Movie and Buffet as we Cowboy-Up

On Friday we decided to see a movie and get Helen out for some Vegas fun.

Checking the LV movie listings I saw that "Secretariat" was still showing at the South Point casino, some 15 miles or so from our apt. We had both wanted to see this Disney picture, but didn't get the chance when it came to TC back in October. The only showing of the movie was 11:50 a.m., the first matinee of the day.

So we headed out about 1030, took the scenic route down the Strip and arrived at South Point shortly after 11. The casino/hotel is crawling with cowboys here for the Rodeo. It's one of the hotels that really caters to the cowboys, hosting a western gift show, artwork auction and much more.

Helen noticed that inside the elevators you can really smell the horsey aroma that must drift in on all those thousands of cowboy boots that tread the casino floors.

As soon as we got to the SP, we saw some signs offering 50% off food, movies, gifts, if you use your players card, so we both signed up for cards. Turns out the half-off deals are only if you use your players points to buy the items. Since we just signed up, we didn't have any points.

But we were able to take advantage of a senior (62 and over) discount on the movie tickets, so we paid $3 each to see "Secretariat." An interesting twist - while Helen was using the restroom - I threw $5 into a 25-cent video blackjack machine and in the few minutes she was gone I cashed out at $12. That $7 profit covered the cost of the movie, plus $1 - woohoo!!!

"Secretariat" was a great inspirational movie, even though I knew how all the races would turn out. It was really cool to see how they portrayed the story of my favorite Racehorse, "Big Red."

After the movie (about 2 p.m.), we walked through the Cowboy gift show where a silver & turquoise bracelet caught Helen's eye. It was marked $45, but I was able to negotiate a price of $35 for it. Helen really likes it.

We were both starving so we hit the SP Buffet. For $21 we had a huge selection of seafood, Italian, Mexican, American classics, and Chinese cuisines. An impressive salad bar and dessert selection made it a very nice meal.

Helen opted for Mexican, so I piled her plate with rice, beans, cheese quesadilla, steak taco, chips and guacamole. I really over-ate, starting with peel and eat shrimp, green beans, baby red skin potatoes and salmon. Then I stepped it up with a second carb-heavy plate of spaghetti and meatballs, meatloaf and mashed potatoes and gravy.

Dessert for Helen was a chocolate spectacular with three different types of chocolate cake, chocolate cream and chocolate topping. I opted for a chocolate torte and a small cup of chocolate ice cream topped with strawberries and crushed nuts. We were both STUFFED when we left.

On the way home, I took Helen past the hotel that Scott and his family will stay at when they visit in February. We also took a drive past the UNLV campus and the Thomas and Mack Arena where we'll see the Running Rebels play CMU on Dec. 30. Then we headed home about 6 or so to watch some TV before going to bed. It was great to get Helen out and about for some fun and today out LV adventure continues...