Nic Narrates

Thirteen years ago, I found myself camping with my family at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. Camping. The “campground” consisted of a shadeless black top parking lot and our camper was without air conditioning. In the July heat of 104 degrees at 8 in the morning. Too young to gamble or drink, too sunburned to wear anything except my mother’s silk pajamas; I was miserable. And I HATED Las Vegas.

Fast-forward to four weeks ago and my plane was touching down at the Vegas airport. My cab whisked me off to the hotel I said I’d always stay at if I ever came back: the Bellagio. I had my dinner reservation all set at Olives and my ticket to Cirque de Soleil’s “O” later that evening. I had a day to myself before the Bloggers in Sin City festivities truly got underway and I was a bundle of nerves and excitement. Amongst the bloggers who had signed up to attend, there were several I’d been reading for years, of which I’d only actually ever met Jenn, the Mayor of the Josh Lyman Tiger Sex Den.

It’s a funny thing meeting other bloggers for the first time. I’m always worried they’ll think I’m not at all who I seem to be online. That they’ll think I look dumpy or that I’m boring or, worst of all, that they’ll find other people who are more energetic, happier, or more outgoing to talk to instead of me. I want to be liked by these people I admire, who make me laugh, whose word choices I fawn over, and whose confidence I observe and marvel at…and okay, envy. But, from every other blogger I’ve met already in Chicago, I’ve learned that generally they are one of the most welcoming and accepting groups of people I’ve had the luck to encounter in my lifetime.

So, when I hurried up to my room later that day after seeing “O” and knocked expectantly at the door, I was gushing with anticipation to meet the girl I’d invited to stay with me. Brandy was the first blogger I’d meet at BiSC and she and I quickly became brand new besties just as I’d always thought we’d be! When we decided to room together for the weekend, I confided I felt like the coolest girl in the world because my roomie was her. I still do.

Together, we had a hoot of a time talking about meeting other bloggers, catching up on the drama in our lives that we aren’t writing about right now, and planning a trek to Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef the next day where we would run in front of a motion camera, making wavelike ripples against an ocean backdrop and spend upwards of 40 minutes petting sting rays.

In the days that followed, Brandy informed me that American monies are “confusing because they’re all the same color and you have to actually look at the number on them,” whereas her Canadian monies are bright and colorful and “made of hope and free health care!” Don’t worry- I called her a whore and slapped her, and then promptly wound up leaving my carry-on bag in the back of the cab as we checked into the Flamingo (which I actually got back when the cab driver found Nicole’s phone number inside and called her and she called me and informed me that “Some cab driver totally has your shit and wants to give it back to you so call him back here’s his number and you probably won’t be able to understand him at all but call him okay I’ll see you soon bye!” Nicole talks really fucking fast and is, of course, awesome not only because she planned the whole BiSC thing but also just, you know, in general).

And then I did finally meet Nicole. And so many other bloggers that the whole experience became a dash overwhelming. I hurried to hug many an almost-stranger and butt into conversations because I was overly excited to actually meet the person behind the blog. Which, let me send my deepest thanks right this minute to Jess for telling Katelin about me and asking her to keep an eye out for me!

That night at the meet and greet, Brandy and I spent several hours unabashedly wearing balloon hats on our heads as we introduced ourselves, and if that’s not a conversation starter right there I don’t know what is! From the people I met that night and the days that followed, I have so many memories and things to smile and laugh about…

Brandy’s destroyed phone from a leaky 20 oz frozen Miami Vice that she was carrying around in her bag while shopping for Kaci’s impromptu bachelorette (which would later bring us all to/near to tears).

Pushing the button to open the drapes at the Flamingo and reciting lines from The Hangover in my late-night-drinking voice as I gazed out at Caesar’s and the strip below while laying in bed. “Hey guys…how about that drive? Hehehehe….” “Could it be? Could I have found another member of my wolf pack?”

There was Suki and Leah from San Fran, who I didn’t get to spend nearly enough time with but am looking forward to seeing again very soon. Labor Day weekend?!

Brandy finding and proudly wearing a tiger shirt, then starting a band with Rachael called “Fanning the Slash.” Yup.

Pseudo stalking Jenny Blake only to scream “YOU’RE KINDA MY IDOL!” when I finally met her as a group of us waited outside Serendipity 3 for late night frozen hot chocolates. (P.S. I’m reading/ working through the prompts in your book right now and just…YES.)

Enlisting Boston bloggers Germana and Ginny to go to Bouchon with Brandy and I before the Black, White, and Gold party at Pure. Thank you for going with us and for walking in our fancy dresses and heels from the Venetian to the Flamingo, then to Planet Hollywood and to Caesar’s. It totally was a sucky walk, but you guys were awesome.

I’ll always remember Brandy replacing swear words with “Holy Dinah!” and teasing her when her Canadian accent would slip out. Agaaaainst. Aboot. Sephoria. Incidentally, if she says “never mind” to you, that means you’re in deep trouble!

There was the Boston crew I just sort of “fell into” lounging by the pool: the aforementioned Ginny and Germana, but also Bob and Carly, and Nicole Marie Says who has now forsaken Chicago for Beantown once more. Hearing them talk about “Southie” boys and comparing commutes during games at Fenway vs. Wrigley made me all ga-ga for everything Boston. Thank you for being so lovely to me and including me in your dinner plans at Sushi Roku! I miss you WICKED hard.

I’ll remember with a smile Ameena’s dinosaur sound & walk, which she showed us after much peer pressure in the midst of Pure’s rooftop lounge.

Brandy worrying (A LOT) about the Kardashian girls, who she informed me are “tormented by their bodies.”

There was Jenn Bizzle Rainbow Brite who will always be known as such for her epic Rainbow Brite costume at the meet and greet. There was Chelsea and her tall, skinny-mininess and adorable dresses from Mod Cloth, Kathleen who I just instantly clicked with but somehow never got to hang out with again. There was Stacey who was ever so sweet, but had to leave early under the saddest of circumstances. There was Katherine with her beauteous glitter shoes in a plethora of colors. There was Simone who was a true dancing queen in her badass Black, White, and Gold party dress. And there was Tiffany who was one of the friendliest people I met and who introduced me to a new Chicago friend- Caryn!

I’ll fondly remember catching the last fountain show of the night at the Bellagio with the kickass Terra, who I absolutely adore and sincerely wish lived closer, and Katelin’s husband, Matt, who was so nice in walking us over there and ensuring we made it in time. It was a lovely way to end the evening! Thank you Terra for lending me Jayme’s flip flops to wear while watching the fountains…and thank you Jayme for unknowingly lending them to someone you still hadn’t met!

And then it was time for us all to say good bye. Brandy hugged Maxie through a wall, which only makes sense insomuch as one can see the photo. Almie wore her pink wig and Kelly and I decided the Farewell Brunch should morph into Misfit Brunch where everyone wears their as yet unworn items of clothing/ accouterments (I’d have brought my ferocious shark lunch bag that I picked up in the Shark Reef gift shop. It’s pretty badass and I proudly carry it to work).

There was the “baller” private gondola ride Brandy and I took before we had to leave for the airport later that day- thanks for that awesomesauce!

And then came the inevitable flight delay back to Chicago, which evolved into a canceled flight, a two-day stay over at the airport La Quinta, and a curious bout of food poisoning. When I finally did leave Sin City, I sat at my gate with an airport gift shop purchased mug filled with alka seltzer, wearing my sunglasses, trying not to throw up, and pretty much penniless. And when I happened to glance down, one of the last things I’ll remember about Vegas is seeing somebody’s toe nail clipping on the carpet. An actual fucking TOE NAIL. No wonder the place smells like feet! Seriously. The Las Vegas airport smells like feet. I should know. I was there 3 times in a week.

These are the things I’ll always think of when I think of Vegas now. I’ll think of you. And you. And you. That time we laughed at Absinthe as Penny relayed a really hilarious and really NSFW story involving sock puppets (seriously, ignore the annoying fucker who recorded it and USE YOUR HEADPHONES). That time we walked right into Pure ahead of eighty bajillion other people standing in line. And that time we had Second Dinner at 2 am at the burger place in the Flamingo. And I’ll think of this, courtesy of Almie, and watch it over and over again.

BiSC happened at a pivotal moment in my life and I’m so happy and grateful for being able to go. I know so many more bloggers now and know that should I have the opportunity to travel to the cities they call home, there will be a welcoming hug and drinking buddy waiting for me.

Those were my thoughts as I moved out of the apartment I’ve called home for the past six years and in with my boyfriend. The last time I’d give a cab my address was when I came back from Vegas. Saying it aloud that night, sitting in the quiet of the darkly lit cab, it hit home. After Vegas, everything was irrevocably going to change.

And, it has.

Filed under: a thing of beauty, awesomeness, blogging about blogging, fanciness, friends, hellacious fun, nostalgia, things people say, wanderlust by Nic