First Time Missing Class

Since Monday night, I've only gotten 4 hours of sleep each night b/c I've been looking forward to our vacation!

On Thursday morning, Bro and FBIL dropped BF & I off at LAX. At 8:43 AM, we flew off to Vegas for an early start on the weekend. BF rsvp'd tixs for us over a month ago so missing a class was...(dunh dunh DUNH)...premeditated, partner. I was a bit nervous about missing class for the first time as an oh-so-mature (snicker*snicker) graduate student with perfect attendance, but on my first flight to Vegas, I left my anxiety back in L.A. (where my laptop stayed, too).

Our flight was extremely short and sweet; not long enough for peanuts but long enough for a complimentary cup of O.J. LA was a little overcast so I didn't get to see us circle above the Marina before heading East, but the view was still fabulous. We arrived exactly on time and caught a cab over to Mandalay Bay where we met BF's parents around 11. We had brunch at Raffles Cafe where I had a delicious grilled chicken sandwich. I figured I sould have something relatively healthy since several buffets were on our agenda...b/c what is a trip to Vegas without hitting a buffet?

Afterwards, BF & I went to Shark Reef, something I've been looking forward to since the last/first time I went. This aquarium is absolutely marvelous. The first animals we saw were reptiles. I'm not that fond of reptiles, except -- BIG "except" -- for turtles, but the Golden Crocodiles and Asian Water Monitors were a beautiful sight. We saw tons of tropical fish, stingrays, and sharks! They still have a stingray petting pool, but I believe that since Steve Irwin's unfortunate accident, that area just isn't as popular as it used to be. The way the aquarium is built is amazing; fish, stingrays, and sharks swim all around you -- in front, above, and below you.

Of course the main attraction for me was the 3 sea turtles. Actually, many (kids) stood around for a glimpse of these magnificent creatures. BF spotted one first, close to the surface. I could only see its shadow for a few seconds before it disappeared. After a few minutes, we spotted them again before they entered the feeding area way up high, close to the surface (approximately 2 stories up). Unfortunately for me, the fence came down and closed off the feeding area. I stood there for practically 20 minutes, catching glimpses of their shadows whenever they swam near the fence. I even got to see one of them eat (fish). I know it was 20 minutes b/c BF got tired of waiting for me and the turtles so he'd sit down and then check up on me every few minutes. Then they turned off the lights in the feeding area and that was it. No more sea turtles. :( I guess they needed their afternoon nap. My turtle goes to sleep the minute her lights turn off, too. Or even before her lights turn off!

Speaking of my turtle, Uncles Bren took care of her while we were away. This was their first time seeing how much personality my little turtle has. :) She is quite a character. I missed her a lot. I missed her so much that when we got home, BF said to our turtle, "Oh, Turtle, your momma missed you so much. Everyday, she'd look at your pictures on her phone." (I wonder why people think I'm obsessed with turtles?)

Anywho, after we exited the aquarium, we of course ended up at the gift store. BF teased that if I found a sea turtle shot glass, he'd get it for me for my shot glass collection. He definitely wasn't expecting me to find them, but I found a set of 2! I declined those for a mug. Then as I looked around for jewelry in the kids' section, he called me over, showing me a sea turtle charm. I walked out of that store with the sea turtle charm proudly replacing my Tiffany's heart charm. =P

We went back to BF's parents place and rested a little bit. That's when BF's Mom gave me a soft stuffed doggy animal. :) That was really sweet. (She got one for BF's sister and one for me.) I think I'll name her Timmy, after their last doggy.

While my classmates were in class, (I wasn't thinking about how it was classtime) I was in line for the Red Rock Casino dinner buffet. Yummy! BF's Dad wasn't kidding when he said they had the best cappuccino ice-cream.

I think we gambled a smidget on penny slots and lost like $40! So we called it a night. A fun night. :)