You got to love this hobby....
Note:  This in now way is intended to be derogatory to any of the providers mentioned - it's just sometimes you have to shake your head and smile...

So when I found out about three months ago that I was coming back to LV this week,  I immediately emailed my ATF and started making plans.  Turned out that she was going to be busy Thursday and Friday,so I played hooky from the week long conference I'm attending and set up a 3:00 PM appointment on Wednesday.  Unknown to me, my throw-away hobby phone does not have voicemail service.  I, of course, keep it turned off while presenting at an international conference.

I ducked out a little later on Wednesday afternoon than I had planned, about 1:30 PM.  I call my ATF and let her know that I'm on my way back to my hotel.  I arrive, shower, and shave.  No return call.  I call again at about 2:30.  She doesn't pick up.  I call again at about 3:10.  If she's running late she always calls to let me know - she's the best.

At 3:30ish she calls me back, and she sounds like death microwaved 3 times over.  She's coming down with the flu, and apologizes that she can't see me.  But, top-drawer that she is, she's going to call her friend, also a provider, vouch for me, and see if her friend can see me.  I spend the rest of Wednesday night on line and waiting for my hobby phone to ring, and checking reviews of other providers on TER.

I come across the profile of a provider I haven't heard about (I don't get out much), and her reviews are just what I'm looking for.  I send her a brief email of introduction, and just on a whim, called the number listed on her web site.  To my surprise, she picks up.  She checks my reviews on line while we're talking, and says something like, "My, you're a dirty boy."  I asked her if that problem, she laughed, and the next thing I know, we're on the phone for almost an hour and a half, sharing, well, everything.  At one point the conversation turns to what we each like and dislike in the bedroom and I told her that she needed to stop talking that way because I'm about ready to make a mess in my pants.  We part making plans for a 9:00 meeting on Friday morning.  Wednesday night ends with a double date with my lifetime girlfriends, Rosie and Minny.

We trade a couple more e-mails during Thursday, and I call her Thursday evening to confirm, and her phone rolls to nonworking voicemail.  I get back to my hotel and email her to confirm, and the e-mail bounces back.  I try to call her several times Thursday evening into Friday morning - no luck.  Then, about noon, I get a short reply stating that she had a death in the family.  Boy, do I feel like a schmuck.  I apologize for bothering her and send her my condolences.

So here I am, Friday night, 6:10PM, with the same $2,500 in cash in my pocket and two appendages near my pocket that feel sort of like grapefruit.  You gotta love Vegas - 5 nights, $2,500, zero hits at bat.

Like I said, sometimes you just have to shake your head and smile...that's why it's called a "hobby"...