Since Michael and Co. are in Vegas and this page is getting a little bare. I give you... THE GIANT OLIVE
Yes, this is our Kitten... isn't she luxurious and beautiful. I thought the placement of the remote control was helpful for something to show just how really large she is. Shhhhh... she's sensitive about her weight.
I try not to manipulate photos, as a rule.
( Except when creating horror movie posters )
We were on a small boat on the Gulf of Mexico.
I think that the bridge in the background is the dividing line between Tampa Bay and the Gulf.
I caught this fast sequence of a pelican diving.
Individually, the photos didn't seem that interesting to me, so I combined them.
The bird in the upper left is part of the main photo.
From three different shots in the sequence, I added the image of him in the middle,
then him and a friend at the bottom, and then his splash.
I used the bridge in the background of each shot to line them up accurately.
With the boat bouncing the whole time, it's amazing how much the light shifts in less than a second.
It took all of my limited skills to make the different pieces blend.
Yes, yes - I actually made a decision NOT to take my camera on this trip. My thinking was this...
I was going to be in a suit and tie most of the time (all of the time, as it turned out) and my only current digital is a bit too large to fit into a pocket. So I didn't wanna walk around with an albatross through the streets and tubes of London. Next time I'll arm myself with something smaller.
The one complete day that I had to myself, Thursday, I packed in with lotsa stuff. I got up way too early and set out for the day. Hopefully I can remember it completely.
I got up showered, shaved, and suited up for my 11:00 AM appointment with SkyMedia to sell them PokerBeat and rang them up (that's what they do there in the UK) and found out that I had been cancelled.
They wanted to re-schedule for May because they were all going to be working on some tournamnet. Bastards.
Worry not, tho. I hopped the tube at Marble Arch station and headed out. I decided that as long as I was in London, I should really go check out the Duchamp store in Notting Hill. They make the coolest ties on the earth. A few tube stops and a mile or two of walking and there I was. I bought me one. One - I could have emptied out the place (and my savings) but I treated myself to one.
From there it was over to Harrod's to check out the food court. This wasn't Chik-Fil-A and Sbarro and Taco Time, no. Incredible. Everything in the world and lots of people to divvy it up for you.
From Harrod's to Harvey Nichols - Liz's Uncle Paul suggested I lunch there on the 5th floor. I did and it was excellent. Amazing service and some tasty risotto with a $5.00 bottle of Harvey's still water (I don't like the fizzy).
From there I went to Temple Church to get my tickets for The Tallis Scholars that night. Temple Church was built by the Knights Templar (the fabled keepers of the Arc of the Covenant) in 1166. It was amazing.
From there back to the Cumberland Hotel to drop off my purchases and relax a bit, then back to Temple Church for the show. It was a true delight. After the concert I bought another copy of Peter Phillips book and had it signed for Uncle Paul (He's a choir director, too) and then off to Old Delhi for dinner.
Old Delhi made me some delicious Persian food and I was lucky enough to have the company of the owner, Sam, throughout the meal. He was fascinated by the fact that I could pronounce Koobideh (is there more than one way to pronounce that?) and that I was in the gaming industry. He was fun, it was fun, food was great.
( Part of the Hochman Classic Horror Series )
Per Liz's request.
Could my hatred of flight be borne of America West and Northwest? Nothing but delight on the flight from Minneapolis to Chicago – And when I got to Chicago directly across from the gate where I arrived, was the gate from which I was scheduled to depart to Heathrow airport.
In Minneapolis, the nice young man at the gate told me that if I wanted to upgrade to business class, that they may offer that possibility, but that I would have to ask them in Chicago and it was probably going to be a $300.00 upgrade. For a seat that actually reclines, I thought that might just be a bargain.
In Chicago, the nice young man at the gate told me that if I wanted to upgrade to business class, to show him my boarding pass. I did and he upgraded me. POOF! Holy MOTHER OF GOD could this possibly be air travel?
I’m business class, baby.
I did lose $60.00 at the airport playing Omaha – But the way I figure it, I’m still $240.00 and a fat-man sized reclining seat ahead of the game.
Ipod still working, and I’ll have a plug for my laptop so I shouldn’t run out of power to watch some netflix movies that I brought with me.
BUSINESS CLASS! I still have no idea what that grants me over the ‘coach’ passengers, but I don’t really care about them anymore anyway. I’m business class. Bring me another vodka tonic, luv, and make it snappy.
AND THEN I ACTUALLY BOARD THE PLANE
Oh My God. OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! (OMS)
The seats were wide enough for any of the passengers that I have flown coach with in the past and roomy and spacey and in the seat when I got there was this little bag:
A toiletry kit containing socks, an eyeball cover thing for those sensitive to the light, facial tissue, a toothbrush and case, hand lotion, earplugs, toothpaste, and breath mints. And a pillow (A REAL pillow) and a blankie. The seats had 1000 controls for audio and video (your own personal video screen that comes out of the armrest), lights, music, head-rest, lumbar, everything. So I finally settle in...
"Would you like a menu, Mr. Hochman"
And they hand me a menu with about 20 wines and champagnes, my choice of Filet Mignon, Chicken Parmesan with smoked mozzarella, or Proscuitto and Basil Wrapped Shrimp (I had the chicken), started with seasonal greens with an Asian sesame dressing and smoked salmon/Parma ham with capers.
Desert was a selection of artisan cheeses with grapes served, of course, with a vintage sandemann port.
And a continental breakfast an hour prior to landing.
I could fly like that. Friendly Skies, indeed. THUMBS UP, United, you did me up righteous.
Interesting. Mt Baker Stu had the same vision of heaven!