Birthday week

Birthday week started early this past Friday with the Earth moving; we experienced a 5.2 magnitude earthquake around 5:20 in the morning. Maureen woke up around 5am crying as if she had a bad dream. We finally got her back to sleep, but we were left awake. We began discussing our day and then the windows started to shake and the sound of a freight train reverberated through our back yard. It was a very cool way to start my birthday week (actual birthday is this Wednesday - today.)

I took a half day from work and came home to find out that Kristin planned a night away at French Lick Indiana. We were taken aback as we pulled up to the hotel because of the big KingFish looking casino that had been attached to its side. But once we got beyond the KingFish casino, everything was perfect. I got to play 18 holes of golf at the Donald Ross Course - a beautiful day on a beautiful course with my beautiful wife and hardly a soul in front or behind me. I experienced a we'llcallthat for each hole (we'llcallthat a five, etc.) I was able to fly around the course in 2.5 hours.

The rest of the evening involved dinner at the very fancy schmancy steak restaurant; a thirty minute jaunt in the KingFish casino, where we netted $22.50 playing blackjack; a quick beer in one of the bars; and we were in bed in normal fashion by 10:30 pm. Because I gamble so infrequently, I always forget the rules of the different casino games. Black Jack is the most approachable game table, but I always forget the hand signals and when to stay, when to take a hit, etc. But the folks at our table were super nice and I won some cash and ran fast to the exit.

The next day we pigged out at the grand buffet, and made our way over to French Lick's sister hotel/resort at West Baden. If you ever get a change, go and at least look at this hotel. The rates were too high for us to justify staying there, but it is a sight to be seen. My dad told me it was considered at one time the eighth wonder of the world. I've included some photos that won't do it justice. While wandering around, we came upon a group of women who asked Kristin to take their group's picture. We found out that they were celebrating one of the ladies' birthday, and found out it was her fortieth birthday, and found out her birthday was the same exact day as mine. After they were out of earshot, Kristin whispered that she looked a lot older than I do. Of course men do age better than women (except for meth addicts!)

The birthday continues with a concert downtown on the great lawn tonight featuring the Whigs, Wild Sweet Orange, and Griffin House - I don't really know much about the bands, but love the concert series they have each year. More festivities include a cookout with family on Friday, and another cookout with friends on Saturday. I really know how to celebrate me!!