Seems hard to believe it’s been only a week since our Goodboys weekend in Las Vegas – already seems like it was months ago. And that’s from someone living in the same region, with the same kind of weather; I can’t imagine what it must feel like for the lads back in Massachusetts. But outside of the usual places we went to and the people we met, a few memories and lasting impressions remain:

* Ben “The Funny Guy” Andrusaitis at The Mirage’s Kokomo’s Bar, Friday morning: “Some guys fantasize about girls; this is what I fantasize about!”

* Remembering that if you’re gonna do it up on Saturday night in Las Vegas, be prepared for long waits at cab stands, restaurants, and lounges – the place explodes with people and it can be a little difficult getting around, but it’s still an incredible vibe.

* The cab ride from the John Wayne afficianado wearing (as he told us) an exact replica of the hat worn by The Duke in “The Shootist”. Lots of laughs just tossing back and forth our favorite John Wayne movies. (BTW, cab rides are always one of my favorite parts of our weekends because the ‘boys love to chat it up with every cabbie we hop a ride with. We’ve run into some pretty strange dudes in the past: Danny the so-called “Elvis impersonator”, and the guy who got his jollies making pedestrians scramble for their lives are just two that come to mind, but most times you meet some very interesting and nice people.)

* Figuring out a divorce arrangement where Tracey gets the house, the 2 cars, the swimming pool, the tiki bar, and the four rabbits, and I get my laptop and the go-go dancer who was dancing in the large “O” letter at The Mirage’s Revolution Lounge Friday night, and figuring I’m getting the better of the deal. (Just Goodboys having some fun…)

* “I was once a 16 handicap, but since I got The Jackrabbit, now I’M winning all the bets in my Saturday foursome. Thanks, Jackrabbit!” (Don’t ask…)

* Heading down to The Mirage’s Spa for some whirlpool, sauna, and a lounge with cucumbers over my eyes.

* The blackend fish sandwich and a Bubba’s Big Bamboo (“A big, stiff drink. Banana Rum, Myers’s Dark Rum, Nassau Royale and Triple Sec shaken with orange juice and coconut cream”) at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Las Vegas.

* The steak (medium rare) and eggs (over easy) at The Peppermill. Almost worth making the drive back to Vegas all by itself.

* …And how could I forget Becky the bartender, and Michelle and Holly, the lovely cocktail waitresses at the Peppermill’s Fireside Lounge?

* And speaking of bartenders, Patricia at the Wynn Las Vegas, who took my basic “Gardner McKay” boat drink (Mt. Gay Eclipse Rum, Myers’s Dark Rum, pineapple juice, twist of lime) and turned it into a masterpiece called the “Patricia Delicia” with the following:

– 1 oz. Mt. Gay Eclipse Rum
– 1 oz. Myers’s Dark Rum
– 2 oz. pineapple juice
– 1/2 lime squeezed
– splash of Orange Curacao
– splash of sweet and sour
– dash of bitters

Note #1 – If you hadn’t noticed, these are all just variations on your basic “Mai Tai” cocktail.

Note #2 – For a slight different taste and a very pretty color, change the Orange Curacao to Blue Curacao and watch it go green! (BTW, Patricia informed us that the difference in taste between the orange and blue varieties is in the oranges used.)

Thanks, Patricia – it was our privilege to be your customers Sunday night.

* Learning to play blackjack (and coming out $65 ahead on my $100 investment) at the Golden Nugget while seated with the other Goodboys at the same table. A kind dealer named Pok helped me through some basic rules, and fellow Goodboy Steve “Killer” Kowalski offered tips that helped make thing make sense. $10, single-hand blackjack – not a bad lure to go downtown on a Vegas Friday night!

* And finally, my favorite quote of the weekend goes to “Killer”, ordering himself a Zombie cocktail from the afore-mentioned Michelle at the Fireside late Sunday night:

“I’ll have a Zombie, and keep ’em coming until I turn into one.”