LOTTO FEVER.

My neighbor, Brian, came over on Friday to fix my computer after I'd set a reset point and wiped out my internet connections back to factory settings, meaning zero ability to get on-line or get email. He was able to get me up and running and while we talked, he was jazzed about PowerBall, because the amount for the winning ticket was up to 600 million. He was going in with other neighbors with the idea that pooling increased the odds of winning. If anyone got three numbers a small pay off, but matched with the PowerBall number, could net a cool million or so.  Intrigued, I thought, what the heck. So I handed him $10 and the next thing you know, I'm mentally musing about what I would spend the money on. It was exciting.

Neighbor Jan had recruited 5 more people and asked if I could go buy the tickets on Saturday while on an errand. While buying the tickets, I met another excited neighbor who normally doesn't buy into the lottery.  She chose the MegaBucks lottery then at 170 million. Excitement is contagious, and I got the "fever". The next thing you know, I bought a ticket with my old winning Keeno numbers, I bought a second $10 Powerball ticket, and a MegaBucks ticket, totally unlatched from my former philosophy-its a sucker bet, don't do it.



The plan was, Brian and Attilla were going to watch the football game, and stop at 7:00 for the drawing. The rest of us would report to Brain's, and after the numbers were revealed, we'd repair to my house for a Win Or Lose celebration with wine and cheese and a video. By the time we went to Brian's house, Jan had recruited four more people. None of them wanted to party, they just wanted results. Here, then, Attilla, Brian, Attilla's wife Patty, and Jan, happily holding a possible fortune, in that little glob of yellow paper.  Whoo, whoo.  The football game was forgotten. Brian had wine and hors d'oeuvres for us while we waited for the numbers. The PowerBall Website was so jammed, we didn't get the numbers until almost 9:00 p.m. and, then from a youtube video. Silly me, I thought the numbers would be announced in a game type format on TV where a billion people would watch an official push the button on the official PowerBall machine, the balls would drop one by one, the numbers displayed before a hooting, expectant audience. Nope.


Here,  the winning numbers on Brian's computer. Among our pooled tickets, one ticket earned four dollars for getting the powerball number right. All hopes dashed. Before we left,  Brian was trying to find out if anyone had won, by then, $949 million dollars?
Jim called me this morning and told me nobody won. It goes up over a billion for next Saturday's drawing. An obscene amount of money. Am, I going to buy a ticket?

FAMILY SKI TRIP, MOUNT ROSE,INCLINE VILLAGE

Incline Village, Nevada sits on the north side of Lake Tahoe. Living in the Sierra Nevadas we have a choice of what route to take over the passes. Laurie drove Ken, Doug and I up over Highway 88, which she considers the most scenic. Normally at this time of year, snow covered 88 would require chains and could have closures. Lakes were covered with thin ice, and dabs of snow looked painted on the mountain fissures.


Kris came up from Las Vegas. Virginia and Cedric took Highway 80 which is a fast four lane thoroughfare and serves the bigger populations from the Bay Area.
Highway 4 and 108 are my other two favs, but 88 is prettiest.


The first night, we played and noshed.


A little wine, games, and plenty of snacks.

Kris made the observation that Ken has lived at one time or another with all of his siblings. He is currently sharing an apartment with his youngest sister. Both are away from their respective homes for their jobs. Ken is extremely neat and Virginia likes to leave dishes in the sink and clothes hanging over the backs of chairs-til later.  Hmmm!


Virginia taught us this loud, raucous game she learned from her Italian brother-in-law. Fast moving, arms waving, card auctioning, gambling card game, a matter of luck, so the kids of any age have an equal chance of winning one of four pots. Everyone could put in a dollar, two dollars, a per-determined equal amount.  Kris, Theo, Myself, and Austin each won a pot. But the laughter was wonderful.


Laurie brought a pot of chili from home so we had and easy dinner and lots of time to catch up with each other. This was our family Christmas since we couldn't all get together this past December.


On Saturday morning, everyone geared up for skiing, except Doug, Kristanne, Laurie and I. Kristanne is "Lodge Fluff." I'm the photographer and Doug and Laurie stayed behind and played cards and rested. Ken hadn't skiied in 13 years and all but Virginia and Ced had lesson packages that give a price break for skiing.


Laurie and I were thinking we might  do cross country, or maybe snowshoe since neither of us like downhill. There really wasn't enough snow.


Owen gets fitted for his boots.


Virginia, Cedric, Theo and Owen all go at their own pace on different runs. Owen is boarding. Theo is skiing. Skis are shorter and rounder than any I'd ever seen.


Austin, who had never skiied wanted to snowboard because he likes his skate boarding.


The kids lessons were at station one. That bit about falling?


The instructor just came up to him and knocked him over numerous times. Taught him HOW to fall so he wouldn't put his hands out and break a wrist. He had a two-hour morning lesson and a one hour afternoon private lesson. The instructor said Austin was the best student he ever worked with at that age. Kudos!


The "bunny hill" of station one has a tramway up the hill where everyone, kids and adults can practice their newly learned skills.


Ken decided he didn't want to go back to work with a broken anything and Virginia went with him on the bunny slope.

She coached him for a few runs on cutting and stopping and turning before they headed for the lifts.


We all met around lunch time and then everyone went all out on the slopes. Kris and I kept track of spare gear as everyone shed jackets or pants, or whatever. Virginia referred to us as the "mules."  The weather was amazingly warm.


Back at our rental condo, which sleeps 16 people, Cedric made the pies.


Laurie made a beautiful salad. She said she was always salad queen as a child at home.


Ken made kabobs. (He wanted to steal the barbeque pit but it wouldn't fit in the car.



I roasted a turkey breast and we toasted our good fortune and grand gathering.


Kris surprised Doug with a basket of goodies, as in Ben Gay, Anti Diarrheal meds, vitamin container, gas relief, all that over-the-hill stuff because his next birthday will be his 50th.



And we all decided Cedric should give up his science PHD and become a pie chef. I didn't get a picture of his apple pie. Life is not only good but delicious.

SCENIC BYWAY, VERNAL,UTAH TO WEDNOVER, NEVADA

Windy, hilly, and in places a very scenic high desert greeted us between Vernal and Wendover. The summit was 8020 feet through Aspen Grove Pass, above. Jim took a picture for me.

I took the first shift and drove 125 miles to Heber City. When Jim took over I couldn't resist this beautiful country side.

Miles and miles of this red fall color. Haven't a clue what plant is turning red and orange.

It was a hard drive, but the scenery made it worth it. Pressing to reach Reno by Sunday, we drove almost 300 miles yesterday and switched to faster Interstate Highway 80. Better road, but windier still. The speed limit  is an unbelievable 75 mph on highway 80.

We got our first glimpse of the great Salt Lake and the many salt flats. To see the famous Bonneville test area, you have to turn off the road about a 1/2 mile. We just kept right on truckin'.

In places, people write their names, or messages with stones on the salt. Of course, we saw a huge salt plant as well.

Jim recognized this strange device as an early data relay tower, now replaced by cell towers and satellites.
I drove a second shift but never even considered speeds like the truckers cruising right on by me. They are so heavy, they have better purchase in the wind. Signs warn you of high wind areas but they also have periodic wind socks along the way to give you a sense of the wind's direction.

That orange blob in the middle of the photo is a wind sock.
We arrived in Wendover, wondering if Wendover was in Utah or Nevada?
The Nevada State line is in the middle of town designated by  a line  painted right on the street. But you don't really need the line because Wendover is filled with casinos that begin partway through town. Half the casino parking is in Utah where gambling isn't allowed.  Gave us a chuckle. It was hot and breezy and we ate cold quinoa soup and fruit salad for dinner and hit the sack early.

I didn't take a huge number of picrures, 27 in all. For a look click the link
http://picasaweb.google.com/1579penn/91710Wendover#