chelsea

here's what it looked like

gay red sox fan v. gay yankee fan

I was at the game last night....being at Yankee Stadium, so much history....the pain of 1977 and 1978 comes right back...anyway...
Yankees win...Red Sox choke...

But during the game there was a guy wearing a Red Sox Veritek Tshirt...the guy had popcorn chucked at him and a lot of comments during the game...

So after the game I'm on the subway. Veritek guy is on the train with five of his friends and there are two obnoxious yankee fans on the train.

Now as a disclaimer, I sat next to two yankee fans that were fine. Cool guys...the people around me were mostly yankee fans and there were good, into the game and glad to be there. There were that 1 percent that had to go the extra mile...any strike out or bad play AAWWWWWW!!!!!, WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!...any good play...YEAAA!!! TAKE THAT FAG SOX! But for the most part....yankee fans were ok...

Except these guys.

As does happen, Yankee fan started calling veritek gay. It's the card some guys go to automatically. Veritek guy goes with it...tells the guy to sit on his lap, for him and his friend to come over...says he's staying downtown, they should party....I mean he's going the extra mile...

Yankee fans say...no...we don't go that way Boston...Yankee fans are straight...

But Veritek guy won't leave it alone..."I can handle you and your buddy....Let's get this done..."

Neither of these camps is backing down.

Now, it gets weird.

Yankee fan says "well, if you want it so bad ...lick my ass....." He moves in front of the Veritek guy and waves his ass in his face....Veritek guy says "come on..."
Then Yankee fan pulls down his pants and his ass is about a foot from Veritek's face...

Now ass licking did not occur on the D train last night but it was pretty damn close...

For me the philosphical question, does it mean your gay if you have emotional feelings for me or if you drop your pants on the subway and offer your ass to a stranger...hmmmnnnn.....

Now Yankee fans friend is horrified but tries to play it off and moves down the car and pulls his buddy with him. They start talking to another group of people at the other end of the car and I started talking with some people about what we had just seen...

I missed what happened next but then....Veritek's friend and Gay Yankee fan and fighting! Gay Yankee fan has a cut on his eye and every one is worked up...but at least they have their clothes on.

It goes back and forth...they go to fight then pull back...fight...pull back...

Then they all left the train.....

That's New York....You never know what you're going to get....Yankee win, Gay sex on the subway....fight...or all of the above...

I ended up at the Blue Note for jazz after the game ...and it was great...I put the subway out of my mind...until...I wanted to write about it now....

On my way to the airport in a bit....
Later

WOW!

I checked out of the Waldorf this morning. It's an Icon, there's history so I thought I would give it a try but really, it's a small, old ...hilton. Service, marginal. Most people were nice but once I was checking out...they were polite but I don't feel like part of a family...
So I saw Letterman...which was cool. Not great but well what do you want it's a tv show.
I moved to the Chelsea Hotel, after leaving the taping.
Now the Chelsea also has a long history. Artists, writers, Musicans have lived there for years and years...Mark Twain, Dylan Thomas...Sid Viscious Killed his girl friend at the Chelsea...and Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Oddysey while living there.
I though, "hey..another icon..." but really this place has a great feel. It is undeniably unique...my room has a balcony, I can walk out on ...look down on the street...Most places, you're sealed up, like living in a chinese food container....The room here breathes...the doors and windows don't fit. Over time the joints and seals have become misshaped and everything has changed since it was built. Art is on every floor of the stairs....I walked top to bottom just to see it all. The roof has a patio...with no childproof, 10 foot high protection....I leaned over just to look down....I held on to the stone ledge and it scared the shit out of me....but...I was really experiencing something....and to me the best part of all, and I'm taking as a statement....No Gideon Bible! It's the only time I'm seen it! No Bible! Awesome!
I even worked on my journal and some of it was better and different than I have ever done...
It's a pretty good day....I'm only here for two more days....but this will be a great place to come back to.
they even have a kinko's 24 hrs around the corner so I can post with pictures!
The little places....
If you come to NYC you have to check this place out!

times square

There are a couple of internet spots in times square so this is where I'm posting from. The hotel room internet is pretty much crap. When you sign on it tells you your information may be comprimised...What the hell is that? Check your email and for the rest of your life the Hilton owns you? I'm not that impressed with the service and the hotel itself really....Anyway,
The game was postponed from 1:10PM to 8:05 PM...I made a trip out to the park for nothing...but it was nice to take a walk around with out a lot of people...The new park, Citi Park is being build right next to Shea, just like new Busch and old Busch in St. Louis. Signs say will open in 2009.
I'm excercising and watching what I eat. I'm in a bet at work...who loses the most weight. I almost fell of the wagon last night...after a lot of walking I was itching for cheesecake and coffee...but I held out...I'm down 6 lbs...only what? 24 to go...
more later...

NY

I got to the airport yesterday... and had to take a massive dump. I had a couple of minutes so went...The stall had the spare tire size roll of toilet paper....but ...no paper! F. I made do with the spares I carry but....I hope it's not an omen.
I'm in Times Square at Burger King with internet. The city has changed even from 2005 when I was here.
Dodgers v Mets tomorrow

done

I'm home. It's 3am and I'm wide awake.
The ride home from brisbane was about as painless as it could be. 12 hours back rather than the 15 hours coming over. Food was ok and the enterainment system on Qantas was pretty, well entertaining.
My buddy picked me up from the airport and had to fight traffic going back so I owe him big time.
I slept a little but my wiring will be jacked for a couple of days.
This trip again was too long. I know how could a vacation be too long? Well it can.

Even though I'm wiped out and exhausted, I have a rough plan for next year.
It won't be this long.
later

brisbane

I got into town yesterday. It was a little surreal. In the morning I was deep into the red red desert and by the evening I was riding a ferry on the river through Brisbane.
The city is nice. All of Austrailia is clean and the natives are friendly.
This morning I jumped on the greyhound to surfer's paradise. Walked on the beach a little. I went to the Conrad Jupiter in Surfer's because the Conrad Treasury in Brisbane didn't have a crap table. The blackjack dealer told me they pulled it out a year and a half ago because it was unpopular. WTF!

Anyway, I get the the Conrad Jupiter and there's the crap table. It's a big wooden thing made like piano. The chips are locked and there's no crew there. I talked to the pit boss and he tells me the table is only open after 8PM! F! I'm only in town for a couple of hours so I can roll the dice and get to the Hard Rock, I'm not waiting for 8PM. I played some blackjack, went to Hard Rock then greyhound back to the hotel.
I found a cheap internet across from the hotel. It's been really busy. Today the 30 minutes I've been waiting and the time I've been on there's been an old Ukrainian guy with a crew cut and cut off jeans dictating some sort of fairy tale to the shop owner.
I thought the guy was homeless and just rambling on and on about his imaginary friends. The story just keeps going and going.
For dinner I had Kangaroo filet with mushrooms and spinach. Kangaroo is damn good when it's cooked well....MMMMMM MMMMM MMMM kangaroo.
Airport tomorrow. Then back to the refineries.

kata tjuta

I walked the path around one of the mounds at kata tjuta today.
It was great. I saw two kangaroos and have short video but can't upload here.
Moving on to Brisbane tomorrow.
They have a crap table in brisbane....

Uluru

I got up this morning at 4:40AM. Showered and was picked up by the bus that took me to the rock.
I watched the sun come up and watch the rock as it turned from black, to brown to a bright living red color. I watched this in the viewing area with about 400 other people, mostly japanese tourists. Now I hate people, crowds of people whatever. The sunrise was nice but I had to get out of there.
The bus dropped me at the cultural center and I started the walk around the rock. When it is cooler the park allows you to climb to the top of the rock but the local caretaking tribe asks people not to climb the rock because it is sacred to them. I can understand and respect that, however the bus driver told me up to 10,000 people in a day will climb the rock when they are allowed to.
Anyway, the clouds persisted and the first quarter of my walk was cool. Looking at the curves and shapes in the rock it had so much character. It looked more like a muscle than a piece of earth.
The rains the night earlier left a few small trickles of water here and there. Some really great spots.
I finished the walk in about 2.25 hours. Much better than I expected.
Back the the I met up with a couple from Cleveland that I've been running in to alot. We talked about travel and places we've been. They mentioned a spot I may go to next year and they went off on a camel ride.
A very welcome hot shower made me a bit more socially presentable, and I relaxed in my room with a large bag of Soy Chicken Potato Chips, a coooooolllllddddd can of coke and put on Led Zepplin "Physical Graphitti" that I picked up for my drive a long the coast. I leaned back remembered my day. Called my mom and there you have it.... Another birthday down.....

flying in

I left sydney hours ago.
Flying in the the center of austrailia the dirt turns a bright glowing brick red. I watched the movie, "stranger than fiction", good movie. I recommend it.
About 15 minutes before we land I can see the rock. Now, everything is flat, red, patches of green that look like scabs against bright red skin. Then the MASSIVE rock. I can't imagine what they thought 200 years ago when explorers first saw this thing. Then further on another rock formation. I may see them tonight and tomorrow. The rock.

rain and shine

After days and days of watching the harbor bridge and seeing the little ants crawl up around then down it was my turn.
I went to the opera house first. Hung out for a while then headed over to Bridgeclimb. This company runs tours seven days a week from 3am to midnight. That's alot of cash!
On the way over it started to rain..then in really started to rain! F, I might climb this bridge wet and sweaty.
We got all suited up and met the guide. He was pretty cool and my group, eh they were alright. One girl said she didn't know why she was doing the climb, she was afraid of heights.
We put on special suits teathered in and we were off. It was pretty cool being in the workings of the bridge and seeing the girders and what not but after a while it was kind of like being at work. I climb towers and tanks and what not from time to time and that's cool but after a while it get's old.
We moved around the lower part of the bridge, then apprehensive girl decided she didn't have it, so the guide sent for someone to take her back to the meet up spot.
Too bad, the weather turned out to be pretty good and I had a good time.

On the way down one of the guides asked me what I was doing after the climb. I said I was starved and asked where I could get some Kangaroo. Well just down the street from Bridgeclimb there is the Australian Hotel that serves Kangaroo, emu among other stuff.

I had a Kangaroo pie. Not too bad. Kangaroo is a lot like beef with a slightly different flavor to it. If you weren't aware of it you would think it's just spiced up beef. I recommend it. It's supposed to be healthy.

Anyway, I'm outta here.

I catch my plane in a few hours .
later

walking and talking

I've pretty much seen everything here I wanted to see.
Tomorrow I'm climbing the bridge and the next day I'm off to Uluhru.
I walked up the harbor bridge pylon today. I met two guys from Chile. They are going to Melbourne then Canberra and on the Ocean Road. I told them what I thought and we talked for a while about traveling.
I thought I was bold just using my book to get around. These guys don't even use a book. They just wander and see what they see and stay where they stay. Pretty cool.

I walked through Circular Quay today on my way to the internet shop. In Quay there is an Ibis, the one I took a picture of. He's the only one there? He walks around, tourists flock to him, take pictures and feed him. I can't think why more ibis' are getting wise to this deal.

I was thinking he might be just another civil servant who does the 12-4, M-W and every other sunday.
Could be.
Did I mention the sun is very strong here.

around the harbor

I rode around the harbor today. You can get an all day pass for about 12 USD for the ferries, subway and trains so I took a look around the harbor, shot this video and ...of course...

So I get the to crap table at Star City. Star City is the big casino in Australia. Pretty nice. Like vegas...but nothing is exactly like vegas.

I rolled but didn't do that great...but the dealer was this guy about my age and he made it fun. He talked a lot, called every roll and made the table go even when everyone was losing... I hung out just to hear his call the table.

I sat, drew, had some coffee rode around the harbor....not too bad.

I'm changing hotels tomorrow....I'm going cheaper but still not slumming ...

more later

sydney

just got to sydney, found gas, dropped of the car and checked in.
This is where I just had lunch.

canberra

I saw ibis', toured the capital. I ate what I was told was the national dessert, lampinton, which was pretty good, and

The canberra casino does NOT have a craps table. So I had a couple minutes to kill and played roulette. I hate roulette, it's a quicker version of the lottery but what the hell. I planed the top third and one, lost on red then I played something called opherites...something like that....it's one bet on one, then a bunch of half bets on numbers.....wtf...Number one comes up...I triple my 10 Au...not bad...

off to dinner more later.


Look at the ibis...

Headed back

I left the ocean road last night and drove all day...and almost all night to get to Canberra.
I completely misjudged how long it would take to get from Port Campbell, to Geelong then to Canberra. I ended up driving 13 hours.
I got into town and pretty much everything was booked. Some of the hotel people told me there just aren't enough accomodations to take all the visitors.
Anyway, this place has internet and USB so I'm putting up all the picture.
I'll be in Canberra one more day they on to Sydney.
Later,

The twelve apostles

I drove all day yesterday on the great ocean road. I got up in the morning to see the twelve apostles. They are limestone towers worn away by the surf. Pretty impressive. Even better because at 7am there were just a handful of people there.

The picture doesn't do it justice.

Down the road you can get down on the beach and see them from the ground which is really strange.

I got down on the beach and no one was there. It's hard to find a beach anywere where now one is but again at 7 in the morning it was just me the surf and the big rocks. It was very very nice.

I walked around for awhile and headed back. Halfway up the stepped, here they come...about 20 tourists on buses coming down the steps.

The last guy in the line, he was German I think. As he moved past me he told me, "It's a nice day, yes?".

I told him, "You picked the perfect time."

out side my room at port campell

This is what I saw outside my room last night

Port Campbell

I picked up my car this morning and drove all day.
The great ocean highway is supposed to be one to the greatest natural scenic routes in Austrailia.
It is pretty nice. It's like PCH and Seqouia back and fourth. I do have a gripe though. I drove for about six hours today and most of the drive was not on the ocean but it's small potatoes.
Near Cape Otway I saw Koalas. Two in the trees and one in the road relaxing.
I have pictures but the spot im in now doesn't have usb

more later

Fight Club

Today was a wasted day. I was done with Melbourne yesterday but my car won't be ready until tomorrow so I just hung around today. I rode the subway. I just took it until it ended and came back. I picked up some chocolates from a local chocolate place.
I got chocolate covered mango and ginger just to try them. You would figure most things covered in chocolate would be good. Mango, ok. Ginger. Not so much.

So I got back to the hostel. Bumped around and thought, "What the hell am I going to do tonight?"

Well, what do you think I did?

I get to the crap table and it's full. Really full. Both sides open and loud. I muscled in between two guys at the end and waited my turn. Asian guy was there but I didn't pay him any mind.

The guy next to me was a russian guy. He and his wife rolled, but nothing big happend.

Until I got the dice. I picked two dice with one dot up. My point was a ten. I rolled, 5, 6, 4, 8, 8,....they kept coming....then 10. I hit six back to back.

I felt good.

My point was 4 and I shit you not. I rolled for 40 minutes. The russian guy, Sal...had good money on the table, 300 $AU on the 6 and 8 and the rest covered, and I was hitting them. Sal bet the horn for me and I hit it! 40 minutes.....until the end.

I pounded the table and threw the dice. 4 came up hard and the whole table roared. Two guys opposite me yelled and threw their arms up. Sal shook my hand and smiled. For that minute I was a rock star.

I rolled a couple of times after that then crapped out, but when I left the table everyone said good bye.

I got back to the hostel and watched the end of "Fight Club".

Not a bad way to end the day.

My car will be ready in the morning.

Now I'm done with Melbourne.

melbourne day 2

Not a lot of homeless people here. Some crazy people but they seem to have places to stay.

Melbourne has a free tram that goes around the center of the city. I was waiting for the tram outside the casino and a guy came off, yammering, "and to hell with you and your coke!". He looked at a guy sitting down the stand from me and yelled at him, "Don't drink coke!" and shuffled away.

I went to an art fair, two art musuems and wrapped up at the casino.

Art fair, ok.

Museums, ok.

Casino. They had a crap table! Yea!
So I get to the table and half of it is closed! What the hell is that! There was no place to get in. I had to lean in and spread these two guys out so I could get to the rail.
So this young asian guy is rolling, and boom! He craps out. He's betting 300, 400 per point, so I don't like him already.
I next to him so the dice come to me. I love seeing the dice come off the stick. Six dice slide up. I pick the two with six up. I pound the table and there I go. 7. Winner. Asian guy wins. He has 125 on the line.

I roll a ten, I bet the inside and the numbers are coming, 6, 9, 10, 8, 9, 6, 6.....Asian guy is betting and making a lot of money, but we don't even look at each other, thats the way you do it.

10 comes easy. Nice. I feel good.

I crapped out and this guy comes up with his girlfriend and she rolls. She rolls two sevens and makes a six right off. I'm making money asian guy makes handfulls of black chips, then she has to make a ten. Asian guy says "I don't think she can make that ten."

I don't know if she heard it or not but the next roll the dice hit the felt crashed into each other in the air in an odd way...and 7.

I should have left right there. This guy is making money and he turns on her.

The table got cold after that. I rolled and nothing was coming so I left.

I pulled the strap off of my backpack, so I spent about fifteen minutes on the bank of the Yarra river watching the sun and birds and sewing my strap. Not too bad.

I took some pics but the hostel doesn't have a usb port on this computer, so pics will come in a couple of days.

Later.

long long ride

I had to wait 3+ hours in LA to get on the plane. When I got to the terminal it turns out my flight was not direct, we stopped in Auckland for 2 hours. There was an 11:00 PM flight that was direct, which turns out landed at the same time as my plane.

Anyway, Qantas did a pretty good job. The plane was nice and the entertainment system had individual movie choices, with ff and rew and music. Pretty damn good.

I ended up in the air between LA and Melbourne 16 hours. 3 Hours for customs and immigration and boom I'm on the street.

Melbourne is pretty much like any other big city. It feels alot like LA to me.

The people here say "no worries" instead of thank you, which I think is cool.

I got on the tram to my hotel and there was a drunk guy sleeping in the first seat. A girl sat across from him and he snarled. She was horrified and got up.
I'm from LA. Unless he's projectile vomiting, I've seen it before.

I got to my hotel and napped.

Now I'm out to see what's around.

more later-

eclipse video

this is the video I shot in Saluum during the eclipse.
I am basically and stuttering idiot but what I was seeing was unbelievable.

february

This year has been tough. A lot of stuff changing....good and a lot of bad but that's life.
I haven't really been excited about my trip this year but as time gets short I'm really looking forward to just getting the hell out of town and changing my head a bit.
I'm making the last few changes to my schedule.