Opening Night for Lee

Last night I attended opening night (trial run) for the new Applebee's in Laurel. My nephew, Lee, is the store manager and has been working like crazy to get this place opened and operating. This was an invitation only affair and I was lucky enough to get to go with my mom, her friend Marge and Linda, Richard and their guests. Dinner was FREE. It included drinks, appetizer, dinner and dessert.

I had chicken casidias, apple sangria, steak and ribs, and a vanilla blondie for dessert. They were all wonderful. There were a few opening night glitches but all in all, the staff did a great job under Lee's direction and watchful eye.

They open for real on Monday and I plan to take a motorcycle trip over for dinner next week. But this time I will have to pay! Dam!!

Poker bad to Poker worst

Things are continuing down hill. I played poker with KH, JB and my Mom at the beach this week and my Mom beat us all and won $24.00.

The bad part was that she could barely see the cards and was able to beat us. All turned out well because she followed tradition and took us all out for breakfast.

Poker

I have been playing on line poker way too much the last couple of days. I really thought I was getting good at it.

But today I have been brought down to earth. I played in two tournaments. In the first I finished 1753 out of 1987. I improved on the second one I was 1123 out of 2112.

I have a long way to go. I am playing in a 50 person tournament for real money on Aug 18. I had better get a lot better by then or my $40 buy in will be down the drain!

Mom don't plan on going out to breakfast on August 19. I seem to have lost my luck.
(I always take my mom out to breakfast if I win.) Hey all you players that will be at Scott's do you want my poor mom to go hungry?

My new glasses

I recently visited Dr. Daughter to get a free eye exam and new glasses. She works at a shop in Chinatown. First I got introdued to all the wonderful employees that she works with. Then the usual "Which one is better - lens 1 or 2" over and over again. After we finally arrived at a perscription, I moved to the optician to be fitted for glasses.
Well he and Dr. Daughter picked out a pair of glasses for me. I tried them on and in unison the whole staff proceded to tell me how wonderful they looked and how young looking they made me appear. I asked if this was a set-up and if Dr Daughter had picked these glasses out before I even got there.
Well I refused to fall prey to the adulation and continued to look at other pairs. I then selected my new glasses, not because they made me look younger or how wonderful they made me look, but because they were sensible. It was just a coincidence that it was the same pair that they had picked out for me.
Then I picked out a second pair for sun glasses to use when riding my motorcycle. After the order was written, they told me I had selected Armani frames. I guess fashion just seeps in when your in Manhattan!


(The picture is of my Armanti glasses )

A wonderful weekend

I had a wonderful weekend. My children and their significant others were in town for Matt and Meghan's wedding. It was so nice to have my family in the old homestead. We had sitdown meals where we talked, laughed and lingered. We all attended a beautiful wedding, reception and after party. And on Sunday we all watched that crazy World Cup game.

I was very impressed with how well everybody got along and seemed to really enjoy each others company.

It is too bad that it requires special occiassions to get families together but it also makes those moments special. My thanks to TS, AP, CR, LK, JK and BK for a wonderful weekend.

I also want to thank Matt and Meghan for a wonderful wedding and to MM & HM for hosting me and my family. It was truely a great weekend!

Happy 4th

Well I have been busy the last few weeks buying stuff and traveling.

What did I buy you may ask? First the motor cycle like the one below. Then I had to buy saddle bags to carry stuff on the bike. Then I bought a clock for the bike so I would know what time it was when riding. Then I bought trailer so that I could carry the bike.

Where did I travel to? I went to NC to work on our beach house and to start moving my son back to MD. I then went to a wedding party in Fergus Falls MN. But I also went to South Dakota and North Dakota. All three were very beautiful. Since I visited ND I now only have one more state to visit.