Day After Christmas

Here it is the day after Christmas at the Counts Castle.  Three of the four boys made it home, actually 2 made it home, one lives here.  The countess is quite sick.  I think it is the Swine Flu or a variation of.  She is nursing a fever, chills, no appitite, tired and other stuff.  So the celebrations have been toned down, but we still all managed to have a good holiday.  The boys made the customary lasagne which came out quite good.

It looks like today will be very uneventful even with the house full of family.  We are playing with new toys, Wii, this netbook, etc. and watching television.  Should be a quiet day.

Missing the Countess's BDay

Here I sit 400 miles away from where I should be. The work is at times fun, rewarding, interesting and profitable; but today it stinks. Yesterday was the birthday of my love and I had to miss it. A wish for a Happy Birthday over the cell phone just doesn't cut it. I know that after many years of this she understands, but it doesn't make it any easier or less aggravating. Some day this will be history, I just hope I will have the sense to show her how much she means to me when I do have the opertunity and not just take it for granted.

Just got the word that a dear friend has just passed away from colon cancer - Mike Wallace, you will be dearly missed by all who crossed your path.

Vacation

Last week the Countess and I went on a little vacation. We drove to Las Vegas on Sunday and checked in to the South Point Resort and Casino. This turns out to be a very nice place. The rooms are large and there are a lot of comps for just staying there. We stayed there for 3 nights. The first night we ate at the hotels steak house. The meal was very good and the service was great. The next day, Monday, we spent some time driving around and looking at the sites. That evening we went to see Jersey Boys at the Palazzo. The Countess loved the show, I was mildly impressed. It was entertaining and did get some emotions going. After the show we went to Emeril Lagasse's restaurant Table 10. Here the food was great, the service was poor and our total experience was not worth the final bill. We were seated right next to the entrance to the restrooms. There is about 2 feet separating us from everyone going to the toilet. This does not make for a relaxed, appetizing atmosphere. What makes this especially hard to take is that there were other far more desirable seats available. This table should not even be where it is or a barrier should be placed between the diners and the path to the crapper. The service was completely non-attentive. Not once did our water or iced tea get refilled. The order was taken, the food delivered and that was that. The bill, at tad over $100, and not worth it. The food was delicious but the experience was not worth half that. Traffic was terrible getting back to our hotel.
The next day, Tuesday, we spent at the hotel. Lunch at the buffet was not good but the price was right, one was free. And later took in the Legends show. The show was entertaining. Several of the acts were dead on and very enjoyable. Traffic after was terrible getting back to our hotel. Once back we had dinner at the hotels' Italian restaurant. The food was wonderful, the service was great and the Countess had the best Creme Brule she had ever had. After 3 days of winning some and losing some we are about even with the house.
The next morning we checked out and headed north to Reno. The Silver Legacy was definitly not South Point. But we will survive two nights. Ate at one of the restaurants in the hotel and couldn't finish the food. It was terrible and the Countess got a bit of a tummy ache. The next day, Thursday, we drove around Lake Tahoe. Spent a nice relaxed day enjoying the beauty and quiet that Tahoe had to offer. We enjoyed a wonderful meal at a restaurant in South Lake Tahoe and made our way back to Reno. That evening I went down to the tables and won $140 at Let It Ride. Friday we left Reno and took a long route to Chico to see a couple of 0ur boys, had dinner and set out for Santa Rosa. Made it to the Marriot Hotel and found a nice room. It is not worth the rack rate they charge, but worth the rate we paid. Saturday we went to the Charles Schultz Museum and spent several hours learning about his life and Charlie Brown and the rest of his charactures. This was very interesting and we enjoyed the museum. From there we went to Johnny Garlic's, Guy Fieri's restaurant, and had a terrific meal. We decided to go over the Golden Gate Bridge and head for home. We spent about 2 hours at the bridge. Walked across and back, watched the fog roll in and out and marveled at the size and style of the bridge. It really looks good. Then it was on the road for several hours and pulled into the driveway around 1:30 in the morning. We had a wonderful time together. Will have to do it again soon.

Survived the big 60

Turned 60 a few weeks ago and I still feel like I'm 59. No big deal except I can get the senior discount at the movie now. The countess likes to get the little dig in but as we all know, her day will come as well. Speaking of movies, I took the countess on a date tonight and we went to see Julie/Julia. Both of us enjoyed it very much. A good story told with humor and a sense of respect and love for all the charactures. Later we had our fix of Cold Stone Creamery. That was a hit with us as well. A nice evening.

It's a Valkyrie

I just updated the blog with a picture of my bike. It's a Valkyrie. Made by Honda and it's old by today's standards, a 1998 model. But it rides so smooth. I have been stuck in Stockton for the past couple days in 100+ weather and I miss my bike. I miss other things as well, from the comforts of my home to especially the Countess. But I talk to the Countess almost every day so it's not total unavailability. Simply can not wait to get back to ride the Valk.

If I don't have anything to complain about, is life good? It just doesn't feel like it has been good, but it hasn't been bad either. I see all the people around that don't have an income or other things that make life comfortable and I know I have made a fairly good life for myself and my family but is this it? Where is the sense of satisfaction or accomplishment? Does a person need others to give the feedback that allows us to feel satisfaction or accomplishment? When I'm alone, out of town, life is not very special. I just want to get home so I can feel life again.

A Foggy Sunday

In our little corner of the world it is foggy every day now. This season is known as May Gray or June Gloom depending on which month it is. But someday the sun will shine again and these days will be forgotten very quickly. I did have to go for a ride this morning. So I was out of the house by 8:00 am before the Countess got up so I would be back just after she gets up. She loves to sleep in on her days off. I rode north up the 101 through Santa Barbara and on to a little state park called Gaviota, about 70 miles. I was hoping that I might run into some sunshine, but it was not going to happen today. Took a picture of my bike.

It looks a lot better in the sunshine. Everything looks better in the sunshine. Got home in time to have some coffee with the Countess and to discuss what we would do today. As it turns out we did nothing. Yesterday we did go to the beach with the mutt which was good. It is always a nice reminder as to why we want to live here when we can spend an hour at the beach practically by ourselves, enjoying the sights and smells of the ocean. But today we simply shared some time together watching tv and having a bit of lunch. Today life was good.

25 May

Today is Memorial Day. The Countess and I didn't do anything except fly the flag at home. We thought it rather interesting that in the neighborhood there were 4 other flags flying today. A few years ago, when the neighborhood was of a different demographic there were flags all over the place. At least half of the homes had them. Maybe it's just because renters don't own flags.

How many times should a wife get beat by the husband before they realize it's time to leave? I thought it was once, but listening to the radio today I find I am wrong. The woman, with a 16 month old child is asking the good Dr. Laura if she should leave since the husband just won't stop hitting her even after she has told him to stop. Gee, go figure. She feels bad to call the cops because he is an illegal alien. I just can't understand the logic or the loyalty.

I am in a motel room tonight after a 5 hour drive so I can start the new job tomorrow. Even after 34 years of marriage it is still difficult to leave home and the Countess. I guess there is a positive side to that. If I didn't feel anything then that would be sad.

May 22, 2009

It's been awhile since the last entry, over a year. But I must confess I have thought a lot about this blog.
Today is a bit special as the Countess and I are playing hooky from work and enjoying a quiet day with each other. We decided to go to the Reagan Presidential Library and see Air Force One. It had been awhile since our last visit to the Library and a few things have changed. My biggest impression of the whole movie star/president thing is how rather simple and common the Reagan's lifestyle was. There were some excesses that are to be expected with the public life, but for the most part the private life was very conservative. I know I shouldn't use that word when writing about Reagan. I find myself thinking that this was one President I can view with respect.
Another impression is how small Air Force One was. Yes, it was only a 707 and there needed to be a lot of stuff on board, but the Presidents personal area was quite small. I guess that was enough for the average flight of only a few hours. It was interesting to see and learn of the history of the plane.
Hope to jot down a bit more often from now on.