Vegas Dreaming...

So if you remember my post a few weeks ago, I said we had nothing to look forward to this summer.  And that alas, the bonus and raise Jeff got in March helped a lot.  But still not enough to pay for a vacation.  Or so we thought....

Thankfully, with his raise, my raise & promotion. etc.  And having paid off a few more bills back in March... we find our selves with a few hundred more a month then this time last year.  And I started daydreaming about trying to save up to go to Vegas in October for Jeff's birthday.  I didn't tell him because I wanted to see if in June we would actually have the money to save (because as we all know, things have a way of popping up).  Even with my dad's birthday presents, our anniversary, and fathers day this month....

Jeff didn't know I had this idea.  No one did.  Because I didn't tell anyone.

Two days later what does he do?  Start looking at flight prices to Vegas in October (the day after his birthday to be exact).  Hmmmm.....great minds think alike!  Clearly, we are meant for each other.

So I told him my idea.  And told him - let me look at finances on Thursday and see if we can swing it.  Well, with how things look, it will be a little tight.  But we can buy the flight on the 15th, (Fingers crossed the tickets stay this cheap for the next 8 days.  They are under $500 for the two of us).  And we'll get four nights hotel for only $150 total because it's a Sunday-Thursday stay and Jeff has Harrah's points to bring down the prices.  Then we'll have four months to save up fun money.  And this is when we start dreaming....

Now, I'm not talking of dreaming about hitting it big.  Because let's be realistic.  That's not going to happen.  Jeff has been to Vegas probably seven times in his life.  And he's won $3,000 in his biggest one-time win.  And I've won twice, two decent pots.  Both in Reno...one trip was $650, another was $1,000. (Both on slots, not table games).  For Jeff's last day there for his bachelor party, he won $800 in craps...but that was after we'd left $1500 in the town.  So let's face it.  Most times we gamble, we lose.  That's the way the house is set up.  What we are paying for in entertainment.  And is it sad the amount of fun we get from this...yes.  But we do, so I don't question why.  It's a small form of adrenaline junk without risking our neck by jumping out of a plane (although, I'd still like to do that someday).

No...the dreams I'm talking about is simple Vegas dreams.  Going to really good restaurants like Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill.  Or Emeril's.  Seeing the Fountains at Bellagio's again.  Walking through Cesar's and making Hangover jokes while drunk so that Jeff and I are tearing up from being so silly.  And seeing things I did not get to see on my one and only trip to sin city.  Actually staying on the strip (instead of old downtown on Freemont street, although I would like to see the Freemont experience once again).  Making it all the way down to Paris and New York, New York instead of staying around the middle of the strip the whole time.  Going on the rollercoaster.  Having a double at Fatburger.  You know, Vegas Stuff!!!

And so what am I saying?  I'm saying we do have something to look forward to afterall.  We will have a vacation this year.