Hammer-philia

Back up a few weeks.... waaaaaaay back to 2004. I made it to hand in one of my papers, but not both of them. Somehow managed to clean and prepare my entire apartment for the new sublettors. And made the flight to take off to Puerto Rico. PR gets an A+ for beach and especially ocean water (it's very warm and calm, not to mention pleasing to watch). The food there, however, gets a C-. I am probably swayed a bit by my illness, but I found everything I put in my mouth to be mediocre, except the lo-carb oreos and lo-carb yogurt that dory introduced to me.
I got to know hyde's family over there. She comes from a strong and loving background of intelligent and independent women. No wonder she's so smaaaaaaaaaart, cool and creative! I enjoyed watching what I like to call the East Coast/West Coast paradigm work itself out. I've been close to East Coasters now for about 10 years, and I do love them. But there is a difference in the way that they plan and schedule (and stress) versus the way we do it over here. Now, compared to my family, i'm pretty east-coasty. I have been asking my mom about the plans constantly while here and vegas (wouldn't bro-in-law and bigsis be surprised!?). Her reply is "I don't know, whatever you want."
Now to Vegas: the first night, i acheived the impossible: a stright flush in 3-card poker! Whoooooooooo! What a rush. Pays off 40-to-1, on a $10 bet, plus 5-to-1 on a $5 bet. math anyone? Well over $400 profit.
Gambling is a rush for me, definitely a vice. I love it each time the dealer gathers her deck of cards together, and then places them facedown in front of me. The possibilities seem endless each of those times. THen, when I turn over the cards, well, I find myself excitedly hoping that I've beaten the dealer's hand. That whole emotional high kind of falls apart, however, when you're on a losing streak--specifically the type of losing streak that attacked me my last two days. One losing hand after the next, you just watch your pile of chips very quickly disappear. The great Vegas revenge! (that's how they build those lavish hotels!!!!)
Apart from gambling, in vegas we saw Mamma Mia (cute show with Abba songs worked around a simple plot). And we went to one of my favorite restaurants, a fancy CHinese place called Pearl in MGM. The waiters bring carts to your table, the food is great, and they serve tea whose leaves were famously picked by monkeys!!!
That's all for now, it's good to be back!