Ow Christmas Tree

That’s not a mistake, that’s not a typo. As usual, our Christmas tree was one big “Owee.” This year, it was a bad scrape and a bunch of big blood blisters on my right hand, where the thumb meets the wrist. I got it carrying the tree into the house.

Every year, it’s something … which only goes to support the notion that I wish we didn’t buy and put up a fresh Christmas tree every year. I’d be perfectly satisfied with a lovely artificial tree.

But not the wife, oh no, not her.

She went out and bought one again, all by her lonesome, again. All I have to do, she said, was put it in the stand and carry it into the house. So after quite a bunch of grumble and curse, that’s what I did. And hurt myself again.

All she could say was “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” but with an invisible twinkle in her eye that she got me to participate in the tree tradition once again. She fumbled with the lights so I had to get it started for her. My eldest son, poor guy, got roped into helping.

Then, there’s the forced fun. Anytime you pass the tree, you have to add an ornament. So I go around the sofa and enter the kitchen from the other side. I wasn’t born yesterday, you know.

Our tree is a Nordmann Fir, 5-6 foot tall. It has dark shiny needles with silver undersides, and what the grower calls a “unique” white bark. The tree supposedly has superior needle retention and a long shelf life. But who the hell keeps their tree on a shelf?

I suppose it’s pretty. And I suppose getting roped into helping was a good thing.

Skipping a Beat

The pulse of Left Field Wander will be erratic for a week or so as I wander around downtown Las Vegas for a while. The blog will recommence when I return. In the meantime, take care of each other and don't forget to buckle up.

 

The Difference Between 'Lie' and 'Lay'

Big Nate Comic Strip, May 1, 2013

Big Nate can't stand being overly corrected. I get that. But really now, shouldn't people know the difference between "lie" and "lay"? His best friend, Francis "Butthurst" Pope knows the difference, but unfortunately, he's trying too hard to explain it.

Actually, it's not that hard, and Butthurst explains it very well. Good thing he didn't get into the various tenses of the two words. That's when it gets complicated.

What me to explain it? Okay, here goes ... *ahem* ... The past tense of "lay" is "laid." But "laid" is also the past participle. The present participle is "laying." Got that? Okay, now the past tense of "lie" is "lay," the past participle is "lain," and the present participle is "lain." Got that? Good.

What do you mean, "What's a past participle?"?

An iPad Dinner

Since we're on the subject of my most recent Las Vegas vacation ...

The first night I was at the Red Rock Resort 'way up west on Charleston Boulevard, I dined at Terra Rosa, a fine-dining establishment that serves Italian cuisine.

Before leaving the room, I automatically grabbed my iPad, then as I was leaving, changed my mind and left the iPad in the room. I just thought it would be tacky to turn it on and read stuff while in a classy restaurant.

I needn't have worried. There were a couple of people there, all mature and distinguished-looking, who turned on iPads.

The one pictured at left was actually a doctor (I heard him talking to a colleague on FaceTime), so I guess it was a good way to keep in touch and consult while on vacation having dinner.

The picture is blurred because ... well, even an iPad user needs some privacy.

Hotel Privacy Gizmos

During my Las Vegas vacation in September, I stayed at two different resort hotels in order to take advantage of free and heavily discounted rooms.

Remember the privacy card that you find hanging on the inside of the door knob, and how you hang it on the outside to advise housekeeping that you want privacy and don't want to be bothered? And remember how sometimes another guest would steal the card for their own use?

Well, that doesn't have to happen anymore. Many hotels have gotten rid of their privacy door hangers and switched to electronic indicator switches.

Red Rock Resort Privacy Control

At the Red Rock Resort, the privacy switch was on the wall just inside the room right next to the light switches. Press the top button to turn on the "Do Not Disturb" light on the outside, and the bottom button to tell the maid to "Make-Up Room."

Swiped privacy door hanger problem solved.

Encore Resort Privacy Control

At the Encore Resort, they go one better. They have a separate console next to the bed that controls not only the privacy instructions, but the room lights, and window drapes and sheers as well. All combined with an alarm clock.

I've had similar ones at the Venetian and the Palazzo.

Hey! The more expensive the room (even if you don't have to pay for it), the better the amenities, no?

Random Musings 23

Is it possible for vampires to take “selfies”?

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If Snuffleupagus is Big Bird’s imaginary friend that only he can see, how come I can see him too?

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Did Harry Houdini have any pets? And if so, were they always escaping?

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Even if male pattern baldness is inherited, can we pick our own pattern?

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If a snowman copies his butt on a Xerox machine, will anything show up in the copy?

Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie-s-e-e-e

 

Somewhere in that mass of humanity known as Auburn University football fans storming the field after an incredible 99-yard runback after a last-second Alabama University field goal fell short of its mark last Saturday ... was someone with a secret mission.

The mission: Drop the cremated remains of a beloved relative, spouse, friend or pet (who apparently wanted his or her or its remains scattered there) on the Iron Bowl field.

The culprit: We probably will never know who did it.

You know what Auburn Prof. Scott McElroy said about that? "It happens a lot more than you think."

Ya think?

I kid you not.

Pinky's Hot Dogs

Pinky's, Red Rock Resort, Las Vegas

Have you ever had a Pinky's hot dog? It's pretty much a landmark in Los Angeles, and despite living in LA for 10 years, I never even knew the stand on La Brea existed. Well, my bad.

Anyway, I learned about the famous doggie joint a couple of years ago, and the last time I visited Las Vegas, I saw that they had a concession in the Red Rock Casino 'way west on Charleston Blvd.

Unfortunately, although I stayed there two night, I didn't get a chance to eat one of their famous wieners on a bun. Hey! I had committed to a restaurant tour of the Red Rock and Wynn/Encore, and let me tell you, when you have a late breakfast and an early dinner, there's no time (or tummy room) for a gourmet hot dog.

Pinky's Hot Dog Menu

So anyway, I did the next best thing. I took a couple of pictures and poked my nose around in the place. Absolutely drool-worthy and I promised myself I was going to try it out the next time I get to Vegas. And if not then, then the next time after that.

Damn, I'm drooling again.

University of Hawaii Football: It's Kind of Pathetic

Honolulu Star-Advertiser Photo

The University of Hawaii football team is rather pathetic this year. But y'know, they finally won a game, their last of the season, when they beat Army 49-42 on Saturday night.

The Rainbow Warriors did the deed in Aloha Stadium, where in times of glory past, very good football teams from powerhouse conferences across the nation have come to bask in the sunshine, party on the beach, and lose to the University of Hawaii.

No more. The team is rather pathetic this year, or should I say was? Coach Norm Chow is probably going to be given a pass this year, but unless he improves on his miserable two-year 4-20 record, he'll likely be history and join an ever-growing list of coaches who couldn't perform even at Hawaii's low level.

And that's what makes the picture above so pathetic ... that winning the last game of the season to avert a total shutout could elicit such happiness and joy.

Pathetic.

Phone Pix 11: Restaurant Meals

Like so many other people who own smart phones and take pictures of their food when they eat out, I have succumbed to the practice as well.

 

Most of the time, the pictures are used to illustrate my restaurant blog (A Place for My Taste, link on the right side of this page), and sometimes I post them directly to my Facebook page so my friends can drool to their heart's content.

 

So now, I get to share some of them with you:

 

Fried Shrimp, Sanoya Rahmen, Sept. 9, 2013
 

Pork Tonkatsu, Yuki's Japanese Restaurant
Fremont, CA, Sept. 20, 2013

Sweet 'n Sour Spareribs, Zippy's McCully, Oct. 12, 2013

 

Steak and Eggs, Big City Diner Ward, Oct. 22, 2013

 

Avocado Sushi, Gyotaku McCully, Nov. 4, 2013

 

Chili Moco, Zippy's Moiiliili, Nov. 10, 2013

 

Won Ton Soup Appetizer, Asia Manoa, Nov. 25, 2013