{The Venetian's painted ceiling-amazing}

I imagined a curvy lady dressed in red, laying on a piano crooning into the microphone about love, her lips sparkling in the smoky light. A few mobsters dressed in suits puffing cigars, sipping scotch from highballs, the ice clanking as fat hands swirled the cool liquor around in the glass. Nearby would be a few poker tables, a mahogany wood roulette wheel, chips stacked, crowds gathering- cheering as luck landed at their sides. Bright lights, swinging music and flashy clothes adorning the casino halls.

Vegas- not what I imagined, although it was still a lot of fun. Instead you enter a gigantic room filled row after row with slot machines lit up like a runway signaling people to land for the night. The pungent smell of stale smoke mixed with air freshener, pumped through air vents in an attempt to mask nights of spilt drinks and hours past, unbeknownst . A myriad of people come to this wild place and for so many reasons-bachelor parties, expositions, vacations, divorce. You name it there is someone there with a story why this is the spot to be.

Still, it was a site to see all the excited commotion of cards shuffling, ringing slot machines, high pitch chattering and squealing-ceaseless this city is, and all just stuck in the desert as if a mirage of lights, liquor and money. A nice older gentleman gave me a twenty and said "have fun kid" after seeing me lose my own twenty to a greedy machine. That was super fun.

The food was delicious. While there I ate blackened ahi with steamed baby cabbage, stemmed baby carrots, marinated aged steak, red wine, and I also drank my first whole cup of coffee:) I wish we had time to see a show though...maybe next time.

We had a great show at the expo. Every one was excited and thrilled over our product. We will be very busy soon. It was great. I am so happy all the hard work and determination, especially for my parents, is coming to fruition. I really felt it at this particular show and am very proud to be a part of this company.

After we arrived back home, C ran straight past his dad and into my arms. He took his wee hands and squeezed my cheeks, his face inches from mine and just stared at me, like he thought he couldn't believe I was there- I think he knows what missing feels like now. I wouldn't trade all the money in Vegas for that very moment.