A Daily Diary - August 2011

Entries for the Month of August

On Mother's Day we gave my mother a digital picture frame from Vizit.com. If you ever want a great gift for sharing your pictures with a distant relative, check this site out.  Each month I will be featuring some of the pictures that I have sent to her frame. You can enlarge any of the pictures below by just double-clicking on them. Then click on your browser's "Back" button to return to the original screen. To see more of my photographs, go to http://kensphotogallery.blogspot.com/

WEDNESDAY - 08/31/2011 - Today was "car" day. Was up and over to the garage to get the annoying screak in my steering column taken care of in preparation for our tip to Laughlin on the 10th. We've been putting up with this noise for months in and around town, but decided we couldn't stand it for two hours straight on a road trip. On the way over the car overheated for the third time in two weeks. After careful examination, it was determined that I needed a new radiator and thermostat. Got home eight hours later and $500 poorer. Made us turkey sandwiches for dinner. We then watched some TV shows before quitting for the evening. I staged everything I needed for tomorrow morning's hike before joining Connie in bed.

TUESDAY - 08/30/2011 - Did our normal morning routine and then got ready to go out to dinner the Willis', one of our neighbors. We had lunch at the Coronado Cafe at the South Point casino. They have the best Chinese food in town. Connie and I had Chinese lunch specials and Martin and Janice had sandwiches. After lunch we went to the movies and saw "Rise of the Planet of Apes". Having only recieved so-so reviews, it was actually much better than any of us expected. The photography and CGI effects were excellant, and it even had a story line. We then bought dessert from the deli and went back to their apartment and looked at pictures from their recent vacation to Carmel over wine and cake. After we got home we watched a few TV shows before retiring for the day.

MONDAY - 08/29/2011 - Decided to stay home today. About mid morning I decided to drive over to Jim Herring's and do some yard work. He had received another letter from his homeowner's association stating that he needed to weed,  trim his trees and shrubs, and pick up some "trash" that had blown onto his property. I spent nearly three hours trimming everything before coming home hot, tired and exhausted.  I played on the computer organizing pictures while Connie read and did laundry and ironing. I Made us some turkey sandwiches for a very late lunch. Connie watched a few of the openig matches of the U.S. Open and I continued to work on pictures. We had the last of the peach and rasberry pie for dinner and chocolate banana splits for dessert. Watched movies and prerecorded TV show most of the evening and then went to bed.

SUNDAY - 08/28/2011 - I was still aching from washing the car yesterday, so I went out to the pool to use the spa. The outside spa was out of order, so I hd to use the indoor one. Spent some time talking with one of our neighbors. When I came in I cooked us a nich brunch of hash, poached eggs on shredded wheat, English muffins and cut up peachess. Connie decided to stay home today, so after lunch I headed over to the "M" for some play. Had a loosing day and came home around 6:00 and popped a pizza in the oven for dinner. We watched a Netflix movie, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" the second in the series. Though these are not our usual taste, we rather enjoyed it. Called it a night and turned in after the movie.

Stone Face - Walnut Canyon, AZ

SATURDAY - 08/27/2011 - Got up early to head to the garage to have the car looked at. ceived a call from Jim in Florida. Sounded like things were going OK. The garage added some more coolant and gave Betsy a clean bill of health. I came home and gave her a good washing and wax job. for lunch I made us a nice fruit salad with pears, peaches, apples, bananas and walnuts. I also popped some biscuits into the toaster oven. After lunch we went over to the "M". Connie lost and I won $200. Came home and had peach and rasberry pie for dinner over some TV shows befores heading off to bed.

FRIDAY - 08/26/2011 - I ran some errands this morning. Had chicken sandwiches for lunch over a couple of TV shows. Connie decided to stay home today. I went to a new barber for a haircut. On the way to the "M" the car blew a radiator hose. I reattached the hose and added some coolant, but she still kept overheating. Finally reached the "M" and bought some more coolant. Played cards for a couple of hours and won $100. Drove home and had pie and icecream with Connie for dinner over a prerecorded TV show and finally went to bed.

Reflections in Color

THURSDAY - 08/25/2011 - Spent several hours reorganizing my photo folders on the computer. After several years of naming, renaming and reorganizing photos, I think I finally have a "system" that will allow me to download pictures and place them into locations where I can find just what I want at a later date for editing and upload to my Photo Gallery blog. For lunch we had chicken sandwiches again before heading over to the "M". We both had minor losses for the afternoon. Used a poker comp for a 'take-out' order of chicken fingers at the deli for tomorrow's lunch. Came home and had the chicken Caesar salads we got the night before for dinner and ice cream and chocolate cake for dessert. Watched some prerecorded TV shows and went to bed.

WEDNESDAY - 08/24/2011 - Used comps to get two free take-outs at the deli; chicken fingers and chicken Caesar salad. Made chicken sandwiches with the chicken for dinner. Watched some TV and went to bed. 

MONDAY  - 08/22/2011 - I went to the pool this morning but didn't stay long. Both spas were out of order and the pool was cloudy. Came back in and read with Connie. I fixed us tacos for lunch which we ate over a TV show before going to the "M". Connie lost and I won $80 in the poker room. We then stopped at GVR so Connie could play her $12 in free slot play. She won enough to pay for her losses at "M" and broke even for the day. I picked up another $180 in the poker room. We came home and had chocolate cake and ice cream for dinner, watched some TV and headed off to bed.

SUNDAY - 08/21/2011 - Connie made french toast for breakfast which we watched over the "Sunday Morning" show. I worked on the computer while Connie did some washing, ironing and reading. At noon we headed over to Steak & Shake at the South Point casino for a late lunch. I lost $50 in the poker room and Connie lost $20 on slots. We then headed to the "M" where I made enough to break even and Connie cut her losses for the day to $10. We came home and watched TV and went to bed.

Let the Trumpets Blare

SATURDAY - 08/20/2011 - We decided to take a day off and stay home today. I spent the morning finishing up on my blog project. At noon I made us hamburgers and baked beans for lunch, which we ate over our Netflix movie, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", the first of the series. I decided to order all seven of the "Harry Potter" series and view them in order before going to the theater to see the final movie of the series. We then took a break to do some reading. I made us ice cream sundaes for dinner and we started watching some prerecorded TV shows. My sister called from Kansas to give us an update on Christian and Christina's baby. Adalynn has (RCDP) Rhizomelic Chondroplasia Punctata which is very often a lethal condition, This is being compounded by the need of open hear surgery and cataract surgery. Her condition had actually improved some in the past week and everyone is hopeful. Watched another TV show and went to bed.   

The Lone Stone

FRIDAY - 08/19/2011 - Connie made waffles for breakfast. We watched a couple of prerecorded TV shows and then went back to working on the computer and reading. I've been spending the last couple of days adding indexes to all of the picture categories on my photo blog; a time consuming project. We left around 3:00pm, ran some errands and then headed over to the "M". They were having some special random slot drawings from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. I played in the poker room and Connie played slots. We had the chicken Caesar salad for dinner in the Vig Deli. Connie didn't get her name picked for any of the drawings and we ended up coming home around 8:30. It seemed like a very long day. We only watched one TV show when we got home and then went straight to bed.

THURSDAY - 08/18/2011 - Played around doing our normal stuff in the morning. Went to the "M" and had the buffet for lunch and then played for a few hours. Both made a couple of dollars and came home. Watched some TV and went to bed. I know, same shit - different day!

WEDNESDAY - 08/17/2011 - Computer, pool and then lunch at our clubhouse. After lunch we headed to the "M" where Connie had entries into a free slot tournament. We had dinner reservations for 6:30 at Veloce Cebo, their premiere restaurant on the 20th floor. For an appetizer we shared the Macadamia nut crusted sea scallops, with apple fries in a blood orange beurre blanc sipping sauce. For the main course Connie ordered the Roasted Fillet Mignon with a blue cheese crust, grilled asparagus and a port wine reduction sauce; I had the Grilled Porterhouse with Tuscan herbs, garlic and grilled artichokes. For a side we had the sweet potato fries. The portions were so large we were only able to eat about half and took the rest home in a doggy bag. Too full to eat dessert, we also got two warm molten chocolate cakes to go. The bill was $129 - the gift certificate Connie won playing slots was $130 - the net result $0. Such a deal. Well, it really wasn't totally free, I left a $22 tip. We watched one TV show when we got home and went to bed on very full stomachs. 

Town of Cold Creek Nevada using the "Tilt-Shift" Technique

TUESDAY - 08/16/2011 - Up early and played on the computer. I made reservations for four free night stays in Laughlin during September and for a night at the Mt. Charleston Resort. It was such a beautiful day, not too hot with a medium breeze, that we both headed to the pool about mid-morning. After about two hours of reading we headed up to GVR for lunch at the buffet. After lunch Connie played off her $12 in free slot play and we then headed over to the "M" and played for another three hours. Connie ended up loosing $25, however, I won $120 in the poker room. We came home and popped some "pizza puffs" into the microwave for dinner and watched TV for a couple of hours. Connie went to bed and I played on my photo blog for a couple of hours before calling it a night.

"Tilt-Shift" Photo of Mt. Charleston Valley (click to view detail)

MONDAY - 08/15/2011 - I was up early to sign up for the Fall season of hikes offered by the Henderson Senior Center. I ended up signing up for 12 weekly hikes starting in September and going thru November. I then spent the remainder of the morning making some improvements to my photo blog and creating some new picture posts. You can check out the changes and additions here ... Site Change. Arround noon we drove down to the RIO on the Strip so Connie could play $10 in free slot play. We then drove to the "M" and had two free lunch buffets on my poker comps. After playing for a few more hours we came and watched some TV.  Had PP&J sandwiches for dinner and banana splits for dessert. Watched "Edge of Darkness", a Mel Gibson movie we had recorded off of Cinemax's free weekend, and then headed off to bed.

Blue Agapanthus from the Bellagio

SUNDAY - 08/14/2011 - Today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday. In the morning, I worked on my picture blog while Connie read and did ironing. For lunch we had leftovers from yesterday's lunch.  Boring, but still very good. We then decided to watch "Avitar" which I had recorded off of Cinemax. Being over three hours long, this was most of the afternoon. Connie liked it better than the 3-D version we saw at the Theater. After taking a break for a couple of hours, we watched a movie that I know we have seen at least four times, "A Fish Called Wanda" starring Jamie Lee Curtis. However, it is always such a "fun" movie, we couldn't resist watching it again. We then watched the Country Music Awards and went to bed. 

Ferris Wheel at Bellagio's Botanical Garden

SATURDAY - 08/13/2011 - We decided to stay home today and do nothing. Connie said to me, "you did that yesterday." I told her I wasn't finished. I worked on updating apps on my cell phone and reading several magazines. I popped a Marie Calendar's frozen lasagna into the oven along with some petite corn and some homemade garlic bread. We then decided to make it a "movie" day. This was FREE Cinemax weekend on DirecTV and I had recorded several movies, some we had not seen and some that were worth watching over again. We started with "Face Off" starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage. Next we moved onto the 2010 remake of "The A-Team". Before finishing with the movie called "Whiteout"; not as good at the first two but acceptable, we had banana splits for dinner. We finally headed off to bed.

FRIDAY - 08/12/2011 - Today was a very busy day. I went off this morning with Ron, my downstairs neighbor, to go have breakfast and play pool. We had the breakfast special at Blueberry Hill Pancake House; two small waffles, two eggs, two slices of bacon and hash-brown potatoes. We then went to Mickey's Cues and Brews poolroom and shot two hours of eight ball. Ron was the winner today. I came home and picked up Connie and headed to the "M" to play in this months free-roll holdem tournament. Not having any luck, I got knocked out in19th position from a field of50 players. Better luck next month. Connie, on the other hand, won a $130.00 gift certificate in a random slot drawing to Veloce Cebo, the M's best restaurant on the top floor of the casino.

We then went over to the Silverton Casino to have the Friday night seafood buffet at the Seasons Buffet. All month is 2-1 with a player's card, making the price of  $11.50 a piece a super bargain. We each started off with some cold "peel'em" shrimp. We then had a huge plate of hot crab legs with real melted butter. Next we had the Oysters Rockefeller (I ate seven of them) which were absolutely outstanding. We followed that with one of my favorites, the Shark Oscar, served with a Bearnaise sauce and a piece of asparagus. We then share a small piece of grilled steak and baked salmon. This was followed with a small homemade strawberry shortcake and a couple of chocolate covered strawberries. OK, so we ate too much, but it was absolutely delicious. When we got home we "plopped" ourselves on the couch and watched a couple of TV shows before waddling off to bed. Great day!

THURSDAY - 08/11/2011 - We stayed home today. In between a couple of TV shows, I played on the computer, my blog, and updated apps on my cell phone while Connie did wash, ironing and read. Made tuna sandwiches for lunch. After lunch I went out and ran some errands. Drove over to North Las Vegas to check on Jim Herring's house. When I got back we watched a Netflix movie, "Cedar Rapids". 

Rosella Parrot

WEDNESDAY - 08/10/2011 - I decided to try the pool this morning. Connie stayed inside and read and did some laundry and ironing. At noon I made us brunch consisting of poached eggs, roast beef hash and English muffins. We then headed over to the "M" for Connie's free slot tournaments. We continued to play most of the afternoon. Go to my blog page for the Eastern Rosella.  

Lorikeet Parrots at Bellagio's Conservatory

TUESDAY - 08/09/2011 - After our normal morning routine we ran some errands and hit the bank before heading up to GVR for lunch at the buffet. Connie played $12 in free play and won $35 and decided to go home. I headed to the "M" poker room to continue working on my hours for the upcoming free-roll tournaments.  By the end of the day, I had enough hours for the 2nd free-roll and started working on hours for being in the "top 50" for the third tournament. Just had some PP&J for dinner before having some ice cream for dessert. Watched some TV and went to bed early. Go to my blog page for the Rainbow Lorikeet.

Summer Exhibit at Bellagio's Conservatory

MONDAY - 08/08/2011 - Played on the computer and read the early part of the morning. Around 10am we headed down to the Strip. Connie had $10 free slot play at the RIO. After that we went to the Bellagio to see the summer exhibit at their Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Finally we drove to the "M" for two free buffet lunches. Played for a short while and then finally came home. It seemed like a long day. Had ice cream sundaes for dinner and watched a couple of prerecorded TV shows and went to bed.

SUNDAY - 08/07/2011 - Talked with Jim in Florida this morning. All things considered, he sounded relatively good. Is suppose to be moving into the house he rented next week. I went to the "M" after breakfast to continue working on my hours for September's $33,000 freeroll tournament. Had a delicious "Chicago" hot dog at the deli for lunch. When I came home I cooked up some pork chops, wild rice and some frozen peas for dinner which we ate over the Netflix movie, "The Adjustment Bureau". About a congressman (Matt Damon) who's a rising star on the political scene finds himself entranced by a beautiful ballerina (Emily Blunt), but mysterious circumstances ensure that their love affair is predestined to be a non-starter. For what it was, it was good, but just a little strange for our tastes. Had banana cream pie for dessert over a couple of TV shows and then headed off to bed.

SATURDAY - 08/06/2011 - I went to the pool and Connie stayed inside and did wash and read. We had PP&J sandwiches for lunch before heading over to the "M" to play. We left the "M" at 5pm and drove to Monstah Lobstah for dinner where I had a $40 Living Social coupon. We had the New England fried clams for an appetizer. Excellant!. Connie had a 1-1/2 lb boiled lobster dinnah with fresh corn on the cob and onion rings. I had the lobstah pastah - a 1-1/4 lb lobstah over a bed of linguini  with a Princess Vodka cream sauce with garlic bread, which was also very good. We were both stuffed when we left and certainly got our "fix" for a good 'ol New England meal. Watched some prerecorded TV show when we got home and went to bed early. 

FRIDAY - 08/05/2011 - Sent a birthday card and some photos to my mom's Vizit photo frame. Connie made french toast for breakfast. I showered, dressed and headed over to the "M" Poker room and played all day. I lost back what I had won yeaterday. Brought home chicken fingers for dinner and cooked up some rice and left over corn. Watched So You Think You Can Dance;  so far we have been right on when it comes down to who is getting voted off of "dance". The final four is exactly who we predicted more than a month ago. Mom called to thank me for the birthday card and pictures that I sent to her photo frame. Got an email from Jim Herring saying that Christina had her baby, but that she was in intensive care and that it was too early to know whether everything was going to be ok yet. Had some banana cream pie for dessert and watched a few more prerecorded TV shows and went to bed. 

THURSDAY - 08/04/2011 - I created a digital birthday card for my mom. Went to the pool for a little reading. After showering, we went to the Elephant Bar to use a 2-1 lunch coupon.  We both had the 1/2 rack of ribs. We the headed over to the "M" and played for the remainder of the afternoon. Connie lost $50 and I won $150 in the poker room. I cooked up the rest of the hamburger and added it to a can of chili for dinner. We watched America's Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance and then retired for the evening.

WEDNESDAY - 08/03/2011 - We spent most of the day at the "M". Connie had a free slot tournament that was paying out more thand $5,000 in prizes that she played - no luck. We had two free lunch buffets and then both play for the remainder of the afternoon. Connie won $50 and I picked up $40 in the poker room. Came home and had a hamburger steak and baked beans for dinner over a couple of TV shows. Had some banana cream pie for dessert before heading off to bed.

Best In Vegas

MONDAY - 08/01/2011 - Very humid today. With the dew point near 60 and a temperature around 100, it was just too muggy to go to the pool. I worked on gathering some prescription information to email to my friend Jim who moved to Florida. I then updated my expenses and did some end of the month backups on the computer. At noon we decided to use a 2-1 coupon at Tides, the seafood restaurant at GVR. Voted “Best Seafood” in Las Vegas by the readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Tides Oyster Bar is, in a word: fresh. We both had a cup of good 'ol New England Clam Chowder for an appetizer.  For an entree, Connie had the crab-cakes and I had the fried oysters. The have the best fried oysters in town. After a little play we headed over to the "M". After a couple of hours we decided to come home and watch some TV. I made us some chicken fillet sandwiches for dinner. Later we had ice cream over a couple of prerecorded TV shows before heading off to bed.