Well the grand total was just under 70k.

Finally out of the hospital and back home. I'm scared to see the bill for my 10 day stay.

Started playing around with MSN maps, tried the 3d app. http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=35.967897~-114.824548&style=h&lvl=19&tilt=-37.3452166392946&dir=19.1937162882746&alt=827.754679863341&cam=35.96652~-114.825138&scene=-1&encType=1

as you can see, they could use a shorter url. Still in beta, but it could be pretty cool.

The game room has come along nicely. I took several pictures before we started decorating, so I would know where everything was when we had to pack it all back up again. Most of the signs and lights were actually given to me by friends and family. I ended up buying only six or seven.  The pictures only represent two small areas of the room. The rest of the walls are just as full! -Charles

 

The summer heat is finally going away. I'm looking forward to some cooler weather for a change. Who knows, maybe I'll actually get to use some of my coats....   With foreclosures happening all over the valley (especially North Las Vegas), people are still leaving thier pets behind. Last week we got a call from a couple in Aliante, who found a wonderful Collie running loose. Poor guy was so tired he collasped in their garage. He is recouperating nicely and has fit in with the rest of the gang like he's always lived here. We're calling him Kingsley.

Well, I really didn't know what I was getting into when I started working for Digital Stratus. It wasn't a bad thing, just more work than I thought. The company is growing and there are growing pains. However, an opportunity came up to acquire an interest in another company that does phone, computer, etc line installation.  It looks like we'll acquire a majority interest and that I can buy in.  

Okay, so I've been slacking on this blog. But I have a good reason. Last month I started helping my friend Ben out with his business, Digital Stratus.  Its a computer servicing company that handles pc problems, networking issues as well as programming and other pc stuff. He started the business off by myself and has grown to include five other employees with a sixth being added. Its very challenging work and I'm enjoying it (mostly).

So, okay I've been slacking on this blog.  I've had a few issues to say the least. I'm still working on my Las Vegas real estate site, plus trying other things. I just finished my last post in a series on rsspieces, so feel free to check it out. The terror of the last few months is done, i.e. my game room. Thanks to Johnny, we finished it in time for Jacqui's birthday bash and prior to her family visiting. I do have some pics, but they just don't do it justice. Once I have some decent ones, I'll post them.

Well, this post is very late, but better late than never. I survived the long weekend at my brother's house in Cedar City. Three of us made the trip up, taking the almost mandatory stop at the Del Taco in St. George (the best del taco on the planet). My friend, Derek, drove us up in his Tahoe. Alas I forgot to bring my camera, so no pictures. We had set up pcs in the dining room on the dining room table...total geek fest. My brother takes the crown though, for hooking up his pc to his new big screen tv.   A good time was had by all!

One of my fosters was lucky enough to be rescued from Lied before they euthanized every animal there. His name is Champ and he is a German Sheperd mix. He loves to play with another one of my fosters, Chloe the boxer. This morning they were being bad by being up on our bed, but the pictures were too cute to pass up.

I had signed up for the Best Buy rewards club several years ago when it first came out. Back then, Best Buy had the best prices on electronics and computer accessories. Now, they usually fall into the average price range unless you catch a sale. I was sent through the reward club some coupons for 10% and 12% off the stuff I usually buy. I found a 18x dual layer, lightscribe serial DVD burner for $77 after my discounts!  I also bought a 2 gig usb flash drive for $27. I'm liking Best Buy a little more now!!!!!!!!!

As I had mentioned, last weekend we went shopping for a TV for our bedroom. We stumbled across a little hole in the wall furniture store that had just opened. The owner made us such a great offer on a four piece living room set that we couldn't refuse. Soooo my "old" leather couch that I bought last year is going to my brother's house in Cedar City. Of course, the dogs has thoroughly tested the new furniture and it has met with their approval.

Last weekend Jacqui and I went shopping for a small television for our bedroom. We made the rounds going to all of the big discount chains and ended up at Bova furniture on Stephanie. Boy, do they have some cool furniture!  Be prepared for some sticker shock though.  We ended up buying a new bar for the game room, on sale for just over 1,500 bucks.  Now I just have to finish the room. :(

The growing trend in furniture, clothing and quite a few other industries is retro. Look at the Ford Thunderbird for example. A perfect blend of retro looks and new tech.  Plus I like it. Its probably encoded in my DNA, as my Dad is a huge antique collector.  Radios, cars, old machinery, etc.... he has a little bit of everything and then some.  My wife shares the same opinion about retro furniture. Last weekend she went down to R C Wiley's and bought a new couch, rocking chair and armchair. Now I know what you're thinking, rocking chair?  Really in name only, although it does rock back and forth. The new furniture is going into the remodeled game room.  This weekend we had new purple carpet put in along with some retro vinyl tile around the outside border.  I'm going to repaint in there as well and have the wall borders replaced in the next month or so. The couch is white leather with chrome feet. Both chairs are purple with chrome feet, or rails in the case of the rocker. I can't wait for it to be finished. I've included some pics, but they don't do it justice.

Finally "finished" the master bathroom. (whew).  I put in a new tile floor, the old shower stall and closet was removed and a new full size unit was installed with new copper piping in the walls and new fixtures.   The old vanity was removed and replaced with a granite topped unit.  The new unit doesn't sit flush with the floor. Thankfully, I had tiled the entire bathroom floor before it was installed!  I also replaced the old '70s light fixture with a satin finished new one from Costco. Probably the best thing about the new bathroom, aside from the bigger shower is the new shower head. We bought one of those huge round ones, a "rain" shower head. Its the best. It just drenches you in water. Now I just have to finish the game room and the den.....

Finally broke down and bought another van.  The Scooby mobile is getting up there and to fix it up was going to cost more money than just buying another van. So we bought a Chevy van this time, with the conversion top on it. Its nice because unlike the old van, it has an airbag and a powered backseat.  We ended up putting in a new Panasonic stereo, 15" LCD tv and dvd player!  Its pretty cool and will be the vehicle of choice for any out of state trips.

Wow, here I am starting yet, another blog! My wife and I live in Las Vegas and help foster dogs for various rescue groups around the valley.  We also take in our own fosters and find them homes.  If you live in the Las Vegas area and are looking for a dog, drop me a line. 

 

If you are looking for a specific breed, there are many breed specific rescue groups in town. You may also try looking at Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary.  They take in all breeds and usually have many great dogs available for adoption.