La Vega

I overslept Wednesday morning. As soon as I awoke, a slight panic, as I slapped water onto my face with one hand and packed my toiletries with the other. I was late for a flight again.

It turned out that packing my toothpaste was a slight waste of time as I had no time to check luggage and so my toothpaste would have been prohibited in a carry-on. A perfect arched trajectory formed as I tossed it into the trash while running to the security line. It was more shuffle pass than sky hook. I barely made it.

The conference has been mediocre. The rest of the time has been mellow. An occasional drink with dinner, laps in the pool, and a few activities that aren't the kind of stuff implied in vegas commercials.

An R&B lounge act at Mandalay Bay. I'd like to learn how to play the drums but I don't where I could practice. They do a sweet version of Mary Jane by Rick James.

Signage for a sushi bar. She looks like a former roommate of mine that eventually moved to Japan. The outfit is in line with her style as well.

My favorite part of Thursday. Shark Reef. I want an aquarium like this in my bedroom.

This shark doesn't have eyelids. It doesn't blink. The surprised look coupled with the perverted grin confuses its prey. I would be a great aquarium tour guide.

Jellyfish. Do people eat these? They're amazing because they don't have brains. They just move with the currents and digest. Stoners of the deep.

I touched a stingray. Really mucousy, well-moisturized like diluted oil of olay.

I want one of these, by the way. It's cost-prohibitve though. I'll settle for a hollowed out aquarium that fits over my head and rests on my shoulders like an astronaut's helmet. I'd probably have to commission a bong maker to make me one.