Leaving for Vegas

The way this was going to work was that five of us (me, Apes, Christy, Xinlei, and Maria) were going to leave from Irvine. Ray was going to pick up Steph at the airport and drive her and Steve and Huntz over to Vegas. Andy, Aaron and Brian were going to all go to Vegas in Andy's car.

At around 4:45PM April and I went to go pick up Maria and get sandwiches at Togo's. Not too long after we got back, Christy got home from work. We loaded up her trunk and left.

We left a little later than we anticipated (just before six) but it ended up being okay. We hit traffic for the first leg of the trip (up until the I-15) and met up with some slowing on the first few miles of the 15, but because we took toll roads, it could have been a lot worse (and before I forget...thanks to Christy for driving...!)

Because I'm the smallest, I ended up in the middle seat between April and Maria. Xinlei sat up front with Christy. I did a little bit of preparation for the review session I had to hold on Tuesday, but it started to get dark so I stopped.

We were stuck in traffic for a while. There was this silver station wagon in the lane next to us with this creepy little (well, he looked like he was ten) kid in the backseat that kept staring at us. Maria noticed him first. When we passed by the station wagon again, we saw the kid staring at our car again and smiling. When the station wagon passed us, the kid stuck his head out the window to look at us. HOOOOLY CRAP. Anyway, Christy sped up so we wouldn't end up next to the station wagon again (heheh).

We stopped by an In N Out at Barstow to get food for Xinlei and Christy. April and I ate the spam musubi (YUM) that we had made last night (we made a lot) and then stupid April went to sleep ;P I thought Maria had gone to sleep too, but every time a song that she liked came on she would get up to sing and dance. HA.

It was really cold and foggy when we started to get close to Vegas, but it cleared up when we hit the city. We got there just before 11.

Photos

Row 1 (L to R): 1. our vegas countdown :) 2. maria, me, and april in the car driving down jamboree 3. xinlei 4. maria and me...i'm trying to cover maria's forehead with my pencil because she thinks it's too big 5. xinlei, april, christy, and maria at in n out, barstow

Row 2 (L to R): 1. parking lot @ in n out 2. maria wrote "hot" on the window 3. stuck in vegas traffic :(

@ the Hotel

We were staying at the Circus Circus manor which ended up being this thing that was detached from the actual hotel/casino. Ghetto? A bit. The top of our television had a hole melted into it. But it was the cheapest place we could get that was not completely booked. If you've ever tried to get a room on a weeked in October, you understand what happened.

We met up with Ray's car in the parking structure and went to go check in. They told the desk that there were only going to be two people in each room =0. We got our keys and headed over to meet up with Andy's car at the manor.

We got there and unloaded our luggage onto the ground and everyone helped to carry it up while Steph and I watched the luggage. As soon as we got to our rooms, the girls started getting ready to go to the club and the guys were guys and started drinking the the vodka and jager that they had brought with them. In fact, when April and I were using their bathroom (ours was full) one of them came in with a plastic cup of vodka for her to try.

In the meantime...the guys were taking shots. Aaron was trying to get into our bathroom for some reason. Andy was trying to blow dry his shirt but it wasn't working so he wore one of Aaron's.

After we were all more or less ready I took my birthday shot. Vox vodka. BLARGH. I chased with a Smirnoff Triple Black. There was something about that vodka...iono...but as soon as I walked out of the door and into the hallway BAM the alcohol hit me and I started to feel...weird? Haha. I don't know what it was but I'm assuming that it meant I was starting to feel what you seasoned alcoholics would call a buzz.

Anyway, we left the hotel so we could get a taxi. I was feeling a little bit not quite there and was walking around with lip gloss all over by cheeks because Steph and Xinlei both kissed me. We split up into three cabs (I think I was riding with Andy, Steve, and Steph) and headed over to Rumjungle at Mandalay Bay.

Photos

Row 1 (L to R): 1. april and maria 2. me and xinlei 3. xinlei, april and maria 4. the guys not getting ready 5. me and my roommates :D

Row 2 (L to R): 1. all of the girls :D 2. christy and xinlei 3. my birthday shot 4. me post-birthday shot, chaser in hand 5. (aaron and) xinlei and me

Row 3 (L to R): 1. all of the guys

Row 4 (L to R): 1. april getting ready 2. christy, me and april getting ready in the guy's bathroom 3. she was supposed to take a photo of our faces 4. that's right 5. maria (she's so cute) 6. maria and xinlei

Club

We ended up going to Rumjungle at Mandalay Bay. The line was actually pretty short, but we had to wait for a long time anyway. A few of us (myself included) started dancing in line but maybe we shouldn't have...? I don't know. I was still feeling that vodka and I think I was probably saying stupid things that I shouldn't have been saying but whatever ;P

We finally got inside after what felt like forever. The bouncer said that I was just a baby. Anyway, cover was $25. The first place we went to was the bar where someone (April? Aaron? I don't remember) bought me a drink. Midori sour. I think that Xinlei took a tequila shot and April had a cosmo. I drank a little and the April started pulling me up to the dance floor so I followed her, drink in hand. I'm amazed that I didn't spill anything.

Sooo we started dancing. Things got just a tiny bit fuzzy for me. Everyone was dancing with everyone else. Xinlei and I fell. We danced some more. Someone brought me another drink. Danced some more. Someone brought up another Midori sour that I drank about half of. Realized that people were disappearing so we made our way back to the front of the club.

We ended up sitting at the front end of the club (and dancing in the front end of the club) until the club closed at four. Aaron bought me a Scooby Snack. What I didn't realize at the time was that Ray and Steve were extremely drunk and very sick. I heard later that they had a good portion of that bottle of Vox before we left. Figures.

We caught three cabs back. I don't remember who was in the cab with me, but I do remember feeling like I was living in the third person or something and was talking a little crazy. It was probably a combo of the alcohol and the late hour. I didn't get that much sleep the previous night (I hate school :()

@ the Hotel

We all hung out in the hotel room for a while after we got back from the club. After that someone had the bright idea to go to the casino and gamble a little bit, so April, Christy, Xinlei, Steve and I all went to the casino. I didn't know that Steve wasn't feeling too great at the time so now I feel kinda bad...? Yeah. Well we only stayed for a little bit. We played slots and video poker (well, I did anyway) and then headed back. Aaron was asleep on one bed and Maria on the other. Turns out, neither Aaron or Steve had the key to their room, so they ended up sharing our twin air mattress while the girls all tripled up on the double beds. I think I got to bed at around six or so. Holy crap.

Look for all of our spam musubis in the photos below :D

Photos

Row 1 (L to R): 1. maria and brian 2. andy, me and april 3. huntz eating spam 4. steve drank too much 5. andy is wearing my poncho

Row 2 (L to R): 1. andy is still wearing my poncho