If blogs are the way the winds are blowing, let no one say that I do not blow. ''I have a ham radio.''
Sunday, May 30, 2004
I saw the most disturbingly amusing Vaudeville show last weekend. Never got around to writing about it, because I feel bad saying how awful the performers were, since they seemed to be trying hard. And also, I'm lazy. But when I get a chance, I'll report the truth about that evening, as I am sworn to do.
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
So I'm looking forward to that. Already tentatively agreed to go in the end of July as well, if I don't get my ass handed to me this trip. I have a really good offer from Bally's, where I stayed last trip, and enjoyed. Fills the void left by MGM ruining Treasure Island...excuse me, TI. A nice, clean, well-managed hotel, not too ostentatious, decent gambling, and generous comps. And a better location that TI. And I got another offer from GVR, standing offer for free rooms all Summer. The hotel is the nicest I've stayed in anywhere, pretty good food, and okay gambling. Every time I've stayed there, I've met some interesting people. A few real annoying people, like the old woman who claimed she never signaled for a hit, when we all saw her, and got the pit boss to let her discard the card she drew, and then tried the same trick again after the dealer changed. But mostly good, interesting people. One of the plusses of playing at a local's joint. Last trip, I played for a little bit with a blind woman, whose husband would read the cards to her. A month or so later, I would watch her win the first round of the World Series of Blackjack on T.V.
But hell, I could be staying at the Western, and I'd just be happy to be there.
So I'm looking forward to that. Already tentatively agreed to go in the end of July as well, if I don't get my ass handed to me this trip. I have a really good offer from Bally's, where I stayed last trip, and enjoyed. Fills the void left by MGM ruining Treasure Island...excuse me, TI. A nice, clean, well-managed hotel, not too ostentatious, decent gambling, and generous comps. And a better location that TI. And I got another offer from GVR, standing offer for free rooms all Summer. The hotel is the nicest I've stayed in anywhere, pretty good food, and okay gambling. Every time I've stayed there, I've met some interesting people. A few real annoying people, like the old woman who claimed she never signaled for a hit, when we all saw her, and got the pit boss to let her discard the card she drew, and then tried the same trick again after the dealer changed. But mostly good, interesting people. One of the plusses of playing at a local's joint. Last trip, I played for a little bit with a blind woman, whose husband would read the cards to her. A month or so later, I would watch her win the first round of the World Series of Blackjack on T.V.
But hell, I could be staying at the Western, and I'd just be happy to be there.
I went to Fry's because they had the new special edition of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly on sale, but they were out of stock. I did get The Great Escape on sale, though. And then, in the clearance rack, I found a series of DVDs of Once Upon a Hamster, which I used to watch on Animal Planet at 3 AM, while Cecily's cat would go crazy watching her woodland friends frolick on the T.V. I used to wonder what sort of person watched this show at 3 in the morning, but I guess the answer is people like me. At $5 a pop, I was tempted to buy them all, but eventually just bought two. I regret not getting them all, but I am not going back to buy the rest, because that would be pathetic.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
More exciting then the film itself, though, was one of the trailers beforehand (I guess when you show 15 minutes of trailers, you're bound to hit the mark at least once). Coming soon, Takeshi Kitano's Zaitochi, the Blind Swordsman. A change of pace for him, a bit, at least as a director (it doesn't look from the trailer that he's become particularly verbose, though, since it is a subtitled movie, they don't depict any dialogue in the trailer). A shame Dolls isn't being released as well (at least as far as I know). Though hopefully I'll be able to pick up a regionless DVD at Comic-Con this year.
Got Loretta Lynn's new CD. Not bad, but a bit of a disappointment. Tries a little too hard, has Jack White's fingerprints on it a bit thick at times. But some great songs. "Miss Being Mrs." is probably my favorite.
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
So anyway, we were at Barona, and so Mom wanted to gamble, and it was her day, after all. Since I'm not really welcome at the blackjack tables, and poker was full up, I played a video poker machine. Won $50, lost it all and quite a bit more, and was bitter about losing money here, when I'm planning to hit Vegas next month, when I get dealt three deuces, draw and hit the fourth deuce, and win $1000. Left with $850, a nice boost to my bankroll for Vegas. Just got an invite yesterday to a free blackjack tourney at my favorite casino, along with a free room for the weekend, so figure I'll take advantage of that. I have a standing offer at one casino, which I stayed at and found pretty nice, for up to three free nights, $100 in gambling chips, and $100 in food vouchers, so that is what I'd planned on taking advantage of, but I figure I'll save that, and get in at least two vegas trips this summer. I had been thinking of a big non-gambling vacation this summer as well, but I'm beginning to think I'd rather just take short trips around Southern California, or maybe up to my sisters, and just keep it simple.
On the way home, we drove by the neighborhood Yum Yum Donuts, which was wrapped in police tape, as was the parking lot. I assumed it was just another robbery, but the paper reports that a worker, apparently, committed suicide. Very odd and disturbing.
Sunday, May 09, 2004
Friday, May 07, 2004
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
On Saturday night, I went up to Orange County to see Urinetown. Orange County always gives me the heebie-jeebies, so I was relieved to take my seat in the dark theater and forget where I was. I was not too familiar with Urinetown, knew the general premise, and had heard "Don't Be the Bunny," but that was about it. It was refreshing to come into a musical as a blank slate, and I enjoyed the experience very much. At first, I was a bit concerned that it was too clever for its own good, with the self-referential narration and self-mockery. But it was really great, adroit enough musically that it earned the right to add the post-modern bells and whistles. Best musical I've seen since Sweeny Todd, and Sondheim-esque in its own right, I would say. And on the way out, the actors were hawking Urinetown toilet paper, to raise money for charity, so I bought myself a roll. I hope it comes to San Diego sometime, so I can see it again.
School is in full swing now. Fallen a bit behind in Anna Karinina, and it's going to be hard to get caught up, because I have to present an outline of my presentation for the same class this week. But my midterm went okay, and my papers aren't due until tenth week, and then I have a whole summer to relax. So I can't complain.
In addition to friendster, I am now on orkut, so any of you on that social networking service who wish to pad their accounts, feel free to invite me. It's fun!