Monday, October 31, 2005

Halloween !! It's finally here !!

The long awaited holiday is finally here. It's a big deal in our house. We do up the place with strobe lights, tombstones, speakers outside, lights, pumpkins, cob webs - all the fun stuff.



Linda and I dressed up as skeletons again and took turns giving out the candy and going trick or treating with the kids. Weather held up and didn't affect our evening. People loved the house and we had a ton of kids come - at least a 100.



Kids had a blast - everytime Haley would come back from a house she would yell 'Look Daddy, more candy !!' and then they would run to the next house.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

The Great Big Boo !!

We didn't know what to expect with this event but it turned out to be a blast for Linda and I as well as the kids. We got great floor seats months ago up front and center and watched the show. Consisted of many performers on the stage doing songs and dances of people dressed up in various costumes. The theme was to get the witch to like halloween and when the audience screams BOO loud enough, the puff of smoke turns the mean witch into a happy one. Kids loved it. After the show, the kids walk around trick or treating getting candy from all the staff and characters. The main characters to do meet and greets with were Dora the Explorer, Snoopy, Spiderman, Elmo.



Meeting Vinnie and Snoopy












Spiderman and Dora








The show and princess

Saturday, October 29, 2005

BOO - Party Time

We had some friends over with their kids for a party Saturday Night - It was a lot of fun and had lots of good food. So much for my healthy eating. Played some games and had lots of activities for the kids. Poured Baileys, Root Beer Shnapps and Banana Liquor into chocolate shooter cups.

Some pics of the evening - click to enlarge


Playing the memory game

Kids doing crafts


Decorating cookies







Gomez (Adam) and Linda

Survivor Gary and his girls

Ay Matey










The Witch, The Hippie and the Princess






Haley looking not so sweet

Princess Haley looking sweet


Count Carter


Monday, October 24, 2005


Living after midnight, rockin’ to the dawn !! Judas Priest Show

This song title sums me I think

My concert run has sadly come to an end. My last show of the year (that I know of) took place Sunday night at the Coliseum and I feel every show I see is better than the previous. I just keep having more fun and last night was just another example of metal from the 80's still kicking butt today.

I was fortunate to hook up with my same scalper friend and he lined me up with an $80 Row 2 ticket ($10 over cost) so I couldn't resist. One thing about all these shows, my wallet will be happy they're done.

My first dilema was how to get my camera in there - the security was doing major pat downs on everyone. I stuffed my camera down the front of my jeans ( yes it looked like I had a square crotch - some mutant thing) - The checked my sides and back and feet and I was in.

Usually I'm not a fan at all of reserved floor seating but when you have Row 2, it's way better than a mosh pit. I hopped over the front row seat to get to the railing and rocked out. We were allowed beers to our seat so I just kept getting up and down 2 fisting it.


Anthrax opened up for the Priest - They were better than the time I saw them last month as I knew more about them. I got a couple of guitar picks from them and their Set List posted on their monitors. That was cool.








Then Judas Priest came out - they haven't toured as the original band for over 13 years and it's been probably over 15 years since I've last seen them. This was going to be special.

The band was decked out in their signature leather outfits and Rob Halford (the singer) was also wearing a massive studded leather trenchcoat. They had a great stage setup. Stairs, raised walkways, elevators lifting Rob up and down, smoke and OK lighting. They opened with Electric Eye and went throught their catalogue with some of my all time favorites being played like Living After Midnight, You got another thing coming, Breaking the Law, Turbo Lover, Metal Gods, Hell Bent For Leather, Painkiller and one of their best tunes Victim of Changes.

The 54 year old singer can still hit all the wildly high notes - he was a tad slow moving around the stage and short of breath at times but that didn't stop him from delivering the goods. During the encore he of course came out on his motorcycle which drove the crowd nuts once again.




I got a guitar pick from KK Downing which was nice to get - hung out in the parking lot waiting for the band to appear - Glenn Tipton showed up and signed stuff - I got a picture but nothing signed. Wanted a picture with him but no time.

Went home and watched World Poker Tournament on TV into the wee hours. Had to get up at 6:30am - sigh.

The shows I hope to see in the future - they're just not on tour yet
Godsmack, Disturbed, Rob Zombie and Iron Maiden


Saturday, October 22, 2005


Fright Night

Linda and I went to Fright night at the PNE Playland. Had the folks babysit for our night out. It was a lot of fun - went with some friends and the weather was the best. Felt like a summer evening. The Haunted Houses were great - they had live people in there scaring the heck out of you. They had a huge maze as well which everytime you turned a corner you were wondering what lurked behind it.

The only downside was the crowd. It was absolutely enormous. Way too big for the park to manage. We unfortunately waited 2 hours for one house. The house was superbly done and very dark and creepy but 2 hours is too long for anything. We stayed there til midnight when then closed.

Overall I highly recommend it - get there at opening and do the houses right away and then do the rides.

Thursday, October 20, 2005


Billion Dollar Babies - Alice Cooper Review
Wednesday at the Orpheum was an awesome night. Got downtown around 6 - checked out what kind of scalped tickets were being offered. The show was Sold Out so scalped was the only way in. Saw some Row 11s but didn't want those. A guy had Row 2 but wanted way too much $150 for them. $60 was my limit ($66 from ticketmaster). So I took off on my own and went to Speakeasy and drank beers on Granville under the heat lamps. Other Cooper fans were there and I yacked with them.

Checked out tickets prices again and they were down to $100. Went for more beers, this time at the Roxy burger. Watched some world series and yacked with more fans. One guy was mid 20's and came in alone from Nanimo for the show and hotel. That's cool.

Got my ticket - centre Row 2 for $70 - I was tickled pink.

Didn't think there was an opening band so went there for 8 - turns out there was one and band was "Still Standing". Watched them a bit and had more beers in the lobby. They only sell Granville Island Lager - oh well - it was beer.

Love my seat - it was perfect - lights went down and everyone rushed the stage (much like my Deep Purple show last year). I hopped over the first row and hit the stage and leaned up against the monitor. It was almost dead centre - I couldn't ask for anything better.

Alice and the band rocked - everything was perfect - good sound, effects and show. Played all his classicks and some tunes off his new one 'Dirty Dimaonds' I knew all the songs as I have every CD he had ever made (over 30) The guitarists and bassist would come by and be close to me but Alice wouldn't high five - oh well. Some people jumped on stage and wouldn't be kicked off quickly - was fun. Crowd was civil except one guy thought it was a System of a Down show I think and was going nuts behind me bashing me and everyone. I ignored him and the rest of the people in front pushed him away and there was no more pushing and I could rock in the front in peace for a change.

His daughter was part of the show playing the babe, the twisted girl and Paris Hilton. He had the Boa, guillitine, straight jacket, blood and money in the air during 'Billion Dollar Babies'. I was fortunate enough to get a $100 bill with Alice on the front as well as a guitar and bass pick from the band. Even had some blood on my face and shirt from the show.

After the show I hung out back to see what Alice would do. Talked to the opening band for a bit about the tour and show. Seems like the opening band guy was dating Alice's daughter. They had this beat up old van 5 of them travelled around in. Good guy though. Met Chuck the bassist out back and had him sign my concert ticket. He said Alice won't be signing anything so don't wate my time there. So like the Tacoma show last year, I took off for his hotel. Watch his van take off north on Seymour and figured he was going to Westin Grand so went there. Followed them in but Westin requires a room key to take the elevator so I ws out fo luck. I was standing beside his daughter for a bit but decided not to bug her - wasn't that nice of me :)


































Was able to take a bunch of pictures of the show - brought my digital camera in - was a good time.

Saturday, October 08, 2005


Meadows Corn Maze
Had a fun day doing the local corn maze and playing in the area - kids loved it




Which way to go ??


















Wow - look at all the places to get lost - there were beer bottles inside so it looked like a fun place to go at night - they were open and offered flashlights











Carter went on the Barrel train through the muddy fields








Carter and Haley always have fun in the blow up castles

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Vegas Baby !!
Left home at 4:30am Saturday. America West is a great Airline - quick and easy to deal with. Movie was 'Bounce' with Martin Lawrence which highly don't recommend. Too bad.

I was gambling at the Roulette table by 10:30am.
I thought for sure I was going to be a winner as none of my numbers had come up in awhile and I was due. At $10 a ball drop, I didn't last long. Had a few beers waiting for my folks to arrive at 2:00pm - explored Caesars Palace (cool exotic cars on display) which was across from our hotel the Flamingo.

Mom and Dad arrived on time and we all went down to the Slot Machines. We had a blast, winning $50 here, $100 and $200 at times. We were all up and went to the All You Can Eat Buffet at the Flamingo ($16.95) and just indulged ourselves. It was great. We then walked from casino to casino gambling and winning and ended up at the new Wynn Hotel. I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be with a new multi Billion Dollar hotel. We saw the outdoor Sirens show at Treasure Island and enjoyed that.

Gambled more slots until 1:00am and we were all up. I then took off to Coyote Ugly to have some drinks and be entertained by the waitresses dancing on the bar.







They played Distruebd and Godsmack and Pearl Jam - good tunes. Stayed there until 3:30am and walked back watching all the drunks and this one girl whos skirt kept falling down exposing her naked bottom - too funny - alcohol is bad for her - she kept pulling it up and it kept coming down.

Slept on my air mattress and was up at 9:00am. Went to Paris with Dad for breakfast and then onto the Aladdin to walk around the mall.

Gambled sunday and hated it - our winnings disappeared so fast, we all found ourselves shocked how quickly it all went. We slowed down on the machines. We then went to the Rio for their Seafood Buffet ($34) and it was excellent. Lobster, Prawns, Clams, Mussels, Crab Legs, Salmon - all really good and we ate and ate and then had their fancy deserts.

Weather was 90 so I sat around the pool for a few hours and had my MP3 player on and people wacthed. I went swiming in the pool and got a MGD from the waitress in a bikini and swam around not dropping my beer in the water.














Went to the Palms across the street - it was dead there on a Sunday - we lost and left. Left mom around 1:30am and went to play blackjack and check out Caesers Palace. As soon I walked in, I saw Ashlee Simpson (Jessica Simpsons younger sister) celebrate her 21st birthday. That was fun to watch her drink and gamble legally for the first time - she had a big entourage and was having fun - I sat at the table next to her watching it all. Her friends and all the people celebrating with her were all the beautiful people - dressed to kill. I was in shorts so I couldn't go into the nightclub.

















Bed at 4:30am again and up at 9:00am. Went right back to the "Wheel of Misfortune" and lost right away so I knew Monday wasn't going to be any better than Sunday. Too bad, would have been nice to come home even or a winner - after more than 10 visits to Vegas, I still have never been a winner.

great time and was fun to hang with my parents