Quiet Sunday

I slept in until 7:40ish.  Made a cup of coffee and headed to the study.  J. was up not too much later.  Miraculously, I remembered I wanted to get a pot roast going for Sunday Dinner.  To have it cook 8 hours I needed to get it started by 8AM - I eat dinner very early because I mostly eat two meals a day - so J. got the crock pot out and I got it going.  Easiest recipe EVER - chuck roast in the crock pot, sprinkle a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix and Au Jus gravy mix over the meat, add 3-5 pepperocini and cook on low for 8 hours.  

I've already had two servings (small) and it's just approaching 2PM.  SO GOOD.  Yikes!  I wish the roast was bigger for more leftovers but we will definitely add this meal to our favorites.  Super easy and super delicious. 

H. called this morning - he sounds good.  He used the commissary money we sent him to get canned mackerel (cheaper than tuna), instant coffee, ramen soups, dehydrated refried beans (add hot water and let sit then eat).  He's eating as much protein as he can.  I was surprised about the mackerel but then impressed that he was choosing the protein source that was the least expensive.  And when I suggested he should eat that outside, he said 'oh, there is definitely a rule - eat anything fish(y) and you need to eat it outside.  

He said the environment is a lot less chaotic compared to the jail.  When it's lights out, everyone is quiet and goes to sleep.  The jail was just loud pretty much all the time.  

We ordered some basic clothing items - he had only one long sleeve t-shirt and shorts when he was arrested - and they should arrive there tomorrow.  New shoes should arrive a couple days after that.  I really pondered helping him - but in the end, we are his parents and we have them means to help provide basic things he needs.  He will be in the program for four to six months and then need to find work and a sober living environment to live in - and feeling OK about how you look - having clothing appropriate for playing basketball and for keeping warm is important.  

My mom-ness always overrides the thoughts I have about 'we shouldn't offer any financial assistance ever'.  

We set up his next call for Wednesday evening - this week coming up is pretty busy.  J. is playing golf Monday and Tuesday and then Tuesday evening, we will drive to Reno for dinner at 5PM with our friends before the 7:30PM performance of "Hairspray" at the Pioneer Center for the Arts.  Wednesday we will head to Atlantis for our weekly free play - and J. has a tooth procedure that morning.  If he's feeling punky after, I will head to Atlantis solo on Wednesday.  Or maybe I'll go on Thursday - 'cuz J. is heading to California on Thursday for a concert at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino which opened recently.  He and his friend R. are seeing the Doobie Brothers.  J. will be home Friday.  

Weather has been beautifully clear and warmer - my winter weight comforter is back in the closet.  

Our every three week coffee order from Amazon has increased $15 in the past month or so.  I cancelled the order, went to the Costco website and found a similar coffee (we love Sumatra) on sale so I ordered five boxes.  A much larger expenditure for this month's budget but we will have plenty of coffee for a few months.  

There are homes in our neighborhood for sale and they aren't selling.  Interest rates are double what our current rate is and I think that is definitely hindering home sales.  The builder of our home is building dozens more in a new area of the golf course just around the corner from our neighborhood - small, patio homes with very little backyard.  They seem to be moving and last we heard, still had a huge waiting list of people wanting to buy.  

B. lost a buddy from Ft. Campbell to suicide earlier this week.  Always so hard.  B. is heading to El Paso, TX for work for a week or so - his new job is doing trainings with all sorts of public service entities.  He said these trainings are a lot easier than the maneuvers and exercises he had constantly at Ft. Campbell.  

September has been a truly epic month on the play front - so many wins.  I don't want to be specific because the numbers are making me pause considerably - for the total of the epic wins but also for the ease with which those wins become play.  It's a hard hobby at times.  I'm grateful for the wins and plan to spend the next three months enjoying some low and slow while trying to build up additional play cash.  We are so far above what we need to maintain our level at Atlantis that we may spend more time at local casinos here in Carson and also one we really enjoy that's in Minden - about 30 minutes south.  Our Atlantis casino host is very likely retiring at the end of February and I told her yesterday that we may move away (more) from Atlantis without her there.  I feel very loyal to her - but not necessarily loyal to Atlantis.  We'll see.  She is going to make sure our new host is someone J. and I will both love - and I know she will do that.  Having a great host makes a HUGE difference in the experience.  She makes everything easy.  Call or text or email, ask for what you want or need and she makes it happen. 

J. just came in to remind me that today is the 34th (!!!) anniversary of the day we met.  It was also a Sunday - which I remember because it was rare for me to do a social thing on the eve of a new work week...but I was trying to step out of my comfort zone and do things more spontaneously.  Y'all know the date turned out pretty well - and in fact, 10 days ago (9/15) was the 32nd anniversary of our engagement.  Time flies by so incredibly fast.  Margaritas at a (long time closed) restaurant at San Leandro Marina.  He tells everyone he was most impressed when I bought the 2nd round.  Seemed a common courtesy to me.  He had the most beautiful blue eyes, a great smile and a quick wit.  We were together from that date forward.  

Life is good and blessings abound.  Often complex - definitely.  We are a good team.