Saturday, April 12, 2008

I always feel like


P1030257.JPG
Originally uploaded by stevenjude
somebody's watching me... and I get no privacy.

Back from Vegas and back into the swing of a warmer but very wet Ann arbor. The dog has been walked, there's a gallery show opening downstairs, we have a new BBQ (yesterday was 21c, we got giddy) and of course I got my camera back... so Jude's 365 days pic series is back on track.

Jude has dinner tonight and is out running right now and so Im home alone and trying to work my way into writing my book (it's about falling into the vast crevice between who you are and the person that you project to the world) rather than heading downstairs, opening a beer and watching Top Gear.

It's good to be writing again. Something that I promised myself - and that I can be good at - given the discipline. This blog is a testament to my indiscipline ---> but honestly I can turn a sentence once in a while.

The pic btw was taken in the Bellagio Glass Flowers and Butterfly garden. The butterflies are real - though I told the tourists that they were animatronics and many believed me. The gullible should not be let out unchaperoned in Vegas.

Friday, April 11, 2008

A Vegas Miracle


Miracle
Originally uploaded by jurek d.
10 minutes before I checked out yesterday I got a call.

"I've done a little investigation work and don't ask me how I did it but I think I have your camera"

I went downstairs and lo! behold! My camera.

And most of the pics were still on it too.

Flight was a nightmare, much delayed... but at least it was business.

In at 1am, up at 6am... now at work and slightly dazed

Proper post (and pics!) asap

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Lesbian Las Vegas


Las Vegas Bikefest, Sep 16, 2005
Originally uploaded by ihrctv
So last night we finished up the show and headed for the Private Members bar at the top of the Mandalay Bay hotel. The views were gorgeous, the bar staff still had their 'penthouse' looks and figures and the place was an oasis of calm, quiet and the scent of Asian spice.

Yesterday's massage was good. I arrived early and headed toward the individual hot tubs, then on to the sauna, the plunge pool and the steam room, then massage, more steam and a fantastically lit shower. A zen like experience spoiled only by the naked wandering of what seemed be the result of splicing the genes of an amphibian, a bear and a Russian.

Today I walked the strip wishing I had my camera and rueing the day that I didn't use the safe. But coming out from behind the lens does interesting things. I started noticing things again. Having ideas. Theories. Plans for how I could test my hypotheses... and sell the results. More on that later.

And finally there were the lesbians. Some older, leather faced and sinewy as the marched the strip. Other in bigger groups all blonde hair and Abercromie T-shirts, happy with life - out in the sunshine in gangs of belonging. I must have passed a dozen or so groups like this.

Not the Hogs and Heifers experience (above) by any means... but a cool morning. Check out in a half hour and head for A2.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Camera hunter


IMG_2837.JPG
Originally uploaded by stevenjude
So today I wandered off into Vegas in search of a new ultra zoom camera. I figured - what they hell, why not and other questions of a similar 'excuse to buy' ilk.

Instead I came back with a freshly steamed John Varartos shirt, a blister on my heel and the knowledge that the Sony ultra zoom is so complicated with its flickr wheels and scroll menus that you'd never be able to shoot a living thing. It's a still life only cam'

Knackered here so about to have a spa treatment that costs $1 every 20 seconds. I hope that for that kind of outlay I get oral sex from a unicorn.

Nap time

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

sad

so yesterday I was happy

the show was going well
I'd taken some amazing pictures
Life was a blast

And then....

I got up this morning and found that my camera was gone.
I was viewing pics last night
Went to work
Then on to jet

And my camera went 'poof'

It's not the money

It's two things

1. The pics
2. The idea that someone else is using my camera

I feel sick to the stomach
And sad

Have searched the room a dozen times
Retraced steps to places that I knew I had no camera
And called Lost and Found to the point of their distraction

But it's gone
And I'm a loser
Sigh

3am


1053b
Originally uploaded by JohnCarlosSF
3am and home alone, drunk but not embarrassingly so, in Vegas

met up with some guys who had tables at Jet and the persona to pull off the VIP room

Spent abput $5k on booze and 'union girls' but happy here. despite inabilty to type
\
Up in 4 hrs to repeat.

Wow

(to quote Kylie)

Monday, April 07, 2008

Excess


Vegas shelter
Originally uploaded by tarintowers
Vegas is all about excess.

Just a few minutes ago I passed a bunch of people gawping and whispering "oh----my------God" at "the world's tallest chocolate fountain"

I was too full from my 8pm fish n chips to comment.

The flight here was hell. Delayed. Too hot. And ripe with the scent of the obese in too thick sweaters. Many of the assembled looked more reptilian than they did human. Which should have stopped me eating. And it will. I swear.

The thing I'm here for looks mightily impressive. If unfinished. People will be working throughout the night - but things are looking good. I have faith in the product. All we need to do now is build marketing into the product too. The way that Apple do (thinnest, touch screen etc.) Then we have it made

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Is it just me or is this plane a little too close?


NWA Airborne
Originally uploaded by BiggerPictureImages.com
Revving up this morning for my trip to Vegas.

Jude is sewing and pressing the suit pants that I bought on the last trip.

I'm emptying trash and sorting recyclables ahead of a 4 day absence

The cats are merrily shedding

Velcro is hiding out in the hope that she might manage a stealth grab on a stray sock from my packing

And all is good with the world.