The Lake of Illusion

Yesterday we took a friend to "Lake Las Vegas." This 320 acre lake with a 10 mile shoreline about 15 miles east of the strip may be the largest Farm Pond ever constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. If I were cynical I could say that the work was "hidden" under the title Virgin River and Tributaries-Utah, Arizona and Nevada Comprehensive Analyses of Multi-jurisdictional Use and Management of Water Resources on a Watershed or Regional Scale which might make the cost ($350 million) and and the end use (speculative resort development) a bit difficult to explain as a "pork."

Anyway it's a very classy place where Trudy and I go for music, ballet, opera and fine food. The multiple signature golf courses, the multi million dollar condos, and the neighbors like Celine Dion are a bit beyond us but it's arguably more fun than anything on the Strip.

The five-star Ritz Carlton has a great garden and a restaurant we need to try.

They put up a huge Christmas Tree and we will be bringing Sofia here for Ice Skating on the floating stage in the bay. This all does lead to a point. There are goofy things in Vegas but yesterday was among the goofiest.

A group of probably normal adults in "outdoor" clothes and helmets on Segways. I usually have to restrain myself from pointing and laughing but I was just stuned.

They were all so serious in a perfect line. Spaced out like a graphic designer had placed them in a sci-fi photo of a new "Westworld" there was no conversation, only solem concentration. It was only after I found out that they were on a "tour" that I fell down laughing.

When they make an "off the road" Segway I'll stop laughing.

Bob