Upgrade, smupgrade!

How was Vegas, you ask?  Well, it was hot....stinkin' hot!  For the first time in the past couple of years, we've actually had fabulous weather.  The last few times we've found it cold there.  This time the weather was hot...but the machines were cold.  No luck!  None at all!  Nodda!  But hey, it's "Vegas, baby"...there's no such thing as a bad time.  Although we did agree, this will likely be our last trip down.  No....really....we mean it this time! 

It may be soap box time again....wait a second....while....I....pull.... this...heavy.... platform.... over....and climb up on it....so as better to project my rant.  What this time, you ask??  Incompetence.  It's rampant!  Some say it's the new generation.  I don't know if you can generalize.  "Why this" and "why now", you ask?  Well, it's all about this waitress...oh, excuse me...server we had for our last supper in Vegas.  We had a perfectly lovely meal at a trendy pizza joint.  We had just learned that we had $44 in primary comps which we had to use before leaving town, and also $35 in other comps that we could save for a later date.  The fellow with the rewards desk told us to enjoy our dinner, use the $44 first and any overage, take from the $35.  "Just tell them to use the 'primary comps' first".  Simple....right??  It's not simple when you've got an incompetent server who doesn't really like her job.  To make a rather long story short, we almost got arrested for the ole "dine n' dash".  It all got straightened out, but not before little miss ray of sunshine...or should I say, little miss mid-life ray of sunshine (she was no young thing with cushions on her shoulders which her head bobs off of with each side to side exclamation of "what-ever") dismissed us....totally...we had more questions for her and she just walked away..."dissed" ..totally. Guess I should have taken Kier's advice and lightened up her tip a bit, which she foolishly left on the table....oh well....what-ever!

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK:  Upgrades are not always better.  I learned this at the hotel we were staying at this trip.  It's actually a first that I insisted on being moved to a lesser room because it was nicer than the upgrade.  First of all, we reserved a king room, non-smoking.  Pretty simple request, I thought.  Apparently not.  We got 2 queen beds in a non-smoking room that smelled like the Marlboro Man had stayed there and chain-smoked for a month.  The peep-hole was gone from the door.  No, the hole was there....just the little peep hole that prevents people from looking back at you when you look at them...or worse, from them putting something into your room through this 2 inch diameter hole in your door.  Oh, and did I mention that you couldn't change your mind in the bathroom, the safe was locked OPEN and the curtains were broken?  When we went down the next morning the woman was quite indignant that we didn't appreciate the upgrade we'd been given.  I told her that if that was an upgrade, then for heaven's sake...DOWNGRADE ME PLEASE!!!  I tried to tell her that for an upgraded room, they might want to fix some of the things that were wrong with the room....but she interrupted me with something else and wasn't interested in hearing about the problems...did I mentioned how I abhor incompetence??  I know what you're thinking....."what-ever"!!

I'll have the burger...but hold the ham!

I have this friend.  I used to travel with her.  After 3 trips I realized that she couldn't be pleased, so I vowed never to travel with her again.  Apparently I'm insane...after all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results... but it was always the same..."there's nothing good to eat"; "the yogurt's too runny"; "the sand is too sandy".  (Okay, I just made that last one up...but it was almost that bad!!)  I tried to maintain a friendship with this person and went for the occasional meal figuring that was safe.  Wrong!  I remember one lunch in particular.  She ordered the lunch special which was pizza.  Pretty simple, right??  Wrong, again.  This is how the order went:  "I'll have the lunch special...but instead of pizza sauce, I'll have tomato sauce on my pizza.  Oh, and no onions.  And extra mushrooms in place of the onions I'm not having.  And no onions on the salad.  And can I have the salad dressing on the side??"  Oh, you just know that didn't go well!  Okay, so travel is out, and meals are out...but surely the occasional movie would be alright.  I mean, really, what could go wrong at a movie??  The other night I found out just what can go wrong at a movie.  She made the choice (I always let her pick...it's just easier that way) and advised it started at 6:45.  We arrived at exactly 6:45 (did I mention she's ALWAYS late??), the movie started at 6:30.  So...we're entering the theatre in the dark, the movie's already started...and it's packed!  I head to the front...there are empty seats in the third row back from the front.  It's a bit close for my liking, but it's easy...and when you're arriving after the movie has started, it's always best to opt for easy.  My friend comes behind me and eyes 2 seats in the 5th row back...but there are 2 elderly men sitting at the aisle.  I hear a real loud whisper...what I would call an "outside whisper"...ie not real quiet.  "I can't be bothered." followed by "He's got a cane!".  I immediately do an about face, and return to the 3rd row where I was ready to sit all along...but when I didn't respond, she interpreted my silence as not having heard her the first time....so she repeated "I can't be bothered....he's got a cane!".  The entire theatre must have heard her.  You ever have one of those moments where you wish the floor would open up and swallow you?  I just wanted to tell her "Do you think he just dug out a cane for the night to INCONVENIENCE YOU??  But I'm sure it would have been lost on her.  So, as I was saying...I have this friend....who I don't do anything with...

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK:  I don't like high intensity.  So I didn't like "The Hunger Games".  When it was over, I couldn't get out of the theatre fast enough.  I didn't even wait for the lights to turn on...and it wasn't entirely because I didn't want anyone to see who was with the nasty woman who was harrassing the elderly man with the cane ;)

Hoppy Easter everybunny!!

Okay, first week of the new job completed.  So far I've worked 4 days and have 4 days off.  Then I'll work 10 days and have 10 days off.  I'm thinkin' this is a good gig!!   Can we continue on this pattern for the next 18 months??  Yup...18 months, not a year.  The contract has already been extended.  Go figure.

We've had a few treats over Easter.  One worth noting is an ice cream called Egg Hunt.  It kind of tastes like someone put the Easter Bunny in a blender...quite sweet.  And it's yellow and purple colouring with little chocolate Easter eggs only adds to the sweetness.  And, of course, it wouldn't be Easter w/o a few Easter Creme Eggs...they're my favourites.  Well, those and Cadbury Mini Eggs...I like them too!  Okay, okay, I like just about anything that involves chocolate....Easter or not.  But tomorrow....back on the diet....I hope! 

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK:  I learned a couple of things this week.  First off, you appreciate time off more when you work then when you're retired.  For the year I was off, everyday seemed like Groundhog Day...but now that I'm back at work, I couldn't wait to have that 4 days off.  I really appreciate the time off now.  And secondly...I learned I don't like rapini.  I've been reading that it's just a wonder vegetable...but, alas, I've tried it, but don't like it.  Too bitter for me.  Yuck!  Back to broccoli I go.

Woohoo Foxwoods!!

It was a long trip home, and we arranged to spend a night in Mystic, Connecticut.  Why Mystic, you ask?  Well, for you trivia buffs, one of Julia Roberts' first movies was called Mystic Pizza.  It was about a young girl who worked at a Pizza shop in....you guessed it, Mystic, Connecticut.  I'd like to say that it was such a good movie that I've always wanted to go see Mystic, Connecticut...but that wouldn't be necessarily true.  We stayed the night in Mystic because it is verrrrry close to Foxwoods Casino, and the hotels are much more reasonably priced there than at the Foxwoods Resort complex.  But let me tell you, anyone that is as interested in casinos as we are, but doesn't want to go to Vegas or Atlantic City, Foxwoods is a very good option.  It's only about a 1 hour drive past Boston and is actually 3 casinos in one complex.  It is huge, and quite good really, with lots of restaurant and shopping options to boot.  Plus, Mohegan Sun is very close by.  It's another casino complex, although we didn't have the time to check it out.  So, if Moncton and Bangor casinos are too small, then consider a trip to Foxwoods.  You won't be disappointed.

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR THIS TRIP:  After this trip to Myrtle Beach, our plans of taking a month long trip to Florida next year will likely be cancelled.  After this trip, we just don't want to spend that much time on the road.  Florida would be another 2 days driving beyond Myrtle Beach.  So, if we decide to do Florida, we'll fly there for a couple of weeks and rent a car.  No more long car trips for me...

BTW - There will be a change in frequency of my blog posts due to my new employment status.  So, you'll be seeing "WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK", as I will only be posting on the weekends from now on.  Stay tuned!