Nerding Out In Vegas

Home safe now, just tired.  This was started on Thursday...

 Right now I'm sitting in my hotel room watching Friends.  It's the last day of the conference in Vegas and I'm ready to be home.  What I'm not ready for is the process of getting there.  Going home always seems like it takes twice as long as getting there.

Mostly the classes were a bust.  They were beginner level so that was disappointing.  I spent Tuesday during classes working my actual job and that was actually fantastic.  Instead of losing a week of work, I felt like I made steady progress.  

Coffee, earbuds so I sit still, and mask because
 no one was near me and the aforementioned coffee.

Then yesterday I left halfway through the first class because it was similar -almost the same- as the class I took the previous day.  The second class was for not my job, at all.  My job partner had taken it online earlier and was all just leave.   

The funny part was that I was in the middle front row because there weren't any seats available anywhere else upon my arrival.  I told job partner that I would have to slide out of the chair to the floor and army crawl out.  After daring me and requesting video, she kept texting me. On one of the texts, I pretended she phoned and whispered "Just a second" then scurried out.  I am such a responsible grownup. #IWouldLikeToThankTheAcademy

Once successfully out, I walked to the Bellagio to see the Conservatory. It's always so beautiful.  I wish I could see the other seasons, I've only seen Fall and it's different every time.  It's like walking into a fairy tale.  Usually I go first thing in the morning before people are moving around yet so it was busier than I'm used to.  I still took eleventy photos.

Then I paid Way Too Much for a salad and soda at Giada's cafe that I ate in the room while watching Friends.  It appears that Friends is never not on the television.  I'm not mad about that.

The final class of the day was actually a good one, even though it's not a tool/app that I will use.  It's one of those Maybe I'll Use It In The Future things.  I was just relieved that I learned something. #nerd

Now it's Thursday morning.  I only have one class this morning, of which I've already checked into and peaced out.  It was another beginners class, as indicated on the opening powerpoint slide.  Sidenote so you don't think I'm a complete slacker:  I've been using this database for four school years and my scope of work is narrow AND I didn't schedule my own classes.

I'm already checked in with the airline and I'm already checked out of the hotel, even though I'm still here.  I have to leave at noon so I'm just going to cozy it up in here.  For the next two hours, everyone thinks I'm in class.  *Stretch*Yawn*

I do enjoy this whole pandemic, no contact checking in and out.  It worked for the airline, the car rental, and the hotel.  I honestly can't think of any other thing I could have done to lessen my risk while here.  I wore a different mask and clothing each day and social distanced as much as one can in this situation.

Now, what's funny about the hotel is that I accidentally upgraded my room. 

While doing the online check-in on my phone, while also waiting at the airport, there was an option to "See about Upgrading Your Room".  I looked at it then backed out.  Welp, while doing so I must have clicked something because when I walked into my room, I walked into a suite. I just began laughing.  I wasn't going to change it, even if it did cost me hundreds of dollars. (spoiler alert: it didn't.  $136)

The bathroom was bigger than my bedroom at home; with a toilet closet, big walk-in shower with a rain shower head, and a giant jacuzzi tub. In the main room, a giant cozy king bed,  a big L shaped couch in BLUE VELVET. A desk, an entertainment center with a snack/drink bar that I didn't even make eye contact with. Two big closets.  It was on the eleventh floor and looked over the pools with floor to ceiling windows.  The only disappointment was the windows were really dirty.  Still though: Totally worth it.  

I did not get the car that I was scheduled to have. Luckily these things aren't that important to me and in the end, it saved me $100 somehow.  Instead of a full-size car, I got a Nissan.  For a smaller car, which I normally detest, I really liked this car.  If we didn't live in the country, I couldn't honestly say I wouldn't have bought one on the way home.  

Meanwhile, about the reason I was there: I can now say I attended this conference and now can decline future offers.  It's just not something I enjoy or can be successful with.  I'm not a school person - even though I enjoy learning - and I am definitely not a conference person.  At the beginning opening breakfast - not my best time of day in the best of circumstances - I texted my job partner "I hate you so much right now"  She laughed and asked why.  I responded that "It's like they took everything I hate and put it all into one room."    It really was like every conference you see in sitcoms.   One text I sent was just "OMG, they need to calm dafaq down."  The buffet breakfast and coffee were really good though.

Oh, I think I forgot to mention: there were supposed to be four of us.
One caught Covid, one was in quarantine because her husband had Covid,
and I didn't know the other person.  They were early risers so we didn't meet up until the last day.

Now that's about the boring work stuff.  What else did I do?

I went to the Venetian and breathed.  To my dismay, it didn't smell the same.  I blame the pandemic. It usually smells of vanilla and is the best scent ever.  Still, the canals part of the casino are one of the more beautiful things I've seen so I'm happy just to walk through it and take photos. 

It turns out the Van Gogh Interactive Exhibit is in Vegas.  When I discovered this - during class, of course - I couldn't book my ticket quickly enough.  The show required an assigned time  so I went straight from class to the exhibit.  I was sitting in it about three minutes before I began to get weepy.  It's so beautiful and immersive and I just wasn't ready.  I sat through it twice and took a bunch of photos and videos.  If you get an opportunity, just go.  Even if your only knowledge of Van Gogh is from the Doctor Who episode, just go.  (If you need a good cry, watch this: Vincent and The Doctor )

I did got to the Titanic exhibit again.  It is just so captivating to me.  This is also one of those things that if you get a chance to go, do it. It's also an immersive....hahaha, inappropriate pun!...experience.  

They significantly lower the temperature so it's chilly
when you walk out onto the deck, with the sound of "waves" is playing
and I swear you can feel the ship sway.

Then I drove the strip and went through the  McDonalds drive-thru off-strip just to get a regular meal for a regular price and some non-hotel room peace and quiet normalcy.

  

It occurred to me as I was thinking about a title for this bloggity post that most likely, I am one of the few people who would go to Vegas for school and museums.  

Somewhere over southwestern Washington State