November 9th - I actually got to sleep in a bit since my flight from Reno didn't leave until noonish. The plane from Reno to Las Vegas was a puddle jump (or would be a puddle jump if there was actually water anywhere) I met the rest of my new army unit at the airport and have much CF'ing, we rented vans and headed out to our hotel. I rented and got to drive one of the 15-pac vans. We were staying at the 4 Queens Hotel (yes, it does sound drag-tastic) which is located downtown at the "Old Strip" We got in fairly early and then had the rest of the day off so I tagged along with some of the guys from my unit. We walked around a bit and then hit up one of the buffets. Buffets are not all they are cracked up to be. Then there was more wandering around and some drinking and watching other people lose a lot of money. (I didn't gamble, I just watched. I was tempted on the Star Trek slot machine though...) Then I tagged along to watch some of the guys from my army unit sing karoke. By this time, it was incredibly late and I was surprising not as tired as I should have been (must have been the pure oxygen they were pumping into us)
November 10th - Woke up, showered, got some quick breakfast and got my van. We caravaned out to Nellis AFB for our rehersals. There were alot of band people there since it was not just members of the 191st, but the 300th and the 395th as well. We rehersed right alongside a flightline that we were NOT allowed to take pictures of since some pretty sweet planes kept taking off. There were 4 tenor saxes total (with me). We marched and played (Army song (NOT Army goes... that guy was an idiot..., National Emblem and Bravura) our way until lunch. For lunch we were released to do whatever so I took my van off post. We spotted a small diner and I pulled an amazing U-turn in my gianormous van... apparently in front of a semi... scaring all my passengers. After lunch it was more rehearsing. It didn't last all day, luckily. Afterwards, we heading back to the hotel, I showered and then waited for dinner with family! :-) I got picked up by Rick Myers and his son CJ. They took me down to the strip to show me some amazing sights at the casinos and then took me to dinner at The Capitol Grille. It was AMAZING! I had a fat tire ale, lobster bisque, sliced filet mignon with cipolini onions and wild mushrooms and ended with creme brulee. So wonderful! Plus it was really great to catch up with the Myers. CJ is a baritone player and thinking about college so I could relate a lot of my life experiences with that. Afterwards, they dropped me back off at my hotel. I watched a couple army guys gamble their money away and then went to bed.
For the first time in my life, I felt like a true Michigander. The weather was beautiful - the sun was out and there was a nice breeze. I was debating putting on shorts. People from my new army unit were shivering and in winter jackets. Oh lord...
November 11th - Got up, packed up and got my van. There was a slow troop movement to the parade. Then we got out, did our thing and got back to the hotel. We changed into civis and then drove to god knows where for a long line for a free buffet. Not worth it if you ask me. I got grumpy. Eventually we got to the airport and dropped off the vans. I hung out with the CA side at their gate before heading to my gate and flying home. Trip complete.
November 12th - Had to work way to early in the morning for how sleepy I was. I was grumpy. I also had to go down to the D branch to work the closing shift there. I got to drive the county car there (which definitely saved on gas for me). The county car is this old police cruiser with the spotlights and everything. A bit like driving a boat. In the D branch, they have a life size cutout of Elvis that they put in random places to startle each other. Since I was all alone when I was closing, I decided to hide him in one of the bathrooms to greet the librarians when they got in the next day. It was dark when I left and for the life of me, I could not find where to turn the darn headlights on. So, instead, I drove back to Y-Town with the spotlights on. I figured it was better than driving blind and dark.
November 13th - was my first working Saturday. It was fairly slow. Renee and I tried to have way too much fun ;-)
November 14th - Was a lazy day. I wrote NaNoWriMo (I am sooo behind!), did laundry and cleaned a bit. Went to bed early.
November 15th - Was another lazy day. I wrote and was organizing things when I found very interesting postcards from 1999. They are hysterical and I will have to share them when I see who sent them during Thanksgiving or Christmas.
November 16th - Today, as I was shelving books, I overheard two girls talking about what books to get for a biography project they were working on.
Girl 1: Why don't you do a president?
Girl 2: Eww! Who cares? I'd rather do Selina Gomez!
Wow... what is wrong with today's youth?
Also today, I learned how my shinangians from Friday turned out. I got a phone call from the D Branch and Summer asked, "Did you move Elvis?" I said, "Yeah! Did he get you?" Summer replied, "No... scared the crap out of a probation officer though..."
Then a cop came in to use the fax machine and we got to talking. Apparently, all the cops were wondering who the hell was driving a cruiser friday night with the spotlights on but no headlights. Yep... that was me...
