May 29, 2008
Operation: Go To Vegas
by Luckbox
Okay, I need your help. We're going to have to keep this on the down-low. As you have all likely read, the G-Vegas crew is going to Vegas at the end of next month. Despite not having lived there in more than five years, I consider myself an honorary lifetime member of the G-Vegas crew, so it stands to reason that I should go as well.
There are two problems. 1) Finding a flight at a reasonable price. It will be tough, but doable. 2) Convicing Lady Luck that me going to Vegas is a good idea.
That's where you come in. I have a few thoughts on how to accomplish this mission, but you might have some better suggestions.
Option 1: The Lie
Considering we've been married for just a few months now, I'm not sure this is even a reasonable option.
"Hello, Dear, I won't be around a whole lot from June 27th to June 29th. I've got this big work thing going and it's going to keep me really busy."
Running a good bluff is hard. You have to pick the right spot against the right opponent at just the right time. Those of you who have met Lady Luck may know that she's not likely the right opponent and I can assure you this isn't the right time.
Option 2: The Beg
I'm not a proud man.
Option 3: The Trade
This one has promise. I'll simply find out what good friend she'd like to visit and I'll buy her a plane ticket there. It's tit for tat. She likes to travel. I can't imagine this would be the right occassion for her first trip to Vegas, so it's more likely she'd like to go somewhere else.
Option 4: The Kidnapping
On the evening of June 26th, I simply up and disappear. Left behind is just a note suggesting I've been kidnapped and demanding some kind of ransom. I don't think I'm worth a whole lot, so the note could ask for something like $10,000. That would be more than my wife could scrape together in a couple days (especially on a weekend) and give me plenty of time to "escape" my kidnappers by Sunday.
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That's the best I got. Maybe you've got something better. I'm really thinking about going with Option 3. My G-Vegas friends can tell you that anything titled "Option 4" is a bad idea. That's a long story. A really long story, and one that should never been told. Nonetheless, something's gotta break right. And if it does, I'll be visiting Sin City for the first time in a long time.
Now about that flight...
Having only 8 years experience with this marriage thing, my best results getting the wife onboard for going to blogger-centric trips is the trade.
I trade off time she can spend with her friends while I watch the kids and me getting hammered in Key West with those not-much-more sober then I.
Almost 18 years of marriage here. My advice is to tell her the truth and say "The next time you get asked to go to Vegas with a bunch of drunken action-junkies that write blogs, you can go."
When she replies "Why the hell would I want to do that?", you can jump in with the "OK fine, don't say I didn't give you a chance..."
Tell her you need to re-enact your bachelor party at 5 month intervals. This would be re-enactment #1.
Hell, I plan to, even if you're not there. :)
She may not say a whole lot about it. You don't have kids yet. You might mention, "I should probably do these things before we have kids." I used that a lot when I was gone every weekend climbing 14ers. The best thing about it is it implies you're going to be the best damn father and husband you can be when the babies do come. Whether that's true or not she'll like that implication.
Trades work pretty well, but also being REALLY nice before and leading up to the trip helps. I like to think of that as chips I earn for good behavior, and then I blow them all on a trip like Vegas. You know, like a set I can't fold on a dangerous board.
FWIW for our loyal and curious readers...
Option 4 :
Furman Dorms.
Nothing good comes from "Option 4"
I'm a big fan of the "just do it" contingent. Just announce that you are going. Ask her if she'd like to do something that weekend as well.
Once something is presented as a fait accompli, the other side is more inclined to work with it rather than fight what has already been established.
Option 5: Bring her along and plunk her into a spa for the entire trip.
If that won't work, I always liked the axiom, "Tis better (and easier) to ask forgiveness than permission."
-DrC
Here is the single guy answer: Tell her it is good for the marriage for you two to spend some time apart. You will realize when you are without her how much you truly miss her and how you will rush home just to see her.
I'm with Dr Chako for Option 5
