Conflicting Interests

So as you may know the Viva Schedule came out last week.  I for one was estatic but found I couldn't logically sort out my priorites so I set about reformatting it for myself and thought you  might appreciate a copy for yourself.  It is broken down so that if 4 events are taking place at once you can see your choices and potentially select your priority so that you could with any luck weed it down into an itinerary for the day when you are done making your selections. 

Enjoy!  and if you want the Excel file let me know and I will send it to you :)

A Ticket to the Show

So it is official.  I booked the hotel, flights and bought the tickets and I am going to Viva for the 2nd time!  It was just too much fun last year -I had to go again.  This year my friend K is coming along -she loves cars and was intrigued by my pictures from last year.

My goals for this year are:

* Finish sewing my vintage sundress I started for last year

* Finish another dress
* Sew a swim suit wrap
* Sew blouse from vintage pattern I bought last year
* Experience Freemont Street Experience
* Go to Double Down and Frankie's Tiki Room

* Find a portable dock for my ipod so I can play music in my room
* Meet people I don't know
* Take more pictures
* Buy more CDs
* and of course last and of mixed importance be "swimsuit ready" ie diet & exercise

Truthfully, I don't wear vintage clothes because I don't really enjoy shopping for them and they all seem to be incredibly small but I have collected some nice vintage bangles since last year and I'm enjoying that.  Sewing at this point seems like the smartest option because repro leaves me wearing things that I will envitably see someone thinner wearing.  I've got a swimsuit that will work and I'm thinking I might buy some repro shorts of a non-descript style and pair with some cute blouses.

pushing my buttons

Recently, I thought it would be fun to make embroidered covered buttons.  I love the result but I need to put this in writing that I will never again wax poetic about embroidering the on the world's smallest circle and then trying to center and the design on a 5/8th of an inch metal top circle while forcing all the fabric end into the backing.  Let's just say it took a day or two before my fingers weren't bruised anymore.  Looking at this picture it is hard too keep in mind though as I do love them (stop reread previous sentences). 

Good news though a new girl baby arrived in my circle of friends today so all thoughts of buttons will be replaced by what should I make for this latest edition...bib, blanket, doll are options I've done before but maybe I should develop a new baby craft...hmmm...I will have to see what this weekend brings.

Sunday VLV 13

So Sunday sister was determined to get to the outlet mall and as luck would have it after we checked out from the Rio we ran into the Las Vegas sign on the way over to the mall...photographs ensued and then after what seemed to me like a torturous eternity of shopping (2 hrs) I recused myself to go check-in at the Orleans.

All went well and we ended up on the 16th floor for the second time in one holiday.  It was a little give and take as our room at the Rio had a fridge and 2 sinks but there was something undefiniably nicer about the room at the Orleans despite the lack of the aforementioned accoutrements.  Sister arrived with all her purchases around 230 as I was getting ready to head down to see Justin Curtis & Sally Jo after much anticipation having not seen them since they were in my hometown some years back.  I departed and ended up in a line up to get into Brendan's and then wedged in the standing room only pub.  It was a great show and after making the mistake of ordering a double I decided I should return with my cup of whiskey for a bit of respite and to make sure sister got some food before she murdered me.

Next up was the Smokin' 45s.  I changed and put on my best gingham dress and watched some fantastic dancing in Bienville before the show started.  It was a lovely evening after which sister got to go to Frankie's Tiki Bar despite not knowing what a Tiki Bar was at the outset of our adventure.  I caught Huelyn Duvall (who I thoroughly enjoyed) and part of Rudy Grayzell before flaking out early despite my longstanding wish to see Annita and the Starbombers.  Sunday ended with me waking up on what was technically Monday after what was supposed to be a quick nap only to realize my eyes where a irritated shade of pink (from sleeping in my contacts) and I was not going to be able to catch up to anyone at this point.  Sister returned at what I believe was around 5 AM and I got up not too long after to go get tickets for a Monday evening performance of Cirque du Soleil.

Saturday night and I just got paid...

So captain's log April 3, Las Vegas, quadrant.  Breakfast in hotel room mail postcard and then back to see if stupid sibling has sufficiently recovered to proceed with day's plans.  Neon graveyard or bust had made appointement as was not going to get lost or be late however first another stop at Target to buy sister proper footwear, socks, bandaids, belt and hangover food.

Made it in time and while the graveyard was in a state of disarray as they prepare to build a museum building it was still nice to do something that was educational.

Next it was back to the hotel room for a bit of respite before I rushed around and got ready for the car show.  It was hot and windy and I was pretty much mission oriented as I made it to the car show in time to hear the Chop Tops and Chuck Berry.  I'm all about the macro shots of the amazing details on all these cars.  It makes me smile to see the personal touches and thought that people put into every aspect of these cars.

I managed to only slightly burn my part and the back of my neck and I picked up a shirt for my dad and some SoCal coffee cups for the homestead before heading back to the car.  I didn't see Dita but it was pretty crowded and so I was mostly glad to find my way out.  I was parked in the oversized lot and will be eternally grateful to a latino guy and the girls with him who helped me get out of my parking spot moving their truck and directing me through the maze of randomly parked cars & trucks.  I wore jeans and my hot pink sweater with my boring jacket to keep the sun off.

Made it back to the hotel and tried to drag sister out but she was not having it so we had a terrible supper in one of the hotel bars after seeing the VooDoo lounge and restaurant on the 50th or something floor.  I got ready to go see Wanda Jackson.  I wore my new red flair skirt and my flat dance shoes...I should have taken pictures but I just never feel up to it because I'm always running late.  Came home after that and showed sister videos and pics of the day and went to bed so I could get up and get ready to check out on Sunday.

Vegas on Friday

So we thought maybe we'd go a show if we could find tickets so we headed to the strip after having some in room coffee (thank-you Starbucks VIA), yogurt and granola bars.  We found the ticket place but they had nothing but we made a bit of a tour of the strip and I became immediately smitten with the tile floors in the Bellagio and decided I was glad not to be staying on the strip.

We got back to the hotel and then felt it was definitely time to open up that 3 dollar wine and put it to good use with our in room OJ -delish...

I was still not at 100% so I had a nap and sister went out to make new friends.  I got up and got ready for the shows that night.  Originally was trying to get to the Charles Phoenix slide show but alas it was not to be as I panicked trying to locate my sister and the car rental papers.  I made though with plenty of time to see one of my favorite acts of the weekend The Royal Deuces absolutely awesome followed next by the lovely Marti Brom. 

Got back to the Rio in time for some drama with lost sister but all in all it was a great day despite my lack luster energy levels.

Vegas Thursday

Okay so first a confession…I haven’t been to the USA since I was a kid and I have been reading blogs like ljcfyi for years and wishing I could go to Trader Joe’s and Target and try on Old Gringo cowboy boots. So, Thursday morning I got up and we went down and had breakfast in the hotel. Pecan berry French toast with bacon & coffee for me and something saltier for sister with her eggs over hard. Then it was off to Target to get some odds & ends.

Some things to note is that cellphone coverage even for texting is totally outrageous in the US and the pay as you go phones don’t all work with international coverage immediately and require a phone call to set up.

We go some groceries and a kettle for $10 and went back to the room to put it all in the fridge. Sister decided to go off to the strip to see what she could see and I decided to have nap as I was not my usual self due to events beyond my control. When I was feeling better I got up and went on my own adventure with the car locating Decatur and travelling to the far end to go first to Trader Joe’s to purchase my first and only bottle of 2 buck chuck (now 3). I also got some fruit and cheese and delighted in all the things I had never seen before. Feeling renewed from not getting lost I decided to venture on and made my way to the local fabric store because I had always wanted to see what it was like in a Hancock’s. I got some buttons and ribbon and then made my way to Sheplers to spy out the boot selection. I found myself a cute peasant blouse with embroidery and then took a drive past the Orleans on the way back to the Rio to make sure I was ready for the evening.

Sister made it back about the same time as me and we commenced getting ready. We curled her hair and pinned her bangs and I put on my old favorite black halter dress and she wore my cute polka dot dress. Everyone looked smashing and we wore impractical shoes because well we knew we could only stand them for one evening. As it turns out we couldn’t even stand them for that and ended up buying some new shoes from a vendor at the show that night. I used the valet parking for the first of many times and decided that I should probably have tipped when they brought the car back but whatever I was thrilled to be there.

Now for the story I wanted to mention all weekend…we got our wristbands and I paid no mind to the thing but later in the evening I was to discover that mine was numbered 666…so here I was at Viva 13 with my 666 wristband my sister couldn’t believe it and said that’s what I get for being such a goodie goodie.

I was on a mission though to get upstairs to the ballroom and when we got there the Rip Em Ups were tearing it up. I was immediately smitten with the saxophone player and decided whatever happened after this it was all icing.

So my sister then went in search of a collector boot while I waited by the stage because for me there is just no one that compares to Big Sandy and the Flyrite Boys. They did not disappoint and played Love that Man near the end with just that perfect hint of sarcasm.

We headed back to the hotel not too long after that as it had been a busy day and there was sure to be another tomorrow.