Viva Las Vegas, Part I

Yes, I actually heard this song in Vegas - how appropro I thought as I walked towards the dancing waters of the Bellagio Resort and Casino - Elvis sang me over the pedistrian bridge while the mist of the water cooled the stiff, hot night air.

One of my resolutions for the year 2007 was to go to Vegas for my 40th birthday. My new BFF Tiffany helped to not only make this a reality, but a great trip. We didn't get wild. We didn't dance on any tables. However, two moms disappeared in the desert for a few days, emerged on the strip and stayed up all night and slept all day. We didn't have to cook dinner (we only ate two meals while we were out there), wash clothes and didn't have to take care of anyone but ourselves. It was a great escape with a great friend and a great way to celebrate turning 40.

Our trip began with teary daughters not wanting to send their moms off without them - it tugged at both of our hearts and for me, it was especially hard - I had never left my daughter to go on a trip - for me - without her. Heartstrings were taut with guilt and having to let go a little. But we put on our shades and drove towards BNA.

The plane ride was LONNGGG but we met Vicky from Virginia - who spilled Jack Daniels on her jeans three rows back - and we heard about it all across the Midwest skies. Her husband was "invited" to a poker tournament in Vegas - he was a "professional poker player" (aren't they all) while Vicky supports them working in the E.R. at a Richmond hospital. She found out 1) it was my birthday and 2) I was the only other person drinking on the way to McCarran and then 3) a Crown and Coke arrived courtesy of the poker playing house-husband. When I looked back to thank them - they were making out - Grosser than Gross! We promised we would look her up at Harrah's (yeah right) and glimpsed the lights from the Las Vegas strip from our window to the world on the plane.

The first thing we saw after we hopped off the plane were slot machines in the gate area of the airport. It was a surreal experience. The luggage area was a trip - the huge ads for the Aussie "Thunder From Down Under" greeted us not to be confused with the Outback Steakhouse dessert of the same name (except it's chocolate-enough said!)... .

I loved seeing all the cheetah spotted luggage on the baggage conveyors and the collectors of said luggage who thought they were true pussycat dolls. At another row a California surfer dude was picking up the bright red "American Tourister" suitcase he must have borrowed from his grandmother. It was 11:00 when we landed and baggage claim was as happening as any casino on the strip for a Wednesday night...