"Eureka ! ! "

Pat set up her lap top at this little desk and it worked fine. She is a whiz, but I have heavy thumbs or something as the screen rolls, the little box which you are suppose to be able to find your way around the screen does all kinds of things for me. I can bring up little boxes, loose my writing, and find myself looking at the beginning screen. Not my cup of tea. I need the mouse.

When we left for Eureka, California, a two and a half hour trip from Brookings, down through the huge red woods, we planned to stop at the Blue Lake Casino and try our luck, and lucky we were to find a brand new hotel, just opened two months ago, so we decided to stay there. As you can see we had a beautiful room and the color red was predominant with the European style comforters, the little red band on the end is just a beautiful piece of satin like material almost like a small throw. We had a brand new 'flat' screen television which does nothing for the actors and actresses as it shows their natural ''flaws" for the world to see...especially the legs, nothing Betty Grable about them. It is one of my 'buts' . . . you know, "they are so beautiful . . . but !" Can I help it if the camera doesn't do them justice, it doesn't, the flat screen shows everything up.

We went to the "Alice Restaurant" which specializes in buffets. They had a champagne brunch so we decided it would be perfect as it had been a long time since breakfast and lunch and this was an in between time and we were hungry. The food looked good but it was awful. The buffet had been set up hours earlier and there were very few patrons so the food just sat and sat. We tried, drank our champane hoping it would jiggle the taste buds but not a chance. We pushed the food around and finally put it to one side and went and got a new plate and tried the fruit, not bad and the crepe with cherry sauce made up for some of the disappointment. I hate to say deserts were terrible but they were. The waitress saw that we were not eating so she gave us extra champagne and an apology. We left feeling cheated but not before having our say at the desk. We were told there is to be a meeting this week to make some changes for the better. I hope so or the Blue Lake Casino and new hotel will be a thing of the past.

I was looking forward to a session in the hot tub and when we looked out of the window it was pouring rain. It had been since early June since we saw that kind of a down pour. But never let it be said a little rain would deter us, no way, off we went and 'aah' everyone should have a hot tub. The aches and pains disappear and it is heavenly. We didn't know the casino people had a camera on us all the time. We had taken my jacket which was about the only thing water proof, and not very much so at that, put our towels, clothing and wrapped them up but it did little good as the rain got to them anyway. Maxine would have some sharp words for the two ladies walking back to their room barefoot and in bathing suits holding rain soaked belongings.


We rode to Old Town and found a bagel shop to have our breakfast this morning. The case was filled with awesome sights, fresh made bagels of every kind and coffee buns and cakes, including an all chocolate fudge cake (no we didn't have any), but we did have ham and eggs on a bagel that was very tasty and shared a berry scone. Old Town is a fun place, nothing was opened so we rode over to the big book store and enjoyed browsing, then rode over to Costco did our shopping and headed home.

When we reached Crescent City. it was time for a stretch break. We found a small Mexican restaurant where they make home made tacos that are the best I've had in a very long time. So you see leaving Brookings for an overnight-er gives us a new perspective on life. We marveled at the Halloween 'stuff' out there already and shook our heads as the aisles were filled with Christmas 'stuff', everyone in the retail business seems to want the holidays to be here now and not wait for the seasons themselves.

I hope you are thinking holidays but not like tomorrow. Maybe if we don't buy they wont get their way and have the holidays here before we have a chance to welcome Autumn. Make today a good one, plan a get-a-way first chance you get as it does make an attitude change.