LAS VEGAS

Vegas, baby.

I can now say "Been there.  Done that."  This trip, as mentioned above, was a family trip so that the kids could see the petroglyphs at Red Rock Canyon and I could lose my lunch riding the Stratosphere's rollercoaster and Big Shot!

So we all crammed ourselves into the Fritz Ritz (my sister-in-law's swank mobile home) and, stocked up on snacks and teddy bears, began the long drive to Las Vegas.  Now, when I say long, I am referring to a trip that - with adults - feels like six or so hours.  Now with a handful of children all under the age of twelve, well, time really has no meaning.  And if it did, it would be snail pace slow.  But that's okay, because I was going to Las Vegas and that is just plain cool!

Alas, Ron had to work and so he missed out on the fun.

So we made some pit stops to truck stops, which is always a good time if you like cheap food, strange people, and using washroom facilities standing up.  For you guys, no problem, but for us ladies - quite an experience.  Do germs jump?

We arrived in Las Vegas late at night when it was already dark so we got to see the cooooool Las Vegas strip lights.  I can only imagine their power bill.  I shudder to think!   Bah.  They make money, I'm sure they got it covered.

So Jim and Janet found their mobile home spot and, although it was late, I was across the street at Circus Circus so I hauled Nathan and Danielle off to stand in line and get our suite.  Yes, there was a line at ten o'clock a night.  And the place was HOPPING when we walked in.  Lights going on, people talking, and smoking (cough cough), etc.   It was kind of surreal, actually.  And, I have to say - if I'm being completely honest - a little bit sad, actually.

So finally we get our room and the kids and I trudge upstairs to our room.  I slept in one bed.  The kids in another.  Head touches pillow and we're all out like corpses.

The next few days consisted of wandering around Las Vegas to all of the really fantastic casinos like The Belagio, The MGM Grand, etc.   They put some MONEY into these casinos!   The themes range the gamut!  Egyptian, Venice, Paris, etc.  Truly amazing!  It was like Disneyland for people wanting to give their money away!

They even had a Pirates show right outside!  And the food, don't even get me started.  It's cheap...and it's good. 

Plus we rented a really cool "truck" limousine, which I can't even describe, except to say it was really cool and we loved driving those three blocks.  We also exercised some culture like, as I said, hiking up Red Rock, checking out the petroglyphs, driving to the Hoover Dam and taking a tour.

And on the fun side of things, well...there's always the New York New York for their rollercoaster ride!  (Hey, both me and Grissom have ridden the same rollercoaster!  How cool is that?!)  Danielle suckered me into going on that with her.  So we HAD to do it.  Great fun, actually.  And in the "I Can't Believe I Did This" category is the riding of the rollercoaster and Big Shot atop the Stratosphere.  She talked me into this one, too.   Am I insane?  I very well may be.

Alas, no shows for us.  I really wanted to see the Cirque du Soleil's "O", but the tickets were just way too much money.  Maybe next time.  I did wonder before going to Las Vegas...  If you don't drink, are too cheap to gamble, and aren't really mad on shows...what's there to do?

Answer:  Plenty

Plus now I can add two new states to my "Where Have I Been" list:   Nevada and Arizona  (okay, the Arizona part was only for about 2 hours, but it still counts!)

So the trip home...

Do you ever get where you wanted to go and now you're on your way home and the only thing you want to do more than anything else in the world is get HOME?   So, sure, sitting in a motor home knowing you're on you way is one thing.  You mentally calculate how many hours it'll take, give or take a few pits stops to stretch your legs or stock up on munchies.  And then you think, "Whew...I'm almost there..." and your brother-in-law makes an impromptu pit stop at a mission so the whole family can enjoy the culture.  Now I'm all for culture and, truth be told, the mission was quite interesting but I wanted to go hooooommmmeeeeee (insert whiny voice here).  So the pit stop added about four hours to the trip, but...I did make it home in one piece.

Number of people who married in Vegas: