My wife and I both prefer downtown Vegas to the strip and have spent most of our time there.

Yesterday was the day we took to go see the parts of Vegas you don't normally see and check out interesting things that have nothing to do with the gambling and lights and people.

We started at the Mob Museum, a short walk from the hotel and one of those things you could go to 10 times and still see stuff you missed.

From there we jumped in the car and headed to find Counts Kustom's and things like that. If you go to Vegas and like cars you gotta see this place.

While in reality TV land we also went to seek out PussyKat Tattoo which used to be the base for the show about fixing less than attractive tattoo's.

When we finally found it (nowhere near where the average Las Vegas visitor would get to by the way), we went to take each others picture in front of the store window. There was a young lady standing outside talking to another young lady and she asked if we wanted to have her take a picture. We were good.

We headed inside and she came in right behind us and asked if there was anything she could help with. I replied "Nope, we were fans of the show and just wanted to stop by and check it out. By the way; why the hell did the show end? It was a lot of fun to watch!"

From behind me I heard a voice say "Do you want the official version of what happened with the show, or the truth?"

I turned and sitting at his desk in his office was the man himself. I looked again to make sure I was seeing who I thought I was seeing.

The truth is, these reality shows in Vegas? If you go to the places, like Gold & Silver Pawn from Pawn Stars and Counts Kustoms, the stars of the show aren't generally there, so it was kind of a surprise that Dirk was at his shop.

After a few minutes of talking it was easy to see that, of course he was there, it's his business and what he does.

So I told him I always prefer the truth and we got what I believe to be the truth and spent a good 20 minutes hanging out and talking about everything from tattoo's to music, to personal integrity.

I'm not going to tell you what the truth of it was, it's his story and he's writing it, so if you want to know, buy the book when it comes out!

It was very interesting to find out how it all works and what we at home never see. It was also enlightening to learn how television networks perceive their viewers.

The best part was just seeing how absolutely real the guy is.

They say "never meet your hero's" and I have had a couple experiences with that and it can certainly be a let down when a person is an ass instead of the nice person you thought they were.

I wouldn't call Dirk a hero of mine, more a guy I liked watching and respected his work, but still. He could have been any one of my friends, just sitting around talking.

I've had a few times that I've met people like that and it's always been quick, maybe take a picture and move on, so it was very different to meet someone "famous" and just sit and bullshit with him.

I was not going to ask for a picture, autograph, nothing. The guy was being cool enough to talk with us, I didn't want to be a pain in the ass. Finally I decide we might be BEING a pain in the ass taking up his time and started us towards leaving when Dirk said "Ya want to get a picture?"

There's something about being in the presence of a guy like that that makes you a little nervous, even though you know, and he's demonstrated he's just another guy. I actually felt myself start to sweat a little bit and said "I was not about to ask, but if you're volunteering, that'd be awesome!"

"Well, let's do it then!" he said while also grabbing a promo picture of himself and signing it quick.

We stepped outside his office and he graciously took a picture with both Kris and I.

Then we sat and talked for a bit more and I decided to get a T-Shirt from the shop. "Beer money" he said and laughed. That's "just another guy" in my world.

If you end up in the right place at the right time you can sometimes meet your hero, for lack of a better word. Most times you will be disappointed and let down. Most of the celebrities I've met, I think they've either let it get to them, let it go to their heads, or they've been jaded by the whole experience.

Dirk, the "star" of the TV show I think is rightfully jaded by the experience but, it's quite clear that Dirk the tattoo artist and shop owner is just another guy, like he's been his whole life.

Which is the truth about what happened with the TV show.

In case you were wondering.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Me, I just like the atmosphere, the people, the things that you just can't see anywhere else.

In less than 24 hours I've already put more dollar bills in the hands of the homeless or otherwise broke, than slot machines. Not a lot. Just here and there.

I know the panhandling etc. is frowned upon, and that it "just encourages them" and all that but I do it anyway.

Encourage them or not, that could be me. It could be you.

I really don't give much thought to how somebody got in that position. I really don't care how. I know they're there, I know they're living a life I couldn't imagine and I also know many of them, -especially the gentleman who engaged me for about 10 minutes this morning on Fremont Street on the topic of the Packers/Bears rivalry (he's a Bears fan)- probably take that dollar and combine it with another that they got from someone else and go buy a 24oz can of beer or a cheap bottle of Thunderbird or whatever their poison of choice.

If I had to live like that I'm pretty sure I'd rather do it half in the bag than stone cold sober.

Most of them aren't going to throw a dollar in a slot machine, hit it big and move on to a wonderful new life.

Most of them are going to be stuck living like that until the day they no longer live. That is sad. That is something I wish I could change but can't.

It's just a fact. Obviously each person is responsible in someway for their own life situation but the mistakes made yesterday don't fix themselves tomorrow. The more tomorrows pass since yesterday, the less likely recovery is. The less chance of ever having a normal life. Whatever that is.

"That's a wasted dollar! That bum is just going to drink it!"

To that I say "bullshit".

That dollar and a few minutes of conversation, whether it buys a can of beer or a bag of chips is going to give that person a moment of being valued as a person. Sure, many don't appreciate it, many think you could have gave more. So what? If they're angry about their circumstances and life in general, I'd say it's understandable. I'd be pissed too if I thought the world was out to get me.

I've spent time angry as hell about what life "was doing to me". What's not to understand?

I don't know about you but, these people, whether in Las Vegas or at home, are in a crappy situation they are unlikely to emerge from.

I've had times where I wondered how I was going to pay the bills, feed and clothe a family, on and on. I was lucky enough to be able to find solutions and more than once, get a little hand up along the way.

I sincerely try to be charitable in someway all the time. Whether rounding up at Goodwill, buying a Food Pantry bag or Animal Shelter bag at the grocery store or saying "yes" to adding a dollar to whatever cause the store I'm shopping in is collecting for.

Sometimes I forget, but I don't worry about it. More often than not I do it if I'm feeling financial pressure myself. If things are tight and I know that dollar isn't going to get me anything I need I give it. The shocking result I've noticed in the years I've done that is that I generally find that somehow my needs end up being met and never once has giving hurt me. Financially or otherwise.

And never once has it been a waste.

I saw a guy last night on Fremont wearing a shirt that said "Don't Ask Me For SHIT!" I can see the people who live and work here getting tired of it. But I also saw an older guy sitting in a wheelchair with two signs; one down by his feet explaining his situation and another one in his hand on a paddle that said "Do Nice Things". He didn't notice me as I walked past.

When I came back from where I was going I ended up behind him and I knew I still had two singles in my pocket from that run, so I came up behind him and put my hand on his shoulder to alert him I was there and I said "thank you for the reminder. I like to do nice things".

He smiled warmly and thanked me and shook my hand.

If anybody thinks I'm wasting my money doing things like that, they've probably never done it.

Two dollars and 30 seconds, and for a moment this gentleman had somebody spend some time with him and give something not required.

Imagine being alone, on the street, no friends or family, Loneliness sucks. I've been there.

I have no clue what he or anyone I give money to will do with it. And I don't care. Whatever they buy with it, it'll be something they want, something that makes them feel empowered over their situation, if only for a moment. And if they drink it to dull the pain of the loneliness, despair and hopelessness, so be it. 

I'm not saying anyone else has to do it. I'm just saying why I do.

Nobody can tell me that these people wanted their lives to take this course, regardless of what choices they made to get there.

It's not wasted money, it's not throwing it away. It's giving them a moment of my time and a dollar or two I'll never miss.

I've been extremely lucky in my life, though I've never won a dime in three trips to Vegas.

I also know we don't build mansions in heaven with works, deeds, or dollars. I just hope we get extra credit points here and there.

And if we don't, I still didn't waste that dollar because it connected me to another person for a moment in time.

That's good enough for me.

And I still have four days to hit the jackpot this time!