How Much Is Too Much?

I’m back!

Vacation has come and gone, as has that dreaded deadline. The scary thing is the task didn’t get done. There is a beautiful thing about self-imposed deadlines – you get to readjust it as often as you like and there is no boss there to judge and complain. Actually, that is also the down-side of independence. Not only do I have to come face to face every single day - with the failure that I have become. But I don’t even have whom to blame! I can’t bitch about the task being too difficult, since I was the one who decided that it was possible in the first place!

Kinda like those who’ve shunned responsibility and the yoke of religious obligation. I feel bad for those that find that life still sucks, yet they don’t have a G-d to complain to or obligations to whine about. I don’t care what anyone says about it – but while a hefty lump of freedom certainly sweetens life, an overdose is overkill.

But that was totally not the topic that I was going to blog about! But I guess it sorta relates to my trip too. Ever been to Vegas? The initial attraction to Las Vegas is the many conventions occurring at any given time. Consequently, some of the world’s greatest performers tend to congregate there. They have their own maxim there: “Welcome to Las Vegas, where too much is never enough…” Trust me dear readers – one week in Vegas, is way more insane living than one should ever be subjected to.

Don’t get me wrong, we had a fabulous time. The strip is awesome! Especially at night! It was amazing walking around the shopping mall at The Caesar’s, The Venetian, The Aladdin and too many more places to mention. The casinos are fun for a bit, and the free attractions some hotels provide are enough to keep you busy for a few evenings in a row. The Bellagio’s water shows range from sweetly romantic melodies to ear-shattering, tap-to-the-beat, and smile-inducing rock. The Mirage volcano was pretty OK, but the effects were too obviously faked to impress. The Sirens of T.I. was a stupid performance if ever there was one. Six years ago they had the Pirate show – and I thought that was stupid. I guess I’ve learnt that just like extravagance and beauty can always be outdone – unfortunately, so can stupidity.

Six years ago many things were different. As a matter of fact, there seemed to have been intentions at that point to ‘clean up’ Sin City. There were some children’s park built, and many hotels focused on children’s attractions. And from the Jewish perspective: while six years ago there was no kosher restaurant to eat out in, at this point there are five kosher eateries, many minyanim, a kosher mikva – and a vibrant, growing Jewish community. All of that is thanks to Rabbi Shia Harlig from Chabad, whom I was privileged to personally meet, who made it his life mission to bring yiddishkeit to Las Vegas, which makes it easier for the Heimish traveler to feel more at home.

But in spite of the success with the burgeoning Jewish life there, their other attempts at reinventing this City into a family friendly place failed dramatically. As an emcee / comedian was saying ‘Bringing children to Vegas, is like taking a Hooker to Disneyland’. Sin City is back – and I don’t know if that is such a good thing…

Or rather, as they would readily admit: It’s too much of a good thing.