Las Vegas

I got home yesterday afternoon and hit the ground running! Life is back to normal with kid pick ups and T-ball practices. I collapsed on the couch last night after a very long day!

Like I said yesterday, this was definitely my favorite trip to Vegas. It seems to be becoming a hipper place and many swanky restaurants and shops are now there. I didn't notice quite as much seediness as in trips past. That isn't saying much--the town seems obsessed with the female anatomy, but I didn't feel like I was walking the streets of Sodom and Gomorrah like I have in years past!

Bryon picked me up at the airport on Saturday. He actually went on Thursday because his favorite group, Train, was playing in concert. When we got back to our room, Bryon had scheduled a manicure for me. This was much needed after my hours of gardening earlier in the week!

After this, we went to dinner at Bouchon. I have the cookbook for this restaurant and was eager to try the food. It was great and I even tried marinated olives! For someone who loves cooking and eating as much as I do, I am an extremely picky eater. One of my resolutions this year was that I was going to try and enjoy different foods. I had never tasted an olive in my life. These were great! Oddly enough, they tasted like olive oil which I could drink by the glass. Ha!

Off to see Barry. Wrote about that yesterday. Fabulous. In the gift shop, they had a black shirt with simple white letters asking the question, "Ever wonder why your parents named you Mandy?" How many people our age could wear that shirt!!

The line to catch a cab back to the hotel wrapped around the corner so we decided to walk back to our hotel. In "French Women Don't Get Fat style", I thought, "Why wait in line for an hour to catch a cab when we can walk back to our hotel in an hour while wearing 3 inch heels?" OK, so I didn't think that last part through, but I am still glad we did. Bryon and I had fun making fun of all the freaky people walking the Las Vegas strip on Saturday night. I am sure they were all making fun of Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver as well! ;)

Sunday was shopping day. I was completely content to sit in our hotel room gazing at the snowcapped Sierra Nevadas while drinking coffee. Bryon was itching to take me shopping. I am pretty sure we have switched bodies!

Every year, B has lots of luck at the sports book and I helped him pick lots of winners this trip. He was going to place a bet on UCLA. I told him to put it on Florida. Ca Ching!! Usually he brings his winnings home and buys me a gift for watching the kids by myself all week. This trip, he wanted to get me new clothes and eat at great restaraunts while we were out there. We had lots of fun shopping and just walking around being a couple. We even saw Pete Rose signing autographs. Great memories!

Saturday night, we ate at Drai's. Kristen recommended it. Bryon had eaten there twice with friends but I had never gone. It was one of my all time favorite meals. I just kept laughing at each bite because it was so good! Thanks, Kristen!

After dinner, I was exhausted from lots of walking and a great meal. I decided to read in bed and Bryon wanted to go downstairs to see the opening of the new poker room at the Venetian. If only I hadn't been so tired! Apparently, stars were everywhere. Alex from Grey's Anatomy, Drew Barrymore, and Heather Locklear. Of course, I asked Bryon why he didn't wake me up!!!! He said I looked so tired that he didn't want to bother me. ARRRGGGGHHHHH!

Monday, Bryon started his conference. I kissed him goodbye and hurriedly walked back to my room. I had just started the book, The Lovely Bones, and I was anxious to start reading. Other than going out for lunch with B, I spent most of the day reading the book. I highly recommend it. It has a devastating premise, but it is a page turner. I read almost the entire book on Monday and finished it on the plane.

Dinner that night was at Michael Mina, another Kristen recommendation. Since I picked Florida to win, we decided to go all out and order the tasters menu which was a 5 course meal of the things they are known for. Another menu full of things I had never tried before. Bring it on! Over the course of the meal, I tried tuna tartare (raw tuna), sushi, cavier, truffles, and foie gras. I enjoyed all but the foie gras-all the rage in fine restaurants. Seriously, how can someone enjoy devouring fatty duck and geese liver? By the end of the meal, I started feeling like a contestant on Fear Factor when they are trying so hard to keep stange food in their stomach. My only thought was that I can't throw up the most expensive meal I have ever eaten! Fortunately, I did not, but was so full that I couldn't enjoy the dessert that Bryon assured me was fabulous.

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped and watched the water show at the Bellagio. This was featured in the movie Ocean's 11. It was beautiful. We stayed to watch two of them.

And then it was time to get ready to come home. Three days seems like a great amount of time away. I was ready to see the kids, but not desperate to see them like I was when we were gone for a week. Bryon and I had a wonderful time reconnecting without the every day busyness putting demands on our time. All in all, a successful trip!

Today will be a day to play with the kids and unpack. Looking forward to the slowpaced day.