Yet again a week goes by without an update. The least I can do is post a week-end wrap-up. Well, as Homer Simpson once observed, the least I could do is absolutely nothing, but I'll go you one better.

Rains this weekend interfered with many of my outdoor plans, but I still got some running done. Last Sunday, incidentally, I ran in the Torrey Pines 5K. Very hilly course, but I managed a PR of 21:42, first time I've come in under a 7-minute pace. I'm looking forward to my next flat 5K, seeing if I can do even better. But while I was able to get myself to run in the rain, swimming in the rain (or even when it wasn't), came more difficult. Difficult hear means it didn't happen. But between running and strength-training at the gym, I did okay. Just wish the weather had allowed me to include Tanner in a bit of my fitness profile.

I visited Dad's grave on Monday. I brought a sandwich from Subway, I wasn't sure if that was accepted protocol or not, but seemed appropriate enough to me. I don't think I'm the type that will be going to the cemetery very often; I don't really believe in burial and a lot of ceremony surrounding it. But it is a beautiful spot, and it is soothing to be there. I went to check out his tombstone. My mother was concerned it was too big. It's big, but I didn't think it was that bad. Actually going there seemed anti-climactic. I ate my sandwich and sat there a bit and thought about him, but overall it was an underwhelming experience. Having a visit scheduled help bring clarity to the days previous, however; so maybe I'll go again sometime.

I went to Barona Friday night, and again Saturday morning. A friend received a free hotel room offer in the mail (I, having been discovered a dirty cheating card-counter, no longer receive mail offers), and while not staying the night, got the room anyways, just to check out the new hotel. It's nice, an excellent value. I'm still going with Green Valley Ranch as the nicest hotel I've stayed at, but Barona compares favorably, especially at $59 vs. GVR's +$200 weekend price. The bed, which I lied on but did not sleep in, didn't feel particularly comfortable, and the toiletries I have since used were not that great; the soap dried my skin, and the various scents of the products seemed to have been assigned randomly, with no thought as to how they might gel together. The sliding door opening to a small balcony was a nice touch not often seen in a hotel-casino, and the seperate bath/shower (no seperate WC) is nice. Didn't bathe, so no opinion on water pressure. Understated color scheme, overall a classy joint. Unfortunatley the tables were too busy, and I ended up playing a slot machine to pass some time, and my compulsive tendencies emerged yet again, until I blew $600 fairly quickly. Wouldn't mind it at the tables, but on a slot machine, its embarassing. I was also annoyed that Chad played for so long, when he said he didn't want to stay very long, either. I ended up sitting in the room for almost two hours, watching a Discovery Channel program on hippo attacks while he gambled. Since we had the room until 11 AM, I invited my mother up for breakfast and to see the room. She was impressed. We had coffee in the room, then went to brunch, which was nice. I like their buffet, but no longer am raving about it as I was after my first time. I won $100 back that morning, at the tables, so that was nice. Saw some familiar faces from the old days when they knew me by name. Wondering how long before I get the good ol' 86. Of course, they'd be smarter to let me play to my heart's content, and be done in by a slot machine when my compulsions take over. The judo approach.

I need to write more often, I'm not good at rehashing things from a distance. But I think I covered most of the main points of the week. Hopefully I'll stay on top of things this time.