Homer

One of the blogosphere’s favorite blogmeisters is paying George and I a visit next Friday. Archeologist extraordinaire and meringue pie specialist Homer will be spending the weekend at our humble casa. Let’s see what kind of trouble all of us together can “dig up.”


We already know his deep, dark secret what he likes for breakfast. No, we won’t tell. We will take his secret to our grave. Maybe some handsomely rugged archeologist, like the one paying us a visit, will unearth the secret in a few hundred years from now? It’ll be one heck of a find for a future society that will have rid itself of all things unhealthy and unnutritious.


Assuming, the human race haven’t scarfed themselves to death or blown this planet into bits and pieces by then.


In any case, we hope the weather will play along and we can show Homer some of the natural beauty surrounding this surreal place. Don’t get us wrong. We love Las Vegas with all its quirkiness and “travel-around-the-world-in-one-day” facades, but even we just want to get away from it all. That’s where these amazing places like Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire or Mount Charleston come into play. Those are hidden jewels that most visitors coming to Las Vegas will never see. And maybe that’s a good thing. Leave a few places unspoiled for us locals to enjoy.


This doesn’t mean that we won’t show Homer the “travel-around-the-world-in-one-day” facades which are all lined up along the famed “Strip.” There are plenty of other really cool and fun places, even if you’re not the gambling type. We just go the flow and see where the wind takes us.


I’ve been reading Homer’s blog for quite a while now and it’s exciting to finally meet him in person. In a very strange way it feels like welcoming home a good friend. We’re truly living in a small world these days. And blogs can bring people together in the most peculiar way.


I don’t know if this type of communication will eventually be a curse or a blessing for human kind. Sometimes it feels like all the texting, twittering, blogging, and what have you, is isolating people even more. Young kids nowadays already have problems to communicate on a personal level. Certain behavioral etiquette seems to get lost as communicative technologies are progressing further to become even more personalized. The internet can become a very lonely, dehumanizing and desensitizing tool at times.


Then again, it can help to keep us informed, to educate and to keep us in touch with family and friends halfway across the globe.


And incidentally, to also meet new people along the way. Or seemingly good old friends.



Now how the heck did this entry become so darn deep?


We’re looking forward seeing you “again,” Homer. Hopefully Henny-Penny won’t get too pissed at you leaving and lay an egg.

Just Another Weekend...

Another weekend came and went far too quickly. George and I enjoyed it nonetheless. Especially now with the desert heat finally bowing out, where we can enjoy being outdoors that much more.

On Saturday afternoon, we had George’s mother and sister over at our home for a nice visit. In the evening we checked out the celebration of the “early” National Coming Out Day event, which was held at the large parking lot in front of the Las Vegas Gay and Lesbian Community Center with lots of music, dance and food.

The Tattoo Expo ‘09 took place at the convention center of Mandalay Bay over the weekend as well. Since locals got in for free we took advantage of this great offer. A very large and quite diverse group of people were mingling with fellow tattoo admirers to check out the latest on designs, techniques and applications. Artist and representatives of tattoo parlors from all around the world attended. A group of Samoan tattoo artists displayed very skillfully their traditional ways of applying tattoos the old-fashioned way without the help of any modern devices.

After the tattoo expo George and I wandered about the southern part of the famed “Strip.” We discovered a couple of new things, like the second Hard Rock Cafe which is being touted as an all interactive experience. The massive City Center is coming along nicely and getting ready for its opening in December of this year. Before heading back home we enjoyed delicious gelato at the Bellagio.

In the meantime we’re back in the rat race again. Here’s our little gallery of photos that we’ve taken over the weekend.

Real Russian chocolate, surprisingly divine

Samoan tatoo artists at the Tattoo Expo

Mandalay Bay Resort detail

The Luxor pyramid peeks out behind the lush entryway to the Mandalay Bay

The Manhattan Express rollercoaster speeds through and around the New York New York Hotel & Casino on the Strip

MGM Grand detail

The second Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas opened on the Strip recently

McNeon

The Aria, part of the new City Center

Detail of the City Center

More detail of the City Center

Bellagio reflections

George loves the gelato and fancy pastries offered at the Bellagio

Bellagio detail

My humble self. How about a smile?

Tropicana Intersection

The Strip, looking northbound

The new Mandarin Oriental

I Now Pronounce You...

...well, not quite.



But today makes George and I an officially partnered couple. We’ve been a couple for over five years, mind you. However, today it’s officially legal as well. The new Domestic Partnership laws go in effect as of today in the State of Nevada.



We are “Domestic Partnershipped.”


Okay, that does sound hokey. Is there another word to describe this more appropriately? It surely doesn’t have the same ring like “we are married,” but that is what it feels like to us at least. Even if our relationship and our newfound rights are not recognized on a federal level. But all that doesn’t matter for now.


George and I are a happily partnered couple and we are finally being legally accepted as such in Nevada. The state’s motto is “Battle Born.” What a battle it has been for the LGBT community in this state. But we prevailed and now it’s time to celebrate. And we hope there will be more celebrations like this to come for every state in this country in the very near future.


Links to the web sites of the local newspapers and their contribution to this historic day are here and here.


Congratulations to everyone involved and all the best for the future.


George, I love you with all my heart.

American Dictatorship

Today religious mania has infected the political bloodstream and America has become corrosively isolationist, he says. “Ask an American what they know about Sweden and they’d say ‘They live well but they’re all alcoholics’. In fact a Scandinavian system could have benefited us many times over.” Instead, America has “no intellectual class” and is “rotting away at a funereal pace. We’ll have a military dictatorship fairly soon, on the basis that nobody else can hold everything together. Obama would have been better off focusing on educating the American people. His problem is being over-educated. He doesn’t realise how dim-witted and ignorant his audience is. Benjamin Franklin said that the system would fail because of the corruption of the people and that happened under Bush.”

Gore Vidal

Taken from the London Times, September 29, 2009

What A Circus!

On Friday evening we went to the Onyx Theatre to see “Mommie Queerest.” We haven’t laughed so hard in the longest time. My tear ducts are still recovering. If you want a truly good time and experience a whole new slapsticky twist to the campy 1981 movie “Mommie Dearest” with Faye Dunaway, you have to go and see this stage production. Gotta love those wire hangers.

Just when you thought camp like this couldn’t possibly be made even campier.

But how’s this for campy? On Saturday we saw Britney Spears at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Yes...that Britney Spears. Never in a million years would I have even considered seeing her. Then one day George suggested we should go because they had reasonable tickets. And we should see her one last time before she ends up as some burned-out has-been on one of those crappy reality shows. So, why the heck not?

Her “The Circus” tour made a two night stop in Las Vegas and I have to admit that we both liked it. It was quite the spectacle. Clever in fact. The show, the acrobats and dancers, the costumes were really something to behold.




So did the Mistress of Ceremony, Ms. Spears herself, dare to actually sing live? What do you think?
No, of course not. Not one bit. Every song was lip synced and every one of her moves was robotically choreographed. She even had a double performing her part for the last bits of the “concert.” Not that it mattered anyway, because we expected as much and everyone around us was completely oblivious to that fact and really couldn’t care less. We didn’t regret going however. Despite some flaws we truly enjoyed this whole “circus” act.

Yesterday morning we decided to treat ourselves with a Shakshouka-style breakfast. Lots of fresh tomatoes, spicy herbs and eggs, nicely broiled and served over sourdough bread. Yum, yum and yum!

Otherwise we just messed about the house, the backyard, chatted with friends on web sites and on the phone and caught up on some television shows that we’ve taped over the last few days. We also worked out and did our usual walks and jogs through Pueblo Park. Most of the photos below are from our walk in the park yesterday early afternoon and what we usually see along the way.

All in all, another great weekend.

Yesterday morning started out with some Shaksouka

Later we walked in Pueblo Park, here is the section closest to West Lake Mead Boulevard

Along the Pueblo Park, with the Spring Mountain Range in the background

It rarely rains in Las Vegas, but when it does you don't want to be caught here during a flash flood. They can form within minutes and turn into a ravaging river.

More of the park

There are plenty of yuccas, ocotillos and other desert flora

The red rock, the only one in all of the park

There are also plenty of critters to observe. Squirrels, rabbits, tarantulas, snakes, bats...

And then there are these critters...

Still blooming, even in all this desert heat

There are lots of recreational facilities, barbeque areas and play grounds

The land of the free...with tons of regulations

The driveway to the parking lot from Lake Mead Boulevard

Afterwards we just had to reward ourselves. Marble cake with whipped topping and chocolate syrup. That's right, we live the good life!

The House Always Wins

George and I spent another night out on the town yesterday. We started by having dinner at one of our favorite hangouts, enjoying the best burgers on the “Strip.” It looks like they have new waiters working at the “Dailies.” My favorite eyecandy, young and hot Jose, is not there anymore. And none of the Russian girls. However, the food is still amazing as ever.



Afterwards we just wandered up and down parts of the famed “Strip.” Most locals hate this part of town and will only come to the “Strip” if absolutely necessary. Like when family or friends are visiting town and want to see what all the fuss is about. George and I like coming to the “Strip” and check out what’s going on in all the casinos. Even though we rarely gamble it’s fun to stroll through the casinos and watch people. Or visit one of the countless restaurants to enjoy a great meal. If shopping is your thing there are plenty of malls on this stretch of road alone. Don’t forget all the concerts, shows, clubs, dancing...the list is endless. Why shouldn’t locals join in on the fun as well?



Incidentally, we saw a bunch of German tourists all over the place. I suppose it helps to become attuned to our upcoming trip to Germany in December. Of course, I couldn’t help myself to make fun of them. But just a wee bit. It’s not like I’m that evil. Außerdem kann ich mir das auch erlauben.



The weather was perfect too. The evenings are finally starting to cool off enough to enjoy the outdoors again. During the heat of summer it just stays hot 24/7. It’s not uncommon for temperatures to still linger below the 100º F mark at 2 o’clock in the morning.



And speaking of gambling, we tried our luck on one of the Wheel of Fortune slot machines. At one point we got our money back and more but eventually lost everything again. As if we didn’t know any better. The house always wins. Always!



Here are some impressions from yesterday evening.