I got Gold Status with MGM Rewards as a result of having World of Hyatt Explorist status since I travel so much for business.  So, I get a lot of special VIP perks like special room rates as well as free nights, free valet parking, and no resort fees.  So, I booked out a few Vegas trips for 2022, and one of them was during our anniversary weekend.  The concierge at the Park MGM Resort even arranged a limo to pick us up at the airport.  I invited another couple to join us to hang out as well during that time.  Viva Las Vegas!

    We got a new car service for airport runs recently after we used them to take us to a country concert in downtown Sacramento in July.  This car service had both a Lincoln Navigator and Town Car as their options.  So, they sent the Town Car to get us at my house on that Thursday night to take us to Sacramento International Airport.  After checking in at the VIP counter for Southwest and flying by TSA Precheck, we got a quick meal at Cafetaria 15L.  Thursday was our actual anniversary, but I planned a gourmet dinner for us on Saturday in Vegas to officially celebrate four years of marriage.  When we boarded our flight, the flight attendants were very nervous about weather since they said the captain wanted them to stay seated for about twenty five minutes prior to landing due to expected thundershowers in the Las Vegas area.  I did not think much of it since the Southwest has their monsoon season this time of year.  The flight attendant did not even want my Southwest drink coupon since he was just rushing to get the beverage service done.  He did mess up and got me a tequila and Coke Zero instead of my usual Wild Turkey and Coke Zero so he had to make me a new drink.  Tequila and Cola does not mix well.  LOL.

    As we were landing in Las Vegas, the plane was violently shaking and moving side to side.  I could see the storm clouds over the airport too from the air.  So, the pilots aborted the landing and diverted us to Ontario Airport in Southern California.  WTF!  I guess safety first.  We were worried since we had a limo driver waiting for us in Las Vegas, and our friends from San Diego had already arrived.  The flight time into Ontario was only about thirty minutes.  They had to divert also to refuel before attempting another landing into Las Vegas.  Once we landed in Ontario, the limo driver called and asked about the diversion.  Since we were still planning on arriving that night, he said he would wait for us there.  Our friends were stuck too since the bad weather stopped all ground services too so no baggage was coming out.  However, after about an hour, we were off to Lost Wages, Nevada again.

    Our chauffeur met us in baggage claim as did our friends.  He got our luggage, and we were off to the stretch Lincoln MKT limo on the ground level of the airport.  This limo can seat around eight passengers.  So, we had a nice ride over to the Park MGM.  After the bellman got our luggage, the chauffeur dropped us off next door at NY NY so we could get a late night snack at Shake Shack.  I was craving their frozen custard dessert.  Shake Shack was open till 2:00 AM that night.  Once we got back to the Park MGM, we were able to check out the awesome view from our room on the 26th floor.

    The next morning, we met our friends at Eataly at Park MGM for coffee.  Eataly is a large Italian themed food court which also had an Illy coffee shop.  We had early buffet reservations at the Wynn for 11:45 so we had to get ready to head out so we would make those.  The Wynn Buffet allows one to prepay for the buffet so there is no waiting in line.  The $50 buffet was really good, and there were many cooked to order items like custom pancakes, egg stations, and crepes too!  Moreover, they featured crab, cocktail shrimp, sushi, and other seafood in addition to plenty of other food items. The desserts were great too!

    After getting back to the Park MGM, I was able to nap before working out and chilling at the Nomad Pool.  The Park MGM had four pools.  Three of them were on the lower level.  The Nomad Pool was elevated, and it was more private with nicer lounge chairs.  All of the pools had cute girls in bikinis serving drinks!  So, I found my lounge chair and took in the amazing views of City Center as I ordered a Don Julio 1942 from my cute waitress.  The skies were overcast due to the stormy season so it was perfect to sit out there in the warm weather but not get sun burnt!  The eye candy was not bad also.  LOL.  I found out my drink was $65.  Vegas drinks are pricey I guess.  It was fine since my wife and I are very fortunate to be in a very high income bracket!

    That evening, we had plans with our friends to go to Play by Katy Perry at Resorts World.  We headed over there early to get dinner at the Asian food court since Joy really wanted to check it out.  She was a little disappointed since it was not like a typical Asian "Night Market"  Afterwards, we found an adult ice cream shop at Resorts World where I was able to try their bourbon flavored ice cream.  They used Woodford Reserve in the ice cream.

    Our show was supposed to begin at 8:00, but Katy Perry was delayed due to the weather in Vegas too.  This show was a Vegas residency for her, and it was an actual show with a story line.  However, she sang all of her hits too.  Her body was still rocking!  However, I did not agree with some of her political statements during the show including her love of recycling.  Leave the politics out of the show Katy!  There is no global warming!

    The next morning, we had breakfast at Eataly with our friends before walking across the street to the M&M and Coke stores.  I got a chance to play some Gold Fish slots too where I won a little over $100.  Our friends left on Saturday, but we still had two fun days left in Vegas.  Joy and I enjoyed the "oyster hour" at Eataly for lunch.  All the oysters were $1.  An old high school buddy of mine met me at Eataly too for a snack in the afternoon.

    We had dinner reservations at Michael Mina in Bellagio that night to officially celebrate our anniversary.  There was a tram to take us from Park MGM to Bellagio.  After the quick ride over, we checked out the conservatory at Bellagio.  This time, they had a jungle theme.  We were seated early at Michael Mina.  Michael Mina owns many fine dining establishments throughout the country, but his Vegas signature restaurant is known for seafood.  This was a $$$$ restaurant, and we were ready for a culinary treat!  The waiter greeted us with complimentary champagne to celebrate our anniversary!  Afterwards, the first courses arrived.  We got octopus and hamachi crudo to start.  I also got an Old Fashioned with Michael's signature bourbon.  For the main course, we got his $145 Lobster Pot Pie, which is the signature dish there!  They finished it table side for us!  The world is truly small!  The couple next to us was a doctor and his physican assistant wife who I used to call on at my previous company.  He recognized me immediately, and we talked for a long time about the old days of our nice pharmaceutical dinners when I launched Pradaxa.  For dessert, we got the special sorbet.

    The next day, my brother met us early at Park MGM so we could have lunch at Din Tai Fung at Aria.  I got him the free valet with my MGM Rewards Gold card, we walked over to Aria.  Din Tai Fung also greeted us with free champagne for our anniversary.  After a nice lunch, we went back to my brother's house to play with my nephew!  We had a lot of nice gifts for him too.  He liked the koozie we got him from the Dierks Bentley concert in Tahoe too.  Aakash put his Paw Patrol water jug into it.  It was so cute!  I was happy to see they still made Nerf guns too.  So, I was playing James Bond with him.  LOL.  I hate it when the liberals try to take away toy guns.  Guns do not kill.  Liberals need to understand that.  Guns save lives too when used in self defense!

    Joy and I ended our awesome extended weekend at the Club@LAS lounge at the airport with some snacks and drinks before our flight back home.  The Lincoln Navigator was waiting for us this time right outside baggage claim to whisk us away to my house.  I forgot to turn on the AC units via my app in Vegas so the house was a little warm when we got home since Sacramento was hotter than Vegas was that weekend!