A Weekend With Friends

Our friends Mark and Colin came up from Palm Springs to spent the weekend with us. We haven’t seen them in years and it was great to welcome them into our home and catching up on each other’s lives. They are so easy to be around with and it always feels like we’re just picking up from where we’ve left off the last time we’ve seen each other.


It also was perfect timing to have Mark and Colin in our lives for a brief moment. George was able to take his busy mind off his teaching studies and mine off the crazy every-day-life in general. Even though we did discuss some current affairs and some of the insanity of the political circus which is ravaging our country, it was nice to forget about the rest of the world for a little while.


There were no particular plans for that weekend. We just went with the flow, so to speak. Mark and Colin arrived Friday evening and after they got settled in their guest room we just relaxed, had some wine and got into chatter mode. George made some really delicious vegetarian style marinara sauce and pasta. They were amazed by the fact that there wasn’t any meat in it. I guess it was a success since everyone had seconds.

The next day we had breakfast at the coffee shop inside the Red Rock Resort & Casino, which was on the way to our next destination, Red Rock Canyon. We did a bit of walking, climbing and exploring some gorges and ravines, took photos and enjoyed the scenery. The weather was perfect with clear and sunny skies and not too hot.

Afterwards we came home to rest up for our big night out on the town. Just as the sun was setting we all took off and drove to the Las Vegas “Strip” and decided to have dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant simply called Pho, inside the TI Casino. Mark taught us how to pronounce Pho the right way and apparently my Bún Curry Gà was not quite how Bún is normally served. Nevertheless, the food was delicious. I couldn’t finish my huge dish as I wasn’t that hungry to begin with but the other guys could truly pack it away.


Then we walked along the famed Strip up the new City Center complex, stopping at the Bellagio on the way to take a look at the current garden display inside the resort’s conservatory. Next up was the massive and contemporary City Center. George and I are having a kind of a love-hate relationship with this place but I think Mark and Colin were appreciating it. They really wanted to check out the Mandarin Oriental, which is one of the many hotel and condominium towers of the City Center. To get to the hotel lobby one has to get up to the 23rd floor first, where they also have a bar and a very fancy restaurant. Needless to say that the view was quite spectacular. The prices for drinks at the bar not so much. We all made a discreet disappearance after we recovered from the shock of reading the prices on their menu.


Since we really couldn’t find a bar to our liking and it was getting late we decided to go back to our place and have some drinks there. From this point on we where exposed to the most fascinating crowd this town has to offer. Las Vegas is great for people watching. Especially tourists coming from all these conservative places, where they all live out their precious holier-than-thou lives and trying to live up to the traditional, wholesome all-American family values lie. Because you see, all that is quickly forgotten as soon as these good folks come here. And all their rules by which they live by and want to force upon others are thrown out of the window. All of a sudden anything goes.


However, that’s a whole other story and I’m trying to refrain from ranting about all the religious and political hypocrisy that is going on right now. Making my blood boil is not very good for my health in the long run.


After catching one of the many Bellagio water fountain shows we were heading towards our car and drove home to enjoy some Gin & Tonic in a more relaxed atmosphere. Without having to pay an arm and a leg and maybe your first-born too. All in all, it was an amazing day.


The following morning, after enjoying more good conversation over freshly brewed coffee, we had breakfast at a local dive just down the street. Having an all-American breakfast twice in a row was a big deal for us since we rarely do that. And I love hearty American breakfast. Their pancakes were yummy and Colin’s breakfast pizza looked delicious.


Like all good things if life, this too had to come to an end eventually. We said our good-byes and promised not let years go by again to see each other. So there they went on their way back home to Palm Springs. Only to having to return to pick up something which they’ve left behind in the guest room. Back so soon? Are you missing us already? Good thing they were only gone for about ten minutes when we discovered that they have in fact forgotten something.


Now we’re back to reality again. Working. Studying. The daily grind.


Subsequently, we already do miss Mark and Colin. Too bad we don’t have great friends like them living close by. Maybe there will be a roadtrip to Palm Springs on the horizon in the near future?


Are we there yet?



Red Rock Canyon, just outside Las Vegas.






Colin, the chameleon, blends perfectly with the environment.



Mark and George are taking a break...right after we got out of the car.

Mark is observing and studying the strange rituals of the natives.

Mark, George and Colin

My turn to bear hug. Hey, I am as tall as Mark.

Mark and Colin

It doesn’t seem like I’m on here that much anymore. I also noticed that some of my fellow bloggers are adding less and less entries to their sites. Looks like everyone is indeed having less extra time to spend writing. Or we just have switched to spend our time on sites like Facebook instead. I’m certainly guilty of that crime. I don’t necessarily have more time to waste on Facebook than spending the time writing an entry on here. In fact, I have even less time. Therefore, sites like Facebook seem more convenient and provide a more instant form of communication. So I have to pick the lesser of two evils.

The last few weeks just flew by. Work and George’s studying haven’t left much room for anything else anyway. Now the long Labor Day weekend has come and gone as well. We didn’t do much fun things or relaxing at all. Mostly chores around the house, homework and even more studying for George’s classes.

However, we managed to take time to feast on some really scrumptious food. And totally ignoring the scale in the process.

Mark and Colin took us on a hike through Tahquitz Canyon near Palm Springs.

But there’s a bright light at the end of this slightly monotone tunnel. Our friends Mark and Colin will come visiting us and staying at our casa. We haven’t seen them in quite a while, so it’ll be great to catch up in person. Granted, one can catch a glimpse of each other lives on sites such as Facebook, but nothing can beat spending quality time and having a face-to-face conversation with friends in real life.

Virtual living has its limits. And I would much rather “waste” my time with real, warm-blooded, breathing human beings than with some machine made up of chips and circuitries.

I’m old-fashioned that way.

Mark, Colin, George and I in Palm Springs, a few years ago.

'The Box'

Here is a new Simon's Cat animated short video. I'm sure every cat lover can relate to this little scenario. I love Simon Tofield's work. Check out the other video clips on his web site.

Dam Pretty View

Now that’s what I call a damn pretty view. Excuse me, I didn’t mean to sound inappropriate. That’s a “dam” pretty view. A pretty view of the dam, that is.

The completion of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge is nearly done and the drive between Las Vegas and the stateline of Arizona will be a breeze. As spectacular as Hoover Dam is, driving over it to get into Arizona was not so much. Over the years it proved to be quiet a painful bottle neck and it wasn’t uncommon to be stuck in traffic for quite some time. When the bridge opens in November it will shave off some driving time and will make the drive between Las Vegas and Phoenix a bit more streamlined.

Of course, actually having a full-fledged freeway between the two cities would really speed things along. And there are rumors that a new, nearly 300 mile long freeway, called the Interstate 11, is in the planning stages.

But that will still take some time. In the meantime just enjoy the “dam” view.

Click here to read the Las Vegas Sun article, see more of the photo gallery and a video.

More Red And More Rock

Here are additional photos from last Saturday at Red Rock Canyon. This place is such a little slice of heaven. Why we don’t come here more often is beyond me. It’s merely 30 minutes away from our house so there really isn’t any excuse.

In a few weeks we’ll have friends visiting from Palm Springs. And guess what place they’ve requested to see? It looks like there might be another trip in store to a place where the rocks are red.

Rock'n'Red

Yesterday they started to rip open the street behind our house. In no time it was getting rather noisy, dusty and fumy. Not a pleasant way to spend a Saturday.

So George and I drove out to Red Rock Canyon. First, because we have been wanting to do that again for a while now. Second, they just reopened the renovated and expanded visitors center, which we haven't seen yet. And third, the entrance fee was waived for the weekend.

Surprisingly, there were hardly any people and the temperatures were more comfortable with slight breezes. In other words, this was a much better way to spend a Saturday. Something we definitely recommend.

Below are two short videos from our trip out to Red Rock Canyon, which is barely 30 minutes from our house. I really have no clue why we don't do that more often.

At the outlook platform of the newly renovated and expanded Red Rock Canyon visitor's center.

The Pine Creek trail at Red Rock Canyon, one of our favorite of all the many trails.

Lichtspiele

Below are some photos I took over the last few years, which involves light and shadow play.

An old Las Vegas traffic signal

Black & White Smirk

Drawer Knob

George at the LACMA

Capturing light and shadows outside the old

advertising agency I used to work at in Las Vegas

Hotter Than July

Not a whole lot has been going on in our lives this week. Let’s see...work, studying, working out, sleeping, work, studying, too-tired-to-work-out, sleeping, work... I think you get the picture. We truly live sinfully exciting lives in this City of Sin.



Then again, it’s a bit of drag be to sinful right now, especially during the month of July. A July in Las Vegas basically means that it is hot and sunny. Or sunny and hot. Take your pick. Actually, make that sunny and hotter than hell. At one point this week the temperature rose slightly above the 120˚F mark. Now that is hot! And that was not even the hottest day I’ve experienced in the almost 20 years I’ve been living in this town.



But it was hot enough for me. The last few summers George and I were pondering with the idea to look for greener and much cooler pastures. Then we took the trip to Germany last December and I was instantly reminded why I absolutely hate Winters. I take hot, dry desert summers anytime over bitter cold winters. But a nice little balance in-between would be nice though. We would love to live in the bay area but the economy in California is currently anything but favorable. And it’s not necessarily the cheapest spot in the block to live in. George and I do love Seattle, even though its weather is a bit more on the damp side. We hear Vancouver in Canada has nice, moderate weather all year long. What do you think? Any suggestions?



Still, the heat usually doesn’t deter us from going out to jog in the park or stroll down the Strip. However, last weekend is so damn hot that we didn’t even set one foot outside our house. That almost never happens, since we’re always out and about doing stuff. Luckily, this weekend is suppose to be “cooling” off a bit. The temps may just hover around the 100˚F mark. Which, after almost two weeks of being broiled like steaks on a grill, will almost feel like a breath of fresh air.



I hope I won’t need a jacket.



Below are random photos, taken sometime before Las Vegas was somehow mysteriously transplanted onto the surface of the sun.




George sitting out in our patio, enjoying the morning sun.


In our kitchen. Obviously...duh!


The moving video screens under the “Cloud” of the Fashion Show Mall on the Las Vegas Strip. The luxurious Encore Resort and Casino, a sister property of the Wynn Resort, is seen in the background


Clouds are reflected in windows of the Wynn


The caribbean village of the Treasure Island on the Strip with the Trump International tower peeking from behind


The marquee of the Treasure Island, or TI as it’s called now, once donned a gigantic pirate’s skull with cross bones. Now the marquee has been updated with huge video screens and color-changing letters.