Good news for gamers and those who like to walk the floors of the casinos such as myself when there's nothing else to do, the 12 casinos of Atlantic City reopened this morning just after 7AM.

I haven't been there yet, as I only woke-up a short while ago, but at least it's nice for the people that were really waiting to get back in there.

I never thought I would see the day that the casinos closed down.  They have been shut now for something like three days as the state tries to get it's act together regarding budgets.

For me, the casinos have always been a refuge for me.  No matter the time of day I could go there and just watch the people gambling.  Believe it or not, it's fun.  If it was a sleepless night or just an evening I didn't want to end, I could walk into any of the casinos (or at least the ones in midtown) and just walk around and feel that there were at least a few other people who didn't want to be alone that night.

But now the buildings are quiet. The hotels and bars are open, but the gaming floors are closed and roped off.  It's a creepy sight to see, but at least I was able to take a few pictures (you're not permitted to snap photos during the day or whenever there are people on the floor gambling)

When I first moved down here, after my friends dropped me off and I was left alone, I would sometimes make my way over to Ballys and just walk around the Wild Wild West and then out onto the boardwalk if I had nothing else to do.  There would be some sleepless nights when after a late night trip to 7-11 and a drive around the area I would pull into Caesars and just spend some time.  It was a strange feeling, but it was also a comfort.  Although one could say it's sad seeing as there really are people with nowhere to go and can't pull themselves away from the slots and tables.

Last night we all went over to see Jeff and Vee's new house and celebrate the 4th of July.  Vee and Jeff have a really nice place and I'm glad they're getting married next month.

It's great that even after 5 years of living down here, we're all still close friends and it's always a great time when we get together for a BBQ and a national holiday.

For now, I'm off until tomorrow when I'm stuck working an evening shift (which isn't too bad because Thursday is always Ladies Night) and then I'm on Friday in the evening too.

We're all heading down to the Hamilton Commons to see Superman Returns tonight.  And by "all" I do mean just about everyone.  Even Cree is coming which is pretty cool as she works way too hard and never seems to get time off.

Despite what some people are doing, none of us are actually dressing up for this.  We're just getting there as early as we can and saving seats.  It's cool really that I've got such good friends who are girls and actually enjoy doing things like going to see Superman movies.

It's hard to believe that I've been down here for five years as of today.  So much has changed in half a decade, yet it still feels as if all of this is a dream and everything happened just yesterday.

I can honestly say my life turned out better for having moved down here, yet I can't help but wonder what life would have been like had I stayed in Montreal.

Well, I guess I'll "sort of" get to find out as I'm heading up to Montreal this coming weekend with Zo and Joy for a quick visit with the family. More on that later I guess...

I can't believe it.  Zo bought a Blackberry.  I'm so jealous now.  I want one too... even though I know I will probably never use it for all it's worth the way she will.

I wonder how long it will take before she becomes addicted to it the way so many other people do.

No wonder they call them "Crackberries".

Still... I want one too.

So it's back to work for me tonight.  It feels like ages since I've been to the bar.

Zoey's having her kitchen redone so I made dinner for her last night.  I felt like being creative so I made Pasta Gorgonzola and veal cutlets.  We were thinking about going to see either The Ringer or Grandma's Boy today, but that depends on if she can get away from work for a bit.  Recently she's been working harder - which she likes - and of course that means longer hours behind the desk, but it also means her career is going well right now.

Personally I'd rather have started back at work by jumping behind the bar and getting back into the full swing of things.  I don't mind doing the DJ thing on the weekends, but frankly I miss the extra tips and I like chatting with the people who come in.

My brother might be coming down to visit finally seeing as right now he's not working and my mom thinks that a week down here might cheer him up.  The months after the holidays can be tough for some people so a little vacation never hurt anyone, right?

It really is nice to be 'home'.  We did the drive in less than 8 hours, naturally making a stop in Toms River to stretch and grab a Crave Case from White Castle.  Nothing like a few little burgers as a welcome home present.

My stuff is still not unpacked and is just lying around the living room.  I'll have to go put that away... probably right now. *sigh*.  But I did sleep in late, so that made it all worthwhile.

Now, I have to put my life back on track.

I'm still sitting around, waiting to leave.  The girls cut out early this morning and went to buy some French Canadian Pea Soup at a store that was open early.  We can't seem to find that stuff down in Jersey and Zo and I are hooked on it.  Joy became a fan of the soup too once she tried it four years ago and now makes a point to buy as much of it as she can when she's up here.  The actually tally was over 30 cans that will be split between the three of us.  Nice.

The PT is packed and I'm really glad I brought a large suitcase and an extra smaller bag to bring everything back with.  At the time I thought I was just going with a garment bag, but thankfully I planned ahead and now I have enough room.  The seats are folded down and Joy's suitcases along with mine are loaded.  Zo's taking her own car naturally so there's no need to cram everything into one car like we did with the truck when we were up here in October... of last year.  (I love being able to say that... "last year")

So now we're going to do the goodbyes and the hugs and kisses and hit the road, probably (more like "without a doubt") stopping in Toms River for some much needed White Castle and then on to Atlantic City, getting in for around 10.  I don't mind getting in late because I can sleep in tomorrow and Joy doesn't have to be at The Casino until the afternoon.  Zo's the only one who's got an early morning wake-up call, but even she said everyone in the newsroom is very cool about her coming in later.

So that's if for Canada right now... back to the Garden State...

I just checked the weather for tomorrow's drive down to the shore... and I'm un happy to report it'll be shit the whole way down, or at least once I arrive back home.  Nothing worse than being greeted with bad weather when you're coming home from a vacation.  I don't mind it being overcast.  In fact, it can stay overcast until sometime around April for all I care.  I just don't need the rain.

Thank God I'm off until Friday night so it's like getting a whole extra week for vacation.  Now how did I manage to swing that!?

Now as far as upstate New York is concerned, it could SNOW tomorrow.  Isn't that wonderful? I've seen enough goddamn snow to last me until next Christmas - I sure as hell don't want to see it tomorrow as I drive through the mountains.  But I guess there's nothing I can do about it.  By the time I reach northern Jersey and outside the New York City area, all the snow shoukld be gone.

First off, Happy New Year to everyone!

What a week this has been.  Actually, it's been even longer since I last posted anything and believe me, there's a lot of shit going through my mind right now.  But for the first time in a long time, it's all good shit.  If that makes any sense...

Let's see... what happened over the last week or so...

• I went up to Canada with Joy to visit my family for the holidays.
• Zoey surprised me by driving all night and showed up the day after Christmas
• Virginia got engaged to Jeff finally!
• My brother actually stayed up stairs and helped Joy, Zo and myself cook my mom's birthday dinner.
• Zo went to Wal-Mart and bought all the satin blouses they had in her size
• We had some 'classic Quebec food' including hotdogs with chili and poutine
• We all went over to Marz's house and celebrated new year's with her and her mom.

I'm sure there were a few other things that happend too, like building a snowman in the front yard on Decemeber 23 and things like that, but right now it's all good.

We're leaving tomorrow at around noon, so we can be back in Atlantic City by 8 or 9PM.  Honestly, it's been great to see everyone again, but I'm really looking forward to leaving all this snow (and a little of the holiday stress which is expected) behind and getting back to my life in NJ

Yup... hard to say that, but it's true.  My life is there now, not here anymore.  People keep asking me "So you think you'll ever come back home?" and I just smile and tell them, "we'll see..." when in reality I don't see it happening any time soon.

I've also decided to start cleaning out my closests, so to speak.  I know I always say I'll do something like that and get my 'personal' life in order, but now I'm sticking to it.  And when I say personal life, I do mean on the 'female' side of things.  Such as dumping names from my PalmPilot of people I don't really need any more.

Out with the old, in with the new...

Girls like Jess and Nicole... who seem to think they've found 'love' with their current and new relationships.  As un-holiday like as it is to say it, I know it's true that what they have won't last.  And when they become single again, it would be typical of me to chase after them for whatever reason... I guess mainly sex.  But not anymore.  When they do become single, maybe I'll still be friends with them, but that's where it ends.  And I'm doing that for myself more than anything.

It's not fair to anyone to only be friends with them for sex.  Espcially if they want more and I'm just not ready for settle down - at least not with them.  That goes for all the girls out there.  Vee, Joy, Cree, Zo and Tam and even Rach are my closest and most important friends who happen to be girls.  As far as me, I'm not chasing "hood rats" anymore.

These are just some of the thoughts that have been on my mind and one day I'll go through them.  But right now, I've done a lot of thinking and I'm ready to enjoy 2006. 

Let's see what happens next...

Last night was the Bar Staff Christmas Party.  Not as wild as Zo's party the other night, but Joy had a good time - as we all did.  Honestly though, I think I'm having enough of parties.  There seem to more this year than before.  Which for business is a good thing, but some nights you just want to sit down and relax.

We put the "Closed for Private Function" sign on the door at 4PM and even turned away some people as we go things ready for last night.  It was nice to finish early, although I mostly finish around 4 anyway.  But the staff had a good time and a night off seemed to be just what everyone needed.  (except in my case where I've taken a few nights off and of course, just kicked off my two and a half day weekend)

I'm going with Zo to see Harry Potter tonight.  Sort of a date thing.  Actually, it's a real date thing to be honest.  We're not doing the pizza thing afterwards so we'll have to think of somewhere else to go.  Also, speaking of things to think about, I'm very proud of myself because I already bought a gift for our Secret Santa gift exchange.  We'll all get together either at my place or Zoey's before Joy and I leave for Canada next week.

Yup, this will be the FIFTH Christmas that Joy spends with me and my mom and brother.  She's almost become part of the family now. She even has her own stocking to open on Christmas morning.  In the past she's come up because her family really can't be bothered to celebrate so why not spend time with me?  She really likes it up in Montreal and I can tell she's looking forward to this year again.

Although Joy did mention to Zoey that maybe she should could come up too.  Zo already knows that while her mother might be okay with that idea, deep down inside she'd want her daughter to stay in Jersey.  My mom would be the same way if I told her that I wasn't coming home for Christmas.

Now, if you'll excuse me,  I have some cleaning to do.

Last night was Zo's Christmas party for her friends, co-workers and even family.  I think there must have been about 30 people that came and went throughout the night.

Joy had a 'really good time' and ended up spending the night.  I decided to sleep over too seeing as Tam said I didn't have to worry about going to the bar this morning.  But as luck would have it, I was serving drinks all night long anyway.  Although, I really didn't mind.

The clean up was, as always, the worst part.  But I woke up early this morning and cleaned up most of Zo's house for her.  Joy finally got up and gave me a hand, but figured her day wasn't going to get any better until she had some coffee and a few pills.

I've been busy all week, even on days off with Christmas parties at the bar for clients and of course helping Zo with her Christmas party that happens this weekend.  But the snow is still nice.

Maybe I'll get some time to just relax one of these days...