cleaning house...

not literally though. even if it sure could use it. no, i'm talking about changing my daily blog reads. there are a couple blogs on there that are now officially dead. i guess the blog fire has been extinguished for them... look for a couple new ones in the next few days; as soon as i get permission to blogroll them.

i probably should add some links too. although none of you may find the sites that i visit very interesting, it may provide a little more insight to my surfing habits.

glad to see that Cindi has a clear schedule this week. we can finally meet for pizza!!! yay! it is such a guilty pleasure for me since lois' self-control is much stronger than mine. you would not believe how she can swear off things; you never have to twist my arm.

so how does tomorrow look, Cindi? i'll be sending you an email here shortly.

been checking out accomodation prices in Vegas for the end of december. lois' good friend, Peggy, is staging a 50th birthday party for her husband at the CharliePalmer Steakhouse (in the Four Seasons Hotel...right above Mandalay Bay). we're not gamblers, but it would be nice to get away for a couple days...and i have some friends who live in North Vegas.

anyway, the celebration will be on the 29th...and it looks like hotel rooms are still relatively reasonable on the 28th and 29th. of course, for the brave souls who choose to pay exorbitant prices for the 30th through the new year, good luck to them. most of the prices along the strip for those dates are in the $269-$500 range. ha! right... you're talking to people who pay $20/night on average in Latin America. you know how far $500 will go for us there :P 10-15 days, baby.

since the bash will be on the south end of the strip, i'm considering the monte carlo (which is low key nice), the luxor, and mandalay. all three are in the $85-$120 a night range. of course, i've always been intrigued by Treasure Island's Tower Suites, which are 900 sq. ft. and have two marble baths, whirlpool, walk in closets, etc. during slow times, these go for $175/night - not bad...considering we've stayed in teeny 100 sq. ft. rooms in Spain for $95/night. i think it'll be worth it to drop $235/night for the suites on the 28th and 29th... i may just surprise lolis and book it...even if it is at the opposite end of the strip.

the Orleans casino is a longshot consideration. supposedly, all their rooms are 500 sq. ft. suites and generally go for less than $100/night. the only problem is that it's off the strip, giving rise to the transportation issue. we like renting a car, we just hate the traffic congestion of Vegas. i believe the city needs to calibrate its system of traffic lights. the last time we were there, we timed the lights at one major intersection and noticed that the north/south light was roughly green for 45 seconds, while the east/west light was double that. no wonder it takes forever to drive/take a bus or cab along the strip; you could almost walk faster...

regardless, we'll work it out and make it to Brian's 50th. now, it's on to finding a cheap fare...

btw, if anyone is considering going to vegas, i did find out that the Orleans has rooms for $20/night for the few days before thanksgiving and xmas...wotta deal.

on a roadtrip this weekend. we'll be going south to Española, NM to see our friend Antonio. i think i've mentioned him before. he's the curator of ethnology at the museum of indian arts/culture in Santa Fe. a LONG time ago, he and i were washing and cataloging pottery finds...digging in mexico...drawing soil core samples in colorado...and drinking bars dry ;) you would not believe the money we started saving the day he moved back to NM for a job at the School of American Research...

it'll be great to see him. i think it has been at least a year and a half since we last saw him. if there's one sure thing, we're gonna go to Castro's and feast. i swear by this restaurant. it is absolutely one of the best joints in Santa Fe. their red chile is sublime...

Cindi, your eyes are getting very round...like pepperoni.