Bob Scott Online

It’s hard to believe we’ve already wrapped up 1/12th of 2010 and this is my 1st entry. It has been so long that I almost forgot my sign-on for this blog. And to think, aside from my Vegas trip post from January 2009, I only had one post for the year - a one line proclamation on my 40th birthday in May. Yikes! Has Facebook doomed the personal blog. I hope not ‘cuz I’ve paid for this domain for three years out.

So what can be said about 2009? We got a new president inaugurated. There’d been a lot of panic over H1N1. A whole lot of our tax money was tossed at the economic issues. I, gratefully, remained employed, in good health and took a second trip to Las Vegas for the Blogger/Podcast Convention 2009 and Podcast-a-Palooza II. I dabbled in the world of beading and jewelry design. You can’t image how much stuff you can acquire, let alone spend, in a hobby that deals primarily with small parts. On the downside I didn’t travel abroad last year (and I’ll blame that on my friend, and travel companion, deciding to take on home ownership and advantage of the tax credit - good on ‘em.) Additionally, I failed to meet my public resolution to read 12 books in 2009. Ugh!

What’s in store for 2010? We’ll have to see what the rest of the world want’s to do but as for me, the calendar is filling up and the bucket list is growing. Firstly, I’d like to write more to this blog and link to Facebook. Much of what I care to share get’s lost or diluted to a blurb over there. I am also upping the ante to read 24 books in 2010. OK, one month has passed already without any progress in that department but there is still time, right? I’m planning a trip abroad that is also serving as a reunion with some Philadelphia Textile alumni. Yea! Upon my return I will start listing item for sale on Etsy from my design house. For some, this is a long time coming but I still see it as a hobby so it’s not supposed to be stressful. And finally, there is one item I can cross off my “to do” list. I visited The Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA on New Year’s Eve after several visits to the town only to remember wanting to check out the place as I drove home.

So I wish you all a fresh start and blessing towards all of your endeavors this year!

With coming in late comes waking up late. It is vacation after all without any schedule. It did cost however seeing the Eagles at a sports book big screen not to mention this breakfast buffet that ended up eluding me the entire trip. My brother and I watched the game for the 1st half from bed. He hit the shower and took off to catch up with his friends for the 2nd half. I however dragged myself to the table in the room and typed up day 2 on the blog while watching the game to completion. I showered at the beginning of the 4th quarter and was ready to go by game’s end. I had almost forgot that I had to take the tram to Mandalay where I had left the car the night before. That was going to add 15 minutes to me getting food. UGH!

The hike back to the car went quickly and I even remembered the floor of the garage I had parked on. Next stop, In-N-Out Burger. The single my brother had brought back for me the day before was a tease, considering I tried to eat it while doing 75 MPH on I-15 and lost half to my shirt - thanks forgetting the napkins! Everything is fresh and made to order there so the drivethru is not the fastest. I parked out of the sun on the windshield but didn’t need complete cover as I did on my visit in August. OMG this burger was delicious. I had ordered the double double which in virgin terms means 2 patties with 2 slices of cheese - I added the onion for blood cleaning purposes.

Once satiated I was off to Wynn’s latest property, which opened just last month, Encore. Lovely place. I’d heard interviews with Steve Wynn along with one on a walk through of the property. It was all he had promised. The place displays richness and class while maintaining an intimate atmosphere. Encore has its own itentity but acts as a nice companion to Wynn. Thoughtful planning left me not far from the parking garage, sometimes a bit of a hike at other properties. I snapped a couple of exterior pics and that of the surrounding skyline before moving on.

Next stop was Palazzo. I had never been in this casino either. It was built in the new “higher end” style as Las Vegas has moved away from themed properties. It has a very grand appearance. Underground parking was a change but came off a bit utilitarian compared to the above ground lots where you could always catch a view of the strip as you wind your way up the ramps to a parking spot. It did cut down on the walk to the entrance. The place had a very old school European feel almost museum like. A lot of marble and oversize ornaments to tackle the massive space much in contrast to the intimacy of Encore. Past the hotel check-in was the main thoroughfare opening up to a huge gaming hall. It was almost like gambling in a museum. The second floor shopping area was a little less intimidating filled with designer shops which spilled into the Venetian’s retail space. I kept on walking along the canals and caught a gondolier in mid serenade. The wandering “streets” of the Venetian shopping area along with St. Mark’s Square were nicely done. The thought and care in craftsmanship was there but it didn’t evoke any memories of the real thing. It’s missing a couple un-kept buildings, pealing paint and a faint smell of sewage to make it truly authentic. Having got my fill, and a stop in the glass shop, it was time to round up the troops as tonight was to be the big dinner out.

We all piled into the car and headed to Raku, a Japanese yakitori restaurant that I had gotten the buzz about being the place to eat off the strip frequented by many casino chefs. I tried calling before opening time to see if reservations were needed and got no answer. That should have been a sign as we pulled up to the door to find out they are closed on Sunday. CRAP! O.K., steak was next on the agenda. The big name on the strip didn’t have a seating until 90 minutes from when we called. We saw a sign for Del Frisco’s, called and got a table in 15 minutes. I plugged the address in the map app on my phone and found the place flawlessly. It was located a block East of the strip where about every other steakhouse was located so meat was definitely on the menu.

I’m not a big steak person. My taste has moved to a more Asian and Mediterranean style where meat is a much smaller portion of a meal. On top of that, steakhouses tend to be stogy in my opinion. Well I was pleasantly surprised. Service is high on the priority list which I think is why people go there to begin with. I had the Shanghai style calamari and classic Caesar salad for starters. For the main course I chose the lamb chops. They were delicious and melted in your mouth. No one had room for dessert after sharing a few sides of potatoes, mac & cheese and creamed spinach. No time for a nap now - it was our last night in town.

One friend was a bit under the weather and called it a night. I, my brother and his other friend headed to MGM Grand. I found the Lion Share machine which is the last of a progressive slot series which the jackpot has not been claimed - so they can’t remove it from the floor until someone wins. I contributed $20 and moved on to find the Sigma Derby machine. Sigma Derby is an old mechanical arcade machine where you bet on horses that run around a track under a glass top. It’s real retro and no one knows how long they’ll keep them on the floor as it take coins only and not ticket in ticket out. Caught up with my brother and watched him at the craps table until we decided to call it a day. And so ends day 3.

Day 4 will not have its own entry. We got up, showered, packed and headed to the airport. The car was returned and the flight left on time. Somehow I lost my good headphones but aside from that the flight was uneventful. We arrived at PHL, claimed our bags, got the shuttle to ecomony parking and headed to Pho Ha on Washington AVE for you know what.

WHOA OH OH I’M ON FIRE

Needless to say, the time lords gift us the 3 hours and we piss it away. There was no breakfast and almost no lunch by the time I arose and cleansed myself from the previous day’s sins. It was about 1:30 by the time I hit the road to visit the Valley of Fire State Park, an hour drive North of the city. Half of the time was highway driving then another 30 minutes of what seems like driving away from civilization and cell service. As soon as you reach the park gates it appears. The iron rich red rock formations standing out strikingly against the pale green and brown terrain. I’ve posted a set of photos from my visit at Flickr if you’d like to see what I saw.

My drive through the park started from the West gate so I had the setting sun illuminating all in front of me. I would suggest doing the same if you arrive after noon and drive straight through and start your tour from the East gate if you arrive in the morning. I was about an hour late for this time of year and ended up skipping some sights as they were already in the shadows as the sun was setting. If you like the red rocks of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, this will not disappoint. The park can be covered, seeing all, in about 3 hours but you could certainly linger longer. It is such a natural beauty that sharply contrasts the man made fabrication of Sin City.

The return drive back to the city was just as quick as getting out and while I had the car, I stopped again for Pho before hitting the drug store for some homeopathic precautions. I caught up with my brother and friend back at the hotel and discussed each others plans for the night. After that short rest it was off to the Smitten Bayou CD release party.

I had e-mailed Drew earlier for the address of the house they had rented and used the iPhone’s map application to pseudo GPS the directions. It worked within feet of the address - amazing. Drew is the husband of Dawn whom are responsible for the creation of The Dawn & Drew Show. They were one of the first podcasts to hit the web and gain big exposure only to explode exponentially when brought on to Adam Curry’s Podshow network. Smitten Bayou is Dawn’s music project with local WI neighbor Paul Blann. A singer song writer in his own right, Paul pairs his comical sense with Dawn’s sassy style and taboo subject matter. There was a good vibe at the party and all were friendly. Even met some folks from Phoenixville, not far from home. I got to introduce myself to Dawn, Drew, Paul and a mess of their friends and fans. Smitten played for just under and hour and all were enthralled. After some post show photos I was off to catch up with my brother and his friends.

Mandalay Bay was the spot for the night. The adult film industry awards show was being held there and the after party was being hosted at the night club there as well. The people watching was off the hook. My brother had secured a table at an open bar that was right where the traffic from the back clubs met the casino floor. All kinds, shapes, sizes and matter of dress. It was hard to tell who was dressed for a night out, work or “industry” folks. Pleanty of whip-lash. We stayed well after the band stopped and visited the craps table until I couldn’t handle Snoop Doggs look-a-like’s cigar smoke before retiring that for the night (er morning.) And so wraps day 2.

WELCOME TO THE RENAISSANCE FAIRE

So I really don’t need encouragement anytime someone asks if I’d like to join them to travel somewhere and Las Vegas certainly is no exception. Disney for adults. While I’m not a big drinker or gambler there is so much to do and explore. My brother asked if I wanted to join him on a post holiday retreat so I said “I’m there!” The only down side was the cost. With all of the deals for the time of year and the recession, we end up going the same weekend as the Consumer Electronic Show and Adult Entertainment conventions so the normal weekend rates were even higher. Not prohibitive but to say the least - we’re at the Excalibur. Not bad for a room but thin padding on the mattresses and luxury is out the window. But we’re dudes on a bender so a properly flushing toilet is all that’s really needed.

The flight was unevenful though I did get to sit with a flight attendant on her way home for a visit and enjoyed some chit chat. Once on the ground we picked up a rental car and headed to Pho So #1 on Spring Mountain RD for the best Vietnamese noodle soup I’ve ever had. A great way to rehydrate after a flight. While out we made a couple stops for in-room provisions and a couple tacos from Tacos Mexicano (puts all others to shame) before checking in.

We took a bit of a rest and headed out around 7:00 to meet my brother’s friend at the Bellagio. I took off to Treasure Island to try and catch up with a group of folks also in town for the weekend from the Dawn & Drew Podcast to no avail. I returned to the Bellagio and tried my hand at craps - we’ll leave it at that. The show got taken to the streets as we wandered over to see Planet Hollywood. A very modern night club type vibe with exotic dancers in the pits of some of the gaming tables.  A bit too much for my taste. I entertained myself for a bit at a penny slot while others tried single deck blackjack.

While one party member retired for the evening I proceeded with the remainders to O’Sheas. None of us had been there but new its rowdy reputation and now new beer pong area. It was well worn, loud and full of hipsters but it didn’t come off as being as seedy as I had initially thought. Everyone was just having a good time and not looking for trouble as us old heads say. And more craps - again I’ll leave it at that. I walked back to the Bellagio and parted about 2:00 for my room. So ends day one - plus the 3 hour time change bonus.

Happy New Year to all. I hope everyone cut loose a bit and enjoyed themselves. New Year’s Eve always seems to be a bit of an unwind from the earlier holiday stress and obligation. As for resolutions - well you’re on your own for that. I choose to use the time to reflect a bit, much like my birthday, and see if I’m on track. I’m still trying to find the track for some portions of my life but all the same I find it important to review what I’ve done, what I’m doing and what I need to do to get to where I want to go. Some goals are abstract while others can be measured. So for 2009 I want to get the trash and recycling to the curb without freezing to death. Second, more efficiently manage my time - while balance is not an issue so much as believing more can be achieved with less effort in order to get, well, more done. And one that can be measured. I want to read 12 books this year. It may not seem like a huge task to you snickering bibliophiles. I’m a ferocious reader but tend to be challenged when it comes to focusing enough to complete a novel.

January 1, 2009 also marks the one year anniversary of bobscottonline. Born in the wee hours of New Year’s Day just after the midnight toast. I was nicely reminded of this by my hosting service as they sent me a receipt for my service renewal. It started as a static web page and it took 8 months before evolving into the promised blog. I’m still considering it a milestone for me in 2008 and plan continual updates, especially if I travel. Don’t forget to stop back!

And lastly, before the clock flips to 12:00 January 2, 2009, we must say goodbye to a tacky little novelty. It seems we’ve reached the end of the “00″ years so the glitzy New Year’s Eve eyewear, the glasses made out of the year where your eyes look through the zeros, will become collector’s items. You may read the article that caught my attention here.

Wishing all my friends, family and web dwellers a very Merry Christmas. Happy 5th night of Hanukkah to all of our Kosher cousins. I hope all have had an oppurtunity to get some down time to laugh and love among those close to you. Be good to yourself so you may be suited to do good for others. And I leave you with this Irish prayer on this Christmas evening…

May God give you…

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer.

Well, some recent developments had lead me to change my mobile phone contract. So I broke down and bought an iPhone. It has become the biggest waste of time. IT ROCKS! The app store has all types of programs to suck away the hours. Fingertip access to the net has become a living extension of my brain. I’ve even become good enough to type out this entry in less than 30 minutes

Needless to say, it had gotten a little too cold too soon in the season but I had plans to keep. I met up with Dave from Dave’s Lounge - the podcast showcasing the best in trip-hop and low fi. He had first introduced me to Natalie Walker’s music through his show. I had the pleasure of meeting him in person at the podcast convention held in Las Vegas this past August and bragged that I lived in the same city as Natalie. This immediately lead to an open invitation to come up some time to see a show which brings us to today.

Dave made the 8 hour plus trek up from Durham, NC and met me after work within 10 minutes at our rendezvous point. Dave got checked into his hotel and we headed off to Fogo de Chao. It took a couple laps around the block to figure out the best parking garage and by the time we got to the restaurant it would be 45 minutes to get a table do to the Army v. Navy game being in town tomorrow. We decided to pass so we wouldn’t miss our show.  I suggested eating at Serrano since the Tin Angel Acoustic Cafe was just upstairs. I had dined there previously before a Natalie show and liked the place and the food. So out into the cold again, into the parking garage, out of the garage and back down Market ST, a right down 2ND and into another garage. By this time Dave and I had caught up on each others bios and I assured him I knew where I was going. A brisk walk up the street and we were in the long narrow restaurant next to the fire by the bar.

It was just after 9PM and not too many folks in the dining area. We were seated shortly and started to review the offerings. We settled on trying the Vietmanese fried calamari and baba ghanouj and were not disapointed. For our entrees, since we originally had planned on gourging ourselves on meat, we both ordered the Guinness lamb shank. My mother never made it and the first time I had it was over at a friend’s where his mother was offing it too me as roast beef. The gig was up when I thought the jello looked to be in too small of a serving dish to be shared. Imagine, me not trying something different - we were the first family to eat ethnic food in the neighborhood as part of our regular menu at home. Anyway, the lamb was delicious, tender, moist and pulled right off of the bone. It was served on a small bed of Yukon gold mashed potatos with broccoli rabe. Neither of us could finish the whole thing and I joked not to tell my mother I left a piece of broccoli. The show was about to start so we settled up, headed up stairs, found a seat and ordered a drink.

Quite soon after, Natalie walked by from behind the stage and I was noticed for being the wise-crack once again as I said hello. I then asked “Have you met Dave?” and in her polite manner replied “Yeah you’ve been by the shows before” as she pointed towards him. I chimed in that it was Dave from Dave’s Lounge and then let him correct her that it was his 1st show he’s come to see and drove all the way from NC. After some brief pleasantries she was off to start the show.

Overall not a big crowd. I’d say there may have been 20-25 people at the beginning of the set. Natalie started right in with a track from “With You” after a short instrumental lead by the band. The set moved from song to song nicely with minimal comentary, quite possibly due to the small crowd. Most numbers performed were from the new album including “Lost My Shadow,” “Now or Never” and “Over and Under.” The band was tight in their execution. I rarley see band members off in their own head playing and synching nicely with one another. The set wrapped up with a new song, sorry I didn’t get the name, that was a nice complement to the styling of the album, rich in melodic tones.

Dave went back stage to talk to the band and then followed Natalie out to the back bar to chat. I wandered back when it looked as though some photography help may have been needed. I got to see the nurse again. She’s the mom of one of the band members and a very nice woman. We had talked a bit and joked at the prior show at the Tin Angel and I was glad to meet up again. With Dave giving Natalie a final hug we were calling it a night. Another brisk walk in the frigid temps back to the garage and then dropping off my friend at the hotel. Good times.

I scored the last parking spot in the free municipal lot by the theater even after a Halloween visit to my nephew’s in Q-Town. He was having a ball with friends that visit each year (their house is in the boonies with no neighborhood to do trick-or-treating.) My brother-in-law loves the holiday and decorates to the 9’s as if its a Griswald Christmas. Plus he refuses to hand out anything less than full size candy bars - we have confirmation that the word is out on the street.

This was the first time I’d be attending the Sellersville Theater and was looking forward to the experience. The theater itself had a nice ticketing reception and bar and the performance hall was well preserved considering its establishment in 1894.  On the bill this evening was the only domestic appearance of The Divine Hand Ensemble featuring Mano Divina concert thereminist. (Mark you calendar for Thanksgiving 2008 - the website will be up then with a video of the evening’s performance.) For those of you scratching your head, a theremin is one of the first electronic instrument introduced by Russian physicist Leon Theremin. The crudest explanation in how it works is, the performer moves their hands near an antenna to establish a note and there other hand by a loop antenna to control the loudness. The instrument essentially creates an electrical field which emits sound when the field is interrupted by the players movements. Please click here for a one minute YouTube video - you’ll be sure to recognize the eerie sound the instrument creates.

The first set included a brief introduction to the theremin and its history by Mano Divina, the evening’s featured performer. We were then treated to a selection of mixed genres, all arranged by the ensamble, including pieces by Danny Elfman, Queen and Disney in order to display the range of the instrument. There was a brief intermission before the second set which featured classical works. Several arias were performed of which some featured a solo Soprano and Tenor. The final number was Habanera from Carmen spotlighting the solo vocalists and the theremin as the third voice.

The audience was invited to stay for a Q&A for all of those interested. From the look of the crowd I’d say a good 60% of the folks stayed and there were some thoughtful questions about other performers as well as specifics regarding the instrument. The session lasted another 40 minutes after the show. Mano Divina was very pleased to see that level of interest as he rattled off the answers without hesitiation. I guess if you play a googey instrument you’re always getting asked about it. And so ends my entertainment trifecta.