Tying up the hammock with a little help from Asia…
Hotel Reviews: The Signature at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada
I was in Las Vegas recently, and lodged in a hotel I haven’t been in before. Coming from the Venetian (where I’ve stayed a couple of times), this next hotel had big shoes to fill. We were in Tower 3 of The Signature at MGM Grand. This tower is the newest of the 3 towers, built within the past 7 years. I can’t speak on Towers 1 or 2, but I can say, with this one they did it right. From the gated entry to the friendly staff to the incredible view of Las Vegas, this hotel has a lot going for it.
The first thing you’ll notice is the gated entry which offers a sense of security. The next thing you’ll notice is the valet, which I’m personally not a fan of because I can park the car myself. However, having a valet is convenient and trouble-free. The folks performing the valet service were professional and courteous. Soon, if you haven’t already, you’ll notice that the towers are a few blocks away from the Vegas strip, which may or may not be a good thing. Being in tower 3, it was a long walk just to get to the MGM casino (I’m guessing half a mile, no kidding), an even longer walk and/or taxi ride to get to the heart of the strip. There is a monorail you can take from tower 2 which is inexpensive and as convenient as taking a monorail can be. What I liked about the towers of MGM are that when you want to sort of “escape” the Vegas lights, these towers offer that kind of feel. A retreat, if you will. And like I said, the views are spectacular and the rooms themselves are quite nice.
I’m a fan of the simple things when it comes to hotel rooms. Give me a good shower, a big bed, and a robe and I’m happy. The Signature at MGM grand did all those things and did them well.
You could essentially come to Vegas, get a room here and have a fantastic stay, without taking part in any of the typical Vegas attractions. The hotel offers a pool, a fitness room, and convenient dining in nearby restaurants. But you don’t come to Vegas to stay in your room, right? That’s the only drawback to this hotel: the distance to Vegas attractions.
All in all, a fantastic hotel that will meet or exceed your expectations and I recommend giving it a go the next time you’re in Las Vegas!
47th Annual ACM Awards: Sunday night live commentary!
10pm Good night!
959pm I like her with straight hair.
957pm Taylor Swift. Good job Tay Tay!
957pm Lionel Richie comes out to present Entertainer of the Year. And the award goes to…
954pm commercials…
953pm He jokes about his “real shocked face” and looks at Taylor. Got her!
952pm The award goes to Blake Shelton. He better thank “The Voice”!
951pm Taylor Swift comes out to present Male Vocalist of the Year. I love when Taylor has straight hair.
950pm Personally I wouldn’t mind if this show ended, 3 hours is just way too long!
947pm Oh, first Luke Bryan performs his unsettling song “I Don’t Want This Night To End.” Something about it makes me want to change the channel. Not sure if it’s the words, music, the dancing, or D all of the above. else.
941pm Coming up, Male Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.
940pm or was it Blake Shelton’s ex-wife?
939pm or was it Kenny Chesney that busted through the door and said that?
938pm Minister asks if anyone wants to object, speak now or forever hold their peace… Randy Travis busts through the door and says, “Don’t do it!” Kidding.
938pm They have a unity candle. Besides rings, that’s gotta be the most common wedding tradition.
937pm Although I do like this song, even if The Bachelor kinda ruined it for a few months.
936pm This feels weird. I can’t tell if this is sweet, or very odd.
935pm The ceremony starts featuring the song “Marry Me” by Train and Martina McBride.
934pm The wedding story unfolds…
926pm After the break, a wedding ceremony. This ought to be interesting.
924pm Dierks Bentley is a cool guy. He’s got 2 dogs, so that makes him even cooler.
923pm Bono from U2 says America is not just a place, it’s an idea. Then he introduces Dierks Bentley performing the patriotic “Home.”
922pm For anyone who doesn’t get the hype of the Zac Brown Band, how do you think that performance was?
920pm Brad Paisley joins them on stage and shreds the guitar.
918pm Zac Brown perform a fun upbeat song called “Whiskey’s Gone.” I love these guys!
917pm What I wrote at 830pm (below) didn’t actually happen.
914pm Blake Shelton introduces Miranda Lambert, performing her latest hit “Over You.” The song is good, and I’ll add that the music video is hauntingly awesome.
912pm Anyone remember the movie “Dangerous Minds”? I like that movie.
910pm I think I want to see Titanic in 3D Wednesday, if for no other reason than to see Jack shaking in the freezing cold water, in 3D-D-D-D-D-D! That’s my teeth chattering in the cold water.
908pm (central) Miranda Lambert wins Female Vocalist of the Year.
9pm Cheerios. As in, that’s what I’m eating. Be back soon.
856pm Guess what, more commercials, but did I just hear them say they’re going to show a real wedding after the break? That’s a first.
855pm If you’re watching the ACM’s, chances are you are fully aware how country you are, but if you are still denying your country roots, check here to see if you are more country than you think.
852pm Sara Evans sings her latest release, a remake of “My Heart Can’t Tell You No.”
851pm Marc Anthony takes the stage? He introduces Sara Evans.
850pm Looks like everyone on the crowd has a red solo cup and you know who is so happy about this whole performance? The Solo brand. They may even send Toby a gold Solo cup.
849pm Carrot Top shows up and the crowd laughs along.
847pm Toby Keith performs “Red Solo Cup” if you can call singing that song a performance. He also just said testicles on national TV with no edit.
846pm Gary LeVox (lead singer of Rascal Flatts) asks if they can here the banjo in the back. “Yes! But we can’t see you. We’re too far back!”
845pm I like Rascal Flatts. Funny guys and they seem to have good hearts/compassion for people.
843pm Rascal Flatts performs their new song “Banjo” featuring Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin) on the banjo. I like this song, but I thought it was meant more for a group like Little Big Town.
842pm Standing Ovation. Taylor warms up her Oh-my-gosh face. Other people clapping.
842pm Blake and Reba take the stage again and reflect on the life of Earl Scruggs who died earlier this week.
841pm One day I’m going to invent something where we can record TV programs then fast forward through the commercials.
838pm Another tease that Bono is coming up. Nothing screams country like an Irish rock star.
837pm Scotty thanks a long list of folks, never even mentioning Josh Turner, the guy who’s voice he stole.
836pm Alright I’m back. The Kimberly Perry Band presents new artist of the year award, going to Scotty McCreery.
835pm I have a hypothesis: the word redneck will always be popular in country music.
833pm You know what’s delicious? Seafood. Baked fish filets from the Gulf of Mexico = better than your dinner I bet!
830pm Mickey Mouse rushed the stage and tackled Carrie Underwood. Crazy, right?
826pm Time for dinner. Take a break and I’ll be back in a short while. What will happen while I’m gone: more jokes, random guest presenters that probably have never listened to country music, and a random performance from an artist who’s got a new album or single coming out. Yes, I’m talking about Scotty McCreery.
825pm commercial break.
825pm Can’t figure out this band out, they sing this song and a song about being taking things slow (“Just A Kiss”) but they also have a song “Lookin’ For A Good Time” about a one night stand. Hashtag confusion. Hashtag make up your mind.
822pm Lady Antebellum perform “Dancin’ Away With My Heart.”
821pm Blake and Reba (who are hosting) come up with a few more jokes, this time including Lindsay Lohan. Blake Shelton admits he screwed up the JetBlue joke but it was still funny.
820pm Jason and Kelly come up to accept the award. Kelly is looking fab.
819pm the award goes to Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson for “Don’t You Wanna Stay.”
819pm Jake Owen and a pencil present Singe Record of the Year.
817pm I really want to eat pizza right now. If you wanna send one over, message me and I’ll send you my address.
816pm You can still vote for Entertainer of the Year: here
812pm Commercial break and the announcer is extremely intent on pronouncing every single syllable. His elementary teachers would be so proud.
811pm One could argue that Von Dutch hasn’t come around the first time yet.
811pm Or has it been so long that Von Dutch is coming back around?
810pm Evidently it’s 2003 because he’s got a Von Dutch hat on.
810pm Eric Church is wearing his signature baseball cap and aviator glasses.
809pm One of my favorites, Eric Church, takes the stage back at the MGM. He performs “Springsteen.” Guess what that songs about! Elvis.
808pm Looks like Brantley’s got some new tattoos.
807pm The Award show is at the MGM in Vegas, but they toss to the Mandalay Bay were newcomer Brantley Gilbert takes the stage to sing “Country Must Be Country Wide.”
806pm They thank the fans and the families. Charles Kelley says, “Look Mom! KISS!”
806pm None of the members of Lady Antebellum actually kissed KISS. Well played.
805pm Award goes to Lady Antebellum.
803pm If you just got in from the dog park, tune to CBS now, the ACM Awards are still going! Music legends KISS take the stage. These guys are so old slash not relevant. They’re presenting vocal group of the year…
801pm The music video for this song was filmed at the same location as his song “Tattoos On This Town”… an airport just outside of Nashville.
8pm Jason Aldean performs “Fly Over States.”
759pm Blake Shelton wins the crowd over with a joke or two, then Reba introduces Jason Aldean.
Spoiler Alert
Live Commentary on The Bachelor: The Women Tell All (Ben Flajnik)
These updates are in Central standard time. Enjoy!
8:43 my guess is that in the finale next week, Courtney wins and Ben loses.
8:42 the soup was so good. Now I’m thinking about a grilled cheese.
7:45 saved by the chicken noodle soup. Dinner time, I’ll update if/when I’m bored enough to.
7:43 I woke up with a fever and headache this morning. This show is making both worse!
7:42 Emily shares the secret of men. Chris says the show is over.
7:41 am I wasting my time watching this show?
7:39 Emily on the hot seat. I wonder if my chicken noodle soup is ready yet.
7:38 highlights of Emily’s run on The Bachelor.
7:32 Emily tells Shawntel she’s gorgeous.
7:31 why do over half of these returning women look more orange than ever?
7:30 oh, no… he didn’t. Nevermind.
7:29 I think Chris Harrison just said “thong.”
7:29 I don’t know why she keeps coming back to The Bachelor. It’s not like the show has a track record for success.
7:27 plenty of people in Nashville die, she could find work here, right?
7:26 Shawntel N. crashes the party, yet again. Alls I know is that this Ben, would drop the other 25 to date her.
7:23 during the commercial break I explained to my dogs why daddy has to watch this show. “Life isn’t black and white,” I said. “To us, it is,” they replied.
7:21 Brittney calls Samantha a chihuahua.
7:19 Sigh.
7:17 Jaclyn interrupts Blakeley while she’s talking.
7:16 my chicken noodle soup is heating up. This show is the worst.
7:15 Blakeley is in the crosshairs as we hear some of the women trash talk about her behind her back.
7:14 Chris tosses to highlights of the season, with voiceovers by the women.
7:12 Amber T., Monica, Jamie, Samantha, Jaclyn, Erika, Brittney, Elyse, Jenna, Jennifer, Rachel, Casey S., Blakeley, Emily, Nicki, Kacie B. are introduced.
7:09 wondering if I should heat up some chicken noodle soup. I’m kinda hungry, but kinda not.
7:07 Ali recaps what happened between her and Roberto.
7:06 Ryan P. chats more about water heaters, but again, they cut away before he gives the advice I really really want to hear! Are tankless water heaters the wave of the future? I need to know.
7:05 Highlights of some kind of Bachelor reunion in Vegas. I’m having flashbacks of frat parties I was never invited to in college.
7:04 Chris tells the audience that Courtney will make an appearance in the show. Pan the audience of women and a few boyfriends clapping.
7:03 Chris Harrison introduces himself. He says this has been the most controversial season in the show’s history.
7pm. Highlights of the upcoming show.
Out of the Wilderness 