My Journey to Las Vegas Part 1.

I'm sure a lot of things are coming to mind as to what would draw me to Las Vegas, Gambling ? Partying ? Drinking ? The City of Sin as it is so haply named Right ???

Well what brings me to Las Vegas ?

WORK, Yes Work.

Actually the largest buying Show in the world for the Industry I work in, the SHOT SHOW.
Shooting Hunting and Outdoors Trade  SHOW

This show is held annually over the course of 4 days in the Sand's Expo Center which encompasses almost 1 million square feet. To put that fact in perspective the Average Wal-Mart Super Center is only 110,000 Square Feet. Now imagine 8 of those housing 3000+ Vendors and Booths that can be 250-10,000 Square Feet and Multistory Structures. Drawing Companies from all over the Globe to Debut New Products for the year, display current inventory and answer questions from dealers and media. Now Let's walk up and down each isle that is crowded with 10,000+ attendee's and you can easily see how this could be viewed as daunting by Dealers/Buyers who have to navigate this labyrinth of a maze known as SHOT SHOW.


Keep in Mind we have not been back in Texas from our last buying show but a mere few days. We returned from our previous Adventure to Connecticut Tuesday. We opened Wed-Fri to receive inventory and make last minute orders prior to our departure. Saturday For me was a blur, as I, completely out of my character waited to the last minute to pack as I just could not focus on Friday night. So I spent most of the day washing and packing clothes. I left For my Bosses house that night and stayed there as we would drive to Dallas together to Pick up his Step-Dad who was also going with us, yep this was going to be a fun trip!!!


I actually awoke a good 20 minutes before my alarm as I was primed with excitement. My phone did not get the chance to do more than start to vibrate before I turned the alarm off and bolted to my clothes to get ready for our departure to Dallas. Even as I was ready to roll from the word go, I still need my Jump Start  I had procured the night before,Yep you guessed it a......








ENERGY DRINK
But not just any Energy Drink would do for this Journey, NOPE. I would have to pull out the Big guns, the new Monster Super Dry Extra Strength. I was introduced to this new amazing product by Our Friend ED at Freedom Group, at the Show in Connecticut. This new line of drink is carbonated via a new Nitrous Oxide Process that just perks you up full of energy. Not just one would do Either, No not for this Journey. I would have one on the way to Dallas and Save one for the trip to the Airport.

WE would leave the quite community of Hideaway Lake for Dallas, this part was another Blur filled with good conversation and Energy Drink ;-)

I looked up in Time to Snap this Picture

Then I Blinked and Snapped this one

Now Let me Explain now and again later, I was overwhelmed on this trip and at times let my ADHD take over and get the best of "Oh Look Skittles"... See What I'm Talking about, and I would forget to take pictures so I will have to paint pictures with vivid descriptions of what was going on.

We Arrived At My Bosses Parents House right on time, His Amazing Family as always welcomed me and showed me around as I had never been to their wonderful home. We quickly Said our Goodbyes and Headed to Love Field in Dallas where we would depart on Southwest Airlines on our Journey, Well Kinda.

My boss would fallow behind us an hour later from DFW. 

I snapped this as we pulled in

Now as Many May Remember Me and TSA do not get along, and I was preparing by drinking the only thing that can overwhelm me with happiness my other Energy Drink :-) Yes I was wound up and ready for Takeoff who needs a plane I can just Flap my Arms... Yep the ADHD Taking over again...

We would check in and a ball of anxiety would fill me as we approached the TSA Checkpoint, but to my surprise the Lady who checked my Ticket actually said

"Hi, How is your morning Going today ?" 

as She checked over my ID 

I responded "Great we are heading on a Journey to Las Vegas"

She Responded "Well Good Luck Sweetie, Have a safe Flight and Waived me through"

I Thought that was strange and scratched my head as I slowly eased towards the Metal Detector and a especially grimacing TSA Agent on the other side who Asked for my Ticket and ID as I walked through.

He looked over it and to my shock said "Have a great flight, Sir"

Wow could this be, Yes it was a Positive TSA Experience. Just goes to show 

"You will attract more flies with Honey, than with Vinegar"

After we made it inside the "Secure Area" my stomach started make that all familiar growl, Yep it was 09:57 and I have not eaten breakfast yet, Could this be ??? Breakfast is my Favorite Meal how could I have Skipped it ??? 

After wondering around and surveying my options I settled on McDonald's one of my least favorite food establishments. As I looked upon the Menu something caught my eye, #6 Bacon and Egg Mcgriddle w/Hashbrowns and Orange Juice. I have never had the pleasure of tasting a Mcgriddle but hey it's combining all of my favorite breakfast foods so what could go wrong ???

NOTHING it was PURE BLISS quite possibly one of the most amazing breakfast food Items I have ever Tasted short of a Chorizzo Breakfast Taco from FRESH. But none the less this is one of those things you discover in Life and wonder "How have I made it this long without it in my Life?" It was that good, fallowed by the most perfectly cooked Hashbrown I have ever eaten from McDonald's and the orange juice was well you can't really screw up orange juice. All in All it was a great breakfast that was completely unexpected.

WE would take off a few short minutes later, as we flew over the picture perfect skyline of Downtown Dallas, Texas

Dallas would slowly Fade into the Horizon and Short 50 Minutes later we would land in Amarillo, Texas for our Connecting Flight to Las Vegas, Nevada. It would later don on me that I have never been to Amarillo although it did not matter because we would not have time to leave the terminal.

In fact this is how it went.

Landing in Amarillo

30 Minutes Later, Taking off from Amarillo

I tried to sleep but 2 Energy Drinks hinders this effort as you are WIDE AWAKE...So I listened to my Awesome Playlist, as I snacked on some tasty chex mix the flight attendant gave me. I would like to take a few seconds to Say I have flown almost 5300 miles in the last few weeks and Southwest was by Far the BEST of the Airlines I flew on. They get two thumbs up from me

I really like looking out into the Clouds as we fly, it's as close as we can come to seeing the world through a birds eye.

I really wish I knew what Mountain Range this was that backed up to Lake Mead, if anybody can enlighten me I would much appreciate it.

I'm still shocked at the way the terrain is clearly visible from 20'000 Feet up

Shortly After we would Land in Las Vegas, Nevada 

This is a truly shocking view as a plane turns in towards the terminal, I'm still mesmerized after 2 trips to Las Vegas at the intricate detail in which the Architects used to built some of the most insane buildings for Casino's. It really is a sight to see and worth it all in it's own to travel for, and one I look forward to.

THE STRIP

We would DE-board the plane and find a comfy seat to wait for my boss who was still over an hour away, but it gave us some time to people watch, which is another hobby of mine and such a good place for it. As we made our way to our Condo we passed one of my Favorite Casino's in Vegas

The Hard Rock Cafe

Now as I mentioned I do not Gamble, but that is the beauty behind the Hard Rock Cafe is there is so much Music Memorabilia to Look at. As a Music Junkie that means I could walk around in there for hours reading and looking at everything and never touch a Machine or Table.

We arrived at our Condo that we would reside in for the Next week. I actually liked it better than a Hotel as it was a block off the Strip which Meant PEACE and QUITE. Yet it was still close enough to walk to anything in quick fashion. I failed to get any pictures but it was very nice with a balcony and plenty of room to move around freely at will. 

We quickly dropped our bags and Walked to one of our favorite spots to Eat in Vegas Toby Keith's Bar and Grill. It is very much like Applebee's but with better food and a Country Feel, playing my favorite time period of Country Music 90's. Everything has a country feel from all the flair of various artist on the wall to the large Mason Jars you drink from, to the amazing Food. I had Chicken Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes MMMM. Afterwards We walked back and Called it an Early night as it had been a very long Day and we all felt a little under the weather.

Monday

06:00 

Construction Jackhammers wake me a full 2 hours ahead of my schedule...

I did not get up rather just relaxed while txting. Soon I decided to get up and get ready for the day, and that is when it hit me my sinuses decided to start acting up. After everybody was up it was clear we all where sick but being troopers we headed for breakfast at the famous Ellis Island for Steak and Eggs. Shortly after walking through the smoke filled casino My sinuses got worse to the point I could barely enjoy my breakfast... We all decided to walk around to try and feel better but after an hour on the strip I decided to head back for some rest. Be it my sickly state or lack of concentration I failed the readers of this blog as I did not take any pictures, for that I'm Sorry.

I spent most of the day asleep on the couch, I would skip lunch in favor of sleep. Again I would skip Dinner as I just felt to bad to get up, even when I was told the Restaurant of night one of the Best Mexican Food Establishments in Vegas. Later I would get a picture of some great looking Taco's... My favorite Big Sigh!!!

Then a Txt that the Discovery Chanel Gunshop "Red Jacket Firearms" was eating beside them, "Well that was definitely not a selling point to me"

I did however decide that I needed to get up and take a shower and go for some medication to hopefully boost my immune system and help knock this sinus infection out in quick order. I would meet my cohorts in crime in the parking lot and inform them of my decision to walk to the Walgreens on the Strip a good mile away no biggie as it was only 8:30pm I would be back by 9:30 at the latest....

Well Fast forward to Walgreens Where I decide to by some Walgreens NyQuil and Aleve Cold and Sinus, Looking right past the Drowsy warning label, I decide to take 3 tablespoons and 2 tablets to jump start the medication into my system and hopefully combined with a full nights sleep cure me by morning. WELL little did I realize I took that on a empty stomach and 1.2 Miles away from my Bed, I made it all of 20 steps before I was hit with what seemed like a wall of bricks. 

The Next Mile was very blurry I do recall Talking to Elvis for several City blocks having a very in-depth conversation about a person complaining about something outside a Casino, we parted our Ways and He Said 

"Be Careful on your journey little Fellow, pointed and click click" 

I would pass a Denny's on the Strip thinking "Wow that looks good, but all I want is Sleep"

I also Walked past A Mario and Luigi Street Performer, a Black Guy dressed as Optimus Prime, and Elmo of all people.

I would make it all of 200yds away from the entrance to the Condo's and Decide I want something to eat, "Hmm Denny's sounds good right about now and there is one on the Strip" I Think to myself. AWAY WE GO

Another Mile down, but I'm finally sitting in front of a feast of 

3 Pancakes, 3 Eggs, Bacon, Hashbrowns, Orange Juice and Water. After I scarfed down my food I started getting my senses back and Realized it was almost midnight and I had to be up by 07:00 in the morning. I hop up and pay and quickly start Jogging Back to the Condo.

As I crossed the Pathway over the Road I did stop to Take these photos of the STRIP

Also Thinking Ahead, I decided to go ahead and procure enough energy drinks to have with breakfast for the rest of the week and thankfully unlike the Indian Reservation last week this task was as simple as walking into any store on the way back. In Addition plenty of bottled water to stay hydrated as instructed earlier in the day ;-) as seen to the right of my morning vice...

 

Tuesday Morning

Yep Again Awakened by the sound of a Loader and Jackhammers well, it gave us plenty of Time to get ready and decide to eat breakfast at the Restaurant at the Main Building. That was a very good Decision as it was a great breakfast that included Hashbrowns with bell pepper, eggs, toast, and Bacon.

Stay Tuned for the SHOW Pictures in my Next Update...