Casino Trip with "The A.S. Gamblers"

Playing catch up on my blogging, this was our April Sound Gamblers trip to Lake Charles for an overnight blast.  Our Country Club was nice and provided an early a.m. breakfast for us before we boarded the buses.  100 funsters, definitely awake and high on breakfast tacos were dressed and ready to go.  Weather was off and on and for the guys who brought their golf bags and only got to play 9 holes before getting drenched, well, isn't what they say about golf true, "it never rains on a golf course"?  Since it was Tuesday (yes, I'm that far behind) it was 55+ day.  Must easily have been about a thousand or so of us guys and we were everywhere.  I did have some good luck on Monday, Tuesday the machines were tight, but all in all, still fun.  (I did not come home broke).  July was definitely a big month for me for gaming.  August has just 1 trip.  I'll be happy to give it a rest. 

New Toy?

Not really what I would consider a "fun" toy, but I needed a new hot water heater.  Plans were made and James and his son arrived early (b4heat) to start working on removing the old and installing the new.  Now I will have plenty (and then some) hot water.  Never to run out for sure.  Soooo, come for a shower?  You are most welcome...:-)

Stiff spiftttinnnngggg....

New entrance way floor.  After 30+  years of  old tiles, I decided it was time for a change.  Not that much area to re-do but after completion it was like a 100% new look.  Don't know why I didn't do it sooner.  Guess I had to "bottom out" looking at the old tiles.  Also, every time you do something to improve or change your home's appearance, something else pops up that you want to change.  Lesson from that, if I EVER were to move again, I'd definitely do everything before moving in.  Of course, sometimes you really have to live somewhere to know what you  want.  My thought today about change "It's never to late to change".  Goes great for life also.  Live it up folks.  You never know what's around the pike.

July Ex-Pats Luncheon

Although the restaurant has been in Conroe several years, it was my first visit there.  It is a very "ladies do lunch" type place, and the name says it all - Chocolate Passion.....Naturally the desserts are the big item but I had a salad rivaling any salad I've had in a long time.  Fresh, crunch, tasty - it was grand.  Very nice serving and I almost managed to eat every bite.  Several of the ladies enjoyed desserts but since there was no "sugar free" or carb free, it was not for me.  The only negative about the restaurant was the service.  Most of the staff did not speak English - thought for the day "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet".  Jean-Jacques Rousseau. 

Once a month

Our local fire station pulls out all the stops for a training session.  I happen to pass just as the "really big ladder truck" was fully extended and they had the water going full blast out of the fire hydrant.  I turned around as fast as I could and made a bee line back to catch the water show, alas, 2 late but I still got to see the big truck fully extended.  The big chief explained that each month they do this and that all of the firemen from the station have to have a "hands on" with this particular truck.  Probably a good thing that I am not a fireman, I could never make it up the ladder with my fear of heights.  Awesome tho watching our locals do their job and knowing that they are well trained.  Hats off to you guys - next week I'll bring cookies.  Thanx for always being there for our community. 

On the road again.....

Just returned from another, yes another, road trip to Louisiana.  Gaming weekend with the Health 2 U wellness group from the hospital.  These are rocking fun folks with lots of energy and the love of the game.  Had some good food, good gaming, good fellowship and a safe trip home.  Only 2 mishaps, one of our gals got pick-pocketed of her winnings and a jerky little black car jumped in front of our great big tour bus.  Thanx to our driver Joel, we made a safe stop.  Our coordinator Lionel took a tumble in the bus as he was walking to the back of the bus just as we came to a halt.  Fortunately everything and everybody was o.k.  We had some good rain, both in Kender and back in Montgomery while I was away.  Even dropped the temp below the 90's.  How nice was that, although short lived.  Thought from Jack London "I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet."  Interesting thought I think. 

Very busy day out

Took my friend and neighbor, Joan, out for her birthday.  We went to a "genuine" Mexican food restaurant (no TexMex) here.  Took us a few tries to find it, not in our usual area of travel.  Then on to a few shops and back home.  After, I had to go to Verizon to cancel my netbook contract when it expires next month and I noticed a new yogurt shop.  Called Tutti Fruitti - it's self serve and then you put it on a scale to determine the cost.  Almost as good as gelato - much closer than driving into H'town for gelato, fat free and much less costly.  Temperature was in the low 100's so it was a welcome treat.  It was a shame I had already dropped Joan off at home.  Oh well, always another next time for lunch and fun and definitely yogurt!

Happy 235th birthday USA

Happy Birthday to you, to you, to you U.S.A.  Long may you continue to live, strong and solid, even in the worst of times, always looking for a better way with opportunities for everyone.  Challenges have come and gone, and will again and again, over and over, for we are a people of many mixtures, of many strengths and many weakness, of hope and determination, of always giving it our best shot, even when that is/has not been enough, we muddle thru, still never giving up.  We have bled, we have cried, we have never stopped being the people that make this country great.  So fly your flags, enjoy the hot dogs and hamburgers, watermelon and your Fourth of July traditions but mostly, remember to be grateful for all that we have.  GOD bless the USA. 

Say "Hi" to July

It's all about JULY!  Look at your calendar - This year July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays.  This happens once every 823 years.  Just think, our great grand-children and their children will not be around to see this happen again.  These are the unusual dates (4) for his particular year, 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11 and 11/11/11.  Now, for the really neat thing about July, take the last two digits of the year in which you were born - add the age you will be (or are) this year and the results will be 111 for everyone in the whole wide world.  Also, this is the year of the MONEY.! and who doesn't like that.  The Quote for July - from Orison Swett Marden "Find your purpose and fling your life out to it.  Find a way or make one.  Try with all your might.   Self-Made or never made."