Vegas, baby!

We made it to Vegas!  I'm actually a bit surprised to be adding an exclamation mark, because we are not really "Vegas-sy" people.  We go to bed by 9 pm.   We hate to lose more than $20 gambling.  We don't like big crowds of people.  We are pretty happy with one drink.  Hell, we're actually pretty happy NO drinks.  There is, however, something seductive about Vegas that pulls you under the minute you arrive.  Maybe it's the nostalgia of trips-past?  Maybe it's the comforting brand-recognition at every turn?  Whatever it is, I fell for it the minute we turned our car on to the strip.  I actually inhaled deeply AND SMILED when we walked in to the stale smoke-filled casino of our hotel lobby.  If I had encountered that carcinogenic aroma at home, I would have turned on my heel.  Or at least turned up my nose.  In Vegas, however, it just feels (smells?) right.  

Being a travel day, we were up early.  Disgustingly early, even for us.  3 am early.  We walked the dogs and the car picked us up for the airport at 4:45.  We were in the wrong gate area to hit our favorite, Ike's, so grabbed a quick breakfast near our gate at MSP.  In keeping with today's theme (see Breakfast #2, below), Andrew managed to find the most cholesterol-laden item on the menu...I give you the Donut Burger.  

Who knew this was even possible?  I'm ashamed to admit that this was pretty tasty.

The flight provided me with nothing interesting to report, despite our newly modified LDL scores.  Oh, I guess I could tell you that there was a couple traveling with 4 boys under the age of about 4 (one set of twins).  The interesting part was that each of these follicularly-challenged, pumpkin-headed children had some sort of cut or abrasion on their giant, bald head.  Really.  Every single one of them.  Luckily the top-heavy little darlings were in strollers and no further medical attention was required.  Whew!

After nearly 3 hours in the air, we landed in Vegas a mere 40 minutes after we'd left Minneapolis.  I do love west-bound flights!  After choosing a rental car (we opted for the Hyundai Sonata over the Chevy Malibu based solely on trunk space), it was still too early to check in to the hotel, so we drove off in search of coffee & Breakfast #2.  Don't judge - we're on vacation.  Using the list generated by good, ol' Google Maps, we settled on Hash House a Go Go.  It's a chain (we've eaten here before in San Diego), but I do like their spin on traditional breakfast fare.  We ordered coffee and perused the menu.  I settled on meatloaf hash; Andrew on a BBBLT (yep, bacon x3 on this one, folks).

Meatloaf Hash with spinach & roasted peppers  Yes, that is a regular-sized cast iron pan.  I am sad to report that I barely made a noticeable dent in this deliciousness.  I am happy to report that I ate the all the fruit.

Andrew's BBBLT.  Immediately following this photo, he removed all traces of L&T.

While we were finishing coffee and digesting our gigantic meals, we called the hotel to see what time we might be able to check in.  Extra customer service points to The Orleans for their "just come whenever you'd like" response - we're so tired!  We were in our room by about 11:30 am.  Andrew was sound asleep by 11:40 am.  To his defense, he has worked 60-hour weeks for the past 2 months, used his days off to work on our house renovations, AND trained for our Grand Canyon hike.  As far as I'm concerned, the poor guy deserves to nap his ass off while we're on this trip.  Regretfully unable to nap regardless of my constant lack of sleep, I puttered around in the room.  We're downtown, and have a pretty decent view of the strip from our window... 

Caesar's Palace and the High Roller ferris wheel can be seen to the left of our room.

The Luxor & New York, New York (look closely, you can see the ferris wheel). 

 After Andrew's nap, we set about finding something to do.  We wandered around the hotel & casino and donated $20 to the slot machine gods.  Does anyone reading this know how those things work?  It's a complete surprise to me, every single spin, whether I've won or lost.  How is it that cherry-bar-cherry-seven is a winner, but seven-bar-cherry-bar isn't?  Total mystery, I'm telling you.  I'm offering a reward to anyone who can clarify.  

That $20 in the casino killed approximately 25 minutes.  Sad truth.  Hmmm...what to do next?  We agreed that the key component was an activity that didn't involve the strip AND would allow us to be in bed by 9 (at the latest).  Don't say I didn't warn you, folks.  Handily, The Orleans has a movie theatre.  Andrew & I see a movie about once every 4 years.  Typically while on a holiday or weekend getaway of some sort.  This is mainly because it's hard for us to agree on a film.  We do both love horror flicks, however.  The cheesier the better!  We settled on a 5:30 pm showing of Annabelle.  I actually just finished reading a novel, based loosely on Ed & Lorraine Warren, involving a possessed doll so this movie was perfectly timed.  And really, who doesn't enjoy a creepy doll?

The unanticipated perk of a movie theatre inside the hotel?  When the movie is over you can stroll back to your room in minutes.  No need to get in the car!  Inside of 4 minutes, we were back in the room classlessly pouring the lovely Shiraz we purchased at Target (!) into plastic cups provided in the bathroom.  Yes,  yes.  I know that I claimed only paragraphs before that I am quite happy without a drink.  That is entirely true.  I will confess to being giddy at the sight of wine being sold in Target.  We don't have that in Minnesota.  We also can't purchase alcohol on Sunday in Minnesota.  I'm not certain what the rationale is for either rule, but I can only surmise that the state government believes that purchasing a bottle of wine at Target and/or on Sunday means you have a real problem.  Fine.  Hello, my name is Karin...