Quick story from back home....if anyone cares LOL!

[Yessongs]

   Last week back home in San Jose, Calif, always get a kick when driving by Der Wienerschnitzel, this place is still there where in the summer of 1972, as a 16 year old, was my first job right? At 16, there were times when my face looked like a "Pepperoni Pizza" the teen age years with some pimples! 🥲 Thank God, Mom and Dad had enough money to get my monthly prescription of "Tetracycline" so some of the Cheerleaders would at least give me a look? The good news was, I was on the Baseball team all 4 years, some of these white girls thought I was going to be the next Shohei Ohtani....and wanted me LOL!

Stopped in one afternoon, nothing has really changed at all.....telling one of the young guys working there that I worked here in 1972....could tell he was "stoned" and could give a shit less LOL! 

Can't believe the "Junkyard Dog" is now $3.59 USA? It was 75 cents back in 1972...outrageous! 

Currently in Lake Tahoe with a buddy of 50 years.....having a blast...Harrah's resort/casino is a steal at $91 USA per night...nice King Room. The weather is absolutely perfect....67 degrees today, but got down to 38 degrees last night. You know you are getting old, when you are looking forward to a 2 hour cruise today to Emerald Bay.....50 years ago, at 12 noon, me and my buddy would be at the Blackjack Tables already throwing down Jim Beam and 7 up! 

 

[Trip]

^

Nice. My first slave wages job was at a similar place in Beaumont, Texas in 1973, the iconic Pig Stand, the original in Dallas was supposedly the first car hop place. They demolished the last one in Beaumont about 10 years ago but as you do, I miss it. According to legend the Pig Stand was the first to come up with fried onion rings and Texas toast. 

Everytime I think my job sucks I recall this guy who sucked up as much of that secret sauce he could when they tore down the Pig Stand

[lazarus]

[Mrmango]

7 hours ago, Yessongs said:

   Last week back home in San Jose, Calif, always get a kick when driving by Der Wienerschnitzel, this place is still there where in the summer of 1972, as a 16 year old, was my first job right? At 16, there were times when my face looked like a "Pepperoni Pizza" the teen age years with some pimples! 🥲 Thank God, Mom and Dad had enough money to get my monthly prescription of "Tetracycline" so some of the Cheerleaders would at least give me a look? The good news was, I was on the Baseball team all 4 years, some of these white girls thought I was going to be the next Shohei Ohtani....and wanted me LOL!

Stopped in one afternoon, nothing has really changed at all.....telling one of the young guys working there that I worked here in 1972....could tell he was "stoned" and could give a shit less LOL! 

Can't believe the "Junkyard Dog" is now $3.59 USA? It was 75 cents back in 1972...outrageous! 

Currently in Lake Tahoe with a buddy of 50 years.....having a blast...Harrah's resort/casino is a steal at $91 USA per night...nice King Room. The weather is absolutely perfect....67 degrees today, but got down to 38 degrees last night. You know you are getting old, when you are looking forward to a 2 hour cruise today to Emerald Bay.....50 years ago, at 12 noon, me and my buddy would be at the Blackjack Tables already throwing down Jim Beam and 7 up! 

 

I remember South Lake Tahoe from 70 - 80's and its a shadow now compared to what it was then. Seeing Sammy Davis live at Harrah's and lots of top notch singers. Harvey's Top of the wheel and the Sahara Tahoe.

[Glasseye]

Those dogs are the real thing. Nice one buddy !

[Yesitisdakid]

11 hours ago, Mrmango said:

I remember South Lake Tahoe from 70 - 80's and its a shadow now compared to what it was then. Seeing Sammy Davis live at Harrah's and lots of top notch singers. Harvey's Top of the wheel and the Sahara Tahoe.

Yeah Tahoe was great I lived about 2 and 1/2 hours away a bit West of Sacramento in Vallejo. It was brilliant you could go up and enjoy winter sports and be in the snow and then a couple hours later you could be in the sunshine back in California. Did this often anyone remember what the name of the hotel was that had the the line through the lobby where half of it was Nevada and the other half was California they had slot machines on the Nevada side and you couldn't gamble on the California side in the same lobby

[Mrmango]

1 hour ago, Yesitisdakid said:

Yeah Tahoe was great I lived about 2 and 1/2 hours away a bit West of Sacramento in Vallejo. It was brilliant you could go up and enjoy winter sports and be in the snow and then a couple hours later you could be in the sunshine back in California. Did this often anyone remember what the name of the hotel was that had the the line through the lobby where half of it was Nevada and the other half was California they had slot machines on the Nevada side and you couldn't gamble on the California side in the same lobby

That was the infamous CalNeva on the North shore of the lake. Frank Sinatra once owned it and Marylyn Monroe  was his guest often as I remember. 

[Jambo]

1 hour ago, Yesitisdakid said:

Yeah Tahoe was great I lived about 2 and 1/2 hours away a bit West of Sacramento in Vallejo. It was brilliant you could go up and enjoy winter sports and be in the snow and then a couple hours later you could be in the sunshine back in California. Did this often anyone remember what the name of the hotel was that had the the line through the lobby where half of it was Nevada and the other half was California they had slot machines on the Nevada side and you couldn't gamble on the California side in the same lobby

You mentioning Nevada and slot machines brought to mind my one and only trip to Las Vegas.

It was, if my memory is correct, during the first Guif War and I read that flights across the Atlantic were virtually empty. I managed to pick up a return flight for a little over £500.

I booked The RIviera Hotel because I had seen it on the TV.

I played "craps" in a casino without having the faintest idea what I was doing; took a helicopter ride with two Russian Show Girls (Dasdivania teelak) and discovered much to my amazement that Vegas is bloody freezing at night!

I had a great time......but..........Just a tick on the bucket list.

Edited October 9, 2025 by Jambo
crap spelin

[Yessongs]

 Thanks for all the responses gentlemen. I don't think it is a big secret to any of us who have been around a while, that all the places we all have gone to over many years.......things have changed....Tahoe, Vegas, Cancun, Miami, Hawaii, New York and Thailand and alot of other places I have been to, this is 2025 and nothing stays the same. We just have to accept it. Who doesn't want to pay $26.50 for French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Sausage and a Milk (with a straw) This is todays pricing here locally. 

Yesterday on the cruise over to Emerald Bay, John was in line waiting to board our trip right? After taking a leak in the bathroom, these 2 gals are in front of us, we exchange hello's, they ask us where we are from? John tells them he is now retired in Maui, I am now living in Bangkok, Thailand. They both let out this big "shreek" and tell us they are from Thailand too!  Both live in Saraburi and were funny as hell...they told us they both left their husbands at home. 

Nice gals, they are here on holiday, staying at Bally's and will go from here out of Reno to Las Vegas Sunday. They were impressed with my Thai language skills LOL! 

Small world huh..

[Mrmango]

20 hours ago, Yessongs said:

We just have to accept it. Who doesn't want to pay $26.50 for French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Sausage and a Milk (with a straw) This is todays pricing here locally. 

I live in Vegas now, and that's simply not the case. 

Of course the "Strip" is a total ripoff and I rarely go there for several reasons, 1: ripoff pricing, 2: Traffic which is worse than Bangkok of yesteryear, and total lack of welcoming attitude.

But the off strip Casinos are great! Red Rock Casino is every bit as nice as any on the Strip and totally user friendly and welcoming. 

[lazarus]

21 minutes ago, Mrmango said:

Of course the "Strip" is a total ripoff and I rarely go there for several reasons, 1: ripoff pricing,...

😮

[Krapow]

Yes, wonderful thread, now any chance you stop fucking about and get some pics of my favourite Viet coffee.

I love Vietnamese Coffee, me ...

[Stillearly]

On 10/9/2025 at 4:55 PM, Yessongs said:

They were impressed with my Thai language skills LOL! 

.

You are cunning-linguist ... 😜

[Lemondropkid]

Loving the story and pictures.

Thanks for taking the time out, it's fun following along- ignore the baracking from the cheap seats🤑

[Yesitisdakid]

14 hours ago, Mrmango said:

I live in Vegas now, and that's simply not the case. 

Of course the "Strip" is a total ripoff and I rarely go there for several reasons, 1: ripoff pricing, 2: Traffic which is worse than Bangkok of yesteryear, and total lack of welcoming attitude.

But the off strip Casinos are great! Red Rock Casino is every bit as nice as any on the Strip and totally user friendly and welcoming. 

I agree when I visit I tend to stay away from the strip but I do go downtown my son has a home up there very close to Red Rock we frequent it often when I'm there nice place. Also South point I'm a big fan of that place as well nice sports book very comfortable good restaurant fair price ing

[Krapow]

12 hours ago, Lemondropkid said:

Loving the story and pictures.

Thanks for taking the time out, it's fun following along- ignore the baracking from the cheap seats🤑

Shots fired!

[Mrmango]

12 hours ago, Yesitisdakid said:

agree when I visit I tend to stay away from the strip but I do go downtown my son has a home up there very close to Red Rock we frequent it often when I'm there nice place. Also South point I'm a big fan of that place as well nice sports book very comfortable good restaurant fair price ing

Downtown is a bit cheaper but the traffic and parking are terrible.

To me, South Point is the best! Its like old las vegas, lots if buffets, and I took my Daughter to dinner in the Prime Rib room, very elegant and dinner for about $25, and to top it off they had a special for $20 for a bottle pretty good red wine. It was less than $90 out the door.

My problem is its a LONG way from where I live 

[CalEden]

 

Harrah's Reno closed in 2020, so only Harrah's Tahoe for Northern Nevada.

Used always go to the Top of the Wheel at Harvey's and get those Tiki drinks you keep the glass. At one time had quite the collection of Tiki glasses. Then I ended up with this from the Nevada Club, the one-armed bandit.

 

 

Edited October 11, 2025 by CalEden

[lazarus]

My South Shore story...

A long while back...

A buddy of mine and I were staying in South Shore skiing at Heavenly Valley. Jimmy Buffet was playing at Harrah's so we picked up front row seats. My buddy -- a big gambler -- won $1000 right before the concert started; paid for pitchers of Cuervo Margaritas for the entire show. Good times.

. . .

 

[CalEden]

A High School buddy of mine worked at Harrah's Tahoe as a Bartender, which was quite the gig for him. He was an athletic Burt Reynolds looking clone. He serviced the cocktail waitresses in the casino area near the showroom both on and off duty. When skiing Tahoe I would always go to his bar to have a few drinks.

[Yesitisdakid]

7 hours ago, Mrmango said:

Downtown is a bit cheaper but the traffic and parking are terrible.

To me, South Point is the best! Its like old las vegas, lots if buffets, and I took my Daughter to dinner in the Prime Rib room, very elegant and dinner for about $25, and to top it off they had a special for $20 for a bottle pretty good red wine. It was less than $90 out the door.

My problem is its a LONG way from where I live 

Yeah and when you can find parking down there you pay through the ass for it but fortunately my son works for the IT department at Boyd gaming and he can park at any of their casinos free that's a big Plus.

[forqalso]

On 10/9/2025 at 5:38 PM, Yesitisdakid said:

Yeah Tahoe was great I lived about 2 and 1/2 hours away a bit West of Sacramento in Vallejo. It was brilliant you could go up and enjoy winter sports and be in the snow and then a couple hours later you could be in the sunshine back in California. Did this often anyone remember what the name of the hotel was that had the the line through the lobby where half of it was Nevada and the other half was California they had slot machines on the Nevada side and you couldn't gamble on the California side in the same lobby

I lived in Vallejo from 2000 until I moved to Jomtien about 3 years ago.

[Yesitisdakid]

1 minute ago, forqalso said:

I lived in Vallejo from 2000 until I moved to Jomtien about 3 years ago.

I had a house there close to Vallejo high School lived there from 87 to 2003. Commuted daily to San Francisco to work. Can't believe what the housing prices have done. We paid $64,500 for our house in 87 and when my wife at the time and I decided to divorce we took out a mortgage so I could get my 50% of the equity at that time the house was appraised at 400,000 absolutely mad. We had never even looked into refinancing the house at any point until we divorced. I think the value had a lot to do with the fact we were about 5 minutes from highway 80 and then about 40 minutes to San Francisco.