I though that I was almost a local and was prepared to accept that news. Then I went out with Lee last week as we caught the sights, the sounds, the atmosphere, and excitement of the strip, and even talking about Las Vegas, I found that I was just as excited as they were, if not more. So I guess I'm still a tourist on a very long vacation...and I love it. I'm finding pub and grub food that is more appealing than what I find in the tourist areas. I find myself using coupons sent to locals for food, gifts, cash, points, etc. As a non local, I often drive outside of my quadrant for dining, shopping, or entertainment. And I still like sightseeing. I still find the strip exciting. I still find downtown unattractive. Everytime I go there, I ask myself, Why?. On the drive home, I ask myself if it was worth it, and the answer is almost always, NO.

I came here to go to work on September 17, 2004 and I haven't looked back. I love Texas. I don't miss the humidity. I've been back twice. Once to close on my house and once for training.

Traffic is still horrible. Over the last few months, I've notice a lot more police paying attention to traffic violations. I like that. They are catching speeders, illegal lane changers, etc.
The pedestrians getting hit by cars doesn't seem to be slowing down. I notice that at night, most of the jaywalkers are wearing dark shirts and dark pants. A car driver really doesn't stand much of a chance to see them.

Most embarrassing part of being a local?
Lack of customer service.

Greatest part of being a local?
Being able to go to Las Vegas on a moments notice.

What I miss most about Texas?
Freeways and semi competent drivers.

What I wouldn't miss IF I had to move back to Texas?
Random violent crime in all neighborhoods.

Biggest surprise of living here?
The variety of plants that grow in this climate, especially the fruits and vegetables.

Biggest surprise that was right under my nose and failed to see?
The number of months where the high temps are under 70

Biggest non-California events?
Bar/restaurants without no smoking areas.

I recently encounterd a situation that is somewhat embarrassing on different levels. I have a physical/medical condition that I hope is temporary, but might be permanent. I don't know if this condition even has a name. I call it Videopoker finger. It happend all at once and totally unexpected. I was playing video poker at The Orleans. I had not played more than an hour a day over the last few days. The tips of both of my index fingers felt funny. I looked and it almost looked like a blister on them. I was doing pretty well on the games, so I continued for another hour or so. When I got home, both fingers had pretty good sized blisters on them. I layed off video poker for a few days and the blisters went down. Then I started back up at normal rates and there is still a slight blister like feel, but it also feels as though callus may be forming. I'm just gonna hope it goes away although I'm worried that it wont.

JMT, It's true, we seen it, with our own eyes. Your still excited to be out and about in Las Vegas, I don't think the new-ness and freshness of it has worn off one bit for you yet.
To be honest, I was suprised, pleasently.

But I guess living & working in LV means you can't go at the town like a tourist on a weeks vacation, every week of your life either. The future of your adventures in Vegas will be very interesting indeed. My own biggest fear of moving to the town that I love so much would be loosing the experiance of the getaway vacation, that I so look forward to.

Last Sunday I woke up about 4:30am and knew I had to be at work about 6:00. I showered, got dressed and started to think about breakfast. Then I got to thinking about where I would go if I lived in Texas. In Texas, my options would be Dennys, 7-11, or Waffle House. That's about all you can find at 4am. Here, it's almost unlimited. From el cheapo at the Klondike, to steak and eggs, to all you can eats, to any kind of steak, any salad, pizza, Fatburger, etc. All within 5 miles, and on my way to work.

Life Is Good

I must be a local, the Strip & Downtown, must be a helleva good reason to go anywhere near them. But when I moved here 15 years ago, I had a different situation than JMT, it's called a family.

With two kids and a wife with a full time job as well, there isn't much time to act like a tourist.

I still have to be a family man, and would you believe that some months we go into a Church more than we go into a casino.

And lets not forget those baseball fields that we spend more time on than our jobs during the baseball season.

Someday the the lil' Cajuns will leave the nest and we will retire. What will we do then.....move back to Louisiana.....NOT, move back to Illinois.....DEFINETLY NOT, stay in Vegas, maybe not.....stay in Nevada.....possibly the best guess, then we can act like tourist and enjoy the adult playground this place has to offer.

Thank you, Joe, for letting a bunch of us live vicariously through your adventures in becoming a Vegas local!

I am glad to hear the excitement is still there.

Now, about that video poker finger. How's it doing? When you play, do you touch buttons or the screen? Do you play at upright machines or - what are the others called, tabletops? I'm just thinking that varying all of these things might help.

Of course what you described about stopping for a few days probably works too!

Kes, my video poker finger is just starting to go away. I was really worried that it would form a callus and not have any sensitivity...and you know what a sensitive guy I am.<g> I always used the buttons. I tried the touch screens and it made me feel like a first time tourist, but more importantly, it was too slow. I notice that when some machines aren't being used, the lights in the buttons stay on and they sometimes heat up quite a bit. I don't know if that had anything to do with it.

I had another "local moment" today. I was driving around with top down on the car and found myself thinking how humid and sticky it was outside. When I got home, I checked the weather and the relative humidity was 19%.

yeah, you are a sensitive guy.

I mean that in a good way.


But about that vp injury. David used to actually work designing ergonomically smart copiers, and learned alot about what makes a machine hurt you or not.

When you can't control the design of the machine, the only thing you can change is what you do. Don't do the same motion all the time. If your vp finger comes back, consider varying how you play. Sometimes use the buttons, sometimes the screen. Sometimes uprights, sometimes those lower machines (or bartops I guess)

Guess I never realised the screens were slower than the buttons - but then I am a slow player to begin with. I like to make it last (the good times and my bankroll!)

Variety is the spice of life!

I've never noticed the screens are slower then the buttons, but what I have noticed is sometimes where you touch doesn't register in the correct spot (happens a lot on video keno machines). I trust the buttons more then the screen.