Post Grey

Corrections : Attendance at the Grey Cup was 53 K
The Toronto Argonauts ( are there any American Argonauts ? ) won the GC, in pretty decisive fashion. in poker commentary they would use ' dominated ' to describe the win.

Two present Canadian idols Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepson bopped and whatever else they do on the stage at centre field. I turned the channel as I felt a diabetes attack coming on or a saccharin overdose. 
A long ago star, Gordon Lightfoot, did good.

To-morrow, Mom goes the denturist. This means that I go too. I had the ElderCare people send mom's helper early, so that Gelan comes with us to the denture place.
Getting mom back in the nursing home is always interesting. She doesn't know where she is and needs to be cajoled into entering the TLC.
Probably, this event sounds trivial to you. Its all that I've thought about for 12 days. It will most likely go OK but.......

We are grey ( weather and Cup ) cold but warmer by 3 F things than the week-end. BTW, the garden is whitish on the high spots. sort of frosting looking.

Xmas shopping is on the agenda for to-day. Hopefully, the whole world isn't thinking the same way. In  a survey, 85 % of interviewees claimed to be finished shopping.
One lady said ' Thats what January is for '  Oops ! I may be a little late

Earl Grey, tea and cups

The first part of this blog may contain untruths.

To-day, 2 Canadian football teams vie for the Grey Cup. The GC is emblematic of the Canadian football championship. This Earl Grey also got a tea blend named after him  ( which is way more famous )

The numbers : attendees 50 thousand , viewers 3 - 5 million , purse - likely 400 thousand.

Our league the CFL runs on a totally different scale than the NFL.
An ex- American college player and NFL-er, holds the professional record for most yards passing and the large bulk of the yds were gained in Canada ( Warren Moon ).

We'll watch for sure. Our team the Argos are playing the Calgary Stampeders.

To-day is no warmer but drearier for sure.

Oh, BTW, a movie review. I watched ' the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ' both ways on the Vegas flights. If you're a follower ( all 3 of you ) you'll know it would not be uncommon for me to re-watch a movie. However, in my defence the sound was so poor through the audio system on the plane, I wanted to listen to the dialogue.
IMHO ( this means I am a whore---  no it doesn't, In My Humble Opinion ) tBEMH is what movies should be. The cast is a collage of some of the best supporting actors in England and also Dame Judi Dench.
One example is Bill Nighy. I'm sure BN has been known for  a long time but I've just noticed him in the last 3 or 4 years. In one scene, BN stands and listens - I thought he even stands acting.

Go see it. If you don't enjoy it , blame me.
I think its always better to blame someone else. its never true but we all feel better when its not our fault.

BTW - we were on a Canadian plane flying over U.S. air space and far enough from the border that the satellite system was out of range.
The company let us watch pay TV for free.

I passed up ' Dark Knight, some kids thingy and saw a bit about two CIA dudes using espionage to get a girl to like them '. The last is why you shouldn't go to the movies. As they say at the tables, Craps.

Shoes too small

A young French writer ( 10 or 12 yrs old ) was asked ' will you keep writing novels, when you are 30 or 40 yrs old.
Her reply ' thats the trouble with grown ups - wanting to last and wanting things that last. Only two things last, shoes too small and foolishness. '

I've never had too small shoes (  at least I can't remember ). In Vegas, my last act was to put a pair of shoes in the trash.
The shoes are / were Redwings, a well known maker of safety shoes and equipment.
The REDS were 2E wide and very comfortable. Bought in 1980, they have been a good buy. This past week in Vegas, we walked up the strip, two times in 2 days. My toe pads on the outside balls of my feet were aching. 
Changed shoes to my runners and stayed in runners the balance of the trip. Feet got better and I was comfortable the rest of the trip.

So, 32 year old shoes were left behind in Vegas.
This confirms that famous saying ' what dies in Vegas, stays in Vegas '
M was flabbergasted. I guess that she didn't realize that I'd had the shoes our whole marriage. And she had trouble believing that I would throw away anything. Apparently, I tend to keep things - maybe a little too long.
Therefore, not small shoes but perhaps a little foolishness. Can't win 'em all.

To-day, we try for normal. No craps, no drinking all day ( 3 Sam Adams, Boston Lager for sure )
Last night though, we ate Mc Donalds and I drank a Sam Adams at home. Shades of Vegas.

Day is bright and cool, 34 of those F things. Wind is brisk.
Last night flying in to T.O., the winds bumped and shook the plane, gusting to 55 KPM according to Capt Rick or Nick.

McC....... and heading home

We're sitting in McCarran airport, waiting on the bl / wh jet to take us home.

We left money all over Vegas

gave up on the shuttle - I won't cuss them out here b/c they don't care. Got a taxi to McC

Now, usually, security is a bottleneck. No, it was the ' Speed ' check in machines at McC  for WestJet ( No. thats the name of the machine service ' Speed ' , ha, be wary of the single HA ). 
The curb-side  machine broke down for the couple ahead of us. We went inside - please use the automated check in machine - nope twice. Attendant comes over - just use your passport for ID.

OK 2 boarding passes - 1 luggage label, then out of paper. Go to baggage drop off - my board froze, folks. Attendant, 2 over, prints the luggage tag.

Security, very fast

We bought a throw- away cell phone. This tracfone is an LG. you're supposed to get same charge for  local, national and international w/ surcharges for certain countries.
We set up the phone w/ a 60 minute card and 90 day expiry. Read the destructions after - why not - to discover all minutes double for any Tracfone minutes card. The cheapie card was 30 min and 30 day expiry.
For 1 year cards at $99 , you get 600 min and the yr to use the min.s. Our Trac fone ( $ 19 ) is down to 108 min from 130 m 

Tracfone charges even on the help line.
Long distance calls sound like the other person is underwater
long distance requires a call to a 1-800 # and then dial

For the set-up - everything is computer voice over the land line phone. I had to choose a zip code. I gave them the zip for St Pte Bch.
And got assigned a 727 area code which is St Pte Bch. Neat.
Except it sounds as though the charges would be the same for any area code in the U.S.
Oh ,well, at least anyone calling our phone in St Pte can call a local # and no long distance

This past week, LV, has been 10 degrees above seasonal and will stay there next week after a little drop for 2 days.

Apparently,we don't ' slot '  enough to get anything compted. Oh, well we take the 2 free days.

I wanted to write advice for you. but since I don't even listen to me . Why should you.

OK. Talking to the ether. When your up - walk away. This morning, went to fire the cubes around. Fun. I was up $60 or so and said lets make it a 100. Nooooo, got down to $ 50 and left 80 dollars late and lite.
Salmon and bagel is a dynamite breakfast. they served it along with capers and tomatoes w/ onion slices
RU still listening
Pina coladas are dessert and have no calories b/c they're white and foamy.

from LV, Nev

Sin City, USA

Sun flew in to brilliant sunshine and 70 F
And it never changed

Whines : played this dice machine that says it Craps. It is. i can't make a go of it. i'm down $90 at machine craps

The shuttle service ( $ 13 round trip to the hotel ) left us waiting 1 1/2h at the airport
along w/ 38 others. i heard the curb manager counting

Smiles
live craps is fun
we are right at home here at Treasure island or TI as they want to market themselves
we still have money and it will probably hold out til to-morrow

I'm sitting here at Starbucks for the free WiFi ( $ 18 / day at TI )
I always tip good here. they are friendly and let me sit. Neat

To-day is TD day so happy Thanksgiving, to all but 'tom ' who gets done real good

Macy's is advertising -closed to-day but open at midnight or 12 am

Canadians are getting warnings about Black Friday sales over the net.  Caveat emptor

The schedule  - there isn't one

but I'll wander up to Casino Royale and fire the cubes around a bit

brekkies and then see what happens

Reprise

Re-read yesterday's blog. What a whiney and sorry excuse for a blog.

TOUGH         that isn't half of what I felt ( or said )

faucet working great, BTW.

OK nice things. On YouTube, I often call up singers etc that I've heard on TV. the sound quality on the computer is 3X the quality of the TV.
My recommendation is Renee Fleming ( soprano ) w/ YoYo Ma singing ' Touch the Hand of Love '  Sublime.

then while scanning the selections on the YouTube, ' Blossom Dearie ' is there w/ a picture a little girl.
Cute, right.
So. I click on the name.
Blossom Dearie wrote the song TtHoL w/ lyrics by Mahriah Blackwolf.
I listen to the track - she is fantastic. of course , she wrote it but still.....
BD died in 2009 at age 70 something
Who knew.

Other recommends on youTube

Jackie Evanko
Charlotte Church
Amy Mcdonald

Dame Kiri Tekanewa singing " Songs of the Auvergne " arr by Canteloube

Weather is bright but cool ( 39 of those F things ) and still

In This World

In Buddhism, we approach Life w/ the belief that life is ' dukha ' or suffering.

My back is cramping. Pourquoi you ask.
I spent the afternoon reaching up under the sink uninstalling the faucet and re-installing its replacement.

2 blogs,  ago,  kitchen faucet is spurting. Long story, new cartridge, success.

Thurs PM - yepper, another gusher

Fri - early at the HomeDepot. " oh you need a washer kit " this no charge ( remember Moen )

Washers don't fit

Back to the Depot ( Harry and I recognize each other on sight ) " oh , grease the rings and put them on, they get distorted through use "

No way, Jose..... something about an elephant through the eye of a needle.

Back to the depot ( take the old washers ) ' those aren't Moen washers    Swear curse swear.

But.   I've got the barrel of the faucet  " oh thats a Moen "

Buy a bleeding faucet, couldn't stand the agro.

Thus its 3 hrs looking and reaching under the sink.

The lunacy - I'm on line looking at an ' Adler ' faucet diagram ( thats my new model ). its the diagram I've been using to repair the old faucet.
Part way through trying to figure out how to take out the old faucet - I realize -  the internet diagram has a newer cartridge but the same fittings that I'm taking out from under the sink.

I'm keeping all the destructions that came w/ the 'new' faucet.

Alright its done.  My back is done.

And, last night playing cards, I get a call from home. " the nursing home called about your mother's dentures "
Call the nursing home. " They found your mother's dentures in her food on her plate ". I said ' at least they're not broken '
The reply ' yes , that s right ". 

Now we know. The dentures are damaged.

OMG. So nice , communicating in English.

Spent the morning, phone to the dentist ( their phone system is on the fritz and only takes messages and doesn't ring in the office )
Phone to Denture Clinic. 

Going back and forth to Home Depot.

Excedrin headache # 109 and counting

Dukha. dukha dukha