Yes, you can tell by our recent photos that we’re chomping at the bit to return to Africa five months from now. Also, when we don’t get a chance to get out to take new photos, it is a ready source of photos for us to use on any given day’s post.
It’s disappointing that I haven’t been able to work out for the past five days since I got sick. I was making such progress, and when I am better, it will take a week or two to catch up to where I left off. I can’t wait to get back to it. Sitting most of the day when not feeling well lessens muscle strength, although I have made a considerable effort to at least walk for 2000 to 3000 steps a day while sick, if only around the condo, performing various household tasks.
Fortunately, I haven’t felt so awful that I needed to lie down and nap like Tom. Today is the first day; he said he’s feeling better, so we are both hoping to return to our old selves in the next few days and go out to dinner and walk in this lovely area.
There aren’t many sightseeing venues in Las Vegas that we haven’t already seen or that appeal to us. Since we don’t gamble, trips to the Strip aren’t appealing, and the cost of dinners at the restaurants is outrageous these days. Years ago, a trip to seafood and other types of buffets was affordable and fun.
A quality buffet costs about $80 per person, more than we’re willing to pay. The lower priced buffets, around $35 per person, aren’t the quality that appeals to us. Plus, many of the foods at the lower-priced buffets are cooked in rancid oils and loaded with carbs and gluten. Also, we don’t necessarily eat huge plates of food or desserts. Years ago, a decent buffet would be $25 per person, and it wasn’t as big of a deal if one didn’t consume huge quantities of food. At these higher prices, it makes no sense for us.
I’d love to try dining at Hell’s Kitchen at Caesar’s Palace, but I don’t care to spend $250 for dinner and one drink. We’d rather spend our money on lovely places to live and delicious homemade meals than outrageously priced restaurant meals. Also, with my food restrictions, getting a piece of meat and some overly buttered vegetables isn’t appealing at those prices. I’d only order one glass of wine and Tom one cocktail, but our bill would surely be this high based on the menu.
Once we’re better, we’ll try some restaurants in The Village. They are also expensive but nowhere near as much as on the Strip. Since we don’t care for burger-and-fries-type restaurants, our choices are limited when many guests of restaurants on the Strip are looking for a giant burger or sandwich, neither of which appeals to either of us. The exception to that is that Tom likes to have a Reuben sandwich now and then.
Last weekend, when we ordered takeaway Chinese food for two nights for $105, including tax, fees, and tips from Grubhub (without delivery fees due to an Amazon coupon), we enjoyed dinner those two nights as much as we’d have enjoyed going out to dinner.
The drawback to our preference for dining in is that planning, preparing, and cooking meals “at home” is time-consuming and requires much effort and creativity to make it all happen. Frequently, I am researching recipes to find or adapt those that appeal to both of us.
Tom’s taste buds are very different from mine. I am not picky as long as the food is appropriate for my eating. Tom doesn’t care for vegetables besides potatoes and corn, neither of which we eat, and he doesn’t care for overly spicy dishes, which I love. We compromise. If he asks for potatoes or corn, I make them for him and make every effort to keep the seasonings at the level I know he will enjoy. Somehow, we make it work for both of us.
Our weekly Smith’s grocery order arrived a short time ago, and we both put everything away. We’re good to go for the next week planning to dine out at least once.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, January 5, 2014:
