That's How We Warp, Part 3

  While Dexter and I were having our fun, Oliver and Maria were on  a trip of their own; taking Amtrak to Sacramento for two nights of hotel fun, swimming and sight seeing.  Oliver, for the first time swam across (and back) in a pool without assistance!

   Friday night we visited with my friends since childhood, the Dickinsons over at Jimmy and Melinda's house. It was great to see them again; Dennis and Bonnie, Courtney, Ellen, Jimmy, Melinda, Danny and it always feels like family.   Mr. D was definitely missed.  Dexter was not feeling great so we took the night easy, parked ourselves at the house and just enjoyed the company.  Earlier in the day I saw a listing that the remaining members of the Monkees were playing together (Mike, Mickey, Peter).  Mike usually doesn't join the others but since Davy died, he signed on for two tours. Was Davy difficult?  Anyway, we saved money and at least one time I wouldn't get lost driving in Vegas. 

      Saturday we stepped away from the convention to visit the Pinball Hall of Fame.  One excellent facet of Vegas is that parking is plentiful and usually free.  At the Pinball HOF,  were many great old pinball machines to visit, play and admire.  Dennis and Daniel got there before us (I might have gotten lost again) but we caught up to Dennis later at the Las Vegas 51's Triple A game.  The 51's are a farm team of the Mets and were playing the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros).  We didn't see him (recognize him at least) but on the RedHawks roster is Phillip Humber who just last year threw a perfect game  (there's only been 23 pitched in 135 years of Major League baseball!)  with the Chicago White Sox (and subsequently was so terrible after the game, he no longer is on a major league roster).  $20 got us seats directly behind home plate separated only by a necessary net.  When I went searching for food, Dexter got to see a crushing play at home plate when a runner attempting to score chose to crash into the catcher.....he's Out!

    The 51's have a neat alien logo but their on field mascot is the frightening Jar Jar Binks.  Go figure.  Dennis and I failed in our search for milkshakes but he was kind enough to give his Binks Bank (giveaway) to Oliver.
Dennis wanted me to point out that he's been very successful in getting into fighting shape, although he prefers not to fight.  

   Sunday night was king.  Dexter had been looking forward to seeing Penn and Teller, and thanks to Maria we were sitting in the second row.  These guys are such great showmen and better craftsmen.  They know their stuff, the history of their trade and have something to say.  Part of what they do is carrying on the work of Houdini, the Amazing Randi and that part is to celebrate life but going after mystics and people who take advantage of other people; those that trick others into believing that they have super powers.  Houdini began taking on these mystics, debunking their trickery and exposing them as fakes- fakes who usually preyed on people who had recently lost loved ones and would do anything to "hear" their loved ones speak to them again.  Randi, until his recent health concerns would bring along 2 million dollars to anyone who before him could prove that they had super powers.  Challenged many times, Randi would always uncover the ruse.

   The excitement of being surprised, of not knowing where the illusion was going made for a great ride.  The look of the participants from the audience (never a plant at a Penn and Teller show) was to be enjoyed especially when one is your son.   Dexter was called on stage by the mighty Penn for an lenghty segment.  We noticed that Penn was quietly filling the role of the bass player in the duo performance that served before the show (while the audience was invited to check some of the props on stage) and perhaps at the same time he made a note of Dexter.  The piano player Mike Scott played a killer version of Tizol/Ellington's "Caravan".

     The piece was about our National Security at the airports, it's ineffectiveness in stopping people from bringing in weapons was demonstrated with their very own  Airport scanner.  Dexter was in charge of wanding our magicians as they pulled out various undetected weapons or a beeping metal Bill of Rights card (later given to Dexter).  The concluding part of the bit was when Penn and Teller materialized one of their assistants from within the scanner- in complete view of all of us.

     It was a great show, a greater experience.  Dexter was floating the rest of the night. After the show, Penn and Teller run through the audience to meet everyone as they left the auditorium.  Dexter said he didn't need to see them so we walked over to the closing Trek event; a type of show biz musical review with some of the DS9 cast.  It was winding down with a good sized audience and we watched the last three numbers which were fun/funny/silly.  Walking back I asked Dext if he wanted to see Penn and Teller since the audience had thinned to few, and he said yes.  When we met with Teller for a photo op with Dexter, Teller remarked "oh, the first photos weren't good enough?" ( I had taken a three snaps when Dexter went on stage before security politely informed me not too.)  Then magically, the photo with Teller (a nice capture) faded from my camera (more a technical glitch, I sincerely believe- with 10% allowing for Teller's super abilities).  Dexter and I went over to Penn. He congratulated my son, "Dexter, you did a great job".

     It definitely was the most I ever paid to see a show but next time, with Maria and Oliver we would surely do so again. Penn and Teller, they are kings in our book.
   

 

Monday before we left I placed the $20 on Red (Roulette) for Michael G. as he asked.  The long roll ended up red and I walked away with $40 for Michael.  I can see why gambling can pull you in.  One roll at a table, 3/4 of one drink, and a relaxing weekend in Las Vegas.  Hope your memories will be as good as mine, Dex!