I'm Not an Addict

It's happening again...I can't get it off my mind...I keep finding myself trying to work out ways to afford more of it...

Yes, friends, my Vegas fever is officially back.

You'd think two trips in one year (within two months of each other, no less) would have quenched my thirst for sin and slots...at least until winter, right? After my last trip I went so far as to swear off Vegas until 2010. Not because I don't love it, just because it seemed like the responsible thing to do...

Screw responsibility. I'm (at least mostly) responsible in all the other parts of life...let me have my Vegas obsession. 

The Food Network is to blame. I was doing fine until they brought the contestants on The Next Food Network Star to Sin City. As soon as I saw the Planet Hollywood casino floor, my obsession (which had been sleeping peacefully since May) was awoken.

Next thing I knew I was visiting the travel sites, checking airfare rates and generally daydreaming about living a life in which I could jet off to Vegas at a moment's notice. Incidentally, the last week of August appears to be an especially cheap time to visit Vegas.

But there is hope. As proof that the universe wants me to be happy, it turns out my husband is scheduled to be in Vegas for work in October! If I tag along, that's only one airfare to worry about -- plus the requisite food and gambling budget, of course. That means I've only got 2+ months to go...I think I'll make it. 

Feeding the Need

**TOP CHEF FINALE SPOILER ALERT**

Top Chef is over. Yay for Stephanie! But I am sad that's it's over...far more sad than I should be about a television show. 

I liked the finale, but it definitely wasn't as exciting as previous seasons. I don't know why exactly...maybe because it really felt like Lisa was crashing the party and maybe because even though Richard was the clear frontrunner, it was kind of obvious that he really couldn't win. I'm not saying it was fixed, I'm just saying that a woman had to win this year. Maybe Richard knew this somewhere in his subconscious and it threw off his game - who knows? Ted Allen had some nice (and more articulate) things to say about the debacle in his Bravo TV blog. 

All I know is that if I am ever in Atlanta, I will definitely be stopping by Trail-Blais. 

So what will fill the void left by Top Chef? Well, The Next Food Network Star will make a valiant attempt, but watching people learn how to be TV chefs just isn't as entertaining...unless maybe you're an aspiring TV chef. 

Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days show has started again - finally - which has nothing to do with cooking, but is a thoroughly enjoyable (and sometimes educational) way of meeting my weekly reality TV quota. 

Then there are the other Bravo hits: Flipping Out is starting again in a couple weeks. Woohoo! I love me some OCD-fueled drama. Then Project Runway returns in July - double woohoo! We must all enjoy it before it moves to the Lifetime Network and turns into some kind of afterschool special about anorexic models. 

This, of course, is all just filler while I await the return of The Amazing Race, the show that blends my love of travel with my love of treasure hunts (they aren't really on a treasure hunt, per se, but I will take what I can get). And since there are people who are clearly far more obsessed than I am with this show, I was able to find out that there are only 107 days left until season 13 begins. And by the time that's over, I'm sure it will be almost time for Top Chef again. 

I feel much better now.