Last year my father-in-law turned 60. To celebrate, we met up with him in Vegas, which none of us had seen before and were all pretty curious about. 24 hours of the Strip was about as much as I could handle, but I'm very glad I saw it for myself, and until saturation the utter unreality of it is fun to gawp at.

While there, we caught the Cirque du Soleil Beatles show (strongly recommended), went down to Laughlin to meet his brother George who drives a water taxi between casinos on the Colorado, and visited the Hoover Dam. All in all a great trip, though I feel like I've had as much of the Strip as I'll want in a lifetime.

Here's the full set of photos, which I finally finished editing on the loooong flight back from Miami this week.

Tags: cities, consumerism, desert, family, las vegas, photography, travel, zombie flying squirrel

I have returned to London -- barely. I am at the end of the time in which I am legally permitted to remain here on a tourist visa, and immigration has notes about me. The guard almost didn't let me in, because I don't have enough money. She didn't seem to believe that Philipp and I can live off what we do in London. That was a strange concept for me, because my time with Philipp has been the most prosperous, comfortable time in my life. Philipp and I are exploring options concerning visas, and whatnot, and will most likely have to contact a visa lawyer or consultant. We are in the difficult place of being two foreigners living in a foreign country, and there don't seem to be many categories for that. I am worried that I may have to leave, and return to the US, for a significant period of time while the visas get worked out. While I miss my family greatly, I would much prefer to chose to visit, rather than be forced to stay. But I suppose we'll see what the consultant says.

I am perpetually reminded in my current status that the only trait the government seems to value in a person is the balance in their bank account. I am frustrated to know that anyone with a balance of $400,000 in their bank will be automatically granted a visa as an "entrepreneur".

But on a more optimistic note, Germany was lovely. It was quite nice to get out of London. Philipp and I visited the Alps -- the lower part, unfortunately, rather than the tall pointy bit -- and he taught me how to ski. It was fun. I fell off the ski lift though, when I was trying to dismount, and stopped it all. Apparently everyone does it. I wonder.

Current Location: A Dark Pit In London
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Coffee Machine

After spending Christmas with Melinda's family in Michigan, we went down to Miami to meet my parents, aunt, uncle and cousin. We took better advantage of the natural environment around South Florida than on previous visits, chartering a boat one day, then exploring the state park near my aunt & uncle's place, and visiting the Everglades. I also took an awful lot of pictures of birds, because I now have a camera with which these come out well.

There's a main set of photos and then one just for the Everglades with many more from there.

Tags: family, photography, travel
Current Location: back home in Seattle
Current Music: a cat who apparently really, really missed me. Or my mad can opener skillz.

We spent the week around Christmas in Michigan with Melinda's parents. It was a good time, as always. There was lots of time with family, catching up with a few friends (and I got to meet some more of Melinda's schoolfriends), and even a hockey match. The full set of pictures is on Flickr, as usual.

Tags: family, melinda, photography, ritual
Current Location: United States, Florida, Miami