A LONG DAY OF MOURNING

Today. October 2nd, is already a day of mourning on my annual calendar.  Today would have been my son Michael's 30th birthday. Today I light a candle for him. We lost him on Father's day 2005.  Happy Birthday, my son. I love you and know you are with me always. 

It is, though, a double day of mourning in the wake of the horrendous (not a strong enough word) events that unfolded here in the city I love, Las Vegas. I won't go into the whole story, because everyone knows what happened.  My Wife Nikki and I were sitting at home. We had just finished watching Walk The Line, and my phone started beeping.  Having been a 911 dispatcher in one of my past work incarnations, I have a police scanner app on my phone. It alerted me that 40,000 people were listening to the scanner.  That's a lot. Flipped it on along with the TV to see the events unfolding. Listening in real time to the officers and the dispatchers. The strike teams and SWAT teams. The amazing coordination of our law enforcement and support agencies.  They came in amidst total pandamonium and took control. They quickly located the shooter and confirmed he was dead.  It was amazing to hear in real time. We knew details long before the news channels reported.  

I woke up this morning to many e mails and texts asking about my welfare.  I did a show at Caesar's Palace the night before and was invited to come to the concert last night. I declined.  I like to spend Sunday night with my son and my wife. Which I did.  I, as a spectator do not like large crowds unless I am performing for them. We realize last night that no one is safe from a madman.  The entertainers had a hard time realizing what was happening, because on stage, it's loud and hard to hear.  I have been on many stages this size, and seeing the video, praise the people who cleared the stage in the short precious time they did.  

This could have been much much worse. As we listened to the scanner, there were reports of shots fired at Bellagio, Caesar's Palace, Tropicana, Flamingo, New York New York and the Paris. 
My first thought was that it was a coordinated terrorist attack. Thank god the shots fired reports at the other properties were unfounded. One gunman. This time.  Face it...Las Vegas is a target. We are very vigilant in our security in this town. There are thousands of cameras in every hotel / casino here and many sharp trained eyes that are watching everything you do.  How did this guy get all these guns up. Suitcase? Golf Bag? Something that security didn't catch.  I see a future where we will have to run bags through a scanner at check in like at the airport. But even then, unlike the airport, we have free range at hotels.  All this is yet to be revealed. 

For now, today, this moment, I mourn the loss of my son Michael, and pray for the well being of all the surviving victims of last nights shooting, and pray God's Speed to Heaven for the ones who did not make it.  Bravo to all the first responders, and the brave every day citizens who kept themselves in harm's way to help others who were hurt. Last night they were all just people helping each other.  Humanity can come together and be one force for good. 

Take a moment of silence for the departed and Good night and God Bless

The Yellow Shirt...............

I work, as you may know, at Jim Marsh Kia in Las Vegas (plug plug). We have a variety of polo shirts that we wear, including White, Red and YELLOW.  We are only required to wear the YELLOW shirt on Saturdays.  Now, when I say yellow, I am not referring to a light canary, or even a mustard, or traffic light speed up to get through the intersection yellow. I am talking full blown, neon, glow in the darkness of space, stop traffic, blinding highlighter YELLOW. Even Yellower than that!

When there are fifteen of us gathered for our saturday sales meeting, we brighten up the room, and believe me, it's not because of our sparkling personalities. It is, the YELLOW shirts. 

When we got the yellow shirts, there was much grumbling. jokes about removing stains with a highlighter, radioactive references, and of course, the whole, 'We look like security guards'  narrative. 

(If you have ever been to Vegas, you know that all the security officers in the casino hotels wear bright yellow shirts. .... but, I dare say, not THIS YELLOW).  That being said, I really kinda like the shirts. We were all required to purchase 1 of the shirts. I purchased 3, because I like YELLOW.  I would wear the shirt every day, and actually wear it a couple times a week, prepared for the yellow shaming from my friends,  all in fun. I have even seen a few of them wearing the shirt when not required. ?  It works with my skin tone. 

Every so often on a Saturday, a customer will be on the lot, and out of professional courtesy, I will ask them if they have been helped.  "Oh, yes", they will say.  "The guy in the YELLOW shirt is finding a car for us".... Much like the man in the bowler hat in The Thomas Crown Affair.  Yes, very helpful.

Soooooo, yesterday, being a Saturday, YELLOW shirt day, my day ended by me having to pick a customer up at McCarren airport.  He was flying in to drive his new Kia from Jim Marsh Kia (plug plug) back to L.A.  So, being the extreme customer service kinda guy that I am, I drove the 40 minutes to the airport, dealing with flight delays and the whole bit (his flight was delayed over an hour) and waited patiently for him in the baggage claim area to arrive.  I did inform him that I would be in the brightest YELLOW shirt I believe he has ever seen, or indeed will ever see again. 

The flight board informed me that I had about a 25 minute wait until his flight arrived. So, there I stood, playing words with friends, and candy crush peacefully minding my own business when out of the blue, it began.

A weary disheveled traveler walked up and asked me where to go for lost luggage.  I informed him that I do not work there, and I am sorry, I have no clue.  He then read my shirt: the bold red letters above the left pocket saying Jim Marsh Kia (plug, plug), shook his head and walked away.  Within  30 seconds, a  young couple in party mode (there was no doubt), walked up to me with alcohol induced increased speaking volume, demanded I take them to the shuttle for the Flamingo hotel and casino.  I smiled and said, I don't work here.  They, in no uncertain terms, informed me that I should not be wearing a F****** YELLOW shirt.  They then proceeded to stumble up to a Limo driver, also waiting for his customer and yelled at him, for probably wearing a funny limo guy hat.  I just shook my head, made a remark to him about tourists, and continued my vigil. 

Within another minute, a somewhat looking confused gentleman with his cap on sideways and 46 pounds of gold chains proceeded to ask me, quite forcefully to show him where the international terminal was.  I told him, I wished I could help, but I don't work here.  He paused a moment, and said, "Hey, I was just askin'...do you know where it is?" I told him no, and he walk off in a huff. 

Now, I have been at the baggage claim all of about 7 minutes and have guided people to the rest room, shuttle busses, and baggage carousel 12.  Hmmm, maybe it is time to hide. So, I took a post behind the ATM in the corner.  Alas, the radiance of the YELLOW shirt is not easily dimmed.  More people, more directions, more "Sorry, I don't work here."  

I looked up. Another man headed toward me. My initial thought was to kick him square in the...."Hey, Ron....we made it...."  It was my customer. I hurried him and his girlfriend out of the baggage claim into the safety of my car, and drove to where the paperwork was signed. Delivered the car and put a cap on the night.  

On the way home, I stopped at the Casino to pop in to see who won the fight. As I peered at the board, happy in knowing I had accomplished my mission with my customer, Someone tapped me on the shoulder.  I turned around to face a nice older gentleman. "Excuse me," he said, "Do you work here?" 

I am still around, I have just been busy

Hello out there in bloggerland.  I am still here, I have been busy with some other stuff, including my ne Kia blog.  I have been with Kia for 5 years in May, and I thought it might be a nice idea to start a blog for Kia owners with questions. it's at cashatkia.blogspot.com   Check it out. I answer questions about Kia, but there is a lot pertaining to any car really.

Let's see...My son introduced me to the FOAP app. A photo sharing experience. You can sell your photos online too. Pretty cool. 

I have also been gearing up for the Spring and Summer, doing stuff around the house, in the house on top of the house...never ends. 

Also, I have been spending a lot of time with our new pair of 8 week old kittens. The word "NO!" is thrown around the house A LOT! They are a ton of work, but great to have cat energy in the house again. No doubt you will hear about them again. 

So, I hope everyone had a great April.  Summer is right around the corner.  I will do a few blogs upcoming on things to do in Vegas in the Summer that don't include the words  "It's frickin' hot" !! Vegas is way more than just the strip. Stay tuned. Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel. 

remember my websit... ronnieleetwist.com  and hey, friend me up on Facebook  facebook.com/ronnieleetwist

Have a great day!

The Entertainer and the Evil Agent: A tale of Warning for Las Vegas Entertainers

Once upon a time, there was an entertainer who was represented by an agent.  The agent would get the entertainer gigs, which the entertainer would do without hesitation or complaint. The entertainer even went as far as to drop what he was doing to rush to a gig because the person originally booked to do the gig crapped out.  In short, the entertainer was always there for the agent no matter how simple the gig. 

The agent, though, had a history of slow payment, which made the entertainer very frustrated indeed, but, eventually, after a slew of excuses, the agent finally paid, and everyone went upon their happy way. 

One day, in the 3rd month of the year, the agent called the entertainer and asked if he and his band of minstrels were available to do an out of town gig in the 9th month of the year.  The entertainer, after being told the amount of compensation for his time and travel, agreed to perform, and contracts were signed. The entertainer asked that the agent to please be sure the funds would be available before he and his band of minstrels travels across the vast distance to the high mountain where the gig was set. 'Oh, yes' replied the agent, assuring him that he would be compensated the day after he got back. To this, there was much rejoicing, and much time spent in preparation for the performance. 

On the day of the gig, the entertainer and his merry men (and wife who sings backup) arrived at the venue. A beautiful venue it was. Set in the mountains with a lovely outdoor stage.

About the time of the soundcheck, the leader of the venue came upon the entertainer and inquired if further requests for the band's services could be handled without the intervention of the agent, because lo and behold, they were without scruples and worse to deal with than a dragon on a bad day. This then became a red flag to the entertainer who told the leader of the venue that it would have to be discussed at another time, as there were stipulations in contracts that forbid such actions.  This was known as clause 10. 

The performance was stellar, and all had a great time, with the whole crowd staying for all three sets.  Standing ovations and encores prevailed. All was well with the world.  The entertainer loaded his gear into his rented Chrysler Town and Country, and drove across the many miles back to his kingdom.

And it came to pass that when the entertainer approached the agent for his due money, that the agent told him that the bank had not yet cleared the check, and he would have to wait 10 to 14 days for it to clear.  The entertainer waited a fortnight and there was still no joy. At this time, having heard the same tired story over and over again, he called upon the leader of the venue to see what the holdup was. The leader of the venue disclosed to the entertainer that compensation was indeed in the hands of the evil agent, and had been since the 1st month of the year when a deposit was sent, and again in the 8th month of the year when the remaining balance was sent, and that indeed the checks had been cashed long before the entertainer had journeyed to the land far away where the gig took place. 

This displeased the entertainer mightily as he realized that the agent had indeed lied to him and accepted deposit funds for the gig 3 months before even approaching him, and had, indeed contracted under his name not knowing if he was in fact available for the dates in question. Adding to his displeasure was the fact that the evil agent had been spending his money on what had to be frivolities and in no way intended to compensate our hero for his toil.

He sent a message though the royal email messenger telling the evil agent to please compensate him, or he would be forced to approach the royal solicitor to enforce the contract which the agent was in ginormous breach thereof. (Besides being a liar and thief). The agent reacted with a hearty 'bugger off' informing the entertainer that he should henceforth communicated only through his lawyer. A ruse to buy time, thinking that the entertainer would no do so. they were wrong. A call was sent out to the entertainer's lawyer, who upon seeing the situation, was ready to take proper action.

After many attempts to collect the money, the evil agent agreed to pay the sum due by the end of the 10th month.  The time came and went with no word or compensation,  and the Lawyer to this day has not been able to contact the evil agent, as they have gone back under the rock from whence they came, leaving the entertainer in the hole for a vast amount. 

The entertainer vowed not to rest until justice is done and compensation is settled upon.  If this does not happen by the 1st month of the new year, the entertainer shall disclose to the world the name, address, phone number and email address of the evil agent for all the world to see.  He shall discredit the evil agent all over social media, and expose them for what they really are. A lying, cheating, operating without a business license, hopeless, hapless, scum buggering bunch of slime balls. 

Merry Christmas And Happy New Year! 

The End