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Summer 2012
Sierra Mountains

I danced the Ghost Dance last night at sunset - it had been a long time. The moon was large and just visible thru the pine trees and I am feeling a little better, finally getting rested. The water from this remote hot springs seems to help my knees and it certainly helps my soul.

I drove to the closest small town with a grocery store yesterday afternoon and bought 3 fried chicken breasts, 2 small watermelons, a jug of diet cranberry juice and $40.00 in lottery tickets. I try to never forget what the old woman said about buying the lottery - but not much happening on the hillbilly retirement fund scene.

Soaking in the hot springs on a near perfect night high in the mountains with the owls and bats all diving about is a fine way to clear your head. And mine has been awfully thick lately. Sometimes I sleep too long, sometimes not long enough - too many thoughts and too many flashbacks.

Drove back to the city at 1:30 Am, wasting the rent on the cabin, just to sleep in my own bed.

I have a date with The Lady today at 4:00 and not a hell of a lot other commitments pending. We will probably drive up to the Lake and have supper, seems like its going to be a great afternoon.

Not too sure why I find myself writing, but it just feels right. Perhaps the wheels of change are in motion...

When I spoke to The Lady she was all geared up for a nice night away from town. So I retooled and found a lake view suite available at Harveys on the South Shore.

We met at the townhouse and I added my luggage to hers in her Lexus. As much as I love my big truck it is not fair to ask her to climb in and out when we are dressed up. And she was dressed up in a grand way. There was no question that I had made the right decision when I saw her sparkling blue outfit. Complete with red white and blue accessories.

Sometimes the cowboy in me fails to rise to the appropriate social level when dealing with The Lady and her friends - but not tonight.

We arrived at valet checked in and set up house in a lovely suite overlooking Lake Tahoe. Very nice digs.

I brought a bottle of champagne, a bottle of Baileys and bottle of vanilla flavored cognac and some unsalted nuts - she brought her MacBook Air.

We dashed down to the hot tube to soak a little. We settled into the elevated hot tube with the great view of the lake and I, being a bit thirsty, went to the poolside bar.

There to my surprise the bartender was closing down shop. I asked if we could still get a couple of Mai Tais and he was nice enough to say yes. Evaluating the early evening I put two fives on the bar and asked if he would make us four and charge them to our room. Being the enterprising young man you would expect to find in his position, he said yes.

And so it went, we soaked in the sun and drank. As is our nature, after a bit of play and some showers we called for reservations at the Sage.

A very nice steakhouse from top to bottom. Old native American lamps and a staff of what seemed like dozens. We settled in with an Absolute Martini, one olive, and glass of St. Michelle’s Riesling for her.

While we waited on the Halibut and steak, we talked about New Orleans and our common attraction to that wonderful city, fishing in the Keys and her brother in Alaska.

Perfect food, a beautiful woman and a warm summer evening - not a bad trifecta.

The Bananas Foster was prepared at the table, keeping with the NO theme, and the waiter brought the Maitre D over to chat with us as we started to leave. Time to gamble.

We played three card poker, roulette and video poker before pocketing our $98 win and heading upstairs.

We both had glasses of room temperature Baileys but she curled up on the couch while I fired up her MacBook. Had to pay $10 for wireless service because I forgot to bring my Sprint wireless thingy that plugs into the computer and gives access anywhere.

And now I am here with her crashed in the bed with local news on the tube. It has been a great day and the past has remained quiet and orderly - in the past.