So where else but Vegas can you suffer in 108° heat and 34° cold in the same week...in relatively the same area? From the scorching heat of the valley, to the snowball fight up in the mountains, its been a great couple of days, with great pictures, great food, and even better company. This weekend we took a drove up to Mt. Charleston, once on Saturday, and again on Sunday, since the batteries were dead in the camera. ;) Surprisingly, cell phone cameras have become quite good, and I managed to make a great panorama of several shots taken by my cell phone...
Cell Phone Panorama
So anyway, Saturday started around 11:30 a.m., and we headed up to Mt. Charleston to see the snow, stopping only at the Mt Charleston Lodge to grab some grub and warm liquid. Fleeces and jackets were put on, and stocking caps were thrown on, but quickly removed. The whole drive had me grinning like an idiot, staring at the majesty that our Earth has to offer. Obviously, it was my first trip up into these mountains, and I was amazed that something so amazing and beautiful was a mere hour from the bells of the slot machines, and the smell of smog. Made our way up until we hit snow, pausing alongside the road to enjoy the sights, wander off the road a little bit, and take marvelous cell phone pics. :-P Got up to SNOW, it'd been my first since Michigan, and was a welcome change after the heat of last weekend. Had the obligatory snowball fight, made a slushy snow angel, and just enjoyed being. The sounds of wind blowing through the trees, the birds chirping, and the fact that the area was devoid of the honking of horns, screaming of children, bells of slot machines, and just human life in general. It felt good to get away.
Today started with the promise of charged camera batteries, Vitamin Water, and an amazing breakfast complete with some fabulous steaming hot banana bread. I had my fortune extremely accurately told by a Zoltar speaks-esque machine for the low low price of a mere two quarters, which weren't even mine. I was also fortunate enough to sit in the eagle chair...pictures to come at a later date. The clouds were pretty heavy this morning, which made the pictures slightly more difficult to actually capture an image of, well, the mountains. Still, we soldiered on to Cathedral Rock, and took some pretty bitchin' pictures, and saw some pretty awesome sights. I tried to limbo my way out, but I'm not quite as limber as I was in my younger days. ;) 30 minutes, a bathroom break, and $7 later, we were on our way further up the mountain to the overlook so I could get my panoramic taken again... but with a real camera this time. ;) Somehow some binoculars materialized as well, and I got to peruse the caves and crevices from afar, which was the next best thing after actually physically exploring them myself. Thanks again for bringing the binocs, kid.
After this, I napped.
Enjoy the view, I did.
Real Camera Panorama
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Life is good.
Life is good.
People (some in particular) are incredible. Ok, ONE in particular.
I am happy.
Can you tell the temperature is reasonable today?! :-P its only 70°!
People (some in particular) are incredible. Ok, ONE in particular.
I am happy.
Can you tell the temperature is reasonable today?! :-P its only 70°!
Life in the oven
Wow. I love living in an oven...now I know what my cheesecakes and tortes feel like. Temperatures of 100°+ are not meant for human consumption...I'm sorry, they just aren't. I mean, seriously, it's only May, for goodness sakes. Ok, enough bitching about the temperature... I'm sure I'll do far more of it later in the summer. I have switched from my hobby of baking for the time being to making ice cream, so far the flavors include: Chocolate with Vietnamese Cinnamon, Strawberry, Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Strawberry Chunk, Chocolate Banana, MARGARITA!, and Lemon Raspberry Sorbet. If you have any ideas for ice cream flavors, no matter how wacky or odd, send em to me, I'm always trying to come up with new concoctions.
Things are good here, I have my moments of nostalgia, things I miss still at home, and people that I regret not being able to be there for, but alas, my life must go on. Mind you, these people are on my mind and in my heart, and I certainly hope that life deals them good hands, and that things are going to end up well. That said, I still don't regret the move, though mom still questions me if I want to move back on a daily basis. Finally got fed up and told her, I'm not moving, I'm happier than I've been in ages, and a little heat and nostalgia isn't going to change it. Let's see how long she lasts without asking again.
I still have yet to get my Nevada plates and driver's license, mainly because I have to get a replacement Social Security card first, and who really has time to wait in line for that shit!? I decided to go with personalized plates this time, and they're going to be supernerdy...like me, I suppose.
I bought a fan, two actually, as I found it necessary for survival and ability to sleep an entire night in my hotbox of a bedroom (it faces the afternoon sun- the bastard sun!) It's helped considerably, and air condition has also been turned on in the house...which has helped immensely. I'm slowly starting to unpack stuff, and find places for it, I have so much stuff, it makes me a little nauseous. I'm trying to make things homier at my place, like I didn't so much at my last place in A-dale...I'm actually unpacking my boxes here, I'm thinking that I might stay awhile... and to Heidi and Bridget- there's a floor in my bedroom.. and I can see it everywhere...it's incredible, you wouldn't believe it. I'm on the hunt for a storage unit, so I can find a place for the rest of my stuff that I can't use or don't have room for... I wish there were cheap decent places here... no such luck so far though, not that I've been looking particularly hard.
Some thoughts:
Grimaldi's pizza is amazing.
Homemade ice cream is better than amazing.
Homemade sorbet is a pain in the ass to make, and better be worth it.
I hate cleaning.
and with that, I bid you adieu.
Things are good here, I have my moments of nostalgia, things I miss still at home, and people that I regret not being able to be there for, but alas, my life must go on. Mind you, these people are on my mind and in my heart, and I certainly hope that life deals them good hands, and that things are going to end up well. That said, I still don't regret the move, though mom still questions me if I want to move back on a daily basis. Finally got fed up and told her, I'm not moving, I'm happier than I've been in ages, and a little heat and nostalgia isn't going to change it. Let's see how long she lasts without asking again.
I still have yet to get my Nevada plates and driver's license, mainly because I have to get a replacement Social Security card first, and who really has time to wait in line for that shit!? I decided to go with personalized plates this time, and they're going to be supernerdy...like me, I suppose.
I bought a fan, two actually, as I found it necessary for survival and ability to sleep an entire night in my hotbox of a bedroom (it faces the afternoon sun- the bastard sun!) It's helped considerably, and air condition has also been turned on in the house...which has helped immensely. I'm slowly starting to unpack stuff, and find places for it, I have so much stuff, it makes me a little nauseous. I'm trying to make things homier at my place, like I didn't so much at my last place in A-dale...I'm actually unpacking my boxes here, I'm thinking that I might stay awhile... and to Heidi and Bridget- there's a floor in my bedroom.. and I can see it everywhere...it's incredible, you wouldn't believe it. I'm on the hunt for a storage unit, so I can find a place for the rest of my stuff that I can't use or don't have room for... I wish there were cheap decent places here... no such luck so far though, not that I've been looking particularly hard.
Some thoughts:
Grimaldi's pizza is amazing.
Homemade ice cream is better than amazing.
Homemade sorbet is a pain in the ass to make, and better be worth it.
I hate cleaning.
and with that, I bid you adieu.
Life After Michigan
This blog is for those of you who are interested in my life as it is now, 2000 miles away from almost everyone I know and love....
Life in Las Vegas is amazing. There is so much good that I'm not sure where to begin, to be honest.
The weather is gorgeous (and I know this is short-lived) but for right now it is sunny and 80° every damn day, with an amazing breeze, and hey, thats ok with me. The scenery (yes, there is scenery in Vegas) is incredible as well. Even as I sit now, I can look out my bedroom window and gaze upon a snowcapped mountain. Not exactly what you'd associate with Vegas, eh? Mountains in every direction, cloudless days, blue skies. Nothing like sitting on your lunch break, eating lunch outside, staring at not so distant mountains in the middle of April, or early May, as it is now.
I haven't spent much time on the strip yet, and when I do, its shopping. :-P This has been a popular question amongst people who ask about life now. I'm not a huge partier, not much for the club scene, so I'm not missing much. Plus- with a Vegas ID I'll get in free, so I'm waiting to shed the MI driver's license til I'm ready to brave the DMV. Shopping here is phenomenal, and my wallet and bank account pretty much hate me. MAC Pro, Apple, H&M, Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, Sephora, there are sooooo many amazing places to spend my hard earned cash (and I have been ;)) My recent purchase is an ice cream machine... fantastic purchase, this weekend I made homemade Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, and homemade Strawberry ice cream. so yum.
The hard earned money comes in paycheck form from Bally Technologies, where I work in Game Development. I'm fortunate to have found this job, as they're the reason I got to move here. I get to (eventually) draw and design all the graphics on the slot machines - what a great job! So far I am doing production work, so I can learn the ropes. The people there all really kick ass, too, so that is fantastic.
I'm starting to meet new people here, which helps with homesickness. Everyone that I've met here has been really awesome, SO FAR. ;) I've heard stories that the men are lizards (cause that is what survives in the desert), and the rest of the people are assholes.... I've also learned that everyone who has lived in Vegas for any amount of time HATES people from California. Its hilarious how angry the Vegas ppl get at them and their driving. Vegas driving is yet another interesting task, everyone drives like a-holes. :) I fit RIGHT in. :-P Nah, it IS weird tho, there aren't lines on the road, just these raised dot things that reflect at night. its bizarre, and can be hard to follow at times.
All I can say is that though I miss home- whether the people, my family, my friends, the food (oh Yesterdog and Marie Catrib's, how I miss you so), I have never been happier in my life. This was the perfect decision for me, and I couldnt be happier I made it. It was tough, between the actual physical move, the mental effects of the move, and the difficulty of making the decision to leave my old life behind and truly start MY life. It was a bold decision, and I dont regret it for a second. I feel at home here, and that feels good.
Just thought y'all should know how life is here. Let's see if I regret that decision come june/july. ;)
Life in Las Vegas is amazing. There is so much good that I'm not sure where to begin, to be honest.
The weather is gorgeous (and I know this is short-lived) but for right now it is sunny and 80° every damn day, with an amazing breeze, and hey, thats ok with me. The scenery (yes, there is scenery in Vegas) is incredible as well. Even as I sit now, I can look out my bedroom window and gaze upon a snowcapped mountain. Not exactly what you'd associate with Vegas, eh? Mountains in every direction, cloudless days, blue skies. Nothing like sitting on your lunch break, eating lunch outside, staring at not so distant mountains in the middle of April, or early May, as it is now.
I haven't spent much time on the strip yet, and when I do, its shopping. :-P This has been a popular question amongst people who ask about life now. I'm not a huge partier, not much for the club scene, so I'm not missing much. Plus- with a Vegas ID I'll get in free, so I'm waiting to shed the MI driver's license til I'm ready to brave the DMV. Shopping here is phenomenal, and my wallet and bank account pretty much hate me. MAC Pro, Apple, H&M, Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, Sephora, there are sooooo many amazing places to spend my hard earned cash (and I have been ;)) My recent purchase is an ice cream machine... fantastic purchase, this weekend I made homemade Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, and homemade Strawberry ice cream. so yum.
The hard earned money comes in paycheck form from Bally Technologies, where I work in Game Development. I'm fortunate to have found this job, as they're the reason I got to move here. I get to (eventually) draw and design all the graphics on the slot machines - what a great job! So far I am doing production work, so I can learn the ropes. The people there all really kick ass, too, so that is fantastic.
I'm starting to meet new people here, which helps with homesickness. Everyone that I've met here has been really awesome, SO FAR. ;) I've heard stories that the men are lizards (cause that is what survives in the desert), and the rest of the people are assholes.... I've also learned that everyone who has lived in Vegas for any amount of time HATES people from California. Its hilarious how angry the Vegas ppl get at them and their driving. Vegas driving is yet another interesting task, everyone drives like a-holes. :) I fit RIGHT in. :-P Nah, it IS weird tho, there aren't lines on the road, just these raised dot things that reflect at night. its bizarre, and can be hard to follow at times.
All I can say is that though I miss home- whether the people, my family, my friends, the food (oh Yesterdog and Marie Catrib's, how I miss you so), I have never been happier in my life. This was the perfect decision for me, and I couldnt be happier I made it. It was tough, between the actual physical move, the mental effects of the move, and the difficulty of making the decision to leave my old life behind and truly start MY life. It was a bold decision, and I dont regret it for a second. I feel at home here, and that feels good.
Just thought y'all should know how life is here. Let's see if I regret that decision come june/july. ;)
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