WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!!

Welcome to the jungle
We got fun 'n' games
We got everything you want
Honey we know the names
We are the people that can find
Whatever you may need ~ Guns n' Roses

Tonight we watched Hangover with the kids. Perhaps not the best movie for my son to see but we talked about some of the scenes in the movie before he went to bed. What constitutes appropriate behavior: no taking drugs, don't drive drunk or under any influence, gambling is bad - if you lose, don't have sex in an elevator or public place, condoms are for safe sex not blowing up and bopping around the room with friends, don't marry a stripper you just met that night, you know, the "conversation".

The end of the movie comes up and they show pictures of what supposedly happened during the time in Vegas. Shots of them with Mike Tyson and Carrot Top, one guy throwing a punch at Wayne Newton, lots of topless women and major partying it up. My husband says, "I bet that kind of thing isn't really as outrageous as it sounds. There are probably lots of bachelor parties that end up like that." I just smile and nod in agreement while thinking, it isn't just bachelor or bachelorette parties that might get like that.

I've always been hesitant to go to Vegas. Why? Because I know something like the Hangover would take place. I have no doubt. I can just go to a club and something wild happens - going to Vegas?! I don't even want to tempt fate. I've learned what I'm capable of and have decided to stick within my comfort zone. This means limited drinking and partying. Funny for someone who now owns a rental venue where they have parties.

Here's an example. A few years back, 2004, I won a sales contest at the company I was working at. I didn't even realize I was registered for it. My boss pulls me in his office and says, "Guess what? You're going to the Superbowl in Houston!" I walked away from him and told him I didn't think his joke was funny and if he was upset still about the April Fool's prank I'd pulled on him earlier in the year, well, he should get over it. "No, you really won. You've got hotel, flight and one ticket to the game." One ticket. Apparently I and nine other people won. Only one other woman from a Canadian branch. She wasn't going.

I was. Hell if I was going to miss this opportunity. The company covered the flights and hotel. I just had to cover my travel into the city and meals. Easy enough. The flight down found me amongst the New England Patriot cheerleaders. I met a couple of people on the flight who had invited me to dinner that night. I went. I wasn't sitting in my hotel room all evening/weekend!

The same people invited me to an ESPN party at the aquarium in Houston the next day (Saturday). I hung out with them for a bit and went on to mingle on my own. I've never been one to be shy and sit against the wall amongst the other wilting flowers. I like to get into the thick of it. I perused the buffet table and met up with a gentleman who introduced himself as Desmond. "What a great name!" I said while we talked some more.

Later I ended up speaking with one of the guys from security for ESPN. After I get mowed down by Troy Aikman who has the audacity to look at me like I was the one who jumped out into his path (which he had about ten feet beyond me to get by me), the guard says, "So how do you know Desmond Howard?" I say, "Who?" He starts laughing and says, "I suppose you don't even know who just clipped you?" I said, "Well him I know, he was in the news for a lot of concussions." He says laughing, "Yeah among other things."

He then leads me on so I can meet another football player who is at a meet and greet that was just finishing up - Warren Moon! I was so excited. As a Vikings fan, I was very happy to meet him. There were other players there but none really registered.

The group I was with moved on to another event at a hotel downtown. As I'm walking this large black man I assume is a football player (size you know kind of gave it away) flirts with me. We only have a moment as he asks my name and he tells me his name is Michael before he is whisked off somewhere. That twit Aikman was there too again! Sheesh. I learn the next day before the game when I go behind the scenes of an ESPN pre-game show what his full name is. I find this out after meeting Steve Young, Chris Berman and someone else the name does not come to mind right now and the guy Michael I met the day before - Michael Irvin.

So Saturday night comes. We have an opportunity to go to another ESPN party or a Motown party. Um, I'd had about enough of the football players (former) for the day and was ready to par-tay! Caroline, the woman from the group I'd glommed onto and I went to the Motown party. I'm still not sure how we got in, probably a confusion with what took place when the attendant left her station. As we were standing at the entrance, a guy with this distinctive voice asks me, "Where's the attendant? Is this where we get in?" I turn my attention to him and look him over. Now he was shorter than me (but that doesn't say much I'm over six feet in heels) and a somewhat average looking African American. He smiles and introduces himself, "Chris." I chuckle, say, "Meghan" and then it hits me. He sees the light dawn behind my eyes and says, "Yes, Luda - Chris."

Then we all walk into the club together behind Beyonce. No I didn't meet her but I did get introduced to George Clinton who did an impromptu gig with the Funkadelics. Pretty cool.

Now I could go into more about the party and the Superbowl but I won't. Just like the saying What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas - What happens at the Superbowl stays at the Superbowl. I met the people and I entered the jungle!