Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Los Angeles-Las Vegas

Driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles & Las Vegas I didn't drive and was sooo bored.. So I was taking pictures outside, in the middle of nowhere.

a stuffed monkey hanging by its legs!!

Can you imagine how borred I was?? :-)

Monday, November 29, 2004

Barstow Station

When our return trip from Las Vegas to LA, we made a very interesting stop along the route, Barstow Station.

It seems like it's a very popular and unique place. They attached so many railroad passenger cars to the shack.

Specially McDonald's.. They buildt the station from these railroad cars.

and the people who make the stop here eat and shop for souvenirs. The train cars were converted into eating areas--cool!

I wasn't able to take pictures of their bathrooms, also built in one of the railroad cars, too.

They also have so many gift shops and restaurant other than McDonald's in the shack.

and just outside at the back of the station, they have a bus depot. No wonder there are lots of people in this place.

I am glad we stopped by this place. For me, this place is very very interesting. When I checked their map, the famous and original Route 66 runs parallel to this place. Also this city is where the entrance is to the Mojave National Reserve. We just made a quick stop and were really in a hurry. I didn't get to see this town well enough. Too bad...maybe next time.

Sometimes we could find some obscure and interesting place unexpectedly. When you are driving a long distance, please try to make that stop/rest, you just might find a great place there.

Seminar again...

This morning, my boss told me I had to attend another seminar again this Friday. This time is about U.S./Japan Totalization Agreement which is about Social Security. It's going to be a very interesting topic.

How will they eliminate dual Social Security taxation? How will they protect benefit for workers who have divided their careers between U.S. and Japan? That's what they will talk about.

I need to prepare for this because this topic is totally new to me. I already searched for information from the internet and printed them out. Whenever I look for the information, I prefer to get it in English rather than Japanese because I don't know why they always need to write harder.. Japanese explanation is not simple at all. Simple is always best..you know?

Anyway I've always liked anything related to tax and law because I can visualize human history and life. I am looking forward to this seminar.

Sunday, November 28, 2004

Real Ice

For myself, the original idea of going to Las Vegas was not for gambling. I just want to see the real Ice club.

I wish I could get in the Ice club. But we planned to watch a show from 10:30pm. So no time to go there. So I just took outside pictures of the place.

When we arrived in Las Vegas at 7:30pm, we went directly to Ice because I wanted to take pictures of the place at night. Unfortunately..too early..They usually open at 11:00pm. So the club was still dark and no lights yet. My first thought..the front entrance area is not big as I expected it to be. I guess that's how good they are shooting it through a video camera.

Then following day, I took a daytime view of it before we left Las Vegas.

Nice building color, huh? I loved it. I am glad I was able to see it in person. I saw several cars at the parking lot. So some people are still in the club but didn't get to see anyone from the TV show.

Anyway I am happy..

Jennifer Pena New CD

While her aunt went to buy more Gameboys at Target, I went to the CD section. I found Jennifer Pena's new CD/DVD. It's her live concert on CD/DVD . I was waiting for her to come to SF for a concert. So far..not yet. But good thing is I can feel her performance from the CD/DVD. I listened to this CD when we were driving to Las Vegas.. I love it. She is sang her songs Cumbia style. So I felt it has more of the spanish flavor.

She came from Texas and used to be a start up singer for Selena. She is currently on the top 3 on the chart. But potentially she can be the top singer. She will be able to beat whose currently on the top 2 on the chart easily. That's how nice her voice is.

After Thanksgiving

This year, I took a day off after Thanksgiving for the first time. I totally didn't expect to do this because it's unusual for our company. However my wife's company always has this day off and she kept asking me "Are you sure you can't take this day off? " hmmm.....So, I decided to give in and had a real long weekend. We planned to go to Las Vegas. Then unexpectedly... Oh my... we had to drive there... plus my wife's aunt who lives in OC will join us... So it means we had to first stop at her aunt's place and stay one nite... Then go to Las Vegas.

If it's only 2 of us, it's no problem... However if including others, it's a little bit tricky to plan when there are more in the party. So Friday morning, it started..

I didn't know there is always the biggest sales after Thanksgiving in US because I've always worked on this day. Also I didn't know her aunt likes shopping specially if it's on sale. So we originally planned to go to Las Vegas early morning on Friday. But we ended up shopping Friday morning.

This was totally unplanned as well.. But if they go, ok.. I will buy something. So I was checking the ads from the local newspaper.

Then I found some unusual items.

1st season DVD for Will & Grace and 24 was on sale for $12.99. Also Disney Aladdin is selling for $9.99. I heard 24 is a good drama. But I've never watched it before. But if it's for $12.99, ok...why not? So I decided to buy these items.

Friday morning.. Some stores opened for the Thanksgiving sales at 5am! We had a long night before, so we woke up a little late. By 6a, we were ready to leave.. first they drop me off at Bestbuy at 6:10am.. Then they went to Target.

On the right side of the store entrance, I saw people were in line.. I was not serious.. I just thought a few.. But when I was looking for the end of the line.. Geee.. the line was going around outside of the store!! And this line is just to get in the store. Can't believe it.

Then while we were waiting, a store clerk gave us a store map. So we know where we need to go.

Anyway..After got in, I went straight for the DVD section and found the DVDs I planned to buy.. So I tried to pay .... but then... where is the line?? I was looking for the end of the line to pay... Geeeee...!!!!

People...People...People...

Then I saw a lady a holding a sign... mmm???

huh??? line begins here??? Geeee.... have to get in line again just to pay.

I was still lucky.. I was in line only for one round inside store.. But while in line waiting for the next cashier to serve me, the line had doubled.. it was a such a pain for those who got in line later on.

Finally.. my turn to pay for my goodies.

When I got out of the store, it's already 8:40am..

Do you think it already ended???

Nooooooooooooo!!

Then we are finally ready to leave I thought. Her aunt wanted to buy a $20 DVD Player from Goodguys and then she already bought 3 Gameboys from Target.. But she wants more. So we had to go back to Target, too. DVD Player is sold out at Goodguys. She couldn't get it. However she got more Gameboys. I think she planns to take it back to the Philippines during the holidays.

I regret why I didn't just zipped my mouth... I told her I saw $17 something DVD player at Bestbuy... oops.. Then they want to go back to Bestbuy... We checked the price from AD first.

Yeah...$17.99.. I was right unexpectedly and unfortunately.. Then what?? STAY IN LINE AGAIN!!!

We bought 3 DVD Players for Christmas gifts..

Of course... needed to be on a long line AGAIN.. spend another 2 hours in the store AGAIN..

So we left LA around 3pm. Originally we should have already arrived in Las Vegas this time. But we arrived in Las Vegas at 7:30pm... such a loooong day..