That's Vegas, Baby!

I can't tell you how many times I heard people saying that phrase as we walked along the Las Vegas strip. We just got back this afternoon, and we will admit that although it was nice to get away, we didn't enjoy Las Vegas all that much. We are really glad that we went and saw the city with all its glitz and glamour. It is such a cultural icon. But we will be glad if we never go again. The accomodations were great (we stayed in the pyramid hotel, The Luxor). The lights were every bit as sparkly as you could imagine, and the strip was much larger than we expected. Yet we were overwhelmed by the decadence and beckoning to live lavishly which the city calls to all its visitors. But then again, "That's Vegas, Baby"! Recently we have begun to think very seriously about getting out of debt, all our debt (yup, even the monster school debts). So to be in a town that screams at you to spend your money on pleasure, we found ourselves becoming more and more excited about living simply and getting out of debt. Considering how much it sharpened our motivation, I guess you could say we went to Vegas at a good time.

One thing I did really enjoy visiting was the Bellagio Hotel, the one from the movie Ocean's 11. We walked through the hotel lobby and stared in wonder at the amazing decadence of it all. We also got to enjoy the fountain show out front (the fountains light up and are choreographed to songs from Celine Deon, Sinatra, and Pavaroti). That was incredible.

It was also interesting to go to the desert. It is sooo hot, as you might imagine. When we went to the Hoover Dam, it must have been 110-120 degrees. Being there made me really appreciate how much I am not in the desert here in Paso, no matter how brown it may appear to me. All in all, it was a good getaway, and we are glad to be back to our lives of healthy simplicity. I also start my new job on Monday...exciting! I'll leave you with some photos from the trip.

This picture is of the Paris Hotel and the Bally's Casino Hotel.

Here is Matt looking rather like the guys in Ocean 11 after they pull off the Bellagio heist.

Here we are at the Hoover Dam.

To give you some depth perspecitve, on the left hand side of the dam wall under the roof is where Matt took the picture of me. It's a big dam.

Leaving Las Vegas

Actually, we are leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow morning, bright and early at 5 am to make it through the desert before the afternoon heat hits. Matt and I are celebrating my last day at Starbucks today and my new job which begins on Monday. For those who haven't heard, I got a job doing social work. I found out a few weeks ago that I got the job and the last couple of weeks have been so full of peace and rest. Knowing that I have a job and don't have to continue looking, searching, interviewing, and stressing about the job search has been such a relief. Most of you know how difficult this job search has been, and I look back over the last 11 months and I wonder why God took me down this long and rough path. But I do see blessings in this difficult time I have been through. I stand in a position now of excitement and hope and eager motivation to begin my new job and to work hard at it. I know much of this attitude has been produced from the refinement of the last year of frustration. So here we go, Matt and I, embarking on a two income journey for a while. We are celebrating with our trip to Las Vegas, on a shoe-string budget. I hope to have fun pictures when we return. I am excited about the relaxation and the "get away". Off to the desert we go.