Well, it's been a long long time since I've had a proper vacation.  Sure, I've taken days off from work, visited relatives and such, but I've not taken five or more days, packed a suitcase and been somewhere with no other reason than to get away, relax and have fun in about 7-8 years.  After a very stressful four months at work, I decided as soon as my new boss started and had a few weeks to get acclimated, I was out of there.

For proper vacations, I want to go to places that don't resemble my reality.  Living in Sarasota, an international tourist destination for reasons I don't know, I just find it hard to believe that people spend their hard-earned dollars to visit such a normal place.  Sure we have fine quartz sand on Siesta Key, but you're essentially in... well, Florida (not that there's anything wrong with that).  I like to know I'm on vacation, but putting myself in a place that doesn't come close to resembling reality and Las Vegas certainly fits that bill.

So my girl and me will be boarding  a plane in less than 4 hours to spend 5 days in Vegas with no agenda other than seeing my pal from high school play with his band tomorrow night and then dinner at Emeril's restaurant and the Cirque du Soleil "Love" show based on the Beatles' music on Saturday night.  The rest of the time we'll be gambling, shopping and relaxing by the pool.