What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas...Unless

Unless you suddenly have an allergic reaction to the antibiotics you are taking and it creates a rash over 90% of your body and leaves you feverish, nausiated, headachy, and twitchy!

So I did my Vegas and Death Valley trip. I had fun in Vegas; I really did. As a non-smoker I must say though that Vegas is the USA designated smoking area! I thought I was in Europe for a second. Of course staying at the Venetian makes it feel like Europe anyway.

I like how they make the indoors feel like it is outdoors. I didn't get back to the hotel until 4:00am and I got back up at 8:30 for Death Valley. That was a lot of money for a 4 hour room!

One thing I learned about Death Valley...it's a lot bigger than I thought it was. On the way to hiking, I thought I'd never get there. Coming back from the top of the trail I was on I was short on time, daylight, and gas; none of which are good things in a new environment in the middle of nowhere!

It's very surreal to be driving below sea level and be surrounded by mountains. It felt more like I was at 3000-6000 feet. Death Valley has a lot of interest contrasts.

It was 82 degrees and sunny all weekend! That's all that counts when you live in Portland!

I did some hiking at Red Rocks Canyon on Sunday. By then I was feeling the allergic reaction big time. I hadn't slept much at all on Saturday night either. I had fun, but it was forced and I paid for it later.

Sunday afternoon and evening was a blur. From walking around Vegas to waiting for my flight to checking myself into Emergency at the hostpital when I got home to finding out I had an allergic reaction to going home and sleeping 16 of the next 20 hours.

Damn I need to pull myself together and just get back to some simple living.