Sunday, June 27, 2004

Getting Caught Up

I'm a little behind in my blog entries so it is time to get caught up. Last weekend was unusually busy for me - in a fun way. On Saturday I went to a "promotion" party for my supervisor. A person who my boss and I work for with had a party for his daughter's high school graduation, and he decided to also make it a promotion party for my boss. It was kind of strange having high school age kids mixing with us old folks. Despite being cloudy, there was enough food and drinks to make the party fun.

On Sunday I went to my brother's house for Father's Day. We all swam in his warm pool and ate some very good steak and salmon grilled on the BBQ. For this party it was warm and sunny. Even the neighborhood cat had fun.

Monday took me to see the Angels in Anaheim. I haven't even been to a Padre game yet in the new Petco ballpark, but there I was rooting on the Angles. Angle fans are so much more loyal and supportive than Padre fans. Even though the Angles were ahead by like 8 runs in the ninth, no one but us left early. We had an excuse - one of us twisted his ankle walking down the steep steps of the view section (not me).

This weekend I stayed at home and steam cleaned my carpets. What a load of fun. Now my carpets are clean but my back is sore. I rewarded myself for this hard work by going on my first bike ride in almost nine months.

Now I'm planning my summer vacation next month to Salt Lake City and Lake Tahoe.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

Weekend in Rosarito

I just got back from a spontaneous trip to Rosarito, Mexico. My friends and I decided on Friday to go there for the weekend. The plan was to crash an Athletic Singles Association (ASA) party that my friend knew was happening down there. I have lived in San Diego my whole life and this was my first trip to Rosarito, so I didn't know what to expect. Ironically, I was surprised to see so many Mexicans, since I thought that all the clubs were filled with Americans.

After checking in to a dive hotel (with three small beds, no air and a faulty circuit breaker that killed all but one light), we headed out looking for people from ASA that my friend knew. First we went to Papas and Beer, a famous club that you might have seen bumper stickers for. We met no one there, so we headed to the Rocking Taco, where we found a large group of ASA members. After some drinks and mingling, we headed back to Papas and Beer which now was packed with partiers. After some food and more drinks, we headed back to the hotel where we didn't sleep much due to music from the hotel bar, which finally stopped around 3 AM.

For breakfast we headed south to La Fanda for a brunch, which might end up being a breakfast-lunch-dinner (bruncher?), and then we drove back across the border. Back to work I go tomorrow.

Papas And Beer

Athletic Singles

Tuesday, June 01, 2004

What Happens in Vegas ...

... stays in Vegas. I spent Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas celebrating a friends 40th birthday. We did the usual - gambling and eating. Some of his friends arrived Friday morning, but three of us flew there in the evening.

On Saturday we decided to try to get into the pool at the Hard Rock hotel (which was across the street from our hotel). Only hotel guests can get into the pool area. However, we heard there was a way to sneak in - and it worked. The trick is to take an elevator to the second floor and then take the stairs down to the pool. Once we were inside, we got some beer and looked around. Soon we noticed that everybody had wrist bands on but us, so after a half hour, we walked out the main entrance as the security guard eyed us. Later that day we snuck into the pool at the Palms. This was easier than the Hard Rock - we just entered through the servants doors, and there were no wrist bands required. We ate lunch, which wasn't easy in the strong gusts of winds.

For dinner that night, the birthday boy wanted to go to a fine restaurant called Smith & Wollensky. The food and service was great. Most of us got the Cajun steak, which was large, tender and full of flavor. Be prepared to spend close to $100 per person, though. That was the most I have ever paid for a single meal!

That night we went to the Riviera casino to see the Amazing Johnathan. He is a comic and magician with off-beat humor and bazaar illusions, such as cutting his own arm off. I thought he was funny, but parts of his show I didn't like. For more that half the show he had a volunteer from the audience on stage, which was too long. His assistant was annoying, but she was supposed to be. I'd say if you have seen him on TV, skip the live show.

On Sunday we gambled some more and had lunch at the ESPN Zone in New York, New York. The food there was average. We played some games upstairs in the arcade. That night was our big night out. We went to Club Rubber, a special event at the Palms casino. There was long line to get in, but we had bought tickets the day before and walked right in. The club was outside at the pool and inside the Rain nightclub. Inside the club there were multi-leveled dance floors, rotating bars of lights and several go-go dancers on platforms high above. Quite an experience. Our group was way to old for this crowd, but that didn't bother us. Most of us got back to the hotel around 5 AM. After one hour of sleep, we awoke at 6 AM to get to our 9 AM flight. We were all tired, but made it home by noon. I am still recovering today. I think I'll stay in town for my 40th birthday, which is still a long way off.