"You kinda like Las Vegas, don't you?" Leah asked.

"Yeah, I do."

By most accounts, however, my Las Vegas experience is boring. I haven't placed a bet in 20 years. I breeze through the casinos moving from point A to point B without even a thought of stopping at the blackjack table. I do like the people watching, however.

I can't remember the last time I was drunk there. OK, that probably came out wrong. What I mean is that I don't drink much either. Cocktails are either too watered down if they're free, or too expensive if I have to pay. I'll have a Makers Mark Manhattan after work. I like the bar overlooking the NYNY Casino. But that's about it.

I don't go to shows either. I think I've been to one. I remember is that they brought me 3 beers before the curtain went up and placed them neatly on the little table in front of me. All I could think about through the opening act was that two of the bottles were getting warm.

So why do I even bother to get on the plane? Well, I have work there. This week, for example, I'll be attending Photoshop World. It's a good event. I'm looking forward to it.

I remember one reader commented in the past that Las Vegas doesn't like conference goers. "They're cheap," he said. So I'm wondering... then why do they keep having events there? Why not Portland, for example?

Anyway, I don't really care what they think. I have my favorite places to eat - they're good and reasonable. Then I'll go out for a couple hours of night shooting. Once the memory card starts to fill up, I'll treat myself to a Starbucks coffee and head back to the room to publish the day's work.

I think it's fun. Oh yeah, Vegas baby!

-Derrick