What Happens in Vegas...

I have been to Sin City\The City of Lights twice. I had what I consider to be a really good time and a fabulous time.

In 2002, The Big B and I went for a girl’s only vacation. It was my first time, her third or fourth. Her mission was to show me the town and that’s precisely what we did for three nights and four days. We walked and walked and walked and walked and walked until my feet were literally about to crumble from my ankles. I would often say, “Hey Bren, let’s stop and have a beer” to “We don’t have time, the free pirate show starts in twenty-three minutes and we have to walk 1.2 miles to get there.” We figured on the way home that we had slept something like 15 hours in four days. A good time, but exhausting.

Last year, Jeff and I went with Steph and Brian for my kid sister’s 21st birthday. Since I had been shown most of the “sites” in my last whirlwind tour the pressure was off. It was much more casual and fun. Dancing, a bit more gambling, drinking, lounge acts, sex (I was with my husband this time after all), food, sleep…whatever we felt like doing, we did. No agenda, no itinerary...just fun, fun, fun.

This coming September we have a trip planned with our dear friends Dan and Jenny to celebrate their 10th anniversary with a vow renewal Vegas style. Jeff and I were a bit nervous about going at first, as we are the only couple not bringing their child, or children in our case. Rather than stay in a hotel/casino, Dan and Jenny are renting a gorgeous five bedroom house complete with entertainment room and private pool/spa. Bedrooms were first come/first serve. Jeff and I went back and forth for days. Do we want to stay in a house with kids and grandparents (babysitters)? Here was our train of thought that led us to a decision:

• Money: We looked into a room on the strip and leaving on Sunday to save a night. It was still going to cost close to $300 more (on the Strip), and the flight out on Sunday is at 6am; we would lose all day Sunday. Staying less time and paying more money? That makes no sense.
• Pool: I am a “hang out at the pool and drink a Pina Colada” gal. The hotel pools are crowded with strangers and stinky. I'm sure Jeff and I would go to the private pool at the house to hang with our friends anyway. Why are we staying at a hotel again?
• Kids: There are kids everywhere in the hotels, so why are kids at the house bugging me so much? In a hotel you basically get a bedroom with an attached bath, same the house. In a hotel you may have kids on the other side of the wall, same as the house. Is it guilt for not bringing my own kids when my friends are? I got over it. Still not taking my children.
• Drunkenness and Getting Our Groove On: It is a given that both of these things will happen, the latter hopefully in the privacy of our room. I kept thinking if I stay at a house with kids and Jenny’s parents I can’t jump in the pool naked at midnight if I want to. Well I’m stupid…I can’t jump in the pool naked at a hotel either, without the risk of jail time. So what’s the big deal?
• Sleeping: Jeff and I will be out late and I was afraid if we were at the house, sleeping would be interrupted by kids who won’t be sleeping til noon. Who am I kidding? Sleeping in for me is like 8:30 a.m. no matter how late I am up.
• Food and Drink: I’m frugal (a.k.a. cheap). I can bring a big bottle of booze and Pina Colada mix with me; we can go to the store to buy food. We wouldn’t have to eat out EVERY meal. Restaurants quickly bore me and meals in Vegas are not as cheap as they used to be, you can’t find $5.95 prime rib dinners any more.

Yes, we decided to stay at the house with our friends, their children and parents. Will we have crazy fun? Will TaterTot drink too much? Will we have hot monkey sex? Will we have cocktails in the pool before noon? Will we stay out all night? Most likely answer to these questions and more is a yes.

So please dear friends, feel free to remind me I am in the presence of children if needed.

And, feel free to jump in the pool naked with us when they are sleeping.