Stripping in Vegas

I've learned that by using sex in the blog post title, it gets a lot more attention.  I didn't strip in vegas... I was on the Vegas Strip where all the casinos are.  Big difference... huge!  I bagged going to Mt. Charleston for a ride to my old neighborhood when I lived here... a half mile from there to Red Rock Canyon... and then to MGM Grand to have dinner with my friend, Paul, who works there.

When I lived here in Vegas, I never went near the Strip... especially to drive down Las Vegas Blvd.  It's mainly filled with Hummer-driving-wifebeater-wearing-Jersey Shore-watching-VIP-wanna-be tourists who are hoping that they win big enough to quit their job and sit on their ass for the rest of their lives.  Doesn't happen, and yet they still flock in here.  You learn to avoid it all really quickly.  I've been here four times before I moved here... I always liked the energy, the lights and the fact that it's open 24 hours a day.  Mainly though, it's sensory overload and visual vomit... something flashing or ringing or spinning and one thing outdoes the next.... you don't know what to look at first.  I met Paul when I lived here and we became friends and remained friends after I moved home.  He's a great guy and we caught up fast, just like I had never left.  He keeps up with me through the blog and me with him through Facebook.  He's one of the good things that came out of the experience for me.

This trip was partly about closure for me.  My experience out here was debilitating, both mentally and finacially.  You can read about it here ( My Time In Vegas (probably my most raw writing ever)), but the short of it is that after being severely depressed, then suicidal, I was lucky to pull out of it at all.  I haven't been back since, and it's been a long road to recovery, processing the issues and moving on and forward.  Despite not being able to get a job, I loved it here.  It represented a fresh start and hope for me which were both quickly dashed... but being back here makes me feel like I wished that it worked out.  I feel at home here... and I fit in well to the environment.  Perhaps someday.  I went past my old apartment complex and walking around sparked some of the thoughts that I had when here of how proud of myself I was for taking the huge plunge... how aggressive I was about making it work... and how I felt as though I had 'made' it... when, in actuality, I never really did.  The area is so fresh and new and clean... you just felt successful, even when that was far from the case.  The apartment was so modern and new... and that 'shine' turned to 'smudge' as I laid in my bed for days at a time without seeing the light of day.

I also went to Red Rock Canyon, which was literally a mile up the road, being that I lived on the outskirts of town.  Here, the most beautiful, colorful rock formations lie in a gorgeous desert setting, littered with Joshua Trees and wild burros.  I used to come here to think and hope and pray that my dreams would come true.  It's still a special place for me, and I really enjoyed visiting it today.

Tonight, I'll head out to my old stomping grounds, Charlie's... the country-western bar where I met a lot of nice people who welcomed me into the community and gave me valuable advice that I eventually took, although not intentionally.... "pack up and go home".  Vegas is definitely home to the troubled and twisted soul... and few make it here.

(Double-click and click again for larger pictures)

Dam-it

After a nice sleep last night, I awoke bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for my ride from Flagstaff to Vegas.  This span of road is pretty uneventful, so I decided to spice it up by going a little bit out of the way to stop by the Hoover Dam.  When I left at 9 a.m., it was 56 degrees... when I got out at the dam at 1 p.m., it was 115 degrees... Yikes! 

Located 30 miles east of Vegas, this dam provides electricity to the whole entire area... if not some of L.A. as well.  I've been there several times before, and with the way the road was laid out and increasing terrorist threats in the U.S., getting over it was time consuming... so they put into effect the Dam Bypass Project, which includes a new highway and a bridge that spans the Colorado River 850 feet above it, and is the longest concrete arch bridge in the western hemisphere... and the second highest in the U.S., behind the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado.  What used to take an hour to cross the dam now takes about 10 seconds to bypass it... and at only $240 million ($114 million for the bridge alone).... what a bargain.  Made my trip much nicer and an added bonus was the better picture-taking vantage point.  In the pictures, double click and click again for the large version, and check out how small the people and cars are, to give you some perspective.

I barely put the radio on in the car on the way here.  Driving through the desert offers time to think and room to breathe... it's not suffocating, pretentious or cluttered... it's flat with an unobstructed view... it's simple and consistent and isn't full of surprises.  It's warm in temperature and color, and it invites you in with a spiritual feel to it.  You are aware of time and distance... both in how long it takes to get from point to point... but you can't help feel history here feeling the presence of those before us.  You have to look at every rock and wonder how it got there... eroded and exposed... pushed up from below... or carried via glacier.  You become aware of every little thing and it's fight for survival in sometimes harsh surroundings and with a little rain, you are happy for the sprig of life growing from the dirt or rock or the animal living underneath it... both reliant upon the gift.  You are definitely aware of global warming in this area... and one prime example is how little water is in the resevoir.  When you look at the large picture, notice the coast of the resevoir has the white markings... that's how high the water used to be.  Three years ago, it was half that much.  Conservation is ever-prevelant out here.

If you pass through these parts and don't see or feel these things... take a fucking plane instead because you have no soul or compassion.  Overheard at the dam by a teenager today:  "this is just a bunch of water, let's go".  Yea, kid... forget about the delicate ecosystem and towns of people that rely on this for their existence... forget about all the money and effort and lost lives in the building of the dam... forget about how the area has changed and continues to do so because of this marvel.  Ok, I'll get down from my soapbox now.

I'm in Vegas.  I'll see an old friend later on and go riding around where I used to live.  Tomorrow, I'll be heading to Mt. Charleston, about an hour away, where it goes from 115 degrees at the bottom on the desert floor to about 60 degrees at it's top, around 7,500 feet above sea level.  I used to go here to escape the heat and feel like I was home.  You can see the flora and fauna changing right before your eyes on the drive up... pine trees at the top around the ski lodges.

More From The Grand Canyon

With it being hazy, the pictures are not as crisp as they could be... double click then again for larger pictures. Try to find the people in the background climbing out on the rocks for a picture.

This Ain't No Donkey Ride

I left early this morning for the Grand Canyon, about 75 miles from where I'm staying in Flagstaff. I was hoping that I could stop at the Grand Canyon Airport (where the tours fly from) and sign up for a last-minute helicopter ride. I walked in and she booked me on the next flight, 30 minutes later... which was great since I had no time to talk myself out of it. When I lived in Vegas, I did a trip where we took a bus to the airport in Henderson, got on a prop-job and flew to the west rim airport, got on a helicopter and flew to the canyon floor, got on a pontoon boat and went down the river a bit, flew out, had lunch at the Indian reservation then did the reverse to get back. Awesome trip. This one, was at the airport at the south rim and was 55 minutes of just flying in and over the canyon.  $250 and 30 minutes later, I'm getting in the helicopter hoping I don't make a sissy in my sandblasted underwears (from the dust storm in Phoenix).

Somehow, since they weigh you to balance the helicopter, I was fortunate enough to get to fly shotgun next to the pilot in front. Good and bad.... good because the pilot was so cute and adorable and we were able to chat it up while flying... and good because I got a bird's-eye view... and bad because I got a bird's eye view... complete with glass bottom floor. And my barf bag is where?... just so I know. I had butterflies, but I wasn't sure if it was because of the anticipation of the flight... or swooning over the pilot. There's something about a hot guy with your life in their hands that is sooooo appealing. Bonus if they don't kill you in the process. I'd call that a good 'date'.  I thought about faking anxiety and grabbing his leg, but figured we'd take a nose dive at the cost of my gayness.  I miss him already... true story.

We took off from the pad and headed across the forest fairly close to the ground, so I was doing ok.  For those who have never been to the Grand Canyon, it pretty much just sits there... with no railings practically anywhere.  If it were nighttime, you'd have a good chance of walking right over an edge to your certain death.  In the distance, you can see the rim coming up fast.  You can't imagine the feeling of being in a glass bottom helicopter and have the earth drop 4,000 feet out from under you. I almost lost my free buffet breakfast of eggs, Canadian bacon and diced potatoes, but I held it back because I didn't want to appear like a pussy in front of my new boyfriend.

What I've always found amazing about the G.C. is that, unlike other canyons like Sedona where you enter on the canyon floor... the G.C. has you approach on the highest level... where the dirt used to be before it eroded away.  The first time you pull up, about 25 feet from the edge, and park your car... it's surreal walking right up to the edge... again, with no railings and people climbing out on rocks for a picture.  Created over millions of years of wind, sun and rain erosion, you can see every layer marking the time period in warm Autumn colors like burnt umber, sienna and Cherokee red... all colors that go well with the hues of my Mediterranical skin.  Everywhere you turn, the next vista is more brilliant than the next.  Unlike the humidity at home that smacks you in the face, the heat of the desert wraps it's arms around you, comforting you in a mysterious way.  Difficult to convey in pictures, you just can't capture the height and depth in pictures with no points of reference... it's just that big.  The canyon is the perfect example of what I always say about the desert... it's not what's there now that's truly amazing... it's what used to be there.  Once under water... once home to the prehistoric... moody and mysterious with a spiritual presence... the desert is a truly special place unlike no other.  The other thing you notice is that this wonder is of the world... not just for us in the states.  Evidenced in the various languages you hear spoken around you, you know that someone is handing out pamphlets at Ellis Island (the entry point in the U.S. for immigrants) for this place... and people are flocking in from everywhere.  You definitely get a united sense of appreciation for the convergence of ecology, biology and nature, to name a few.

After the helicopter ride, I went into the park and walked along the rim.  There were people climbing out on rocks trying to get that awesome picture (see picture to the left to view the idiots), risking life and limb... people reading books and just gazing out upon it... dogs and tame squirrels... there was much going on, including the approaching storms.  I decided to head out after that and had a nice peaceful ride back to Flagstaff in the rain, going from 90 degrees at the canyon down to 58 back in Flagstaff.  Tonight, I plan on walking around in the downtown historical district, full of hotels with large lobbies that you could just feel were the receptions places for people riding up on horses.  The district is very healthy... one of the most vibrant I've seen, loaded with great little stores and restaurants and people all around.  Truly the most successful one I've seen, and right  smack-dab on old Rt. 66.  I leave for Vegas tomorrow morning.

As mentioned in previous posts, double click on the picture and then again to see the huge version... and I'll be posting more with a better internet connection... I took 186 today and did 4 videos in the helicopter.   Here's the video I shot of the approach to the canyon rim and going over the side... if you listen closely, you can hear me saying "Ohhhhh.... shit!".

More of Sedona

More of my day in Sedona... click and double click pictures for large size.

D@vid: 2 Mother Nature: 0

Day Two:  I got up pretty early and had a nice buffet at the hotel, washed the car again (after the dust storm) and hit the road for Sedona. 

First stop, Montezuma's Castle... built in the limestone hillside around 1100 CE (common era) by the Sinagua people.  This 5-story, 20 room dwelling perches 100 feet above the valley floor.  (Click and double click for larger pictures)

From there, I entered into the Sedona area, stopping at Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.  The most incredible thing about these monuments is that it's hard to wrap your head around the fact that they are what's left... in fact, where you're standing around them is the result of erosion over thousands of years.  As I've said before about the desert, it's not about what's there... it's about what used to be there.  The pictures don't do their size any justice... they're huge.   You can't help feel a sense of prehistoric existence.

After that, I went to the Chapel in the Rocks.  Built in between the red rocks, this is a functioning chapel designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.  It's situated right in the middle of a neighborhood, as are most of the formations.  Imagine looking out your kitchen window seeing this stuff.

That brings me to my last stop... Devil's Bridge, a natural bridge carved by erosion high up off the desert floor.  This hike was one of the more strenuous, especially considering that you can't drive a regular car anywhere near it because of the distance from the surface roads.  Having a 2012 Ford Focus rental, I knew it was going to be rough.  I parked the car on the side of the road and started walking.  The terrain was littered with loose rock and the trailhead was about a mile and a half away.  As I walked, it was one of those things where you think about turning around, but then you get so far and you figure you might as well press on.  Having a huge fear of snakes, I have to admit that it was a stretch for me to keep the anxiety down.  After all, I was the only person around for miles out in the middle of nowhere... if something happened, I'd be screwed.  It didn't help that seeing the movie 127 Hours was still fresh on my mind... so many things went through my head including getting stuck there in the dark (it was around 5 o'clock) or facing a wild boar.  Anyway, I finally got to the trailhead and started up the rocks.  My fear of heights came into play as I pressed onward and upward.  Fortunately, it was overcast, or the 80 degree weather would have been more of a problem.  At a point when I was over it... and was about to turn around, I looked up and there it was.  I went back to the fork in the trail that led to the top and there it was.  I was so high up, I could see the whole valley.  It was beautiful.  Spectacular even.  I felt a nice breeze start and was so overwhelmed with the beauty that I sat down to take it all in. 

That's when the dust storm bitch, Mother Nature, came after me.  Before I knew it, the nice breeze turned into a darkening sky, as I realized a storm was about to hit.  I tried not to panic, but knowing how slippery the rocks I climbed up would get... and how this area flash floods almost instantly, I thought that Mother Nature came back to finish me off.  I quickly got down the .7 mile trail just as the wind started to pick up and the rain started to pour.  I literally ran the mile and a half back to the car, pelted by dirt and rain.  Really?  Two days in a row... some sort of weather episode?

I'm in Flagstaff for two nights and tomorrow I'm supposed to head to the Grand Canyon.  Despite the weather scare, I had a fantastic day.  The ride through the rest of the the park was also unbelievable... and I'll talk more about Flagstaff tomorrow.

I took 164 pictures today and 5 videos... my internet connection is not strong, so I can't upload more.  I'm looking at other alternatives to getting them online.



Dusty Aftermath Isn't That Country Girl You Sat Behind in Home Ec Class

Not to belabor the whole thing, but I am still shocked at the dust storm last night.  EVERYTHING in the city is COVERED in dust... it's in the air, and you can still taste it.  It's something that I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around, especially after seeing the photos of the 15 mile high wall of dust below from some of the local news shows. 


With all the ruckus, I had a hard time getting to sleep last night, plus I was on eastern time... so I didn't get much sleep.  They have a great breakfast buffet downstairs... and I'm getting myself cleaned up and ready to go onto the next adventure.  I'm back at this hotel next Monday before I fly out... it's amazing for $47.00 a night.  Clean, modern and great customer service.  If you're ever here in Phoenix, I'd highly recommend the 3 Palms Hotel... just not during a dust storm.

I'll probably switch days from what I planned... instead of Sedona, where there is so much to see in every direction and I have to figure it out... I'm going to just head to the hotel in Flagstaff, unload and drive to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.  There, I'll take some pictures and do a car tour of the entire south rim.  Tomorrow, once I've had some time to figure it out and with it being right near the hotel, I'll get up early and check out Sedona.  I'm not in any hurry today... I'm looking forward to getting in the car with the desert in front of me and just see what's out there.

Meeting Spo Spurs Dust Storm

I got all settled in to my hotel and then went to meet Michael and Someone for dinner.  It was the first time that I've ever met a fellow blogger/reader since I started blogging... so it was interesting to get someone else's perspective on the ins and outs of blogging and it's effects on your life.  Sporting his signature bow tie... both he and his partner were absolutely charming.  We had a great meal... with wonderful conversation and the night was a total success.... until....

I got in the car (that I almost didn't take the additional bumper-to-bumber insurance coverage out on, thinking what could possibly happen?)  after we left the restaurant and started driving.  My phone was beeping with messages and mail, since I had it off during dinner.  I pulled into a parking lot and looked up and saw the sky was growing dark.  It was a very forboding darkness... something that I've never seen.  As I sat there, it became clear that something was coming towards me.... a huge wall of dust.  I pulled up my weather.com application and saw that there were storms coming... and they must have pushed this dust storm out front.  After taking a few snapshots with my phone and got in my car and started driving the 5 or so blocks to my hotel... right into it's path.  It got dark so quickly... I could barely see with all the dust flying by, along with trees and other debris.  I got to the hotel and had to get out and instantly got a mouthful.  I made it into my room, and it began to rain, spattering the dust all over the cars.  The internet was down in the room, so after waiting it out, I left the room to go to the McDonald's to post this.  I had to take the car to the carwash to be able to see out of the side windows.  There's dust all over EVERYTHING.  I've never experienced anything quite like it.

It's Nano Your Business What I'm Listening To...

After a basically non-eventful morning/flight, I arrived in Phoenix... it's about 105 degrees outside... sunny and gorgeous.  I picked up a quick bite to eat at the Del Taco (my favorite fast food place in the west that I used to eat at all the time when I lived in Vegas).  My hotel, The 3 Palms, looks really nice... especially for $47.00 a night booked on Expedia... but the room wasn't ready yet, so now I'm at Starbucks down the street.

Tonight, I meet up with Michael from Spo-Reflections and his partner, 'Someone', for dinner in Old Town Scottsdale.  This will be the first blogger friend that I have actually met face-to-face since I started blogging over two years ago.

Tomorrow, It's a two hour drive to Flagstaff, where I'll be staying for two days, hitting Sedona one day, and the Grand Canyon the next. 

Stay tuned for pictures each day.