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.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
A Vegas Miracle
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
"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
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.
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
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
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
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
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)
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 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
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?
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.
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.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
"Nice tits missus, now where do you want these blinds"
Jude woke up this morning determined to get her 365 days of Jude shot in early. I noticed that if I stood at this angle the shadows from the blinds gave me the abs that two glasses of wine a day have been denying me.
That said I did go to pilates this morning and a long walk with the dog is slated for half an hour from now - so perhaps I'm not the slob that I seem to be in my mind's eye.
I know that when you ask women to judge themselves against other women they tend to place themselves against people a full dress size bigger - I'm hoping that's my issue. Body dismorphia. Not chocolate, guinness and an ability to dodge the gym like my brother does salads.
That said I did go to pilates this morning and a long walk with the dog is slated for half an hour from now - so perhaps I'm not the slob that I seem to be in my mind's eye.
I know that when you ask women to judge themselves against other women they tend to place themselves against people a full dress size bigger - I'm hoping that's my issue. Body dismorphia. Not chocolate, guinness and an ability to dodge the gym like my brother does salads.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Friday
It's Friday. Or as people of a certain age would say "Thank Crunchie" or maybe "TGIF"... amazing isn't it how consumption based advertising creeps into real life.
You can imagine the Crunchie strategy meeting.
"People love Crunchie. But they don't ever choose it. They get one in a selection box and think to themselves that they like this, that they should buy it but the next time they're in the shop they just don't. It's just not high enough in their daily repertoire."
"What it needs is an occasion Bob"
"Exactly Bob. A trigger. Something that just says - it's time for a Crunchie"
"How about Easter Bob?"
"Creme Eggs Bob. Same company. Cannibalization of brand and Creme Eggs make more money per unit... but good thinking"
"After dinner?"
"Too thick. Wafer thins own post dinner"
"Friday Bob!"
"Friday?"
"Yes Bob. People are in a good mood. They're gearing up for the weekend. They're lookiing for treats - for something celebratory"
"But what's my reason to believe Bob?"
"Champagne. The honeycomb in a Crunchie pops in your mouth like Champagne. And when do people drink champagne Bob?"
"FRIDAY!"
"FRIDAY Bob"
"Right that's settled then, 3 martini lunch anyone?"
You can imagine the Crunchie strategy meeting.
"People love Crunchie. But they don't ever choose it. They get one in a selection box and think to themselves that they like this, that they should buy it but the next time they're in the shop they just don't. It's just not high enough in their daily repertoire."
"What it needs is an occasion Bob"
"Exactly Bob. A trigger. Something that just says - it's time for a Crunchie"
"How about Easter Bob?"
"Creme Eggs Bob. Same company. Cannibalization of brand and Creme Eggs make more money per unit... but good thinking"
"After dinner?"
"Too thick. Wafer thins own post dinner"
"Friday Bob!"
"Friday?"
"Yes Bob. People are in a good mood. They're gearing up for the weekend. They're lookiing for treats - for something celebratory"
"But what's my reason to believe Bob?"
"Champagne. The honeycomb in a Crunchie pops in your mouth like Champagne. And when do people drink champagne Bob?"
"FRIDAY!"
"FRIDAY Bob"
"Right that's settled then, 3 martini lunch anyone?"
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Bye bye bobblehead
>Say goodbye, Bobblehead.
Having shouted her way through Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" on Tuesday night's show the Filipino would be lounge singer was answered by an indifferent America. "No you don't" they said, or rather didn't - as they failed to vote for her by the million.
Who was shocked? Nobody.
Also in the bottom three - Ms. Lobotomy Brooke White and 'horseless' Kristy Lee Cook.
Better still - i-tunes cover mechant David Cook had heart palpitations and needed treatment for high blood pressure near the end of Tuesday's show. The 25 year old obviously has the constitution of a grandpa and had to be treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
His story? "I have high blood pressure, and it spiked."
Very rock 'n' roll
I expect elasticated leisure pants from him next week
Having shouted her way through Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" on Tuesday night's show the Filipino would be lounge singer was answered by an indifferent America. "No you don't" they said, or rather didn't - as they failed to vote for her by the million.
Who was shocked? Nobody.
Also in the bottom three - Ms. Lobotomy Brooke White and 'horseless' Kristy Lee Cook.
Better still - i-tunes cover mechant David Cook had heart palpitations and needed treatment for high blood pressure near the end of Tuesday's show. The 25 year old obviously has the constitution of a grandpa and had to be treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
His story? "I have high blood pressure, and it spiked."
Very rock 'n' roll
I expect elasticated leisure pants from him next week
Another day in paradise
there's the possibility that we might be extending our stay here in A2. Just a possibility. Which ain't a bad thing. But as friends start to contact me with tales of offers further afield, in more exotic locations and with better titles I can't help but wonder whether I've blown the career a little.
Of course there's a reason for this trajectory. Dr Jude is now a Doctor. And her desire to have that prefix far outweighed my desire to be Director of Creative Turpitude at Bangle Bongle Stronglemeijer.
And there are upsides. Cool apt, cool car, happy animals, job I like here, money in the bank and some cool vacations. I guess I'm just questioning my willingness to stay in one place for more than 2 years. I equate it with immobility rather than content I guess. Which is weird - 'cause I like it here.
Therapy here I come
Of course there's a reason for this trajectory. Dr Jude is now a Doctor. And her desire to have that prefix far outweighed my desire to be Director of Creative Turpitude at Bangle Bongle Stronglemeijer.
And there are upsides. Cool apt, cool car, happy animals, job I like here, money in the bank and some cool vacations. I guess I'm just questioning my willingness to stay in one place for more than 2 years. I equate it with immobility rather than content I guess. Which is weird - 'cause I like it here.
Therapy here I come
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Dollywood
It was Dolly Parton night in Idol last night and the results were all rather predictable.
Brook White sang Jolene as though it was the sunniest and most carefree song in the world. Then smiled vacantly as Simon raised the issue that she's rather missed the point and that her violin player was offputtingly ugly. I can't work out whether this girl is deeply cynical or whether they're about to reveal her lobotomy any day now - but I'm done with her.
The batwinged bruiser belted out something or other without missing a note or making any real impact. Someone ought to check with the INS and make sure she's not here on an exceptional talent visa as it would be in danger of being revoked
The Magic Mormon did a ballad that reminded him of home and did a nice job on it. The problem is that he really does only connect on overly earnest ballads and he comes across more as grandmother's choice than he does American Idol. He could open for Niel Sedaka. Really.
David Cook searched I-Tunes for someone to rip off, failed to find anyone and faded into the background.
Jason Castro still has dreads and those eyes - so the performance was irrelevant. Just as well really.
Kristy Lee Cook chose nice jewelry and a simple "Coat of many colors" - her last hurrah (she's safe this week but she has to go soon) wasn't really a bang, but hey she might get a gig with the ice-capades that allow her to buy back her bloody horse
Michael Johns did his Australian Rocker schick again and it worked. He's genuinely happy to be there - realizing that this is his last shot at the industry and that kind of appreciation and humility goes a long way - even if he does look like a marketing manager at a kareoke.
Ramiele Malubay is still a bobble headed midget. I can't remember anything about her last night. Maybe TiVo cut her off. Maybe she just disappeared.
And finally cut priced Whitney Syesha Mercado did - you guessed it "I will always love you" minus Dolly's sincerity or Whitney's range.
So a bit of a flat night - where competence reigned and nobody really managed to stand out. That makes it a popularity contest (bar country girl, who;s safe on home turf)... expect Ramiele, Syesha and Carly Bruiser to be tonight's bottom three
Brook White sang Jolene as though it was the sunniest and most carefree song in the world. Then smiled vacantly as Simon raised the issue that she's rather missed the point and that her violin player was offputtingly ugly. I can't work out whether this girl is deeply cynical or whether they're about to reveal her lobotomy any day now - but I'm done with her.
The batwinged bruiser belted out something or other without missing a note or making any real impact. Someone ought to check with the INS and make sure she's not here on an exceptional talent visa as it would be in danger of being revoked
The Magic Mormon did a ballad that reminded him of home and did a nice job on it. The problem is that he really does only connect on overly earnest ballads and he comes across more as grandmother's choice than he does American Idol. He could open for Niel Sedaka. Really.
David Cook searched I-Tunes for someone to rip off, failed to find anyone and faded into the background.
Jason Castro still has dreads and those eyes - so the performance was irrelevant. Just as well really.
Kristy Lee Cook chose nice jewelry and a simple "Coat of many colors" - her last hurrah (she's safe this week but she has to go soon) wasn't really a bang, but hey she might get a gig with the ice-capades that allow her to buy back her bloody horse
Michael Johns did his Australian Rocker schick again and it worked. He's genuinely happy to be there - realizing that this is his last shot at the industry and that kind of appreciation and humility goes a long way - even if he does look like a marketing manager at a kareoke.
Ramiele Malubay is still a bobble headed midget. I can't remember anything about her last night. Maybe TiVo cut her off. Maybe she just disappeared.
And finally cut priced Whitney Syesha Mercado did - you guessed it "I will always love you" minus Dolly's sincerity or Whitney's range.
So a bit of a flat night - where competence reigned and nobody really managed to stand out. That makes it a popularity contest (bar country girl, who;s safe on home turf)... expect Ramiele, Syesha and Carly Bruiser to be tonight's bottom three
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Fabulously Nasty
As a Brit I'm kind of rejoicing in the weather at the moment. It's gray and wet. It's as windy as hell. The temperatures are shifting between minus and plau 15c daily. It's unpredictably damp, then wet, then icy. This may be a sign of the apocolypse. It may be a sign of spring. I have no idea. I really ought to look at Weather Channel viewing figures in the area. They skyrocket when the weather gets unusual. They thrive on 'extreme weather'... as of course do I.
Into this weather was born the new baseball season. Detroit lost 5-4 in the last inning (or something) and there are all manner of stats now showing how / why and where it fits comparatively to the rest of the league and previous seasons - none of which I understand. Perhaps I ought to try harder. It can't be that hard a game.
Into this weather was born the new baseball season. Detroit lost 5-4 in the last inning (or something) and there are all manner of stats now showing how / why and where it fits comparatively to the rest of the league and previous seasons - none of which I understand. Perhaps I ought to try harder. It can't be that hard a game.
Monday, March 31, 2008
VEGAS BABY!
Yup - it's back to Vegas this weekend. And this time the temperatures will be in the high 20s. Centigrade. Which will be nice ahead of Cyprus in May.
Of course none of the Cyprus villa people are answering calls - which is a worry.
And I'm not confirmed in the Vegas hotel. Which might also be a worry come Friday.
But I have a flight. I have a plan. And I'm looking forward to some sunshine.
Of course none of the Cyprus villa people are answering calls - which is a worry.
And I'm not confirmed in the Vegas hotel. Which might also be a worry come Friday.
But I have a flight. I have a plan. And I'm looking forward to some sunshine.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Hair
Jude went out yesterday and got herself new hair. It's lighter, toned down a little and, for the moment, it's dead straight.
Inky is still losing his hair and as I write is sitting on my lap smothered in unction and wearing an unfetching collar
I of course have no hair - but do have an infection of the hair follicles (I know how unfair is that?) which is requiring some hardcore treatment. Basically I'm taking medication for other scalp / hair diseases and turning up the dosage to nuclear.
I have lice treatment, I have scabies medication, I have steroidal creams - all being taken at around 6 times the dosage for the disease that they're meant to treat (6 pills at a time) in a bid to kill off what's lurking on my post chemo head.
Weird thing is it seems to be working - even i the people at the pharmacy now start to scratch at the sight of me
Inky is still losing his hair and as I write is sitting on my lap smothered in unction and wearing an unfetching collar
I of course have no hair - but do have an infection of the hair follicles (I know how unfair is that?) which is requiring some hardcore treatment. Basically I'm taking medication for other scalp / hair diseases and turning up the dosage to nuclear.
I have lice treatment, I have scabies medication, I have steroidal creams - all being taken at around 6 times the dosage for the disease that they're meant to treat (6 pills at a time) in a bid to kill off what's lurking on my post chemo head.
Weird thing is it seems to be working - even i the people at the pharmacy now start to scratch at the sight of me
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Safari
I joined some Flickr folks on a wee A2 safari today. Nothing spectacular - just a walk around Ann Arbor with some cameras and various pics. Got a few that I like - though my fondness for high contrast images may be getting a little out of hand
Friday, March 28, 2008
An invitation
I've just been invited to attend a cooking class. By the people at Gourmet magazine. And while I know that the invitation is business rather than personal (they know that I have money to spend and products to promote) I'd like to think that at least a little of the invitation was based on my being interesting.
So French Bistro cooking here we come.
So French Bistro cooking here we come.
A joke from my dad
After numerous rounds of "We don't even know if Osama is still alive",
Osama himself decided to send George Bush a letter in his own
handwriting to let him know he was still in the game.
Bush opened the letter and it contained a single line of coded message:
370H-SSV-0773H
Bush was baffled, so he e-mailed it to Condoleezza Rice. Condi and her
aides hadn't a clue either, so they sent it to the FBI.
No one could solve it at the FBI so it went to the CIA, and then to MI6.
Eventually they asked the Mossad for help.
Almost immediately the Mossad emailed the White House with this reply:
"Tell the President he's holding the message upside down."
Osama himself decided to send George Bush a letter in his own
handwriting to let him know he was still in the game.
Bush opened the letter and it contained a single line of coded message:
370H-SSV-0773H
Bush was baffled, so he e-mailed it to Condoleezza Rice. Condi and her
aides hadn't a clue either, so they sent it to the FBI.
No one could solve it at the FBI so it went to the CIA, and then to MI6.
Eventually they asked the Mossad for help.
Almost immediately the Mossad emailed the White House with this reply:
"Tell the President he's holding the message upside down."
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Faux'd to Gray
... there was a time when I reacted to everything as though it and I were magnets. I was either irresistably attracted or equally violently repelled. Life was love - hate - love and shades of gray were seen as compromise.
Of course life is made up of shades of gray - but then embracing that fact would mean embracing a gray life, wouldn't it? You see only a couple of sentences in and already this seems circular and self indulgent.
What I've learned of course is that you can be black and white some of the time. That it's all about choice. When to get annoyed, when to hit back, when to hit first, when to track down their ISP and report them to their boss and when to simply think "what a tosser" and move on to something more deserving of time (like mayonaisse)
There's been a lot of mayo contemplating recently.
On a more concrete side I am officially allergic to everything other than dogs. Dust, trees, grass, mites, people with beards. Did an allergy test today - in a bid to find out what turns me into a Geisha Panda on occasion - and was amazed to find out that there's nothing that I don't react violently to (well I react only mildly to cats). This is not a good thing. And there's very little that anyone can do - other than advise me to live in a sterile environment with a dog. Which wouldn't be so terrible - Connecticut here we come
Of course life is made up of shades of gray - but then embracing that fact would mean embracing a gray life, wouldn't it? You see only a couple of sentences in and already this seems circular and self indulgent.
What I've learned of course is that you can be black and white some of the time. That it's all about choice. When to get annoyed, when to hit back, when to hit first, when to track down their ISP and report them to their boss and when to simply think "what a tosser" and move on to something more deserving of time (like mayonaisse)
There's been a lot of mayo contemplating recently.
On a more concrete side I am officially allergic to everything other than dogs. Dust, trees, grass, mites, people with beards. Did an allergy test today - in a bid to find out what turns me into a Geisha Panda on occasion - and was amazed to find out that there's nothing that I don't react violently to (well I react only mildly to cats). This is not a good thing. And there's very little that anyone can do - other than advise me to live in a sterile environment with a dog. Which wouldn't be so terrible - Connecticut here we come
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