Las Vegas Nights Have Been Calling
As mentioned previously having a kickass vacation this year is one of my new year’s resolutions. One I really hope to keep one way or another. It’s early in the year but I got a message on TripAdvisor the other day asking for advice about getting discount Wayne Brady tickets so I guess that got the ball rolling in my head. Where will I go? When? With whom? For what purpose?
I do hear Orlando calling me back. Warm sunny humid days…running to the Red Lobster next to the hotel in the rain…walking almost everywhere…an IHOP practically in the lobby of the hotel…Sleuths…Wet N Wild in our back yard…
Anaheim is also a tempting destination. Dry sunny days…walking the CityWalk at Universal Studios…doing Disneyland in 2 hours…Six Flags…The Tonight Show…
Las Vegas is likely to be cheap. Walking the strip in the sun…outstanding performances…impossible buildings doing impossible things…gondola ride…famous people…dressing up…dancing… But there’s something that doesn’t seem quite right about going to the same place 2 years in a row. Not that I’d say no to the opportunity mind you, it just wouldn’t be my first choice for 2009. 2010 maybe, depends when The Experience is reborn.
San Francisco could be fun. Sitting on the dock of the bay…Six Flags…chocolate factories… the Golden Gate Bridge…
I’m not particularly feeling any pull towards Edmonton or Europe this year but Toronto could be nice…Niagara Falls…the CN Tower…
I guess wherever I go I stand a better than even chance of enjoying some Hard Rock Café.
Perhaps I shouldn’t let the destination drive the planning, I’ve had 2 fantastic vacations largely inspired by concerts: Las Vegas in 2008 to see James Darren and Seattle and Las Vegas in 2006 to see the Pet Shop Boys.
Speaking of which the release dates for the upcoming Pet Shop Boys album and single have been released; the album Yes comes out March 23rd and the single Love Etc drops March 16th. I’m sure they’d want to have a huge world tour to promote the new album. I think we proved the west coast loves PSB back in 2006 but even if they don’t make it out this way I’d be willing to travel to the east coast to see them. Overseas might be where I draw the line – for one thing if I didn’t I’d be doing that every year…well for a couple years until I was flat broke anyways. Going to Europe once or somewhere domestic for 3 or more times is a hell of a trade-off.
Depeche Mode is advertising something called Tour of the Universe 2009 on their website. Thankfully they almost always include a stop in Vancouver on their tours so I probably won’t have to worry about travelling to see them. Although I should make sure not to plan my vacation for when they’re here – that’s just crazy. I want to introduce more people to the religious experience that is a Depeche Mode concert; currently only European dates have been announced. My days of missing Depeche Mode concerts in Vancouver are OVER.
James Darren has updated his website to remove the 2008 dates (yea, both of them) and it now says “New Dates Coming Soon”.
I think I need to accept that I’m not likely to see Hootie again live anytime soon – unless I win some kind of see-any-concert-you-want contest in which case my response will likely be “Morning after the Masters, bitches!” I refuse to explain that one until I win this contest I just imagined.
Roadtrips are also quite welcome. I’m still hoping to make it to the Rainforest Café in Seattle sometime this spring perhaps but that’d just be a mini-break not the main show. Currently I’m trying to convince Jon to rent a car and go down for a weekend for his birthday.
There are so many variables. I think I’ll begin to stalk PSB, James Darren, and Depeche Mode on the internet to see what their tour plans become while I try to secure long-term (5 or 7 days or more) babysitting and push (read: guilt trip and blackmail if necessary) Jon into making some vacation time available and we’ll see what that mix produces.
Given that I still need to repay $1,200 into my savings I wouldn’t expect any announcements any time soon. I haven’t even picked up Rock Band 2 yet.
I suppose a best case scenario would be a road trip to Anaheim with Jon and Mindi including a Pet Shop Boys concert all dirt-cheap. I won’t hold my breath for that particular outcome.
