What do you feel passionate about? What is your dream? What do you want to do with your life? While some may dismiss these questions as excessively introspective, I think they are at the heart of human existence. I’m still searching for my answers.

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About a month ago, I had the pleasure of going to Las Vegas for the weekend with some friends. It was my first trip to the city of sin. Like everybody, I had read about it and seen pictures, but the reality blew me away.

The opulence of the Strip stuns the senses before the plane even lands. Hedonistic excess abounds wherever one turns. On one side of the road, a model of the Eiffel Tower juts from the ground. On the other, a multi-acre fountain glistens in the sun. Both are so out of place as to be gaudy desert blights, evidence of money being spent for the sake of spending money. I wonder what future archeologists will think when they discover a giant black pyramid in the heart of the North American continent?

Our group stayed in one of the newer casinos, the Bellagio. It was far and away the finest hotel in which I have ever had the pleasure of lodging. Amazing lobby, wonderful art in the hallways, incredibly comfortable beds, wonderfully appointed rooms, and a decent view. The card room wasn’t bad either, which was a good thing, because I spent a large amount of time there.

Aside from playing lots of poker, my group also experienced a fine meal at Craftsteak and an absolutely astonishing performance of the Cirque du Soleil show, Ka.

Overall, it was a great weekend, and better yet, I took enough money off of the other poker players to pay for a large chunk of the trip.

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That leads me to my next adventure. When I went to Europe in 2004, I never had the change to visit the United Kingdom. I’ve been considering a trip to rectify that omission, but it’s never worked out. Well, that’s about to change.

This afternoon, I decided to be spontaneous and take action before the little voices of reason and fiscal austerity inside my head could mount a defense: On the second anniversary of my first trip to Europe, I will be in London, England.

I’ve purchased the plane tickets but haven’t thought everything through, so if you have any advice about places to stay, things to do, or things to see, I want to hear it. Also, in the (admittedly remote) possibility that anybody else wants to go, I’d obviously like to hear about that, too.