First full day in Vegas and meeting lifelong friends

I so forgot in my last post to post a picture of Ian, Jessica & Aidan who picked me up at the airport. I don't have one of them all together from that time, but will post one of the whole group of people who became my family while I was in Las Vegas. 

  

Me, Jessica & Aidan

 This is from left : Sean, Jeanne, Ian, Me, Jessica, Sylvia and of course little Aidan

So I woke up after my first full nights sleep - I had asked the guys to help keep me awake till at least 8pm so I got into the timezone as quick as possible, but honestly I don't think I got to sleep till around 10pm. I had been watching American Idol, but spoke to Si somewhere in the middle of it, and then went to sleep. Woke up a couple of times during the night, for the bathroom, but overall woke up very happy and healthy at around 6am - so about 8 hrs sleep. 

The plan was to go shopping on that day, mainly to find some cowboy boots for myself and anything else I found for family. Si's mum had given me a list of a few things she would really like if I could find them. But before I went shopping I met one of the most amazing women I will ever have the privilege of calling a friend. Her name is Janie and she has been involved int he wider WLS community for years. I have watched her videos and spoken with her on phone and Facebook for the last few years. Through her I have even met other New Zealanders sharing the same journey. 

You know when you meet people for the first time when you have had an online relationship with them, that sometimes that connection just isn't there. Nothing could be further from the truth with Janie. She arrived around 10am on the Thurs 17th and she couldn't check into her room until much later so both her and Sally (another fabulous lady from the WLS Community) stored their bags in my room. We ended up talking for about 2 hours and just connecting. 

Janie & Sally 

 Janie & Me

If you want to check out their You tube channels just click on their names here to follow the link. Missjaniehere(Janie) and Cabernetqueen (Sally)

So after catching up with these two for that couple of hours, I went shopping. Now to save money I wanted to uses the buses as much as possible, I asked security where the bus stop was and they say just at the beginning of the next block.....so I decided to walk it. Well someone should have told me that the blocks in Las Vegas are about 2km long and I needed to walk about 1.5 km.........it was 102 degress (39 in Celsius) at midday when I ventured out. I managed two hours of shopping and only went to two stores. A walgreens pharmacy for some essential supplies like bottled water and some things that Si's mum wanted. I also checked out the cowboy boots, but saw nothing I liked really and the prices were expensive. 

Headed back to the hotel and hung out with more WLS people. Janie & I had dinner of some chicken wings & then we were meant to hang out with one of the girls Vikki- whose birthday it was, but one of the guys who recently had heart surgery had a turn and was taken to hospital. A few of us (the family) decided to head down to Fremont Street to watch the lightshow- outstanding!!!!!!!!!!

 The light show

 Some of the signage

One of the more bizarre street performers (only in Vegas)

Got home to bed after 1am and my roommate Rain had arrived so we ended up chatting till about 2am - She is a Bariatric Support Leader and Certified Coach, and if you want you can check out her page here.  This is Rain and I at the final night of the conference.  

 

I guess the biggest thing I will actually take away from this conference is the friendships I made with all of these people (okay not the weird guy in Fremont street) and that no matter where in the world I am, they will always be in my heart. You guys made Vegas special for me.

Next time: Pawn stars, Ricks Restorations and day 1 of the WLSFA Conference.