Star Trek

So I went with Ken, one of my tenants, to see the new Star Trek movie. As I said, I was going to spend the $7.50 - turned out to be $7.00 - and call it quits on "obnoxious" spending. That is a thing of which I do very little of. The movie FAR exceeded my expectations. Having had watched Star Trek since I was a little kid, I knew the whole thing would be different with new cast. I went in with an open mind - but - they had the whole original cast, just new faces filling them and starting at the beginning of their careers instead of advancing into the future. It isn't really a movie you can explain without going into great depth, so I won't.

I was surprised to see Spock - the original Spock, ie: Leonard Nimoy, making an appearance in this movie. He faces up with his youthful self. Again, the movie was incredibly good, certainly if you're a Star Trek fan. I'm definitely hoping they make a series out of this, it was that good.

Back to earth/reality. Coming home to the dryer being used in the middle of a hot afternoon did not set well with me. I mean - the "experts" have stated for decades now that you do laundry in the mornings or the evenings when it's summertime. Inference is obvious: You don't need to heat up the house anymore than that sun is already heating it in the middle of a hot afternoon. I did say something to the offender - in a way that wasn't too terribly confrontational, but - knowing my situation, I would hope that tenants would have a little more empathy than that. It's 103 right now and the AC is cycling on and off, versus staying on continuously, which is a good sign.

Anyway, I am apparently going to have to write up some "lessons" in energy conservation and distribute to all tenants. I am burdening myself with the same things I am burdening everyone else with, including hanging up laundry outside to dry. Yes, a pain in the @$$, yes, a HUGE savings in electricity. Then again, I don't do 10 loads of laundry per week, not as big a deal to me, perhaps, as to "others".

Well, my lolligagging for today is over. I found my level and am heading to the great, hot, outdoors in order to pour some cement and finish up the laundry line project. Or at least, get the posts cemented in the ground and then finish up with the hooks and line tomorrow after the cement has set.

Time's a wasting, c'yall later!
ben

Saturday

Today's high expected to be 104 degrees. 5 days from now, the forecast shows 108. Welcome to - the Sonoran Desert in summer. Is it even summer yet? I dunno what day denotes the first day of summer - if we haven't hit it yet, we SHOULD have. Lol.

I felt it in the semi yesterday - it took a while for that thing to cool down after it sitting in the hot sun. I have the AC set on here that is cycling on and off all day and night long. It's not getting cool enough at night now to shut it off and open the windows : ( Well, I knew it was coming, just hoped maybe a little later in May instead of earlier.

As I said, minimum $100 of casino winnings from yesterday are going to the power reader - maybe more.

I have projects to do today, but Mary asked me to take her all over the place to find a car. Note that cash was offered to motivate me. Like, $100 cash. Wheels grinding, doing that with yesterday's casino winnings would net $200 for the power reader. Soooooo, guess I'll be driving around town today, as an offer like that right now is too good to turn down.

I am still going to get those posts done, regardless. In fact, I have half a mind to get out there right now before it gets too hot and pour the concrete. Oh, I remember what's holding me up: my level has disappeared somewhere and I can't find it. I'm kind of a nut about making sure things like that are as perfectly level in all directions as possible - both vertically and horizontally. I think I did something with it.........just can't remember what!

Well, I don't want to get too involved with this entry, just a hello, how ya doin'? and have a great day!
ben

Riding Out The Wave

..........I am a firm believer in riding out casino winning streaks until it's gone. It ain't gone yet.
$600 plus 2 weeks ago; between $70 and $100 last week (I just haven't figured that one out, but I KNOW it was at least $70) and $175 tonight. I wasn't really even having that great of a time - I sat at 3 different blackjack tables. The first 2 were just not the right crowd.
The "right" crowd has the right attitude. Potentially inexplicable, so I won't try.
The third table wasn't any better, but I forced myself into the right mind frame regardless, closed everyone else out, and came back from behind. At $175.00 ahead and not feeling like sticking around all night long - well actually I was $185.00 ahead - I pushed all my chips forward, gave the dealer a $10 tip - he gave me a winning streak of which I was betting minimum $20 bets every hand that went on for a while to get me ahead, headed to the cashier's window, changed up and got out of there.

I decided to get the boys some Jack-In-The-Box food - they love the tacos - 2 tacos for 99cents. Got 12 of those and ordered 2 Jumbo Jacks without mayo or cheese. I get home - yes, there are 12 tacos, no there are not 2 Jumbo Jacks, there's one. This particular store has stiffed me before and I should have known better - dump the bags out onto the counter and count everything. I called them up. Yes, the manager already knows about it - whoever the person was that was supposed to get my order right, realized the mistake and reported it to the manager. I am NOT driving back there to get one single friggin' Jumbo Jack. The manager beat me to it: I'll leave a note in the office for the manager (GM) and it will include the Jumbo Jack plus freebies.

Yes, that's the reply I want to hear. I was cool with that and hung up after giving my name for that note. Still............

I got another freebie today as well - free car wash. It's a place that changed owners - new owners decided 2 weeks of free car washes and then after that, some good deals as well. They have the right idea, I'll give them that. I drove up, got in line. I was pretty wary - what's the catch? Basic wash is free, I expected that. Premium wash - 4th tier up - is also free. Now what's the catch with THAT? You have to buy a $60 wax job. No thanks. We'll give you the wax job for $30 plus 2 free washes. Nope, just want the basic wash. The guy gave up on me. Lol. He did end up getting $7 from me for upgrading from the basic wash to an interior job plus tire treatment and other add-ons. Hey, that wash job was a $20 deal for $7, I wasn't complaining and they did a great job. Included shampooing the floor mats. The guy at the "end" of the wash spent 20 minutes on shining my wheel rims, scrubbing the interior and so-forth, I definitely tipped him. You know, if I weren't facing frickin' financial chaos, I would have definitely gone for the $30 wax job - it's HAND waxed PLUS 2 free PREMIUM washes. Okay, I know, I can wax it myself for $5. Whatever. I left there happy, is all I can say about that.

So, my winnings. I spent $10 at Jack's Crack, the rest is going towards bills. Umm, well - I should say, $100 into the M-Power reader (electricity) and $50 towards the water bill. Darn, I lied now that I think about it. The new Star Trek movie is out and I have been waiting for that thing for a while now. So, $7.50 for the matinee, probably tomorrow. I will drink water and buy nothing and be happy to see it on the casino's dime. THEN the rest goes towards bills.

In light of extremely bad news this week, I've had a good day, and darn I'm tired. It's WAY past my bedtime.
G'nite.
ben