My December.....

This is what I'll be doing this month (unfortunately it's December so it won't look this warm)

London Eye (we'll wait for a clear day to do this)

The Tube


Harrods

Hasty Edit

We are also going to stay in Cambridge for the first half of our trip:
King's College Chapel, Cambridge UK


Lovely outdoor Cambridge - again NOT what it'll look like in December

V&A Museum

York Cathedral (for the wedding we are attending!)

Pubs

Edinburgh Castle

What I do in my "spare" time

My *other* job is as a board member of a non-profit dance organization where we host and organize bellydance events for the bay area dance community. Next Saturday we are hosting a full day bellydance festival and fundraiser in Palo Alto:

SF/BA MECDA Presents
Gala Show & Fundraiser
for Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence
Saturday November 14, 2009
11 am - 9 pm
Festival Dancing ~ Three Featured Showcases ~ Gala Show ~ Vendors ~ Food ~ Raffle

A portion of the proceeds for this event are donated to Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence

http://sfbamecda.org/

Visit our website http://sfbamecda.org/ to get a copy of the discount coupon @ $8 per person. If you only want to print just one page print the BACK page with the coupon and directions. Print as many copies as you need - one coupon is needed per person. Feel free to forward this to friends and family that you think might be interested in a full day event with live dance performances and vendors, and at $8 for the full day how can you beat that in this economy?!?

Also, I will be performing during the 6 -7 pm hour during in one of the Event Promoter Showcase (my performance name is Zemira).

Where is Snuffleupagus?

After 40 years Snuffleupagus is still an underrated character even though he finally became a 'visible' to everyone on the street (show)......

Poor Snuffles...... he wasn't part of the google doodles of the day

10/28/2009

High winds caused a steel crossbeam and two steel tie rods to snap off the Bay Bridge's eastern span and fall to the upper deck, Caltrans officials said today as commuters unable to drive over the closed bridge jammed alternative routes and crowded onto BART in record numbers.

Click here to read more




photos from www.sfgate.com

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas

Unless, of course, you blog about it.....

First, I have a big shout out to my mom because she is the one that gave me the free trip to Vegas. Two nights, three days quite a nice getaway from work and everything else.....

After arriving and settling into the hotel we went to check out the new Palazzo Shoppes. We had to make a stop in the Christian Louboutin store where they had the shoes that Scarlett Johansson wore at ComicCon.


Later that night we traveled out to Green Valley Ranch to see Yellow Brick Road the most amazing Classic Rock Tribute band in Vegas. You should really go and check them out if you like a good rock show check out their website here.


Somehow after leaving GVR, checking out the new hotel M we headed out to Fremont Street.

Guess it shouldn't have been so surprising that there was no one there ... it was 2:30 am-ish and it was still midweek

The next day after a relaxing day at the spa we were ready for our night out.

So just to explain the next couple pictures.... a few years ago I thought that I'd really like to have an 'unbridal party' for myself in Vegas with some friends. Think of all those gals that go to Vegas to have their bridal party at Chippendale's or Thunder Down Under with their girlfriends - well this was the "I'm not getting married" party version.

So instead of wearing a white veil I had an amazing one of a kind veil by Wicked Smileys that was way more appropriate for the celebration

In the glass elevator from our floor - it's blurry but the strip is in the background

This cute boy walked into the elevator with his girl and I just grabbed him to snuggle in for a photo (I have no idea if his girl was irritated or not, I didn't really notice her, LOL)

Then this couple got on the elevator - they were VERY surprised that I wanted a pic with them.

No idea what you call a group of pimps (geese are a gaggle... maybe it would be swarm, like a swarm of ants).... anyhoo, a swarm of pimps showed up (oh and there were some ho's too....)

This pimp stopped to take a couple pics with me, but he wouldn't stop talking or moving around so he's all a blur.....

Here is the whole group of pimps and ho's - yes they were on their way to a wedding

Davina and I pose briefly before heading to Thunder Down Under (nope no pics from there.... not allowed)

After the show we headed to Mandalay Bay and saw our third Rock Band during our trip... Aquarius was really good and Nikki was a hot lead singer.




No such thing as strangers

Davina doesn't know a stranger..... while we waited in the airport to head home she strikes up conversation with some men who proceeded to share why they were in Vegas. They were here to sell snow. Not imported snow, or snow maker machines.... Instead they make/sell instant snow.

After buying a bottle of water he proceeds to demonstrate the snow:

Step 1: take a small scoop of product

Step 2: add a couple ounces of water

Step 3: watch it 'foam' up into snow


Step 4: go ahead and touch it! It's cool and feels pretty much like real snow


Step 5: giggle with glee and amazement because you are holding snow in the Las Vegas airport and the temp outside is around 90

Step 6: put your snow into a ziplock bag, get on the plane to head home, hope no one stops you because they think you have something illegal in your bag

Bonus Vegas-Style-FAIL Blog

#1
While waaayy off the strip for the spa deal of the year, Davina and I noticed something odd in the below picture.... do you notice anything?


The odd item in the picture is the below close up of the Cellphone tower-FAIL. It just made Davina and I crack up.... so I had to take a picture.

Here is the close up

& this is what a non-fail cell phone tree is supposed to look like!

#2
My Brain hurts.... OH NO! don't you dare take me into that weird building!

Found this on a website about the institute:

Frank Gehry, he of Guggenheim / Bilbao fame, is at it again. This time its the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute in Las Vegas. Like many of the famous architect’s recent buildings, the LRBI is decidedly not rectilinear, and could be described as naif and primitive, but not in a bad way.

The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute is intended to treat those with Alzheimer, Huntington, Parkinson and ALS diseases – while the architect himself describes the building as comforting, others suggest that patients with those afflictions might find the unusual shapes to be disorienting.

This statement "others suggest that patients with those afflictions might find the unusual shapes to be disorienting." is EXACTLY what I was thinking!!!


I want to say that I love buildings by Frank Gehry but this building for this medical focus just seems wrong!

While I may not think it's brain institute appropriate, I can't wait to see it when it's finished.

Newest blog on the block

I'm sure that every day a new blog is created.... somewhere out there....

Many of them just disappear into the 'interweb' but some make their mark and work their way into our hearts.

I remember when I found and fell in love with Cake Wrecks. Cake Wrecks is so popular they are currently and a world-ish tour where fans are recreating the best of the worst.


Then there was F U Penguin - too funny and much too wrong and is guaranteed to be a laugh out loud experience (this site might not be work appropriate if you shouldn't be abruptly laughing at random quiet moments)


As always there are the adorable LOL catz which also houses the FAIL blog, Engrish blog, etc.... (I'm sure you know all about this site so photos are not needed)

More recently I was acquainted with Awkward Family Photos which is fun and awkward as promised


Now for the newest contender. I'm not entirely sold on it but here is Crappy Taxidermy for your viewing pleasure (or disgust, you decide)....

Samples of what I found on the site:

This camel is for Davina ~ & yes it's just wrong!

I'm pretty disturbed by this deer in plaid with shotgun.... makes me worry that if he comes back to life he's got a plan

This is a big WTF that I can't even begin to imagine what it is or means

Vegas vodka revealed

While in Vegas last week the mini-market in our hotel had this bottle of vodka in a crystal skull. The price was high, as you would expect for Vegas, and while the bottle looked neat I didn't think that much about it again....until this afternoon.

I've just learned that this Vodka is more than just expensive...

It's more than just in a bottle the shape of a *real* human skull....

According to their website it has something to do with Mayans (and therefore it's related to that not so great recent Indiana Jones movie)

Here is what the website has to say:

Thousands of years ago, thirteen crystal heads were scattered across the earth – and they are greater and more powerful than anything we have the ability to manufacture today. Their workmanship is perfect: they contain no tool marks and have been cut against the natural axis of the crystal, defying the laws of physics. Some say they are artifacts from the lost civilization of Atlantis, some say they date back to the Mayans, still others say they were created by a higher intelligence.

Brought together, the Crystal Heads are said to contain vast knowledge and enlightenment capable of unlocking our most enigmatic ancient mysteries. Alone, each is believed to house radiant psychic energy, which has magical powers and healing properties.

And finally I learned that it's being promoted (funded?) by Dan Aykroyd.


What you do with this is info up to you, I just wanted to share. Thanx

Heading out for a mini-vacay!!!!

(guess where I'm going?)

Summer Vacation

I hope you enjoy this brief pictorial of my summer vacation in San Diego and Tijuana (& considering the actual number of photos I took this is brief)



Comic Con San Diego

Anything goes at Con..... I guess

While I was on my way to work at Comic Con this funeral precession greeted me... It seems it was a 'publicity stunt' for Chris Angel. After watching it for a minute or two I headed into the con and was behind a guy who commented to his friend: 'Chris Angel was a nerd' due to that procession. I thought it was funny that a ComicCon attendee was thinking that Chris Angel was a nerd.... ComicCon is full of nerds of all ages & sizes~ what makes one nerd better than another?



This is the reason I'll never ever stay at the Hard Rock Hotel - just couldn't stand the constant noise.

Noise in the lobby, in the hallways and on the patio, etc... (Supposedly this was Daughtry, or someone....)


Comic Con Exhibitor floor - from above and below....

TRT Dinner on Sunday.... when it was all over

This picture speaks for itself

Hanging out at the Dead Dog

Trip to Mexico

Davina blending in with the locals.....

Our Hotel ~ They had a lovely spa with the Agua Caliente Waters

We went to the 'famous' Sombrero Restaurant for our midday meal

We had a really nice lunch

It was this guys birthday and after singing they brought out this tiny pinata for him to hit with the little stick

Revolution Avenue ~ Car Show, Mariachi's & Margarita's

Mariachi Guy on Break

Revolution Avenue

We were quite entertained by this Mariachi band while we waited for our two for one Margartia special

Two for One special....... two for me and two for Davina.

Our server wouldn't get out of the way for these pictures

Another Mariachi Band came round to serenade us

Street entertainment

Trip to the Circus - Mexico Style

Under the big tent like any other circus

We went to the early show at 6pm, so it wasn't very busy

The bleachers we were seated on were basically jimmied together

This was the oldest, but happiest, elephant I've ever seen

This is one half of the Mentalist Act - they were like the Sigfried and Roy of Mind Reading

There was a parade of random animals

As one of the circus 'acts' they brought out this Monster Truck that carried all the little nino's and nina's once around the ring ?????!

There was an unexpected 'intermission' while they prepared the cannon (see below) and it was absolute chaos with everyone walking around and doing who knows what.....

They shot an actual man from a cannon

This was the other half of the Mentalist Act. He came out into the stands to 'read palms' and for a small $ donation he gave us a sealed envelope that had something or another to do with us / our life. It's all in Spanish so I have NO idea what it says. LOL

Davina noticed that the Tiger wasn't in a cage.... at all. & other than the yellow rope he was pretty much free to come and go as he liked. Luckily he seemed to be VERY content so he just did his show without any problems.

The Mentalist stopped us on our way out ~ I think if he didn't have another circus show to do he'd have come out with us

Mariachi Show at the Camino Real Hotel

After the circus we headed to the Camino Real Hotel in hopes of finding some kind of entertainment in the Cantina and to have a drink and snack.

Duck tacos with a tamarind sauce - really good!

Davina's chicken tortilla soup

These Mariachi guys were lots of fun!

Tour of Tijuana

Our tour guide.... (Judy kept flirting with him ;) )

Famous Tijuana Zonkey

The tour bus took us to all these stops

This police / military convoy was as close as we got to the 'drug wars' in Mexico

The Caliente casino and dog race was pretty nice inside and out

Notice the flamingo's in the Caliente "pond"

During the mexicoach tour we were taken to the boarder to see how busy it was

When we left we took a bus which took us directly to the boarder crossing and we walked back home (into the USA that is...)