2:30 AM in Vegas… (and it’s raining!)

It’s 2:30 am in Las Vegas.  I just got back to my hotel room.  It’s raining.

It’s been an interesting few days here in Las Vegas.  Work has sent me here since Wednesday to attend an internal development program of sorts to help prepare us for future senior roles in the company.  It’s pretty cool that the company is willing to invest the money to send us here to do this and great that the senior management can take the time out of their schedules to spend the time here for some 1 on 1 interaction with them. 

We had various exercises to work on that were real problems that the company would face (sales models, HR issues, products issues and financial decisions).  Pretty humbling experience in all as in many ways I think these are things most employees take for granted from day to day as you don’t really deal with them in any intimate fashion given your role.

Good eating, a night out to see the magicians Penn and Teller and interesting social company from our offices from all around the world was a welcome bonus.

This is my second time to Las Vegas.  It’s a pretty weird and surreal place.  Sort of a Disneyland for adults.  Even though this is my second time here I am still trying to work out what to make of it all.  We had a good night out tonight (hence the late hour of this posting) and this time we went to “Old Vegas” and hung out in a dodgy casino and drank and gambled (what else would one do?).

Vegas is a microcosim all into itself.  It has it’s own pulse and energy that is unique.  You can easily spend time just walking around the shops and the strip people watching and you’ll see all walks of life and people of every socio-economic statuses.  There is some serious money in this town…. too bad none of it is mine (except what I’ve donated at the poker tables).  $100 gone in 20 minutes playing poker… and I think I’m a reasonably competent player!  Ouch!  I won $140 on a slot machine later that evening so I don’t feel too bad 🙂

The shopping is a world unto itself.  They have all sorts of higher end shops that have all sorts of interesing good for sale at astronomical prices (I looked at a Versace belt and it had a price tag of $530 USD…. ouch!!). 

We found this fantastic bar around the corner from the Flamingos casino that has CHEAP drinks.  A round for 8 people (that I purchased after peer pressure from my $140 slot machine win…. tip… if you win at something never tell anyone!) cost only $16.  A gin & tonic in a bar at Ceasar’s Palace cost $11.50.  You do the math…

All in all a good couple of days.  It will be good to get back home to see my girlfriend, pets and get on with some work.  The get together here has certainly given me some motivation and the chance to hang out with the CEO and divisional leaders has certainly given me some ideas on how to proceed in my job (I generated a few leads worth chasing from talking with people from other offices).

Bleh, it’s 2:43 now.  I should probably check facebook for pointless apps I’ve been invited to add, check my mail and and go to bed.  I’ll probably do some shopping tomorrow for gifts and the like and I’ll be flying back in the evening and won’t be getting home until Monday at around 2 in the morning.

Now for bed…