How was vegas, Hec?

It was an excellent escape. A short trip, but really like going to an entirely different part of your life.

The first night sucked. Incredibly bad turbulence over the Sierras made for a real white-knuckle flight. Minor mishaps after checking in, culminating in JZ getting stranded at a far-away suburban Catholic Church for Good Friday, cold and hungry and the cab companies reluctant to go out there to collect her.

But Saturday was much better. We got together with (Gambler) Phil and (actress) Jennifer and they took us out to a Super Expensive Delicious Restaurant where the entrees ran about $45 and the cheapest bottle of wine started at $100. I got to see what VIP treatment is all about. It's a whole different world when flocks of waitrons come swooping down to take all the work out of eating a lobster.

Later I got to see Phil in his natural environment in the poker rooms, where he snuck me into a high stakes game (in a special back room) where the minimum bet was $8K! Yikes. Phil described it as "Super Stratospheric Insane High Stakes." As comparison, the other table in the special room had a $400 mininum bet.

Just about everybody at the table was some famous poker player, but I only had the sense to ask "Who's the guy in the red shirt?" "Daniel Negroni." Gus Hansen was there too. Also, James Woods spotted Phil and came over to chat him up, and I got introduced. James Woods obviously (a) really enjoys Phil and (b) really respects his poker opinion.

Next day I talked them into brunch at Commander's Palace across the street, and - almost unbelievably - it was as good or possibly even better than the New Orleans original. Also, it had a super cool Museum of the American Cocktail display. Everything from vintage Absinthe bottles to Tiki Mugs. Really interesting. Also free. Just a small little exhibit but fascinating.

Anyway, they were all booked for Easter Brunch, but Phil sidled up to the Maitre 'D, slipped him a $20 and said, "I was wondering if our mutual friend Mr. Jackson might help us out." And it worked! Phil was so pleased with his graft that he had to hug himself and giggle with glee. (Probably JZ's favorite moment of the weekend.)

After we were seated, somebody on staff tipped the restaurant manager that they'd almost sent away VIPs and you've never seen such a stampede of service in your life. There was hovering. There was comping. There were inidividual waiters for each diner (4) at our table.

Food was fuckin' fabulous. OMG, the Shrimp Creole I had was one of the tastiest things I've ever eaten. It was a big 3 course jazz brunch dealio. Things consumed included pain perdu with pecans and bourbon sauce, eggs sardou (poached eggs, cupped in an artichoke heart, on a bed of creamed spinach, topped with hollaindaise), crab cakes without breading and 95% crab meat, eggs boudreaux (with pulled pork), and lobster bisque. Dessert included the famous bread pudding souffle and bananas foster. We all rolled away like fat little Violet Beaureaugards.

JZ and I went back to our room in a food stupor, then hooked up with ND and Kristin for a birthday dinner for ND, and then to see Ave. Q. That was very fun hanging out at the Wynn (like Bellagio, super luxurious, with a bizarre attraction and a Willy Wonka forest). We had to scramble to find some food, but managed some amazing Japanese before the show. Show was fun. Kristin's hair rocked. ND seemed glad to be having a break.

That sounds wonderful Hec, except for the first night. I love the commander's palace there-- I've been to the jazz brunch, and eaten dinner there a couple of times.

Hec, the majority of the trip sounds like it was fantastic!

Prison Break: At this point, they should just tell everyone in the prison, or the remaining 12 people who don't know, that there's a hole in Cell 40 leading to the outside. Then everyone can storm the cell and, in the ensuing confusion, at least a few of them should make it to freedom. They can't catch everyone, right?

That sounds wonderful Hec, except for the first night. I love the commander's palace there-- I've been to the jazz brunch, and eaten dinner there a couple of times.

Hec, the majority of the trip sounds like it was fantastic!

It really was good. There was a fair amount of downtime since neither Jacqueline or I gambled and we only went to one show. In retrospect I would've liked to see one of the innumerable Cirque shows, but we were originally going to see the Blue Man Group with Phil on Satuday but that didn't pan it. And, yes, Ple, I was thinking about Tobias the whole time.

The poolside of Bellagio is just profoundly swank. There are so many different pools of different sizes and shapes and uses (some with huge fountains in them, others tiny jacuzzis, others swim sized), and it has trees and bowers and you flip up the little flag on the back of your incredibly comfortable chaise when you want service.

Also they have The World's Biggest Chocolate Fountain in the Bellagio patisserie.

It was really fun hanging out with Phil and Jennifer. Just seeing them babble on about their fabulous lives. They travel constantly, but they never go to just vege. They're always kind of working vacations. They get appearance fees, or it's a big tournament or high stakes game, or they were doing the voiceovers in LV for some video game, or she's going on a shoot in Lousiana (they were headed to New Orleans next). She had fun inside gossip, but she wears her fame lightly. It's just a fact of her life and she wasn't about to pull a "Don't you know who I AM!?" at Commander's Palace. But was very proud of Phil for his bribery.

He'd just won a huge high stakes game earlier in the week (quarter-mil!), but he was backed so he didn't get to keep all his winnings. But it was cool to really understand how poker players serve as their own sort of Savings and Loan. Phil basically called up a bunch of high rollers and they had a piece of him for this game.

Also, they're both sort of madly hot for each other still. She's really his first girlfriend and she confided to JZ on the way back from the girl's room that he's the best boyfriend she's ever had.

Also, it was great just to hook up with ND and Kristin in Vegas.

That sounds like fun!

it really does. I'm glad you had a good time.

That sounds like fun!

I recommend it. It's pleasantly weird being in the penumbra of celebrity. You can see how entourages work.

I kept thinking, "Shit, just about everybody staying at the Bellagio is really wealthy, but Fame gets you so much more that money can't buy."

JZ and I could barely eat when we went out with ND and Kristin, though. We were so overwhelmed with rich food we just wanted to eat strips of loofah sponge to clear everything out.

Aww!!! That warms my heart cockles.

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None of the pictures of her on her Actual Birthday are up yet, but plenty of birthday party and some Easter shots.

That does sound like an amazing time, Hec, and I'm glad you two got to have it.

I have too many shoes. I mean, I really have a problem. Why in hell would I buy these? They fit pretty well, btw. I only meant to buy these (which will have to be returned for a bigger size).

Hrrmph.