Got up at 6:30 am for an 11:10 am flight from Newark. I was so busy yesterday that I didn’t get a chance to pack so I had to get up early to get my stuff together. I used car service to get to the airport. My pick up was at 8:45 am and I made it to the airport in about 25 minutes. Since they were doing random car checks, I thought the airport would be really crowded but it wasn’t. It took me 10 minutes to get from the front door of the airport, check my bag and go through the metal detectors. I had to take off my shoes (the only thing they’ll let you wear through the metal detector now is sneakers) but I didn’t get “wanded†or anything. Since I was almost two hours early for my flight I went into the airline club lounge. It was really quiet there. Since it was a Sunday morning they weren’t allowed to serve alcohol so I just had a quick muffin and a soda and grabbed a newspaper and decided to wait at the gate. As I was sitting at the gate, I decided I should probably grab something to eat on the plane, just in case. I grabbed a salad and a bottle of water, I called a bunch of friends and relatives to kill time. The flight was long but uneventful. I took a pair of earphones and a few movies to get me in the Vegas mood (The Rat Pack and Ocean’s 11) but I had a window seat and the guy on the aisle slept most of the way and I didn’t want to disturb him so I wasn’t able to watch my movies. There were two pretty decent movies on the plane though so it made time pass a little easier. When we were about an hour outside of Vegas, the pilot came on and announced that one of his very good friends was on the plane and he got special permission to take a difference route so we were going to do a little sight seeing over the Grand Canyon. We flew really low and got a great view although he kept tipping the plane and my stomach started to do flips. We still got into Vegas on time. I stopped off at the rest room quickly and by the time I made it down to baggage claim my bag was there and I was able to catch a cab in no time. The cab driver was an older woman and she didn’t shut up the whole time. There is a difference between being nice and being phony just to try to get a big tip and I found it irritating. There were about five people ahead of me on line at Mandalay Bay and the line moved quickly. When I got up to the desk I politely asked for a room in the Fiji wing with a view and the desk clerk said that was an additional $25. I told her that I spoke to reservations and they said that I would have to pay the $25 if I wanted to guarantee that in my reservation but that I could ask for it at check in for free (which is what I was told when I inquired a few month’s ago). I told her that I would just take a regular room then and she then said that she would see what she could do and she gave me the upgrade anyway. I couldn’t have a King bed but two queens were fine with me. The room is on the 26th floor and at the end of the hall. I was tired of walking and when I finally reached the room I dropped off my stuff and pulled the curtains open to find the most spectacular view of the strip I have ever seen (Thanks for the advice Sonya and Jerry!) The floor to ceiling windows just enhance the amazing view. I wish I brought my camera with me! The room itself if nice and the bathroom is about the same size as the Venetian. I called housekeeping to ask them for a bathrobe and they asked if I wanted slippers so I said sure. I may be here for work but I may as well enjoy myself. After settling down, I went down to grab a bite to eat and got side tracked by the casino. I played for an hour or so and then went to Raffles Café. I was starving so I had a salad and a NY Steak with mashed potatoes. I felt kind of guilty eating like a pig. There were a bunch of other women (probably here for the same conference) and they were all eating salads and healthy food. The food was really good, especially the mashed potatoes. (I always admire good mashed potatoes because it’s one of the few things I cannot make. Either you can sip the ones I make though a straw or you can spackle (sp?) a wall with them) After dinner I went back to gambling. I played regular slots, video poker and hot properties monopoly. I managed to rack up about 450 points today. They gave me a coupon booklet for getting 200 points and told me I have about $10 in cash and $4 in comp points. I’m down about $400 for the day. I can’t seem to find any double down poker here. I may have to visit another casino tomorrow night. It’s still early here but I’m still on East Coast time. I have to be down at class at 7:00 am so I have a wake up call set for 6:15 am. I’ll try to write more tomorrow…