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Hey, I'm back from vacation! No time for much posting right now, but here are some vacation pics!



David and Rebecca at Autopia in Disneyland


Rebecca and the kids at the Coke Museum in Las Vegas


David and a wall-mounted lizard statue in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas


The obligatory Hollywood shot


David sticking his head in the Jaws display at Universal Studios


Yes, it's M&M World in Las Vegas! Personally, I have a sneaking suspicion that the M&M was trying to stick his hand up my wife's skirt, but I have no evidence.


No Disneyland visit would be complete without Winnie the Pooh


Yes, it's me and the SAW. Naturally, I'm wearing my Homer Simpson T-shirt in that picture, and it's not tucked in so I look like a slob.


The boys in front of a San Diego SeaWorld Beluga whale.


A crocodile at the Shark Reef display at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas


ToonTown in Disneyland!


The Venezia Tower Courtyard pool. Yes, the whole place looked like this.


See what I mean?

*dollar bills suddenly drift through head*


Ahhhh, if I could swim away my summer in such luxury....

Well, atleast someone i'm loosely affiliated with is having a fun summer...

Wow, neat pics. (Viewed with my 56k!)

On the "Obligatory Hollywood Shot" you kind of look like Clark Griswold.

Darth Wong wrote:Hey, I'm back from vacation! No time for much posting right now, but here are some vacation pics!

I knew you were out here when I felt that tremor in the Force.

Darth Wong wrote:Yes, it's M&M World in Las Vegas! Personally, I have a sneaking suspicion that the M&M was trying to stick his hand up my wife's skirt, but I have no evidence.

It must be his suspicious-looking two-martini Dean Martin expression. Never trust a red M&M.

Your wife looks infinitely tired in that Coke pic.

Dalton wrote:Your wife looks infinitely tired in that Coke pic.

"Tired" and "mommy" are very closely connected words.

Awesome pictures.

And they have a Coke museum?.....funky.

Your wife bears a striking resemblance to a teacher I had in 9th grade.

That is one opulent-looking hotel. You could have told me that pool shot was taken in Monaco and I'd have believed you.

I see they loved SeaWorld as much as I did.

Oh, and I hate your sons for being able to get that close to a saltwater crocodile, even if it is behind lexan(?) I have never gotten closer than 30 feet from them at various zoos.

Glad to have you back! And be sure to convey my jealousy to your children

Alyrium Denryle wrote:Oh, and I hate your sons for being able to get that close to a saltwater crocodile, even if it is behind lexan(?) I have never gotten closer than 30 feet from them at various zoos.

Looks either stuffed and mounted, or else very lazy. Either that or I'm not seeing the part that's keeping it from crawling out.

Edit: Maybe not; I *think* I can see a shimmer higher up. I originally thought it was a display, not a live animal.

Lagmonster wrote:

Alyrium Denryle wrote:Oh, and I hate your sons for being able to get that close to a saltwater crocodile, even if it is behind lexan(?) I have never gotten closer than 30 feet from them at various zoos.

Looks either stuffed and mounted, or else very lazy. Either that or I'm not seeing the part that's keeping it from crawling out.

Edit: Maybe not; I *think* I can see a shimmer higher up. I originally thought it was a display, not a live animal.

There is no way that is a display. The separation you see is blue coloration of treated water, and you couldnt mount a croc like that. It has thick glass keeping it in. YOu can actually see a thick pane of glass in an ajoining display.

Yes, that was a real croc. And yes, Alyrium is correct; there was a thick pane of glass (or something that does the same job, such as Lexan) running all the way up.

Mike, the last time I was in Vegas about 2 years ago it was definately a family oreinted place for kids, etc. I hear that alot of old time Casino owners are complaining about this emphasis on family vacations and the fact that gambling revenues have been steadily declining because of parents spending time with their kids instead of at the tables. There is supposedly a shift going on in Vegas away from the family oriented atmosphere but from the pictures I don't much see that happening yet. Did you notice any of that shift? (Aside from the horde of illegals handing out porn fliers on the strip)

Darth Wong wrote:Yes, that was a real croc. And yes, Alyrium is correct; there was a thick pane of glass (or something that does the same job, such as Lexan) running all the way up.

*excellent*

That croc looks about 6-7 feet long and probably around 8 years old. Wow am jealous...

Darth Wong wrote: [imghttp://www.stardestroyer.net/BoardPics/2004Vac ... oh.jpg/img]
No Disneyland visit would be complete without Winnie the Pooh

Is that Tigger being arrested in the background

Glad you had a good time, Mike, and welcome back!

Now, after seeing the pictures of your family, I have this urge of asking my week-long girlfriend in marriage.. but I suppose it's a bit early for that.

Great pics, Lord Wong! My family and I went there a couple years ago, and my folks stayed at the Venetian while me, my friend and my brothers stayed at Bally's (boring-ass hotel). The Venetian was fucking nice. Did you visit any of the other hotels, such as Caesar's Palace? We went there again this last Christmas to go skiing and stayed at The Orleans. It has nice rooms, but I think the theme sucks.
And Alyrium, I've seen those same crocs when I went there. I'll try and dig up the pics and post them if you want.

Stravo wrote:Mike, the last time I was in Vegas about 2 years ago it was definately a family oreinted place for kids, etc. I hear that alot of old time Casino owners are complaining about this emphasis on family vacations and the fact that gambling revenues have been steadily declining because of parents spending time with their kids instead of at the tables.

Gambling revenues may also be declining because of the increasing publicity put toward the dangers of compulsive gambling. I saw a lot of warning signs about compulsive gambling and where to seek help posted around the city; maybe they were put there by some kind of government ordinance, but let's face it: compulsive gamblers are where Vegas used to make all of its money.

There is supposedly a shift going on in Vegas away from the family oriented atmosphere but from the pictures I don't much see that happening yet. Did you notice any of that shift? (Aside from the horde of illegals handing out porn fliers on the strip)

Not really, although it's not surprising that certain casino owners would complain. Gambling is still everywhere in the city, and the one-armed bandits are still doing brisk business, but there have always been people who go to Vegas for the shows and attractions rather than the gambling, and Vegas needs that, despite the grumbling of certain casino owners. The ones who are complaining are probably the ones who lack popular shows and attractions, which you need in Vegas nowadays in order to draw people into your casino in the first place, prior to them gambling. The old-style "pure casino" with mostly gambling and little in the way of showmanship wouldn't succeed in Vegas nowadays, nor should it.

Alyrium Denryle wrote:

Darth Wong wrote:Yes, that was a real croc. And yes, Alyrium is correct; there was a thick pane of glass (or something that does the same job, such as Lexan) running all the way up.

*excellent*

That croc looks about 6-7 feet long and probably around 8 years old. Wow am jealous...

You would probably like Reptilia here in Toronto. They have crocs here too, as well as all manner of reptiles. The handlers will also bring them out and let you touch them (on the tail, not near the head) if you want.

Darth Wong wrote:

Alyrium Denryle wrote:

Darth Wong wrote:Yes, that was a real croc. And yes, Alyrium is correct; there was a thick pane of glass (or something that does the same job, such as Lexan) running all the way up.

*excellent*

That croc looks about 6-7 feet long and probably around 8 years old. Wow am jealous...

You would probably like Reptilia here in Toronto. They have crocs here too, as well as all manner of reptiles. The handlers will also bring them out and let you touch them (on the tail, not near the head) if you want.

Sweeeet, we dont have shit for that sort of thing in Arizona.

The old-style "pure casino" with mostly gambling and little in the way of showmanship wouldn't succeed in Vegas nowadays, nor should it.

Places like that are simply boring. What makes me want to go to Vegas on my 21st birthday is not the gambling, but the kickass shows. Stuff at The Excalibur for example. I like staged jousting, gambling or no gambling. They have enough stuff there(not including the gambling and brothels) to keep me occupied for weeks just looking around and exploring.

I forgot how beautiful Rebecca is.

Those pictures are great, especially the one with you and the boys in the pool--so cute! And that hotel is gorgeous! What was your favourite part of the trip (when you have some time to post)?

Damn, that's one fun vacation...but where's the pictures of the Las Vegas showgirls and strippers?

I'm horrified at how old your kids look. I suppose you are too.