Amanda Hocking

Amanda's Blog Post

Vegas

April 4th, 2011 by
This post currently has 44 comments

Eric has been my friend for about ten years. In those ten years, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten him a birthday gift. I’ve gotten him plenty of fabulous gifts for various occasions, but when it came to his birthday, I always seemed to be unnaturally broke by the time March 24th rolled around.

So I decided to make it up to him this year, and I said that for his birthday, I would take him wherever he wanted to go. We’ve been discussing it for some time, but by January of this year, he’d had it set to go to Vegas for his 25th birthday. We invited a couple other friends that we don’t see very often, and we left for Vegas on Thursday.

We had fun. Nothing too exciting happened, but a good time was had by all. Other than a few mishaps (like the ceiling in our hotel room at the Palms leaking water on us and a cab driver attempting to murder us with his driving), it was fun.

Me and Eric in front of the Bellagio the day we go to Vegas

Here are some of the highlights:

-The views of the city were spectacular. I’m a big sucker for city lights.

The view from our hotel room at night

The view of Vegas from the Stratosphere

-I saw Jason Bateman walking around at the Ceaser’s. It was funny because I wasn’t paying attention, and my friend Fifi goes, “Hey, that’s a celebrity! Isn’t he somebody famous?” And I turned around and it was Jason Bateman. I squeed internally, but I didn’t talk to him, because I am incapable of talking to famous people. 

Jason Bateman (not from when I saw him, because I didn’t photograph him)

The Divas drag show at the Imperial Palace was phenomenal.

Cher
Lady Gaga

Eric with “Joan Rivers” a.k.a. Frank Marino

-Getting to see my friends who I really don’t see that often.

My friend Fifi and a Michael Jackson impersonator

My friends Fifi & Valerie at the Stratosphere

Valerie, Eric, me, & Fifi at the Stratosphere

Valerie & her husband Greggor inside the Stratosphere

-I got to play The Dark Knight pinball machine.

-We went to the David Copperfield show, and Eric got picked to go up onstage and Copperfield made Eric disappear. After the show, Copperfield gave Eric an autographed picture and said to him, “I loved you in The Hangover.”

Eric Goldman                        Zack Galifinakis in the Hangover

They had tons of the tee shirts with the baby on them from The Hangover, and I kept trying to get Eric to wear one with the some Blublockers and pretend to be Zach Galifinakas. But he refused. And that was a bummer.

Also, for some reason, Eric wouldn’t let me eat at Tom Coliccho’s restaraunt, even though I love Top Chef more than I love him.

(On a side note, did you guys see the Chef finale last week? I totally cried when Blais won. It was great to see him pull through).

So that was it. That was my trip to Vegas. It was fun. The city was neat. I’m bummed that Barry Manilow was off when were visiting, because I would’ve loved to have seen him.

But in all honesty, I don’t know if I’ll go back again. Vegas is a great city, but I’m definitely Midwest girl.

The last pic I took of Vegas, when I woke up in the morning to catch my plane

Leave a Reply

  • Smile girl, you are pretty, and I’m sure you’d be even prettier with a smile. Sorry I think this every time you post an article with a pic in it.

  • BA says:

    Sounds like you had a really good time. I’m jealous, I’ve never been to Vegas (never had a reason living so close to AC). Love your pics.

  • Cherie says:

    great time with great friend too…
    it’s really interesting to have a time to relax.

  • Lucretia says:

    I haven’t read your books (yet!) but I think you’re pretty amazing for doing what so many of us have always imagined doing – treating a good friend well when you can. You’re the kind of friend that people cherish when they find them. One who shares her good fortune with those who have been there for them. Thanks for posting this Amanda – it’s one of those “restoring faith in humanity” reads for me. It’s good to know that financial success hasn’t changed you. Kudos!

  • Em Kay says:

    Sounds like a great trip.

  • Vegas without Manilow…Hope I never have to do that.

  • Coolkayaker1 says:

    P.S. You likely noticed, Konrath and Barry Eisler are basically saying you sold out when you took the traditional book deal on his blog today. But I chimed in a couple of posts on your behalf (if you can even see my posts with all the chatter on there all the time).

  • Coolkayaker1 says:

    HI Amanda—I went to Las Vegas March 2010 and I couldn’t agree more with you…it’s reasonable to visit, but it’s really a mucky, gritty city now. People everywhere, pure sensory overload. To see the iconic buildings is reasonable (we stayed at the Venetian), and the shows we saw were wicked steamy fun—Beatle’s Love, Blue Man Group, Mac King Comedy, Nathan Burton Magic, and the absolute best show: Penn and Teller at Rio. But aside from the shows, I found it to be a dirty, street drinking, spring breaking hole.

    But we did fly with Joan Rivers, and she was friendly and kind to all.

    Love those candid photos of you and your friends. Gracias.

  • Anonymous says:

    you remind me of a vampire every time i see you! hahaha

    it’s a good thing (:

  • Tom Keller says:

    What, you were in Vegas and didn’t call!!!!!

    Just kidding! Glad you had fun!

    Tom