September 3

Yes, that was me in the City of Lubbock cemetery just after lunch today. And, yes, I was flat on my stomach on the grass to get this shot.

(Once, I went to the tiny town of Tuscarora, Nevada. It was winter, and the deep snow was wind-dried to a hard crust on top. My friend and I were exploring the cemetery when my feet broke through the crusted snow and I slipped down, landing flat on my back. Right there among the grave markers. It was a little bit unsettling.

Nothing like that happened today.)

Lubbock, Texas

May 29

Look! it's the A Tribute to Elvis car parked outside the Little White Chapel. The wad of flowers is hot-glued onto the car, as is the length of festive red tulle. It's really quite fancy, if you like that sort of thing.

As you probably are aware, the Little White Chapel is where Joan Collins got married. But I don't know which time.

Las Vegas, Nevada

May 28

This sums it up: a pawn shop across from Lady Luck Casino.

Las Vegas, Nevada

January 31

A lovely dinner of mountain oysters.

Wikipedia: Rocky Mountain oysters (sometimes called prairie oysters) is a North American culinary name for edible offal, specifically buffalo, boar, or bull testicles. They are usually peeled, coated in flour, pepper and salt, sometimes pounded flat, then deep-fried. This delicacy is most often served as an appetizer.

In case you wondered.


Elko, Nevada

January 30

A giant polar bear, a casino called the Commercial - how could it be ANY better?

Elko, Nevada

January 29

So, a guy leaving this bar invited us to go with him to ANOTHER bar - a titty bar, he explained.  A FUCKING titty bar, he further elaborated.

We turned down the invitation.

Elko, Nevada

January 28

Saddle detail.

Western Folklife Center

Elko, Nevada

January 15

Las Vegas is ridiculous.

You can't tell what's real, what's not, what's just a mirage.  (It's easy to tell the Mirage, however:  there's a sign.  And a volcano, of course.)

Las Vegas, Nevada

January 14

Las Vegas is ridiculous.

Everything is busy to the point of being frantic.  People at the bus stop tell you all about their other visits here ("Last time, we was staying up by the Stratosphere - all the way up there! - and there was one a them temperature things and it was 104 degrees at midnight.  I wouldna believed it but my brother-in-law tole me."*).  And, even though conventional wisdom says Las Vegas is on the skids because of the economy, it is still full of people.

Las Vegas, Nevada

* Yep.  That's an actual conversation that I tried to avoid being a part of.

January 13

Las Vegas is ridiculous.

On the elevator, a hairy guy with his shirt unbuttoned one button too far - to better showcase his gold medallion - asked me if I was going to see the Donny and Marie show while I was in town.  He looked very sad when I told him that my schedule would prevent it.

Maybe... it was Donny Osmond?

Las Vegas, Nevada