HIT THE ROAD

WE WERE SO WELL ORGANIZED THAT WE GOT AN EARLY START TO “THE MOUNTAIN”.   THE COFFEE MACHINE GOT TURNED ON AT 3:45 AM, AND WE WERE ON THE ROAD A HALF HOUR LATER.

THE TRIP IS INTERSTATE 40 MOST OF THE WAY, SO WE HIT OUR REGULAR PIT STOPS AND REST AREAS.

AND OF COURSE IF YOU’VE TRAVELED THE WEST ON THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM YOU’LL RECOGNIZE THE FLYING J’S STORE.

AFTER THE FIVE AND A HALF HOUR DRIVE, IT’S TIME TO UNPACK.

SO FAR, ALL WE FORGOT WAS THE CHARGER FOR THE CAMERA, BUT WE REMEMBERED THE BACK-UP CAMERA AND IT’S CHARGER SO NO PROBLEM.

THE PLUMBER STORY

LAST FALL WE USED THE TRAILER LATE IN OCTOBER TO CAMP WITH THE GRANDSONS FOR A WEEK-END AND WHEN WE WENT TO SHUTDOWN AND CALLED THE REGULAR PLUMBER, WE FOUND OUT HE’S A FLATLANDER LIKE US, AND HAD RETURNED TO THE VALLEY OF THE SUN FOR THE WINTER. WE CALLED AN EXPENSIVE PLUMBER TO COME RIGHT AWAY AS OVERNITE TEMPS IN LATE OCTOBER WERE WELL BELOW FREEZING AND OF COURSE WE PAID WELL OVER $100 FOR THE SERVICE CALL INSTEAD OF $65.

LAST YEAR I HIRED OUR REGULAR PLUMBER TO OPEN UP THE TRAILER AND I FOLLOWED HIM AROUND LIKE A PUPPY DOG AND WROTE DOWN EVERYTHING HE DID AND HOW HE DID IT SO I WOULDN’T NEED A PLUMBER IN THE SPRING, ONLY IN THE FALL.

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN WE WALKED IN TODAY AND FOUND THE CLOTHES WASHER PULLED OUT FROM THE WALL AND DISCONNECTED, AND THE CLOSET DOORS REMOVED. SIMILAR SINK, SHOWER, AND TOILET PARTS IN THE BATHROOM…..

SHIT, THE EXPENSIVE PLUMBER HAS ME BY THE BALLS. HE SHOWED UP A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER AND CHARGED ME ANOTHER $100 TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.  ANOTHER LESSON LEARNED!

 

SHUTDOWN

I STARTED ASKING MY DESERT RAT BUDDIES JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO DO, TO SHUT DOWN THE CAMPER AND LEAVE IT ON THE DESERT ALL SUMMER.

ON “THE MOUNTAIN” IT’S PRETTY SIMPLE, HAUL HOME ANYTHING THAT WILL FREEZE AND BREAK, TURN OFF THE WATER, TURN OFF THE POWER, TURN OFF THE GAS, CALL THE PLUMBER TO WINTERIZE THE WATER LINES AND LEAVE HIM A CHECK ON THE KITCHEN TABLE.

I FIGURED THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT, NOTHING WILL FREEZE, LOCK THE DOOR AND HEAD OUT. TO CLOSE UP THE CAMPER IN THE HARSH HEAT OF SUMMER PRODUCES AN INTERNAL HEAT THAT DRYS OUT EVERYTHING AND CAN EVEN MELT THE GLUE THAT THEY PUT THESE TRAILERS TOGETHER WITH.

FIRST THING IS COVER ALL THE WINDOWS INSIDE WITH THAT ALUMINUM FOIL BUBBLE WRAP TO REFLECT THE HEAT OUT.

SINCE THE HEAT IS GOING TO EVAPORATE ALL THE WATER OUT OF THE TRAPS ON THE DRAINS, YOU NEED TO SEAL ALL THE DRAINS SHUT, AND DON’T FORGET THE SHOWER.

TO SEAL THE TOILET AND PROTECT THE RUBBER SEALS YOU ACTUALLY POUR IN VEGTABLE OIL INSTEAD OF ANTI-FREEZE.

TO PREVENT THE GLUE FROM DRYING OUT AND MELTING NEXT YOU LEAVE BUCKETS AND GARBAGE CANS FILLED WITH WATER ALL OVER THE INSIDE.

REMOVE ALL OF THE FOOD, OR THE PACK RATS AND MICE WILL TAKE OVER THE INSIDE.

IN OUR CASE WE NEED TO COVER THE KITCHEN COUNTER ON THE PORCH TO PROTECT IT FROM THE MONSOON RAINS OF JULY AND AUGUST.

BESIDES SHUTTING DOWN THE TRAILER IT WAS THE DAY TO MAKE A “RUN” TO TOWN. HAIRCUTS, BANKING, AND THE LIBRARY WILL FINISH UP WHAT’S LEFT OF OUR BUSINESS IN THE MOHAVE VALLEY.

IT STILL FEELS LIKE A SUMMER VACATION, SO WE MADE TIME FOR 10 – 20 COLD BEERS AND A VISIT WITH “GRANDMA JACK”.

BUTTON UP THE TRUCK

I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW GOOD WE BOTH FELT LEAVING WORK LAST NIGHT FOR THE LAST TIME TO START OUR SUMMER ADVENTURES. ACTUALLY I’M STRETCHING THE TRUTH A LITTLE, WE WERE BOTH SHOT AFTER WORKING ELEVEN DAYS STRAIGHT, AND REX HAS A COLD. I WENT TO BED EARLY AND THEN TURNED THE COFFEE POT ON AT 3:15 AM THIS MORNING, CAUSE I COULDN’T SLEEP…..

 

LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN

THE MOTORCYCLE RALLY, THE LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN, CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE FROM A HIGH OF 75,000 AND THE THIRD LARGEST RALLY IN THE USA, RIGHT BEHIND STURGIS AND DAYTONA DOWN TO ABOUT 25,000 THIS YEAR.

THE DOWNTURN STARTED IN 2002 WHEN A MAJOR BRAWL BETWEEN RIVAL MOTORCYCLE GANGS, THE HELL’S ANGLES, AND THE MONGOLS, AT HARRAH’S, LEFT THREE BIKERS DEAD AND ANOTHER THIRTEEN INJURED, AND NINE BIKERS ARRESTED.

ANOTHER CONTIBUTING FACTOR HAS BEEN THE GREEDY CASINOS AND THEIR OUTRAGEOUS PRICES. A ROOM THAT NORMALLY RUNS $65 - $75 ON A WEEKEND SHOT UP TO $250 - $300 ON BIKER WEEK-END.

PACKING THE TRUCK

THE PROJECT FOR TODAY IS TO FINISH PACKING THE TRUCK,

AND TO LOAD UP THE SCOOTER.

CHARGE UP THE HAM RADIOS, THE BIG RED PICK-UP IS READY FOR THE ROAD!

THE LAST DAY

TODAY IS FINALLY THE LAST DAY OF WORK!!  IT WAS A LONG COUNTDOWN, MADE LONG BY BEING TRAPPED ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT BY THE BAD ECONOMY.  IT WAS A QUESTION OF HAVING A JOB, AND KEEPING THE JOB.

FOR THE MOST PART WE KEPT ON OUR HAPPY FACE, BUT THE LAST SIX MONTHS WORE US DOWN AND BURNED US OUT. WE NEED A BREAK FROM THE  CASINO INDUSTRY!!

AFTER TAKING 4 DAYS OFF FOR SPRING BREAK AND TURNING IN OUR PAPERWORK FOR A LEAVE OF ABSENCE AT WORK WE WERE SCHEDULLED TO WORK FOR 11 DAYS STRAIGHT THROUGH EASTER AND THE BIKER WEEK-END.

OF COURSE WE WERE PLANNING ON A DAY OR TWO OFF TO FINISH THE REMAINING ERRANDS, HAIRCUTS, LIBRARY, BANK, ETC., BUT IT WAS NOT TO BE, SO OUR DEPARTURE DATE HAS BEEN SET BACK FROM MONDAY TO TUESDAY.

ON THE OTHER HAND AS WE LOOK AT OUR SCHEDULE IT HAS FOUR COMMINTMENTS: MARY’S MOTHER’S BIRTHDAY MAY 7, MARRISA’S GRADUTION MAY 24, MEET BROTHER NEIL IN DURAND WISCONSIN MAY 16, AND BROTHER HANS IN TURTLE LAKE MAY17, AND BE IN SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TEXAS ON OCTOBER 1ST. I GUESS WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME…….

PURGE

AFTER SPRING BREAK, THE PRIORITY AROUND HERE IS THE PURGE. TAKE IT TO THE MOUNTAIN,  THROW IT OUT, OR LEAVE IT HERE.

WE STARTED WITH THE SHED, AND GOT IT UNDER CONTROL.

NEXT WE EMPTIED OUT THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, AND SWEPT IT OUT. SHOULD BE AN EASY MOVE WITH ALL THIS ROOM AND THE CAR BESIDES.

 

THE PICNIC TABLE IN BACK OF THE CAMPER IS SERVING AS THE STAGEING AREA TO PACK UP THE TRUCK. THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKES ABOUT A WEEK TO GO THROUGH, AND WE BASICALLY WORKED ON IT AN HOUR OR TWO EACH DAY OF WEEK #2.

BLOG CHANGE

JUST A SMALL BLOG CHANGE FOR THE NEXT MONTH. WE HARDLY EVER BLOG IN REAL TIME. USUALLY WE USE TERMS LIKE “RECENTLY”, OR “LAST WEEK ONE DAY” TO DESCRIBE WHEN AN EVENT TOOK PLACE. IT’S A SECURITY ISSUE. IF I BLOGGED THAT TODAY WE’RE IN VEGAS FOR A COUPLE DAYS, ISN’T THAT AN INVITATION TO BURGLARIZE  OUR HOME?

AIM DOES THE SAME THING ON FACEBOOK. HAVE YOU EVER READ THAT DANIAL IS GOING “TDY” TOMORROW FOR TWO WEEKS TO WASHINGTON, D.C.? HELL NO, SHE DOESN’T WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW SHE’S HOME ALONE WITH THREE SMALL BOYS.

UNCLE HANS TOO. WHEN YOU READ HIS BLOGS ABOUT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, YOU CAN BET HE WAS THERE LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY READ HIS BLOG.

FOR OUR UP COMING TRAVELS TO WISCONSIN WE’D LIKE A MORE ACCURATE RECORD, FOR US, ON WHICH DAYS WE WERE WHERE, AND HOW LONG WE STAYED, ETC.

SO FOR THE NEXT MONTH WE ARE GOING TO USE THE CORRECT DATE ON THE TOP OF THE BLOG.  THIS MEANS A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST YOU MAY WANT TO SCOLL DOWN AND SEE IF YOU MISSED ANY BLOGS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE WE ARE VISITING MARY’S MOM IN MT HOPE THERE ISN’T ANY INTERNET SERVICE AND WE MAY ACTUALLY POST SEVERAL BLOGS IN ONE DAY TO CATCH UP. SECOND IF YOU DO YOUR INTERNET READING WITH A “READER” IT LISTS THE MOST RECENT ENTRIES AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, AND MY BLOG, POSTED TODAY WITH A DATE OF THREE DAYS BEFORE WILL BE BURIED DEEP IN YOUR LIST, AND YOU MIGHT MISS IT.

RETIREMENT

MY DAD RETIRED WHEN HE WAS 55 YEARS OLD AND BOUGHT A DAIRY QUEEN. HE WAS AN OWNER/OPERATOR AND WORKED SPLIT SHIFTS 7 DAYS A WEEK. NOT MUCH OF A ROCK’IN CHAIR RETIREMENT? HE PREACHED THAT HE WOULD NEVER RETIRE TO DOING NOTHING.

HIS THREE BOYS WERE TRAINED TO THIS PHILOSOPHY, AND IN TALKS WITH MY TWO BROTHERS THEY BOTH ARE THINKING MUCH LIKE OUR DAD DID IN TERMS OF RETIREMENT.

I’M BREAKING THE MOLD SO TO SPEAK BY TAKING SIX MONTHS OFF WORK THIS SUMMER, AND I’M SURE BOTH BROTHERS WILL BE WATCHING THE BLOG CAREFULLY TO SEE HOW I’M SPENDING TIME. SO IT’S MY GOAL TO BLOG MORE THAN USUAL THIS SUMMER, EVEN IF IT’S BORING BINGO, WALKS IN THE FOREST, POKER GAMES, OR POTLUCKS.

AS I JOIN THE “BINGO/FISHING” SET IN A RETIREMENT PARK THE BROTHERS WILL BE SHAKING THEIR HEADS AND WORRYING ABOUT MY BOREDOM AND TURNING INTO AN ALCOHLIC.

SO GET READY FOR SOME BORING SUMMER BLOGS FROM “THE MOUNTAIN”.

 

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS

THE COUNT DOWN IS NO LONGER IN WEEKS, WE ARE NOW COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL WE FINISH WORKING AT THE CASINO. ACTUALLY AT HOME, ON THE COMPUTER’S HOMEPAGE WE HAVE BEEN COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS SINCE DAY #243.

TODAY IS NUMBER 3.

Scooter Project

By Uncle Hans

The old guy that owns the storage units on Padre Island where we keep our motorcycle in showed up for work on this.  I have seen these conversion units for all kinds of motorcycles, but never a scooter.  He is in his 80's.  May be a project for Rex in his retirement?.....

By Uncle Hans

 

Automatic Weapon

By Uncle Hans

The president of the Home Owners Association for the condos is a resident on South Padre Island and has a gun shop.  we stopped in to visit and introduce ourselves.  We learned a lot about the condo politics.  We also found this little piece.  He proudly tells us that it is the "only fully automatic weapon in my shop"  (The government frowns on fully automatic).  If you look closely, each of the six "chambers" is loaded with about six rubber bands.  As each band is loaded, a piece of yellow string is looped under the band in revolving order.
    To fire, you aim the weapon and pull the string.  You can fire all 36 bands in a matter of a few seconds!  It is a cute idea and looks as if a clever woodcrafter could make this for little or nothing for resale at county fairs and the like.

Know any clever woodcrafters???????

By Uncle Hans

Candied Pecans

By Uncle Hans

One of the highlights of the Texas trip each time is to go to Mexico.  There are only a few safe areas in Mexico, but, luckily, one of them is a little town of Progresso.  It is just across the border from Weslaco Texas, where our friends live.  they take us there each time we go down and we get cheap drugs, good food, great shopping. and lots of cold cerveza!  (We will be making a visit there in October, no doubt)
There is a street vender there who sells candied pecans.  they are so delicious that they are addicting.  I have studies the technique and the ingredients.  Now I am trying to duplicate them at home.....

...... They do it with a propane fired "wok" on the street.  The smell brings in the customers....

......The ingredients are simple:  pecans, water, oil, vanilla, sugar, and cinnamon  ( I have experimented with nutmeg and ginger)......

......I made several batches which were OK, but sticky and not crunchy like the street vendors.  Then I figured out the secret.  When they have cooled a little and are sticky, you sprinkle sugar on them and stir. (I guess the cerveza made me miss that step during my study of the process on the street). After they dry, they don't stick to one another anymore and they get crunchy.  I don't have a picture of the final product.........they never live long enough for a picture!!

By Uncle Hans

 

Allen Wrench

By Uncle Hans

Ah, the lowly Allen wrench.  Ponder that little 6-sided wonder of the tool world.....

.....in our condo, we have some stools for the kitchen island that we bought a year ago.  They are pretty good quality wood furniture.  They are made in Malaysia, and held together by substantial screws with Allen heads.

They loosen up with use!.  And you have to tighten them up every now and then......

......... Strange....

.....in our home on Cable Lake, we have some good quality wooden chairs for our dining room table.  They are made in Malaysia and held together with Allen head screws!  And, you guessed it, they loosen up with use over time!.....

It's just a little weird.  It seems like a difficult and costly method of building, lots of chairs are just glued together.  Yet, it needs tightening on a regular basis every 6-12 months....

......and, if you try to "overthink" or game the system and tighten the screws too much so they won't loosen........the wood fractures.........................................oops!

By Uncle Hans

SPRING BREAK ‘14

SPRING BREAK 2014 WAS THE FOURTH AND LAST YEAR, BUT WE DIDN’T DWELL ON THE SAD PART AND CHARGED AHEAD.

SATURDAY WAS SPENT IN CAMP AND MADE THE PORCH SEEM SMALLER SOMEHOW.

 

ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

 

THERE WAS A NEW GAME OF SEQUENCE THAT HAD STATES ON THE BOARD AND STATE CAPITALS ON THE CARDS.

 

MEANWHILE, INSIDE A PRIVATE KINDLE LESSON WAS GOING ON.

 

OF COURSE I SET MY CAMERA DOWN SOMEWHERE AND FORGOT IT, BUT OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MOVIES ON THE BIG SCREEN IN REC CENTER, SHOPPING, TARGET PRACTICE, AND A COUPLE OF STOPS AT THE ROAD HOUSE.

IT WOULDN’T BE A FAMILY OUTING WITHOUT TWO THINGS HAPPENING. AMY ALWAYS MAKES CHECK MIX, AND GRANDPA REX AND EDDIE ALWAYS DO A COOKING PROJECT.

THIS YEAR IT WAS UNCLE PAUL’S FAVORITE STEW, AND STICKY BUNS ON SUNDAY MORNING.

BOTH MEALS TURNED OUT PERFECT, ALTHOUGH WE CHEATED ON THE BISQUITS AND HAD MARY MARY BAKE THEM IN THE OVEN INSTEAD OF ON TOP OF THE STEW.

 

THEN ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON THE WHOLE PARTY MOVES UP THE RIVER TO THE COLORADO BELLE CASINO AND HOTEL FOR SWIMMING, HIKING, THE CAPTAIN AMERICA MOVIE, AND SOME VERY ADULT LIKE HANGOVERS………..

BUD WAS UP TILL 4AM, GRANDMA JACK WAS IN BOTH NIGHTS, AMY DID A NIGHT, AND DANIEL DID THE LAST NIGHT. THE “BEER TALK” WAS AMAZING WITH PLANS FOR NEXT SPRING IN DAYTON, AND MAYBE THE YEAR AFTER IN WASHINGTON D.C.?

THANK-YOU ALL, SPRING BREAK 2014 WAS A BLAST !!!

SCOOTER CHECK-UP

I FINALLY DECIDED TO TAKE THE SCOOTER IN FOR IT’S 2500 MILE SERVICE AND CHECK-UP.  LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL BE AN ANNUAL SERVICE IN THE SPRING OR FALL.

I DECIDED TO GO ALL IN, AND CHANGE THE SPARK PLUG AND OIL AS LONG AS I WAS THERE. I ALSO HAD THEM INSTALL A NEW BATTERY AS BATTERIES SEEM TO COOK AND DIE IN THE DESERT JUST LIKE THEY DO AT –20 IN THE MIDWEST. THE SCOOTER DOESN’T HAVE A KICK START, SO WITHOUT THE ELECTRIC STARTER IT’S DEAD IN THE WATER. I SAVED THE OLD BATTERY AS A BACKUP.

THE MAIN TEST WAS THE HANDLE BARS, YES AGAIN.  LAST SUMMER THEY DIDN’T BEND, THAT PROBLEM WAS SOLVED WHEN I HAD CUSTOM BARS MADE OF SOLID STEEL, BUT THEY TWISTED IN THIER SPROCKET AND WERE DAM NEAR POINTED STRAIGHT DOWN BY THE TIME I GOT THE SCOOTER TIED DOWN TIGHT ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.

COLE LOOKED OVER THE PROBLEM FOR ME LAST FALL AND REMOVED THEM CLEANING OFF THE SLIPPERY FLAKING PAINT UNDER WHERE THEY ATTACH TO THE BIKE, AND TORQUED THEM AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THEY BARELY MOVED WHEN I TIED THE BIKE ON TO THE BACK OF TRUCK FOR THE TRIP TO THE HONDA SHOP IN VEGAS.

BUT, AND THERE IS ALWAYS A “BUT” THE SLIGHT MOVEMENT MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ADJUST MY REAR VIEW MIRRORS. COLE TAUGHT ME HOW TO LOOSEN THE BARS, RESET THEM, AND RETIGHTEN THEM. THANKS COLE. NOW I JUST HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO TIE DOWN THE SCOOTER WITHOUT FORCING THE HANDLEBARS TO MOVE.

THE NEXT TRIP WILL BE TO “THE MOUNTAIN” AT THE END OF THE MONTH. HOPEFULLY THIS PROBLEM IS IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, SO TO SPEAK!

COUNTDOWN CONTINUES

IT’S NOT UNCOMMON FOR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND CO-WORKERS TO GREET US BY ASKING “HOW MANY DAYS?” INSTEAD OF “HELLO”.

ESPECIALLY AT WORK, OUR CO-WORKERS SEEM TO BE ENJOYING THE COUNTDOWN AS MUCH AS WE ARE. ALTHOUGH GREEN WITH ENVY, THEY ARE HAPPY FOR US TO BE TAKING OFF FOR THE SUMMER.

IT WAS AROUND WEEK #6 THAT THE COUNTDOWN TURNED TO DAYS INSTEAD OF WEEKS, AND TODAY IS DAY NUMBER 21.

NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA IS THE LAST LAUGHLIN SPRING BREAK, AND A FAMILY GATHERING.

EAR MITES

“AZ” SUFFERS FROM EAR MITES. THIS ISN’T A NEW PROBLEM, BUT AN ON GOING PROBLEM BECAUSE I’VE DONE A PISS POOR JOB PUTTING THE EAR DROPS INTO HIS EARS.  THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I’VE TREATED “AZ” FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.  IT’S HARD TO STAY WITH THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THE DROPS ARE ICE COLD OUT OF THE FRIDGE AND A CAT JUST DOESN’T SIT STILL FOR A DAILY TREATMENT OF DROPS IN HIS EARS.

HIS LATEST CASE WENT WAY BEYOND WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE, TO CRUSTY EARS AND I THINK HE WAS EVEN LOSING HIS SENSE OF BALANCE. I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO HAVE MARY HELP ME, AND STAY WITH THE TREATMENT NO MATTER WHAT!

I LOOKED THE MEDICINE UP ON THE INTERNET AND THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO TREAT THE EARS TWICE A DAY FOR WEEK. OK, WE CAN DO THIS. CAPTURE THE CAT TWICE DAILY AND I’LL HOLD IT STILL WHILE MARY SQUIRTS IN THE ICE COLD DROPS.  OF COURSE THE INTERNET HAD SOME HOG-WASH ABOUT ASSOCIATING THE DROPS WITH CAT TREATS AND LUV……

GOD SAVE ME, IT’S LIKE A WAR. HERE IS A PICTURE OF MY HAND AFTER TODAY’S ROUND #1.

LUCKY FOR ME, “AZ” DOESN’T BITE AND ONLY HAS HALF HIS CLAWS!!! THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE FIVE DAYS DOWN AND ONLY TWO DAYS TO GO. I WANT TO CURE “AZ” OF THE EAR MITES FOR GOOD.

SINCE THE END IS NEAR I DECIDED TO CHECK-IN WITH BROTHER NEIL AND MAKE SURE MY EAR DROPS WERE THE RIGHT CURE, AND THAT TWICE A DAY FOR A WEEK WAS GOING TO GET RID OF THE EAR MITES.

NEIL CONFIRMED THAT I HAD THE BEST MEDICINE, BUT THE EGG LAYING CYCLE OF AN EAR MITE WAS THREE WEEKS AND HE RECCOMENDED TREATING THE CAT ONCE A DAY FOR A MONTH.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? LOOK AT THIS BATTLE WORN HAND….

NEIL’S PARTING RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT I INVEST IN A PAIR OF WELDER’S GLOVES, AND GOOD LUCK!

Container Park

Rex reads a lot of papers and blogs.  One of the papers is the Las Vegas paper.  He is always telling me about things that are new in Vegas and keeps me updated on gaming news.  I know he thinks I am not always listening but I do listen and when something interests me and we are in Vegas then I try to see what he has been telling me about.

One of the places I wanted to see was Container Park.  It is located in downtown Las Vegas.  It is a retail park that is family friendly.  Yup in downtown Vegas!!  Hard to believe.

This heart is at the entrance along with

this cute guy. 

The premise is that the buildings are made out of shipping containers.

 

One of the artworks in the park.

The central playground is what brings the families and the numerous food options.  They have Mexican, vegan, a pork and beans place, and a BBQ restaurant.   An option for just about anyone.

They had musicians playing the day I was there.  They were pretty good.

 

One of the shops had these trikes.  They look like a blast to me and you can rent or buy them after you have had instructions.

So what is my opinion of container park??  It’s OK but it is unlikely that I will go back again.  The many shops do not appeal to me.  A lot of trendy places that sell over prices items like jewelry, handbags, leather stuff, and clothing for size 2 teens.

However I am glad that an effort is being made to make downtown Vegas appealing again.  It needed an update!!