A FEW DAYS WITH SON KEITH

On the morning of my last day at Sam's Town, I had to meet son Keith at the airport and together we would go to rent the Budget car.
I misjudged the buses and was a bit late.  I felt terrible, but Keith was fine and told me not to worry.
I was Fastlane but had forgotten my card.  Keith suggested he wait in the line and I try to book downstairs anyway. 
The woman there said that I really needed my card, but she looked me up and agreed to do the paperwork.  There was no line there. 
She was quite a character.
Keith joined us and she started talking about how handsome I was.  Keith is a very handsome young man, so it was funny.  Still I enjoyed it.
She upgraded me to a Kia Sedona because it would be safer.  I was happy for that upgrade over the course of the rental.
I usually never rent a car in Vegas, and it was expensive with the loss damage waiver, but I treated myself to four weeks, and I was happy I did.  The trip is so cheap.  I am getting older.  My luggage was much heavier with all the clothes for my next part of the Western adventure, a Denver winter as well as Vegas summer like clothes, and I am having some back issues.
When we got the car, it only had a half tank of gas.  Once again Keith is the one who noticed that.  We drove up, got the woman's attention, and they sent a fellow to top off the tank with apologies.

We drove out to the Gold Coast for their breakfast buffet.  I had enough points from my play at Sam's Town to pay for both. 

I like their buffet.  Cheap and tasty.  The red eye gravy has changed a bit, but they can't really do much to eggs, especially since I like over easy rather than fancy omlettes.

Keith had a room at Bally's.  The second day I drove into their lot, but the third day, I took the 202 and that let me take a grand midday nap in Keith's room, and come home rather late from poker.

Keith and I play very different poker.  He plays 2-5 no limit.  I play only limit. 

I played the limit game at Bellagio one day, but it was 4-8 with a kill and so it pushes my bankroll a bit. 

We both played 2-4 at Flamingo and wound up sitting next to my old buddy from El Cortez days, Kevin and a friend of his, Mike.  That was very cool getting Keith and Kevin sitting next to them, with Kevin telling old stories.  It was a fine day.

Keith and I ate at Bally's.  It was an Asian place and I had a fine Tom Yum Seafood Soup.  One morning we went up to Ellis Island and had breakfast.  I had the steak special.  Still good.  No drink with it now, but I can't drink beer or soda anyway.

We walked through the Bellagio garden.  It was all Christmas and really more cliché than usual.  I was disappointed.  But we took a couple of photographs anyway.

We took the tram up to Aria and Keith played there a while. 
Here we are in front of the Aria poker room.

We were sort of on our way to the 2-6 limit at Excalibur to find a game we might play together, but I was really tired and that was when I took my nap.

Before the nap, however, I toured the art along that stretch next to Aria.  I especially love to see the Chihuly. 

 I got interested in this piece because if reflects an outdoor art piece that I thought I might visit later.  It is not too far from Laughlin. 

I took a few more shots as I walked back to Bally's for my nap.

 This one I took from the escalator.

Back in keith's room I took a long, long nap and felt a lot better when I woke up.

So over the few days we had a nice father/son visit, Keith and I.  He has three children, so this kind of one-on-one experience is rare. 
It also was a treat that Keith thought of coming.  I did not lobby or obligate him. 
Thanks, Keith.