Vegas Vacation #5

My brother & me excited about Nick & Kevin Jonas' handprints at Planet Hollywood.

Who doesn't like Vegas? I mean, who wouldn't want to keep going back, every single summer? Well, apparently only the Wilson siblings wish to return, year after year, to the same city. Some people don't get it & think we should try new places. Hmm.. Maybe. But why not do what you like? When I get tired of Vegas, then I'll try a new place, right? The plane ride is just long enough (although it could always be shorter, but at 2 hours to get there & 2.5 or whatever to get back...it's what I call 'decent' & "long enough", lol).

The beginning of our trip started out a little shaky for me. Before everyone came over the night before, only my sis & I were here. We ordered a pizza & Mountain Dew. Apparently my wittle body is so sensitive to caffeine if consumed at 7 p.m. I was up ALL NIGHT! I think I slept 2 hours. I had my brother Justin here, his friend Dustin, my sis Kimmie, & Mr. L all staying here the night before. (A big shout out to Mr. L for taking & picking us up from the airport!!).

The morning we are to leave, we have to wake up at 4:40 to get ready to go to the airport. Yuck! We needed to leave a little before 6. Too bad at 5:20 my sis had a seizure in my bathroom! It was only about a minute, but it's so scary to sit & watch it & not be able to do anything to help! (Besides keep her from hurting herself). Then comes the questions of...should we go? should we try to get a later flight? what caused it? will she have another? what if she has one on the plane? Anyway, we did call the airline & there were no seats available for a later flight. After awhile my sis came out of the groggy phase, & we headed to the airport. After checking in & being seated in the waiting area, I was able to put on my make up. I didn't have time because of all the madness of the morning! No big deal. I did that while Justin, Dustin, & Kim went to the McD's in the airport for breakfast. Too bad when they got back & Kim unwrapped her sausage McMuffin, it had a hair stuck on it! Yuck! So she didn't eat that, obviously. Then they start calling for people to board the plane. Wouldn't you know it...my brother lost his boarding pass! He looked everywhere & he & Dustin went to ask a lady at the counter. Kim had the bright idea of search his carry-on bag again (even though he just did that). Yep-she found it, in an outside pocket. So I chased him down to tell him that. We get on the plane & take off. I must say...on a scale of 1-10, my nervous factor was maybe a 4. I think I was just running on adrenaline & hadn't stopped since really, the night before I started drinking Mountain Dew! Once we started descending/landing, I did get more nervous. But it was one of my best flights yet! At baggage claim, we found Aunt Lisa who was rooming with us. We all go to our hotel/casino: Planet Hollywood. We were all so impressed with how cool it was! It's more modern & updated, obviously, since it's a new place. Kim & I ended up taking a nap that afternoon. After that I was as good as new! Then I met up with my parents, who got there that day as well, & Aunt Lisa at the Bellagio. It was truly a Wilson Family Vegas Vacation. So silly was my mom when we were walking through the flower/garden area in Bellagio. They had these streams of water going over a sidewalk thing. You are to walk under the arches of water. Mom just HAD to put her finger through the water to see what would happen, I guess! Of course water splashed everywhere, & when she did it a 2nd time, later on, she got my dad's shirt so wet in the back! lol (look below)



Later that night my sis & I went to the Extra bar in our hotel. We were taking it easy, just hanging out, watching people walk by. Justin & Dustin joined us. After that, I went up to the room & they went out for more gambling, drinking, etc. Yes, I'm old. ;)

Friday afternoon was being a tourist...getting our usual matching "Vegas" picture frames, etc. Aunt Lisa, Kim, & I went to the pool. I told them I wanted to go 2 of the days there to hang out in the Vegas sun while listening to the DJ at the pool. Too bad I put sunscreen on my face & shoulders & back. My legs & stomach got SOOOO burned! So-we never went back for a 2nd day. Oh & by the way-interesting that the pool of Plnt Hllywd is on the 6th floor. Of course the grass area was fake. & there was no shade (maybe the problem for my sunburn??) anywhere.

That night we had tickets for the show Le Reve. It's in the Wynn. It's not an official Cirque show, but is the same thing, with the acrobatics, etc. it was really good! I really liked it a lot, & I think everyone else in the Wilson family did as well. It was all done in the water & the stage would come up out of the water, disappear down in the water so it looked like they were walking on water...they had synchronized swimmers, buff guys throwing the ladies around, etc. I highly recommend it! :)

Then Aunt Lisa, Kim, & I went to the club inside the Wynn: Tryst. It had a really big waterfall off the patio. I finally got the Wilson family to understand that in Vegas you can't just get to the club at the time you want to go in. We got in line 10 mins before they were to open, & there were about 100 people in line ahead of us. After about 50 minutes, we got pulled out of line to go in, because we were girls, not because we had made it to the front of the line. It was a fun, cool club to go to, but of course you know me & being snobby about music...it didn't play what I like to hear, but it was still cool, nonetheless. :)

Planet Hollywood's show they feature is "Peep Show" starring Holly Madison. (She's one of the "Girls Next Door"). Because of this, posters of her are everywhere. We all found out my Dad is quite a fan of Holly! Kim & I figured the only reason he & my mom kept coming to our room was so he could keep looking at the posters of her everywhere, lol! ;) Of course he did mention he wouldn't mind going to that show, haha!!

Saturday while walking down the strip, going towards the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace, a girl accosted me on the street. She wanted my name & cell so she could send me information on getting 'front of the line' passes to the clubs in the Palms. I give her the information. I knew Justin & Dustin would go out with me that night. Sure enough, my "Vegas contact" came through! I didn't make her job easy, either! I text'd her all through the evening - which line to get in, what time should we get there, now I have an extra person going along, etc. She was very nice the whole time & we got there...saw 150 people in line (I did get a bit nervous)...but once it opened, we got right in! We went to the Playboy Club & stayed there awhile. I saw a girl carrying her high heels & wearing flip flops - YES I swear I invented that. When I told her "oh - I do that too!" she gave me a snobby look. WHATEVER JERK I invented that, not you!! :) After awhile at the Playboy Club, we went to Moon (they are connected). We only stayed there awhile b/c I really wanted to go to Rain. DJ AM is there every Sat. night & he plays real "club" music! Too bad when we left Moon to go there, there were TONS of people in line...actually not even a line, just a mob. There was no way we were getting in at that point. CRAP! My feet were killing me (I didn't take my flip flops) so we decided to leave. Aww well, we had fun at the other 2 places, at least!

Sunday my brother decides we need to all go to the famous Las Vegas sign, & we will WALK! So, we take off from Planet Hollywood. We stop for 20 mins at the M&M Store. Then we stop to use the RR at NYNY. Then we keep on walking...& walking...& walking...& make it to Mandalay Bay. Then we walk 20 more mins & the sign is so close. We are walking on the side of the highway, on a dirt path. In 100+ heat. (I'm not complaining..what else would I be doing...but I'm setting the scene for you). As Yong would say "Lord & behold"...I didn't see that a sawed off pipe was sticking out of the ground about 2" & I tripped over it & it knocked my flip flop off. Then my bare foot came straight down on the pipe! I saw I had blood running down my foot & immediately thought "I'm SO GLAD I got that tetanus shot last month!" I dug a tiny Dora the Explorer Band Aid out of my purse & Aunt Lisa put it on the wound. We walked (limped) a little more & decided to stop at a bench for a bus stop to take a better look. My cutie pie lil bro took over, using water from my water bottle to rinse & then put a new Band Aid on (I always carry tons of those in my purse while in Vegas due to walking everywhere in sometimes uncomfy shoes). There were no casinos/buildings around to get any First Aid..at least we thought so at first until reading the writing on the plain brown building DIRECTLY across from where it happened - & it was a fire station! First we went to the LV sign & got our pic made in front of it. Then we walked (hobbled/limped) back to the Fire Station & rang the bell & informed Alex I needed 1st Aid. How exciting - getting rescued by a fireman! Then sadly being the center of attention had to end, & we left. Limping, limping, limping (I could only walk on the side of my foot - this lasted 5 wks, by the way!) back to Mandalay Bay for a drink. My bro said my face was bright red & looked like I was going to pass out from the heat. Probably. I'm kinda wimpy like that, although I WAS a trooper! So we go in MB for water & guacamole for me, drinks for others. We took a cab back to Planet Hollywood thank goodness!



Look how close we were to the sign:


The pic we went to all this trouble for:


& my lovely rescuer:


That night the whole Wilson clan met at Planet Hollywood for dinner at PF Changs & then we split up. My sis & I went to the Heart Bar in Plnt Hlywd for a couple drinks & then back to the room to pack & get ready to leave the next day. I had to buy an Ace Bandage b/c at that point I was still wearing the crazy get-up Alex fixed for me. :) Good thing my sis was a trainer in high school for the football team, she was able to wrap my foot for me! lol

Everyone:


Monday is the sad day - time to go back home (although I did miss my Chloe & Salinas family!). Even flying back was a great experience! My bro & Dustin were hung over & I made those 2 boys sit w/ Kim on one side, then I sat across the aisle from them. I even told Mr. L later that I needed to get on a plane & go somewhere else, & quick, b/c I had 2 great experiences.

So-I'm not even sure how many people read this blog & I went to Vegas almost 2 months ago, but I'm finally finishing this! I'm sure I left out some stuff, but...who cares it should all STAY IN VEGAS ANYWAY! ;)

The Trip Has Been Planned!

Yep-it's that time of year-time to plan for the annual Wilson Sibling Vegas Vacation! The only difference this year is that Aunt Lisa is now joining us! What a fun aunt she is! The Wilson Siblings bonded with her while in Vegas 2 years ago, when we were all there for my sister's wedding. Last summer I wasn't able to go to Vegas b/c I had to go & buy a house. Talk about sacrifices that had to be made! :)

So, the plan is we will be there for July 4 weekend this year! How fun will that be?! This will be my 2nd holiday to be there (I was there for Halloween last October).

I just got off the phone with the ticket office at the Wynn (no silly we aren't staying there, only going to see La Reve). We will be staying at Planet Hollywood & will be there 4 nights.

What is it about Vegas that I love so much? You all know I don't like change & I don't like being out of my comfort zone. All that is true. But I don't know that this really has much to do with the fact I want to continue going to Vegas forever & ever...? I still am sort of touristy about it all (I like getting random pictures made in front of the different buildings, etc.) Scratch that--I like to make my brother pose for crazy pictures! & by "make", I mean I simply say, "Hey Justin, why don't you stand in front that statue & pretend to hug it?" & he says, "ok!" & does it! It's really so easy. I really don't even think alcohol is involved, he just is ok with doing these things.

Back to my infatuation with Vegas. It's not the main reason most people go: gambling. I've never spent more than $30 in gambling in 1 trip. It is just such a waste to me! I'd rather go shopping & have something to show for my money. Of course my mom says it's b/c I haven't ever won. True! Last time my sis & I were in Vegas, we so badly wanted to play roulette but were scared! We weren't sure what to do or say, etc., so we chickened out. My sis & I bought our brother a Craps set for his birthday & he started showing us how to play that. It was really fun, but we were using chips & not my real, hard-earned money! Wow can that game be confusing too-there's so many different ways to bet! Maybe my sis & I will be brave on this trip & try something.

The reason I love Vegas so, has to be b/c of all the excitement in the air. I can stop & have a drink any time I want. I'm not even a big drinker! (Hush all you people that knew me in college & my early 20's-you should see me after having ONE drink now! It's crazy ridiculous how cheap of a date I am!) Everything's always open (I can't even stay up as late or party as hard as my Aunt Lisa!) I guess it just never gets old. Usually by my last day there, I'm ready to come home, but I'd always be ready to go back after going back to 'normal' for awhile! I also love the hot weather without the humidity!

Now let's talk about what I DON'T like about Vegas: FLYING to get there (oh so scary), the sometimes long lines to get into a club, & how expensive those restaurants can be! I never got to experience the 'cheap eating' in Vegas. I think on my blog I wrote after I went for Halloween, I had mentioned that I ate in the food court at MGM & spent maybe $12 (?) for a drink, chili dog, & french fries. Oh well... :)

I haven't posted a blog in awhile, but now I have something exciting to look forward to, so now you know!

PS-on a stress note, the TAKS test is 2.5 weeks away! Yikes!! Stay tuned for that... :(

Halloween Vegas Vacation

My boy, Mr. L, surprised me with a trip to Vegas (my most favorite place in the world!) for Halloween weekend, as a Christmas/birthday gift. I already wrote about the night I was surprised with the trip. I'll just start this blog entry out from the 30th, the day we left.
Thursday
Everyone knows I'm a scaredy-cat. & I'm especially scared of: needles, bugs, public speaking (I know I speak in front of KIDS every day, but adults are different!), & last but not least, flying. So the day before & the morning of my flight I am always a nervous wreck. As I was saying bye to my baby girl Chloe, I kissed her on the head & pet her cutie booty & I got teary leaving her! It was going to be 4 days without her! That, mixed with the fact that I had to get on an airplane for a whopping 2 hours & 30 minutes made me get teary I suppose. Once the cab arrived at my house to pick up Mr. L & me, I was all better. Still nervous but not crying. Then in the cab to the airport, I got teary again! I didn't want Mr. L to see me, & this time the tears actually ran down my cheeks! Yikes! I know he knows I'm a baby but I didn't want him to see this! I finally got myself under control. Whew.

As we are going through the metal detector or whatever, the guy working there kind of got on to Mr. L for walking away as I was using his shoulder to balance myself as I was taking my shoes off. He told Mr. L that "it's on like Donkey Kong" if you don't keep the ladies happy or something like that. It was pretty funny.

We get checked in for our flight, with only a few problems. Not only did Mr. L had to be taken to the side for his bag to be checked, so did I, & AFTER they took the bottle of water out of my purse! Crap. I gave my planned speech of "but I thought I could take the water if it was unopened!" Too bad that isn't true. It was confiscated, as I thought may happen. I was hoping that what I thought was true so I wouldn't have to spend the big bucks buying another one in the airport, but oh well. Then after they take the water, I have to take my carry on off to the side for something suspicious. OH NO! The dreaded toothpaste! It was confiscated as well. CRAP! I look over at Mr. L, feeling so guilty like I did all this on purpose with a plan (whatever, I'm not even thinking straight-I'm about to get on an AIRPLANE!) & see the airport guy taking Mr. L's pocketknife & confiscating that. Way to go!!!

As we are sitting & waiting for the dreaded time to board, I have to use the restroom about 3 times total. Once, as I walked back from going #1, I sat down for about 2 minutes, heard they started to call people to board, & felt the need to go to the RR AGAIN - this time #2! Crap. Literally. Yep, flying scares the crap out of me. (Is this too much information?!). On the flight, taking off, I actually had to feel my pulse. I was thinking "I'm not even nervous!" Of course my pulse was going really fast, but my brain was actually calm. It was really a miracle! I was so impressed. Even upon landing, we were about 20 minutes early & had to sit on the plane about 15 mins. or so & even that didn't freak me out (usually I just need OFF the plane-ASAP-maybe I'm claustrophobic?). I called myself a jetsetter. :)

Once in Vegas we walked around & stayed close by. We were staying in New York New York. That night we got ready & walked across the street to MGM. We had reservations to see KA. We wanted something quick for dinner so we ate at the food court in MGM before the show. I thought I'd even eat something cheap (haha) & got a chili dog, french fries, & a tea. It was bucking $12! Then we were off to see KA. It was GREAT! We both really liked it. Any Cirque show is awesome of course, but I liked KA better than Mystere. The other one I've seen is LOVE & that was amazing. That was probably my favorite & I saw it, not even being a Beatle fan! Anyway-after the show we walked to Luxor & went to the club LAX. So cool that walking through the "casina" part a lady that worked there gave us free entrance passes. Yea! Once inside it was pretty cool. Too bad my one glass of wine was $14! Oh my gosh! There was some guy wearing a gold necklace that we decided was Italian because of that, who was dancing away. He really kept us entertained!

We decided to leave around 12:30. One reason was that at this point, with the time change, we had been awake about 20 hours straight. Probably the main reason was that a live band started playing! Mr. L & I said we were both way too snobby for that! (I, more so than he, but we were pretty even on that, especially when they started playing Dave Matthews music! WTF! My friends who go out with me know that I am picky about the music that is played at bars/clubs. I LOVE house/dance music. I hate hearing music that I can hear on the radio, at these places).

While walking back to NYNY I saw a sign that there was an exhibition of the Titanic at Excalibur. In my tipsy stage I pointed out to Mr. L that we should go see that because it would be "sooo totally awesome!" Well, it is one of my favorite movies so therefore I thought I would like to see it! We never had time to go back & see it, but I really wouldn't have minded seeing it!

Only a few people were dressed in costumes on this night before Halloween. In my tipsy state I felt honored to high-five Jesus on the walk back to the room. :) (I've always thought it inappropriate to dress as Jesus, however).

Friday
The next morning Mr. L & I were watching CNN. Our ears perk up when we hear something about Dallas. Wouldn't you know it...we leave the state & there is an earthquake!!! Can you believe it? I immediately call Meliss & speak to Alvaro & they had no clue about it. Mr. L was so mad & even stated that this is the "worst vacation ever" because he's always wanted to experience an earthquake! Yes, he is weird. He was so mad it was pretty amusing!

I walked downstairs for breakfast. I was going to get us some Krispy Kreme donuts - again, something quick, easy, & cheap, right? Wrong. I got 6 donuts, a water, coffee, & milk & spent $19! Holy crap! Only in Vegas can you hear what I heard the guy behind me in line ordering: "Can I get a dozen donuts, a chocolate milk, & 2 Bud Lite's?" I almost lol. SO GROSS-beer & donuts?! Only in Vegas...

On Halloween night we had bought tickets to get into the Playboy Club, Moon, Rain, & Ghostbar. We get to the Palms about 7:15. We wanted to get there early so we wouldn't have to wait in a crazy long line. Again, we eat in the food court there. We are some of the very few people who are dressed up, so some of the people eating are looking at us, but I'm feeling pretty cute in my sailor outfit, so it's ok. At one point while eating I suddenly smell B.O.! So gross! I had to eat with my hand on my face so I'd smell my hand instead of B.O.! I thought it was the guy sitting at the table behind us. When we finished & were putting our trays up, we walked past the pizza place & it seemed as if the B.O. smell came from there. Weird. & fabulous, since that is what I had for dinner! :( So we go by the Playboy Club entrance & see it's not even open. They told us to come back in 45 minutes. Not one person was in line. We saw a bar where we could sit & have a drink & wait & watch if a line forms. Perfect! On the way I saw the Sunset Tan store. I was excited until I saw the girl working there. She looked so bored. It wasn't the salon, just a place where you could buy the lotions & t-shirts & stuff. They also had a TV playing the actual show. I figure only my sis & I watch this show so we'd be the only ones excited about that. So - while sitting at the bar more & more people show up dressed in costume. We saw some great costumes! A group of girls dressed as Brownies, a bunch of guys dressed as the green army men (I remember my brother used to have these when he was little), Ace Ventura, George Washington.....

So we decide to get in line for the Playboy Club, our first stop. On the way we walk past George Maloof. He looked like he was going to say something to Mr. L but we kept walking. Too bad. I guess that was my only celeb sighting. Well, besides those in my pics, haha.

Once in the Playboy Club we got a chair at the bar, it was not very crowded, but did fill up within 20 minutes or so. It was a cool place. On the wall behind the DJ were digital frames showing different pics of Hugh Hefner & the Girls Next Door & other Playmates. I decided I wanted to get my pics made with some of the "celebs" I saw walking around the club. Too bad I chickened out when I saw 2 KISS guys. Then I never saw them again. I was so mad! I suddenly was so shy & I know I had liquid courage. Oh well. Below are some pics of me with the celebs:






And of course I can't post this without a pic of my captain & me!


Saturday
Our last day in Vegas we walked from NYNY alllll the way to the Wynn. We stopped at the Paris along the way to eat breakfast. Whew - there was almost a fight between Mr. L & me. I guess he forgot how cranky I get when I'm starving & just need to eat instead of walking around, etc. Anyway-once I got food in my tummy it was time to have fun again. We stopped at the Venetian because he'd never been inside there before. Then to the Wynn where we found a great outdoor bar. We had to stop there for a bloody mary. The patio was very small & had a pond with a huge waterfall. There were tall trees to hide the bar from everything "Vegas" around you. It was very relaxing & cool!

Then some shopping & time to get a cab back to NYNY so that we could get ready for my birthday dinner! We had reservations at Mix. It's on the 60-something floor of THEHotel, next to Mandalay Bay. I recommend this restaurant. The service & food were great! Mr. L decided on the steak & potatoes & I got the salmon w/ veggies. We each tried each other's food & I was so glad I got what I did, because mine was so much better! We shared a side of mac & cheese w/ ham slices (mas o menos). Just when I said I couldn't eat any more & no, I did not want dessert, I was talked into it. Mr. L got some frilly crap (mousse? I can't remember) & got the "Mix candy bar". Oh my gosh it was soooo good! I heard the server say something about 'a mix between a Snickers bar, cookie dough, chocolate....' & I probably interrupted her to say "I'll take it!!" It was so great & once again, what I ordered was so much better! :)

Then it was time to go back to NYNY. We needed to pack a little bit since we had to get a cab to the airport at 6:00 a.m. the next morning! Well, we did pack a bit & I said we SHOULD at least go downstairs to ROK, the club inside NYNY. So we walk past it, checking out the people in line & then we hear a dreaded song: something by Kid Rock. Well, I'm very snobby about music being played in a bar & I was thinking 'weird song to play, but ok'. Mr. L must have been snobbier this time b/c he decided he had no desire to go into a place like that. lol. Fine by me - I had to get on a plane the next morning so I needed to get my sleep & rest anyway!

The next morning we actually get through security with no problems at the Vegas airport. On the plane I find out I get a window seat or the seat in the middle. GREAT! :( Suffocation & claustrophobia please don't set in!!! I chose the middle seat. Of course some big guy sat on the other side of me. Mr. L did a terrible job of distracting me at take off - instead he chose to look out the window. So I put on my ipod & listened to Bon Jovi. I blared it. PLEASE JON, DISTRACT ME FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING! I'M IN A BUCKING AIRPLANE TAKING OFF RIGHT NOW! So I catnapped on the flight, for I was very tired. I woke up at one point feeling the guys on either side of me touching my arms. PLEASE PEOPLE GIVE ME ROOM I'M ON AN AIRPLANE! I tried to not freak out. I didn't think the flight would ever end. Finally it's time to land! Apparently this flight had some connecting flights so the flight attendant was giving out the different gates for the different flights. Can you believe that when she mentioned some place in Germany, I actually started crying?! Yes, tears poured out of my eyes! I just imagined myself getting right on another airplane & having to stay on it for that many more hours (I don't know how many more but I know it'd be a lot!). I hear Mr. L telling me it's ok, we are on the ground (YES but still taxiing to the gate & I'm STILL ON AN AIRPLANE!). I finally got control of myself (ok, somewhat) as I'm using my hoodie to wipe my tears away.

So my dear sweet 'ol sister is picking us up from the airport. She had a bit of trouble finding the airport & then getting to the gate on time just a few weeks before, when picking up her husband. So this time she planned better & got there on time. When I called her as we were walking through the tunnel (YES!) & she was so adorable, telling me "I'm here!!! I'm at A-22!!" Oooh Kimmie. I said to her "But we're at gate D12!" She was so proud of herself, being there on time & all. Oh well, by the time I used the rr & we got our luggage, she was at the curb waiting on us!

So-I'm still enjoying being back at home. I'm just not much of a traveller. I'm fine being at home! However I'm still saving for my next Wilson Sibling Vegas Vacation...this summer!

Surprise!

I knew last night Mr. L was going to cook dinner for me. He asked if he could, & who was I to tell him no? :) I knew we were going to have our favorite salmon & potatoes with salad. He wouldn't let me help at all! I sat at the table & would watch & talk to him & would occasionally do some dishes. Well, there were some nice stargazer lilies on the table that he bought...he bought me a bottle of wine that I was sipping on...and the meal was wonderful, of course. After dinner he took off to a back bedroom & told me I couldn't go back there, I could only stay on the couch and...(get this)...WATCH TV. Wow. I will never argue with that! :) Before going back to the bedroom, behind closed doors, he put dessert in the oven, which he told me to not peek on as well. Wow.

If you know me, you know I love desserts. I have a major sweet tooth! Finally the time had come. I had to close my eyes as I walked into the kitchen. Here's the scenario:
*there was a paper table cloth on the table - it had 'casino' & red & black on it with dice & cards & dollar signs
*there was an apple crisp pie sitting in front of my place on the table
*there was a card that said 'to my miss'

So I realize what kind of pie it is & get really excited. He & I went to a restaurant a few weeks ago & I offered to share my dessert with him (an apple crisp) & it was so good I ate it all! He ate the ice cream & didn't get 1 bite of the apple crisp (I did offer him one - 2 times!). :) Then I open my card & see there is a robot on the front. So I start singing "Mr. Roboto" & doing my great robot dance. Then I open the card & sure enough - that is the song that is playing in the card! lol The card is a Happy Birthday card. Interesting, since my birthday is in February. I wasn't sure if he was making up for my last birthday, where we didn't do anything since we were broken up...or it was an early birthday card. Whatever...I was rollin' with it!

Then it was time to open the present. Inside this huge gift bag was a purple box. I open it & see shreds of tissue paper in it. I actually asked him if a kitten was in it! At the bottom of the box is a piece of paper. I thought to myself "aww how sweet! He got me a gift certificate for a massage!" Nope - it was an itinerary from American Airlines - he & I are going to the greatest city in the world....for Halloween! Everyone that knows me knows I love Vegas. & Mr. L's favorite holiday is Halloween. So, we are leaving for Vegas on the 30th of October (Thurs) & will come back on that Sunday. I can't wait! I'm really excited! We are staying at New York, New York (his favorite city in the world, I think!) & are going to see KA that Thurs. night. Friday will be Halloween, so we will find a Halloween party to go to. He's mentioned going to Rain or Ghostbar in the Palms, but that hasn't been decided yet. I guess today he & I will be looking for Halloween costumes! What does one wear to a Halloween party in VEGAS?!?! I can't wait... So...this will be the best birthday and Christmas gift ever!

Vegas Vacation

Isn't there a great movie named this? & isn't it about a kooky family's vacation??? :) Well as you all know my family went to what I think is the greatest city in the world to watch my sister get married. I had tons of fun walking in the hot desert heat with my little bro, hanging out with Yong & my sis at the pool at Treasure Island (where we stayed), & going out at night with everyone. I seriously want to buy a pedometer for when I go next summer b/c I just can't imagine how much I walked while in Vegas! I'm not sure really where to begin on this blog entry, because it seems like so much to type about, yet all the stories blur together & I just don't know where to start.

My brother & I finally made it to Ellis Island, where a cab driver from our last trip there told us to go to get a $6 steak. Well, we got there & we both decided to not even get that! It was a decent meal, just not worth the cab ride. They did have a coupon that says if you play a $5 hand of blackjack & you win, they will give you $10. It was my first time to ever sit at a table & gamble. I was so nervous & tried backing out, but my little bro made me do it. THANKFULLY on my hand, I looked at my bro & he told me to stay with 16 & the dealer ended up busting...so my first experience with that was a good one! :) After that it was time to get back to the strip. There are no cabs in that area, so we walked 3 or 4 blocks down, & then 4 or 5 blocks up just to get back to the strip. Wow! We went through the M&M's store & that was pretty cool. I felt like I could have bought so much stuff there-it was all so cute, & I'm not even a big M&M's fan! Lucky for me the heat had gotten to me so I wasn't much into shopping! (whew!). Then we went to the Coca-Cola store next door.

Don't I look so wittle next to the Coca-Cola bear???

My bro & I treated my mom & dad & got the 4 of us tickets to see Mystere. It was the 2nd Cirque show for my bro & me (we saw Beatles Love last summer & I like it the best) & 1st for my mom & dad. It was really cool. I just can't believe the strength in these people! Before the show started, my mom made for good laughs when she started acting so chiflada when the photographer was taking our pic together as mom/daughter & she turned to look at her friends Mike & Jessica in the row behind us. The photographer thought my mom was turning so her face would be away from the camera & she had to say "Ma'am! You need to FACE the camera!" It was so funny. I ended up buying that $20 picture just for the hilarious memories of that!

Then there was the night of going out with Yong & Stan. Can you imagine my sheer excitement when we went into the Beatles Revolution Lounge in Mirage & they were playing 80's retro music??? You know, the kind from Sunday nights at Mirage or Red Jacket in Dallas from back in the good 'ol college days! I was in heaven! (Especially after that 3rd glass of wine!). If Yong & I weren't dancing, then Stan & I were, then Stan & Yong were. Yong was so hungry & ready to go & I remember pointing at her & telling her "we are NOT leaving yet!". :) I'm a good friend, I know! Yong is an even better one for staying! haha

Here we were posing inside one of the letters of "Revolution" just like the Beatles/English girls do. We're pretty sexy, right?

The night of the bachelorette party was fun as well. Everyone met at the Mexican food place in TI & then went to the bar (Tangerine) after. After about 30 minutes, my dad, Mike, & Scotty had had enough of the dance music & took off. Kim, who at first, was not happy about the tiara/veil I bought for her to wear that night, ended up loving it & all the attention she got from wearing it. Imagine that! ;) Can you believe at first she asked if she could cut the veil off & just wear the tiara?!?! Silly girl.

Here's Kim, mom, & dad at dinner, before going to Tangerine.

The wedding was so cool. My sis was just adorable as she was getting her hair & make up done. I decided last minute to get my hair professionally done. I knew I'd get back up to the room & regret it, b/c my hair would look like it does day in & out...I knew they charged $70 for an updo & I figured that was $20 more than Dallas...& what could I do? Imagine my shock when I had my hair all nice & done & go to pay & they tell me it is NINETY dollars?!?! Wowzie! She told me "the prices start at $70". Oh. If only I had known that. Oh well. I got lots of compliments on my hair & it was exactly how I wanted it, so it was ok. My sis was just beautiful during the ceremony. She & Scotty make a great couple, if I do say so myself! The reception was at The Steak House inside TI & I swear it had to be one of the best meals ever! My CRAZY Aunt Lisa & I shared a filet & salmon. Wow. That, along with the salad & veggies...YUM! Next summer when I go back to Vegas I wouldn't mind going there for a meal again! So the Vegas Vacation came to an end last Sunday as Mom, Dad, Kim, Scotty, Justin, & I flew back to D/FW. Too bad I missed out when my mom had issues with a revolving door. Too bad I missed out when the escalator stopped suddenly & the Wilson family (minus Justin & me) + Scotty tripped & almost lost their balance (wouldn't luck have it that it stops as you are about to step OFF the thing?!). That would have made for a great action shot on the camera!

As you can imagine, it was a great family vacation & a great trip to Vegas. My mom & dad have made a pact with their friends to go there every summer, just as my brother, sister, & I have made a pact to go every summer as well.

School starts so soon...so be on the lookout for crazy stories on that! Until then, I plan to sleep in & relax!