The War and Peace Version!

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Monique
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Sisters, as promised, here is my day by day personal review of DLV'03.
At the end of the day-by-day review, I will add my 2 cents worth that I
didn't cover on my May 1st mailing to the DLVDisc group.

Saturday, April 19th (Pre-pre-pre-pre DLV'03):

Rhianna (my roomate for the 2nd year in a row at DLV and our 3rd
anniversary of meeting at DLV'00) and I arrive in Vegas..staying at the
San Remo this year vs the Sahara or the IP. After unpacking, time to
get ready. We we're so ready to go out on the town, we went to Sasha's
and what a great time we had there! The show was AB FAB. I also met
with April and Zeena from Sasha's to insure that there was not going to
be any hiccups for the Wed. nite show for DLV'03. They, and all the
performers personally told me that they and Sasha had a great nite and
show planned for us. After spending about $30 in tips to all the great
sisters performing, Rhianna and I decided to depart from Sasha's about
1am.

Sunday, April 20th (Pre-pre-pre DLV'03)

Cat rings me mid-morning from McCarren. I had to pick up the A-Le-In van
at the airport so her timing was spot on. Rhy and I pick up Cat and I
get the van and off to our hotel room to get ready for the day. Next
stop - Cat's nail salon to get our nails done. From there, Rhy and I
got a personalized tour of Cat's new Vegas condo (which is FAB BTW!).
Later that day, Annie arrives Vegas as well as a few other sisters.

Since this is Easter Sunday, Rhianna wears her yellow Easter dress. We
had originally planned to do a photo shoot at NYNY, or Paris, but after
driving for seemingly an endless hour and traffic on LVB, we bagged
that idea and went back to our hotel at the San Remo. From the 19th
floor (where our room was), we spotted a great photo op by the pool, so
poof and we're off downstairs in a heartbeat. Some really great photos
of Rhy and myself were taken in the pool area at the San Remo.

Later in the evening, it was already known amongst several Pre-pre-pre
DLV'03 attendees that we were going to have drinks and dinner at the
Hard Rock Cafe. Most of us showed up at the appointed time at 7pm. The
HRC had no clue we were coming, but their staff accomidated us quite
well with a minimal wait.

Nine sisters had a great 2-3 hour dinner and socializing. After ya'll
left, Rhy and I went shopping at the HRC gift shop. I ended up blowing
my budget for shopping (just had to have a leather HRC-Vegas jacket).
Before leaving, the late nite host, aka conceriege, a very handsome
African American gentlemen, talked with us for 10 minutes or so. He
wanted to know if our group had a good time, of which we replyed in the
positive.

The HRC Pre-pre-pre DLV'03 really worked well. They did not expect us as
I made no reservations, but within 10 minutes, our group of 9 was
seated. Everyone at the HRC was great, from the hostess, our primary
waiter Eric, the barstaff, and even the concierge Keith (who was
working the host stand instead of working at the HR Casino that
evening), and the gift shop girls were all so fantastic and treated us
very very well. I will be suggesting to the DLVOrg group that the HRC
should be one of our activities for happy hour and dinner for DLV'04.

BTW, restroom at the HRC, please use the ladies room. Follow the
guidlines that we've stated in prior DLV mailings.

The only regrest I have about Sunday nite and the HRC is that Yvonne
thought we were meeting at the Hard Rock Casino and not the HRCafe.
There is a difference. The HRCasino and Hotel is totally seperate from
the HRCafe. Both properties are back to back and are right across the
street from Hamburger Mary's. The way to distinguish between he two
properties is that the HRCafe has the neon Gibson Guitar that stands
vertical to the ground (similar to the one in Nashville, BTW) while the
HRCasino & Hotel's neon Gibson Guitar is at a 45 degree angle.

Bottom line, the HRCafe staff and our time there was AB FAB!

Monday, April 21st - Pre-pre DLV
AKA, Area 51

Well, this was at least one of the most interesting road trips I've ever
taken en femme. Around 10:30 am, we loaded up a 15 passanger Ford van
with 10 sisters and Annie in her PT Cruiser with the balance of the
sisters.... off we go to Rachel, NV. This trip is about a 2.5 hour
drive. We took a potty, gas, refreshment break in a town abut 40 miles
from Rachel, NV. Talk about wind....gosh, the winds must have been 30
MPH sustaining and it was hard to keep my hair under control!

We stop for lunch about 1pm at the only place to eat out in Rachel, NV,
called "A-Le-Inn". This is a cute and quaint bar/eatery that serves up
pretty much anything that their suppliers are willing to drive the 2.5
hour drive to Rachel from Las Vegas. I had the A-Le-Inn burger which
was quite good (Denise, don't know why you got ill from the A-Le-Inn
Burger...must have been 'alien microbes' in there! LOL).

After lunch, off on a VERY ROCKY road to Area 51,. As the driver of the
15 passenger van, plus fighting very strong cross winds, I was so glad
to finally arrive there,. The CamelJocky's, at least one of them in
their Ford Explorer was watching from overhead high atop a hill. Since
I was the only one in a skirt, I'm sure they enjoyed the sight of a
transgendered sister in a skirt, black hose and heels,. LOL.

On the way to to A-Le-Inn, we stopped at the "black mailbox". Only thing
is that the mailbox was painted white and not black. Go figure.

After our short 5-10 minutes at the perimeter of Area 51, we're riding
that bumpy and rocky road back to the main highway to the Strip. Along
the way, this huge bus, carrying Area 51 employees (and perhaps some
Alien brain cells smuggled out of Area 51) speed by us doing at least
70MPH.

Well, all said, after a quick stop to gas up again, we arrived in Vegas
early evening, just in time to be fashionably late to have dinner at
Milano's....a DLV tradition.

From Milano's, some of us went to Flex. Monique had to practice her
Karokee there, and I'm so glad I did for I really sucked at Kaokee at
Flex on Monday nite, but I killed at Karokee on Wed nite - so thank
goodness I got over my 'stage fright' on this nite with few people
there!

Tuesday, April 22nd - Pre DLV

A majority of the DLV'03 sisters started to arrive this day.

I return the A-Le-Inn van in leiu of an economy car to get out and about
during the rest of DLV'03.

Check-in and registration begins during happy hour at HM's. Many thanks
to Tootsye and Jenna for helping me out with this! Dinner at HM's (mine
was great this year vs last year when the food was terribly cold). Off
we go to the DLV Welcome Celebration at Flex, where check-in continued.
Good turn out and a fun time seeing past DLV attendees and meeting
first time DLVers.

Wednesday, April 23rd

Check in continues via Tootsie and Jenna at Hidden Woman @ the Sahara
Suite. I join Kate and 5 other sisters to do the mall crawl at the
Primm Valley Mall. (Debbie and Yvonne, what ever happened to ya'll?)
Kate, hon, once we got there, you took off with your group and I with
mine. We didn't see you 'til two hours later as we were about to leave
to get ready for the DLV activities for that evening. Mindy (LV) was in
our group and showed us a great jewlery store, called "That Jewlery
Store". OMG, what a great store. I found so much that I've been looking
for in a year or so, and I only dropped $70 with 3 or 4 rings and
necklaces. And this store specalizes in larger sizes.

Off to Vegas and the Strip we go to get reay for the evening at Sahsa's
and Goodtimes. This nite, early on after Rhy and I get to Sasha's, I
finally meet Sasha. She had heard about my conversation with April and
Zeena on the previous Sat. evening and wanted to know if I wanted to be
part of the 'show'. I told her yes, but depending upon time, as I
wanted to have the badges set up, etc at Goodtimes and get my name into
Karokee with Mike @ Goodtimes.

Needless to say, Michael Cagle put on a good show, In fact, I enjoyed
his show this year more than I did at DLV'01 at Keys. Michael spotted
Haliegh Lee (from FL), and asked this girl who she wanted up on stage
with us....of course, Haliegh spotted me from the far side of the bar
and pointed and said "Monique". So Monique, Cat, Cindy, and a few other
of us (total of 6) were on stage with Michael Cagle and what fun that
was. I remember (and have pics, BTW), last year, Cat, Michelle and I at
the very least were on stage at Sasha's last year doing backup dancing
:) What a great time I had there on stage with Michael and ya'll :)

While ya'll enjoyed the drag show, BTW, specifically tailored for our
group, I was off to Goodtimes to get things set up there for ya'll
arriving later and to get my name into the rotation for Karokee as
well. I heard that the drag show that Sasha and her staff put on went
off very well.

Goodtimes, what can I say, esp. on Karokee nite. Denise, I'm sorry that
you only got to do two numbers :( I did five numbers in total, two
solos, two duets, and what had to be one of my favs, a trio with Cindy
(TX), Tootsye and myself. Poor Tootsye, she'd never done anything quite
like this before, but after the fact, she admited she had a fun time!
Tootsye and Cindy, we're going to do this again next year! It was also
so much fun being on stage doing a duet with Cat again (she's got a
great singing voice) and to do a duet with Michelle (LV). Next year
sisters, when it comes Karokee time, we need to have the Diva Las Vegas
Chorous on stage doing a number. What do ya'll think? That would be so
fun and kwel :)

Thursday, April 24th

My day started to pick up the liquour for the limo tour at a great store
I found on Paradise..Super Liquor. I got like a 20% discount. This was
on my way to Glamour Boutique to say Hi to John and his wonderful staff
at GB. I couldn't spend but about an hour there to get ready for dinner
at the San Remo and the Limo Tour.

I hope that ya'll that met at HM's had a good time while waiting for the
limos. I want to thank Cindy and Leanna for helping me out on the first
pickup leg of the limo tour.

As for the limo tour after Jubillee (Aiko, what a great choce of shows
and IMO, a very primo highlight of DLV'03), there were several hiccupps
that I didn't anticipate. We had a bit of a delay departing from
Bally's, which was my fault. But once we got going, it turned out to be
a fair time, yet a good time.

Let's not forget the bridal party that joined us for pics at the Four
Queens. Let's also not forget about, due to the limo capt'n screw-up,
parking on the wrong side of the Mirage and the 'mile walk' to the
Volcano. Let's also not forget about we got too late to Ceasear's to
have the traditional pic in front of the big fountains. But let's also
not forget just how much one-on-one chat's ya'll had with mainstream
public....at the sudden liquor store stop when Gina and her limo
exhausted their supply of champange, etc. after the Four Queens
stop.....the cute brunette GG at the Mirage who some of ya'll lifted
her up in the air (and I have the photographic proof...see Albumn 3 or
4 in the staging area of DLV'03 photos)....of the valets at Ceasears
that wanted to be and are in our photos (I was even given a business
card of one of the valets at Ceasers that wanted copies of the pics we
took at Ceasears), etc. So, while we didn't stop at the DelMar (email
me privately for why we did not...I had my reasons), overall, I think
we had a good time.

I've heard multiple comments about renting a Humvee limo for next year.
I've got mixed feelings about that, but that is something to be
discussed amongst the DLV'04 ORGgroup and is not appropriate for
DLVDisc.

I hope those of you that attended the limo tour that have not given
their feedback yet, please do so, either thru this forum
(dlvdisc@geekbabe.com) or directly to me (leggitv@aol.com).

After the limo tour ended, all of us except Gina's limo, went our
seperate ways. Gina and her limo and others ended up at the Belliago
with Charles...Gina GF, I've got to check this out for it sounds like
ya'll had fun :) Five of us had a late nite breakfast at the San Remo
and interacted with the public, whcih went quite well. 4am came early,
and we all depart to get some sleep.

Friday, April 25th

I elected for the second year in a row not to do the golf outing due to
the late evening on Thursday post limo tour. Gina was also disappointed
that I didn't sign up for her air tour this year. I promised her I'd do
it next year, come heck or high water, should she be able to fly next
year - late nite Thursday or not :) As you duffers were out playing, I
took the opportunity to sleep in (til 10am) on Friday AM and basically
did some errand running that afternoon, and getting ready to be on time
for a change at Carluccios (which I was, BTW!).

The dinner at Carluccio's was great, IMO and their staff accomidated us
well. The ladies room at Carluccio's was modest yet clean. Trisha, the
evening mgr. of Carluccio's was a great girl to work with and I hope
that ya'll had a good time there.

After that, of course, a DLV tradition, the Annual Mixer at Goodtimes
and the 'official' group picture of DLV'03. Ya'll looked so gorgeous
and we got the group pics off in record time. This year, I will not be
in the group pic, for when I reviewed the two group pics after I was
finished with my digital, I see that my skirt is way to high and
exposing some buttocks, so I've not even submitted those pics to the
staging area. I was so embarassed <blush>. But the other group pics
with my digital came out so well and I know Tina's will come out very
well, using her high powered 35mm camera.

Saturday, April 26th

I called Friday nite an early nite for we had to get up early and get
over to Mindy and Diane's home to pick up Mindy and shop for the food
for the combined DLV/SBS Garden Party. As usual, Rhy and I were one
hour fashionably late in getting to Mindy's. I didn't feel so bad for
Mindy was also running fashionably late. We push off to shop around
10:15am and we shopped til we dropped...aka...warp-speed shopping. We
managed to drag in (no pun intended) all the food and goodies at
11:15am and the social was to begin at 11am. Yes, there were three
early risers that were not fashionably late and were there when we
returned.

All in all, despite Mindy and I working our arses off (we lost a few
pounds that afternoon Mindy :) ) the DLV/SBS Garden Party was a huge
success. We had, by my count, over 50 DLV sisters and SO's attend and
most spent the entire afternoon with us. My huge thanks to Mindy and
Diane for letting us use their home for this wonderful gathering. Also,
your neighbours got a great time at their BBQ outing across the street.

After cleanup and winding down and talking with a few of my close SBS
sisters that I only get to see a few times a year, Rhy and I are back
off to the San Remo to get ready for all the San Remo activities for
the evening.

My only regret is that I didn't have the chance to join ya'll for
dinner, something personal came up that I had to take care of. But I
certainly enjoyed happy hour and again, for the 2nd year in a row,
enjoyed Showgirls of Magic. Tiny and company always put on a great
show. And I'm very impressed that Annie was able to arrange for a group
photo with the cast of SOM. This cast works hard on Saturday doing two
shows and their patience with us for the group photo is to be
commended. And Tina, Hon, they put the wrong mask on you dear during
the show!

I had originally planned to get to bed like at 1am, but somehow ended up
at the San Remo coffee shop for a very late nite breakfast
again........

Sunday, April 27th

The alarm goes off at 7am....Monique is to fly home this day. I pull my
dreary self out of bed at 8am, have a coffee, and just could not leave
Vegas. I called my airline, changed my ticked to depart on Monday. In
the past two DLV's, I always departed on Sunday missing all the Sunday
activities. Somehow, this year, I couldn't leave before DLV'03
officially ended. Only Rhy and Lari Sue Young (also from Phoenix that
joined us the evening before) knew of my intentions of staying.

We all get ready for High Tea to be held at the Four Seasons. We arrive,
on time, to find out that only the three of us and Danny (in his very
handsome black tux, hat and tails) showed up. I called Mindy to find
out what the deal was. Seems that Diane's reservations was at 3:30pm
that happened during the week of DLV'03. So we take it all in stride
and was going to do a perimeter walk of the Four Seasons until the wind
hit us and I was not going to do the A-Le-Inn salute again outside, so
we end up having a social drink at the bar adjacent to the resturant
that hosts the Sunday High Tea (tip: unless you're really rich or hit
it big at the casions, a single drink will run you about $12+ and
change, a small glass of champange will run you over $20).

Those that came to the High Tea converged and we had a wonderful and
classy time for a couple of hours. If you ever want to be a socialite,
this is the place to do it. At first I felt so out of place, but I
quickly warmed up to a very unique experience for me. After some photo
ops during High Tea and afterwards on the spiral staircase just off the
lobby, time to get back to our respective hotels to get ready for the
Farewell Celebration @ Flex.

The Farewell Celebration...we'll this is wind down and lots of huggs and
kisses to those of us who stayed for Sunday evening. This was a
difficult nite for me saying see ya later (or next year). Afterward,
Annie, Rhy, Lari Sue and I went back to the San Remo and Annie and I
chatted for a bit while Rhy and Lari Sue slowly ordered their late
breakfasts. Annie, thanks for our chat. By the time Rhy, Lari Sue and I
finished another late nite breakfast at the San Remo, it was 4am before
our head hit the pillows.

Monday, April 28th

Departure Day. The alarm rings it's nasty tone at 7am. I have an 11:20am
flight. At least I got 3 hours of sleep before going home unlike DLV'02
when I got one hour and Ginger from Knoxville had to keep calling me in
my hotel room in order to make our flight on time! Gulping down
coffee, last minute packing, loading up, returning the rental car, and
get to Frontier Airlines to find they have majorly overbooked this
flight. To make a long story, and a long day short, I spent 6 hours
hanging at McCarren to get on the next available flight to
Denver...departure at 3:25pm. I grabbed a bite to eat and found a quiet
concorse to sleep a bit. I almost didn't get on the 3:25pm flight due
to more overbooking. Well, Monique went into bitch mode and I told them
I was not spending one more minute at McCarren for I was bumped once but
it wasn't going to happen twice (the next and last flight to Denver was
at 7:05pm and I had to work the next morning). I managed to get onto
the flight, thank goodness.

Since I had napped thru the day, I took the time during the flight home
to reflect upon DLV'03.

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Reflections of DLV'03

First off, thanks to each and every one of ya'll that came to DLV'03. We
had a record number this year (105 if Annie's and my count is correct)
of attendees. Without ya'll, DLV'03 would not have been a sucess that
it was. Approximately 1/3 of our attendees this year were first time
DLVers. To you first timers to DLV'03, we're so glad you came and now
that ya'll are veterans of DLV, we look forward to seeing you back next
year!

I think all the activities and venues went off pretty well. Even some of
ya'll ventured out on your own and had pretty good experiences in
mainstream public. I think the one that primairly comes to mind is the
bar at Belliago (Gina's fav hangout :) ). I'm impressed with the
reports I've gotten back via private emails and the DLVDisc group about
this place. Perhaps this is a place to seriously consider for next
year.

I've heard quite alot of positive comments from DLV'03 attendees this
year, that this was the best DLV ever, and that attendees are already
looking forward to DLV'04.

Not to put a sour note on things, we also had some negative comments,
primarily to a few specific restroom issues (at places that were not on
the DLV suggested hotels/casions list) and mode of dress at some of our
mainstream activities.

To those of you that brought this to our attention at DLV'03, and
speaking on behalf of the DLVOrg committee, we thank you for your
comments. You are the type of sisters we want to come back to DLV in the
future. As we grow in numbers at DLV, we cannot control individual
behavior or mode of dress. When it comes to restroom issues and using
the ladies room at mainstream activities, simply get in, do your
business and get out. Don't primp, don't chat, etc. I do quickly fix my
makeup (and that is less than 1 minute) and I mind my own business.
That is the way it works for me in mainstream. At a GLBT club, that's a
different story. As for mode of dress, when you read that suggested
dress is classy or formal, there are reasons for that. If suggested
dress suggests classy or formal, we don't expect to see sisters in
micro mini dresses or anything to flaunt transgenderism. Most of us in
mainsteam activities are trying to fit in or 'blend in'. It only take
one or two sisters dressed inapproprately to bring attention to our
group, esp. large groups (for example, the limo tour).

Tipping...my only comment to this is that Sahsa and company put on a
good show for us and I heard post-show from one of the performers that
we girls did not tip the performers. These girls work hard and did a
special show for us and were somewhat dissapointed that we as a group
did not tip better. Please, take care of those that entertain you and
take care of you.

Most of us did follow the guidelines suggested for various activities
and for those of you that did, Thank You!

End of the restroom and dress suggestion lecture, for this writing.

On a more upscale note, most sisters that have emailed me, called me, or
have shared with us via DLVDisc, all had a wonderful vacation and time
socializing, seeing old friends, meeting new sisters and have developed
what will be ongoing future friendships. I know I did this year. I met
so many wonderful and beautiful sisters for the first time and in the
few short 8 days I was in Vegas, I'm still overwhelmed. To give ya'll
an idea of how close friendships can develop during DLV, I wish to
share with ya'll two specific examples. Carolyn Anne Turner "CAT" and
I had been talking online and via emails for close to a year prior to
meeting each other face to face at DLV'00. Cat is my mentor. She's seen
me thru my good and bad times. She's always been there for me. I owe
her so much for she helped me realize who Monique is and what I can do
for our community. The other example is Rhianna Roberts ("Rhy"). I met
Rhianna at Keys at DLV'00 and she's become my best girlfriend.

This year, friendships with other sisters grew from those I met from
last year. I have to specifically mention Annie (one of the co-founders
of DLV), Gina (CA), Denise & Tony (AZ), Debbie Sage (LV), Yvonne (HI),
Tootsye (on the road yet NV), Mindy and Diane (LV), Aiko (UT), Leah
(LV), Tina (SW USA), April (CA) and of course my SBS sisters that
attended DLV'02 and '03...Samantha (NC), Lauren (FL), Haleigh (FL). I'm
sure I'm missing other sisters, without exception to this TN Vals
sister, Ginger (TN).

I was also fortunate to grow very good friendships that I know will be
ongoing in the years to come thanks to DLV....there are so many of
ya'll, but those that really stand out in my mind is Cindy Brown (TX),
Kate (Ontario), Monica (LV), Mary Beth (New England), Jamie Renee (LV),
Nora (LV).

I'm sure I'm leaving out many of you, and that is not intentional (Annie
has my master check-in list with all my notes on it...before I went to
bed every evening, I jottted down notes about who I met).

I guess the point I'm trying to make about DLV'03 and my past three
DLV's, is that DLV is not only a vacation for ya'll, it's a chance to
develop some friendships that will last for a long time to come. One
thing I've really noticed and enjoyed about DLV is not only the
diversity of the attendees, but how we relate to each other, like a
family :)

You see sisters, you never know who you'll meet and know who you might
meet without coming to such a wonderful transgendered vacation. We call
it Diva Las Vegas. And we look forward to seeing ya'll again next year!

With respect, peace and Love,
Monique Danielle Monet

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(This posting was entered by Monique, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: annie
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> while the
> HRCasino & Hotel's neon Gibson Guitar is at a 45 degree angle.

Uh, looks more like a Telecaster to me. :)

Well, kinda. :)

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(This posting was entered by annie, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: annie
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>>> HRCasino & Hotel's neon Gibson Guitar is at a 45 degree angle.

>> Uh, looks more like a Telecaster to me. :)

> Hmm...I only remember seeing the one guitar that is straight up, and it
> definitely looks like a Les Paul.

The one on Paradise, right outside the HRCafe is definitely a LP.

The one along Harmon to the west is the one that looks more like a
Telecaster to me.

Now if they would only do a Jackson or a Rick. :)

(Charvel San Dimas or Surfcaster? :)

> Easy enough to tell, though...climb up the sign and put your fingers on
> the frets. If your fingers are bleeding by the time you get a chord
> out, it's a Fender.

Meow! :)

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(This posting was entered by annie, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Densie
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> > while the
> > HRCasino & Hotel's neon Gibson Guitar is at a 45 degree angle.
>
> Uh, looks more like a Telecaster to me. :)

Hmm...I only remember seeing the one guitar that is straight up, and it
definitely looks like a Les Paul.

Easy enough to tell, though...climb up the sign and put your fingers on
the frets. If your fingers are bleeding by the time you get a chord
out, it's a Fender.

-Densie

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(This posting was entered by Densie, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Hollye Merton
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It is a Gibson Les Paul!!

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(This posting was entered by Hollye Merton, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Rosada
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>>>> HRCasino & Hotel's neon Gibson Guitar is at a 45 degree angle.

>>> Uh, looks more like a Telecaster to me. :)

>> Hmm...I only remember seeing the one guitar that is straight up, and it
>> definitely looks like a Les Paul.

> The one along Harmon to the west is the one that looks more like a
> Telecaster to me.

> Now if they would only do a Jackson or a Rick. :)

> (Charvel San Dimas or Surfcaster? :)

Ladies, ladies,
You have it all wrong. It is a gigantic phallic symbol!

Rosada

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(This posting was entered by Rosada, an external user of MyDLV.)