It’s our wedding anniversary today, and normally we would be in Sin City, swimming and playing. But Q4 2007 and Q1 2008 were lean enough that Cathy insists on wasting our money paying bills, rather than wasting it in Las Vegas, where money is meant to be wasted.
It’s funny to me that I get such a charge out of Vegas. I’m not quite abstemious, but inebriation appeals to me not at all. I have nothing but contempt for negative expectation games — gambling, that is. And the Cirque de Soleil has yet to put on an extravaganza that can’t put me to sleep.
But give me a high perch with a view and I could stand there in jaw-dropped awe all day long. Out of everything that Sin City can be, what it is to me, more than anything, is a commercial real estate ant farm, a diorama where there is so much activity to be seen that the scene is never boring.
Caesars’ Palace, seen above, was built by Jay Sarno, who also built the original Circus Circus. Sarno lived and died as Las Vegas intended, losing both properties to his excesses. But he saw first and best what Vegas could become, and Caesars’ is still the best expression of the idea of the themed resort.
As it works out, Q2 didn’t suck, and Q3, three days old, is off to an auspicious start. It could be we’ll have a turkey buffet at Thanksgiving to make up for missing this trip. We need to work when there’s work — and I’m showing in the morning — but my Best Beloved and I need to make time — to take time — to concentrate on each other, without the unceasing distractions that come from selling real estate from our home.
We’ll have a great anniversary, anyway. We’re good at getting things right. But Vegas is the place where you just can’t have too many long-legged blondes, so we’ll have to make good this debt when we can.
Technorati Tags: Las Vegas
Hunter Jackson says:
Happy Anniversary Greg. Happy Birthday America.
July 4, 2008 — 5:12 am
Tom Vanderwell says:
Happy Anniversary Greg and Cathleen!
July 4, 2008 — 6:12 am
The Harriman Team says:
Happy Anniversary, Greg & Cathleen! Carpe Diem! I’ll hoist a drink in your honor at the Mohegan Sun casino today!
July 4, 2008 — 7:13 am
Stephanie Edwards-Musa says:
Happy Anniversary Greg and Cathleen!
July 4, 2008 — 7:35 am
Doug Quance says:
Happy Anniversary Greg and Cathleen!
Hmm… picked a pretty good day to get married, didn’t you? Not likely to forget it, that’s for sure.
😆
July 4, 2008 — 8:25 am
Eric Blackwell says:
Congrats to both of you…you are a great guy, Greg…but you married up! Enjoy some time together!
Nice way to pick an anniversary..the fireworks go on forever that way. (grin)
Best;
Eric
July 4, 2008 — 8:29 am
Michelle DeRepentigny says:
Happy Anniversary and best wishes fo many more. I vote for a party in Vegas to celebrate somthing soon!
July 4, 2008 — 9:52 am
Greg Swann says:
Thanks, everyone, for your sweet remarks.
> I vote for a party in Vegas to celebrate somthing soon!
I’m for that. I’ve always wanted to host a private charity poker tournament at Bellagio.
July 4, 2008 — 11:04 am
David G from Zillow.com says:
Happy Anniversary Guys!
July 4, 2008 — 11:23 am
Kam Hubbard says:
Happy Anniversary Greg and Cathleen!
July 4, 2008 — 11:32 am
Barry Cunningham says:
>I’m for that. I’ve always wanted to host a private charity poker tournament at Bellagio
Let me know!
Happy Anniversary!
July 4, 2008 — 12:12 pm
Teri Lussier says:
Happy Anniversary!
If your’s isn’t a match made in heaven, it was certainly made some place similar. 😀
July 4, 2008 — 12:14 pm
Greg Swann says:
> If your’s isn’t a match made in heaven, it was certainly made some place similar.
In Las Vegas, a The Little White Chapel on The Strip. Dinner with fireworks at The Top of The World at The Stratosphere. All I could see was the girl. Smartest thing I ever did.
July 4, 2008 — 12:34 pm
Thomas Johnson says:
It is truly a miracle when we find THE ONE and have the good sense to accept the miracle of a soul mate. You and I sir, are truly blessed. Congratulations to you both.
July 4, 2008 — 9:52 pm
Brad Coy says:
Vegas baby! I’m there in a heartbeat.
Cheers! you both deserve the best. Have a great weekend.
July 5, 2008 — 1:33 am
Jim Johnson CRS says:
Great Blog! I have been selling real estate in Bend Oregon since 1981 and find it refreshing to find a helpful blog like yours! Keep up the good work!
July 5, 2008 — 8:34 am
Geno Petro says:
Happy, happy, happy…
You two are definitely Aces and Eights in my Hoyle.
G.
July 5, 2008 — 9:23 am
Todd Tarson says:
Greg, I always said that you were a lucky ‘dog’. Congrats to the both of you… especially your better half.
July 5, 2008 — 10:35 am
Don Reedy says:
Happy Anniversary, and may you and your wondrous lady be forever and continually blessed.
DR
July 5, 2008 — 10:37 am
Greg Swann says:
Thanks, y’all. Here’s the fun part of not going away this weekend: We wrote $825,000 in new business this week (that is, as reckoned in psycho Realtor math). Three of the four contracts are purchases, and the listing seems very strong, so early July is buying us a nice August. I had a house go under contract yesterday, so I was hustling to set up everything I could — and cursing lenders and title companies for being 9-5 weasels — while the anniversary girl waited in the living room.
July 5, 2008 — 12:05 pm
Tom Vanderwell says:
Lenders? 9 to 5 weasels? How do I get one of those jobs? LOL
Good to hear that you had a good week.
Tom
July 5, 2008 — 3:32 pm
Jay Thompson says:
“I’ve always wanted to host a private charity poker tournament at Bellagio.”
I’m all in for taking Barry’s money and donating it to charity 🙂
Congrats to you and Cathleen!
July 7, 2008 — 3:19 pm
Greg Swann says:
> Congrats to you and Cathleen!
Bless you, sir. Thank you.
July 7, 2008 — 7:54 pm