the Floss Vegas that never was

There were 6 ladies, in their 70's sitting on the edge of the Palazzo pool, in their granny bathing suits. Wrinkles lined their faces, the sun had aged them.  Some of their hair had turned silver, some still had color. They spoke of children and recipes.  Their husbands lined the other side of the pool, all with a camera in hand snapping their group photo.  Some complained, and some told the others to shut up, "you look fine in your bathing suit, just smile."

I imagined they all met up together, and I was jealous... because that's what I wanted to do with my friends.  I had been looking forward to meeting up with my Disney girls to celebrate our 10 year reunion September of this year in what we coined "Floss Vegas."  Everyone knew about this.  I was excited.  And I really don't get excited about a whole lot.  

In what took months to plan, to get everyone on board, saving money, and agreeable... took 12 hours to fall apart about one month prior to leaving.   While I might get the cold shoulder from my Disney girls for writing this.  I just don't know how I can not.  I was beyond disappointed at this turn of events, and can't help to do what I like to do best, and that is to write about it.

I had been questioning everyone I knew about Vegas, asking them pros and cons of the city.  Finding out what shows were worth seeing and what was worth skipping.  I was reading articles and books, in my typical pre arrival fashion.  I had never been to Vegas before.  And I was determined to make Vegas "our" vacation.  A chance for the husbands to mingle, for us girls to chat and act like the goofs we are,  to celebrate a milestone birthday, and the upcoming birth of 2 little ones, and then for us to all come together at the end of the day and enjoy an awesome dinner.  But life happened, and one by one, each one backed out.  I, of course, wasn't too pleased with the turn of events.  I was hurt and sad and angry and just deflated.  You get very few chances in life to pull a group together, from all across the country, and I really had hope that this would work out.  FAIL.

However, Adam and I went anyway, and our little getaway turned out to be a relaxing, great time.  My husband was a great sport.  2 weeks prior he was in Vegas for work, of course all expenses paid, and I felt terrible because I talked him into coming for my roommate reunion, again.  And now that this was not happening, I just felt bad and mad at myself, that I was just wasting our money.  He assured me that we would have a great time, even without my girlfriends.  He was right.  I always have an awesome time with Adam and this was no exception.

Our days consisted of sitting at the pool, getting all gussied up in our fancy over sized beautiful hotel room, and then heading out to dinner, followed by seeing two amazing Cirque shows.  I learned that right before we were to leave that my best good friend Amanda would be there for business.  While she couldn't hang the entire day, we got to have two dinners with her.  It was fun... even though in Vegas they don't believe in serving mostocolli with their chicken parm.  Amanda was a bright light in the vacation, reminding me to just sit back and enjoy this other world I was in!

After spending 30 dollars at the pool for booze, I marched Adam right down to Walgreens where we got 2 bottles of alcohol, Snapple as our mixer, 2 Las Vegas souvenir cups, and snacks for 50 dollars.

Little did I know I was going to have a Disney Reunion after all... with who else than Larsen and Stephanie.  Larsen worked on Tower of Terror while we were on the college program and lived right above apartment 27202.  His wife, Stephanie and him, just moved to Vegas from Orlando a few days prior and they were able to meet us out for dinner one night as well.  We went to Emeril's Table 10, and from the sounds of it, these two locals will be back.  It was delicious and by far my favorite meal in Vegas.

To try and save money, I purchased a few Groupons, and one of my favorite ones was the yardstick drinks.  We cashed in on those and headed to Freemont Street to see the classic lights of Vegas on our last day.  Good idea, all around.

While it's not the trip I had envisioned having.  And while I didn't get that picture with myself and the Flossers, legs dangling in the pool, looking all glamorous.  I had a great time anyways, and enjoyed it to the fullest with my most favorite person in the world.