Las Vegas, baby!

Finally!  On Thursday, I got the girls ready for school and then headed down to the Ontario airport. As much as I hate flying, I couldn't wait to get to Vegas and meet up with Ken.  Yes, it had only been a couple days, but I was a pathetic mess without him.  


The flight really wasn't as bad as I feared.  I love to travel, but I really hate planes.  I hate being cramped and confined, and I really hate the feeling on take-off and landing.  My head always hurts and my stomach lurches.  This flight was a bit worse due to the head cold, so my sinuses were popping the entire time.  Ouch!  


Ontario to Vegas is only a 45 minute flight, but it went fairly quickly.  I made sure to sit by the window so I could see everything, and I could not believe how huge Vegas is from the air!  As many times as Ken and I have gone to Las Vegas, I have seen it grow and appreciate it's size, but having seen it from the air and seen the sheer expanse of the city is something different.


I found the shuttles easily and got my token to head to the strip.  I could see Mandalay Bay almost at all times, but the shuttle went a very windy and indirect route to 6 hotels before I got to Mandalay, so rather than 10 minutes, it took 35 minutes.  Poor Ken was waiting for lunch for me, and I was starving by the time I arrived.  


There are no words to describe my happiness at seeing Ken in the hotel lobby.  I know that I survive just fine without Ken, and he without me, but until I am in the same room with him, I am always amazed when I learn that I hadn't taken a full breath of air.  Suddenly, I'm with Ken and I am truly able to breathe.  Again, it just cements the epitome of pathetic-ness, but it's true.  


Ken got my into the hotel room and I quickly unpacked and then we rushed down for lunch at the Show.  The food was incredible, and I was impressed.  I have been to trade shows before, and I either had to purchase my own food or the provided lunch was barely passable as "edible" but it got you through.  Not Big Rock Sports.  Pecan crusted Halibut, there was steak, and some other great entrees. I loved the spinach salad with dried fruit and walnuts and the Champagne Vinaigrette was divine!  


After lunch, Ken and I walked the entire floor.  We went up and down each row looking for items that would be best for the raffle since Ken had gotten the go ahead from Neil the night before.  I found some great pink stuff for ladies, and then we looked at Trap items, cases, etc.  

The amount of money that the Club actually spent was very low which means that the money we get from the raffle will be mostly profit.  Hopefully, the Club will be very pleased with all of the work that Ken did to get the best ammo deals as well as the raffle prizes.  


By the end of Thursday, we were exhausted but starving.  We dropped things back off in the hotel room, and Ken wanted to show me the little Irish place he found.  He said he had a beer there the night before and really enjoyed himself.

So, I have to stated that I have NO idea how to pronounce the name of the pub, but the food was excellent, the staff was wonderful, and it was a fabulous place to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself.  They have a live band every night which was fun.  Unfortunately, Ken and I were completely too exhausted to stay out and enjoy ourselves.  

Ken and me at Ri Ra Irish Pub in Vegas

We walked around the shopping plaza to see what there was.  My favorite place was a type of eatery/sweet store.  I didn't go in, but you better believe I'll check it out next time.

There's not much I can add to this.  Love the name and the pictures!

Between neither of us sleeping while apart plus all of the walking around for the afternoon, we dragged ourselves back to the room to sleep.


The next morning, we got up early since the Show was going to end at Noon.  We went to find some additional items that Neil suggested as raffle prizes.  The really great thing was that the requested air rifles ended up getting donated once I started talking about why we wanted them to the rep.  Sah-weet!!  You can never go wrong with Free Dollars!  


Ken got the order in and we got checked out of the hotel.  We had some time to kill before our flight, and on the way to Margaritaville (Duh! - so had to go!), Ken and I realized that we really should have spent the money and stayed an extra night.  We were both very worried about being able to stay awake not only until our flight but to drive home.


Margaritaville is always amazing!  I did forget to purchase a new T-shirt for my collection however.  The Volcano Nachos were PERFECT as was my margarita.  Ken and I always split this plate, and we are never able to finish it all, but it tastes so good!  We never order anything else except for a margarita for me and beer for Ken, and this day, we were too tired to enjoy more than one drink.  More than one would have made getting around far too difficult.

However, on my way to look at the shirts from the Smuggler's Hold, I got very distracted when I saw a sign for the Margaritaville Casino.

Casino???  Margaritaville???  Oh YES!  This particular section of the Flamingo Hotel had been closed for a long time, and I never knew why.  Since Ken and I haven't been to Vegas in so long, I had no idea this was coming.  Totally SAH-WEET!!  

I think that the next time we come to Vegas, we will be staying at the Flamingo just so I can be near-by!  My love of all things Margarita, flip-flops and Jimmy Buffet know very few bounds, and this was no exception.  The casino was staffed by some amazingly wonderful people.  Everyone was happy and helpful, they loved to talk and have a great time.  I lost my $20 but I was able to make it last over an hour.  I always know I should quit when I am up $60, but I'm always having too good of a time.  No big loss which is cool.  Ken made $5, so we were good. I made sure to get myself a new Rewards Card.  I had to!  My original one was the plain gold card, and my new one sports the Play in Paradise with the Margaritaville logo.

Yay for me!  I was so very bummed that there were no souvenirs for the Casino yet.  I would have LOVED come chips, playing cards, a pin for my collection....something!  The pit boss at the Blackjack table we were playing at said that is the top question they have been getting asked since the Casino opened in October - what and where can they purchase the souvenirs. Totally bummed out, but maybe they will have something by the time Ken and I are able to get back there.  


It had been almost two years since Ken and I went to Vegas.  We've tried to go many times, but it never worked out (the time we stopped through for lunch with the girls last May does NOT count as a real visit since we didn't stay and play).  We determined that we would find a way to get back there and enjoy ourselves together.


We used the monorail and tram to get back to the Mandalay Bay.  We gathered our luggage and headed to the airport early so that we could at least sit and wait rather than constantly walking around.  I really didn't want to spend too much more money since we were trying to stay on our budget.


We got to the airport very early, managed to get through security quickly and then found a couple chairs at our gate.   I picked up some snowglobes for the girls and chocolate for Val who was watching the girls for us, and then we sat and waited.  Ken managed to get a nap while I did my best to keep watch for our boarding time.


As we were lined up waiting to board the plane, Ken and I were talking about changes we hope our Gun Club will make over the next year.  A man directly in front of us asked if we had been at the show and we responded affirmatively.  He introduced himself as a rep for Hornady and we all started chatting.  He ended up sitting across the aisle from us and Rick asked about the things that we purchased since we don't have a Pro Club on site, so I started talking about our annual banquet, the raffle prizes, that we own our land, etc. and he immediately offered a donation to our Club for the raffle.  Oh yes!  Just by chatting as I normally do, I got an offer for 10 cases: pistol, long gun and archery.  Nice!!  


Ken and I managed to get home and then crawled into bed.  There is absolutely nothing better than our amazing mattress and Ken in the bed with me.  After 5 days, I finally slept!!

Vegas and Friends!

I am so embarrassed that I has taken me so long to get our latest Vegas trip posted.  You would think it was "just another trip."  SO not true!

Let's go back in time to little Manhattan Beach, CA.  Eric Goldwasser and I have known each other..., well, forever.  I pushed him off a swing in preschool, and we have been friends ever since.  There were times when the only reason I got through the day was because of his friendship and wanting to be the person he thought I was.  Eric was also such a great friend that he sacrificed himself during high school to help me perfect the art of kissing.  I know, what a guy!

Well, we graduated high school, and then started to get our lives in order.  He had suggested "dating" and I have no idea why I said no, but he did not stop being my friend.  Then, we just lost touch.  

Flash forward 16 years, and I was wondering what had happened to him.  The answer - Facebook!  What an awesome invention!  I found Eric and got to "meet" his wife.  Debbie and I totally hit it off, and she is my amazing book library.  She actually sends me a box of books from North Carolina so I can enjoy reading.  I also completely blame Debbie for getting me hooked on Romance novels.  Not the sappy "Fabio" type, but these are really good:  Nora Roberts, etc.

So, now, Debbie and I are chatting and getting to know each other.  What's not to love about her?  She is a book lover, and my childhood friend adores her.  So, she invites Ken and me to meet her and Eric in Las Vegas and spend her birthday with her.  Not only was I dying to see Eric after so long, but I couldn't wait to actually meet her!  Um, then it's VEGAS!  Yeah, you're thinking there's no way I would miss out on this trip.  Off we go to Vegas.

Ken and I left on a Thursday.  We normally avoid Vegas during the "weekend," but we were glad to not be driving in on a Friday.  We stopped in beautiful Baker, California.  For anyone who does not have a clue where Baker is, here you go:

Baker, CA

"Baker is an unincorporated community located in San Bernardino County, California, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 914.

Baker is located at (35.265099, -116.074768).

Baker is located in the Mojave Desert at the junction of Interstate 15 and SR 127 (Death Valley Road). Its elevation is approximately 930 feet (283.5 m) above sea level, which is much lower than either Barstow or Las Vegas, due to its location at the southern end of theDeath Valley geological depression. The Cronese Mountains are located southwest of the community.

Baker's economy is based primarily on tourism. The town is frequently used as a rest stop by drivers on Interstate 15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Baker is approximately 90 miles (144.8 km) southwest of Las Vegas. It is the last town for those traveling on SR 127 north to Death Valley National Park or south to the Mojave National Preserve.

The town's most prominent feature is a 134-foot (41m) thermometer, known as the "World's tallest thermometer", visible for miles. Its height commemorates the hottest temperature ever recorded in the United States, 134 °F (56.7 °C), measured in nearby Death Valley in 1913. Summer temperatures in Baker routinely exceed 110 °F (43.3 °C); 2007 saw a record of 125 °F (51.7 °C). In recent years Baker has experienced hard times, with casinos just across the Nevada border at Primm and Jean, Nevada taking much of its motel trade."

There is a school there, and I worked there my first year teaching.  It was, undoubtedly, the best year I had for personal growth, and working in Baker taught me that I can teach anywhere.  I keep in touch with the woman who was my Instructional Associate, Olga.  I will say that I am so very glad that she continued with her education and am proud to report that she is now running the Preschool Program there.  I hadn't seen her in a year despite our conversations, and it was great to actually see each other and laugh.

(As you can see, despite the fact that I am feeling better, I still wore my lounge dress for the road trip.  Anything tight has not been working well for my surgery incision area.)

After stretching our legs in the 117 degree weather in Baker, Ken and I got into Vegas.  The heat was turned up, but we were totally excited!  We checked into our hotel and within minutes, Eric and Debbie had arrived.  We all decided to take naps and then meet downstairs, which worked out great.

Debbie and Eric met us down at the iBar.  Everyone knows how much Ken and I love to use Vegas as the excuse for always having a drink, but it is really a great thing.  I loved meeting Debbie - she is so warm and fun, and I was really happy to meet her sister, Beverly, but seeing Eric for me was just amazing.  While there was a ton to catch up on, it was as though the years melted away.  

Let me interject that I am totally excited to be married to Ken.  He never had an issue whatsoever about the tight and long hug that Eric and I shared.  For me, it felt as though I had found my childhood again.

Debbie wanted to walk around the Forum Shops in Caesar's Palace, so we all took in the sites. We loved the chocolate shop and I SOOOO wish that I had my camera ready when Ken took a bite of the bacon chocolate!  Totally awesome - he hated the stuff.

This is where Ken lost his mind.  He could not stand the taste of this.  I didn't care for it too much, but everyone else liked it.  We had to take a picture and post to Facebook - especially for Keri Summers!

That night, after we rested from the heat infused walk, we headed to Fremont Street.  We had Bob, our entertaining taxi driver who was also a musical DJ.   We arrived and continued to have a blast.  Ken and I enjoyed playing Black Jack while Debbie and Beverly enjoyed the slots.  Eric, being the every stable guy just watched us have a great time.

The taxi ride

Fremont Street!!!

I spent a lot of time brining up the rear since I had to walk so slow, but it was great!

Ken's silly idea but funny

Me with Eric

Being the great friend that I am, I want to point out that I was taking a TON of pictures for my friend, Martin Hoover.  He was ever so grateful!  You can tell that it was hot!

I was happy to receive my text message from Martin that I was the best big sister in the world for taking the pics and sending them.  HeeHee.

Ken and I had a great time later at McFaddon's Pub in The Rio.  It's our favorite place to hang out and watch people while we drink. Beverly joined us for a while, and we really enjoyed watching the blond chick get escorted by two of her friends.  

The next morning was Debbie's 40th birthday.  The girls spent the day at the spa.  I was not allowed to have the massage, but I got a mani/pedi, and I had a great time entertaining the group and hanging out.  I also learned that not only in Debbie awesome (again evidenced by the fact she's married to one of my best friends), but her sister is totally fun!  Bev and I had a great time hanging out and getting to know each other.  Everyone laughed that I left with the manicurist's phone number for our next visit.  Who could turn down the offer of getting a pedicure and then going out for drinks.  I just love talking to people and having a great time! 

(For anyone who needs to get pampered while in Las Vegas, call Shelly at Euphoria Day Spa in Henderson!!!)

Debbie got her hair and make up done for her birthday, but no one thought to take a picture until the parking garage:

Very lovely!  

Ken and I waiting for everyone for supper

Ken and I headed over to one of the restaurants that Debbie wanted to go to for her birthday, but we did not have reservations.  Not normally an issue - except that it was the weekend.  We found a table at a seafood restaurant.  We had a great time!  Then, we got Debbie to the Voodoo Lounge to enjoy the view of the Strip.

My geekie IT friend making sure the camera is at the right settings.  Of course, I was just as bad with my camera!

Loved the crown and Fabulous 40 accessories!

Here's Beverly!!

Yep, Eric and I were competing for taking pictures.  I look forward to seeing the picture of me!

Here's the whole group!

After three days of partying, we were starting to get tired.  Ken and I headed in for an early night while everyone else kept partying.  

On Sunday, I had the honor of seeing one of my first students, Gaby.  She is living in Vegas, and we always try to get together, but it doesn't usually work out.  I was so very excited to see her again, and to meet her boyfriend, Seth.  I adore Seth and love that he is good to Gaby, and it was awesome to hear all of the things that have gone on for her.  I am no longer going to deny that the majority of my students become my children in my heart, and I always think of them and wonder how they are, and I am so blessed that so many of them keep in touch!

Ken and I had some time before lunch, so I went to Ethel's in the Flamingo for the amazing chocolate, and I splurged on a couple of T-shirts from Margaritaville.  Then, we got our table and waited to see them.

Ken and I waiting at Margaritaville for Gaby and Seth

Gaby and Seth

Almost like a prom picture!  LOL  I couldn't love her more if she were my own!  

Ken and I took it easy on Sunday, but we made sure to get together with Debbie, Eric and Beverly that night.  Ken and I really wanted to stay - as we always do with Vegas, but we knew the Little People would miss us too much.  I also hated saying goodbye to my friends.

This was a great trip for us!  Ken and I are already looking forward to our next Vegas trip in November with the Teaching Crew.  

Totally fabulous and awesome trip!  Thank you, Deb, for inviting us!!!

Vegas Baby!

Ken and I really, really needed some time away from anything that resembled "responsible."  We called The Rio, where we normally stay in Vegas to find out what their rates would be for a mid-week getaway.  I was trying to talk Ken in to going somewhere else for some R & R, but he insisted on finding out what the rate was.  It turned out that Ken made the best call because we got the entire week FREE.  That's right, no money whatsoever for the hotel for 5 days!  So, we decided to go Vegas.


With my brother's wonderful help, Ken and I were able to leave on Monday.  We arrived and discovered that we were to get a "disabled" room which meant no bathrub for me to enjoy, but the size of the suite made up for it!  The entire west wall was a window for us to see the Strip, and the view was gorgeous!


Ken and I enjoyed our "not really an agenda" which was a list of things that we wanted to do or see but it really wasn't important.  We loved every moment of sleeping in, not listening to girls arguing first thing this morning, and having no where to go!  During the week, we accomplished:

• visiting Bass Pro
• going to the top of the Eiffel Tower
• Margaritaville
• The Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay
• Freemont Street experience
• shopping
• gambling
• shopping at Nellis Air Force Base (can't beat some of those prices!)
• Ethel's Chocolates!!!
• sleeping in

Ken won a little bit of money, but I hit it big at O'Sheas on the Strip (OK, "hitting it big means $94) and then I won back all that I lost at the Golden Gate in Downtown Las Vegas.  I love that we both came home with just as much money as we left with.  I managed to enjoy some extra shopping since I had a few extra dollars, but I still didn't spend as much as I had during our previous trip.


I do still owe Ken a large apology - I really thought it would be a great walk from the Paris hotel to Mandalay Bay to see the sharks.  Since it was so huge and visible, I thought it was closer.  Yes, our legs still ache from this experience, and I'm sure I will NOT live it down anytime soon!  


Overall, this was a great way to relax and detox from our hectic schedules.  I really enjoyed having the quiet time with Ken and huge concentrated doses of why I fell in love with him.  He is still the most amazing man ever!