Did I mention that I gambled and won?

Yes, I played the slots. The good news is I made 50% on my money. The bad news is I only bet a dollar.
 

Ok, I'm a Photoshop Geek

It was a total geek-fest. I may not look like it but I am a Photoshop geek. Didn't know I could be so nerdy about a computer program. But if it weren't for Photoshop, I'd just be a dark-room geek.

I'd definitely go to Photoshop World again. The next one is in Boston in April. Hey, why don't they have them in Hawaii?

Flying home from Las Vegas I saw a lake with an island in it. South of the lake were several formations that were decidedly volcanic. Mono Lake! Photographers' Mecca. The universe is trying to tell me something...

Stratosphere Tower

Sat 9/9/06, we went up to see the view from the Stratosphere Tower. Yes, it was a little scary but the view was so interesting that I soon forgot to be nervous. I wish I could have taken my tripod with me but unfortunately, tripods aren't allowed. I braced myself and was able to get a few nice shot, even if they were a little out of focus.

The Vegas Strip and The Sahara (above)
After we were there a while, we got brave enough to go up 1 floor to the open air viewing deck. Turned out, it wasn't so scary.

Final Day of Photoshop World

It was a great conference to the end. I learned so much and hope I'll have some time soon to actually use what I learned. Some of it was like magic - like being able to change the color of someone's dress in a photo without having to create a selection of the dress. For a photoshop geek like myself, that's nirvana.

They wound up the conference with Photoshop Wars where 2 teams, each made up of 3 members from the audience, competed to create a ficticious movie poster using supplied themes and photos. They were both very creative and won free passes to Photoshop World in Boston next April.

I hope Mom & I will get to attend another conference again soon.

Mom & me at Mandalay - Mom at Photoshop World

Day 2 of Photoshop World in Las Vegas

Day 2 was just as interesting and informative as Day 1. I learned a lot of interesting techniques to improve my work in Photoshop and even work a little quicker.

Aunt Nancy came with us to the Mandalay and walked through the hotel and over to the Luxor, where she found a huge casino and played a few games.

We met up when Photoshop World ended and went to Vons (aka Safeway south) and got some food for today & tomorrow. As we checked out, I asked Aunt Nancy to play the slot machine for me. The good news is I made 50% on my money. The bad news is I only bet a dollar.

I was happy to see slot machines in the grocery store. Now that's the Las Vegas I remember.

Vegas certainly is different a block or two off the strip. It looks poor. Not less opulent. Just downright poor. I suppose there are some middle class neighborhoods elsewhere. It's kind of sad. Somehow, you would think that a city that looks so prosperous in many ways would not have obvious poverty. It's clear that the trickle down theory is alive and well in Las Vegas. No matter how much wealth there is, it's only a trickle by the time it gets to the bottom.

Last night we it was windy again with lightening in the distance. Today wasn't as hot but they were expecting another windy night.

Day 1 of Photoshop World in Las Vegas

Mom & I went to the Mandalay Bay Hotel for the first day of seminars in Photoshop. It's a real pleasure getting to do something like this with Mom. We went to different seminars and learned a lot of new techniques for improving our photos with Photoshop.

The Mandalay Bay Hotel is a true Las Vegas experience. Very opulent, very over the top, very plush. We wondered, who are these people that they can afford to build such an opulent hotel, with many restaurants, a casino, an actual beach with sand and waves, a winding river that swimmers can float in with the current? Plus, two huge convention centers (North & South). We did a lot of walking.

Aunt Nancy found the University of Las Vegas and its library, then came back to La Quinta hotel and swam laps.

It wasn't too hot today. It was a bit overcast. Tonight is very very windy with lightening in the distance.

What can I say about Las Vegas? It out Disneylands Disneyland. Impressive opulence meets tacky only-in-America.

I hope to post some photos but blogger.com is having a technical problem. I'll post photos as soon as I can.

Bakersfield to Las Vegas

Day 2 driving to Las Vegas. We passed through the land of Joshua trees which can grow to be rather large.

At the same rest stop as this Joshua Tree, was this sign:

We visited the 20 Mule Team Museum in Boron, CA, which was interesting. We read info about how the mules at the back of the team would jump the trace in order to keep pulling the wagons forward as the rest of the mules began to turn on a curve. That would keep the wagon on the road. Clever mules. We also learned that part of Erin Brockovich was filmed in Boron.

We were also fortunate to see a desert storm with some spectacular lighting bolts.

320 miles from Napa to Bakersfield

The I5 drive was uneventful, just as it should be. We figured out how to use cruise control in Aunt Nancy's car - how did I get along without it until now? Peanut butter and dill pickle sandwiches at a rest stop. It's hot in Bakersfield. I'm looking forward to reaching our destination tomorrow.

Mom & Aunt Nancy at the reststop.

Celeste Does Vegas

Getting all packed and ready to go to Vegas for the first time in, oh, 35 years or so. I hear it's somewhat changed since the early 70's. Back then, it was an intolerable, hot neon hell-hole. I remember standing on the sidewalk because I couldn't accompany my parents into the casino. Not that I wanted to go inside except maybe to escape the heat. The swimming pool was great until I caught a bad cold by going from the very hot air outside to the frigid hotel room. Not exactly fond memories of Vegas so I've had no desire to go back.

Haven't had a reason to go back until now. The fabulous Photoshop World Seminar is being held there next week. I've wanted to go to Photoshop World for a long time. I still have no interest in Vegas per se but perhaps Vegas will surprise me. I am looking forward to doing a little night photography as the hot neon lights of Vegas are certainly more interesting than the night lights of Vallejo.

I'm really looking forward to spending the week with my mother and aunt. Mom and I took a Photoshop class at Napa College 2 years ago so she's going to the seminar with me. Aunt Nancy is coming along so that she and Mom can drive to Russellville, Arkansas, their home town, after the seminar ends next Saturday. They live in Napa, not far from Vallejo, but due to my work schedule, I don't get to see them nearly enough.

And yes, I'm going on vacation! I think it's my first vacation since I spent a few days visiting cousin George in Nevada in January, 2004. Yay, vacation!