Life on the Road

Yesterday on the TV news, I heard this statement, in connection to a recent death on a cruise line. The speaker was discussing the risks of cruise travel in general, and the footage was stock footage of various cruise boats.

“What people don’t realize is, of course, is…. it happens more often than not.”

More often than not? Oh, my god– I am so glad I survived my 3-day cruise in Ensenada, then! The phrase “More often than not” indicates that something happens more often than it does not happen. So, more than 50% of the time, that thing happens.

Thus, according to the speaker, who was clearly not thinking while his mouth was flapping,  more than 50% of cruises (or perhaps, more than 50% of cruisers!) will result in a death by someone falling overboard.

Now that I think of it, there was an emergency on board our cruise– someone had an existing medical condition that required them to be picked up by the Coast Guard and returned to shore for medical treatment. But they didn’t die, and they rejoined the cruise later that day.

Here’s a tip for writers, commentators, and in general anyone who doesn’t want to look or sound like an idiot: Know what’s going to come out before you open your mouth.

It used to be pretty standard that you could find at least one blackjack table with a $5 minimum. Before blackjack became all the rage about 10 years ago, you could even find tables with $2 or $3 minimums. Those days are all but gone on the Strip, but if you’re a blackjack player, there are a few places to play for less.

One of the local favorites is the Silverton, which has table games, slots, poker, a few restaurants, a massive aquarium with mermaid show, a showroom, and a Bass Pro Shops.

Yes, really– they have a Bass Pro Shop on site. The Silverton always has $5 blackjack tables– during popular times and days, they may only have one table, but they’ll have at least 1 open.

There are only 2 pits here, and several of the table games are what I call the “oddball” games, like Pai Gow Poker, 3 Card Poker, Mini-Baccarat. I’m a classicist when it comes to table games– I like craps and blackjack, and the other games don’t really get my attention.

The poker room has nightly Texas Hold Em tournaments, with Fridays being Ladies Night (women get a discount on their buy-in). Most of the action starts after 6 or 7, and I understand it’s hard to get together a no-limit Texas Hold Em cash game. But if you like limit Hold Em, or you’re into tournament play, this is a good spot to go.

The restaurants are Vegas-style, but the Silverton’s having a special until the end of December (2008): 2 for 1 at all the restaurants. This makes it very affordable for couples, whether you’re enjoying a pasta dish with a view of the aquarium, or “fajitas and ritas” (which have their own special price and come with enough fajitas for 3 meals!)

Events change frequently, and the Silverton recently hosted the National Rodeo Trials, but also has Smashmouth playing on January 3rd, so a good mix for visitors. It’s not a kid-oriented place– for that, you need to go to the Excalibur or Circus Circus. But kids do enjoy the mermaid show at the aquarium, so it doesn’t completely alienate families.

The Silverton is away from the Strip, down Highway 15 to Blue Diamond Road. There are daily shuttles to the Forum Shops, Oasis RV park, the Outlet Mall, and a few other spots, so if you’re trying to get around, it’s easy enough. Plus, free, uncrowded parking is available if you have a car.

Silverton Casino Lodge
3333 Blue Diamond Road
Las Vegas, NV 89139
(866) 946-4373

This week’s hard drive failure did teach me a couple of valuable things about why I’m glad to have a Mac computer, living on the road. For one thing, when they work, they really do work. Effortlessly and seamlessly.

For another thing, they have good, built-in encryption in the File Vault program. My husband and I share our concerns about laptop theft on the road frequently. In an ideal situation, someone breaking in and stealing our computers will get… a computer. They won’t also get our hard drives of data, our passwords, our bank accounts, our browsing history, or anything more valuable than a couple of machines.

But there’s another reason to use a Mac, a really big reason, and it has to do with the times when it doesn’t work.

When a PC breaks, you have to fix it yourself or take it to some computer repair person to fix it. Most of the time, we fix these things ourselves, because finding someone to fix a computer is… not easy, to say the least. For most people, the “computer guy” is a friend or a relative, your neighbor’s nephew– basically, some kid with a lot of know-how and an ability to dig right in and tackle it.

When a Mac breaks, you can try to fix it yourself, but you’re going to end up calling Apple for parts anyway. In my case, I have AppleCare on my computer. The couple hundred bucks it cost me was more than worth it the first time I took it in for service, over a year ago. Because Apple is one company, when you take your machine to an Apple Store’s Genius Bar in New York, and then take it to another Genius Bar in Las Vegas, you end up with the same level of service. The technicians (sorry, Geniuses) have a repair history on file, based on your computer’s serial number.

Now, because of the uniformity of service, you can’t really count on someone going the extra mile for you. After all, they don’t really know you that well. They just know you came in with a dead hard drive (or battery, or DVD drive, or logic board…. yes, I’ve had a lot of computer problems.) You’re not building an ongoing relationship with the individual Genius who helps you with your machine. But you do have an ongoing service record, so the next Genius can be interchangeable with the last Genius.

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the park
Not a creature was stirring, not even a lark.
The stockings were piled on the rig’s steering wheel
And we were home from the buffet after a great big meal.
The presents were on their way to loved ones,
We dreamed of a Christmas in Nevada’s sun.
When what to my wondering eyes, don’t you know?
But a stiff breeze and sleet and then– SNOW!
It fell soft like wings. It flew in flurries!
It blanketed campsites and made little dogs worry.
The white stuff it fell until early dawning,
And left layers of white stuff on every cold awning.
The palm trees, they sagged with the weight of the stuff.
The hoses, they froze. The retirees cried “ENOUGH!”
And I in my wooly slippers and hat
Was surprised by a sight, “Well, look at that!”
Twas a round little man in a jolly red suit
With sequins and spangles– almost a zoot.
His hair how it shone, his hips how wiggly!
He crooned to himself a tune quite jiggly.
As he passed by the rigs with barely a touch,
I heard him mutter “Thank you very much.”
The sun rose to spread its rays the next morn
We all were relieved to again feel warm!
It’s a curious sight in this land of mega
Hotels and casinos, Christmas in Las Vegas.
And I have a message here, a note from a friend,
A thought for you all, feel free to re-send.
Before you run off to win a few bucks,
Merry Christmas to All, and to All: GOOD LUCK!