After 24 years.............

The Roop is finally back home in Beloit, WI. The new address is one block over from where I grew up, so I'm familiar with the neighborhood. And I can see moms house from my front door. Not necessarily a good thing but it does allow me to vanish when she attempts unannounced visits.

Depending on traffic conditions I am 5 minutes from Strong Stadium and about 7 minutes from Flood Arena. Although parking there isn't always an option. Word to the out of town fans visiting. Campus Police do not enforce on weekends or after 6:00PM on week nights. I don't get any "kick-backs" for parking tickets issued so this isn't a trick. Only for Scottie if he brings an entourage'.

Work is going well. I like what I'm doing. Because of health issues I needed something a little less demanding than what I had been doing and I believe I have found it. Doesn't pay a lot but with 9 hour shifts there is weekly over-time and we are hitting our busy season.

For a Vegas Wedding Chapel our wedding in October was quite nice. I don't regret staying on the strip but next time it will be on Freemont. Hotel prices are the same but on Freemont they don't have $100 Prime Rib and $15 drinks; instead they have $2 Coronas and $13.95 Prime Rib. It's closer to the airport too.

FYI. Expedia will sell you a voucher for the Graceland Wedding Chapel but they don't confirm it for you. If you go that route, call them as soon as you make the reservation. Damned near didn't have a wedding as I didn't find out until the day before. Also, take the night helicopter ride. It's awesome and they pick you up and take you back. So does the limo for Graceland but Maverick Helicopter doesn't always wait at the right entrance to your hotel. So call them to verify too.

Don't bother renting a car. I'd rather drive in Chicago than I would in Vegas these days. It's about $25 from one end of the strip to the other but there's always the Red Bus or the Monorail. All day passes on both for cheap. Gold & Silver Pawn was a little disappointing but I'd go again. It's quite small actually, they do a great job filming Pawn Stars there to make it look so big.