Las Vegas

You’ve heard the phrase, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," right? Well, this isn’t one of *those* stories—otherwise, it’d be a very short one! If you’ve been keeping up with my recent blog posts, you’ll know I landed a remote job to support this lifestyle. The cool part? The company I work for flew everyone in my department out to Las Vegas for a weekend Christmas party! Let me tell you, I’ve worked in all kinds of places—warehouses, restaurants, gyms, retail stores—and not a single employer has done anything this extravagant before. Naturally, I was thrilled! I flew out of Dallas (driving to Vegas didn’t make much sense), and the entire trip was a blast. They put us up at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino, which was super exciting because I’d only gambled once before—on my 21st birthday with my dad. Before this trip, I had never even met my coworkers in person since we all work remotely. Sure, we see each other on Zoom calls, but this was the first time we met face-to-face. 

It was also pretty cool because my manager and one of my coworkers live in the Dallas area, so we flew out together. Once we arrived in Vegas, we waited for a few more coworkers to land, then carpooled to the hotel. If you’ve ever been to Vegas, you probably know about the lively area outside the Flamingo. There’s this charming little alleyway styled like a small downtown, filled with restaurants, bars, and unique shops. Oh, and they had an In-N-Out Burger! (If you’re from the East Coast, trust me—this is the best fast-food burger spot, hands down.) Of course, we had to stop and indulge a little, but that was just the beginning of an unforgettable weekend. 

After grabbing some food, the group split up. Some coworkers hit the casino, while others kicked off the nightlife at the bars. Me? I made the *wild* decision to go back to my room and take a nap. I know, I know—taking a nap in the "city that never sleeps" sounds ridiculous, right? But Jill had been feeling sick before I left, and I wasn’t feeling 100% myself upon arrival. I figured it was best to rest up for the big weekend ahead, and honestly, I was glad I did. That evening, we all met for dinner at a Korean BBQ spot, which was a totally new experience for me. When I say they brought out what felt like half a cow, I am *not* exaggerating. We devoured so much beef and sushi, I’m pretty sure we consumed a week’s worth of calories in one sitting! On top of that, my manager kindly taught me how to use chopsticks, which was a fun milestone for me. 

After stuffing ourselves beyond belief, we somehow managed to squeeze out the door and ended up playing a hilarious white elephant gift exchange in the parking lot. Picture 20+ gym bros huddled around a single car—it was quite the sight! Some of the group went out afterward, but I called it a night and headed back to my room. Between the jet lag and not feeling great, I was ready to pass out. 

Saturday was a completely different story—I woke up feeling energized and ready to go! A good night’s sleep, hydration, and a healthy dose of Tylenol and Motrin did the trick. I even managed to squeeze in a workout before kicking off the day’s festivities. The company had organized a go-karting event, and these weren’t your typical go-karts—they hit speeds of up to 60 mph! It was equal parts exhilarating and terrifying, but I loved every second of it. Afterward, we headed to dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse, which turned out to be the most impressive dining experience I’ve ever had. Every few minutes, servers came around with a variety of meats—garlic butter chicken, filet mignon, T-bone steak, gourmet turkey—you name it. The sides were just as indulgent, and the whole experience felt like something out of a foodie’s dream. 

Later that evening, we went to a Cirque du Soleil show, which completely blew my mind. Think of it as a Disney on Ice performance, but without the ice. The stage rotated and flipped, and the acrobats and gymnasts were absolutely mesmerizing. I’ve never seen anything quite like it—it was hands-down one of the most impressive shows I’ve ever attended. Afterward, the group splintered off again to explore Vegas nightlife. Some sought out the hottest tables and slot machines, while I returned to the Flamingo to try my luck. One of my coworkers taught me how to play the slot machines (though I’m still a bit confused about how they work), and I decided to test my luck at the blackjack table. I won some, lost some, and eventually decided to call it a night around 2 a.m. But before heading to bed, I remembered my dad jokingly told me to put $100 on black. I didn’t go all in, but I did put $20 on black five separate times at the roulette table. After some highs and lows, I lost it all—but I had an incredible time, and I don’t regret a thing. 

A quick disclaimer: I don’t recommend gambling unless you approach it with the mindset that it’s purely for fun and you’re okay with losing whatever you bring. If you enjoyed this story, stick around—I’ve got more entertaining adventures to share next week!