Walking With Nora

26 bloggers who traveled to Vegas for the first of many trips
48 hours in Vegas
6 hours I spent poolside
5 miles walked up and down the Vegas strip
7 casinos & hotels visited (Luxor, The Excalibur, New York, New York, The Bellagio, The Venetian, Caeser’s Palace, MGM Grand)
2 $5 wine glasses I enjoyed at the Venetian Happy Hour
9 dollars I spent (and lost) on gambling all weekend
4, the average number of hours slept per night while in Vegas
2 brave fiances/husbands who came on the trip
3 trips made to Starbucks
18 new blogs/twitter accounts and friends I have as a result of the trip
40 times people tried to hand us call-girl business cards
11 dollars, the cost of the Lemon Drop shot that pushed me over the edge on Saturday evening
2 trips made to the buffet line on Friday evening
50 text messages sent and received to bloggers in Vegas
1 fire hydrant that we almost ran into while walking
26 promises to meet-up, stay in touch and see each other again… SOON!

A few months into my relationship with Irish, he suggested we (I) get Jack a dog bed.

I was nervous as to how Jack would take to the bed considering I had spoiled him as a pup: comfy blankets and towels in his crates; sleeping next to me on my bed starting at age two until, well about a year ago. 

Knowing Jack’s propensity to tear apart things that are fluffy I thought surely I’d come home one day to see a massacred dog bed in my living room.

Maybe it’s because I took Jack with me to PetSmart to choose his own bed.
Or maybe it’s because I coaxed him into the first night with a few treats.
But ever since I brought that bed home about nine months ago, Jack and the bed have been rather inseparable.

Sure, during the day Jack will jump on the couch and the bed but fortunately lint rollers and vacuuming take care of the dog-hair-disaster that he leaves behind.

But at night? He gets all unsettled if his bed’s not in the same room as us. Or if he can’t find it. Or get to it.

Last night, after schlepping my Vegas suitcase, my “regular,” suitcase, school work and all of Jack’s necessities to Irish’s place, we left the dog bed (accidentally) on top of one of Irish’s chairs. Suddenly we noticed that Jack wasn’t in the room and instead looked like a Dog King, lying in a bed atop a very comfortable reading chair:

When I clean, I move the dog bed which receives a look of disapproval from Jack, not to mention he follows the bed from room to room, making sure a) I’m not throwing it away and b) that we aren’t leaving on a road trip.

If we do go on a “road trip,” either to my parents’ or Irish’s house, Jack stays close to his bed:

<all photos taken by Blackberry camera so please excuse the Demon Dog eyes & bad lighting. Photo Credits: Irish (bed on chair) and Nora (bed in car)>

Three Days! THREE. DAYS.

There are some great posts floating around about Vegas, such as ground rules by BelleRenee, a wishlist from Rachel and a great pie chart courtesy of Mr. 5280 and LilySpeak.

I’ve exchanged a flurry or emails with Kyla, Lys and E.P about preparations, things to do, what to do, how to do it, who is packing what, what our first drinks will be more and most importantly, how much time will be spent poolside.

I’ve started reading new, awesome blogs as a result of this trip and the huge list of people going to Sin City.

I’ve gotten insanely nervous. Then crazy with excitement. Then worried about all the stupid girlie crap that goes with meeting girls for the first (or second, or third time, for that matter). Then it hit me: I’ve been letting all of these girls into my life for the last year (some of you longer, maybe?). Chances are those of you who read this blog know me better than my “real,” friends. Maybe even better than I know myself at times.

You’ve never judged me before.

You’ve been kind, supportive, hilarious, insightful, sweet and above all awesome. This is true for all my blog viewers/readers/commenters/friends, not just those going to Vegas. (And if you aren’t going to Vegas this weekend, I wish you were. We shall meet up another time! I will make it happen.) I have no reason to expect this weekend will be any different.

So my rules?

1. Have a fruity cocktail or equivalent in hand at all times.
2. Soak up as many rays as possible.
3. Take as many photos/videos as my friends will allow. (I like photos. And I promise I won’t go posting these on Facebook or my blog unless you want me to for the sole purpose of sharing them. So long as my blog address isn’t attached to any photos of me on FB, I’m fine!)
4. See at least three new things I’ve never seen in Vegas before.
5. Have crazy late night discussions about anything and everything with my roomies and our neighbors.
6. Find some delicous Vegas-style Mexican food.
7. Try my hand at Blackjack or Roulette. I still have yet to approach a table when in Vegas.
8. Track down Vegas-style beef jerky for Irish. (Well that’s more of a goal than a rule as it’s hard to find.)
9. Only use my Blackberry to communicate with fellow Vegas-ers, Irish and my family.

And just for fun, me, last time I was in Vegas (with longer hair and probably and lovely chipmunk cheeks):

You asked for it!

My, “Oh-my-goodness-I-cut-most-of-my-hair-off,” face (while at the office, of course.)

(I will be doing a “Real Post,” for AshleyD while she’s enjoying her fabulous vacation; it should post sometime today. Enjoy!)

 1. A relaxing night with pizza, frozen junior mints and the last disc of Moonlight with Irish on Friday evening.

2. A dramatic new haircut that I’m totally in love with.

3. Seeing Liz and chatting with her while the finishing touches were put on my hair.

4. A late breakfast with Irish at our favorite breakfast place.

5. An afternoon in the park. Jack. Beef Jerky (for Irish). School books for me. A lovely breeze… until of course a huge tree branch came crashing down about five feet from our blanket. The tree branch surely would have injured us if we had been underneath it. It was that huge.

6. A luxurious two hour nap (twice over the weekend).

7. Being a smart student and choosing a night in with the books rather than a night out a stinky bar.

8. Lovely dinner with my friend KH, her boyfriend and Irish before we went to The Decemberists concert.

9. JACK! (photos taken by Nora at the park on Saturday)

Doing his paw “Trick,” for a small piece of beef jerky

Finally relaxing (or perhaps staring at Irish and the bag of beef jerky).