How much of a Geek are you?  Bentley?  Oooops!  Did I just call you out?

I'm home, for now

Well, I got home.  I arrived in my much-missed home at 1:30 on Thursday morning.  I got to bed a bit before 2:30, and still made it to work on Thursday...but I was almost 2 hours late...with approval.  Vegas was fun, but so damn tiring.  I walked and stood more than I've ever done in my life.  My legs hurt, my feet hurt (I don't usually wear "girl" shoes") and my back hurt.  I'm better now, thankyouverymuch.

Thursday night, I went to bed fairly early, and felt much better today.  My legs and feet are almost back to normal.  No, I didn't win.  Yes, I lost money.  Thank God it wasn't much, since I only play penny slots.  I saw some of the most awesome customers that I have.  It was great.  I ate expensive food that was only slightly better than the cheap stuff I usually eat, drank a beer or two on their dime, and saw some neat stuff.  I got home on time, and my kids were well cared for.  I call that a successful trip.

A week from next Wednesday, I have a two-day trip to Illinois, and the following weekend I will be in Detroit.  Kevin will be with me for that one, so it's gonna be a lot of fun, aside from the work part.  LOL

Tomorrow is Birthday Bash, and I'm so excited I could pee on myself.  Kevin and I will leave in plenty of time to be there when the doors open.  I had tickets to both nights, but gave away my tickets for tonight, since I haven't seen much of my family this week.  I won the tickets, so I'm not out anything, and the girl I gave them to at work is SO excited.  I hope she has a good time.

I've gotten through all the email that had accumulated while I was gone, and now it's time to check in on journals.  See ya!

No pictures? What? But she promised!

OK, here's the deal...in case you don't know...casinos frown on photography.  Yeah, this is a photographers convention, and there are cameras everywhere, but we must "respect the privacy of other clients" and not take pictures.  *sigh*  I like pictures.

I was almost in bed once.  Now I'm up.  It's after 1 local time.  At home, it's 3.  I'm hosed, but I can't sleep.  I am listening to my station, via internet, and it's the first time I've heard real music since my drive to the airport on Sunday morning.  I love real music,

Grammy will head home this morning.  I hate that I didn't see her more.  I love you, Linda.  Thanks for the help.  I'll  be home around 2 in the morning Wed night/Thurs morning.  I'll get up 6ish and be super Mom and go to work after dropping the girls off at school.  Yeah.  Super Mom.  That's me.  Uh Huh.  Whatever.

I'm bitchy, but it's all good.  I'm just tired.  I'm averaging 3-5 hours of sleep each night, and I usually get 7-8.  I don't mean to be grumpy.  I have pictures.  Tomorrow is a wash, but Thursday night, I'll have pictures.  No pictures of the casino, of course.  That would be in bad taste!  I don't want them to take my camera.  Kevin is one lost camera short of a divorce.  I want to stay married.

Anyone want to go to Birthday Bash with me on Friday night?

Vegas, day two

No pictures, today.  I'll do better tomorrow.

I woke up at 5 to call the family.  It was 7 at home, so I talked to the girls, then called Kevin, who was already at work.  I couldn't go back to sleep afterwards, so I got up and showered.  By 6:30, I was in the casino, playing like a high-roller.  Yup.  That's right.  I went through dang near $3.50 on the penny slots!

After coming back and posting on here, we went to breakfast, then to finish getting the booth ready.  We worked the booth from 11-4:30, and we were quite busy...that's a good thing.  We grabbed the first seat we found (our feet were screaming) and had a drink, then went to meet some customers for dinner.  That was fun, and we were sitting, and we were eating.  All things I love.

After dinner, we went to watch a "shoot out", where 4 well-know photographers in 4 corners of a large room, teach lighting, shooting, posing, etc. to other photographers.  It was fun, but standing again, from 9-11.  After that, we hit the penny slots again (sorry honey, that's another $3.75 gone.) and retired for the evening.

Now, it's 12:15 and I've caught my third or fourth wind.  I can't afford not to sleep, though, so I'm going to give it my best shot.

Vegas, day one

Well, it's almost time to head to breakfast, so I'll keep this as short as possible.

Saturday night, the neighbors kept us up most of the night.  I probably got 3 hours of sleep, if you add it all together.  Our flight was fine, and uneventful, but when we landed, I was getting grumpy, having been up since 3:15.

Long, long line waiting for a cab, then we arrived, dropped off our luggage in our rooms, and went to lunch.  It took forever to get in, then to get served, and I felt almost sick by the time the food got to us.  A couple of diet cokes and some nourishment, and I was much better.

We set up the booth, then came to our rooms to freshen up.  Michelle and I had a beer, then set out to walk the strip for a while.  The M&M store is awesome!    We saw a ton of stuff, and I took about 90 pictures.  Back here at the hotel, we met back up with the rest of our group and went to dinner.  After dinner, Michelle and I went to walk some more.

The fountain show at the Bellagio is pretty amazing, but it's one of those things that can't be shown in pictures.  We walked until my feet were screaming at me, then headed back, having seen even more cool stuff.

I threw $5 down a penny slot machine, then came upstairs.  It was 11:30, and the internet wasn't playing nice.  For the $12 a night this place gets for internet, you'd think a genie would pop out of the wall and install it for you!  I went to bed at 11:45, having given up on making an entry.  At 5, I woke up and called Kevin, then the kids, to say good morning.  It was 7 at home.  I tried to lay back down, but it wasn't gonna happen, so I showered and got up.

Now, I'm heading to breakfast, then to work.  This will be a LONG day, without much free time, but yesterday made it worth it!  I don't think I'd ever want to come here on my own dime, since everything is so expensive, but it's neat to see it, anyway.

This place has gone to the dogs!

Well, I'm all packed, and almost ready to go.  I didn't sleep worth a damn, due to partying neighbors (there are advantages and disadvantages to sleeping with the windows open.)  Also, the new addition wasn't sure what to do with every little noise in a strange house, so she decided getting up, sniffing around, and barking was the appropriate action.  Lucy, always the follower, joined in.  I finally gave up and got out of bed at 3:15.

Molly is another rescue dog.  She's a loving little Beagle that desperately needs a bath, and will get one today.  She has established her dominance over Lucy, and Hawkeye has let her know that he is ultimately in charge.  It's been pretty peaceful, but if Molly gets too aggressive with Lucy, Hawkeye comes to her rescue.  It's pretty funny seeing the old hairball get excited about something. 

After Natalie was born, making a total of 4 kids in our combined family, I looked Kevin in the eye and said, "We're done.  That's enough.  No more."  Yesterday, after he brought Molly home, we had the same talk.  Now I'm followed from room to room by 12 legs, 2 1/2 tails, 3 sets of jingling tags, and 1/3 more hair!  She's quickly winning us all over, though, so it's OK.

I'll head out toward the airport around 6 this morning.  Grammy got here yesterday afternoon, and Natalie seems to be taking this better than she's handled any of my trips so far.  She's growing up, and realizing that I *do* come home when it's done.  This is going to be a very busy trip, but I'm excited to see Vegas for the first time.  So much to see.  I'll be posting every evening, if at all possible.  I'll be home late Wednesday night (early Thursday, actually) and return to work on Thursday morning.  I have a concert to attend both Friday and Saturday nights, so it's gonna be a crazy week.

Take care of yourselves, and have a great Sunday.  I'll see ya later, from Sin City.

Feeling my age

Yeah, I'm listening to Kid Rock.  Maybe I'm trying to hang on to my youth.  Yup, I'm definitely trying to hang on to my youth.  I've read many disturbing posts tonight, my mom's included.  I'm going to spend tonight in my 20's.  My parents are invincible, and nothing bad can happen.

Mom was NOT dumped on her arse by an arrogant Arabian horse, causing permanent bruises.  Dad did NOT almost die, needing immediate open-heart surgery.  Kevin did NOT get diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  Natalie did NOT break her elbow in 4 places, causing "gun stock deformity."

Monica didn't need glasses before her third birthday.  Brett did NOT get a job and blow off school.  My wonderful brother-in-law did NOT die fighting a fire.  Life is good, my babies are young, and my parents are invincible.

I'm newly married and life is good.  Mom's not sure what to make of Kevin, but he'll win them over.  Grammy isn't sure what to make of me, but I'll win her over.  Life is good.  Kid Rock is singing some nonsense, and it's fine.  I'm in my 20's and nothing is wrong.  Yeah, let's go back there, shall we?