Medical Update

If you want to send your nearest and dearest into immediate flight or the polite into an irreversible coma, ask "Did I tell you about my operation?" Not going to do that.

Saw the orthpod this morning who referred me to a neurologist to rule out some sort of nerve disorder. His instructions to the neuro were "bilateral lower extremities EMG test."

He took two x-rays and we looked at them (as if I knew what I was looking at) and he said he didn't see any irregularities other some small bone spurs which aren't relevant in this case.

Meanwhile, this afternoon, I got up, walked to the dining room table and the next thing I knew Richie was yelling, "What are you doing?!" Instantly taking umbrage, I said, "What are you talking about?" as I realized... both knees were on the dining room floor....

I'm getting faster on the stairs -- even thought I have to pull the right leg up. Unless the knee is locked, it's useless. My initial outing with a walker -- How the Mighty have Fallen! - went well.

Learning the Hard Way

Pretty much my style anyhow (sigh.) I've had a "bad back" for quite some time now, but it has been in abeyance due to the exercises I do a.m. and p.m.

What triggered this episode is that I remembered to take a lumbar pillow in the car for the drive to Las Vegas. But forgot to recline the seat back...

Yesterday afternoon, I was carrying a pair of liter bottles of Coke upsairs. One in each hand meant I couldn't use the railing. On the second step, my left knee folded and down I went! I'm floundering (think Keystone Kops) and finally drop the bottles, twist in the air to land on my palms on the hall floor. Didn't get all the way over in time, hit the throw rug and surfed it right into the wall where the baseboard cut my head.

The cats fled to Under The Bed. Richie came flying, I'd gotten up on all fours. All I'm concentrating on is getting the rest of the way back up. Richie sayd, "Uh, your face has blood on it -- and so does your hair..." The hall floor looked like an abattoir. Got up, got down the hall to the bathroom and glanced into the mirror. Egad! He was right about that!

Wet paper towels, pressure and it abated. Since I can't see the outside top of my head, Richie took a digital picture for me.

You will never believe this. Blood all over the place, right? From a quarter inch cut! When you're next told that "Head wounds bleed the most" -- believe it!

My only regret is that it wasn't Halloween night -- We could have given those kids more than their money's worth in fright!

Quipping Along...

"Move the women and children out of the room!" Robin Miller (announcer and professional chauvanist) on "Wind Tunnel."

"Gonna be some door slammin' and furniture kickin' at his house tonight." Me on Steve Kinser's failure to win a spring car race.

"Lock up the likker and hide the good silver, it's the Murphys!" to Bob Brodsky on his intercom..

"Such a party animal, she'll be passing out hors d'ouevres and pouring drinks -- at her deathbed." An ambition of mine...

Texas classic: A wife finds her husband in bed with another woman! The man indignantly denies it, saying "Who're you gonna believe? Me or your own lyin' eyes."

Rodeo announcer commenting on a lady rider who knocked over three of the four barrels on the course. "Cute outfit; long ride home."

Adventures in Las Vegas

We'd all been looking forward to seeing Fat Elvis. We hurried from lunch at the Bellagio (3 p.m.)! and raced over to Bill's Gambling Saloon, wriggled our way through the gamblers and arrived at his stage -- only to see a sign which ead: "Elvis is indisposed and will not be performing." Dejected, we walked out.

Red is a great fan of "group gambling." He picks out a machine that's "hot" and we all gather round it, chip in $10 each and take turns pulling the lever.

I'm against. I make my own luck (usually bad.) He finally conned/nagged me into it and we made a bet -- $60 into the machine. I warned him, "You'll get less than 22 pulls..." Red said, "No! At least 50!" So we bet a bogi on it. The sogi bogi is Red's creation. There are two kinds -- any time or on demand. The bogi-er (?) gets down on his knees and salaams the winner, murmuring "Sogi bogi..."

I won -- sadly -- and I say that because this machine never paid off at all! 21 pulls and the money was gone. Red dutifully knelt on the casino floor and gave me a bogi. I'd rather have gotten my $10 back... Nevermore.

We saw a revue featuring the Platters (first Detroit group to be invited into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame) the Coasters and the Marvelettes. For older guys, they had a lot of energy -- one of the Coastrs was jumping around like a flea! The Marvelettes were considerably younger -- daughters of the originals? I could swear that the middle singer (and lead) was a female impersonator. All of the gestures, facial expressions down pat!

Our last night in town, we had an alfresco dinner down on the resort's patio. Leftovers from lunch (pizza which had been reheated in the room - these were one bedroom suites with full kitchen, dining rable, living area, bathroom and a huge Jacuzzi off the bedroom. There's a little grocery store that's part of the deal and we purchased a fruit plate, cheese tray, cold shrimp and potato chips from there as well as a couple of six-packs and three splits of champagne for the ladies to congratulate them on their big win. Nancy and Barbara shared a machine and it paid them $1,000 or $500 each. Barbara got a big grin on her face and said, "Here's my new washing machine!"

The Economics of a Party of Six

Our six were: Red and Barbara, her sister Nancy, husband Bill and us. Since we were never able to redezvous before 9 a.m. for breakfast, we ate late lunches.

Barbara's favorite restaurant is Mon Ami Gaby, Paris hotel and casino. We weren't that hungry so we decided to get a pile of appetizers and graze. We decided on:

Chicken pate - $9.95
Country pate - $9.95
Cheese plate - $15.95
Mussels - $10.95
Two sandwiches (for Red and Bill who wanted "real" food)
Hamburger with fries - $11.95
Chicken BLT with fries - $11.95
and for dessert, two profiteroles - $15.90

We drank a bottle of Pinot - $28.00
Two beers - $10.16

Our pates came with a small baguette, raisin bread toast, butter, cornichons and two different mustards. The cheese plate borught more bead plus sweet and sour fig jam and thin slices of raw apple. The portions are large enough there that this was a feasible lunch for six.

After a leisurely consumption, we were temped by the desserts. The profiteroles come with a big, cream-filled pate doux and three scoops of vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce decoratively used on both.

The tab (two hours later) came to $147.35 or $24.50 per person for quality food. The restaurant charged an automatic 18% gratuity which made me laugh - I almost always tip 20%. That added $24.53 (their figuring) and brought the grand total (with tax) to a whopping $171.88! Gasp!

But: break it down into six people and you have a very different story. It pays to cost account -- a nice wine, good food with a variety of flavors and sumptious desserts -- for $24.50 each!

We're Baaaack

Vignettes at the Flamingo --

Red was outdoors admiring the flamingos when a bride (full-length white gown) pointed at one and said, "I wish I'd married that one-- he's cuter than my husband!"

We were inside the casino, passing a 21 table where another bride, resplendent in gown and all the trimmings, skirt hiked up around the stool, petticoats cascading down was enthusiastically betting...

ROAD TRIP!

Driving to Las Vegas tomorrow morning to meet up with Red and Barbara. We have to drive since all three flights are borderline over-sold. Recession?

Red has promised more Lloyd Black stories so you have a treat in store.

Richie did due diligence on the guide books and wants to go see:
Double Down Saloon
The Gordon Biersch Brewing Co.
Peppermills Fireside Lounge (said to be very '70s? with a water wall and a fire pit)
Fat Elvis at Bill's Gambling Hall

Home Tuesday. Enjoy your weekend!