Change (or lack there of)...

The time has come for a change.  The problem being I don’t know what kind of change or even what part of my life the change might be in.  For a few months now I have been going about the daily events of my life and being happy.  I’m always kinda happy and seldom sad.  But more and more lately I have found myself melancholy and just kinda blah.  

My job is OK.  Same ole shit different day in the corporate world but I feel I make a good paycheck and the other benefits are great…especially the vacation I get… almost 6 weeks a year.  But then again doing the same ole shit day after day can get a bit boring, but eventually something will change to make it exciting again.

I have always been heavy.  From the time I was 6-7 I began to plump out.  But for the last several years I have been about the same weight, but that has changed recently and I have began to put on a few more pounds.  I also have become more of a couch potato than ever (although I don’t blame TV and the media, I blame myself).  I need to become more active.  The problem is I can’t be active without a reason (and unfortunately just for good heath sake isn’t one that works for me.)  I am working on a plan and will share more as it become real.  

I love being a homeowner but find that the things that need to be done get away from me sometimes.  This is where I yearn to be anal-retentive and bale to make a schedule and stick to it for house cleaning and such.  The couch potatoness I speak of above also keeps me from getting things done. I have a plan in the works for this as well when it comes to housework.  Just need to flush it out as well.

But tomorrow is another day and a long weekend begins tomorrow after work…

Storm Patrol

A wondrous thunderstorm just moved through the area.  Flash after flash of lighting from all sides and loud boisterous thunder even had my even-tempered cat, Katie, on edge.  It probably dumped a few inches of rain in a few minutes.  A new problem with my eaves might have reared its ugly head (more on that later.)

I really do like and find the beauty in storms now that I am older.  However when I was younger, I was deathly afraid of storms and tornados.  There really is no reason why I should have feared them as much as I used to.  I think my grandmother Salser who was a worrier herself and whom I spent a great deal of time with in my formative years might have feed my fears.

Then when I was about 8 or so my family and I took one of our family vacations to Geauga Lake and Seaworld in here in Ohio.  While we were at Seaworld a horrible storm hit and I still remember seeing a tornado slowly make its way along the horizon.  My fears were cemented and for the next several years I was petrified by storms.

It was probably my collage days that began to change my outlook on storms.  Once I came out and began to take life a little less seriously so I could begin to enjoy my surroundings, I could begin to see the wonder in the storm.

There is still a few storms I remember from my college days.  One I wrote a poem about.  I spent the summers between my college years working for the school I attended.  A few friends of mine and I had gone hiking along a local river and was forced back to the dorm we were staying in by an approaching storm.  The sky was wild with color and the clouds were stacked like I had never seen before.  Somewhere nearby there must have been a tornado sighting as the alarm siren in the small town went off with the series of honks that indicated a tornado warning.

I survived and from then on I became a storm junky.  While deep inside I still tremble a bit when I see the skies darken, there is a larger part of me that can’t wait for the light show and noise.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina, A Small Tribute

The Outer Banks of North Carolina have become part of me. My friends, in various configurations, and I have vacationed on the Outer Banks 4 times. Jen and her family went there for many times when she was a young one and not so young.

Once I became a gambler and fell in love with as Vegas, the Atlantic Ocean took a back seat. However I saw some commercial last week that had to be filmed on the Outer Banks and it set my heart aflutter for that feeling of being at the beach.

Here is a house I found that would be perfect. So I think I will try to get some to go next year. If not NC then perhaps I’ll hit Rehoboth Beach in DE. My friend Jim has been there and says it’s a nice place (and gay friendly too).

Part of what I like about vacationing I have determined is planning for them. To some extent when I take on cruise director mode for Vegas, it annoys the people I go with a bit. There fore when you are planning for a week (or more) on the outer banks, there is lots of planning to do and it must start almost a year in advance.

I do miss that salt air and the laid back attitude one gets as you are out about whether its on the beach or at some food place. And sitting in the hot tub watvhing the waves crash on the beach is also very nice.

Wanna go?

Random Thoughts a la Shannon

Since weeds seem to grow at a rate that is just astounding, why can’t scientists take the genes that grow a weed a foot a day and put it in corn?

If people hate TV and movie stars so much why do they continue to talk about them?

Did you see where Congress gave itself a “cost of living” wage increase this week? Yet the troops in a quagmire of a war can’t get the body armor and helmets they need in order to save their lives. Sometimes I just wanna move to Canada.

By the way funniest headline of the past week: Cher demands better helmets for troops. Maybe she should donate some of her headdresses from the Sonny and Cher show. Might not stop a bullet but the enemy may laugh so hard they can’t shoot straight.

I saw a video on-line tonight that shows a guy who has invented a machine that uses water as a fuel for a blowtorch. It breaks the H2O of the water down into HHO which is highly flammable. It looked and felt like a real newscast, I will need to investigate a bit more to see if it is real. Here is the link to the story.

Holy Hormones Batman

Holy Hormones Batman.  For whatever reason, cool weather, full moon, bad luck, I have been very moody this week.  I feel like sleeping and doing little more.  Then I hear from Lynne who tells me that her house was broken into AGAIN!  Luckily it seems only some alcohol was taken but still…  the fear and loathing that must go on when your HOME has been intruded upon.  Makes me what to lock all the windows and doors at all time and forget about the miraculous weather we have been having the last few days.

SO forgive me for not writing more, I am off to bed at 9pm on a Tuesday night in some of the nicest weather I’ve seen for June in Cleveland… for a lark though, Google yourself and see where you are out their in the netherworld.

I am back. After 2.5 days in Nashville, visiting with friends and seeing the sights and gambling a bit, I am home.

Lynne and I left last Friday afternoon at about 5:30 for a trip to Nashville to visit with Anne and Mike (and their daughter H.). The plan was, in order to prepare the newbies for a weekend in Vegas in September, we were to road trip to Evansville, Indiana and make a day visit to Casino Aztar.

Unfortunately on the timing side of things, Anne made the brave decision to stop smoking 2 weeks ago (way to go Anne!!!) and therefore was a bit worried that the noise and clamor of the casino (let alone the smoking and drinking that takes place) and that it might set her on edge so she bowed out of the road trip. So Saturday morning Lynne, Mike and I headed off for the 2.5 hours drive.

The trip was fool of nice scenery and some fun music as I had taken my 3900 song I-Pod along with us. We listened to a random sampling of some of my tunes and only saw a bit of hail as we drove back.

The Casino was fun. Well, it was fun until I began to lose. I went though my stash and part of by “back-up” stash before we headed home. My timing was off for the day as I stepped away from the craps table before it got hot and missed the opportunity that Lynne had and she ended the day up. And as for blackjack I could not catch a break. You know it’s bad when you tip you last 5 dollars as you leave a table and the dealer says something like Thanks but I don’t deserve this. And that was said to me 3 times that day!

Mike was another story though. I don’t know Mike that well (And actually don’t really know Anne that well but hope to further my friendship with them both in the future), but was greatly amused at his reaction to the casino and Lynne and I gambling. He studied the people and watched a lot. He eventually played a bit of blackjack but I would still like to know his assessment of the socio-economic patterns that he saw.

One of the main differences between gambling at a place like Evansville or Detroit is the socio-economic diversity that one sees. In Vegas the majority of people are there to gamble so you don’t often see people who look like they shouldn’t be gambling gambling. Unfortunately, this is not the case in the new crop of casinos that have cropped up in cities that are a bit downtrodden. On more than a few occasions I have wanted to stop people from loosing money that I am almost certain the person gambling could not afford to loose.

I think this lack of having to view people doing something they shouldn’t be doing is another reason I enjoy going to Las Vegas. This may sound selfish and I guess it is but there is a part of me that still cares for the greater good and sometimes you don’t see the good in gambling when those who probably shouldn’t be gambling are doing just that.

Sunday was a lazy day of seeing some sights in Nashville then dinner out and a nice German place across from the new Titan stadium.

But we did practiced our blackjack and craps at Anne and Mike’s and I think have convinced them that Vegas will be fun (I think I will start on a publicity blitz this summer for them.)

Oh and then on Sunday we almost got sucked into attending Duke's Fest (Dukes of Hazzard fans fest) becasue we ended up at the fair grounds and got directed rght into the parking lot... we escaped.

It was a very nice somewhat relaxing weekend that has me re-charged for a bit as I head into a busy time at work.

Big Weekend of Fun ...

Tomorrow Lynne and I are off for some big weekend fun.  We fly to Nashville (see earlier post on Pond Cleaning 2006) to visit with Anne and Mike and sometime during the weekend we are all car-pooling to Evansville IN to visit and gamble at Casino Aztar.

I also get a chance to see more of Nashville than the airport that didn’t happen last visit as I was picking scum from the side of the pond. I look forward in seeing some of the sites and winning a few bucks (I hope) in the casino.

Part of the reason of this trip it to introduce Anne and Mike to the gambling lifestyle and to prepare them for (I hope) the big “Vegas 2006 September for Lynne’s 40th Birthday (and Jim’s B-day Too) Bash-O-Rama in 3-D.”  

Lynne created a document for them to prepare them for the trip this weekend that I think is good for anyone who might want a bit of information about casino gambling.  So here is:
Lynne’s Things to Remember…

General Gambling Comments

• In terms of either a per-game or per-day basis, define your personal potential losses.  Decide before you play how much you are willing to lose.  Try as often as possible to stick with that decision.


• Related to the previous point, don’t chase your losses.  Some people think that they’re due for a lucky streak after losing a wad of cash so they’ll pull out another wad of cash.  This is how people lose they’re houses.  The reason is …


• … All games in a casino are meant, in the long run, to gain the money for the casino.  


• In spite of the above, there is a possibility that one can win money.  To guard against losing the winnings, I recommend defining winning “limits”, as well.  For example, some people will walk away from a game if they double their money.  Some people put money in their pockets or off to the side.  If you don’t have a system of retaining the winnings, then, in the long run, you will give it all back to the casino.


• All gamblers (including myself) are full of advice.  Take it with a grain of salt and reflect upon it.  As you become familiar with the games, you will begin to have an understanding as to whether or not the advice is relevant to your way of betting.


• Gamble in any way that you comfortable.  If everyone at the table is gambling more money and in riskier ways than you, then you should feel no compulsion to match them if you don’t want to do so.  If you ever do feel uncomfortable, then walk away.  


• Tipping your dealers:  Just as in any service profession, tips mean a lot to the service providers.  If you are winning, a good tip should be given.  If you are losing, dealers don’t expect a big tip, but I do like to give them a little something just to be courteous.  There are different ways to give them tips.  You can give them a chip or two, or you can make a bet for them (and, if it wins, they get the bet that you placed for them plus the winnings).  If you don’t know which to do, you can ask the dealer which one they prefer.  (Some dealers don’t like to gamble; they’d rather just take the chip.)  In any case, if you’ve had a dealer who has been extremely helpful to you in some way, give them a tip.

General Table Comments

• All the tables that are open for play will have a plaque on them.  This plaque will state the game and the minimum-maximum bets that one can make at that table.


• When you do decide to sit at a table and play, place you money on the table in a non-betting area (these are usually very clearly defined on the top of the table).  It’s also a good idea to say the words “change only”.  This makes it very clear that you’re not placing a bet before you are ready to do so.  Note that you place the money on the table.  No cash is exchanged from your hand into the dealer’s hand.


• Once the dealer has your cash, s/he will spread it out on the table to count it.  This is all done for the sake of the cameras above the table.  They want to count the money, too.  After counting your money, chips will be counted and pushed to you.  These chips are now yours with which to play.


• Games such as Blackjack will consist of one or more decks of cards which are played out to a certain degree and not shuffled between hands.  For etiquette’s sake, ask the other players whether or not you can join the game when they are playing mid-deck.  Once there is a shuffle and all cards are back in play, you need not ask.


• If you have any questions about a game, ask the dealer.  They’re there to explain it all to you.  From the dealer’s point of view, they might get tipped if they are helpful.  From the casino’s point of view, you might play if you understand the game, and that’s another opportunity for them to get your cash.  So, if you ever have questions, don’t be embarrassed to ask.


• When you play a particular game for the first time and feel that you will have a lot of questions, look for an empty table that has a dealer who looks bored.  Just as any employee doing any job, working makes the day go quicker.  If a dealer isn’t doing anything, s/he will be more than willing to explain things in the hope that you’ll play and make their day go quicker (and probably get a tip).

Craps Comments

• Table plaques on a Craps table will list min/max (as above) but will also state the maximum odds bet that can be made.  Standard references are “2X” or maybe even “3, 4, 5X”.

--  “2X” = Given the amount of money one puts down on a Pass Line bet or Come bet, the maximum amount one can put down as Odds is two times that initial bet.
--  “3, 4, 5X” = This can be slightly more confusing at the beginning.  The 4 & 10 have a 3X Odds maximum.  The 5 & 9 have a 4X Odds maximum.  The 6 & 8 have a 5X Odds maximum.  Although this scenario seems somewhat odd at first, it’s actual very convenient for the dealers;  given the same minimum bet with maximum odds, all the winning bets get paid the same amount of money.  Once you become familiar with the payouts, this will make sense.

• When changing cash into chips, the words “change only” become a little more important.  Almost every place one can place their cash is a betting area.  Make sure that the dealers know that you are not placing a bet.


• Before reaching beyond the chip racks and onto the table, note where the dice are located.  If they are in front of the stickman, feel free to reach onto the table to change money or to gather chips.  If the dice have moved to the shooter (“dice are out”), then wait until after the dice have been thrown.


• When another shooter has the dice, keep your hands from reaching and/or dangling onto the table.  


• When you are the shooter, you will be given a choice of two among six dice.  Pick up your two dice with one hand and one hand only.  If you want to change throwing hands, place the dice on the table and then pick them up with the other hand.  Never move the dice from one hand directly into the other hand.


• Throw the dice from your end of the table down to the other end of the table.  They are supposed to hit the wall at the other end.  Some leeway is given if the dice don’t hit the other wall.  However, if you are given a warning that you need to hit the wall, you need to hit the wall.  Otherwise, the house might move the dice to the next shooter.


• If you throw the dice off the table, don’t worry too much about it.  It is embarrassing at first, but everyone does it at times.  You won’t get into trouble for that.


• If someone else throws the dice off the table, and you are near the dice, think quickly before leaving the table to get them.  It was always my first compulsion to be polite and retrieve the dice.  However, if the dice aren’t really near you, and you don’t have friends around you at the table to watch your chips, then you’re taking a risk by leaving your money unattended.  Try to remember that it is not your duty to retrieve those dice; the house will pick them up.  What’s important to you is that you don’t lose your chips needlessly to a potential thief.


• Bets you place directly in the appropriate betting area:  Pass (Don’t Pass) Line and Odds, Come Bet, Field Bet, Big 6, Big 8 (the last two are definite Do Not Play bets).


• Bets you tell the dealer at your end of the table to make:  Odds on your Come Bet, Place Bets.  Just toss your chips in the general vicinity of the Come Bet area and state your betting wishes.  Watch your chips just to make sure they are put where you want them to be put.


• Bets the stickman makes for you:  All proposition bets in the middle of the table.  These include the Hard Ways and things like that.  Throw your dice into the middle of the table and yell out what you want.  Again, watch your chips to make sure that they go where you want them to go.


• Craps can be confusing due to all this “throwing chips” and “yelling out” business.  However, your bets will always be placed in the same general area for any given betting area.  Once you realize where your placement is within all the other bets, you’ll be able to keep track of your bet(s).  Focus on that aspect first before you notice how other people are betting.


• Gambling comfortably becomes an imperative at the Craps table.  There are so many bets one can make and so many ways to play (“systems”) that there may be times when one feels they are not correct in the way they play.  To reiterate a point noted above, don’t bet a different way if you are not comfortable doing it.


• Craps dealers are some of the most helpful dealers in the whole casino.  They are used to explaining things to new players.  If the table is extremely busy, then they might not have time to go into detail, but, at a slower table, they’ll take as much time as they can.  Additionally, if you’re nice, courteous, and a tipper (regardless of how busy the table is), they’ll make sure that your bets are right; they’ll care of you.  They’ll remind you immediately that you need one more dollar on that Odds bet to get the best payout.  They’ll become familiar with the way you bet and then remind you or ask you if you want to maintain that.  

A lot to read but excellent advise for any beginner.  But keep in mind that these are Lynne’s ideas with my support not a bible to gambling….