Helloooo. :)
I'm back from Sunny Las Vegas. Sigh.
No more nightly bubble baths for me. No more city of lights. No more free shows. Back to real life. With lots of laundry.

It sure was a nice week though. Despite the sore feet, and calves, and thighs, and back...
You see, the hubs and I went to the World Of Concrete convention this week. I know. You're like: What the heck is that?
Unless you've got some construction industry ties in your world, then maybe you already know, that WOC is a convention held every year in Las Vegas for construction industry types from all over the world. Basically anything and everything that has to do with building stuff. From software to dump trucks and everything in between. Brands you might recognize like MAC trucks, Carhartt, Honeywell, Quikrete, Case, John Deere, Ford...really I could go on and on...they all show up and bring their products to showcase, to do some networking, and make some contacts.

Since my hubs is one of those construction industry types - a Pre-cast Concrete Production Manager to be more specific - we attend WOC about every 3 years. He takes classes, he networks, he gathers info and swag, I gawk and all the stuff I didn't know you could do with concrete and ask a million questions...I pretend to be a dump truck driver...

And claim if I could be assured I would get to drive a 40 ton dump truck I'd have a new career path. Cause it's so dang cool. It's like climbing a jungle gym to get into the thing! They have obstacle courses for these trucks, and for all sorts of other construction vehicles - front-end loaders, forklifts, skid steers, etc. I couldn't convince the hubs to compete, but I'm pretty sure he'd have kicked butt. :)

It's not all big equiment and guys out there at the convention either. There are some pretty awesome things you can do in concrete that utilize brilliant colors and art skills.

I think maybe that sort of thing is more my style than driving a dump truck!

So, everyday for three days we headed over to the convention center and walked one of the 3 'halls'. Giant spaces with hundreds of vendors. We watched competitions in the lots outside - one of which was a brick laying competition. Can you imagine laying 700-800 brick in a 12 foot wall in an hour? It happened. The winner walked away with a new truck and nice check. I'm just impressed with these guy - and 1 gal - for their skill and stamina. My arms and back hurt just watching them!

Our evenings were full of Vegas exploration. If you've never been to Las Vegas let me just tell you that you can be fully entertained and have lots of fun without drinking, gambling, or seeing an expensive show. I know, cause that's how we roll. :)

Among our favorites is the Bellagio fountains...We watch for an hour. Every 15 minutes there is a new song & a new show. It's awesome.

We also love Freemont Street. It's old school Vegas, but so relaxed and fun. The giant TV canopy over the street is pretty cool, but the street performers are so very awesome. Musicians, contortionists, painters...there is always something new and interesting to see. Last time we went there was dirtbike riders in a giant steel globe, this time Chinese dance and opera...

Most hotels have something entertaining to watch or do for free...MGM has the Studio Walk screening (you watch a TV show and get coupons for your opinions and the 45min. of your time) & the lions are pretty cute too. Mirage has an erupting volcano, Caesar's Palace has the Fall of Atlantis animatronic show, or you can stoll along the canals in The Venetian and be charmed by the living statues. And, don't forget The Sirens of TI show at Treasure Island.

Las Vegas was good to us this week. Even though by Thursday I was declaring my sneakers to be some kind of torture device and bought a pair of ballet flats at the Luxor to wear home on Friday. I look forward to going back in another 3 years and that old-friend feeling the city has begun to have for us. Do you have a favorite vacation spot that's like an old-friend?