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    ...random musings... My blogger code: B7 d++ t k- s- u-- f- i-- o+ x e l+ c- (decode it!)

:: Sunday, May 31, 2009 ::

Saturday trip to Boothbay Harbor. Stopped in Waldoboro to see the old cemetary after reading a paragraph on the history of the town in book Cemetaries of Maine. Thought some of the stones were interesting for their carvings, their dates, and some of the names...see if you can draw your own conclusions on why I captured a few of these!

We then drove to Southport Island where I spotted the first of many Lady Slippers by another cemetary. Some other cool flowers there as well. Then we fooled around at the beach a bit after lunch and a walk. (not our kite btw).

Lastly to Boothbay Harbor for an intown walk...ice cream...coffee...saw lots of small jellyfish from the pier, and even a crab under the water.

Pics

:: David 5/31/2009 05:47:00 PM [+] ::
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Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender Day Seven
4/13/09 Monday

We rented a car again today, and after picking it up, headed towards the old section of Vegas to a mexican restaurant for a different breakfast option for a change. On the way I caught a picture of a building undergoing construction that was raising up a porto-potty via crane! Hope nobody was in it at the time! We then did a tour of some of the older casinos in the area. The Sahara, then we walked to the Stratosphere, but we couldn't have a drink in their lounge at the top...they would only let you in if you were eating a full lunch. We passed the "worlds largest gift shop" but didn't go in. We then drove to Fremont, the old downtown which is now a partially covered street. I hear it really lights up at night, but we weren't around there long enough to see. We stopped in one (Fremont Casino?) to get a $.99 hot dog and a deep fried twinkie! and they gave us a card for a $ drawing every half hour. I played a slot machine and won about 34 quarters in three gos, but lost them all again while we were waiting for our half hour call (which was about 10 minutes late). They called our number!...we thought...when we got up to the cage our number was something like 1760, and they called 1766...and as we were headed out there were some cards left on the machines...I found 1765.

Then we went to another old casino that had a $2.99 shrimp cocktail.

We got our car parking validated, and headed back down the strip to "Circus Circus" where we went inside and waited 15 minutes in the bleachers littered with dropped popcorn, candy and ice cream to see a juggling show that lasted 5 minutes....the guy showed promise and did really hard juggling...but dropped the balls about 6 times!

After heading back to the hotel, we went out to dinner at Roy's Hawaiian Fusion...a great small chain that we ate at last year in Florida. The food was superb. They bring out their special sugared Edamame, and I started with a Ginger Mojito, and with dinner had the Penfolds "Koonunga Hill" Cabernet/Shiraz, from S.E. Australia.

From the Prix Fix menu:
Appetizer: Crispy Vegetable Spring Roll Mandarin, Black Dragon Sauce and Curried Citrus Shrimp Cantaloupe, Arugula, Lemon Truffle Vinaigrette.
Main Dish: Pecan Crusted Spring Trout Farro, Shaved Fennel Tangelo Salad and "Mojo" Grilled Pork Chops with Mustard Greens, Sunchoke Puree.
Desserts: Roy's Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle Flourless Chocolate Cake with a Molten Hot Center served a la Mode and "Anakalia's Passion" Orange & Lemon Cake, Lilikoi Cream.

Yummers!

Day Seven Pictures

:: David 5/05/2009 12:20:00 PM [+] ::
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Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender Day Six

4/12/09

Spent a lot of the morning watching the Masters while packing and doing web stuff.

We got dressed and headed over to the Tiki pool party around 3:30-5. While there we took some pictures of some models (I believe that were from the burlesque show) and an interesting couple that were doing a shoot that looked like an interview..although I didn't see any interviewing going on. There was a tiki themed band playing and one of the burlesque dancers did a short strip tease.

Change for Cousin Harley at 6:30 (although I think they were late and it was closer to 7) who is an amazing guitarist and put on a great show. We then grabbed a bite to eat at Kojis downstairs.

Back up to the ballroom for Kim Lenz (she had a great guitaristL: Nick Curran) and finished up with Jack Rabbit Slim around 11:30.

Day Six Pictures

:: David 4/29/2009 11:05:00 AM [+] ::
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Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender Day Five

4/11/09 Sat

We started the day with TGIFridays for breakfast again. We took the shuttle to the Orleans around noon, to see Rumble CLub at 1 pm (hard-driving band..great way to start the day), and Crown City Bombers at 2. We then headed outside for the car show. The weather was a little overcast and it drizzled at times, but better than overly hot. After that we returned to the hotel to eat and change.

I didn't want to name all the car pictures, so they show up at the end.

That evening at 6:30 we saw Suzy Q & The Be Bop Boys, and Mylisa got her to autograph a poster. The Lucky Stars followed, also in the ballroom. We then headed next door to the Dauphine Room for Royal Crown Review, a larger band with 6 horns...the singer had a kind of Sinatra quality. Then downstairs to Brendans for our chance to catch the Aquasonics that we missed the previous night...and their accompaning gogo dancer. We ran into a couple from Sweden we had met on our first day in Vegas, with their friends from the Domestic Bumblebees. We finished up with the Go Getters in the Dauphine Room, and were too tired to continue past 11:30, so returned to the hotel (old fogies!).

Day Five Pictures

:: David 4/23/2009 05:47:00 PM [+] ::
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Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender Day Four

4/10/09 Friday

This morning we opted for breakfast at the Hotel's Buffet...$5.95 for spanish omelette, refried beans, bacon, sausage, blintz, hashbrowns, coffee and juice.

Jiving class (stroll and jive) at 1 pm...met couple from Omaha. They used to live in Portland. Travis gave me CD of his band the Black Squirrels.

Eve Hell and the Razors from Calgary performed at 3 pm in the Dauphine Room, and put on a great show. Next up was the blues band, Morry Sochat at 4, followed by the Tequila worms with their awesome gogo dancers. We went back to hotel for dinner at Ping Pang Pong.

A quick clothing change and back to Orleans for Chop Tops at 830 in the Ballroom, Vargas Brothers downsairs at Brendans, back upstairs for last half of Domestic Bumblebees from Sweden, and the Crown Vics to follow. We tried to see Aquasonics at 12, but waited for 1/2 hour and they still didn't start up and the bar was very smokey, so we went back to the hotel.

All the bands were awesome today. I wish some of the night-time shots weren't so blurry, but I hated to use the flash for the band's sake.

Day Four Pictures

:: David 4/21/2009 01:30:00 PM [+] ::
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Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender Day Three

4/9/09 Thursday

Breakfast at TGIFridays again, then we gassed up and returned the car (all of $2.85 gas). They returned us to the hotel. Spent an hour by the pool (sunning and spa pool) as we heard rain was in the forcast for the next 2 days.

At 4:30 we left for meet and greet at Brendans (shuttle to Orleans). Very busy small bar...sidled up by a couple at the bar who tried to help us out with the drink order. They were from Calgary, and she passed me her card...It didn't register until later that she was playing there, and was already my MySpace friend..."Eve Hell and the Razors"

They had a series of bands at the meet and greet that I wasn't even expecting, first 2 were very good. We then left for the ballroom at 8 to see "Will and the High Rollers" "Garnet Hearts" and "Lance Lupinsky". We were too tired to stick it out for the 1 am band, so headed back to shuttle and room.

Day Three Pictures

:: David 4/21/2009 01:08:00 PM [+] ::
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Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender Day Two.

4/8/09 Wednesday

Breakfast early at TGIFridays...$3.99 eggs,hashbrowns,bacon or sausage, and toast!
Spent a lot of the morning organizing clothes and things and internet.

Went to get rental car at 11:30. Went to the boot barn and whole foods to get some fruit snacks and drinks for the room. MGM grand to get our tickets for KA. Dropped our stuff off back at the room. We had to eat early before the 7 pm show, and some of the restaurants didn't open for dinner until 5 or 5:30 so we went to Ceasars Palace to Spagos for a lemon martini (don't remember exact name) greek pizza, and My had an asian noodle salad.

We had just enough time at MGM to have a martini at a bar before the show, which was amazing!

After show we walked around the strip checking things out...mostly in Mandalay Bay...I picked up a Padron cigar at a Davidoff store and we tried to find an outside cafe to have a drink and smoke...I know you can smoke inside, but I don't like to and neither does My. Our feet were wrecked so we went back to the car, and drove back to the room. I got a beer and headed out the front door of the casino to the chairs by the shuttle and smoked there.

Day Two Pictures

Next: The Show Begins...Thursday!

:: David 4/17/2009 04:00:00 PM [+] ::
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Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender!

Well, we just returned from Las Vegas, and a busy weekend. I will tell all, but will need to start one day at a time...too much catching up to do at home first (business, emails, dishes, gigs etc.)

Day One - April 7:

We drove down to Manchester, NH on Monday night, arriving late, around midnight, and got very little sleep with wakeup call at 3:30 am!

I started the morning with a too-cool shower, then run to shuttle, airport...continental boarding passes, pay $80 for 2 bags each...slow service, but we were done by 5:25. The first flight to Newark was fine...1 1/4 hrs, not much to see but clouds, except on landing where we saw NYC and Statue of Liberty. We took our entire "hr" layover to get shuttle to next terminal and grab a breakfast sandwich to go and get to the gate. Some guy asked if I was in line..I said yes...then I stepped away when I realized they were boarding higher numbers...when the guy saw me do that he called me a jerk. I did get to sit with a couple (John and Laury Jeanne Jackie) who were from NJ but living in Vegas for about a year doing a coffee table book on fine dining with pics...trying out restaurants that ranged from $10-$1500 meals!

We had to wait for hour on tarmac before we could get under way (morning traffic) ...long flight 4:52...arrived at 1205 pm local time (saw Grand Canyon from plane, parts of NM and parts of hoover dam (right over top of it). At the airport I
overheard a guitar player, last named Leahey who was playing in band with 62 year old guy who still has a high voice...talked about 2 bands for styx , 2 for foreigner, etc....gotta look him up...

1/2 hr to get luggage, 1/2 to get shuttle, 1/2 hr to get to hotel...room was ok...not too small, but bureau only 2 of 3 drawers actually work (no bottom drawer...fake), not enough hangars (we got more from front desk) and no refrig (we also got no charge by asking). Toilet had to be fixed too.

Cleaned up, TGIFridays for burger and salad and beer! then walk down street to look for store to buy water and liquor...didn't see in hotel...assumed they wanted everyone betting and buying drinks at the bar...walked for almost an hour, finally ending up at a small shop that only sold beer, so got water, then on recomendation we continued to the Orleans for Liqour...waited 1/2 hour for shuttle, back to strip (met couple from Sweden going to VLV, 4th time...we would finally see them later in our travels...Sat. or Sun. I think) and then back to the Gold Coast....just to find a liquor store in our hotel!! Live and learn I guess!

Back to room to chill...6 pm.

We took a nap...6:30-11:30, watched tv for 2 hours, still too tired to head back out, and slept until 6 am the next day!

Day One Pictures

More soon!

:: David 4/17/2009 01:44:00 PM [+] ::
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Bad Boys with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. 1995.

Miami narcotics cops -- wild, single Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and mild, married Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) -- are hot on the trail of master crook Fouchet (La Femme Nikita's Tcheky Karyo), who's snatched $100 million worth of heroin. To get their only witness (Tea Leoni) to talk, Smith and Lawrence must pose as each other, swapping lives as they work the case. Michael Bay directs this explosively (literally!) fast-paced actioner.


Purhase at Amazon.

I gave it 3 stars out of 5. Fun and action packed, not groundbreaking

Con Air. 1997. R.

When the government puts all its rotten criminal eggs in one airborne basket, it's asking for trouble. Before you can say, "Pass the barf bag," the crooks control the plane, led by creepy Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John Malkovich). Watching his every move is the just-released Nicolas Cage, who'd rather reunite with his family. The action climaxes with an incredible crash sequence in Las Vegas.


Purchase at Amazon.

I gave this 4 out of 5. Star studded, over the top, un-realistic, but very entertaining!

:: David 4/01/2009 03:13:00 PM [+] ::
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