$1631.29

So, did anyone else win $1631.29 playing the slots today, or was it just me? Yep, I hit eight Quick Hit symbols and collected the above-named sum. This is the same game (but not the same machine) on which I won $1733 about 5-6 weeks ago.
There's a bit of a back story. I was on the machine next to this one and the lady playing the winning machine was doing all right. But she said she had to leave and I took over her machine. She came back a little later and took a slot and the end of the row--four machine away. You can imagine her chagrin when I hit the big money on the machine she'd abandoned. Also, I was in dire need to hit the latrine and almost walked off, but decided to play a little longer. And, BOOM! Jackpot.

I've been away from the blog for a while, but not vegetating completely. I've been to Portland and back, read a number of books, finished a batch of jigsaw puzzles, wasted time at the casino, took Molly to obedience class, and generally did all the usual lazy retiree activities. More when I get my pix ready.

'Tis a Puzzle

A puzzle that's also an ad for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. I like the action, the Western trappings, and the composition. It also shows you could get the idea for the product across without a lot of flashing lights, blaring music, and those abominable flash cuts.

Bachmann Birds of the World

Another recent mania has been my attempts to buy Bachmann Birds of the World on eBay. These birds came out in kits from 1959-1960, and were a cross between plastic model kits and arts and crafts sets. The birds were created life sized and came with paints, brush, instructions, and a combination paint thinner/glue. I recall a day when my visiting cousin, Georgie, and I sat down at the dining room table and put ours together. I did a Goldfinch and he had a Scarlet Tanager. The kits were simple and straightforward. Anyone with a functioning brain could produce one, and the results were satisfying. What follows is a Wikipedia entry about them:

"During the 1960s Bachmann produced plastic models of animals (Animals of the World series, Birds of the World series, and Dogs of the World series) called Nature Craft Kits. They also produced their own Mini-planes, Slotcars, military models (with Fujimi) that include fighter planes, helicopters, and Tanks; and toy robots called "Toys of Tomorrow" (with Tomy).

Complete list of 22 Bachmann Birds of the World officially released to the public: Baltimore Oriole, Goldfinch, Bluebird, Scarlet Tanager, Woodpecker, Robin, Parakeet, Cardinal, Barn Swallow, Blue Jay, Canary, Painted Bunting, Hooded Warbler, Parrot, Hoopoe, Kinglet, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Bohemian Waxwing, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Screech Owl, Meadowlark, European Goldfinch. [Announced but never put into production: Evening Grosbeak, Pitta, Weaver Bird.]

Complete list of 11 Bachmann Dogs of the World officially released to the public: Collie, German Shepherd, Pointer, Wire-Haired Terrier, Poodle, Basset Hound, Cocker Spaniel, St. Bernard, Boxer, Dalmatian, Mongrel.

Complete list of 9 Bachmann Animals of the World officially released to the public: Squirrel Monkey, Giant Panda, Deer, Cow and Calf, Tiger, Lion, Zebra, Morgan Horse, Leopard."

'Tis a Puzzle

I've been buying jigsaw puzzles recently. I prefer Old West themes, or TV cowboys and the like. A recent acquisition was this studio shot of Buffalo Bill, Jr., and Calamity. The TV show BUFFALO BILL, JR ran from 1955-56. Here's what someone had to say about it on IMBD:

Gene Autry was in television in a major way during its early days. Not just as an actor on his own show, but his Flying A productions brought many other shows to television like Range Rider, Annie Oakley and this one Buffalo Bill, Jr.

The premise for this show involved a kinder, gentler Judge Roy Bean character, Judge Ben 'Fair and Square' Wiley played by Harry Cheshire. That moniker was always how he was addressed and referred to. Cheshire found the young adolescent Dick Jones roaming the Black Hills after an Indian massacre of a wagon train. The adolescent was carrying an infant girl who was to grow up to be Nancy Gilbert.

Wiley took them in and raised them and renamed them after those western icons Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane. Jones was most assuredly not the son of Bill Cody. But he certainly could ride and shoot.

From his earliest days Jones was a trick rider and all around western performer since his discovery by movie cowboy hero Hoot Gibson. He got into acting and kept real busy as a child actor, probably most famous as the Senate page in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. Jones was in that tradition of Hollywood child stars who grew up and played callow youths until way beyond his actual years. Jones was 28 when he played Buffalo Bill, Jr. and his family name in the show was Bridger who was certainly another western icon.

As this was a kid's show young Jones had absolutely no contact with the opposite sex other than helping to raise his kid sister. The more sophisticated audience of today would not appreciate this film. Still it wasn't a bad series for the year it lasted.

My Daughter, the Psychic

My older girl said she dreamed last night that I'd win a jackpot at the casino today, on the dragon slot machine. I played a couple of them and won nothing. They don't have jackpots anyway, just bonuses. I ended up at a progressive slot called Quick Hits and POW, eight Quick Hit symbols came up. I won $1733.18. It took a good half hour to deal with all the paperwork connected to this win (I'll have to pay taxes next year), but it was nice to finally hit big. The attached photo was taken on my daughter's phone. I don't know if it'll be clear enough to see the winnng symbols, but it's the best I have. The Quick Hit is the one that looks like a red ball. Middle of the first column, etc.

Still Here

I haven't blogged in a while so I thought I'd pop in to prove I'm still alive. I had jury duty from Aug 1 for two weeks. I reported on the first two days and was never called back. I could have been doing better things but I had to wait around each evening to call in and see if I had to go down there the next morning. Grrr. I used to love jury duty because it got me out of work, but now that I'm retired it's as much a pain for me as it is for most people.

Our Chihuahua has to get surgery Wednesday. They think a bad tooth is causing the constant leaking under his right eye. Poor little pup.

Last week we went to the zoo. This is me riding a camel named Dale. I'm not a humpback, I had to sit that way to maintain my balance. Lawrence of Suburbia.

I've been on a small eBay binge recently. I'll have more to say about that soon.

Wonderful Tonight

This is a recording I really like.

Back From Vegas

I spent the 20th thru the 26th in Las Vegas, playing slots at some of the better casinos on the southern strip. A few comments:

Don't stay at Harrah's. It's not a fleabag, but the rooms lack coffee makers (not that I drink the swill, but Linda does). The climate control was a joke. The hoydens in the next room were too loud. Okay, the latter could have happened anywhere, but thicker walls would have helped. The TV in the room was of low quality, too.

If you can walk along the strip for more than ten feet without some pimp trying to press a flyer for escorts in your hand, you beat my record.

If the street pimps aren't enough, the ones waiting in all the shopping areas and hotels add to one's annoyance. These aren't selling escorts, but show tickets or some other crap I didn't want.

It was hot. In the neighborhood of 106 every day.

Everyone lies. Every deal has fine print. The hotel's alleged airport shuttle doesn't exist.

The braised pork and eggplant I had at Ming's had less meat than a can of Campbell's pork and beans. Not a bad meal, but the menu was misleading. Linda's chicken dish had no chicken meat.

The buffet at Harrah's was mediocre.

Prices were high for most things. The only deals I got were from my rewards card, which made lunch at Toby Keith's just $15 and Ming's under $7.00, for two.

I had my first encounter with an airport body scanner leaving LV. You have to remove everything from your pockets--front and back--and hold them over your head while they flash you. Okay, not so bad. But then you have to go to another TSA idiot who looks through the items you had in your hand.

The art show at the Bellagio was a dissappointment. Small, and with a lot of artists I'd never heard of. Not that I keep up with artists, but all I knew were Monet (one small painting), and one Lichtenstein (IIRC. The guy who does op art with dots)

On the up side:

The toilet at Harrah's was great. It sucked overthing away in the blink of an eye.

Some of the casinos were works of art. Caesar's Palace, The Venetian, The Bellagio, and The MGM Grand were nice to visit.

The dancing water show at the Bellagio's pool was neat.

The lions at the MGM Grand were great.

The foot-long hot dog was tasty.

I hit some nice wins on the slots.

We got Lorna Doones on the airplane.

3-D Printing

This is incredible.

New Documentary News

Go here for a cause near to my heart and one that ought to interest anyone who believes in freedom. It's not political and you don't have to pony up any money despite the pitch at the end. Make sure you play the video. I am NOT trying to rope you into a cult. Just the opposite; I want to warn you about the evils of one.

Happy Fourth of July

On the third day of action at Gettysburg, as Pickett's division attacked the federal center, confederate cavalry swept around the federal's right flank. Had they been successful they would have won the battle and we'd all be eating grits for Thanksgiving and whipping our slaves in America today. The charge was stopped by General George Armstrong Custer, although heavily outnumbered. By this day, the 4th, Marse Robert was heading back to Virginia in bitter defeat.

Molly the Cat Burglar

I said I wouldn't have another Molly posting, but here's her latest trick.

Burning Question of the Day

What do the following phrases have in common?

Chomping at the bit.

Congressional Medal of Honor.

Over and out.

Less calories.

I could care less.




The answer is--they're all incorrect. Horses CHAMP at the bit. The word Congressional is not part of the MoH or its citation. In radio transmissions you say either over or out, never both. It's FEWER calories. If you could care less then you might care a lot. To show ultimate contempt or disinterest you should say I COULDN'T care less.

Now that you are armed with this knowledge I want you all to spread it throughout the world.

There's one other that drives me up a wall. In a Vonage commercial some over-excited twit says, "It's the white elephant in the room." Obviously the fools who wrote that line don't know what a white elephant is. And I'll bet they were high fiving each other mercilously when they came up with it.

On a positive note, the photo of the pretty girl is Doreen of the original Mouseketeers.

Bambi Attacks

Yesterday, my wife told me there was a deer in our cul-de-sac. I walked outside and found a buck across the court, near the entry. He saw me but showed no fear. I talked quietly to him. He ambled onto the grassy area in the center of the cul-de-sac, into the yard of the house at the 12 o'clock position, and then to the yard of the house next to that. He nibbbled a few leafs and ambled towards the backyard of that place. As he was browsing in the grass my daughter drove up and I pointed him out. She pulled out her phone/camera/Swiss Army Knife and shot the accompanying photo. Around here we have blacktail deer, smaller than whitetails and muleys. This fellow had short antlers still wrapped in summer velvet.
My house is to the left of the brown one in the photo.

June 25, 1876: Custer's Last Stand

Yes, troopers, it's that day again when we pay homage to the brave men of the 7th Cavalry who fell on the field of honor on this date 135 years ago. And their foes who did them in, of course, the mainly Sioux and Cheyenne warriors who won the day but sealed their fate in doing so.

Molly Again

This will be the final Molly posting until she changes color. These were taken last Sunday at her obedience class graduation.

More from 1982

Another couple of pix from the post-Bouchercon gathering at Art Scott's. I see I was wearing contact lenses. Oh, to have thick hair and a thin waist as I did then, rather than the other way around.

The top photo shows (l-r): me, Steve Stilwell, Bill Crider.

The lower photo shows (l-r): Ron Harris, me, Steve Stilwell.

Goofing on Bill Crider

Photo taken at Art Scott's house after the 1982 Bouchercon. That's me giving Bill the horns.

Is it just me or has the world gone insane?

At the store earlier. At the egg display case. Saw a sign on one of the cartons: VEGETARIAN FED HENS.

When Monsters Attack

Go here to see what my typical day looks like.