Vegas Solo: Work, Mariah, and a Biohazard

I spent 9 nights in Vegas. That’s right…9 nights. This wasn’t like the Vegas days of 2011 - 2015 when a group of us was going for bachelor parties about once every 9 months on average. Back then, we barely survived three-day trips. After a Hangover-esque weekend in 2015, we vowed to take a break–and we have actually stuck to it to this day!

This time was different because I was alone, working, and staying off the Strip a little. I stayed at the Virgin Hotel (the old Hard Rock) because it's a Hilton property and the price was right. It’s a smaller hotel/casino compared to most on the strip and seems to be geared toward conferences. I liked how small it was because it’s easy to get lost in some of those casinos! While small, I still had a lot of the usual hotel/casino amenities - like a pizza place that’s open until 2 a.m. everyday! The music throughout the casino was always a vibe and whatever smells they had pumping in the elevators always made me happy.

They have multiple pools on the property, but because it’s winter, all but one small one were closed. The good thing is they have that at 100 degrees! I only got in one day, but it was warm enough to sit out by the pool a couple days which was nice because I love my Vitamin D!

I went to Vegas for two reasons: 

1. scoping it out as a potential landing spot someday
2. Mariah Carey is in residency and I had to spend Valentine’s Day with her

As I’ve mentioned, I don’t have plans to settle anywhere any time soon, but am looking at different things while I’m in each city. I didn’t leave the area around my hotel very much and only went to the Strip once - for Mariah. I like gambling, but it’s not something I necessarily seek out - especially by myself. I did gamble one night though and lost everything I was prepared to lose very quickly at a blackjack table.

While I stayed in the neighborhood most of the time, that meant I got to visit the Double Down Saloon a couple times since it was a few blocks away. It’s one of my favorite spots in Vegas - a total dive and I have a lot of fun memories there!

I need to explore more areas of Vegas but am planning on being back there next month to see a couple different friends that will be in town.

Mariah: listen…every young closeted gay boy is assigned a diva at some point and you don’t have a choice. Mine was Mariah Carey. When I got to select my first 16 CDs for a penny from Columbia House back in the early 90s, the first stamp I peeled off was Mariah Carey Unplugged and that was my first album. The concert was at Dolby Live which seats about 6,500 people. I got one ticket on the floor in the center. The show was everything I wanted and it will be a V-Day I remember for sure!

While I wanted a little more desk space to work, I really enjoyed my time at the Virgin Hotel and got pretty comfy there. It was a little sad leaving - mostly because I knew I wouldn’t have immediate access to pizza at any time! However, I was also ready to go!

I hadn’t planned on going to Vegas that early but it just worked out better for me for a few reasons. What wasn’t ideal about going early was that I didn’t have access to laundry since I had been in San Francisco. If you see me in pictures, you’re going to see me in many combos of the same thing; I’m living out of suitcases! With limited space in one’s luggage and no access to laundry, one can run out of clean undergarments.

One embarrassing moment: I had left my large suitcase in Salt Lake and Matt’s friend Zac was coming to Vegas while I was there so he was kind enough to lug it along to Vegas so I could grab it. When I got back to the hotel with the suitcase, I walked through the casino a little to get a green tea. As I was heading back up to my room, I walked by two women standing by one of those yellow caution cones and took a quick left past them. I kept walking until I was stopped by, “SIRRRRR! SIRRRRRR!” I turned around and saw a bunch of dog turds all over the carpeted casino floor. I immediately stopped on my tip toes and said, “Oh, did I step in it?” Thankfully, I did not! However, my luggage wheels rolled right through one of the turds.

I had to remain there for some time as I learned this was considered a biohazard. Another woman showed up to assess the situation and very shortly after, the original two women somehow disappeared and were never to be seen again.

So here I am in the middle of the day holding my suitcase on two wheels while this kind woman tries to clean off my wheels before I hauled the suitcase across the rest of the carpeted casino.

And that’s what you get for waking up in Vegas.

PS- This is usually a little behind so if you don’t follow me on Insta, I’m in Palm Springs for a few weeks. It’s been amazing so far! I’m able to set up my workstation outside so I get all the Vitamin D throughout the day. It’s amazing what the sun and fresh air does for your mental health.