Books & Covers...

 Simon gets a lesson about "Judging a book..."
...but you'll have to jump over to YouTube to see it.

Memorial Day - Joe Convey

While on our visit to Red Rock Canyon last week, it was the flash of red on a desert background of brown and green that drew my attention. I walked out to pick up what I assumed was a bit of visitor dropped litter. The "litter" was a small red, white and blue American flag.

So it was quite by accident that I came across this memorial plaque and flag for war veteran Joseph Convey.  I don't know who Joe was or how he came to be at this final resting place but I think it's fitting to share the following images on this Memorial Day - May 30, 2011

...rest in peace Joe and thanks for your service.

Differences...

I haven’t been online lately because Claudette and I drove to Las Vegas for a five night “kinda free" vacation deal.

One of the advantages of working as a substitute teacher is that I don’t have to ask for or get approval to take time off. I’m just “not available” to the calling system.

As we aren’t frequent visitors to Vegas (this trip makes twice), it’s always interesting to note differences from our usual environment.

• Don't take any cards from strangers on the street -- especially if your wife is with you.
• Alcohol seems to impair hearing because drunk people talk loud.
• Buy tobacco stocks, there doesn't seem to be any shortage of smokers.
• I played $3 in the slots. Lost it all. Maybe it's a rip off.
• There appears to be more pawn shops per square mile than anywhere else in the country.
• People seem a lot more normal as distance from the Vegas Strip increases.
• There really IS a desert out there. Red Rock Canyon is beautiful this time of year.
• Almost everything is a dam joke at the Hoover Dam.
• Dam that bridge is high. We walked across it both ways. We had to. The eastern end is a dead end.

...and finally:

The world didn't end as predicted the day before we got there