I'm with you on this. The last time I was in Vegas was when my first husband (soon to be ex then) and I went there supposedly to celebrate my birthday.

I hated the gambling. I felt like I was throwing money down the toilet. I left the casinos early and sat out by a pool while he gambled. He had a limit, tho. I'd never have let him gamble without a limit. That would be the cost of "entertainment." He actually won $40 on cards.

Cards are a lot different than other forms of gambling. It's a game of chance, for sure. But it also takes a bit of intelligence and a pretty good memory. I'd play some card games AT HOME with him, but it was all penny ante. Beat him a few times, too.

We saw Helen Reddy in concert. I guess that must have been my birthday present because going to Vegas otherwise was NOT my cup of tea.

That was 1974. The best thing that happened that weekend was watching tv and seeing Nixon leave office in a helicopter following his resignation.

As for the smoking--totally agree. But my hubby was a smoker, and the Surgeon General's report on smoking hadn't gotten the big play that later ones did. I did insist that he not smoke around our daughter, and definitely not in the bedroom!