New Beginings

So we've finally decided that a move will do us good...we've spent almost 8 years here in Vegas and now it's time to continue the adventure...so in Spring 2007 we're planning a move over to Philly. We'll maintain a residence in Vegas while we get on our feet....

We've started apartment hunting already to see where we want to move to...we're thinking the Museum or Arts districts will be a good start for us. There we can be around other artists and creative types...these personalities will sync well with ours. Vegas has been a great place for us to begin and grow our business and for that we are thankful. We have grown weary of the intensely hot summers, all 8 of them have been brutal...and the inverted idea of staying indoors during summer versus going out and taking advantage of the weather totally contradicts everything I knew as a child growing up in Vancouver. I spent 33 years of my life looking towards the longer days of summer, no school work, lazy days in the park, walking down by the river behind my house, barbeques with my family, and spending warm nights at the beach. The past 8 years have seen a drastic change in how I approach the summer months...air conditioning, seeking shaded parking, underground parking, windshield shades, more air conditioning...there is no walking barefoot for fear of your feet melting and forget about heading outdoors without a 25 UV sunblock slathered all over any exposed skin.

The heat aside, Vegas has been good to us and made our dream of being able to afford a home a reality - it was a great market for us to learn and improve our photography skills. Half of the time people were just happy we showed up...the idea of a Vegas photographer covering their event had the majority of people half-expecting Elvis to appear with a camera...

Lately though attitudes have started to change...the past few years have seen the introduction of, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas", into our vocabulary and subsequently into our collective thoughts - visitors and residents alike. The idea of no rules and no consequences, "Vegas will be your little secret" has had a profound effect on people both visiting and living here and how they conduct themselves in business and everyday life. Visitors have the attitude that Vegas is a den of sin and the residents, simply sinners who choose to live in this sesspool of iniquity. The attitudes start to rub off...sooner or later being bad becomes the norm...it's tough to take day in and day out. I can take the perceptual inaccuracy of general visitors still thinking Las Vegas residents live on the strip, but the idea that we all believe in what happens here stays here is too much for me to accept.

I appaud R&R Partners for coming up with truly a fantastic ad campaign...however, I feel the LVCVA (our local visitors and convention association) dropped the ball and has allowed irreparable damage be done to the reputation of it's current and future residents by allowing and perpetuating this false reality. What happens here does not stay here unless you can erase your memory - people take Vegas with them. Unfortunately that harmless little night out with the boys/girls ends up in the back of your mind for a very long time and when asked what you think about Vegas the age old "great place to visit but I'd never live there" has long term effects on peoples attitudes about working with Las Vegans.

I would like to get that sense of community again...the four seasons, the ability to walk to your local, being able to take a train to another world and only 6 1/2 hours to Dublin and when people ask where I live I dont have to answer a barrage of "How can you live there?" questions.

I'll miss the openness, the relatively unobstructed skyline and the newness to this vast desertscape. I'll take with me some very fond memories of different events we've covered, the travel adventure we began, the trials and tribulations of starting a new business with a spouse and much too much to immediately recall. And Friends...we've met some good ones and will stay in touch with them as we continue to move forward. We'll maintain our ties with the Las Vegas Blackjack Rugby club as their web designers and photographers and hope to expand our coverage in that forum back east.

Thats it for now and we'll keep you up to date with our news.

All the best,

VP

Labour Day Monday

Well it's Monday afternoon, Tom is planning his wedding in the other room with Rita and we're all still struggling with the warm temps here in the desert. The pool is 86F and it's solar heated! Can't complain though, we're not dealing with the floods that are wreaking havoc elsewhere in the country. The funny thing about Vegas' weather is that the inevitable cool down is right around the corner and when it comes the temps drop 20-40 degrees overnight..the fluctuation is amazing.

So my pal and I are starting a new T-shirt company...geared towards teens and pre-teens with positive messages. We don't have kids but are kind of suprised at seeing 12 yr old girls with the word "Juicy" on their butts...something just isn't right about that in my mind. To each their own but I hope to put a more positive saying on our product to boost self esteem. We have been planning things out for a few months now and have to work out a few kinks with suppliers and designs and we should be on our way. I'll be ssure to share when we get things going with that - so that's it for now. I"ll be sure to update again soon.

All the best,

Pat

Back In Vegas

Back in Vegas...weather is cooling down - TG! Listening to Paris on the Air courtesy of Live365.com internet radio...highly recommend this source for music online...Mac users will have the radio choice open up in iTunes whereas PC will open up new window in browser.

I got back two days ago from EU...had an amazing time with family and friends. Still getting over the jet lag so my thoughts for writing are still stunted. I found it very difficult to get through the catch up of changing time zones this time...although my trip was productive - my sleep was shite!

Starting off in Dublin was great...the weather, the familiar sites and smells made the long journey well worth it. Stayed in Dublin 4 with my cousin on my Father's side. Nigel was in good form as was Conor and Fiona and Marie. I had an oppportunity to meet with Patrick Treacy, world renowned cosmetic surgeon, and am looking forward to spending more time with him in the future talking about his various exploits world wide and possibly doing a feature on him for Health Living and Wellbeing Magazine...will let you know how things progress. After a 2nd night of Guinness and trying to be helpful to my cousin - I misplaced my camera (on on loan from a pal of mine) and changed the dynamic of my mood for the next few days until it was returned by an honest resident of my cousins apartment building...this act of honetsy reaffirmed there were still decent people around. Photos to be uploaded in the next day or so.

I visited Croydon, England and stayed with my family on my Mother's side - hanging out at the pub, The Sandrock, where my cousin works as a barmaid...although arriving shattered on the Thursday the 28th...I was made aware in no uncertain terms that Croydon would not be the place for me to catch up on my sleep <;-( No worries though....the visit was one of the highlights on my vacation. 2 days was just short enough...I could have spent another day or so kicking around the town...but since I had no camera...I wasn't the same...out of sorts really. My Aunt and Uncle were in great form as were my cousins and their small army of children :-)

Over to Amsterdam on the Saturday where I stayed in an excellent little hotel, Hotel d'Amsterdam, right off of Leidseplein Square in the museum district. Jen and Marianna will be recieving a thank-you card and great recommendation from me. Amsterdam was especially good for me this trip...really sorted my head out about what I wanted to pursue next as far as projects are concerned...I'll be looking forward to doing more work in the EU.


More to follow.

All the best VP

Travelling in Amsterdam

I left on the 24th of September..after a few days of peace and quiet in Vegas...the weather is quite nice now. Over to Dublin to spend to family time with my cousins and reconnect with some new friends as well. The weather was quite good which helped with the moods of the gang. Lots of Guinness at night and big heads in the mornings. Pictures to follow...after almost losing a camera on loan to me - my trip started to pick up dramatically.

Over to LGW to meet up with my family on my mother's side. Two Nights there in Croydon spending 2 very long sessions in the Sandrock Pub with my cousins and aunt and uncle I jumped over to Amsterdam. No pictures as my recovered camera was with my couasin en route to Amsterdam...I was loaned an additional camera but dared not lose it!

I am currently in Amsterdam...truly one of my very favourite cities. I am at the Hotel DÁmsterdam in the Oud West area...we are steps away from Vondelpark and the RijkMuseum....the hotel is a quaint little place with just 16 rooms...the managers - Jen and Marianna (husband and wife) have been running the place for 25 years. They make you feel welcome as soon as you come in. The first order of business for Jen was to invite me out for a beer at the local restaurant across the street :-}

The weather has been typical for this time of the year...raining, showers but mostly brilliant sunshine. I am with my cousin Conor from Ireland. He is taking full advantage of sleeping in and relaxing as he has been very busy with work recently.

I am off to the Rijk today to enjoy the works of Rembrandt and other masters after a long stroll this morning down to capture some images of the Rembrandt square...truth be known, I stumbled across it while searching for an Irish pub...nonetheless it was beautiful. Pictures to follow.

I want to take a moment to say Hi to my lovely HBG.

Will update again soon.

All the best,

VP