{"id":30136,"date":"2012-04-17T08:34:16","date_gmt":"2012-04-17T15:34:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/?p=30136"},"modified":"2012-04-17T08:34:16","modified_gmt":"2012-04-17T15:34:16","slug":"running-away-to-vegas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/?p=30136","title":{"rendered":"Running Away to Vegas"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In the depths of the wettest March in Oregon, with the skies black and the heavy rain thumping down the gutters and downspouts, Michael and I booked our trip to Las Vegas. It had been way too long since we <a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/?p=15301\">vacationed<\/a> in Vegas&#8211;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/?p=8857\">November 2009<\/a> in fact. We buckled; we needed sunshine and some warmth and a break from the rain and stress. Thank you tax returns. Thank you for the random strangers that bought a bunch of our old crap on eBay. A HUGE thank you to airline miles for essentially free plane tickets (seriously, Michael&#8217;s ticket was $5!). Vacation!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/monte-carlo-resort-casino.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30141\" title=\"monte-carlo-resort-casino\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/monte-carlo-resort-casino-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/monte-carlo-resort-casino-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/monte-carlo-resort-casino.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This trip we booked a room at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.montecarlo.com\/\">Monte Carlo<\/a>. I&#8217;ve never stayed there but I&#8217;ve played there a bunch of times and really enjoyed their casino. Even better: their gym is free to hotel guests (as all gyms in casinos should be)! The date finally arrived and we flew into Vegas for some sunshine and some fun.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5675.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30492\" title=\"IMG_5675\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5675-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5675-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5675-1024x682.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But alas, we arrived on a Friday afternoon to thunderstorms and rain in Vegas. What the hell? That&#8217;s what we were leaving! It wasn&#8217;t that big of a deal, though because we planned on playing indoors that night.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5657.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30527\" title=\"IMG_5657\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5657-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5657-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5657-1024x682.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We got settled into our room at the Monte Carlo and then headed out to indulge in the adult playground. Michael&#8217;s game is poker so we checked out the poker rooms at the Monte Carlo and MGM. I did some playing of my own. I play roulette. I am completely aware that it&#8217;s a fool&#8217;s game and that the house always wins but&#8230;..it&#8217;s still my favorite game!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8543.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30513\" title=\"IMG_8543\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8543-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8543-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8543-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8543.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s more fun than choosing random numbers, watching a tiny white ball spin around a wheel with your heart pumping and then cheering with joy when you win $35! Woohoo! I am a very conservative gambler. Not only is it something I only\u00a0occasionally\u00a0do, I&#8217;m tight with my money and I&#8217;ve learned to walk away from tables that weren&#8217;t giving me wins. AND I&#8217;ve learned to walk away from tables when I&#8217;m UP and happy, not broke and miserable.\u00a0(The following photo is NOT my play and YES the guy won!)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8542.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30509\" title=\"IMG_8542\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8542-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8542-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8542-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8542.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>When Michael and I went to Arizona last year, we had In n&#8217; Out Burger there and I loved the burgers. I was looking forward to having it again and found one on the other side of the freeway from The Strip. Too far to walk (and dangerous because it was a highway overpass) so we hopped in a cab. $7 later, we were enjoying our delicious fast-food cheeseburgers and split an order of fries.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5658.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30493\" title=\"IMG_5658\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5658-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5658-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5658-682x1024.jpg 682w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It was just as good as I remembered it being last year. The place was packed, too. Clearly a hot spot.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5661.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30496\" title=\"IMG_5661\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5661-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5661-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5661-1024x682.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After dinner we hopped back in a cab back to The Strip. Michael took off to play poker for the rest of the night and I meandered around by myself. I saw some celebrities! First, Michael Jackson. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5676.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30498\" title=\"IMG_5676\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5676-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5676-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5676-1024x682.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Then, at the MGM, I spotted Hiedi Klum. They were doing some sort of taping for a TV show I guess. That was pretty cool to see. Half the time I miss celebrities because I can&#8217;t tell it&#8217;s them.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5672.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30501\" title=\"IMG_5672\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5672-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5672-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5672-1024x682.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I sat down at a slot machine in the MGM and put in $2. Honestly, I hate slot machines&#8211;I don&#8217;t get the attraction. I feel bored by them, I don&#8217;t get that excitement like I do with roulette and half the time I don&#8217;t understand what&#8217;s going on! But this particular machine was cool&#8211;it was The Ghostbusters game and basically you just spin and try to match. So with $2 I won $30! It was pretty exciting!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8539.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30515\" title=\"IMG_8539\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8539-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8539-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8539-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_8539.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I happily took my winnings and went back to the Monte Carlo to play roulette for a few hours. Two different dealers asked me if I was Kristen Stewart from Twilight; I&#8217;ve gotten that before and don&#8217;t really see it. For the rest of the weekend they called me Bella.\u00a0I went to bed at a reasonable midnight (or so) and Michael stayed out playing poker until 4 a.m.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>QUESTION: Are you a Slot Machine junkie? What&#8217;s your game of choice?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the depths of the wettest March in Oregon, with the skies black and the heavy rain thumping down the gutters and downspouts, Michael and I booked our trip to Las Vegas. It had been way too long since we vacationed in Vegas&#8211;November 2009 in fact. We buckled; we needed sunshine and some warmth and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30507,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[55,315,104,107,150,169,5167,2806,5170,1477,284,285,287,2932,1602,4812],"tags":[8773,5848,8770,3701,5850,2842,5853,8659,5851,8674,5852,3915,1858,3699,5854,8746,8748,5849],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_5714.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30136"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30136"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30560,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30136\/revisions\/30560"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}