here and I'll stay again.
8. Circus Circus. The casino here makes you feel lost. The old folks flock here. Kids run ramped here as their parents take them to the free circus shows and for the midway games. The buffet is weak and forgettable. But surprisingly the rooms in this old casino are nice. They have an old motel like building in the back, but I have never stayed there. I have stayed in the standard and upgraded rooms here and have not been disappointed. They have been remodeling the rooms too and though I haven't stayed in the new ones, I look forward to it as they look really nice. The theme park here can be fun. The Steakhouse is excellent and it is where Jill and I had our first dinner as husband and wife.
7. El Cortez. This place is located in old Las Vegas, just off Fremont Street. The Casino is small, but fun. It has the old Mafia feel too it. The main hotel is one of the oldest still standing in Vegas. They also have a tower that was built in the 70's. Jill and I stay in the tower rooms when we go. They are very large and clean. They have antique furniture and good views of Vegas. My brother stayed in the old portion and swears it was haunted and didn't sleep much. I love the old school charm of this place and want to stay again.
6. Aria at City Center. This hotel is ridiculously nice. That said, the first time I stayed here I wasn't happy at all. I had friends with me and despite the fact I booked a room with 2 beds, they'd only give me a room with one bed. I know things happen, but the way I was talked to by the girl at the counter made me very upset. The room itself is ran by a tablet computer, which is cool when it works. Ours didn't at first. Since I was upset by all of this, plus the hassle of checking out, I wrote an email explaining my frustrations. They apologized and sent me an email offering me a free room and discounted rates for additional night. So why is the Aria still ranked so high? Because like I said, it's ridiculously nice! The bed was comfortable, the tablet ran rooms were awesome (after they fixed it), they had plenty of cool pools, the casino was fun, and the Viva Elvis show is AMAZING. Jill and I are staying here again tomorrow, and even though things didn't run very smooth the first time, I'm very excited to stay again!
5. The Luxor. My favorite themed casino/hotel. The Egyptian motif is fun, and staying in the pyramid hotel is so fun. We stayed 20-something stories up and the view from inside is just amazing. I suggest that everyone stay in the pyramid once. The casino is great, the food is awesome as Fusha is one of my favorite restaurants. The show here are great. The Imax theater and arcade are fun. Nothing bad to say about this place at all. PS- Chris Angel... UPDATE - Since I first wrote my review of the Luxor, Jill and I stayed here again. After we booked a pyramid room, they told us at check in that they only had tower rooms, and that they would give us the "free" upgrade for their error. The upgrade, was anything but an upgrade. They Luxor doesn't have the best amenities or beds, so this room as just a standard hotel room. Being in the pyramid is really what makes this place fun. Also, Fusha is closed now and sits vacant....
4. Mandalay Bay. This place is almost perfect. The rooms aren't large, but are big enough and are very comfortable. This resort is perfect for relaxing. The swimming pool area is covered in sand to make it feel like your staying on a beach. The casino is fun and pretty. There are many options for great dining, including The House of Blues, which is a favorite stop of Jill's. It's also connected by a little shopping plaza to The Luxor property. We've seen The Lion King stage production here, and it was amazing. It has since closed for the new Michael Jackson show. The only drawback for some is that it's at the very end of the strip and due to its very large size, it can be a long walk or drive from other properties. For me, that's not a problem and I enjoy any chance to spend at the Bay.
3. Treasure Island. We always visit the casino when we are here. We have even seen Mystere here about 4 times. But until a couple weeks ago (in 2010), Jill and I had never stayed in the hotel. When we first got there I thought this place was going to be a nightmare. When we checked in there were about three employees checking in about sixty people in line. After the wait to check in, which was faster then expected, I was hit with a $20 a day resort fee that they tack on top of your room rate. I was SO MAD. But then as soon as Jill and I made it to the room, everything got better. We were 27 floors up, with a strip view. This view also gave us a perfect look at the Siren Pirate show they do 3 or 4 times a night. The fireworks they shoot off would pass by our floor to ceiling windows nightly. It was so cool. The bed in this hotel was probably the nicest bed I have slept in, in Vegas. It was so relaxing. The air conditioning unit was perfect. The walls were solid and the hotel was rather quiet. It was too cold to visit the pool, but everything else about this hotel was almost perfect. I would recommend this place to all, but warn of the resort charge!
2. The Mirage. What a great place to stay. The rooms are very similar to TI (Treasure Island was originally suppose to be the 2nd tower of The Mirage resort). The bathrooms were nice, the beds were super comfortable, and the vibe was refreshing. This resort has everything I need and really there is no reason to leave if you're staying there. One of my favorite restaurants, BLT Burger, is located here. This place has awesome burgers and out of this world milkshakes (Twinkie or PB&J are my favorites). The sports book is large and Andrew and I spend many hours here relaxing on the leather couches watching some games. The casino is fun, but it seems like it takes your money faster than most. But the best thing about the Mirage has the be THE BEATLES! This place is the home of The Beatles Love show. It is by far the best show I have seen in Vegas. It also has a Beatles themed lounge, the casino plays Beatles music throughout, and there is a Beatles store where I grab 93% of all my t-shirts. This place is wonderful and I can't wait to return! With the recent room discounts they've had, there is no reason for you not to try it out!
1. Trump International. This place is soooo nice. There is no casino here, just a top of the line hotel. Everything here is over the top fancy. The beds are so comfortable. The bathroom is as large as most Vegas hotel rooms. The mirror in the bathroom has a TV behind the glass. The tub is a huge jacuzzi. They give you slippers and robes. Plasma TVs here. Books to read. Amazing views. Excellent furniture. Everything is mind blowing. The only drawback is you have to pay for parking everyday. If you can afford to go, you should stay here. I've stayed here a few times bidding low for 5 star rooms on priceline. I've never payed more than $99 a night, which is a steal!
20. La Concha. I stayed at the La Concha during my many retreats after high school graduation. It would always be a spur of the moment decision to run off to Vegas with a group of friends. We were all minors and this was a rare place on the strip that let you rent a room under 21 and without a credit card. It was a major dive and I swear one room we had was once a murder scene. The trips were well worth it though. The motel has since been demolished for condos.
19. Westward Ho. The reason this room is listed so low is because I don't remember much other then it looked like a brown Motel 6 room. I was only around 9 or 10 when I stayed here so I don't remember it so well, other then I wasn't into the Cowboy theme. This was around the time MC Hammer was rocking my world. Sheesh... This motel has been torn down and is a future site for a McDonalds.
18. The New Frontier. On my honeymoon Jill and I traveled to Disneyland and had bookend stops in Vegas. On the way out we stopped at the Stratosphere, and on the way home we stayed at the New Frontier. The Casino was dingy and dark. It smelt of Cigars from years past. The room had a nice view of the strip, but the bed was hard, the room smelled, and it felt dirty. It did have some old Vegas charm and we laughed at the beer bottle opener built into the marble sink tops. The New Frontier has recently been imploded and a Swiss themed hotel is scheduled to take its place.
17. The Sahara. The ONLY reason I place the Sahara this high is because of the great times we've had watching The Amazing Jonathan performances. He no longer plays here, but he still performs in Vegas and I highly recommend his show! The Casino is ok if you like to gamble. The food is edible, but the rooms here are hands down the worst rooms I have stayed in, in Vegas. The beds are full size, not queen. The doors do not reach the ground so the hall lights shine in. The walls must be made from cardboard as you can hear your neighbors every move. The rooms do not feel clean, and even though they can be the cheapest room on the strip I suggest you pony up the extra couple dollars and stay at the other cheap hotels like The Stratosphere or Circus Circus. *Update 2012 - The property has since closed. The owner says there is a chance he may reopen it down the road.
16. Harrah's. I stayed here as a kid and they used to shine green lights at the building at night to make it glow green. I remember these lights being intrusive and interrupting my slumber. They no longer shine these lights however, and the room was clean and nice.
15. Stardust. As a kid, the Stardust was my favorite place. Back when Vegas was about the lights and not the huge buildings and crazy architecture. The Stardust seemed futuristic and the pink and purple lights lit up the night. The rooms were simple, but clean. The Echelon resort is being built on the site the Stardust once stood.
14. Imperial Palace. This hotel/casino has the worst car access from the strip. If you are driving south on the strip it takes forever to turn in. The Casino is small, but fun. The rooms are ok, but have nothing to do with the Asian theme of the resort. The only reason to stay here is the low room prices and the excellent strip location.
13. The Tropicana. The room we had here was a corner room, which are much larger then the standard room. It had a really nice view of the strip. But this room was located in the back tower which took forever to walk to from the hotel lobby. The rooms felt too warm even with the ac on. They also had tacky mirrors on the ceiling. Nothing about this room was really great, but nothing was really wrong either.
12. The Stratosphere. This place is my safe bet. I've stayed here many times because of the cheap prices, clean yet simple rooms, fun casino, good shows, and of course the Tower. Nothing about this place is mind blowing, but it has never let me down. I love the Tower and seeing the Vegas lights from 1,149 ft in the sky. The rides at the top are excellent, if not down right scary. The shows we've seen here are fun and between the mall and casino, there is always somewhere to go. If you want to do Vegas for cheap, yet still fun, I recommend this place. Just be warned, the pool is nasty.
11. MGM Grand. As far as a casino and resort, the MGM Grand has it all. It is one of my favorite places to play, dine, and hang out in. They have a lion habitat in the casino with very large lions roaming around. Alright, they mostly just lay around, but it is still awesome nonetheless. But as far as the rooms go, they are clean and comfortable but the walls are paper thin. To make matter worse it seems like the "I'm only in Vegas to get drunk and act like a retard crowd" choose this hotel. *2012 update - The Lion Habitat has closed. They are also remodeling the front entrance by the large gold lion. We were told by an employee it is part of the re-branding of the property. I guess we'll see what happens.
10. NY NY. Like the MGM Grand, I love the casino and theme of this hotel. The restaurants here are all great. There is a little cake shop that Jill and I like to stop by and visit. Every time I go to Vegas I spend a good amount of time in this place. When I got the chance to stay here last May(2009) I was very excited. My friend Andrew got free tickets to the Pacquio VS Hatton boxing match and two rooms at the NY NY for free! That trip was so much fun, my brother Keven came down too, and we all had a great time. The room itself was fairly large, but the beds and amenities seemed sub par far the resort and its price class. The pool is probably the worst on the strip.
9. Excalibur. I have a love hate relationship with this casino/hotel. I love the location, the theme, the casino, the restaurants, and I always park here when we go walking the strip. I do not like the rooms or the tiny pool though. The price here has come down in the past few years to make it a good choice, but the rooms are dingy and boring. But the good outweighs the bad here and I'll stay again.
8. Circus Circus. The casino here makes you feel lost. The old folks flock here. Kids run ramped here as their parents take them to the free circus shows and for the midway games. The buffet is weak and forgettable. But surprisingly the rooms in this old casino are nice. They have an old motel like building in the back, but I have never stayed there. I have stayed in the standard and upgraded rooms here and have not been disappointed. They have been remodeling the rooms too and though I haven't stayed in the new ones, I look forward to it as they look really nice. The theme park here can be fun. The Steakhouse is excellent and it is where Jill and I had our first dinner as husband and wife.
7. El Cortez. This place is located in old Las Vegas, just off Fremont Street. The Casino is small, but fun. It has the old Mafia feel too it. The main hotel is one of the oldest still standing in Vegas. They also have a tower that was built in the 70's. Jill and I stay in the tower rooms when we go. They are very large and clean. They have antique furniture and good views of Vegas. My brother stayed in the old portion and swears it was haunted and didn't sleep much. I love the old school charm of this place and want to stay again.
6. Aria at City Center. This hotel is ridiculously nice. That said, the first time I stayed here I wasn't happy at all. I had friends with me and despite the fact I booked a room with 2 beds, they'd only give me a room with one bed. I know things happen, but the way I was talked to by the girl at the counter made me very upset. The room itself is ran by a tablet computer, which is cool when it works. Ours didn't at first. Since I was upset by all of this, plus the hassle of checking out, I wrote an email explaining my frustrations. They apologized and sent me an email offering me a free room and discounted rates for additional night. So why is the Aria still ranked so high? Because like I said, it's ridiculously nice! The bed was comfortable, the tablet ran rooms were awesome (after they fixed it), they had plenty of cool pools, the casino was fun, and the Viva Elvis show is AMAZING. Jill and I are staying here again tomorrow, and even though things didn't run very smooth the first time, I'm very excited to stay again!
5. The Luxor. My favorite themed casino/hotel. The Egyptian motif is fun, and staying in the pyramid hotel is so fun. We stayed 20-something stories up and the view from inside is just amazing. I suggest that everyone stay in the pyramid once. The casino is great, the food is awesome as Fusha is one of my favorite restaurants. The show here are great. The Imax theater and arcade are fun. Nothing bad to say about this place at all. PS- Chris Angel... UPDATE - Since I first wrote my review of the Luxor, Jill and I stayed here again. After we booked a pyramid room, they told us at check in that they only had tower rooms, and that they would give us the "free" upgrade for their error. The upgrade, was anything but an upgrade. They Luxor doesn't have the best amenities or beds, so this room as just a standard hotel room. Being in the pyramid is really what makes this place fun. Also, Fusha is closed now and sits vacant....
4. Mandalay Bay. This place is almost perfect. The rooms aren't large, but are big enough and are very comfortable. This resort is perfect for relaxing. The swimming pool area is covered in sand to make it feel like your staying on a beach. The casino is fun and pretty. There are many options for great dining, including The House of Blues, which is a favorite stop of Jill's. It's also connected by a little shopping plaza to The Luxor property. We've seen The Lion King stage production here, and it was amazing. It has since closed for the new Michael Jackson show. The only drawback for some is that it's at the very end of the strip and due to its very large size, it can be a long walk or drive from other properties. For me, that's not a problem and I enjoy any chance to spend at the Bay.
3. Treasure Island. We always visit the casino when we are here. We have even seen Mystere here about 4 times. But until a couple weeks ago (in 2010), Jill and I had never stayed in the hotel. When we first got there I thought this place was going to be a nightmare. When we checked in there were about three employees checking in about sixty people in line. After the wait to check in, which was faster then expected, I was hit with a $20 a day resort fee that they tack on top of your room rate. I was SO MAD. But then as soon as Jill and I made it to the room, everything got better. We were 27 floors up, with a strip view. This view also gave us a perfect look at the Siren Pirate show they do 3 or 4 times a night. The fireworks they shoot off would pass by our floor to ceiling windows nightly. It was so cool. The bed in this hotel was probably the nicest bed I have slept in, in Vegas. It was so relaxing. The air conditioning unit was perfect. The walls were solid and the hotel was rather quiet. It was too cold to visit the pool, but everything else about this hotel was almost perfect. I would recommend this place to all, but warn of the resort charge!
2. The Mirage. What a great place to stay. The rooms are very similar to TI (Treasure Island was originally suppose to be the 2nd tower of The Mirage resort). The bathrooms were nice, the beds were super comfortable, and the vibe was refreshing. This resort has everything I need and really there is no reason to leave if you're staying there. One of my favorite restaurants, BLT Burger, is located here. This place has awesome burgers and out of this world milkshakes (Twinkie or PB&J are my favorites). The sports book is large and Andrew and I spend many hours here relaxing on the leather couches watching some games. The casino is fun, but it seems like it takes your money faster than most. But the best thing about the Mirage has the be THE BEATLES! This place is the home of The Beatles Love show. It is by far the best show I have seen in Vegas. It also has a Beatles themed lounge, the casino plays Beatles music throughout, and there is a Beatles store where I grab 93% of all my t-shirts. This place is wonderful and I can't wait to return! With the recent room discounts they've had, there is no reason for you not to try it out!
1. Trump International. This place is soooo nice. There is no casino here, just a top of the line hotel. Everything here is over the top fancy. The beds are so comfortable. The bathroom is as large as most Vegas hotel rooms. The mirror in the bathroom has a TV behind the glass. The tub is a huge jacuzzi. They give you slippers and robes. Plasma TVs here. Books to read. Amazing views. Excellent furniture. Everything is mind blowing. The only drawback is you have to pay for parking everyday. If you can afford to go, you should stay here. I've stayed here a few times bidding low for 5 star rooms on priceline. I've never payed more than $99 a night, which is a steal!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Big Changes
I decided a few months back that it was time for some changes in my life. Work had become something I really stopped enjoying, and a few people I worked with didn't alway seem to have my best interests in mind. Instead of joining the training to get myself promoted, I opted out. I started looking for a new job, something that I felt rewarded in doing, yet allowed me the chance to be a good dad to my girl. When I thought I had a job at "Local BYU Style Candy Place", I stepped down from my manager position at "National Grocery Store with Local Name" so I could be ready to take the job. Unfortunately, the job I thought was going to be mine, was offered to someone else. I'm sure that person fit the "BYU" persona a little better than I. So I went back to the grocery store.
It was weird being just a clerk after being a manager for so long. Many things that I would normally fix were no longer mine to deal with. I thought I'd be happy about less responsibilities, but it was the opposite. Seeing things that need help, but not being able to do it, drove me nuts. But this store (not the same one I ran) had a few of my best friends there, so that made it better.
After a few weeks I got in touch with a friend at "5th largest National Bank" and told her I wanted to work there. She pulled some strings and I got to meet the District Manager. I was offered a job for less money then my clerk position at the grocery store, and far less than my salary as the boss. Still, I knew inside it was a change I needed.
So here I am, making far less money and learning a whole new trade. But the thing that really makes it all worth while is seeing my little Lu. I've had the chance to spend more time with her this Spring than at any other point in her life. We've bonded and she's become my best friend. Jill has been great and very supportive, even as the cash flow was reduced to a cash trickle. Without her support, I'd probably still be getting walked all over at the "National Grocery Store with Local Name".
It's really a big change, and a scary one even. But I know inside, I made the right call. Once the ball gets rolling at the bank, I'm going to keep pushing so I'm back at the top. Mediocrity is not my style.
So after 15 years of blood, sweat, and tears, I am moving on to bigger and better things. I'll miss all the friends I've made, I'll miss all the money left on the table, but I won't miss the inability to have some normalcy in my personal life. Being with Jill and Lucy isn't worth those green backs. Plus for those who really know me, you understand that playing politics is not my style. If i wanted to get ahead in life by being a yes man, I probably could, but my censor button doesn't always work and my opinions fall from my mouth with ease.
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