Thanksgiving

Another Thanksgiving holiday come and gone. Another amazing long weekend spent in California. Our friends Rover and Cal were once again the most gracious hosts.

Over 20 invited guests brought tons of food to the turkey potluck dinner. Lots of fun was had by everyone. The few that stayed overnight were treated to even more food the next morning. Rover cooked up another delectable breakfast and the good times continued.

The weather in L.A. was absolutely gorgeous. Picture perfect, exactly how one expects Southern California to be. Sunny, clear skies, gently breezes.

Black Friday was not spent in a mall but rather at the LACMA on Wilshire Boulevard. We haven’t seen the newly added Broad Contemporary Art Museum yet and it was a great afternoon to explore their extraordinary exhibition. Afterwards we had a nice meal at Jan’s, an all-American coffee shop and something that has all but vanished from the Las Vegas streetscape.

That evening we also saw the touring Broadway production of “Mary Poppins” at the Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles. Even though they were taking some liberties with the story, it was an exciting musical and the performances were just glorious.

Since George and I were still suffering a bit from backaches we opted out on spending the day riding insane roller coasters at Magic Mountain. Instead we headed down to Anaheim and enjoyed the early holiday spirit in Downtown Disney. The place was packed and everybody seemed to be very cheerful. Of course, the day went by far too quickly and after the sun has set it was time drive back home to Las Vegas.

Our next trip is just a few weeks away. This time however, it’ll involve different means of transportation and most likely a winter jacket. We’ll see. Nevertheless...we can’t wait.

Below are first impression from our long Thanksgiving weekend in Los Angeles.

Eventually, we always end up driving on the Hollywood Freeway

Chatting with Cal while Rover “slaved” away in the kitchen

A leaf insect decided to join us while sitting outside in the garden of Rover and Cal’s place

Strolling around the Disneyland Resort, here in front of the California Adventure theme park

Outside the LACMA on Wilshire Boulevard

“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”

Gobble, Gobble...

Tomorrow is the big turkey day.

George and I will be on our way to a fun-filled long weekend in California. We’ll be visiting good friends, sharing a festive potluck with turkey and all the trimmings, and enjoying some good laughs. We’ll also be going to the theater and we might be paying the LACMA a visit.

We were planning on going to Magic Mountain on Saturday but since our backs are still in recovering mode it may be wise to skip riding crazy rollercoasters this time around. Instead, we may spend some time at Downtown Disney and meet up with George’s brother Thomas and Sharon for lunch or early dinner.

And here’s a little factoid, just in case you were ever wondering...

In any case...Happy Thanksgiving, ya’ll.

Hunched Old Men

While taking a nice leisurely walk through the park with George on Sunday afternoon I somehow manage to throw my back out. A few hours later at home, George did exactly the same thing. No joke.

So here we were, both in pain and could barely move. We stayed home from work yesterday too and tried our darndest to recover as much as possible. It helped as we’re back at work again today. Still in pain but not nearly as bad as on Sunday. I hope we’ll feel better by Thursday for our trip to LA-LA-Land.

Talking about sympathy pains. George and I really share everything together. If that’s not true love...

We obviously had nothing better to do than throwing our backs out. Couldn’t we have thrown a party instead?

Below are a few photos of us from the weekend...before we both turned into hunched old men.

Another Week...

And so another week comes slowly to a close. Once again, it has been a very busy one and didn’t leave much room for anything else but work. But next week will be a short one, due to the long Thanksgiving weekend. Come early Thursday morning, George and I will be hitting the road again and drive to Los Angeles to visit our friends Rover and Cal. We can’t wait.

Here are a few random pictures, taken over the last few weeks.

The Bellagio marquee with the new Cosmopolitan Tower in the background. The Cirque de Soleil show “O,” which is a permanent show at the Bellagio is the most amazing of all the Cirque productions on the Strip.

Here is another photo of Homer when he was visiting us back in October.

Rough ride...or just having fun with the camera.

Experimenting with light and shadow. I love high contrast photography.

The fall harvest display at the Palazzo Shops on the Strip.

Still Talking About the Weather

It looks like the weather forecasters got it right after all. After my ranting in my entry last Friday that the weather forecast is never accurate anymore, I was proven wrong. With a two day delay, the cold winds did in fact whip through the Las Vegas Valley yesterday. They did not bring the freezing temperatures as predicted, however it was cold enough for us having to turn on the heater.

So I do apologize to all the weather guys and gals out there. But maybe next time, work a little more on the timing of predicted occurrences?

On Friday evening we took our friend Margaret out for dinner. Even though her birthday is not until this Friday, we celebrated this special occasion a little early. We always have a good time chatting and catching up on each others lives. After a scrumptious meal we walked around the “Strip” and by the time we said our good-byes it was already 2 o’clock in the morning. Time flies when you’re having fun.

The “Strip” can be a very educational observance platform on human behavior. Especially on a Friday night or early Saturday morning. It’s interesting to see how people become completely different beasts, given that Las Vegas has the reputation to be one big party town where everyone can just act out. It’s a hell of a place for people watching. Who needs television and those stupid reality shows? It’s all right here...Live and in Living Colors. We love it!

Oh, about that little destructo-porn movie “2012” which I also mentioned in my last entry. It made over $225 million worldwide on its first weekend. Not bad for a gay movie director from Germany. We have yet to see this film. I guess people still love watching another epic destruction of good ol’ Mother Earth. And apparently they are pretty darn good at putting it into practice too.

Below are some impression from a fun-filled Friday evening on the Las Vegas “Strip.” And two pictures from our brunch that George made at home on Sunday morning. Sage breakfast sausage, sautéed onions and tomatoes, and melted pepper jack cheese, all wrapped up in a fluffy omelet. Served with hash browns, toast and freshly brewed strong coffee. Yum!

Are you getting hungry?

Maybe we should open a bed and breakfast yet.

A Grand Lux birthday wish

Black and white shopping at Sephora

Plumbing

Men’s room art

The reception area at Paris Las Vegas

Bonsoir

Night traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard

George was cooking a delectable Sunday morning brunch

It was absolutely divine...as usual

Nice Weather, Isn’t It?

The weather forecasters predicted a cold front sweeping into the Las Vegas Valley this weekend and bringing with it apocalyptic high winds of “2012” proportions. And...gasp...rain! Now they’re saying that the weather will pretty much stay the same as it has been for the last few days...balmy 70°, sunny with some high clouds.

Have you noticed that the weather dudes and dudettes never get it right anymore? Not too long ago, the weather forecasts seemed to have been fairly accurate. I was always amazed by that. Now however, it seems that weather forecasts are merely fillers for subconscious advertising or to show off another over-the-top made up Barbie doll face.

With all the advanced computer technology and warning systems placed around the globe, one would think we should be able to pinpoint where every single rain drop will hit the ground by now. Instead, things have gotten backwards somehow.

But I think I’ve figured out what the problem is. The more modern technology progresses the more stupid the human race becomes. In return, humans are programming their stupidity back into computers and their applications.

For example, have you seen the millions of iPhone Apps that are floating around out there? An App for Starbucks? A Wal-Mart App? What is this stupid thing suppose to do? Will it do the shopping for your already way-too-lazy-ass? Is it going to forklift you to a certain shopping aisle or maybe even wiping your butt so you don’t have to waste any time to check your text messages while running over a couple of your fellow shoppers with your forklift?

Shouldn’t we be further ahead with the advancement of technology and science to make this a more livable place? Oh wait...let me rephrase that. Shouldn’t America be a little further along? Because the rest of the world has already whisked way past us at light speed. While Americans are still all goggle-eyed about what pretty things a useless iPhone App can do, other nations are reaping in the rewards on their investments in environmental technologies to make tomorrow’s world more efficient and cleaner. Or how about other countries’ achievements in the medical field to find cures to eradicate serious illnesses?

Here, a lot of Americans still believe that universal health care is some form of evil communist devil worship that wants to destroy the holier-than-thou tradition of deep-fried Twinkies. Because that‘s what wiped out Europe. Not the Twinkies but that evil health care system which seems to be working pretty well for those hoity-toity Europeans. Do they not deep-fry croissants over there?

Oy!

Now on with our regular programming...

What America also still doesn’t realize is that scientific research and development in the renewable energy and medical area, as well as implementing new technologies is where the future lies...and eventually wealth and prosperity. And isn’t that what America so desperately seeks? But in this country the clueless sheep are still led by a few wolves in form of religious dimwits and greedy conglomerates, constantly screwing their flock over and over again while proclaiming it’s done for God and Country. Therefore all is well in America. And God said so too when he was personally interviewed by Rush Limbsack and Glenn Fuck on Faux News the other day.

Yesterday I said that I was happy on my Facebook page. Nothing has changed, despite my little frustrating rant above. I’m still very happy. How can I not be? I have the most loving person in my life. We have a wonderful home together. I even love America, believe it or not. It’s a great country, even though some Americans are out to destroy the few remaining good things and lay all the blame on us gays for the apocalypse.

Or are they blaming Germans again? The disaster porn flick “2012” was directed by a German director after all.

Shouldn’t Germans be happier too? Especially 20 years after that darned wall came down? Well, don’t get me started on that little chapter in history. I have my own little tale to tell from that event back in 1989. But that would take too long and turn into another rant.

Besides, I am happy. Remember?

What was this entry about again? I forget. Who cares? It’s Friday and the weekend is upon us. So don’t worry and be happy.

Have a great weekend, ya’ll. Only two more years until the end of the world.

More Randomness

It looks like this will be yet another very busy week. Once again, there will be not much time for reminiscing about a nice weekend or commenting on current affairs.

However, there is just enough time to download a few more randomly taken photographs.

“Youth is a circumstance you can't do anything about.
The trick is to grow up without getting old.”

- Frank Lloyd Wright

Flamingo Marquee Detail

Waiting for dinner at Planet Dailies

Halloween ghosts on the “Strip.”

Wet Spectacle

Fiery Spectacle

Hot Spectacle

Las Vegas “Strip,” looking northward

Tony Kushner Responds To The Repeal Of Gay Marriage In Maine

Yesterday voters repealed a state law passed in May that legalized gay marriage in Maine. With 53 percent opposed to the law, Maine now has the dubious honor of joining 30 other states in which gay marriage has lost when put to a popular vote. As the news broke early this morning, acclaimed playwright Tony Kushner offered this exclusive comment to OUT:

“The news from Maine doesn’t make me depressed, but it does make me angry. I’m angry that bigots, cretins and theocrats get to vote on whether or not their fellow citizens are entitled to equality under the law. Our basic right to equal treatment is guaranteed by the US Constitution and should not be subject to state referendums. I’m angry that the Catholic Church and the Mormons, tax exempt under the increasingly laughable pretext that they have something to do with God, pump millions upon millions of dollars into this wicked campaign to promote bigotry and perpetuate human suffering, while supporters of LGBT equality pay taxes for the privilege of continuing to be not-fully enfranchised sub-citizens. I’m very angry that we’re being forced to fight for equality on a state-by-state basis. We are American citizens and we are entitled to 14th Amendment protection in every aspect of our lives, in every state in the union. I have no doubt whatsoever that LGBT people will soon accomplish this, but I’m angry at the setbacks, of course, in Maine, in California, which do nothing but hurt real human beings and gain no one anything that any sane human being could possibly want. And I guess I should add that I’m angry at the LGBT community’s lack of effective national political leadership, our lack of a coordinated national strategy, but there are signs that maybe this is beginning to change. And I guess I should add that I’m angry at myself: I didn’t send money or help out in Maine, so who have I got to be angry at, really, other than myself? On the other hand: 47% for marriage equality is a number that should hearten us and dishearten the bigots, cretins and theocrats. So let’s get back to work.”

Somber Reflection

This has been an extremely busy week thus far. Therefore I won’t be able to add much on here except for a few photos that we took on Halloween when George and I were on the “Strip.”

Many of my fellow bloggers are going through some very tough times. All I can do is offering my sincerest well wishes. It may not be much of a comfort but I do know what most of you are going through and I feel for you. You are all in our thoughts.

With so much pain and suffering one has to endure in life, you would think people know better than to inflicting even more on other people’s life. But after yesterday’s election results in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as the Gay Marriage defeat in Maine, I’m seriously questioning the human condition in this country. So much for freedom and equality in America. But I expected as much and will just leave it at that.

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.
And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”
-Dalai Lama

The sky has found its limit here...and it’s the ceiling.

Light fixtures at Planet Dailies.

Planet Hollywood colors.

City Center’s Aria.

Arc de Triomphe...Las Vegas style.