~ Vegas Baby ~

Next week my man and I have been married for 14 years. That's crazy. I'm only 33, how did that happen. Got married at 19 to start. So we decided to take an impromptu trip. First of all, this is a major step for B. He's a thinker, he's a researcher, he is not spontaneous. It's a good thing most of the time. I am faster to jump into something that we don't need, or shouldn't do...blah blah blah. He had this whole week off, so I asked him what he thought of taking a trip for a couple days. Now this conversation has happened a lot. I love to travel, I travelled a lot growing up (thanks parents). I'm always looking for a cheap deal that we can just take off....but Mr B is not a traveller. He gets motion sickness, so flying is a challenge and he just enjoys his own bed. But this time the God's were in my favor and when I asked him if he wanted to take off for a couple days.....(trump call, drum roll) he said, after a thoughtful pause.... "Yes, I think I would like to do that". That's a weird thing for him to say. I thought I was going on this trip too....but I'll take what I can get. Then he says, "Do we have the money for that". Funny man, I will find the money, or beg, steal and borrow if you've actually said yes to a trip. But yes, we have the $$ and I don't have a problem spending it. = )

So we start checking out the deals, looking at all the travel search sites, can we actually make this happen within the budget we have set. Oh yes, we can.

Vegas Baby..... VEGAS!!

We walked our legs off. Toured every hotel, ate more than we should have, stayed up later than parents usually do, and had the best time. It was something we both needed, just some time away, a little alone time and stress free time. Only 3 days, if you're not into the party/nightclub scene, Vegas doesn't take more than that. Check out the sites, tour Hoover Dam, a little shopping. Done.

And you will be shocked and amazed to know that I noticed a few things while I was in Vegas.

1. It's hot there, really hot. 41 degrees everyday, and when we were at Hoover Dam it was 54. That's way too hot for us Canadian folks. We max out at 33 around here, and my ideal temp is 25. So we didn't come home with a tan cause we couldn't stand to be outside very long. Vegas is all about the night scene. We toured plenty during the day, but at night the streets and sidewalks were packed. As you can imagine there are all kinds of outfits happening when it is that hot out. Many are unpleasant, for me, not for them. I am always amazed when people get dressed and look in the mirror to say to themselves " Yes, I look good! ". No you don't, try again. Wow, tube tops where no tube should ever reside, short shorts where nothing short should be introduced and tanks without adequate support systems residing. Wow, take me back to the tundra where we wear clothes.

2. Then there was the 1% of people that looked amazing in their lack of attire. These people got their bodies out of cereal boxes, cause no natural person comes out looking that great.

3. We went to Mystere by Cirque de Soliel. Brian was apprehensive about going to a show. He is a major homophobe. No offense to anyone, but he is. So he wasn't really excited about seeing men in tights. He seemed to think that is was going to be ballet or something.....no it's Cirque. But wouldn't you know....ha ha....wouldn't you know that this is Vegas. I took the older kids to Cirque here a couple weeks ago. It was great and we loved it, nothing provocative at all. But Vegas, well.....what happens in Vegas. So it was a lot more than the local show. It was more showing, more flashy, less clothing and a lot of guys in tights. And at one point, the tights had one leg and the whole 'cheek' showing on the guys. So hilarious to watch Brian.

4. There were these two strong guys that were doing all this muscle stuff, it shows them in that link above. Wow, Brian was uncomfortable with that. He doesn't like how close those guys got to each other, and the faces near the butts stuff. What did he think they were going to all the sudden stop and start making out. Wow buddy, chill out.

5. Okay, moving on. You'll be surprised to find out that there are casino's in every hotel. You didn't know.....I'm happy to give you that info. No matter how fancy the hotel is, it's all back dropped by flashy loud, gawdy slot machines. At all hours of the night and day these are running. Old people in their wheelchairs sitting with their smokes and beers pushing the button over and over. We played our two bucks, with big dreams of winning back the price of our trip. I had even used The Secret and visualized us winning. I sent it out to the universe. The Universe did not deliver.

6. Along with gambling, other forms of entertainment (throat clear) if you know what I'm saying....are legal in Nevada. You know, the entertainment of the female variety. Wow, it's educational walking down the strip. Cause there is a lot of strip on the strip. There is also a lot of solicitation of the so called strip. It looks like whole families are standing trying to hand you card advertising that they can deliver said entertainment in 20 min. Where are these girls? In the parking lot waiting in the mini van? To your door service, just give me a chance to set the kids up with a movie first?

7. Moving on. Why the heck is shopping so much better in the US of A. Come on people. Canadians like to shop too. We have a better economy at the moment, more disposable income.....give us some good stores. But no, we have to travel to get the good stuff. I wasn't looking to do major shopping. I had the limit the border gave me, plus the weight limits on luggage. That's a lot of limitations. I'm not good with rules. So fine, I need to bring back something for each of my children, and I'd like some new stuff for myself. Nothing major, a few new clothes....and of course have to hit Bath and Body Works. I found the utopia. A Bath and Body works OUTLET!!!! Nothing warms my heart more than the feel of OUTLET running off my tongue. I makes my heart race, palms to sweat and my credit card to rev up. I didn't go nuts, but I am set for lotion until May when I'll be back in the states again.

8. Oh, and what is the first thing we do when arriving in LAS? It's 8:30 am when we arrive, the strip isn't exactly stripping at that time. Our hotel won't give us a room yet, so where do I have a map all printed up to go......wait for it.... COSTCO!! Next to the thrill that Outlet provides, Costco is the next on my list of loves. And Costco in the states is way better than costco here. I wasn't looking for cases of toilet paper either. Bring on the clothes, DVD's and Tylenol PM. What you say, Tylenol PM? Yes. All good friends share their sleep enhancing meds. My dear friend provided me with a sample of the US produced PM. It gives those of us that have racey minds the chance to get to sleep. The minds that keep us awake with lists and lists of ideas, thoughts, conversations and such running for hours and hours at night. I can sleep, but getting to the sleep is often a problem. PM, it's a new treasured friend.

9. Have you ever been on a flight that has a couple of roudy kids. Nothing major, they're teens after all and just fooling around. The flight hasn't even started to taxi yet, so no use getting worked up about it. Once we're in the air, if the craziness continues then maybe I'll say something. But no, I don't even have to worry.....cause Miss Drunk and Disorderly has already yelled at them. She's the one yelling at them about the yelling, she's the one making bitter comments about how her younger children are behaving better than these teens, and she's the one that's thinking everyone on the plane should back her up. This the woman who proceeds to drink three full beers in front of said wonderful children on the course of a 1 hour flight. She is so drunk by the end that her face it red and she's slurring and tripping off the flight. It was an enjoyable flight, we hugged at the end.

10. As all good parents do, we brought our children home some gifts. They are aware of this process, because when we call them half way through to see if their grandmother is still sane they don't ask " How is your trip going mom, are you feeling rested and revived"....." How was your flight are you safe"...."Are you enjoying your much needed time away from us to come back refreshed and ready to handle us again?".......no......we get....."What are you bringing me?" So near the end I hadn't gotten anything for the youngest boys yet. Well I bought O a new pair of church pants but I just didn't visualize his look of joy and glee when I presented these as his "what did you bring me" gift. We headed to the toy store to pick up something completely useless and a major waste of money just to be loved by our sons upon our return. B is looking. He doesn't shop much, but when he does he puts great effort into the purchase. So after a half hour of looking at everything thing in the action figures, cars, games and general boy stuff, he makes his decision. He chooses something he knows our boys will love, something they will have endless fun with and will love us forever. He comes to show me the fruits of his labors....I await the decision....what has he picked up with anticipation of uphoria from our offspring........SWORDS. A two pack even....big one for the older brother, little one for the baby. He also has the look on his face that says.....why didn't my mother buy me a sword two pack when she went on a trip. Are the swords for the boys or for the dad? Our boys have been sword fighting all morning, with enthusiasm and love. I guess it's better than the butter knives that they were using before.