MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

(CHRISTMAS PICTURES FROM OUR RECENT TRIP TO FREMONT STREET IN LAS VEGAS.)

FREMONT STREET CHANGES

THIS BLOG IS MAINLY FOR MY BUDDY MIKEY, UNLESS YOU HAPPEN TO BE A BIG FAN OF FREMONT STREET DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS.

MARY JUST FINISHED UP THE WHOLE 30 DIET, WHICH SHE HAS DONE MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS, AND ONE OF THE MANY THINGS YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP IS ALCOHOL. SO WE THOUGHT WE’D CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF “GRANDMA JACK” WITH A WALK ABOUT AND DRINKING ON FREMONT STREET. ALTHOUGH I HIT FREMONT STREET AT LEAST TWICE A WINTER, IT’S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE MARY HAS BEEN THERE.

EXCEPT FOR THE NFR RODEO AND NEW YEARS EVE, DECEMBER IS THE BEST TIME (CHEAPEST) TO VISIT VEGAS. OUR ROOM AT THE FOUR QUEENS WAS $28 + TAX. PARKING WAS FREE, AND NOW DAYS THAT’S  $20 SAVED RIGHT THERE, AND ANOTHER $20 SAVED WITH NO RESORT FEES.

WE ONLY SPENT ONE NIGHT AND HAD OVER 21,000 STEPS ON OUR FITBITS. NO WHERE NEAR UNCLE NEIL’S RECORD OF OVER 27,000. MARY HAD GOOD LUCK AT THE GOLDEN GATE HITTING FOUR OF A KIND THREE TIMES ON THE SAME MACHINE IN ABOUT 90 MINUTES FOR A WIN OF $180. REX ON THE OTHER HAND GOT BEAT UP PRETTY BAD ON THE CRAPS TABLE AT THE FOUR QUEENS. ALL IN ALL WE HAD A GOOD TIME, AND OF COURSE HIT TRADER JOES ON THE WAY OUT OF TOWN.

OK, NOW FOR SOME CHANGES:

HERE IS THE FAMOUS DRIVERLESS SHUTTLE THAT MAKES IT’S ROUNDS DOWNTOWN. IT’S FREE AND YOU JUST HOP ON AND OFF WHENEVER.

IT MADE THE NATIONAL NEWS A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK WHEN A TRUCK BACKED INTO IT, THE FIRST DAY IT WENT INTO SERVICE.

THIS PICTURE IS THE CORNER OF FREMONT AND LAS VEAG BLVD WHERE THE HARLEY DAVIDSON T-SHIRT STORE WAS. NOW IT’S A WHILE CASTLE AND REX WILL NEVER BE HUNGRY AGAIN !! I BOUGHT SLIDERS HERE TWICE IN MY ONE DAY STAY.

THIS IS OUT FRONT OF THE D WHERE USUALLY THERE ARE BASKETBALL HOOPS DURING THE NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, BUT AT CHRISTMAS IT’S A HUGH CHRISTMAS TREE.

OF COURSE THE BIGGEST CHANGES ARE ON THE OTHER END OF THE STREET WHERE THEY HAVE REMOVED MERRMAIDS, GLITTER GULCH, AND THE LAS VEGAS CLUB. THIS WAS TAKEN FROM IN FRONT OF THE ABC STORE.

TAKEN FROM BINIONS, THE BACK TOWER OF HOTEL ROOMS FROM THE VEGAS CLUB ARE STILL STANDING.

THIS TAKEN FROM ACROSS THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE PLAZA.

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CALIFORNIA AT MAIN AND OGDEN. THE REMAINING TOWER IS COMPLETELY WRAPPED IN PLASTIC MESH TO PREVENT FALLING DEBRIS.

NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE NEW CASINO HOTEL WILL LOOK LIKE, AND WON’T OPEN FOR THREE YEARS IN 2020.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR COATS IT WAS “SUNNY & 55”

WINDY

WHEN IT COMES TO WINTER WEATHER, ALL WE HAVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IS THE WIND. ON WEDNESDAY I WAS TO DRIVE MY CARGO TRAILER OVER TO KINGMAN FOR A MAINTAINANCE INSPECTION. IT’S PART OF THE WARRANTY, YOU TAKE IT IN AND THEY GREASE THE WHEELS, ADJUST THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES, ETC.

WE HAD WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND I WASN’T COMFORTABLE DRIVING AN EMPTY CARGO TRAILER UP OVER THE MOUNTAINS, SO I CANCELLED AND WE WENT OVER TODAY.

ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE WIND IS I STAY INSIDE AND DON’T GET MY 10,000 STEPS A DAY. CHECKOUT MY FITBIT FRIENDS LIST THIS MORNING:

IN HANNAH’S DEFENCE, SHE DIDN’T CARRY HER FITBIT A COUPLE OF DAYS THIS WEEK, SO I REALLY SHOULD BE LAST ON MY LIST. IF ANYTHING THE FRIENDS LIST IS A MOTIVATOR TO KEEP MOVING. I DID BETTER TODAY AND HAD OVER 10,000 STEPS.

MARY, WHO’S AT THE TOP OF THE LIST 95% OF THE TIME HAS BEEN WORKING AT THE CASINO THREE DAYS A WEEK, AND LOVING IT. AGAIN, IF YOU GET A FITBIT FOR CHRISTMAS JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL AND I’LL GET YOU ON MY LIST.

GETTING THE TRAILER IN FOR SERVICE WAS THE SECOND TO THE LAST PROJECT ON MY FALL LIST. NEXT AND LAST IS TO ADD SOME SHELVES TO THE NEW TUFF SHED I BOUGHT LAST WINTER. WHEN IT COMES TO TOOLS AND PROJECTS, I’M PRETTY MUCH WORTHLESS, BUT HERE COMES A TRIP TO MY LOCAL ACE HARDWARE LUMBER YARD AND HARBOR FREIGHT FOR POWER TOOLS. I FEEL THE FRUSTRATIONS BUILDING ALREADY, AND THAT’S WHY THE PROJECT IS LAST ON THE LIST.  JUST BE GLAD YOU’RE NOT MARY WHO HAS TO PROVIDE THE ADULT SUPERVISION, AND WILL NO DOUBT BE THE VICTIM OF MY FRUSTRATIONS.

“SUNNY & 72”

Ice Skating

By Uncle Hans

Renee's brother Matt, from Phoenix , and his girlfriend Marlo visited for Thanksgiving.  One year in 6 in does the weather pattern allow clear smooth ice on the lake to permit skating.  Usually is it windy when it freezes leaving rough ice.  Or it snows and make rough ice, not smooth enough for skating.

This year was perfect, and we have had two weeks of skating with no end in sight.....

It was cool and a little windy, so we did not last long.

       But the Phoenix people will long remember the ice skating on Cable Lake!!

Afterwards, we had to warm up by the fire with the appropriate adult beverage.........and a selfie!

Uncle Hans

Baking In Spooner

By Uncle Hans

Mary discovered a hand-powered food chopper that she liked so well she decided to gift one to Renee.  It hasn't had much use, since we don't cook "outside the box" like Mary does.

     But then Renee thought that Baklava looked good and decided to try it.

     Baklava uses a lot of chopped nuts, and this gizmo proved just the thing for chopped nuts!

...........and the Baklava was terrific!

Christmas must be near, Renee's Christmas cactus is in full bloom!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!!

Uncle Hans