Reno- not famously literate

Well, I've been in Nevada for two weeks now and people are still making stupid "911" jokes. Stop.

There are slot machines in grocery stores and it hadn't rained in 85 days until today. I finished my first actual work week and some critter made off with one of my bourgeois sandals I bought in Denver. I know how to use chainsaws now (they are now far less intimidating) but have only cut down one tree with one; I have cut down another with a Pulaski. I'm just doing trail work right now; (man, do I ever love the ";") the projects we're working on have to do with reducing erosion that contributes to reducing the clarity of Lake Tahoe, which is stunning, really. I camp next to the lake and go for a chilly evening swim after work every day. I have yet to set foot in a casino but it might happen on this four-day weekend of mine. The local newpapers are total crap, even the independent weekly. I live with five people who are generally pretty easy to get along with and all interesting. Things are going well and yesterday they started lettting me drive the work truck, which is a little intimidating because it's giant. There are so many interesting aspects to this place but it hides under a facade of general sleaziness. My worksite for the next couple of months- mentioned previously- is next to rich-ass South Lake Tahoe, California, which very nearly burned down a couple of months ago. You can see the exact point at which Nevada starts on almost every border, because there is a casino right there, in some cases a mere three feet away from California. Casinos are the only tall buildings in Reno. I can't tell what else there is to this town, besides the Cemex plant.

It's certainly not Arkansas-y.