What Happens In Vegas....

Does NOT stay in Vegas!

You know how when you go to Vegas you are supposed to use a fake name because anything goes and you can do stuff there and get away with it and no one will ever know because what happens there stays there? I decided that my Vegas name was going to be Ivana Lottamonee! But I didn't have a name for iKeith until.....Friday morning!

Keith had been on a business trip all last week and he had to go to the doctor Friday morning because he had a Urinary Track Infection and his shoulder was sore. It seems that we were not going to be able to *connect* quite the way I wanted to and he couldn't move his arm very well....so I named him BOB DOLE! It turned out to be a funny running joke as he would talk about Bob Dole in the 3rd person!

We arrived at New York New York in the early afternoon started exploring right away....fried clams, some wine at Gallager's, a yummy chocolate dessert and then some awesome Chinese food at Chin Chin!

Our waiter used to live near Ogden so we discussed Utah with him a little and he told us a funny story about walking from downtown to Clearfield.

We were going to go to The Times Square Bar but we decided at the last minute to check out the other hotels a few blocks down. I didn't change my shoes and I would live to regret that decision!

Keith explained the game of roulette to me but we didn't place any bets. He believes that gambling would be wasting his luck....


Here is where our evening took a turn for the worse. We were accosted by a man that promised us tickets to Lance Burton~ Master Magician for the low low price of $10. We just had to go tour a time share. We had apparently had a enough to drink to impair our judgement because next thing I know we are giving the guy $40! (they give you $30 back when you show up)


In the morning, we joined 15 other couples in the lobby and headed out in the rain to Tahiti Village! A feeling of dread filling me as we drove 2 miles down the strip, windows fogged up so that we couldn't see where we were going. Keith joked with the other couples that we would be split up and made to think the our spouse was eager to buy, playing us against each other. I started to panic!

We were herded into a little room, given horrible coffee and pastries then forced to view a short movie showing all of the old Vegas hotels being blown up and replaced with grand, expensive hotels/casinos. Then this old Vegas weather man got up and gave us a pep talk.

Our tour guide was from a foreign country and was soft spoken so I really couldn't hear a word she said when the presentation was over and 30 people were all talking at the same time in this little room. We kept telling her that we would never come to Vegas every year because we don't have a gambling probelm...we have a drinking problem and we can drink anywhere! We toured a sample condo and then she started give us the numbers. Before she could get too far, Keith explained to her that we were not buying and just wanted our free tickets. She got a little snotty with us and then called her snotty manager over. Once we convinced them we meant business they let us go and we boarded the bus, driven by a crotchety old man who ignored us as we took our seats. Once we started down the road we all started discussing our experiences. One couple got them down to $159 but another only got to $220 and we found out the term was 96 MONTHS. At this point...the driver starts talking really loudly over the intercom, describing different hotels like he was suddenly a freakin tour guide or something! He was just trying to prevent us from talking to each other!

We spent the rest of our afternoon having lunch at Sushi Roku at the Forum Shops in Ceasar's Palace and then walked over to The Paris and had a super yummy dessert! It rained all day...so we were sopping wet and kept stepping in puddles. What you should know about this is that every. single. time. Keith takes me on vacation.....It rains.

• When we were first married he flew me out to his fishing trip in Milwaukee. RAIN and Wind.
• We went on our honeymoon to Disney World. Rain and record cold temps.
• New York City for Calvin's West Point reunion. Record rainfall and flooding.

Keith says our vacationing days are over....as long has this little cloud is following me around!

Lance Burton...Master Magician was AWESOME! Not only is he nice to look at, but his tricks are impressive and he is funny too! We enjoyed the show so much that I wouldn't mind seeing it again sometime.

boobies....

We also had tickets for another show that we had purchased before we arrived in Vegas but my feet were so swollen from all of the walking that I could possible make it there. So we went back to our hotel and had a couple drinks. I had my very first shot of Jagermister and thought about getting a tattoo...but I got a footlong instead! For the record...I do not recommend eating a hotdog right before you go to bed. BAD IDEA!

Sunday morning, I went out into the food court area of the hotel and had a little alone time with a Venti White Chocolate Latte and a couple Krispy Kreme donuts. Apparently Vegas does sleep between the hours of 6am and 9am because there wasn't a soul around. I had an overwhelming feeling that I was going to see someone I knew, so all day I kept scanning every face to see if they were familiar.

Keith and I decided to cancel our reservation at The Sterling Brunch and check out the Luxor instead. We were so glad we did! We had the most amazing lunch at Tacos & Tequila. They were having 2 for 1 Margaritas and the Crab Tostadas were so fabulous!

And then it was time to head back to the hotel, collect our luggage and head for the airport. We sat down at our gate and I looked across the isle to the slot machines and my heart stopped. There sat my EX HUSBAND! The one that caused me so much pain and agony! I had not seen him in eight years and there he was! Years before...I tried to find him because the IRS was trying to stick me with his bill and he had dropped off the face of the earth. He kept staring, trying to figure out if it was really me...I look so much different now! I didn't approach him because I have nothing left to say to that man. My life is so different and so amazing now and seeing him just brought back so many old painful feelings. In fact, if I never saw him again...I would be a happy woman. I know that old friends have told him that I have children and my husband has an important job so I was pleased that he got to see me with my awesome husband. Is that bad of me?

All in all, blisters and everything, we had a wonderful time! It was so nice to spend some quality time with my husband and we talked each other's ears off! We ate so much wonderful food and just got to be a couple. I've missed Keith but we also missed the kids terribly and couldn't wait to return to our family!

Robert and Mary took great care of the kids and Alex and Mallory are missing them today.