SEARCHLIGHT, NEVADA

SEARCHLIGHT, NV IS THE ONLY TOWN BETWEEN LAUGHLIN AND LAS VEGAS, SO WE STOP OFTEN TO MAKE A PIT STOP.

OUR FAVORITE STOPPING PLACE IS THE SEARCHLIGHT NUGGET CASINO. A VERY SMALL PLACE WITH A CAFE, SLOT MACHINES, AND ONE $2 BLACKJACK TABLE.

THE FIRST TIME I WAS AT SEARCHLITE WAS 1999 AND PAULIE WAS WITH ME. WE WERE ON OUR FIRST TRIP TO LAS VEGAS, PAUL HAD FLOWN OUT FROM FRANKVILLE TO VISIT.

WE WERE SITTING AT THE BLACKJACK TABLE TRYING TO WIN ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR OUR BREAKFAST. SINCE IT WAS OUR FIRST TRIP INTO VEGAS I HAD A MAP IN MY BACK POCKET, AND PULLED IT OUT TO ASK DIRECTIONS OF ANOTHER PLAYER AT THE TABLE. WHEN I DID THIS THE DEALER SAID, "OH HONEY I CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT!"

SHE LITERALLY STOPPED THE BLACKJACK GAME, WALKED AWAY FROM THE TABLE TO THE PODIUM AND GOT HERSELF AN ASHTRAY, LIT A CIGARETTE, AND SPREAD THE MAP ACROSS THE TABLE TOP TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS.

PAUL AND I WERE SHOCKED AFTER OUR CASINO TRAINING IN MARQUETTE, WHERE YOU CAN'T EVEN LOOK AWAY FROM YOUR TABLE, MUCH LESS STOP THE GAME, LITE A CIGARETTE, AND SPREAD OUT A ROAD MAP!!!

AFTER LOSING OUR MONEY AND GETTING DIRECTIONS WE CONTINUED OUR TRIP THROUGH THE MANY ORANGE BARRELS OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION TO VEGAS.

EVER SINCE IT'S BEEN MY ROUTINE (I ALWAYS THINK OF UNCLE AMBROSE WHEN I USE THAT WORD), TO STOP IN SEARCHLIGHT AND ORDER THE GREASY MINER'S BREAKFAST TO SET UP MY SYSTEM FOR DRINKING AND DOING VEGAS-BABY!!!

THE BIRTHDAY TRIP WAS NO EXCEPTION. AFTER ORDERING, MARY HIT THE RESTROOM AND ON HER WAY OUT PUT A DOLLAR IN THE FIRST SLOT MACHINE SHE SAW. BINGO!!!

SHE RETURNED TO THE TABLE WITH 20 $1 TOKENS, PAID FOR OUR BREAKFAST AND WE WERE OFF AND RUNNING THROUGH THE ORANGE BARRELS OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION TO VEGAS-BABY!!

OH THE MINER'S BREAKFAST? JUST CHECK OUT THE YELLOW GREASE LAYING ACROSS MY EGGS.

ORANGE BARRELS? DIDN'T I MENTION THEM THE FIRST TIME IN 1999? ISN'T IT NOW 2008? YUP, SEARCHLIGHT IS THE HOME OF SENATOR HARRY REID THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE US SENATE, AND A FINE JOB OF PORK BARREL POLITICS IS ALIVE AND WELL, MAKING ROAD CONSTRUCTION A FULL TIME JOB IN SEARCHLIGHT.

"SUNNY & 80"