EXTRAVAGANZA

IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE AVI CASINO IN THE FALL AND IN THE SPRING THEY HAVE THE EXTRAVAGANZA. IT’S A COLLECTION OF VENDORS THAT SET UP TO DISPLAY THEIR WEARS.

THESE VENDORS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO QUARTZITE FOR THE WINTER MONTHS TO SELL. QUARTZSITE IS A SMALL ARIZONA TOWN AT THE JUNCTION OF HYW 95 AND INTERSTATE 10. IN THE SUMMER IT’S A SLEEPY TOWN OF LESS THAN 2000, BUT IN THE WINTER THE POPULATION SWELLS TO A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND WITH RV’ERS SETTING UP ALL OVER THE SURROUNDING DESERT TO ENJOY THE WARM DESERT WEATHER AND BOONDOCK FOR FREE.

OFTEN CALLED THE LARGEST FLEA MARKET IN THE WORLD, THE VENDORS FOLLOW THE SNOWBIRDS AND SET UP SHOP. THE AVI EXTRAVAGANA MAKES A NICE STOP ON THE WAY TO, AND BACK FROM, THEIR WINTER IN QUARTZSITE. CONFIDENTIALLY, THERE IS A LITTLE LOOPHOLE BEING USED HERE BY THE VENDORS. THE EXTRAVAGANZA IS SET UP ON THE MOHAVE INDIAN RESERVATION AND FOR THE $25 COST OF A PERMIT THEY DON’T HAVE TO PAY ANY SALES TAX TO THE STATE FOR WEARS SOLD ON THE RESERVATION. HMMM……. WONDER HOW MANY OF THEIR QUARTZSITE SALES END BEING REPORTED ON PAPER AS BEING SOLD AT THE AVI?

OVER THE YEARS WE’VE BOUGHT OUR Z-COIL SHOES, A SET OF POTS, PANS, & INDUCTION HOT PLATE, CAR WAX, AND ASSORTED RV SUPPLIES AT THIS EVENT. THIS YEAR I BOUGHT THE SHAM-WOW TOWELS AS SEEN ON TV, WITHOUT PAYING THE SALES TAX OR SHIPPING. THE CAR WAX VENDOR WAS MISSING SO LOOKS LIKE THE AZ CAR WON’T BE GETTING A COAT OF WAX THIS FALL AFTER ALL.

TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN I FEATURE ONE OF MY FAVORITE FOOD VENDORS, ‘POPPIN’ JOHNNY ICE CREAM.

“SUNNY & 80”

THE PUNCH LINE
"Actually, sir, I do mind if you call me 'Barack-odile Dundee.' " - From David Letterman's "Top Ten Things Overheard During The Bush/Obama Meeting"