Vegas

    Wow... time flies!  I can't believe that my family's annual Vegas trip has come and gone already, but it has.  Every time I leave Las Vegas I'm conflicted.  Part of me wants to stay there and keep having fun, but another part of me can't wait to get on that plane and back to normalcy. 
    The trip out to Vegas was pretty stressful.  I was flying stand by early in the morning because that way I could catch the VRE from nearby the house instead of having to park at the airport or take a cab to the Metro.  I had to run (with my bags) to catch the train because, of course, I was late.  I was frantically jabbing my credit card in the ticket machine when the train pulled up.  Once on the train, I noticed that nearly everyone was sleeping.  Do you have any idea how much noise those roller bags make in the aisles of the train?  To everyone on the 6:00AM train last Tuesday, I'm so sorry about the noise.  And I'm sorry about all the shoulders, elbows, and knees I smacked.  I found a seat in the back of the train and about 5 minutes after I got situated my stop was announced.  I didn't want to look too inexperienced at the whole train travel thing, so I waited until we started slowing down until I stood up and made my way to the doors, instead of freaking out and running to the front like my brain was telling me to.  Do you want to know a fun fact?  Not all of the doors on the VRE open at the Franconia Springfield stop.  The train came to a stop and I waited for the doors to open... nothing.  I started to panic, thinking that the train would start going again and I would be stuck on it without the right ticket and they would throw me off.  Forunately, a very nice woman came up to me and told me that the doors closer to the front of the train, you train-novice idiot.  That last part was implied.  I shot out of a string of thank yous and speed-walked with my suitcase banging behind me (and getting caught on seats and falling to the ground and making as much noise as possible) all the way up to the magical doors and got off that train and I doubt anyone was sorry to see me go.
    After that ordeal, I got on another train.  But it was the Metro this time, so at least that was a little more familiar.  That trip was pretty uneventful and I made it to Reagan in time to catch my first standby flight.  And then!  I caught my second standby flight!  That never happens- I was convinced that I would be spending 8 hours at O'Hare waiting for my confirmed flight.  All of this stress to arrive in Vegas 7 hours early.  Oh well- it was totally worth it.  We all had an awesome time and it was so nice to catch up with the family!