Finally Back to Semi-Normal

After two weeks without my laptop, I'm finally getting back to updating the blog. 

Sorry to have been away, but I'll try to explain how we got lost in cyberspace. Two weeks ago my trusty Asis laptop refused to power up. Dead. Black screen. Nada, zip zilch. So I toted it over to Best Buy to visit the Geek Squad where one of the consummate Geeks looked at me condescendingly and said "well it's probably the battery or the motherboard." 

He wanted $100 to just open it up and another $100 for a new battery. I politely declined and tried a local computer joint, "U Breakit, I fix it." 

I didn't really break it, but I hoped they could fix it. After having it for 5 days, I called and they admitted it needed some soldering inside and, of course, they don't do soldering. But they tipped me to another local shop who did. So I went there and, in about a week, they got it working. Seems the socket where the power cord attaches went bad and had to be replaced. $135 later it's working. 

So getting back online is pretty nice. Didn't realize how reliant I was on my laptop until it was gone. During this whole cyber ordeal, I was a regular at the LV Library where I could log on to one of their 8 computers. The only drawback was they put a one hour limit on computer use and I used most of it checking emails, paying bills, updating ebay, reading the Freep, News and Review-Journal.  

Haven't been to casinos very much lately. I had been on a nasty losing streak, so just taking a break from blackjack and poker. I'll play a couple of SuperBowl props, but nothing too crazy. Looking forward to the game on Sunday. But instead of watching it in the excitement of a sports book, I'll share the fun at home with Helen.

Highlight of the week happened on Wednesday. For a couple of weeks, Helen has been trying to make us reservations to get our Covid vaccines. Vegas has about 6 different locations and they are so busy and so confusing that it's almost impossible to get a reservation. There is no central website that schedules the shots, so you have to check out each location individually and the availability changes by the hour. So you have to be persistent and, typical Vegas, lucky too. 

But she learned that Laughlin had much easier availability and she was able to get us a 3:30 appointment there. Only drawback is its a 90-mile road trip each way. So we took off about 1 for the drive. Using google directions we promptly got lost about 30 miles into the trip. I finally stopped in Boulder City at the police station where we got directions and hit the road again. Rolled into Laughlin at 3 p.m. and by 3:20 we were in the ballroom at the Aquarius hotel and casino. Got our vaccines and we were heading home by 4 p.m. We go back there on March 3 for the second arm poke. 

We stay pretty close to the apartment on most days. I go shopping and run a few errands. Helen hardly leaves except for a medical appointment. We have one today. She has a routine check up scheduled with the urology clinic here. She keeps busy during the day, talking with Anna and Norm's wife Lorraine, who checks in with us almost daily during her dog walking time. She always enjoys hearing from family and friends.

We're more than halfway through our winter here, about 2 months before we'll pack up and return to TC. Have to admit it's been one of the least fun times here in LV with no shows, no in-restaurant dining and very little interaction with locals. But the weather has been beautiful, 65and sunny for most of this week, shorts and t-shirt weather for me. 

I'll get back into the blog habit and I hope you all enjoy our updates. 

So our LV adventure continues...