In Recovery Mode

 What a trip! Got into Vegas around 1am Saturday, got checked in and crashed for about 4 hours before getting up for the day. We met up with our friends and walked to a Denny's (about 1/4 mile from the hotel) to start the day. From there it was decided we would walk the Strip a bit. Of course, mostly it depended on me, since I have the issues with my knee, hips and back, plus walking with the cane. We strolled along, stopping at some shops, stopping so they could get pictures of the buildings, etc (it was their first time to Vegas). We finally ended up at the Venetian, and their step-counter thingies said we had walked almost 4 miles. Holy moly! *I* did that much? I knew I was in trouble. The Wife and I took a Lyft back to the hotel. Wife was having a migraine starting, and I knew there was no way I could walk that distance back. Our friends ended up walking back, stopping at other shops. 

The Wife took a nap, and I went down to waste money. I sat at the bar, had some drinks, played some video poker. My buddy met and we sat and talked, drank and played for a couple hours. Then we met up with the rest of the group they were with, and headed to downtown Vegas for the Fremont St Experience. I had never been, so did not really know what to expect. It was cool with the overhead light show. But by then mu leg muscles were starting to "stiffen up" and ache. We did a Tony Roma's $11.99 Lobster and Steak dinner (the whole group) and then I pretty much said I needed to call it a night. I think it was around 11pm Vegas time (12am mine). The Wife and Lyft'ed back to the hotel, with plans to call our friends to say bye in the morning. Another night of like 4 hours sleep, and we were up, packed and ready to go. Met up, exchanged goodbyes, and we were on the road.

Sunday morning I was doing the baby-step walking because I was so sore. Even today I still taking shorter steps, but feeling a bit better than yesterday. Probably be a couple more days before it feels normal again. I've some muscle rub for the worst of it.

Not much else going on at present. Still waiting to hear from work. No plans for anything exciting as of now. Might go to the VFW later.

PeacE

It's Vegas, Baby!

 The pas seven hours have been nothing but a waste of time for me. Sleep has failed to show up for me once again. Now, at the early 4am hour, I decided I was tired of tossing and turning, so just got up. No idea why sleep is eluding me. Too much of something on the pizza we had for dinner? Too much sugar/caffeine in the Pepsi I had with the pizza? It's not happened before, so why would last night be any different? I don't know. I just know I will be making time out this afternoon for a a three-hour nap as I will be ....

... driving to the bright lights of Las Vegas tonight! Whenever the Wife gets home from work, and throws her things together (because she didn't like I asked her to do last night) we will be on the road. It's about a 4 hour drive, so my guess is we won't reach the hotel until midnight or so - depending on traffic, and how many times we have to stop for me to go pee. So looking forward to spending time Saturday with my Best Friend and his Wife. It has been a handful of years since we have been able to get together.

Then we will have to get on the road by 8am Sunday to get back home in time for a wedding the Wife and Kids are attending. So overall, will feel like a busy weekend. I have a feeling I will be spending Sunday afternoon catching some much needed sleep from the weird schedule I will be having because of last night.

So that is plans. Beats just sitting here waiting for the Company to let me know there is a project. It's been a month now.

PeacE

Eastbound and Down (Sorta) and Poorer

 Well, made it back from Las Vegas yesterday, just in time to be picked up by the Wife and rushed off to the Youngest's Marching Band event. They were the last band, so it was near 8pm before they got on the field. There are nine high schools in our district, and they are the biggest band. It had been at least three weeks, if not longer, since I had last seen/heard the band, and last night they rocked it! I actually got the little shiver with goosebumps at one point of the performance. They did make State Semi-Finals, which is this coming Saturday - in Gilbert, which is literally the other side of the Valley and like a good 1.5 hour drive. Sigh. Fucking rich people's schools always get the big events. Which they would change it up and switch sides of the Valley to do this on. Another bitch, another time.

Vegas was alright. The Wife and I had made a trip there about 20 years ago, and stayed on the Strip at the Mirage. This time I stayed at the South Point - about 5 miles south of the Mirage, and most of the main hotels on the strip. SP was pretty cool. There were several restaurants/eateries of different variety all over the casino, so there really was no need to leave the place - unless you had something specific you wanted to do/eat/see. I did leave Saturday and toured Madame Toussad's Wax Museum, had White Castle's for lunch, and did a little walking around the Venetian and the grand canal shops. For me, it was quite a bit of walking, and I estimated I did about 5K that day. Most of the days were spent at the main casino where we stayed. I drank a bit, but no where near as much as I regularly. I just didn't feel like being that intoxicated in a large crowd and that far from my room. Did I mention I hate crowds before? I would "find my spot" at one of the bars and spend most of my day (when not in my room) playing video poker and drinking so no one would bug me. The friends and I would meet up every now and then and hang out talking, watching games on Sunday, and a meal here and there. Was nice to hang out with friends, and having a mini-vacation. Of course I came back with less money than I went with - but still did not spend all I took. I was happy about that.

Still haven't heard much from the Company. Last was last week with the 'availability' questionnaire, and the "several projects coming very soon" comment. Think it may be time to start looking at similar other places and see if I can split time between companies and projects. The Wife has not heard more from any employers recently either - that I know of anyways. Gonna be a weird Christmas, especially I have not started shopping because no one knows what they want. Ask the kids and I get " I don't know"...buttheads (said in an affectionate way of course - this time).

Middle Son went with us to the marching band thing last night, so was able to catch up a little with him. We see him more than the Oldest Son or even the Daughter. He was supposed to be by this morning as well, but haven't heard him yet. It may still be a little early for him on his day off.

Guess I should get off this post and get on to the emails and other catch-up stuff from the weekend.

PeacE

Vegas, Baby!

 This morning I leave for Las Vegas for a four days. A little "Guy's Only" trip to celebrate a friend's retirement from the Army. What a weekend to go, though, with Halloween on Sunday - wonder how many 'weirdos' we will see?

Leaving today, I miss the chance to go to my alumni Homecoming game tonight, and a get-together some fellow bandmates from my years were putting together for tomorrow. I also miss the Youngest's Homecoming game, a band competition on Saturday (at my alma mater of all places) and should be back in time on Monday evening for the District exhibition of all the HS marching bands.

I am all packed and ready to go. Have a little spare cash for food/drink - I don't gamble really. 

Guess that is all I got until I get back.

PeacE

Another Boring, and Sober, Saturday Night

 Another long, boring week has come to an end. Friday did end with an email from the Company though, with a brief 'questionnaire' to fill out regarding one's current availability for Projects. OF course, I had mine done within five minutes of receiving the link. I am so ready to get back to work. I went out that night to the VFW as my usual routine. By the end of the night, I might have another Santa gig for a nearby American Legion. They are supposed to call me and give me details of what they would want of me, before I commit to anything.

Saturday was spent not doing much. Middle Son came over to help out with mowing of the lawn, and helping move some heavier items around front for the bulk trash pick up that is due soon. Youngest Son helped out doing the trimming around front. I went up to the 99 Cent store to stock up on 2-liters of Mountain Dew and Pepsi, as they almost always have them there for $1. No Mtn Dew.... so got extra Pepsi, and a couple Shasta Lemon-Lime. They Wife had me get some packages of pasta. I threw in a few other minor items for lunches for me, and a couple snack items. So I'm stocked with stuff for the next couple weeks. Found some Tampico iced tea up there too! The Wife had found a Peach flavor one a few days back, and thought it was that store, and sure enough it was. I grabbed her a couple more quarts, and they had one lemon left, so I grabbed it to try (I hate peach tea). It's not bad! I like many of the other Tampico drinks available by the gallon at most stores, but ad never seen the tea.

Sat around most of the afternoon binging on episodes of 'Blue Bloods'. With supper the Wife and I watched the final episode of "Bull", and I headed to bed. That was about 9pm. Just after 12 I am awake again. Damn bladder. But I knew once I got up to go that sleep wasn't going to be coming back for awhile. So here I am at the computer, trying to find something to make me sleepy enough to go lay down and try to sleep again.

I'm leaving Friday for Las Vegas. A fried has retired from his many years of service in the Army, and is doing a Guys Only retirement party/ get-together. There are about 10 of us in total going, and 4 that are riding up from the Valley together. We are staying at a nice Casino further south on the strip, where one friend's family has been going for years, and gets many comps. The NPRC Rodeo championships are there that weekend, too, so rooms were a bit higher priced, but will still save some money on food and drinks thanks to connections. I know I won't lose much gambling, as I am not into it. I might end up in an Uber up the street to Madame Toussad's or something. I think I might have mentioned all that before some time. Coming home Monday. The Youngest has a Homecoming game, Competition on Saturday, and the district exposition on Monday evening, so I will miss two of the events.

The Wife may be returning to the workforce soon. She had a couple phone interviews last week, one which had her do a physical one as well. Unfortunately, that one turned her down. Have not heard from the other one. I have no idea how many other places she might have applied at, or have places in mind yet. But it is a start.

Nothing more to clear out of my head today.

PeacE