Well here we go. If this gets a little long winded..sorry but I have been boxed in for a while.

Video Elite, Las Vegas, Oct. 18th @ 3:30. WOW, that sounds good. To really appreciate what it is, I think you need to have spent time in the trenches. Primer ’08, refresher ’09, missed tune up, and storm in Tunica ’10, in Vegas ’11 for VE & family situation canceled it out. That’s enough "trenches" for anyone.

For me this is not a one man operation. Wife, Daughter (granddaughter), Father (93), and my dog, a Boston Terrier named Georgia Toots (named Toots for a VERY good reason) all got together and said.."go away please." I may have been a little CRANKY lately. It was all a plan. Wife just started grad school, (medical) dog just got some fire ant bites, Daughter just got a really good report card, & Father has new golf cart to play with. Perfect time to go. Booked early & got perfect departure times, with window seat. After online booking of room, decided to extend my stay if casino would comp extra days. After I told our host my wife would not be coming this time…got one more day, & a rate for last day. She has the STARS, and I carry her bags. OK with me. One location for entire stay, mid strip, no moving around…again, perfect.

Dom had confirmed with location, BTK had sent schedule. Excited and ready. After packing 3x and constantly "talking about it" family applauded my departure.
From rural East Texas to DFW is a 1 1/2hr travel time. Packed and loaded the night before 6am departure, wife said, "oh yeah I will need the 3rd seat in the Suburban for my Nurses tomorrow. OK." Re packed my little Red Metro Geo and said, "what ever you want baby." Outta here!

Bumper to bumper traffic, in the misting rain, from Eastern edge of Dallas, all the way to airport. Not perfect, but I got there. On line ticketing informed me, terminal D, and gate 23. I am at airport and ON MY WAY. Finally at terminal D and settled in to wait. Not many people around. Hmmm. Found a "Departure" screen, and my flight was to leave from terminal A, gate 14, boarding now. SAY WHAT!

D to A @ DFW with the clock ticking. Old guy at info booth, speaking very slowly, drew a map & said I might make it. Right now I want to apologize to the little ‘ol lady, and anyone else involved, BUT I really needed that power cart. I was the last one to enter before the door closed.

VIVA LAS VEGAS

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