A kiss to build a dream on

Two guys and a chick walk into a coffee joint inside a casino on the Las Vegas Strip on a Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m.

The chick: Top shelf. Gorgeous figure. Loose cascading brunette tendrils. Short strapless dress (shirred, red). Long shimmering legs. Exhibiting signs of significant chemical enhancement.

The guys: Swarthy. One in a sport coat. One in a plaid shirt.

They situate themselves and order beers all around. Red and Sport Coat sip tentatively, Plaid with more gusto. Red waves to and fro like a frond of kelp on the ocean floor while Sport Coat's hand rests upon the ivory skin of her back. The food arrives. Red eats more heartily than you would expect, pouring every drop of syrup upon her stack of pancakes.

Then, perhaps in response to the fortification, Red turns to Sport Coat and raises her hand to his cheek. The touch quickly transforms into an embrace as they start to kiss so tenderly, you could practically weep. The kiss goes on and on.

Deep into the action, Sport Coat reaches around and cups Red's breast, only in passing--but not without intent. After lingering a moment or two, his hand drops down. Without taking her lips from his, Red feels around for his hand and moves it back up to cuddle her breast again.

Plaid eats.

Sport Coat and the Red finally separate and pick at their food. A brief conversation ensues. Sport Coat and Red get up. He wraps his arm about her waist as she teeters on sky-high leopard print heels.

Sport Coat walks. Red wobbles. As Plaid finishes his beer and motions for the bill, they suck into the casino.

I dunk a fried potato wedge into a dish of Srirachi, place it in my mouth and relish the burn.

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Mandate

From this point forward, the first 30 seconds of the musical selection featured in today's clip shall be played whenever I step into a room.

That is all.

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Enchanted on the Strip

Dazzling street performers in front of the Venetian Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, Dec. 8, 2012.

View full resolution images here.

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Live from McCarran Airport

Behold a man standing in line in a chair. He loudly scoots forward (without standing) each time the queue advances.

Frankly, I think it's rather poetic.

Lady luck?

Like Ben in that scene, I'm off to Las Vegas. Unlike Ben, I'm going on business and when I (ahem) leave Las Vegas, it should be under far better circumstances than his tragic exit.

At about the 2:11 mark in today's clip, you'll see a cameo of Director Mike Figgis. He's got the curly slicked back hair. This movie may be serious and sad, but after having met Figgis, you cannot know how that particular appearance cracks me up. He also shows up on cab signs throughout the movie--wearing heart shaped glasses.

 Hold the fort down for me, boppers.

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