"Weekend" Away

One of the things I really wanted to do this summer before Brad started school was go away for the weekend. We have periodically had nights to ourselves since Elliott was born, but rarely more than one in a row and never as part of a 'getaway'. I had been trolling for ideas of inexpensive (key) locations when, along with our Oxnard package, one for Primm, Nevada also popped up. We have often stopped in Primm for breakfast after leaving Las Vegas and would joke that we should just stay here sometime. So for a $139 package, we got a two night stay, $50 dining credit at the steakhouse and two massages. Sign me up!

Once there, it was easy to see why they offered up this mid-week special. Its pretty dead during the week and a lot of their amenities are only open on the weekend (like the tram between the casinos). But it was great for us, the room was nice, the steakhouse was delicious, the beer at the "Irish" pub was yummy and the spa was surprisingly nice (something I really wasn't expecting). We stayed at Buffalo Bill's but most everything else we did was over at the Primm Valley Casino, who's biggest issue was the Magnolia air freshener being pumped through the HVAC system (to aid in the southern ambiance? It didn't.).

Um...

We arrived on Labor Day and didn't have any other plans but for the scheduled spa treatments (I got them both :D) and our dinner reservations. We ended up driving into Vegas on Tuesday and decided to go out to the Hoover Dam and see the new bridge. We weren't really prepared for walking in the sun (no hats, not much sunscreen, hardly any water), so we took it easy, but still feel like we saw cool stuff. The bridge was really spectacular, but my camera/photos don't do it justice.

The Bridge

Water Line

The abyss: something Brad has wanted to see since he was a kid - can't you tell :)

For you, Meagan!

All in all the trip was nice. But it is easier for me to say that now. The only problem came from my inability to deal with stress, which ended up manifesting itself in an almost overpowering sense of dread during the vast majority of the trip. Brad received an unsettling email from school right before we left (which was only an issue because he was wait-listed for two of his key classes, and the email made it sound like he needed to be registered or he would lose his financial aid and housing - ugh). I knew it would be fine, it sounded like he was going to be added to at least one class by Tuesday night and there was nothing we could do about anything because of the holiday and turn-around time with the adviser's office. Yet I couldn't shake the dread. I was finally able to let go (and I'm glad I did!) on Tuesday night half way through dinner when it became obvious Brad wasn't going to be able to log into his email at the hotel. And of course, everything was resolved by the time he could log in on Wednesday, so all that stress, worry and physical pain was for nothing. So stupid. Worst part is that I 'knew' it would be fine, but I've lost my edge at being able to handle things like this and put them in their place. I attribute it to my new role as a mom since it's been like this the last couple of years. I think I'm just at capacity right now, so anything additional, is just too much.  Anyway, I'm sharing this mostly because I want to remember so that it doesn't happen again. Life is too short and letting things get to me like that will only make it shorter.