Wow, has it really been 11 days???
Yikes. Sorry about that, folks.
I assure you we didn’t slip into the depths of the Hoover Dam. (Though we did get pretty woozy on our “dam tour”. Whooo, is it dizzying for two admitted acrophobics. We were so brave!)
No. My absence can be blamed more on not only BEING on vacation, but also on squeezing every last moment out of our time together (partly child-free) upon our return.
That, and sheer exhaustion. *yawn*
We really did have an all in all fabulous trip to Vegas. The whole experience was partly what I had expected, partly not. Everything was very glittery and glamorous. Yet, it was clear to see why the place has been dubbed “Sin City”. Yikes.
The vacation as a whole? Can best be described as a roller coaster ride. It had its ups and downs. It had scary twists and turns. As well as unexpected dips and drops. Yet, it was entirely thrilling, and left me with a big smile on my face and unkempt hair.
We were really lucky our first night (morning) in.
First pull on the quarter slot machine? $120. Woo hoo!
Second machine? $45. We were on a ROLL! The winnings continued throughout the morning.
Then, hot and tired, we decided to cool down with a swim. Afterwards, we showered, and apparently with the dust and grime, we had washed away our good fortune.
The generous, loose slots of the morning? Now hungry and greedy – feeding upon our prior winnings.
Aw.
And so it went. Win, lose, win, lose, win a LOT, lose a lot.
But, we did a lot of really neat things along the way.
We walked and walked and walked and walked – my feet will never be the same the infamous strip – taking in all the grand sights, sounds, and even smells. (And this whole time I thought that acrid, floral smell in the deserts dome at the zoo was fake. Nope. It’s how the desert really smells. Who knew?)
We played Blackjack at virtually every casino. A personal quest of my husband’s. Check!
We toured the surrounding sights – Hoover Dam!
We donned our dress up clothes one evening for a fancy night on the town.
And all the while we were annoying tourists snapping a bajillion and one pictures lest our memories evaporate with the scorching desert heat.
We even had our “thing that stays in Vegas” moment. It won’t be discussed here, obviously, since it’s still, you know….in VEGAS. Let’s just say that mixing a very tired, uncomfortable Mandy with a very eager beaver, “the night’s still young, what’s your problem?” husband – miles away from our hotel at 3 am – VEGAS TIME – is not a good combo. ahem
Our last night there ended on a good note, though, as we won back the majority of our lost/spent money at the Blackjack tables of the Paris casino. Our dealer couldn’t have been more fun, either. A truly great ending to our teeter totter of a vacation.
The luck ended there.
Coming home after vacation is always suck-a-licious. I mean, really.
Back to life, back to reality was our theme song for hours days after returning home.
Bite me, reality.
In the middle of load two of thirtyfivebajillion, our washer decided to conk out.
Clothes? Who needs clothes?
Our dryer has been on the fritz for months, and this just confirmed the notion that we needed a new set ASAP.
So, a-shopping we went yesterday. A-same-day-delivery-fee’ing we went. A-let’s-get-this-bad-boy-going-since-I-need-clothes-for-this-long-week we went.
A-leaking-all-over-the-thank-God-you-got-a-new-one-drip-pan-the-new washer went.
Grrrrrrrr.
It’s not all bad, though. We were blessed with a sweet salesman, and he is taking care of us by having another new set delivered and installed tomorrow. Whew!
Then last night? As I was mowing my very. last. littleteenytinypatch of grass by twilight since we had spent so much $&*# time dealing with the washer, the mower ran out of gas.
Grrrrrr.
In my haste to fill the tank, I grabbed the wrong can of gas from the garage.
(In my defense, both cans are marked “gasoline”, so yell at me all you want, dear, but I don’t think I can really be blamed.)
I poured the oil/gas mix (for the weedeater) into the lawn mower’s tank. *sigh*
Aaaaaaand, lady luck is just laughing her ass off.
Welcome!
slots - whee!!
Caesar's Palace
Looking at the Luxor - Everything's so HUGE!
Scenic overlook - on the way to Hoover Dam
GULP! Looking down from the dam
Snake on the Strip....whaaaa????
When Lady Luck Smiles
Last day - in front of The Bellagio - waiting for the fountains (my favorite thing)
Bird's eye view - see ya next time!!!
