You gotta know when to hold 'em...

I've always heard people talking about casinos as some sort of bizarre time-warping, mind-bending thrill ride, but I never understood it before. Now I do. I got back yesterday afternoon from Tunica, Mississippi and all of its gambling glory. It all makes sense now. Strange, twisted sense. A friend of mine was having his bachelor party weekend at the casinos and I got invited along for the ride so I jumped at the chance. It's truly wild how the bright lights and dollar signs can mess with your logic. All of the sudden it seems totally logical to bet $20 on something you have absolutely no way of predicting. But damn it's fun. Moral of the story is, if you get a chance to hit casinos, do it. Just don't lose your shirt doing it.

This week things really get started. Orientation is Wendesday through Friday and classes start on Monday. I can't believe it's all here. This summer has been the fastest (and one of the greatest) of my life. The social calendar is filling up nicely for the week and it looks like I'll be hanging out with brand new folks pretty much from here on out... and that's really exciting. Last night I met up with a a friend of a friend (as well as one of her friends) for dinner and drinks and had a great time.

I'm really loving all the cool spots locals are showing me. After dinner at Jackson's, a great little restaurant here in Hillsboro Village, we went to a really cool bar called The Flying Saucer where they have more than 200 beers to choose from. I'm thinking about joining the U.F.O. Club where if you drink more than 200 different brews you get your name on a big gold plate on the wall. I think I can manage that in three years. I just need to start thinking about what I want my plate to say; most of the plates have a name and a tag line (e.g. Sam Holt - A cold beer is a good friend.) It's gotta be catchy but not cheesy. Any ideas out there? Anyway, It was great to try a coupla new flavors and play darts with my in-the-know Nashville friends. I also introduced them to Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, in my opinion Athens' finest brew, and they both were very impressed. Converting folks one at a time...

So until Monday, I'll just be enjoying my last little taste of freedom. Looks like some poker and bar-hopping is on the schedule for tonight. Should be great. Life is good, people.