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We are still on vacation. Here are some photos. First night, we went to a comedy show and I didn’t take pictures. The second day we went to Mandalay Bay and saw the Shark Reef exhibit (where I took most of the pictures), and then the Excalibur Tournament of Kings show.

Buffet: eaten Comedy show: watched Quarter slots: Down $10 Pai Gow Poker: Up $36 tud

We are currently in Vegas. I think I really like our timeshare. The room is beautiful, and has a full on kitchen, washer/dryer, shower and whirlpool tub, and TV in the front room and another in the bedroom. Also, the internet access is not only high-speed, it’s also free/unlimited. Not that I expect to be camped out in the room all week or anything. Gambling, buffet, and comedy show tonight.

I listened to First Things First by Stephen R. Covey in the abridged audio version. I will probably be buying the actual book soon. This is by the same author as Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, which I greatly enjoyed even though I did not finish. Now would be a good time to break that out and finish it… I made good use of the first three Habits, I think, and I wanted to give myself some time to implement them and observe any changes. I greatly enjoyed First Things First because it puts perspective on “time management” and neatly addresses what I have always found lacking in most time management (and indeed most “self help”) literature and lessons. Summary follows. Ganked without permission. If you like these ideas, please buy the book.

We have returned home safely from Oregon. I have viewed 188 friends entries. That is all. (For now.)

We changed our vacation plans a little, and we will now be going to Vegas in the dead of winter, instead of going to Florida. So we will be in Vegas between Dec 13 and Dec 19. JB and 9M will be there for some of that time. I wonder if there’s any chance anyone else I know will also be in vegas at that time. hmm.

Based on Alton Brown’s Broiled Butterflied Chicken recipe though I have made a couple, ah, modifications… This version of the recipe is not for the faint of heart (nor for competent cooks, apparently :) 1 1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns 4 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 lemon, zested Extra virgin olive oil Onions, carrots and celery cut into 3 to 4-inch pieces 3 to 4-pound broiler/fryer chicken 1 cup red wine 8 ounces chicken stock 2 to 3 sprigs thyme Some anonymous herb Canola oil Position the oven rack 8 inches from the flame/coil and Turn broiler to high.

We now have a new fridge, oven, dishwasher and microwave. woo hoo! I am so stoked! Appliances rock. Also, we were going to have the dishwasher installed by someone else, but in order to unhook the old one, I had to leave the hot water to the sink turned off. That meant, turn the cold water off too, so no sink and no ice machine, or leave the cold water on and when you use the sink, cold water sprays out the open part of the hot spigot underneath. Having tried both options, I decided I didn’t really want to wait a week for the situation to be fixed. ...

Thanks to bhanfhlaith for the cool icons.

Would someone good at making icons and banners make some of these sentiments into pictures? I’m thinking it would be appropriate to have them on a red, white and blue background, looking a lot like “I Voted” stickers. Honesty is a Moral Value Love is a Moral Value Hatred is Not a Moral Value War is Not a Moral Value