A-Hole Could Mean Ace (in the) Hole?

Before 2014 that is!!!!

Wow, last night was quite an adventure. I drove all night long in what felt like a weather research station in Vostok, Antarctica on July 21, 1983. The roads were covered in ice and snow. The wind was whipping all night long. In some places the drifts were two to three feet high. The cold wasn't that big a deal as the wind and the snow. Today and tomorrow are where the temperature will be more the issue. I am flattered that I am considered "essential" but... hopefully, they will "show us the money" like they did last month. I am not expecting it but, I would appreciate it. They don't actually "show us the money" they show us the comp time. I would rather have the comp time anyway. I know most of the people in the department would rather have the cash; I have always been a bit different. Comp time can be used for vacation days or extra sick days or any number of reasons to not work. I like work but, I am a firm believer that you have to have time away from work to remain a productive employee.

I am really hankering to play some poker. I used to host poker games all the time but, it is a huge ordeal and, I am kind of a dud now. It wouldn't be such a big deal normally but, I used to have 20 - 30 people over with several tables playing a No-Limit Texas Hold-em tournament. It was always a big hassle but, I really like to play cards and, it was a lot of fun. Maybe just five or six people playing dealer's choice would be fun too. Now that I am off Fridays I could go play some of those Chicago Poker Charities games again. I usually did pretty well at those tournaments too. I think Hollywood Casino has a poker room now and maybe the Grand Victoria in Elgin? I might even settle for Blackjack. I think there might be gambling in Las Vegas. I like Las Vegas. I relate to Vegas - neither one of us sleeps much, we both like a lot of bells and whistles, people like to spend time with us on a limited basis, a little of us goes a long way, we are both old but not completely unsexy ... Atlantic City is nice too but, it is not even close. A.C. (that's what the cool kids call it) has the ocean though(ocean vs. desert). Maybe I should see what Monte Carlo is all about.

Jeff looks the one straight across facing us

I think, even though I get out of the house every day, I am stir crazy. And, why is flaxseed bread so dense? It's like eating bread made out of Play-dough that was left out in the sun for a couple of days.

Cha Cha started to listen to the new load of Dirty Laundry Podcast (the one we recorded while driving through central Illinois) and she says it's hard to hear what we are saying with all of the background road noise. I did not find it difficult to hear. She does have very poor hearing (seriously). I you have a hard time hearing the show I am sorry. It was an experimental thing and I, with any experiment, you are not really sure of the outcome. Remember, Columbus thought he was in India. I am not sure if that is the same but, without Columbus we wouldn't have Native Americans.

Even sitting here in the house writing this blog I can feel that it is getting colder outside.

I am still a bit stuffed-up but, I feel a lot better. Now, everybody else up in this hizzy is sick; all except Jeff - he's too big of an a-hole to get sick. In case you don't know, Jeff is our dog and, by the way, he is an a-hole. He's very nice but, an a-hole none-the-less. He probably gets that from me. I do need to teach him how to play poker. I am fairly certain he would chew the cards and then get shot because the others would think he was marking the cards when, in fact, he was just being an a-hole.

I am gonna sign-off. I have to start thinking about hibernation before work. Are the 30 below zero temperatures supposed to arrive tonight? Luckily, I am in a vehicle tonight and I am training a new guy. This will be his fourth night of training so, I will probably not have to do much. We'll see? I want to leave you with one more thing - people really do underestimate the power of rinsing their dishes after they are through with them. Have a great rest of your day and night. If you are in my neck of the MIDDLE make sure to stay warm. I think I will blog again tomorrow - unless I am frozen solid. TTTT...MITH (out).