New Orleans is pretty good at tourism, too. Bottom line -- Jobs, often seasonal, pay generally not too good.

Also drawing on the New Orleans comparison, lots of resources are deployed to keep the tourists safe and happy. Residents? Eh.

Question for them that know Vegas - what hotels are super close to ceasar's palace? Like, next door and not as expensive.

TI is pretty close. I think Bally's is close. Right next door is The Mirage.

Totally depends on where you're going and how fancy it is, msbelle.

Re Haiti, I am glad to hear my best friends family is ok. Or at least, alive. I also hear they were somewhat stocked up for hurricane season which wasn't bad as expected, so there's some supply of food and water, which is a blessing. I admit, some of my thoughts were wondering how the dominican republic fared--my dad served in the peace corps there (waaay back in the early 60s when the program started) and still has friends there. I stayed with them one summer. And they are well off, for there, but sure don't live in a resort, nohow.

This map seems to indicate that the Dominican Republic was mostly spared.

There's a vegas strip hotel map here: [link]

eta: Nicole, are you going to be in Vegas? Should we start plotting?

I have to go to Vegas for work but I *must* have dinner at Mesa Grill (inside Ceasar's) again. Yum! It might be a same day trip but if there's even a chance to fly in the night before the meeting, I want to be able to hit Mesa. The company will pay Rio room prices and the like, but definitely not ceasar.

Mesa is one of the places I got restaurant week reservations.

The spa I was looking at is the Lake Austin. For now, I am in, but that's a year from now, I don't make plans a year out.

Mesa is one of the places I got restaurant week reservations.

JEALOUS! I've had dreams about the grilled lamb porterhouse chop that I ate there last year. Oh, god. So yum.

Hey Perkins - that isn't to say that I wouldn't be maybe interested in visiting Vegas with you sometime...

I've been blowing off going to the grocery store since the holidays (lots of drive-thru fast food), and I know I have to start eating better. Solution? Delivery! Even though I spent a lot, I've got food to last until mid-February at least, especially if I just run into the grocery store for occasional items when I need to. Food will arrive tomorrow morning between 6-8, so I have to be up early.

First time I've done this in over a decade, and the selection is so much better than it was back then, and it's cheaper, too. Now I just have to start clipping coupons, which means I have to pick up the Sunday paper.

Mmm...Mesa...