I decided to register for Bloggers in Sin City on a whim in January. My objective was to cut loose and have fun, and I succeeded!!! I have a deeply introspective take on my first and probably last Bloggers in Sin City. But first let’s get the cool stuff out of the way, shall we. One quick note before I begin: Thank you, Nicole, Doniree, Rachael, Rachel, and Jamie, for all your hard work on this year’s BiSC. It was fantastic!

The Jackpot and Sponsors

I was so happy to win the GelaSkins $100 gift card giveaway, which I’ll cover separately. But I was delightfully stumped when I got the $40 gift card. Haha. I have no more devices to skin! But I gave it to my sister. Sharing is caring. The sugar cookie made by Bitter Baking Co. had the BiSC logo in a weird sugar that stuck to your teeth a little, but it was so good. I think the highlight of the gift bag was the giant gummy bear on a stick (I nicknamed mine “Giant Gummy Ursasaurus”) by FredFlare, of which I had to plan an evening to eat the entire thing. Haha. It was amazing and so fun!

The chocolate nut raw bar by Bella was surprisingly good. I’m not big on granola or nutty bars, but it hit the spot in between casino buffets. I have yet to try the Athena blueberry Greek yogurt bar, but I’ve heard it’s delicious. I’m not really a chip person, but I tried the sweet potato chips by popchips and they were delicious. The Relax and Travel waters by Balance were necessary and much appropriate ’cause it was hotter than Texas in Vegas. Oh mon dieu, Le Bon Garçon caramels — yes. I really liked them, but I wished they had the names of each attached. I was really anticipating the passion fruit caramel. Mmm! The BiSC glitter magnet by purekatherine was impressive. As a designer, I’m very critical of rendered or replicated type, and I approved! Now to own a fridge to put it on. I can’t wait to geek out with my Marked Promo BiSC t-shirt. The Lucky Bloke, SkippyDip.ca, Babeland sexy treats were wasted on me since I’m abstaining, but my friends quickly claimed them.

What I Loved About BiSC

I was supremely impressed by my room at the Flamingo; from the electronic shade-drawings, the decor, the obscure glass bathroom door, the fact that other BiSCuits were jealous of me and TJ for having a shower and bathtub. I felt extra special. The rooftop at Chateau was magical and beautiful. I found it ironic that my tumblog is filled with the same content as Chateau; pictures of Paris, greenery, and twinkles lights. And the music was awesome. Once I heard an old R. Kelly tune being played when we walked in, I knew I would love this place. I felt like it was kismet — until the aforementioned incident.

The buffets at Paradise Garden in the Flamingo, the Spice Market Buffet, and Le Village Buffet were magnificent. My particular favorite was the Spice Market Buffet because of the higher quality of foods, but I liked Paradise Garden because there was a huge selection of foods, and the decor at Le Village was nearly authentic. At one point I was singing “Bonjour!” from Beauty and Beast.

Note to the buffets, though: up your dessert bar game. They were “just good” but not “yes lawd!”

I had never seen a Cirque du Soleil show before, so I didn’t know what to expect of Zumanity but weird and sexually suggestive acts. I got that and humor and awe and amazing. It was so cool. And the dudes were hot. Gawd. This show plus the Flamingo pool were a true test of my abstinence. Lawd! So I guess I should be grateful for the booty-shaking contest at the Flamingo pool, the boobie cards everywhere, and the mostly-naked ladies of Zumanity for keeping me from going absolutely homo insane.

Speaking of homo insane, I noticed that my estrogen levels were super high. I was in a total party mood most of the time. I even got a facial peel with Suki while Caryn and Donna got ready for Mad Men night. Flam boy, y’all!

Speaking of extra gay, I made sure to stop by LUSH at Northpark in Dallas and buy a dragon’s egg bath ball. I knew I would need to unwind at some point. So during the split events, I broke off from everyone, true introvert style, and soaked in the bath while watching Game of Thrones. I just needed my me-time, y’all!

As soon as my energy level recovered, I was back to my social butterfly self and ready to eat the eff out of some buffet.

And speaking of social butterfly, I met all the people. All 55+. I fostered the people as my own for a weekend. And I got to know so many cool people. Some of them I didn’t get a chance to get one-on-one with, like terrable and brandacious, but that’s why we have the twitter and the blogs to fill in the gaps.

Why I Won’t Be Returning For BiSC

I don’t like Vegas. It just doesn’t fit me as a city. I’m not a gambler, it’s too dry and hot, and it’s kind of a fake city. By that I mean The Strip is the most interesting aspect of Vegas (unless you’re into the desert scene), and it’s identity comprises of other cities’ identities. This was actually my second time visiting Vegas, and even the first time I felt it was too difficult of a city for me — with all the boobie cards and constant sensory overload of lights and ads and trying to stay hydrated…. I’m exhausted thinking about it. Bloggers in New Orleans (BiNO), definitely! Oh heck the effing yeah. But Vegas, I can’t hang.

Also, as an advocate for equality, I felt there was not a lot of that going on (in Vegas). From the boobie cards and trucks with big-breasted women plastered to the sides and roaming the streets just in case you needed sexy time, it was plainly visible that this was a hetero man’s world (and by extension, lesbians). When you go to the pool at the Flamingo, women get in hassle free. Guys had to show a room key or be with a female to get in. Lame. On Mad Men night at Chateau, at one point I was treated like a second-class citizen while everyone else felt like VIP. This particular situation is better told by Tara. After that happened I was pretty much done with the evening. If I’m a patron of your establishment and you treat me like I’m lower than other patrons simply based on the fact that I’m a guy, then I’m done. Completely.

This is a reflection of the city of Las Vegas and its establishments, not Bloggers in Sin City. Despite the hetero-favoring environment of the Flamingo pool and Chateau, I actually liked them as venues.

Digression: The fact that guys are okay with this happening is incredibly lame. It’s belittling. But I understand that’s how things are done in Vegas. It is, after all, the City of Sin.

With that said, I hate predominately straight clubs. Gay clubs generally don’t ostracized people like that… unless you’re a bachelorette party. [Different topic for a different blog post.]

The final reason for not doing a second BiSC is that I’ve had the experience I needed to have. I don’t need to meet any more random cool people all at once and feel like I can. I’ll leave that for the next batch of bloggers to live out.

Initially, I wanted to sign up for BiSC 2013, but after reflecting over my time in Vegas, I decided I wouldn’t waste my money on a city that I’m not going to mesh well with and for an experience that’s not going to be the same. It’s like high school prom or that really cool high school trip you took where everybody from different parts of the social caste got together and became bffs for one moment. You can’t relive that.

Parting Words

Editor’s Note: I won’t go through each person in this post ’cause it’s already too long. For that, check out the addendum.

Despite not returning to BiSC next year, I will say that meeting so many incredible personalities all at once was a fun challenge. And I know where all these wonderful people are if I ever need to see their faces — or, get them into vlogging (check out We Blog We Vlog).

If you’re a blogger and you’re looking to connect or challenge yourself socially, Bloggers in Sin City is an incredible experience and the one you *should* have. Before my years-long hiatus from personal blogging, I was a part of a blogging community that was incredibly supportive and encouraging. I’m so glad to have met a new pack of incredible, encouraging, and supportive people. I mean, people who peer pressure you into some speedo trunks have to be people you gotta keep around, right?

Registration for Bloggers in Sin City 2013 opens in January. Spots go fast so keep an eye out.