Tag Archives: Las Vegas

Top 10 Things I Experienced on My Quest to Find Aliens

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Because every moment of my life has to have a back story (ask my husband), I must fill you in on a few things before getting to the really good stuff.

For the past 10 years (or so), David has attended the Microsoft Management Summit for business, and for the past 5 years I’ve tagged along for pleasure. The conference has been held in Las Vegas for at least the past 5 years, so last week was my fifth visit to Las Vegas. The excitement of a new city to explore has waned a little bit each year, but now it’s turning into a more familiar city that I get to re-visit now and still find new adventures. Every year we count our blessings that we get to go another year, so I am definitely NOT complaining that the conference has been in Las Vegas every year. Plus, we have friends who live in Vegas, so it’s extra nice to be able to visit them.

The conference began on Monday, but we flew in on Saturday, and picked up two of our friends to drive about 90 minutes north of Las Vegas to Alamo, Nevada. Do you know what’s in Alamo, Nevada? Not much! There’s a few places to stay, a tiny little town of modular-looking homes, a couple of gas stations, a cemetery, two places to eat (one of which is open when the owners feel like opening), and a public hot spring. The place we stayed was also the only restaurant in town that had set hours, so we pretty much ate there most of the weekend. It was cool at first, but it got old really quick.

On Sunday we drove another hour northwest along the Extraterrestrial Highway to Rachel, Nevada, which is about as close as civilians can get to Edwards Air Force Base, otherwise known as Area 51. You can Google Area 51 and read all about it on your own without me giving you all the details, but for the purpose of my story (and to keep you from meandering away for too long), Area 51 is supposedly where the government is hiding the aliens…or something like that.

So without further adieu…

Top 10 Things I Experienced on My Quest to Find Aliens

1. I can survive a weekend being nowhere near a Starbucks and/or modern civilization. It helps that I packed an electric kettle and some Starbucks Via. If you want to call me a cheater, then you can also call Boys Scouts cheater for always being prepared. I do give them credit for decent cell reception MOST of the time!

1. I can survive a weekend being nowhere near a Starbucks and/or modern civilization. It helps that I packed an electric kettle and some Starbucks Via. If you want to call me a cheater, then you can also call Boys Scouts cheater for always being prepared. I do give them credit for decent cell reception MOST of the time!

We probably should have worried that the Alien Research Center was abandoned on a day when it was likely to get the most business, and there was a lone RV out back with no signs of recent activity.

2. We probably should have worried that the Alien Research Center was abandoned on a day when it was likely to get the most business, and there was a lone RV out back with no signs of recent activity.

3. When there is little entertainment venues for millions of miles around, the Ash Springs hot springs is THE place to have your picnic/pool party/ hot tub/family reunion/dating game/weekend getaway. Plus, it feels really awesome!

3. When there is little entertainment venues for millions of miles around, the Ash Springs hot springs is THE place to have your picnic/pool party/ hot tub/family reunion/dating game/weekend getaway. Plus, it feels really awesome!

4. 4.When driving along the flat, empty desert, driving 100+ MPH really fast doesn't feel as awesome as it does when driving 100+ MPH really fast while passing cars and flying by road signs, or so I imagine. It mostly feels the same as driving 50MPH, I assume.

4. When driving along the flat, empty desert, driving 100+ MPH really fast doesn’t feel as awesome as it does when driving 100+ MPH really fast while passing cars and flying by road signs, or so I imagine. It mostly feels the same as driving 50MPH, I assume.

5.There are moths out to kill you. I REALLY wish I had a photo of one of the MANY that we saw, but pretend that I took this, because this is how they make you feel!

4. There are moths out to kill you. I REALLY wish I had a photo of one of the MANY that we saw, but pretend that I took this, because this is how they make you feel!

6.Random strangers who work for JackFM who are also on a trek to find aliens are a lot of fun, and they won't think twice about following you out to the Area 51 gate or posing for pictures with you. People on Alien Quests are all completely normal people and should be trusted 10 miles away from the nearest anything.

5. Random strangers who work for JackFM who are also on a trek to find aliens are a lot of fun, and they won’t think twice about following you 10 miles down a dirt road to the Area 51 gate or posing for pictures with you. People on Alien Quests are all completely normal people and should be trusted.

7.The lady who runs the Little A'Le'Inn tells amazing stories and turned out to be the true highlight of the entire Alien Quest, and she doesn't think twice about asking you to step behind her bar for photos, probably because she's met THOUSANDS of weirdos just like me! Her name is Pat!

6. The lady who runs the Little A’Le’Inn tells amazing stories and turned out to be the true highlight of the entire Alien Quest, and she doesn’t think twice about asking you to step behind her bar for photos, probably because she’s met THOUSANDS of weirdos just like us! Her name is Pat!

8.The cake is a lie.

7. The cake is a lie.

9.Bring AND wear lots of chapstick. No, not for the aliens! Wear it for the wind, because it's incredibly windy out in the desert. Besides, the aliens might be nicer to you with smooth lips.

8. Bring AND wear lots of chapstick. No, not for the aliens! Wear it for the wind, because it’s incredibly windy out in the desert, and later you’ll wonder why your lips are so chapped. Besides, the aliens might be nicer to you with smooth lips. Maybe.

10.Just because I have no recollection of finding aliens does not mean that it did not happen.

9. Just because I have no recollection of finding aliens does not mean that it did not happen. I have been experiencing problems counting correctly lately…

11.Trips to the middle of nowhere are much more fun with awesome friends!

10. Trips to the middle of nowhere are much more fun with awesome friends!

Stay tuned for more Las Vegas adventures!

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt

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Locked In

Posted in NaBloPoMo, November 2012 by

If you had to get locked in some place (book store, amusement park, etc.) overnight alone, where would you choose to be locked in?

Most people who know me  know my love for bacon. Friends will randomly share bacon posts with me on Facebook, message me links or email photos and recipes. I even have a Pinterest Board dedicated just for Bacon that’s my most popular board among friends and random followers.

So if I had to be locked in a place overnight alone, it would have to be in the bacon store.

Just kidding! I’d make myself sick before the night was over.

In all seriousness, I’d have to say that I would much rather be locked in the Canyon Ranch Spa at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. For the past several years, my husband has attended the Microsoft Management Summit in Las Vegas, and the past four years I have gone with him (to Las Vegas, not the conference!). Last year I spent a day in the spa at the Venetian, and it topped my list as the most relaxing place I have ever visited. I’ve had facials and massages in the past, and I took part in those services last year, as well, but the real treat for me was their Aquavana spa that offers several different types of spa experiences, like a sauna, a steam room, an herbal room, a rain shower, a wave room and several others. For the full treatment, they recommend experiencing at least a few minutes of each one. It was simply amazing!

I’m NOT being paid, comped or receiving discounts from them for writing this (but if Canyon Ranch contacted me with a free day or discounts, I would deny them!). I’m really just answering the question that if I could get locked in one place overnight, it would definitely be in the Aquavana spa or at least something like it. When they found me the next morning, they would have to scoop me up and wheel me out of there, because I would be a puddle of relaxation after a night spent in the spa.

I’m already planning my spa day for next year’s Las Vegas trip if David goes to the conference again!

Would you rather be locked in the Bacon Store or the Spa? Have you ever had a spa day? Where would you like to get locked in overnight?

During the month of November, I am participating in the National Blog Posting Month, also known as NaBloPoMo, hosted by BlogHer. Most likely I am following these suggested prompts, but I might just get crazy and change things up every once in a while. I’m one wild and crazy gal! 

NaBloPoMo November 2012