Well, I managed to push aside all of this Hunting For Bambiu garbage (I was the first national guy to suggest it was a scam) and get the heck out of town. WIth Len Cipkin's help, I tried to make it a business trip -- to interview a former brothel madame about potential brothel taxes.

Where to begin. Spent too much time hanging with friends the night before and got a late start. So no visit to the winery the day of the party. Also missed my interview, but called the lovely Lora Shaner (former madame and author of a great book) to cancel the interview and appologize in advance.

Checked into the Saddle West. We had wanted a place with a casino, so passed up the Best Western. No suites available, so settled for a "deluxe room" (about $65/night). We were pleasantly surprised with the room. Nothing to brag about, but not nearly as scary as we'd thought. Got some drinks at the video poker bar, and headed to Sherri's Ranch.

My wife and I had no idea what to expect. It's a long ride down Homestead Road, and even our "seen it all" attitudes were tested as we took the ride. That's funny as heck in retrospect. Sherri's was amazing.

My wife and I are wild, but we don't buy sex. (Maybe I should say I don't, and I believe her when she says she doesn't) So a brothel was a new experience for us. It was extremely cool that about half of the 500 or so people there when we arrived were over 50, and at least 40% were female. What a party. $10 to get in, a raffle that offered everything from backpaks to free sex, tons of good BBQ food for free, and beers for 50-cents (YES! 50 CENTS!)

We toured the sex rooms. We watched a lineup. I fell in love with a lady named Britny and my wife introduced me to her (I doubt we could afford her, even if we'd wanted to ask the price, but God she was cute). We saw the high-rollers bungalows. And I made very good friends with ms Lora (the woman whose interview I missed). While my wife flirted with a cute boy, Lora and I kept an eye on her and joked with all the ladies who loved her book. What a beautiful woman. If anyone doubts that a woman can be over 60, sexy, and classy all at the same time, they need only to meet Ms. Shaner. I had to get some of her stuff back from one working lady who "found" it on the floor -- but no big deal.

The wife and I decided since we couldn't afford (and didn't really want) sex with any of the ladies, we should go to a strip club. Funny thing -- the only one in town (Dillons?) was closed. So back to Saddle West to gamble and get rack chips. But it was 2:30 and the tables were closed.

So what! We had the time of our lives. Can't wait until next year.

Al