Archive for the 'Friends & Family' Category
Breakfast of Champions
I went to lunch with a friend and Las Vegas blogger Hurricane Mikey yesterday. He actually writes in his blog, as opposed to me. I just pay hosting fees and occasionally pop in with something interesting to say or (more probably) something to complain about. Anyway, I heartily encourage you to visit his blog and […]
I am officially old.
There were things I did in my younger, crazier years that would probably kill me if I attempted them now. And if they didn’t kill me, I’d probably want to be dead. It’s no secret that I like my spicy food really hot, usually as hot as or hotter than a restaurant can make it. […]
Read first. Apply second.
The lovely Mrs. Vargas called me yesterday and suggested that we go out for a sushi dinner. I liked the idea. I like sushi. Since I work at home, my attire can sometimes be politely described as “casual” and other times, um, well, I wouldn’t want to be in public or under the scrutiny of […]
Happy Anniversary, Special K and Mr. K
No foolin’: my sister got married on April Fools Day. It was a glorious affair, at sunset, in Key West Florida. Six years ago today she entered wedded bliss. I wish you and “Mr. K.” all the best. So, Special K, since I don’t think I sent a card or gift, your gift is in […]
Merry Christmas from the Vargases
Christmas brings up so many fond memories of turkeys at Grandma’s, her special stuffing, presents, and happy family times. Memories of snow, cold, and even some bad weather. So many wonderful memories, and too many to mention here. To me, Christmas simply means joy. I cannot think about Christmas without smiling. Mrs. Vargas and I […]
A Hot New Casino Opening. Sort of.
There are two types of casinos in Las Vegas. The first ones are the ones that most people think of: the famous ones on The Strip. Names like Luxor, Bellagio, Paris, Monte Carlo, and Caesar’s Palace come to mind. The others are the “local” casinos. These are smaller and less flashy. They are also located […]
Tonopah Restaurant – Good Eats in the Middle of The Desert
Banc Club Restaurant Tonopah, NV (directions below) This review was thoughtfully provided by my good friend Louis. We used to work together, and he is a regular reader of this site. Thanks for the review, Louis, and if anyone else is interested in writing for the site, please get in touch. It’s not often that […]
One More Goal For My Life
It’s not often that I’m caught off guard, but today I was. Mrs. Vargas and I decided on a whim to go visit the Auto Collections at the Imperial Palace on the Las Vegas Strip today. I haven’t been there in nearly ten years, but I know the collection is far larger than what is […]
Drinking Scotch Can Save Your Marriage
I was recently reminded of a party I attended last year. Some friends had invited Mrs. Vargas and I to their home, along with several of their other friends and neighbors. It was a typical holiday party with plenty of good stuff to eat and drink. The partygoers were all decked out in festive attire […]
Happy (belated) Birthday, Mr. Vin!
Mr. Vin is my step father and today is his birthday. Well, as I write this it’s still technically his birthday for just over two hours here in Vegas. Where he lives on the east coast of the US, it’s past midnight. I missed posting his wish on the day. So this is the first […]
Persian Rugs and Traffic Jams
We went to visit Mrs. Vargas’s parents for the holiday weekend. We stayed at their house in Camarillo, CA. It’s a small city located about half-way between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, just north of “The Valley” of Valley Girl fame. Mrs. Vargas’s grandmother gave us a Persian rug as a housewarming gift, but it […]
Analyze this: a test you can’t study for
A while back Mrs. Vargas and I were trying to conceive a little Vargas. We were not immediately successful in this endeavor. Sometimes this stuff takes time. Even after several months, we were still without a future little Vargas. Mrs. Vargas and I weren’t particularly worried, taking the “it will happen when it happens” attitude. […]
Many garage sales and not a single garage for sale…
Mrs. Vargas and I went to a terrific garage sale yesterday. Several, actually. What was terrific about them was that they were actually a community garage sale that spanned several neighborhoods in Green Valley, home of the Green Valley Ranch Station Casino (shown on American Casino). It’s a nice area, with some expensive homes, and […]
Happpy Birthday, Dad!
Today is my father’s (Mr. Vargas) birthday. Happy birthday, Dad! Dad is on vacation and inaccessible, so I did not call him, like I called my mom a few days ago. That also means that Luella, our cat didn’t have a chance to sing for Dad. Somehow, though, I don’t think he minded too much.
Another Average Day
Yesterday was one of those average days where you know you got something done, but you simply cannot put your finger on any specifics. I was awake for around seventeen hours, but there is very little concrete I can point to that I did. I already posted about having Luella sing for my mom on […]
Happy Birthday, Mom!
Mother Vargas has a birthday today. Mother Vargas lives outside of Boston, so she was already at work when I got up at 6:00am Vegas time. Luella the cat sleeps in the utility room and is rather noisy in the morning when she gets up and is ready to come out. As soon as she […]
Moving to Vegas: Day 4, the second half
We were now in New Mexico, a place Dad and I had never been before. We both grew up and have mainly existed on the East Coast. Sure, we’ve been to other places, but we never drove cross-country through them. We were absolutely not prepared for the beauty that unfolded before us. At first it […]
Moving to Vegas: Day 4, the first half
Well as nice as Texas had been, it was nice to see another state. Hello New Mexico! I felt like we had now made real progress. So far the journey was going extremely well, especially since we had tow alpha-males in the truck. Not only were Dad and I still speaking, but we were still […]
Moving to Vegas: Day 3, the second half
On the road and hungry, Dad and I, adhering to the “local flavor if possible” rule of the road, had stopped at the only place for miles around. It was surprisingly bright and clean, but the owner serving us was a bit relaxed in her approach to service. OK, she was slow. But everyone was […]
Moving to Vegas: Day 3, the first half
It was day 2 on the road from Orlando to Las Vegas. We had made excellent time on day one despite some rain. Day 2 looked like it was going to turn into another fine day of driving with Dad. I figured since this was my show, I was obligated to do more driving than […]
Moving to Vegas: Day 2, the second half
Day one is nearly over, but we’ve still got miles to go before we rest. We’re in the midst of trying to find a hotel, but the truck needed fuel in the meantime, so we have stopped at a gas station to fuel up both truck and man. It was at this gas station that […]
Moving to Vegas: Day 2, the first half
I started the day by checking my cell phone voice mail and was relieved that Mrs. Vargas and Luella had arrived safely in Las Vegas and were already settled in the new house. Remember how Luella had received half a pill of Kitty Valium for the flight? Apparently Luella had actually spit out her relaxation […]
Moving to Vegas: Day 1, the second half
It was moving day. So far the mover had hit on my wife, left without us really having everything packed, and time was running out to get Mrs. Vargas and Luella the cat to the airport for their flight to our new home in Vegas. And as time ran completely out, we got saved. A […]
Moving to Vegas: Day 1, the first half
The day started out OK, and everything was going well until the mover showed up. He seemed chipper enough until he toured the house and proclaimed that I had lied to him about what had to be moved. Now if you want to get my attention in a hurry, call me a liar. I am […]