Forty-Eight Hours in Vegas
An Outline
A. Why Vegas? Why Now?
1. My good friend, Shane, turned 40 on Christmas Day. Because we were too busy opening Hex Bugs on THAT day to celebrate in Vegas with her, we went this weekend. We met her and her husband, Mat, there for a fun weekend of spa treatments, a show, delicious food, and a relaxing hotel.
2. For M and I, Vegas is a great parent destination. The city is visitor-friendly, there’s lots of entertainment and great restaurants, and it’s a place we’d never bring our kids. If we’re going on a trip without them, I like to go someplace where I won’t listen to everyone ELSE’s kids whine over dinner.
3. After a busy year, it’s nice to relax with M, look him in the eye and say, “Good job on managing the chaos this year. You up for another year of craziness?” In other words, it’s nice to have fun and conversations without four sets of ears glued to everything we say.
B. In the City that Never Sleeps (Or What Didn’t Go So Well)
1. Like those people who blow thousands of dollars at the craps table and forget to go to bed, I also didn’t sleep much in Vegas. BUT for entirely different reasons. Apparently I’m so old that the super-comfy bed at Vdara wasn’t Temperpedic enough for my back. Or, in other words, I’m old.
2. Shocking, I know, but we did not win thousands of dollars in Vegas. Our supersecret plan of having our kids on the 23 or 29 and playing those numbers in roulette did not work. Live and learn.
3. Good news! The drop in air pressure did actually help my ear. Unfortunately, sitting smushed between two overweight men on the flight didn’t do wonders for my back. Memo to future Tina: check in earlier for your flight so you can sit by your husband and your back is old.
C. What Happens in Vegas (Or What Did Go Well)
1. We loved the new hotel, Vdara. And I adored the Spa at Vdara. So nice. My facialist even complimented my skin, which was so nice since a) my skin isn’t really that great b) telling me my skin was fine was so much better than telling me I needed to buy the $400 moisturizer she was using on it. Because, who buys that? Seriously, it was $400 for two ounces.
2. Vegas did not disappoint. Every single restaurant we tried was delicious. The whole tourism industry was so friendly and helpful. Even though Shane doesn’t gamble and I don’t drink, our group still had lots of fun. As always, the people-watching was spectacular. Oh, to be twenty-five again and run around Vegas with fifteen of our friends, all in your Bachelorette sashes and crowns.
3. This trip was a nice reminder for M and I that we’re more than parents. As we pulled back into our house, where the kids were anxiously waiting for us, I felt energized, connected to my husband, and thankful for our lives. And already looking forward to our next trip.
