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Crossing Paths
Quick stories where sometimes
it's a good thing, and sometimes not so much...
Had one of my
whirlwind Vegas trips this past weekend, so some tidbits from
that:
Everyone's Different
I was gambling alone at a blackjack
table with a dealer who was Asian male. And as usual when
you've been there for a while, dealers always feel compelled to
start small talk. In this case, he asked me what
nationality I was and I answered "Thai, but raised in America."
He responded that he was Korean but
had been in the U.S. since he was 10 years old.
For some reason, I just added that I
was glad that I was raised American and that genuinely shocked
him with an immediate and clearly disapproving response of
"Why?!"
So I answered that it gave me a
perspective of looking at people that I like.
He made a point that he had wished
he grew up in Korea.
I added that "Everyone's different",
which then seemed to relax him as he nodded in agreement and we
went back to a comfortable dealer/player relationship.
But I couldn't help but wonder why
we had an extremely different attitude about being American
raised. Well, at least bi-culturally-raised, which was
really the foundation of my point of acquiring a different
perspective about things.
Then again, I couldn't help but also
wonder the preference difference between the two of us could be
because I'm a lesbian feminist. As dicey as that combo is
in America, not so confident that my Asian side would have been
so embracing of that.
~ Mar. 13 ,10 ~
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Well, I Really Do Love Rock And Roll!
When I flipped through the
freebie Vegas magazine, I laughed at the ad featuring
impersonators of classic 80's rock bands, including Joan Jett.
While I've always
liked her, I've never been passionate enough to have
seen her in concert or faithfully following her
releases. I think I have a greatest hits CD
buried somewhere. But I admit I have to view
her with a certain fondness of my youth, especially
in later years when I learned she had become openly
lesbian.
But thinking the ad
was a passing moment of amusement, I quickly forgot
about it until I walked into the Imperial Palace
Hotel (to pick up my ticket for the
Human
Nature show.) I noticed "I Love Rock
and Roll!" blaring from the speakers as I walked
through the casino floor and stopped in my tracks
when I realized that the Joan Jett impersonator was
out on a center podium, lip-synching for the crowd.
The podium was
surrounded by gambling machines that had players who
weren't watching her but passers by (like me)
collected in small clusters. I felt so sorry
for the woman because you could tell she was really
trying even though the immediate people around her
were apparently not giving a beep.
On the other hand, it
was a bit like watching Joan Jett on speed. It
was clear that the impersonation was more about
dressing up than the embodiment about the
personality.
The woman standing
next to me pulled out her camera to take a picture,
and I could see that the impersonator immediately
saw that and started to really pose and smile.
I almost felt like I should've taken my camera
(phone) out and snapped a pic to show support.
But I didn't because I'm just not into doing the
spontaneous camera thing anymore.
The subversive side
of me did wonder if the woman knew that Joan was
(now) openly gay. But then, even if she did,
it may be a case of just needing to pay the bills...
Or maybe she was a lesbian herself and this was some
sort of career irony. Or not.
~ Mar. 13 ,10 ~
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More Rules, Less Fun
I completely admit I'm a
Blackjack player. But with that, it can be one of the most
intense games to play, with rules for behavior as determined by
"The Book" that is constantly quoted by new and seasoned
players. And if you're at a table where someone doesn't
play by those rules, things can quickly turn awkward and ugly if
someone else at that table cares, including dealers. This
is compounded by my observations that gamblers are usually
extremely superstitious, whether they realize it or not.
The Book, though, is based on statistics and mathematics so it
gives followers a certain sense of logical security in following
its rules.
However, I've been in
situations where someone (usually very new to the
game and gambling) will make very "stupid" moves and
things turn out well for me. And you can play
by The Book and still have your bankroll hosed.
So it's never guaranteed.
While I'm not a
hardcore advocate of The Book's way of playing,
there are some common sense things that I do watch
for in other gamblers but since "anything can
happen", I usually reserve judgment if another
player's actions will cause me to leave or stay --
usually if I'm losing as a result. (I have won
serious money due to other player's ignorant moves.)
Now, at the same
time, I personally gamble for fun and entertainment.
No reason to not have a good time since you're
paying for it anyway.
I also play a version
of Blackjack called Spanish 21, which is offered
only at a handful of casinos in Vegas. This
version of the game has some key differences, like
there are no actual "10" cards in the shoe (but all
other regular and face cards are there), you can
double-down at any time, not just with two cards,
and you can surrender after a bad double-down.
I was playing this
game this weekend by myself and having a fun time
chitchatting with a dealer as we discussed the
differences between what it's like to play regular
Blackjack and Spanish 21. So the dealer asked
me which version do I prefer.
I thought about it
for a moment and answered that I don't like playing
regular Blackjack when there are other stupid
players making me lose. However, I really
like Spanish 21 because nobody seems to know what
the proper rules are for playing, even those who
quote The Book. It just makes it more fun and
wild.
The dealer completely
nodded with my statement. She said even the
dealers, who are usually supposed to be experts on
The Book, don't agree on the proper of way playing
Spanish 21.
~ Mar. 13,10 ~
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Talk About Strange
Bedfellows
When I booked my ticket to the
Human Nature
show online, I noticed that there was an option for VIP seating
for a price that looked reasonable so I purchased that type of
ticket, not knowing anything about the venue size or layout.
I arrived at the show
and saw that my seat was actually in a half-circle
style booth that was sized for up to 4 people
(judging by the other patrons in their booths.)
Since I arrived before my presumed boothmates (since
I know Vegas shows are always going to sell tickets
if they can), I took the best spot, which was at one
end.
Shortly afterwards,
my boothmates showed up, three older people, a man
and a woman (apparently married) and another woman
who was apparently a very good friend of theirs.
They had the air of "show connoisseurs" and probably
didn't know what to think with a lone, butch Asian
woman sharing their space. But we started off
with friendly banter on "Why are you coming to see
this show?"
The conversation
quickly turned into "What shows did you like that
you would recommend?" So we talked about the
Cirque Du Soleil, and various big named acts.
I mentioned that I had liked Penn & Teller and they
asked what that show was about. So I tried my
best to explain P&T as an act that is very
intelligent and subversive, with their style of
debunking and making fun of cheesy magic shows but
then doing magic acts that are really mind-boggling.
I could see that they were a little skeptical but we
continued to talk about various shows.
Then we got to the
subject of "Phantom Of The Opera".
They were gushing
about that show, which set off my internal alarms
because even though I'm a show queen at heart, I
think the Lloyd Weber version is one of the most
boring musicals ever. I tried to worm out of
any further interest by pointing out that I had
already seen the version on Broadway. But the
"single" woman declared that she had seen the show
with Michael Crawford (which was obviously a
bragging point for her) but that I just have
to see this Vegas version.
I politely asked what
makes this Vegas show so incredible.
She explained that it
was like "Phantom" meets Disney because of its $22
million stage.
Since that was NOT
something that would entice me, I forced a smile and
said I'll consider it given that I was staying at
the Venetian, which was hosting the show.
And somehow we got to
the subject of comedians. I mentioned that I
liked Rita Rudner, and the three of them actually
agreed. "Single" woman added the comment that
it was sooo nice to attend her show because there
was no off-color jokes or language. That you
could just enjoy it without feeling like you'd be
offended.
Now, given that Penn
& Teller had a cable show called "Bullsh!t", I
immediately told them that they probably wouldn't be
interested in P&T if that was a concern.
To which, "single"
woman commented with barely concealed disapproval
said, "Oh, you have to be in a mood for
them?"
I gave her my most
polite smile and nod with a "You could say that."
As it was clear that
our small talk was coming to an end, I couldn't help
but wonder how the upcoming show would be vibe-wise
in the booth.
But since the act was
fairly wholesome (well, as four Caucasian
Australians singing Motown can be), it turned out
pretty well, with me hearing them repeatedly comment
to each other how great the show was. And I
agreed.
So when the show
ended to a very happy audience, I waited for the
crowds to make it through the exit. Next to me
was a waiting female cocktail waitress. She
and I had some small talk and she revealed that the
next show in the theatre was "Divas", the drag show.
In my couple of
decades of going to Vegas, I have never once
seriously considered checking out any drag show.
Part of me feels like I should just to say I did it.
And the other part... Well, I honestly have nothing
against drag queens as long as their philosophies
are not truly misogynistic. But I will admit
it's hit or miss.
Now in the lobby, the
members of Human Nature were signing their CD's so
that meant several people were still milling around.
Meanwhile, there was
a large line for attendees for the next show.
And , in glancing at them, if I hadn't already
known it was a drag show they were going to see,
I would have made an educated guess and probably
would have been right.
But as I started to
walk through the lobby in leaving the event for
good, I overheard some of the "Divas" attendees
chatting with each other in amazement at the still
excited crowd from the previous show. A couple
of them actually started to talk about Human Nature
with comments that they should get tickets next
time.
I guess they were in
the mood.
~ Mar. 13 ,10 ~
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