JAKE AND LAUREL

WE KNEW THAT A FEW OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION, JAKE (UNCLE HANS' SON) AND LAUREL, AND LAURA (UNCLE NEIL'S DAUGHTER) AND BARRY WERE GOING TO BE IN LAS VEGAS OVER THE EASTER WEEK-END FOR A FRIEND'S WEDDING.  LAURA HAD BEEN KEEPING US POSTED AND WANTED US TO DRIVE INTO VEGAS FOR A QUICK VISIT, BUT THEY WERE GOING TO BE IN VEGAS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, AND OF COURSE WE HAD TO WORK.

THEN I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM JAKE ON SATURDAY EXPLAINING THAT HE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND LAUREL WEREN'T RETURNING TO SPOONER, WI UNTIL MONDAY MORNING.

SWEEEET !!! A REASON TO GO INTO VEGAS ON OUR DAY OFF !!

MARY AND I HAVE NEVER MET LAUREL, SO WE WERE HAPPY TO FINALLY MEET HER.  LAUREL LIKES TO COOK, DRIVES A HONDA, SHOPS AT TRADER JOE'S, AND SUCKS DOWN MILLER LITE WITH THE BOYS.  SHE'S A WINNER AND WE BOTH REALLY ENJOYED MEETING HER AND VISITING FOR A FEW HOURS.

WE MET THE HAPPY COUPLE AT THE CRAPS TABLE AT THE TROPICANA CASINO.  NOW IF YOU'RE EVER IN VEGAS TO MEET US, YOUR INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE TO MEET UP AT THE CRAPS TABLE AT SUCH N SUCH CASINO.  IT'S KINDA LIKE THE O.D. WOULD ALWAYS SAY TO MEET IN SUCH N SUCH TOWN AT THE POST OFFICE.  AFTER ALL MOST TOWNS IN AMERICA ONLY HAVE ONE POST OFFICE AND EVERYBODY IN TOWN KNOWS WHERE IT'S LOCATED.  SAME THING IN A CASINO, THE CRAPS TABLES ARE ALWAY GROUPED TOGETHER AND EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE THEY'RE AT.

WE TOOK A "WALK ABOUT" ON THE STRIP AND DECIDED TO TRY OUT LAUREL'S DICE THROWING ABILITIES AT THE PLANET HOLLYWOOD CASINO.  UNFORTUNATELY FOR MY MONEY CLIP, HER DICE ABILITIES FALL INTO THE UNCLE HANS CATEGORY AND NOT NEAR THE FAMOUS HANNAH DICE ROLL OF 2008.

WE CONTINUED ON TO THE CONSERVATORY AT THE BELLAGIO CASINO.  HERE WE FOUND GIANT ANTS SURROUNDED BY PERFECT SPRING FLOWERS.

JAKE AND LAUREL HAD DINNER PLANS, AND OUR VISIT ENDED TOO SOON.  MARY AND I MADE OUR WAY DOWNTOWN, DRANK AND GAMBLED WITH BOTH HANDS AND CHECKED OUT THE NEW DOORS VIDEO ON THE GIANT OVERHEAD SCREEN ON FREEMONT STREET.

"SUNNY & 80"