When I told my friends, family, and colleagues I was going “all in for Vegas” the responses were almost unanimous: immediate smiles and giggles, contented sighs as they recalled their own Sin City antics, and the sarcastic, “Yeah, sure it’s for business.”

But whether your colleagues believe you or if they too picture you waking up with a random baby and a tiger in your room, the 61^st American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) Annual Convention has officially launched. Get ready to earn your registration, travel dollars, and tiger stripes!

For me, AAEP prep was a military-like mission. It involved traveling from Lake Placid, New York. to Las Vegas; shedding my “practice” hat, children, and clothing (ahem—because it is colder in New York State than Nevada!); and hours airborne. This “me time” provided ample opportunity to devise and commit my “Vegas Plan of Attack” (VPOA) to memory. Although subject to change, my VPOA currently looks something like this:

Step 1: Ensure Fit Bit is fully charged