"This old town is filled with sin, it will swallow you in
If you've got some money to burn," Gram Parsons, "Sin City"
I'm flying to Las Vegas tomorrow morning, and unless something strange happens, I won't return until Friday. If I'm not back by Monday, alert the authorities and begin the search at the Spearmint Rhino. 
This is not a leisure trip, however, as I was drafted by my company's marketing department to attend a large trade show because I had a "a positive look for it" and I would "represent (insert company name here) well." We'll see.
I tried several excuses to get out of this gig, but none of them worked. The only times I've been to Vegas were for bachelor parties, which happened to coincide with college football season, so my time there has been largely spent betting on games, playing low-limit Blackjack downtown and scheduling quality time at the aforementioned Rhino.
But I doubt that I will indulge myself in the same manner this time.
Instead, I have to spend half my days working at our booth, and then the nights going out with clients and co-workers and making the kind of annoying small talk that leaves my stomach full of battery acid and a semi-permanent smirk on my face. This is an ugly combination that I dread like the plague.
The only way to combat the horror is to pour booze down your neck, but that has its own pitfalls because my body deals with hangovers by utterly rebelling on me and that would make the next day's booth duties nearly untenable. I simply cannot talk about our product suite if my stomach is churning with electric eels and my mouth tastes like a dead raccoon died inside of it. 
I cannot rally like I could when I was 20 years old, which burns on multiple levels.
At least the hotel I'm staying at looks solid, and with any luck at all, I can cover my gambling debts by expensing client dinners to the company. I just hope our payroll department doesn't object to Rhino on the menu. 
Everybody have a hell of a good week.
-BDS
Spearmint Rhino??? That is the gayest strip club name I've ever seen... [light bult goes on in WIGSF's head] Oooohhhh. Sorry dude, I thought with all the sexy lady pics on Fridays that you were straight. To each his own, that's what I say.
WhatIGot - Oh, you are oh, SO WRONG. The Spearmint Rhino is one of the most rockin' strip clubs of ALL TIME. Christy Canyon has even performed there. Rock on, 2Dollar. You're gonna come back home DRAINED. Probably in more ways than one, lol.
WhatIgot - See Heff's comment for color, but that club is always at the top of Vegas's list for this type of entertainment and for very good reasons.
Heff - Exactly. Ha. You're correct on all fronts, although I'm actually unlikely to hit the Rhino this time. Seems like a crime doesn't it? I was going to bet on the NBA play-offs, but that's a poor substitute.
Yep. We'll send a search party. ha
Try to enjoy it as much as possible.
I've done those trade shows with a hangover... in 3" heels.
Ha! Beat that.
I had hoped with the power of the Internet trade shows would become obsolete, but there still seems to be the need to walk those LONG rows and grab corporate swag.
Vegas in June is brutal - stay cool, hydrate and wear comfy shoes.
Work smerk....get your drink on!!
No chance of extending into the weekend? Maybe have Mrs. $$ come join you for a Friday night stop at the Rhino? Best of both worlds if you can pull that one off...
And if not, somehow, I still have faith in your ability to work *and* enjoy Vegas.
Hopefully you'll wind up at the Spearmint Rhino & post about it on your return. Have fun 2$ but don't forget is it really cheating if....
Jlee - I doubt you'll have too much trouble finding volunteers. Ha. I'll try. Thanks.
Anonymous Boxer - That would be an entirely different kind of trade show for me. Ha. So, you've got me beat as I will be flat-footed and hung-over, however, that prospect seems daunting right now. I'll definitely hydrate and it can't be any hotter than Austin right now as we've already cracked 100 degrees 10 times. Ouch.
Miss Ash - There will be cocktails & beer - I promise. Ha. But you must be careful when mixing those with work.
Bostonpobble - No chance, but that would be a sweeter gig. Maybe next time when it's all play . . . And I appreciate your faith in my abilities to balance work/non-work. I will try to reward that stance. Ha.
Nobich - Maybe I can get another good post idea for that series as I'm running dry. Ha. I'll post something, but I don't think they allow picstures in the Rhino - at least I hope not.
Is the Spearmint Rhino ....which sounds like a bad name for a flavored condom or vibrator....the old Palomino?? is the Palomino strip club still there? Mr. Viva and I went to Vegas for our honeymoon many many moons ago and we checked that place out. very interesting.
hope you have a good time, and get the rhino treatment.
Avoid the hangover at trade show at all costs, been there, done that *ugh*! Just the thought makes me queasy. My Mom advice is hydrate and get enough sleep ... and, oh yeah, have a cocktail for me!! Have fun!
Vivavavoom - I'll do some research into that one as I've heard of the Palomino, but have no idea if it still exists. This is the kind of research we make sacrifices for, eh? And the Rhino treatment is line I'll have to steal if I make it there. Ha.
Linda - Yeah, I have no stomach (pun intended) for hangovers in general, and at a trade show seems like a special kind of agony. I plan to pace and sneak away if need be as these are co-workers and at the end of the day, I'd rather survive than hang out with them. We'll see. And thanks for the good wishes.
Heh, sounds like you're looking forward to this week. I hate anything work-related that doesn't allow me to go home at the end of the day... as though enough time isn't spent in the work-place.
Either way, I hope some good comes out of the Vegas trip. Let us know on Friday!
Is that pic at the bottom where you're staying because that doesn't look too shabby at all? Try to have a little fun but just stop short at the hangover kind of fun because yes, after 25 it just blows.
Hope you're back in time for Quick Hit Friday, it's the highlight of my blogging week. Yes I know I need to get a life :)
Grace - I agree 100 percent with that statement about work, but it was a decent time. I'm just exhausted now.
Gypsy - I'm back and got something up for QHF as I wouldn't want to end your week badly. Ha. But the pressure . . . and yes, that was the place I stayed at and the suites were great. That was probably the highlight of the trip.
You're a good egg for making the effort to please your fans when I'm sure you feel like hell :) Have a great and restful weekend.