Monday, October 12, 2015

Sin City.

Three full days in Las Vegas was about 2 1/2 days too much.  Don't get me wrong - I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to be able to attend a conference in Caesar's Palace, all expenses paid.  I learned a lot and had a good time presenting at the conference.  But still, I think I would have enjoyed it more at a less hyper location.  The resort was beautiful, the food selection was wonderful, the rooms were comfortable but it is mindboggling to leave a place at which people are gambling tens of thousands of dollars and then, just a few steps away, see people without homes who are asking for spare change, etc.  I'm not naive enough to believe that all the people sitting on the sidewalks were using money they were given toward food and shelter, and I am a sucker - there was a man who had a puppy (a pretty healthy looking puppy) and that was it for me.  I gave the guy all the money I had in my purse, which wasn't much.  And maybe, probably, the guy used the money for something other than food - human or dog - but I decided to err on the side of caution.

I wanted to visit old town Vegas to get a glimpse of what it used to be like - back in the days of Sinatra, Martin, and the rest.  But with the conference, there just wasn't time.  And I have no desire to go back on a vacation.  But I did see some neat things - the statues in Caesar's palace, the living statues, the gondolas in the Venetian and all the bright lights and music.  But the things that caught my eye most of all, was the exhibit of antique sewing machines.  Not sure what the store was - but there rows and rows of all different types of antique machines.

I realize that many people love Las Vegas. The shows, the slot machines, the action are really appealing to some. For me, I guess I'm just more comfortable staying close to home.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Nerves.

This time tomorrow I will be high up in the wide blue yonder traveling to Las Vegas.  I am not a flier.   In fact, my first flight was to Las Vegas for the same conference about 11 years ago.  Although I've flown 3 or 4 times since, I don't feel any more calm than I did for my first flight.  At least the element of surprise is gone.  But this time I will be presenting at the conference and I'm not feeling overly confident about the presentation which I will be doing with a coworker.  In most areas of my life, I feel relatively removed, uninformed, out of touch.  Which is my own doing but regardless, I feel that way.  As a result, I feel as if this presentation will be seen as amateurish and insipid.  I don't feel as if I can get up there and speak for an hour on the subject matter.  I don't need to - my co-presenter and I will be splitting up - but usually, I feel informed enough that if pressed, I could talk about advising for hours (if someone was beating me with a whip to keep me going).

But I think that feeling this way is having a positive effect on my flight-nervousness.  My partner and I can go over the presentation - and over and over and over it because we will have the time - which should keep our minds off of flying.  And if I'm anxious about the presentation, there really isn't any room in my brain to worry about flying.  So it's all good. And we're going to Vegas.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Full of......spit!

Oh crap.
Not what I wanted to have as a title but…..  the next time some guys spits and it splashes on my toes, I’m going to crap on his feet.  Literally.  Since when is it nice or appropriate to spit?  Has it always been this way? I am so tired of walking behind some guy as he hacks up a lung and then just spits.  Without looking to see if someone might be behind him.  Or beside him.  Or if the wind is blowing.  Whatever.  I’m sick of walking on campus and stepping in spit all along the way.  It is disgusting – disgusting sounding, smelling, looking. 





The crap that gets yacked up?  I don’t even want to know.  But its ok, right? I can’t believe that people complain about kids wearing their pants down around their knees but I’ve never heard a word about all the nasty spitting that goes on.  Seriously, tobacco juice on my feet?  And it’s not just spitting from chewing tobacco.  It is just plain spitting – just walking along and spitting.  Or sitting and spitting.  That is what handkerchiefs are for.  Or spittoons……maybe we should bring back spittoons.  Have one on every corner, by every entrance – since people don’t smoke and we no longer need as many butt receptacles.  Whatever, but the hacking and spitting needs to stop!

Busy summer

So much for keeping up with this blog! Seems like there is always something to do and for that, I am very grateful! We finally have rain - i...