Monday, June 22, 2009
Vegas and SD Fair
Went to Vegas for a few days 2 weeks ago for my birthday present. We had a great time. The weather was comfortable; cloudy and warm. It even rained a bit one of the days. Vegas is hurting; even though we were there Sunday through Wednesday the crowds were still exceptionally small. The cabbies asked us if we wanted to ride down the Strip or take the side streets - that's never happened before. Restaurants were 2/3 full, we bought tickets for Cirque du Soleil's "Ka" 24 hours before the show time and landed 4th row center seats. The pool was practically empty and one night we had the entire outdoor patio of the East Side Lounge to ourselves.
I had two photos accepted into the SD Fair this year out of 4 submitted but while the percentage was disappointing the results weren't; both images received "Honorable Mention" awards. We went this last weekend and had beer and brats, walked the fine art and the photography exhibits, she bought some jewelry and we walked the Halls of Crap, too.
I had two photos accepted into the SD Fair this year out of 4 submitted but while the percentage was disappointing the results weren't; both images received "Honorable Mention" awards. We went this last weekend and had beer and brats, walked the fine art and the photography exhibits, she bought some jewelry and we walked the Halls of Crap, too.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Fair Photos and Vegas Getaway
This year I again entered some of my photographic work in the San Diego and Orange County Fairs. This one was accepted in both fairs' competitions, while this one was accepted in the San Diego Fair but rejected by the Orange County Fair.
I also went to Las Vegas last week for a few days as a birthday present. Vegas is dead; lots of empty restaurant tables, empty lounges by the pool and the cabbies would ask us if we wanted to take the Strip or the side roads (in the past the side roads were the only choice due to all the traffic on las Vegas Blvd.).
The guys came over yesterday for a band rehearsal to prep for later this summer's party.
I also went to Las Vegas last week for a few days as a birthday present. Vegas is dead; lots of empty restaurant tables, empty lounges by the pool and the cabbies would ask us if we wanted to take the Strip or the side roads (in the past the side roads were the only choice due to all the traffic on las Vegas Blvd.).
The guys came over yesterday for a band rehearsal to prep for later this summer's party.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
New York City April, 2009
I spent a short but really fun week in New York Ciy last week. Gargoyles, Guggenheim and Gramercy, oh my!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
I went to Shenzhen, Guangdong, PRC and Hong Kong last week for business. Shenzhen is across the harbo(u)r from Hong Kong. It is possible to land at Hong Kong International Airport but never enter Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; you can go straight to the regular PRC via a ferry and then go through passport control into China when you dock.
That's what I did. It's about 2 hours from landing the plane to getting to the hotel.
Coming back I had a driver take from my hotel in Shenzhen to my hotel in Hong Kong via his car; we had to go through a big-ass passport control area prior to driving across Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor bridge back into HK.
My outbound itinerary was SAN to SFO to HKG, ferry to Shenzhen. Return was HKG to SFO to SAN. SFO to HKG was about 14, 14.5 hours. Return tip was around 11, 11.5 hours.
Hong Kong still uses its own currency, the Hong Kong dollar, official exchange rate 1.05 to 1 RMB. Shenzhen is in an economic development zone; 15 years ago it was a tiny fishing village. Now it is a huge city with all the hallmarks of fast money and a bubble economy and infrastructure. I visited a factory that manufactures my company's products; it is out behind the glitz of boomtown Shenzhen. In fact it is what we would call a "company town" from the turn of the last century. The company site is literally miles of 10 story tall buildings full of Chinese workers making our stuff. They live in dorms and eat and shop on the company property.
The engineers I worked with were mid-20's maybe and the workers on the line, many of whom are women, had an average age of 18 or 19. It was a fascinating glimpse into how our economy (meaning the US for me personally but really it's any Western country at this point) and China are inextricably linked.
A headline in the South China Daily one morning was "Finance Minister still buying Treasury bonds."
And now here are some photos.
I also went out to Anza Borrego Desert State Park a few weekends ago and took some night sky photos.
That's what I did. It's about 2 hours from landing the plane to getting to the hotel.
Coming back I had a driver take from my hotel in Shenzhen to my hotel in Hong Kong via his car; we had to go through a big-ass passport control area prior to driving across Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor bridge back into HK.
My outbound itinerary was SAN to SFO to HKG, ferry to Shenzhen. Return was HKG to SFO to SAN. SFO to HKG was about 14, 14.5 hours. Return tip was around 11, 11.5 hours.
Hong Kong still uses its own currency, the Hong Kong dollar, official exchange rate 1.05 to 1 RMB. Shenzhen is in an economic development zone; 15 years ago it was a tiny fishing village. Now it is a huge city with all the hallmarks of fast money and a bubble economy and infrastructure. I visited a factory that manufactures my company's products; it is out behind the glitz of boomtown Shenzhen. In fact it is what we would call a "company town" from the turn of the last century. The company site is literally miles of 10 story tall buildings full of Chinese workers making our stuff. They live in dorms and eat and shop on the company property.
The engineers I worked with were mid-20's maybe and the workers on the line, many of whom are women, had an average age of 18 or 19. It was a fascinating glimpse into how our economy (meaning the US for me personally but really it's any Western country at this point) and China are inextricably linked.
A headline in the South China Daily one morning was "Finance Minister still buying Treasury bonds."
And now here are some photos.
I also went out to Anza Borrego Desert State Park a few weekends ago and took some night sky photos.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
New Year
One month into the new year and only a few things to report.
I went to Santa Barbara between Christmas and New Year's, which was really fun. I spent a day driving around the local Wine Country and went to Solvang for lunch. The Hitching Post was closed, though; they're open or dinner only.
I also caught up with a Rome friend in LA who had come over for a quick 10 day Southwest US road trip.
I continue to work on music and songs in the little recording studio I have and making great progress. It's great to have such talented friends come over and play on my stuff.
I am collecting and shooting images to enter into the San Diego Natural History Museum photography contest also. The last day to enter is March 15. A few weekends ago I shot a bunch of images down at the pier, some of which are decent.
I went to Santa Barbara between Christmas and New Year's, which was really fun. I spent a day driving around the local Wine Country and went to Solvang for lunch. The Hitching Post was closed, though; they're open or dinner only.
I also caught up with a Rome friend in LA who had come over for a quick 10 day Southwest US road trip.
I continue to work on music and songs in the little recording studio I have and making great progress. It's great to have such talented friends come over and play on my stuff.
I am collecting and shooting images to enter into the San Diego Natural History Museum photography contest also. The last day to enter is March 15. A few weekends ago I shot a bunch of images down at the pier, some of which are decent.
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