The community where Donna and I live has about 300 housing units and about 450 to 500 people. All homes are considered "independent living." Most of us are still pretty fit and remain quite active. There are a few who receive some type of nursing care, but those are the rare few.
I enjoy our little community. And I enjoy watching how some of our older neighbors conduct themselves.
If you read my blog regularly, you know that I walk quit a bit, often early in the morning. Most days, the local paper has been delivered by the time I hit the streets, but sometimes the carrier is running late and I have to dodge him as he careens about the neighborhood, throwing papers and causing general havoc. I think the scamp has thrown a paper or two at me.
When he is running late and I see him make his rounds, almost immediately after he delivers a paper, I'll often see a porch light come on or a slowly moving figure appear holding a flashlight. The holder will hobble out, flashlight panning the driveway in search of the paper. After a moment, the paper is scooped up and the homeowner returns inside to read that paper.
Our mail is usually delivered sometime between noon and 2:00 PM. If I happen to be outside when the carrier makes his rounds, the street looks like a meerkat village. The very moment the carrier drives away from a group of mailboxes, here come the meerkats to collect the mail.
Old folks have their routines, and they don't like them disrupted at all. They expect their mail and paper to be delivered at the same time every day, and when they aren't, they get a bit antsy.
I'm glad Donna and I aren't like that!
This blog follows Keith and Donna Cameron as they enjoy retirement. 01/24/05
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Monday, February 11, 2019
Rollin' on the River
Donna and I just returned from a 4-night stay in one of our favorite places -- Laughlin, Nevada.
As part of the Total Rewards player's club, Donna and I get numerous offers from Harrah's casinos. For the past couple of years, we've been getting offers to fly on a casino junket to Harrah's in Laughlin. We finally decided take advantage of one of these.
Now, I don't like flying. The actual flight part of flying is not a problem. I don't have problems with takeoffs, landings, or even turbulence. I just don't like standing in long lines, waiting around to board, going through inspections, sitting in cramped seats on planes, and surrendering my freedom of movement. I prefer car travel. I like to come and go as I please and stay as long (or as short) as I like.
But I decided to give flying another chance. I did alright, but I still prefer car travel.
We flew out of our little airport in San Angelo last Tuesday. Our flight had already picked up a number of passengers in Abilene before collecting us. It was late in the day when we arrived at the airport in Bullhead City, just across the Colorado River from Laughlin. Two buses were waiting for us, and they drove us through a light drizzle across the river and to Harrah's, the southern-most casino in Laughlin. [Note: The Avi is farther south, but it is not technically within the Laughlin city limits.] We were met at the entrance of the casino with our room packets. We took our carry-on bags to our room, freshened up a bit, and then went downstairs to eat and play. Our large bag would be delivered to the room later.
During our stay, we divided our play between Harrah's and the Aquarius. I found the Harrah's casino to be very smoky and a bit grungy. There is a large non-smoking room in the casino, but the games there are not good, so we ended up doing most of our playing in the smoking section at the three 9/6 Jacks or Better machines (quarter denomination). We ate most of our meals at the Beach Cafe, and we enjoyed them for the most part. There is a Starbucks located there; I was thankful for this as the coffee in the Beach Cafe was terrible.
On Wednesday and Thursday mornings, Donna and I walked the 2 miles down Casino Blvd to the Aquarius. On the Wednesday morning walk, we took time to walk through each casino along the route to see if any changes had occurred since our last visit to the area about 3 years ago. On Thursday, we walked straight to the Aquarius. Both mornings were pretty cool, around 40 degrees or so, but the walk felt good.
Aquarius has always been our favorite place to play in Laughlin. There are still a good number of 9/6 Jacks or Better machines scattered around the casino; most of them are in one of the two non-smoking areas, and that is nice. On Wednesday, we enjoyed burgers at the Regency Casino next door. The burgers there have long been extremely popular with visitors to the area.
After our sessions at the Aquarius each day, we boarded a water taxi to return to Harrah's. We do love that beautiful river.
Harrah's is located on one of the best places on the river. There is a natural cove in the river there, with bluffs enclosing a private beach. But the casino is also isolated, and is the only Laughlin Casino other than the Tropicana that is not on the riverwalk. As a result, most travelers to Harrah's tend to stay there. The casino does a huge business with tours and casino junkets. The other casinos are grouped together and tend to share customers, and it is easy to walk from one casino to another to eat, play, or attend a concert. Not so with Harrah's.
I'd like to go back, but I prefer to drive. We both regretted that we were unable to visit the Laughlin residential area during our visit, or to even drive over to Bullhead City.
I've written numerous times about our visits to Laughlin over the years. We've spent a great deal of time there, including 2 longer stays in our travel trailer. Links to some of those stays are below:
As part of the Total Rewards player's club, Donna and I get numerous offers from Harrah's casinos. For the past couple of years, we've been getting offers to fly on a casino junket to Harrah's in Laughlin. We finally decided take advantage of one of these.
Now, I don't like flying. The actual flight part of flying is not a problem. I don't have problems with takeoffs, landings, or even turbulence. I just don't like standing in long lines, waiting around to board, going through inspections, sitting in cramped seats on planes, and surrendering my freedom of movement. I prefer car travel. I like to come and go as I please and stay as long (or as short) as I like.
But I decided to give flying another chance. I did alright, but I still prefer car travel.
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| Our little airport only has 2 gates. I'm standing at Gate 1 and taking this picture of Gate 2. Now, big city folks might snicker at how small our airport is, but it is very nice and modern. We were through check-in and inspections very quickly. The TSA agents were all polite and professional. Parking is free at the airport. It is only a 10 or 15 minute drive to the airport, and we only pass through 3 or so traffic lights. Yeah, I'll take my little airport any day. |
During our stay, we divided our play between Harrah's and the Aquarius. I found the Harrah's casino to be very smoky and a bit grungy. There is a large non-smoking room in the casino, but the games there are not good, so we ended up doing most of our playing in the smoking section at the three 9/6 Jacks or Better machines (quarter denomination). We ate most of our meals at the Beach Cafe, and we enjoyed them for the most part. There is a Starbucks located there; I was thankful for this as the coffee in the Beach Cafe was terrible.
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| Early Wednesday morning, I stepped outside the room where I had been playing video poker onto a balcony to snap this picture. That is the dock for Harrah's bottom center. The opposite side of the river, of course, is Arizona (Bullhead City). We just love these views of the desert. |
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| On our walk to Aquarius on Wednesday, we stopped at the Golden Nugget casino to snap this photo of the river from Bubba Gumps. |
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| Sign of the times. We passed this new shop while walking to the Aquarius. |
After our sessions at the Aquarius each day, we boarded a water taxi to return to Harrah's. We do love that beautiful river.
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| We caught a river taxi at Edgewater Casino to return to Harrah's on Wednesday. That is the Edgewater Casino in left center of picture. Tall building in center is its hotel. Aquarius twin hotel towers are just to the right of that, and Riverside hotel towers are farthest right. We had the taxi to ourselves. |
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| Looking north on the Colorado River. Desert terrain is entirely in Arizona in this shot. |
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| Colorado Belle Casino |
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| The water of the river is really clear. This was taken from the dock of a water taxi. I would guess it is a depth of 2 feet or so. I do not know what the reddish object in center of picture is. |
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| Terrain on the AZ side of the river. |
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| Donna is a bit cool waiting on the dock for the next taxi. Edgewater is in background. |
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| Bubba Gumps at Golden Nugget, with Pioneer and Colorado Belle farther right. |
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| Another view of the Arizona side of the river. As the sun set each evening, those mountains would change colors as the shadows fell. |
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| The dock at Harrah's |
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| This is the southern part of the cove where Harrah's is located. Note the bluff on right. |
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| This is the northern part of the cove, with another bluff. While these bluffs add privacy to the beach at Harrah's, they also isolate the resort. There is no riverwalk extending to Harrah's, and walkers must take another route to get access to other casinos. |
I've written numerous times about our visits to Laughlin over the years. We've spent a great deal of time there, including 2 longer stays in our travel trailer. Links to some of those stays are below:
- Riverside RV Park (note pictures of beautiful sky)
- Horseshoe Trail: Davis Dam Overlook
- Davis Dam and Lake Mohave
- Christmas Tree Pass and Grapevine Canyon
- Riverwalk Exploration Trail
- Laughlin Nevada, 2014
- Light and Shadows (great picture of AZ mountains)
- Return to Laughlin. (This is the first of several postings; use menu bar at right to see following entries)
- Trip Report: Laughlin, NV
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Feeling Pretty Old
Hanging out at the gym
It's our second week belonging to a local gym, and we're rather enjoying ourselves. I had some reservations about gym membership. I've always enjoyed being outside. Since I've hiked for years, I've always enjoyed walking to keep in shape. When walking, the view changes, you experience current weather -- both good and bad, you might get to see some critters, and in our neighborhood, you get to visit with friends. I thought I would miss that.
I do miss it some, but I'm really enjoying hanging out at the gym.
Donna and I seem to have found our favorite time at the gym. We now try to arrive about 6:30 and we stay until at least 8:00. People who work tend to get there around 5:00 or so, work out for a while, then shower, dress, and head to work. Late sleepers tend to drift in around 8:30 or later. So, we squeeze in between these two groups. We also have started a routine of going to the gym on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. That gives us 4 days of good workouts.
I've developed a routine. I usually start of by walking a mile on our little track to just loosen up. Next, I do the first of two rounds of upper body workouts, using the various machines, such as Arm Curl, Back Extension, Chest Press, and various others. I currently have about 10 or 12 stations, and I do 10 or more reps on each machine. Following this, I go downstairs and climb on a recumbent bike for what is currently my favorite workout. I plug in my earphones, play some good music, start pedaling, and watch a virtual video tour of some beautiful trails and roads. Sometimes I plug in to the TV feature on the machine. These new exercise machines have all sorts of neat features.
Last Tuesday, for example, I started by touring a road circling a lake in the French countryside. The mountainous country was beautiful.
Next, I was taken to Crater Lake in Oregon, where I walked around the lake. I did not take a picture of that screen. From there, I explored some canyons in Utah.
I then took another jaunt around the French countryside before returning to a trail in the woods in the Pacific Northwest. All in all, it's a pleasant way to get in some exercise.
At present, I ride the bike for 30 minutes and usually crank out about 6 to 7 miles, depending on the resistance level I set. The monitors on these machines also provide Netflix, television, and other forms of entertainment. Makes for a pleasant experience.
After my bike ride, I return upstairs for another walk and then another round of upper body conditioning. I finish my workout with some stair stepping. By the time I climb aboard the stair stepper, I don't have much left, so I don't last long on it.
I then hit the locker room, clean up, and head to the coffee room to wait for Donna to finish.
We both feel good about our workouts, and we feel this is something we should have been doing long before now. Walking is fine, but it simply isn't enough. As we get into better shape, we'll probably add on some other workouts. I'm looking forward to swimming laps in the pool, and Donna wants to do some group workouts. I'm also interested in yoga to help with my arthritis. I've done yoga on my own for years, but it will be nice to have a pro show me some things.
Super Bowl
I gave up watching football long, long ago. I used to spend entire weekends watching first college ball and then professional football. At some point I woke up and realized what a great waste of time it was for me. I was spending all of this time watching other people do things while I did nothing. So, I turned off the games, put on my hiking gear, and hit the trails. And when I wasn't hiking, I was working in my yard or doing something else productive.
I'm ready for the Super Bowl to be played. I'm ready to get past it. It seems to dominate the news and everything else. I just don't understand why we spend so much money and time watching grown men who are vastly overpaid play a game. And how many people will miss work on the Monday after?
Weather
We've been enjoying some pretty good weather lately. Oh, we've had some chilly nights, but the days have warmed up consistently into the 50s and 60s. The next week or so should be particularly nice, with highs in the 70s. Yeah, the wind blows a lot, but that is just a fact of life where we live.
Usually, by the end of February, I can feel a change. In good years, I might even start seeing some spring blooms by the end of the month. In East Texas, I would see daffodils in bloom late in the month. I look forward to warmer times. Donna and I just don't do cold very well anymore.
Napoli's
We enjoyed another good meal at Napoli's this week. This Italian restaurant is currently my favorite place to eat in town. The decor inside is bright and spacious, and the service is superb. Every part of the meal -- from bread and salad onward -- is great. This time Donna had the eggplant parmesan while I enjoyed the manicotti. We thoroughly cleaned our plates. I think I saw Donna licking hers.
Let's Rodeo
While the rest of the country is excited about the Super Bowl, folks around here are excited about the annual San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. The big show here lasts slightly more than 2 weeks, and it dominates all local news. After all, San Angelo is the center of a vast ranching area. Heck, the city of Pecos, just a short 200 miles west of here, claims to be the home of the world's first rodeo (July 4, 1883). The rodeo culture is pretty strong in West Texas. This big show brings in lots of folks from our region, the state, and even other parts of the country. The local rodeo began in 1932, so it has been around quite a while.
Ending the week
We ended the week with an hour or so of geezer bingo. Wow, those old folks are surely competitive! It's kind of like commando bingo.
It's our second week belonging to a local gym, and we're rather enjoying ourselves. I had some reservations about gym membership. I've always enjoyed being outside. Since I've hiked for years, I've always enjoyed walking to keep in shape. When walking, the view changes, you experience current weather -- both good and bad, you might get to see some critters, and in our neighborhood, you get to visit with friends. I thought I would miss that.
I do miss it some, but I'm really enjoying hanging out at the gym.
Donna and I seem to have found our favorite time at the gym. We now try to arrive about 6:30 and we stay until at least 8:00. People who work tend to get there around 5:00 or so, work out for a while, then shower, dress, and head to work. Late sleepers tend to drift in around 8:30 or later. So, we squeeze in between these two groups. We also have started a routine of going to the gym on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. That gives us 4 days of good workouts.
I've developed a routine. I usually start of by walking a mile on our little track to just loosen up. Next, I do the first of two rounds of upper body workouts, using the various machines, such as Arm Curl, Back Extension, Chest Press, and various others. I currently have about 10 or 12 stations, and I do 10 or more reps on each machine. Following this, I go downstairs and climb on a recumbent bike for what is currently my favorite workout. I plug in my earphones, play some good music, start pedaling, and watch a virtual video tour of some beautiful trails and roads. Sometimes I plug in to the TV feature on the machine. These new exercise machines have all sorts of neat features.
Last Tuesday, for example, I started by touring a road circling a lake in the French countryside. The mountainous country was beautiful.
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| Please forgive the glare. My time is bottom center (0:50 seconds), and it shows I just started my tour of the French countryside. Mileage is to the right (0:16 mile), and calories (3) to the left. |
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| In a slot canyon at just over 12 minutes and 2½ miles. |
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| Near the end of my ride: almost 5 miles and just over 24 minutes. |
After my bike ride, I return upstairs for another walk and then another round of upper body conditioning. I finish my workout with some stair stepping. By the time I climb aboard the stair stepper, I don't have much left, so I don't last long on it.
I then hit the locker room, clean up, and head to the coffee room to wait for Donna to finish.
We both feel good about our workouts, and we feel this is something we should have been doing long before now. Walking is fine, but it simply isn't enough. As we get into better shape, we'll probably add on some other workouts. I'm looking forward to swimming laps in the pool, and Donna wants to do some group workouts. I'm also interested in yoga to help with my arthritis. I've done yoga on my own for years, but it will be nice to have a pro show me some things.
Super Bowl
I gave up watching football long, long ago. I used to spend entire weekends watching first college ball and then professional football. At some point I woke up and realized what a great waste of time it was for me. I was spending all of this time watching other people do things while I did nothing. So, I turned off the games, put on my hiking gear, and hit the trails. And when I wasn't hiking, I was working in my yard or doing something else productive.
I'm ready for the Super Bowl to be played. I'm ready to get past it. It seems to dominate the news and everything else. I just don't understand why we spend so much money and time watching grown men who are vastly overpaid play a game. And how many people will miss work on the Monday after?
Weather
We've been enjoying some pretty good weather lately. Oh, we've had some chilly nights, but the days have warmed up consistently into the 50s and 60s. The next week or so should be particularly nice, with highs in the 70s. Yeah, the wind blows a lot, but that is just a fact of life where we live.
Usually, by the end of February, I can feel a change. In good years, I might even start seeing some spring blooms by the end of the month. In East Texas, I would see daffodils in bloom late in the month. I look forward to warmer times. Donna and I just don't do cold very well anymore.
Napoli's
We enjoyed another good meal at Napoli's this week. This Italian restaurant is currently my favorite place to eat in town. The decor inside is bright and spacious, and the service is superb. Every part of the meal -- from bread and salad onward -- is great. This time Donna had the eggplant parmesan while I enjoyed the manicotti. We thoroughly cleaned our plates. I think I saw Donna licking hers.
Let's Rodeo
While the rest of the country is excited about the Super Bowl, folks around here are excited about the annual San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. The big show here lasts slightly more than 2 weeks, and it dominates all local news. After all, San Angelo is the center of a vast ranching area. Heck, the city of Pecos, just a short 200 miles west of here, claims to be the home of the world's first rodeo (July 4, 1883). The rodeo culture is pretty strong in West Texas. This big show brings in lots of folks from our region, the state, and even other parts of the country. The local rodeo began in 1932, so it has been around quite a while.
Ending the week
We ended the week with an hour or so of geezer bingo. Wow, those old folks are surely competitive! It's kind of like commando bingo.
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Biding Our Time
The old woman and I are just biding our time before the next trip. Seems that is what we do these days.
Fitting in with the geezers at RCW
Donna seems to be settling in at Rio Concho West better than I. She is becoming more and more involved with activities out here. We both attended our monthly home owner's committee meeting last week to see if anything is going on out here we should be aware of. There wasn't.
Saturday a week ago, Donna joined in with the weekly bingo match. She played hard but didn't win a single game.
Our landscaping man is leaving RCW this week, so the community gave him a going away party on Friday. We joined in and ate our share of goodies. We will miss James, and we wish him well in his new job.
On Friday, we boarded a packed bus for a run to the Manor for lunch. The old geezers like their fried catfish, and that is why so many made the trek. Donna and I were the last ones to board, and we were relegated to the rough back seat. With every bump, we'd fly up a few feet. Good times!
Trying to stay healthy
Those who have read my blog before know that Donna and I do try take of ourselves, at least to some degree.
We went to our local pharmacy to get shingles shots this past week, but there was no medicine available. They have put our request on order and should be receiving a shipment soon. We'll get that taken care of as soon as it arrives. Donna doesn't like shots, but she needs this one. And people don't like giving Donna shots; she bites and kicks really hard, and those ear-piercing shrieks are painful on everyone in close proximity.
We joined Community Health Club this past week as well. Of course, Donna and I are avid walkers, but we just don't feel that is enough. Now that I'm not taking care of a yard, I don't feel that I'm getting enough exercise with parts of my body other than my legs. So, we'll start going to the health club a few times each week. I'll concentrate on upper-body exercises, a little weight lifting, and swimming laps in the pool. I may even get on the stationary bikes and treadmills. Donna has other things in mind to do while there.
For those of you Medicare age, you should look into the Silver Sneakers program if you are interested in joining a gym. Depending on your location, you may be eligible for free gym memberships. Free is good in this case.
We made our first visit to the gym this past Thursday. We arrived just before 8:00 AM, and we stayed about an hour. It was a good time to visit, as there weren't that many people there. And that is what we were looking for. We know some folks will hit the gym really early, around 5:00 AM or so, to get in a workout before going to work. Most folks will wait until after work at the end of the day. I think we will probably find the time from 7:00 to 9:00 to be our favorite time. And we were surprised at the number of folks our age working out. That's great!
We quickly learned some things about ourselves. Even though we walk hundreds of miles each year, we are terribly out of shape. Since I no longer do my own yard, I get very little upper-body workout. So, I worked out on a few machines trying to give my arms and back some exercise. It was pitiful. People were pointing and laughing at me; I think I saw Donna among the jeering crowd, leading the assault. We also learned that we don't know how to use high-tech gym equipment. We came home sore and tired after that first day, but we felt pretty good about ourselves. We need this sort of workout regimen.
We turned right around and returned to the gym the very next day (Friday) and we both enjoyed a more challenging workout. It's simply a matter of finding the routine that works for you. I added a few more stations to my upper-body workout and worked a bit longer in this area. I would occasionally take a break from this routine and hop on a bicycle or other machine to give my legs a workout. I was pretty worn after this workout, and I experienced some good soreness later that day. And even though I walk a lot, I found that the workout I did today really challenged my legs, especially the stair stepper and bicycle.
Finishing the week
On weekends, the gym opens a bit later, so we will probably not visit it often on Saturday or Sunday. So yesterday (Saturday), we decided instead to use the exercise room at our clubhouse. First, we attended the weekly bingo session. Neither Donna nor I, nor anyone else at our table for that matter, had a bingo, but we had a good time. After bingo, Donna went into our little workout room. We don't have nearly as much equipment as our gym, but we climbed on a few of the machines for a decent workout. It was a good way to finish the week. We'll take today (Sunday) off, then hit the real gym early tomorrow.
Fitting in with the geezers at RCW
Donna seems to be settling in at Rio Concho West better than I. She is becoming more and more involved with activities out here. We both attended our monthly home owner's committee meeting last week to see if anything is going on out here we should be aware of. There wasn't.
Saturday a week ago, Donna joined in with the weekly bingo match. She played hard but didn't win a single game.
Our landscaping man is leaving RCW this week, so the community gave him a going away party on Friday. We joined in and ate our share of goodies. We will miss James, and we wish him well in his new job.
On Friday, we boarded a packed bus for a run to the Manor for lunch. The old geezers like their fried catfish, and that is why so many made the trek. Donna and I were the last ones to board, and we were relegated to the rough back seat. With every bump, we'd fly up a few feet. Good times!
Trying to stay healthy
Those who have read my blog before know that Donna and I do try take of ourselves, at least to some degree.
We went to our local pharmacy to get shingles shots this past week, but there was no medicine available. They have put our request on order and should be receiving a shipment soon. We'll get that taken care of as soon as it arrives. Donna doesn't like shots, but she needs this one. And people don't like giving Donna shots; she bites and kicks really hard, and those ear-piercing shrieks are painful on everyone in close proximity.
We joined Community Health Club this past week as well. Of course, Donna and I are avid walkers, but we just don't feel that is enough. Now that I'm not taking care of a yard, I don't feel that I'm getting enough exercise with parts of my body other than my legs. So, we'll start going to the health club a few times each week. I'll concentrate on upper-body exercises, a little weight lifting, and swimming laps in the pool. I may even get on the stationary bikes and treadmills. Donna has other things in mind to do while there.
For those of you Medicare age, you should look into the Silver Sneakers program if you are interested in joining a gym. Depending on your location, you may be eligible for free gym memberships. Free is good in this case.
We made our first visit to the gym this past Thursday. We arrived just before 8:00 AM, and we stayed about an hour. It was a good time to visit, as there weren't that many people there. And that is what we were looking for. We know some folks will hit the gym really early, around 5:00 AM or so, to get in a workout before going to work. Most folks will wait until after work at the end of the day. I think we will probably find the time from 7:00 to 9:00 to be our favorite time. And we were surprised at the number of folks our age working out. That's great!
We quickly learned some things about ourselves. Even though we walk hundreds of miles each year, we are terribly out of shape. Since I no longer do my own yard, I get very little upper-body workout. So, I worked out on a few machines trying to give my arms and back some exercise. It was pitiful. People were pointing and laughing at me; I think I saw Donna among the jeering crowd, leading the assault. We also learned that we don't know how to use high-tech gym equipment. We came home sore and tired after that first day, but we felt pretty good about ourselves. We need this sort of workout regimen.
We turned right around and returned to the gym the very next day (Friday) and we both enjoyed a more challenging workout. It's simply a matter of finding the routine that works for you. I added a few more stations to my upper-body workout and worked a bit longer in this area. I would occasionally take a break from this routine and hop on a bicycle or other machine to give my legs a workout. I was pretty worn after this workout, and I experienced some good soreness later that day. And even though I walk a lot, I found that the workout I did today really challenged my legs, especially the stair stepper and bicycle.
Finishing the week
On weekends, the gym opens a bit later, so we will probably not visit it often on Saturday or Sunday. So yesterday (Saturday), we decided instead to use the exercise room at our clubhouse. First, we attended the weekly bingo session. Neither Donna nor I, nor anyone else at our table for that matter, had a bingo, but we had a good time. After bingo, Donna went into our little workout room. We don't have nearly as much equipment as our gym, but we climbed on a few of the machines for a decent workout. It was a good way to finish the week. We'll take today (Sunday) off, then hit the real gym early tomorrow.
Friday, January 18, 2019
A Casino Loop
Donna and I just returned from a short loop of a couple of Louisiana casinos. It's always good to get back home.
We started early last Saturday. After driving for 7 hours or so, we arrived in Livingston, Texas, where we stopped for a brief visit with Donna's brother-in-law. He has a nice place on the east side of Lake Livingston. After our visit, we drove on into Livingston and spent the night at the Holiday Inn. We walked next door to El Burrito and enjoyed nachos, queso dip, and more than one cold beer. It was a good way to end a long day of driving.
The next morning, we rose early to continue our trip east. A few miles east of Livingston, we made a brief detour into the Alabama-Coushatta reservation. Several years ago, the tribe opened a small casino on the reservation, but the casino was soon closed for legal reasons. I had noticed while doing research for our trip that the tribe now has a new casino, Naskila Gaming, so I thought we would just stop for a brief walk through.
It's a nice little casino. The largest part of the casino is smoke-free. Inside, a separate glass enclosed room makes up the smoking area. Drink stations are scattered about the small casino. I saw no video poker machines, which is the only game I play. We do not normally play at casinos that are unregulated, so I have no plans to play here, but I was curious about the place.
I'm not sure of the current legal status of the casino. And to be honest, since I don't intend to play there, I'm really not that interested. But there have been challenges by both state and federal officials to the legality of the casino.
Anyway, we returned to US 190 and continued our trek east. Our target now was Coushatta Casino Resort, located along US 165 between Kinder and Oberlin, LA. Donna's mother, aunts, and uncles used to play here from time to time. They seemed to enjoy it, so we wanted to visit the place. Of course, it had been several years since Donna's family had been here.
Personally, I didn't care for the place. I never felt comfortable there for some reason. And the service was severely lacking. It did not approach the level of service we receive at our favorite casinos. For example, upon arriving, we headed straight to the player's club to join. There was only 1 person working the desk when we arrived, and a line was forming. Eventually, another attendant arrived, but it took her well over 10 minutes before she was ready to "greet" her first customer. A suit arrived to watch things, and I was hopeful service would improve. Instead, he promptly asked the original working attendant to help him with something while customers were forced to wait. It took 35 minutes for us to join their club.
Things went downhill from there.
The rooms were okay, but the overall feel of the place -- at least to me -- was one of lack of pride. In eateries, tables were dirty and service slow; on the bright side, prices were high. I will admit that we did enjoy the play for the most part. Yeah, we lost, but not much, and both of us enjoyed some good runs on the machines we played. For those interested, we played quarter 9/5 Jacks or Better.
The casino does have a rather large non-smoking area, and that is always nice. However, you have to walk through a smoky casino to get to it. I like the setup at the Naskila Gaming near Livingston, where the smoking area is set off.
So, we were glad when our 2 nights were over. We left early Tuesday morning and headed north to Bossier City and the Horseshoe. The difference in the two casinos is night and day. Service at the 'Shoe is great. Yeah, prices are high at the eateries, but not any higher than at Coushatta. And the service and quality was much, much better.
We were only at the 'Shoe for 2 nights, so we just stayed there and did all of our eating. We left early Thursday and made the long trek home.
Rain continues to be plentiful, it seems, in the areas we visited. All of the rivers we crossed once we were past I-35 were full and flowing. Lakes seemed at capacity, and water was often standing in ditches and open fields. It has been a wet fall and winter in that part of the country.
We started early last Saturday. After driving for 7 hours or so, we arrived in Livingston, Texas, where we stopped for a brief visit with Donna's brother-in-law. He has a nice place on the east side of Lake Livingston. After our visit, we drove on into Livingston and spent the night at the Holiday Inn. We walked next door to El Burrito and enjoyed nachos, queso dip, and more than one cold beer. It was a good way to end a long day of driving.
The next morning, we rose early to continue our trip east. A few miles east of Livingston, we made a brief detour into the Alabama-Coushatta reservation. Several years ago, the tribe opened a small casino on the reservation, but the casino was soon closed for legal reasons. I had noticed while doing research for our trip that the tribe now has a new casino, Naskila Gaming, so I thought we would just stop for a brief walk through.
It's a nice little casino. The largest part of the casino is smoke-free. Inside, a separate glass enclosed room makes up the smoking area. Drink stations are scattered about the small casino. I saw no video poker machines, which is the only game I play. We do not normally play at casinos that are unregulated, so I have no plans to play here, but I was curious about the place.
I'm not sure of the current legal status of the casino. And to be honest, since I don't intend to play there, I'm really not that interested. But there have been challenges by both state and federal officials to the legality of the casino.
Anyway, we returned to US 190 and continued our trek east. Our target now was Coushatta Casino Resort, located along US 165 between Kinder and Oberlin, LA. Donna's mother, aunts, and uncles used to play here from time to time. They seemed to enjoy it, so we wanted to visit the place. Of course, it had been several years since Donna's family had been here.
Personally, I didn't care for the place. I never felt comfortable there for some reason. And the service was severely lacking. It did not approach the level of service we receive at our favorite casinos. For example, upon arriving, we headed straight to the player's club to join. There was only 1 person working the desk when we arrived, and a line was forming. Eventually, another attendant arrived, but it took her well over 10 minutes before she was ready to "greet" her first customer. A suit arrived to watch things, and I was hopeful service would improve. Instead, he promptly asked the original working attendant to help him with something while customers were forced to wait. It took 35 minutes for us to join their club.
Things went downhill from there.
The rooms were okay, but the overall feel of the place -- at least to me -- was one of lack of pride. In eateries, tables were dirty and service slow; on the bright side, prices were high. I will admit that we did enjoy the play for the most part. Yeah, we lost, but not much, and both of us enjoyed some good runs on the machines we played. For those interested, we played quarter 9/5 Jacks or Better.
The casino does have a rather large non-smoking area, and that is always nice. However, you have to walk through a smoky casino to get to it. I like the setup at the Naskila Gaming near Livingston, where the smoking area is set off.
So, we were glad when our 2 nights were over. We left early Tuesday morning and headed north to Bossier City and the Horseshoe. The difference in the two casinos is night and day. Service at the 'Shoe is great. Yeah, prices are high at the eateries, but not any higher than at Coushatta. And the service and quality was much, much better.
We were only at the 'Shoe for 2 nights, so we just stayed there and did all of our eating. We left early Thursday and made the long trek home.
Rain continues to be plentiful, it seems, in the areas we visited. All of the rivers we crossed once we were past I-35 were full and flowing. Lakes seemed at capacity, and water was often standing in ditches and open fields. It has been a wet fall and winter in that part of the country.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Taking Care of Business
A new year always brings new challenges. I usually spend quite a bit of time as the new year begins taking care of business. I'm rather anal, and I'll be the first to admit it, and that causes me a bit more work than most people, but the system seems to work for me.
I keep a lot of data. I have a rather complex budget, so as the new year rolls around, I get the budget ready for the new year. My main goal is to ensure that I do not spend more than I bring in; in other words, I have a balanced budget. Wouldn't it be great if our federal government worked that way. But, alas, it does not, so our country owes a ton of money, and a large chunk of that is owed to countries that are not necessarily friendly to us.
But I digress . . . .
So, as the old year comes to a close and the new one begins, I work on the budget for the new year. But I also keep a spreadsheet for tax deductions. So as the year comes to a close, I tally all of the numbers for that year and get them ready for my tax accountant.
And of course, there are taxes to deal with. I always prepare a folder for all my tax forms, and mark items off the list as they arrive. I'm always happy to get tax season behind me.
Good weather continues in the Concho Valley
Since the cold spell moved out last week, we've been blessed with some pretty good weather out here. I've truly enjoyed getting outside for my daily walks, most of which I have taken in short-sleeve shirts. I do enjoy getting a daily dose of sun. And I really enjoy seeing my neighbors bustling around the neighborhood. Some of the men out here have shops set up in their garages, and they do wood work and other crafts. Some of these guys have really been busy. Others have been taking down their Christmas lights. Others have just been sitting out enjoying the sun and mild temps.
Spring isn't that far off.
We're back on diets
Well, Donna and I -- mostly me -- got out of control during the holidays and put on a few pounds. So, we're back on our diets. Actually, we don't really diet, we just watch calories on a regular basis. Sure, we slip from time to time -- such as during holidays and when we travel -- but for the most part, we have some pretty healthy eating habits.
I'm glad to see the pounds sliding off once again. I guess I had just a bit too much holiday cheer this year. But I'm a cheery sort of guy, so . . .
A pretty busy week
We've been pretty busy this week . . . at least, busy for us.
Since we've lived at Rio Concho West, we've been getting our hair cut at the clubhouse. Several months ago, though, the lady running the shop moved and was replaced by another lady. We used the new lady several times, but just weren't quite happy with the results. So, we've started going back out into the community and getting our hair cut, and I've not found a place yet that I really like. As I've said before on this blog, a good barber shop is hard to find these days. I miss the old style barber shops. I like the smells of an old-fashioned shop, and I like getting trimmed around my ears and nape of the neck with a straight razor. Not many places do this anymore. Recently, a place called Great Clips opened just across the highway from the entrance to RCW, and since they were offering a $5.99 introductory special, I thought I'd give them a try. Not bad. I think I'll give them another chance, especially if that introductory price holds a little longer. But I'll keep looking for an old-timey shop.
I took the car in for its routine service. I do like the service department at our local Toyota dealership. It's easy to schedule service, they get you right in when you arrive, and the work is done quickly. I've found this to be the case at all the Toyota dealerships I've used over the years, but Mitchell Toyota in Angelo is definitely my favorite.
Donna and I jumped on the geezer bus for a ride to the Manor downtown where we had lunch with some of the other inmates. As I've said before, the food over there isn't that good, but it is plentiful and cheap. Best of all, we just enjoy the visiting we do on the ride over and back as well as in the dining room.
Bilbrey Tours came to town one day and shared information on all of their upcoming trips for 2019. I don't know yet if we will take any, but there certainly are some out there we are interested in.
Thursday evening, we went over to the clubhouse for dinner. This is another case where we don't really go someplace for the food, but rather to visit with friends and neighbors.
Let the rain fall
We ended the week with a nice day of rain. We didn't get that much, just a bit more than half an inch, but we've been getting rain on a pretty regular basis and that has helped keep the ground moist and the lakes at their current levels. The farmers will appreciate this ground moisture when it comes time to plant in the spring, and the winter wheat in the ground now will certainly benefit from the rain.
I keep a lot of data. I have a rather complex budget, so as the new year rolls around, I get the budget ready for the new year. My main goal is to ensure that I do not spend more than I bring in; in other words, I have a balanced budget. Wouldn't it be great if our federal government worked that way. But, alas, it does not, so our country owes a ton of money, and a large chunk of that is owed to countries that are not necessarily friendly to us.
But I digress . . . .
So, as the old year comes to a close and the new one begins, I work on the budget for the new year. But I also keep a spreadsheet for tax deductions. So as the year comes to a close, I tally all of the numbers for that year and get them ready for my tax accountant.
And of course, there are taxes to deal with. I always prepare a folder for all my tax forms, and mark items off the list as they arrive. I'm always happy to get tax season behind me.
 |
| Concho Valley Dawn |
Since the cold spell moved out last week, we've been blessed with some pretty good weather out here. I've truly enjoyed getting outside for my daily walks, most of which I have taken in short-sleeve shirts. I do enjoy getting a daily dose of sun. And I really enjoy seeing my neighbors bustling around the neighborhood. Some of the men out here have shops set up in their garages, and they do wood work and other crafts. Some of these guys have really been busy. Others have been taking down their Christmas lights. Others have just been sitting out enjoying the sun and mild temps.
Spring isn't that far off.
 |
| Sunrise in Geezerville |
We're back on diets
Well, Donna and I -- mostly me -- got out of control during the holidays and put on a few pounds. So, we're back on our diets. Actually, we don't really diet, we just watch calories on a regular basis. Sure, we slip from time to time -- such as during holidays and when we travel -- but for the most part, we have some pretty healthy eating habits.
I'm glad to see the pounds sliding off once again. I guess I had just a bit too much holiday cheer this year. But I'm a cheery sort of guy, so . . .
 |
| I never tire of the colorful mornings here. |
We've been pretty busy this week . . . at least, busy for us.
Since we've lived at Rio Concho West, we've been getting our hair cut at the clubhouse. Several months ago, though, the lady running the shop moved and was replaced by another lady. We used the new lady several times, but just weren't quite happy with the results. So, we've started going back out into the community and getting our hair cut, and I've not found a place yet that I really like. As I've said before on this blog, a good barber shop is hard to find these days. I miss the old style barber shops. I like the smells of an old-fashioned shop, and I like getting trimmed around my ears and nape of the neck with a straight razor. Not many places do this anymore. Recently, a place called Great Clips opened just across the highway from the entrance to RCW, and since they were offering a $5.99 introductory special, I thought I'd give them a try. Not bad. I think I'll give them another chance, especially if that introductory price holds a little longer. But I'll keep looking for an old-timey shop.
I took the car in for its routine service. I do like the service department at our local Toyota dealership. It's easy to schedule service, they get you right in when you arrive, and the work is done quickly. I've found this to be the case at all the Toyota dealerships I've used over the years, but Mitchell Toyota in Angelo is definitely my favorite.
 |
| Some days are more wintry than colorful. You have to take the bad with the good. |
Donna and I jumped on the geezer bus for a ride to the Manor downtown where we had lunch with some of the other inmates. As I've said before, the food over there isn't that good, but it is plentiful and cheap. Best of all, we just enjoy the visiting we do on the ride over and back as well as in the dining room.
Bilbrey Tours came to town one day and shared information on all of their upcoming trips for 2019. I don't know yet if we will take any, but there certainly are some out there we are interested in.
Thursday evening, we went over to the clubhouse for dinner. This is another case where we don't really go someplace for the food, but rather to visit with friends and neighbors.
Let the rain fall
We ended the week with a nice day of rain. We didn't get that much, just a bit more than half an inch, but we've been getting rain on a pretty regular basis and that has helped keep the ground moist and the lakes at their current levels. The farmers will appreciate this ground moisture when it comes time to plant in the spring, and the winter wheat in the ground now will certainly benefit from the rain.
Monday, January 7, 2019
Starting Off 2019
We end 2018 with rain . . .
We ended 2018 on a pretty good note. On the next to the last day of 2018, we received about a third of an inch of rain. We had a good year for rain. Up until October or so, it had been pretty bad, and I was getting worried about our lakes. But then the skies opened and we got quite a bit of rain. We ended the year with about a foot of rain more than our annual average, and our lakes look better than they have since we moved back to the area in 2011.
. . . and start 2019 with cold and rain
New Year's Day was gloomy and cold, a real wintry type day. There was no sun to brighten the day. The day started at 40 degrees and it went down from there, reaching the freezing mark by afternoon. Precipitation moved in the second day of the year, and the temp stayed at freezing or below the entire day. Still, I didn't see much ice outside. The local news would beg to differ, though, as a large number of accidents occurred around the city throughout the day. Things were certainly worse east and north of Angelo, moving all the way to the east coast.
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| The first 2 or 3 days of the new year were very wintry looking. A very light layer of ice is on the ground in this picture. We did not see the sun for 3 days. |
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| Jan. 3 dawned with some ice on the roof tops and on the ground, but the cloud cover was breaking. We soon had sun and all the ice melted quickly. The temp rose to about 50 that day. |
By Friday (Jan. 4), temps were consistently in the high 60s or low 70s during the day, and Donna and I were able to get out and do a bit of walking.
And speaking of walking . . .
2018 was a pretty good year of walking for me
Up through the summer, I was really doing lots of walking. Part of that was due to the fact that we were not traveling much. I really get off my walking routine when we travel. And for much of the year, I was doing walks of from 4 to 6 miles, sometimes a bit longer but seldom -- if ever -- shorter.
But we started traveling again in late summer or early fall, and my numbers began to skid.
In 2017, I walked 737 miles on 190 days. That's an average of 3.87 miles per walk. Not bad at all.
In 2018, I walked 918 miles on 193 days. So, I walked about the same number of days, but I walked for longer distances. That is an average of 4.75 miles per walk.
I don't know if I can keep up that pace in 2019, but I'll certainly try. I do not like walking in cold weather, so I walk less in winter. And my legs are beginning to bother me a bit more, so I'm slowing down. As a result, I may try to walk more often, but for shorter distances.
We'll see.
Donna and I are thinking about joining a local gym. If we do, I'll probably walk less outside, swim more, and work on my upper body strength much, much more.
I can't stress the health benefits of exercise, though. I enjoy walking, so I would walk regardless of any health benefits. But exercise certainly helps my cholesterol numbers as well as other things. Anything I can do to stay off medication is worth doing. I prefer to control these things naturally.
So, 2019 is off to a good start. I wonder what the year holds for us.
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