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So I get an email stating that Cathie has left a posting on my blog that says, "Where are you? You haven't posted for a whole month!!!!" and I thinks to myself, "Self, you sure haven't." So, you ask, what have I been doing for a month?
I started the month counting down to a trip to Las Vegas with my friend Kevin from LA. This was his treat so that I could join him to celebrate his birthday. It's not the first time we've spent birthday's with each other in the 20 years we've known each other. I recall a limo and fabulous dinner at The Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego some years ago. It will also always be embedded in my memory that he showed up unannounced at my 45th birthday party in Austin.
We had a fabulous time! We stayed at The Riviera Hotel on the strip. I managed to get Kevin upgraded to a nice, one-bedroom suite for his birthday. He turned me on to the wonder of "Wheel of Fortune" slots. All told I managed to come home $25 poorer than when I went which aint bad for 3 nights in Vegas. Kevin chuckled at my method of stopping play at the slots when I would win a jackpot (I think I won a $400, a $300 and a $100), cashing out and heading straight to my room where I'd deposit the winnings in my in room safe. We saw a show at The Excalibur hotel and had wonderful dinners at the The Steakhouse at Camelot and at Emeril's at the MGM Grand. The dinner at Emeril's was extraordinarily expensive and absolutely wonderful and The Steakhouse dinner was pretty fabulous as well. I had a 24 hour romance and I think Kevin came out ahead about $500 on his gambling (He is a total pro and has the various casino "frequent gambler" cards on a retractable string attached to his waist. I am but a mere amateur). We had a great time and I'm so grateful to Kevin.
I get back to Austin just in time for the "ice storm". Now, for those of you who don't know, it really doesn't take much to shut this city down. And it did. For 2 days. Since I fell on the ice and hurt my back, it was a nice break and I extended it a bit.
Then I launched into my latest endeavor: school. Yes folks, I'm now a full time employee and a student. This is going back after about 20 years. It's been interesting to say the least and I'm still trying to figure out how the schedule of work, school, study, eating, working out, sleeping, taking care of business and having any degree of a personal life works. So, two apologies:
1) To Brad I want to say I now understand why you were unseen for months at a time. I'm sorry I doubted you. Now I get it.
2) To all my friends who may not see much of me. I'm going to make a serious effort to have some times with friends on a regular basis but I make no guarantees.
So, onward with this experiment. Wish me luck and please indulge me if my postings are few and far between ;)
I started the month counting down to a trip to Las Vegas with my friend Kevin from LA. This was his treat so that I could join him to celebrate his birthday. It's not the first time we've spent birthday's with each other in the 20 years we've known each other. I recall a limo and fabulous dinner at The Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego some years ago. It will also always be embedded in my memory that he showed up unannounced at my 45th birthday party in Austin.
We had a fabulous time! We stayed at The Riviera Hotel on the strip. I managed to get Kevin upgraded to a nice, one-bedroom suite for his birthday. He turned me on to the wonder of "Wheel of Fortune" slots. All told I managed to come home $25 poorer than when I went which aint bad for 3 nights in Vegas. Kevin chuckled at my method of stopping play at the slots when I would win a jackpot (I think I won a $400, a $300 and a $100), cashing out and heading straight to my room where I'd deposit the winnings in my in room safe. We saw a show at The Excalibur hotel and had wonderful dinners at the The Steakhouse at Camelot and at Emeril's at the MGM Grand. The dinner at Emeril's was extraordinarily expensive and absolutely wonderful and The Steakhouse dinner was pretty fabulous as well. I had a 24 hour romance and I think Kevin came out ahead about $500 on his gambling (He is a total pro and has the various casino "frequent gambler" cards on a retractable string attached to his waist. I am but a mere amateur). We had a great time and I'm so grateful to Kevin.
I get back to Austin just in time for the "ice storm". Now, for those of you who don't know, it really doesn't take much to shut this city down. And it did. For 2 days. Since I fell on the ice and hurt my back, it was a nice break and I extended it a bit.
Then I launched into my latest endeavor: school. Yes folks, I'm now a full time employee and a student. This is going back after about 20 years. It's been interesting to say the least and I'm still trying to figure out how the schedule of work, school, study, eating, working out, sleeping, taking care of business and having any degree of a personal life works. So, two apologies:
1) To Brad I want to say I now understand why you were unseen for months at a time. I'm sorry I doubted you. Now I get it.
2) To all my friends who may not see much of me. I'm going to make a serious effort to have some times with friends on a regular basis but I make no guarantees.
So, onward with this experiment. Wish me luck and please indulge me if my postings are few and far between ;)
