#1. How it all began….

 Kodidog’s Tales of Dames With Canes

Kodi has a friend who was born in Holland, but has lived in Canada for a great deal of her adult life.  They see each other about twice a year, and in July 2022 they got together for Toos’ fabulous Bhami, an Indonesian dish that she cooks beautifully.

Both of them were musing about their upcoming birthdays 🥳 in September.  Kodi would be 74 and Toos 78.  Oh where did those years go….🙃?

Toos was feeling restless, as her health hadn’t been good, and she’d not been out of the house much since the beginning of 2022.  The first time she had gone shopping with her granddaughter, and then to a restaurant for lunch afterwards, she’d caught Covid. Life seemed pretty grim to her.  

Kodi said “ I don’t know how much more traveling you will be doing, but while you can..think about seeing Las Vegas. It’s a great place to celebrate your birthday.  You should try to do that some year. “ Toos looked up from her coffee and said.  “ Okay, let’s do it.”

“What? Us? This year?”

“Yes..let’s go.”

Since Toos has insulin and medication controlled diabetes, and eats something every two hours, and gets steroid injections in her back for sciatica, and compressed discs, Kodi didn’t know if it could actually work.  She herself had some awful pain issues and walking/ balance problems on HER last trip, but  had Tom there to hold her up, and fetch things in the room for her.  He didn’t say anything at Toos’ suggestion , but looked very sceptical.

Kodi checked airfare ( yikes..so high!) and various emails for potential free rooms later that day.  She felt pretty sure that Toos was going to phone that night or the following day, to say it all had been ‘crazy talk’ on her part.  But Crickets persisted….

Kodi booked Labour Day weekend at Delano, and the few days after that at Mandalay Bay, since it would be an easy  move between them with just the carry on cases they would be dragging ( pushing, pulling or cursing, depending on what type of floor surface they were moving across. ). 

Their final stop would be at the Flamingo..the first hotel Kodi had ever visited with her parents ( who Toos had known).  It had experienced a multitude of changes since the late 70s, but Kodi still had a soft spot for it, and was flooded with memories every time she stepped inside.

Kodi, still surprised by this whole scenario , contacted Toos once more and told her that everything wasn’t written in stone.  She could still cancel hotels, and medical insurance hadn’t been purchased.  She’d still have to pay for the airfare, which wasn’t refundable, but if she had any doubts…?  

Nope, it was a bit scary but exciting too, so Toos said they would be taking the trip. How much U.S. cash did she need?  It was then that Kodi found out Toos didn’t own a credit card.  😳  They planned to split a number of meals, and Kodi had $100 resort credit the first weekend.  She knew it wouldn’t go very far, but it would help. She gave Toos some ideas of food costs and told her about her own envelope system which might help with whatever gambling budget she set for herself.   

Then it was up to Kodidog to chase myVegas rewards, get her own insurance, and cash and arrange for her phone plan to work in the U.S. so they could use Uber and fill out the required Arrivecan information to return to Canada.  Life kept her busy but still, the next few weeks crawled.   

When messaging her friend Kiddo in Colorado and telling her about plans, she was asked if she had anything planned for the 12 th, just before they returned home.  Kodi had to let her know, she said.  A few days later she told her that if anything, it might be a day to go to Big Elvis at Harrah’s, since they’d be at the Flamingo then and it wasn’t too far away. Kiddo said “ Don’t plan anything after 2:30 that day. I’m working on a birthday surprise for you guys. “.  

Now,  Kodi hates surprises.  This time, without knowing how Toos would cope on the trip, she didn’t want to commit to anything that might be too much for her.  

She mentioned the conversation to Toos. 

Toos said “ I LOVE surprises.”  Go figure…

Kiddo said she had to make some calls and she’d  tell her more later.  Sigh…

A few days passed, Then she told Kodi the surprise would involve something outside and then dinner afterwards.  Oh, and a hired car would pick them up and drop them off.  Kodi panicked a bit then, but tried to be calmer about it, when Kiddo talked to Tom by phone, swearing him to total secrecy.  He told Kodi that the plan was okay, and he was sure they both could manage, without much difficulty.

Of course after time nearly standing still, the three days before they left went with the speed of light…filled with Vegas plans and images, online and in Kodi’s mind.

Tom was driving her to Toos’ daughter’s home and she would take them to the airport.  After 2 hours sleep, they were in the car at 5:45 a.m. to begin the journey.  Did it feel real?  Nope.  Never does until Kodi sees the buildings on the strip after she lands…

Neither of the  Dames could do the walking necessary in Toronto or Vegas airports this time, so wheelchair assistance had been added when the tickets were booked via WestJet. 

Without much hassle, they were seated in an area behind the check-in counter, and waited for their ride.  Airports, it seems are very short of staff to move mobility challenged passengers from place to place, so they waited a while, but since it was early, they weren’t worried  about it.   Toronto rules still required face masks inside the airport and on Canadian carriers, so it would be a long time before they’d breathe deeply again .  

Shortly after arriving in the airport, they were wheeling down the crowded terminal, to one of the farthest gates, and Toos, who had always walked to her gates for Holland on trips a few years ago, now realized that she would never have accomplished it this time.  They walked down the plane ramp with their carry-on bags and a smiling air hostess assisted them as they pushed their bags into the overhead bins, and got seated.

The flight was delayed only a short time , and then was smooth as silk. Of course Kodi had forgot to REload ( who knew?) her WestJet app on her iPad, so she could not access any movies during the trip, so dozing a bit  or  dreaming  Vegas fantasies had to suffice.  They were served a drink and pretzel or cookie, and they both had bottles of water and protein bars, rather than purchase something to eat on board.  

Oh yeah…Perhaps someone who is reading this is a farmer..and Kodi has a question for them. When seen from the air, it seems that fields below are plowed in circles.  Any that she has seen in Canada are rectangular or square.  Explanation?  

They were both excited when they saw Strip buildings out the window, meaning they had arrived in Vegas.  Of course, Dames with Canes might have been first on, but that means they are last off. 

Boy, some of those passengers sure took their time deplaning, so Kodi had to whack a couple in the butt with her whacking, ( um walking)  stick  as they dawdled past her.

The same sweet crew member assisted them when they reached for the Carry-ons and when they finally got to the mouth of the plane , they were directed to two waiting wheelchairs.  They sat , and in a couple of minutes were taken to the top of the ramp and just inside the terminal…next to the group of passengers waiting to embark.  

 

The fellow who took  them up the ramp said he’d radioed for ‘pushers’ to take them to the baggage and ground transportation area, and that they’d be there shortly.  They thanked him, and he went back to serving passengers who were heading back to Toronto. 

It became a little claustrophobic as more and more people milled around them in the small area near the check in desk. He returned 10 minutes later and surprised to see them still there, told them he was radioing for assistance again, and then disappeared, to continue his other duties.

The third time he spoke to them, he said that he’d call again..and that a new Company had received the contact and had just started in Terminal 3 that day.  He then explained he’d been told that someone was definitely on the way.  In total, Toos and Kodi sat there for 45 minutes wondering if they had in fact been forgotten.  Two young ladies arrived, casually apologized for the delay, scanned their boarding passes,  and off they went.  

Knowing how long a trip it was from the end of terminal 3 to ground transportation ( which Toos wasn’t aware of), Kodi requested a pit stop along the way.  Once they rolled  along for a while and used elevators and trams, Toos thanked her for suggesting it!

The ‘push’ gals had had a month’s training together , and looked like they might have been 18 or so. There was no baggage to collect, ( which seemed to please the girls) so that stop avoided, they headed outside, and surprisingly they wheeled the Dames with Canes right across the road and into the cab line. They were cheerful and energetic and were appreciative of their tips, which they definitely had earned.  (Toos had been surprised when Kodi had suggested how much she might want to bring for tipping for the duration of the trip, but didn’t protest and just let her take the lead.)

They got a chatty, driver, who ‘knew everything’ about Vegas and proceeded to tell it to them. Kodi, aware that it wasn’t all factual, just nodded and smiled a lot.  They were on their way to Delano, where Kodidog had never stayed , but had  received an offer that covered Labour Day weekend, to her surprise and delight . 

Since she had never ‘roomed’ with Toos, she figured that it would be a good start to their shared experience, having a separate living room and two bathrooms. 😉  If necessary, they could find their own space.  The two hotels after this one would be stepped down.  ( So best, better, and then good)  One bedroom, one bathroom, and the last….one sink between them.  She suggested Toos enjoy the luxury while they had it!

Kodi was paying the cab fare this time, with Toos planning to get the trip back to the airport when they left.  With the flat fare and tip, it cost her $30.

Now Kodi was familiar with a lot of places in Vegas, but not  with Delano or Mandalay Bay, so she had used her great Las Vegas Forum buddies to research and get some questions answered before the trip.  Because of this, when their driver started to turn into the Valet/Drop off area at Mandalay Bay to end the ride, she quickly spoke up, saying “Excuse me.  I believe that Delano has its own lobby so that’s where we need to go.”  

He apologized,  quickly made a U turn and headed for the correct place, mumbling something about having a good friend who was a Valet at Mandalay Bay, and that he went there a lot, so had headed there automatically.   Thanks VegasMessageBoard. 😉 You saved two very tired Dames with Canes a lot of walking, confusion and frustration.

Check in was not busy in the beautiful lobby, when they arrived.  The clerk was chatty and answered Kodis questions about walking distances, and locations of a few things. There was no problem getting a room close to the elevators and they were told that a mini fridge for Toos’ insulin would be up shortly.  Then the gal said , “Oh wait…there’s an entire wedding party booked on that floor. I assume you might want a quieter room, right?   “. If Kodi didn’t mind being 4 doors down from the elevator, she had a room on the floor below that one , and she could give them a nice pool view. Sold!   Kodi confirmed that they had a $100 resort credit for their 4 night stay, and the sweet check in clerk handed Kodi a 2 person meal comp, wishing them both a happy birthday.  Kodi thanked her and passed her a $20 tip.  Ahhh, Vegas. How lovely are you? Let me count the ways…

They made their way to the elevators and after figuring out how to use the card properly to access their floor, headed upstairs, weary , but fuelled by adrenaline.

They loved the room. Spacious, well maintained,  and home for 4 days!  The one thing that Kodi had expected when reading details beforehand, was a couple of robes, but they decided to do without when there were none in either of the two closets..  On the other hand, since there were two thermostats in the suite, and the living room often felt colder , even after turning it up to 74F , it might have been a good idea to have them available.

The mini fridge arrived and they set it up.  Toos’ insulin was in a little insulated bag, which was lucky, because the fridge ran very cold and froze water a couple of times, even after turning it down to 1.  

Also thanks to the forums, Kodi knew that there was a keurig in the living room, as well as a bar sink. So now they were planning a shot of caffeine following their airport adventure.   They had been up and running for 15 hours.  There were k-cups and paper coffee cups and fixings sealed in plastic , available for $12 each, so they had found room in their luggage for 4 k-cups each…planning on using the water glasses for their brews.  Sadly, that didn’t work…most likely because the height of the glasses,  they figured .  Bringing up a used coffee cup from the casino, after their Baileys Coffee before bedtime, solved that problem for the next morning.

Toos had a much needed protein bar, and they unpacked a few things, and set passports, tickets, and cash envelopes in the safe, agreeing on a combination they’d both remember.,  Kodi did her bedbug check, and sanitized the doorknobs, light switches and remotes ( two televisions) and they checked  out the view, noting that the pools seemed very far away, lol.  They were weary, but afraid that if they sat somewhere comfy, they might doze off and miss the first evening of lights and big wins!

They headed downstairs and slowly followed their noses  to the casino. It wasn’t as far as Kodi had feared, and there were lots of people watching opportunities on the way.  Once they hit the casino, Toos needed to sit and rest…so Kodi made her way to the Cashier/ M Rewards desk.  She got 2 new players cards and lanyards, so they could both play on her account.  Toos is a small bettor, but every bit helps, right? 

Kodi made her way to a carousel that had no one at it, and sat to put the cards on the lanyards.  Once Toos had hers she moved to another carousel nearby, to play some quick hit, which she loves.  Kodi really struggled with the second card, but finally got it on the ring.  She then walked the 25 steps or so to the other machines and sat to the left of Toos.  They chatted, and  then Kodi realized that she only had a $50 bill.  She preferred to use $20s but decided she wanted to get her gamble on!  So, if not winning , playing the $50 down to $25 was the plan.   Betting 50cents, she pushed the button once before panicking and realizing she left her cane at the other carousel.  “ Damn. My cane is over there “ she exclaimed out loud, and quickly limped over to get it.  There were two men where she’d been sitting, and one told her they hadn’t seen it.  Kodi’s heart dropped.  Of course being black, against a black machine base, it WAS actually there.  She raised her eyes and gave thanks, then went back to her machine and sat down, telling Toos she’d got it back. She’d been up 18 hours now, so fatigue was obviously setting in, replacing the adrenaline. 

Okay, let’s start over. Deep breath, push the play button, look confused. Look closely at machine. See where it says “Paid $49.50”?  Huh?

“Oh my God! Toos, did you see anyone right here in the last 90 seconds ?  “”No. Why?”  “Someone pushed my cash out button and stole my ticket, while I went over to get my cane”

Kodi rushed over to the security desk, which was nearby, and told them what had happened.  “ Well, Mam..you should never leave a machine unattended.”  “Yes, I know!  I thought my friend was watching it..but she’s a newbie and was on the wrong side to see it happening.”  

He did contact the slot floor person, and a nice young fellow came over and asked Kodi what had happened.  She explained it all, and he went away for a minute, then returned, telling her that his Supervisor was coming over to talk to her.  They waited for about 10 minutes and then he contacted the supervisor again,  and said she definitely was coming but had been delayed.  ( I suppose they must get stopped numerous times crossing the casino floor).  By now Kodi would have been weeping if she didn’t have a condition that robbed her of tears. She was tired, depressed and so angry at herself.  In the past, even when a stranger had asked her to watch their machine while they had a bathroom break, she always insisted they cash their ticket out and take it with them ,just leaving a player’s card, sweater etc. at the machine. She’d never left her own machine with cash in it unattended because how stupid would that be? !!

When the Supervisor Gal arrived, she explained all of the circumstances , the 90 second time frame, the fact they’d  just arrived, being jet-lagged, and how angry she was at herself.

The gal listened, then  said  “ The reason I was so long in coming, is that I was reviewing security tapes. Unfortunately we deal with this daily. As soon as you walked away , he/she hit the cash button, grabbed the ticket and immediately went to the ATM Machine over there  ( maybe 60 feet away?) and then left the area.  He/she kept their face hidden the whole time.    I can’t return your money..it’s gone, but I’m willing to put $40 free play on your MLife account. Is that okay? It will take about 20 minutes.”  Needless to say, Kodi was VERY grateful, and might have even cried with relief if she had any tears.

Kodi made her way over to the traitorous ATM and broke another $50 into $10 bills.  It was now 8 p.m. on their body clocks, and they needed to eat, and make their way back to the room in the next couple of hours, so not much gambling was going to happen that evening.  Anyway, it appeared the machines were as hungry as they were.

To keep costs down Toos and Kodi planned to share many of their meals during the trip and alternate tipping.  That night though,  they each got a Bbq Brisket sandwich, with fries and slaw at The House of Blues in the Mandalay casino.  The service was good….except for the fact that the hostess would not seat them in the padded  comfortable chairs in the  middle section of the room.  She said there was no server there.

All the other chairs were hard , low metal ones.  No Bueno.  Stay or go?  Hungry.  Stay and make the best of it.  While they waited to place their order, a couple came in and sat in the comfortable chairs.  The hostess swooped down, wings flapping and cawed at them to move. No server.  They left the  restaurant rather than sit in the other section.  She then seated another 3 people at a table near Kodi.  They asked her about getting a table with the comfortable chairs.  Nope..no server. After the hostess walked away, they got up and left.   They wondered how many customers the restaurant lost that night, because they couldn’t or wouldn’t find a way to open the middle section and move a server to accommodate people.

Kodi and Toos had taken a taller table and high stools, which at least they felt they could exit.  ( by sort of dropping off of them, lol). They were both hurting.  But the BBQ Brisket was the best Kodi has ever eaten.  A couple of times later in the trip, she smelled that BBQ and wanted to repeat the  meal, but Toos said the chairs were just too horrible, and refused to go back.   Kodi figured most people would be fine with them, but saw that a few during their visit had also taken issue with the comfort apparently. 

They used their meal comp from the front desk to cover the bill, and tipped in cash.

Toos enjoys Tennis and Soccer, so the big screen t.v. in the living room was well used over the weekend…Kodi kept in touch with home via email, and Facebook, so kept busy with that whenever they both rested in the room. 

The beds felt incredible that night.  The shower felt amazing the next morning. Their ‘ used’  coffee cups worked well.  Today perhaps,  they’d check out the pool….which looked to be about 5 miles away…