Mark L. Van Name's Blog, page 5

Morning flights suck

Regardless of how much sleep I can get--and last night it wasn't much--there's something about morning flights that makes them awful.  I don't sleep well before them, I never feel right prepping for them, and then it's morning and I'm on a plane.

Enough whining.  Aside from that general issue, today's flights were as perfect as they could have been:  comfortable (in first class), early, and with (not good but) tolerable bandwidth.

Best of all, I'm now home.

Two meals in the last full day in Las Vegas

Brunch was our traditional stop at Bouchon, Thomas Keller's wonderful bistro.  We enjoyed mostly breakfast foods, but we always split the pastry board.

Click an image to see a larger version.
Dinner took us to Jaleo, Jose Andre's Spanish restaurant in the Cosmopolitan, another traditional stop of ours.  No trip there would be complete without some Jamon Iberico de Bellota Fermin and some pan con tomate.


Wow, was this a delicious combination--and my most frequent snack in Barcelona whenever I can get it.

In between, we walked shops, people-watched, and had a little gelato. 

After dinner, we took in the La Reve show at the Wynn.  A magical, water-based show, it was a great conclusion to a fun trip. 

By the way, for those who noticed, I am posting this Sunday morning because I had to get up in the sixes and so crashed as soon as I could after I returned to the room and caught up on work.

Sunday goes to flying home!

A fight that was a privilege to watch

Earlier tonight, I was fortunate enough to get to see live the fight card that was the finale of this season of The Ultimate Fighter.  The final bout was a match between Nicco Montano and Roxanne Modafferi.  At stake was not only the title of being this season's Ultimate Fighter, but also the right to be the first UFC women's flyweight champion. 

The fight was one I felt privileged to watch.  Montano and Modafferi went to war for five rounds in a match that showed skill and heart and determination.  If anyone still believes women can't be great mixed martial artists, they need to watch this fight. 

I was rooting for Roxy Modafferi, and though she lost, I still admire her.  I hope she gets another chance at the title.  I also very much like Montano, and she earned the belt fair and square.

The whole fight card was strong, but this championship bout was amazing. 

Vegas highlights today

I'd write more, but it's late, and I'm tired.  Today's features included...

A simple but tasty lunch from the Bouchon Bakery in the Venetian.  Their ham-and-cheese baguette is delicious.

A fair amount of walking, as usual, including time in the Bellagio.  Alas, the Christmas scene is still under construction.

More work than I should have done.

The WOW (World of Wonder) show at the Rio.  I should probably write a review of this one, but for now suffice to say that I enjoyed it, but it's nowhere near Cirque's level.

A lovely dinner at Craftsteak, which is as reliably good as always.

Now, to rest!

Travel day tale in seven snippets

I'm now in Las Vegas.

First-class flights were wonderful. 

Walked about 4.5 miles today, a surprising amount in airports.

Shake Shack remains the best chain burger.

The people watching here remains amazing.

Blue Man Group makes you happy and leaves you smiling, even as you wonder why. 

Loud drums are wonderful. 

Heading to Las Vegas

Wake-up comes in the sixes, which is a horrid time for me, so I'm keeping this short.  When I next write, it will be from Las Vegas.

In the meantime, enjoy this song, which has been on my mind since I watched the first episode of the second season of the completely insane and wonderful Preacher TV show.



What's not to like in this tune?

A quick quiz about the upcoming Death Wish remake

If you haven't seen the trailer, check it out first.


Now, the quiz:

1.  Did anyone really need this movie?

2.  Will you go see it?

3.  Who looks less life-like:  Bruce Willis in this one, or Charles Bronson in the original?


In case you're wondering, my answers are obvious:

1.  Absolutely not.

2.  Absolutely yes.

3.  Willis by a bit, but, really, as long as they're shooting, who gives a hoot? 

Why I haven't told a story at The Monti's StorySlam in a long time

Enough folks have asked me about my absence from the local StorySlams by The Monti that I thought I'd answer the question here.  Though it would be more interesting to say I had given up in frustration at not winning, or that I was having some sort of feud with the organizers, the truth is simpler and more boring:  with one exception, I haven't been in town during an event in months and months. 

The next one, for example, is this Wednesday, when I'll be in Las Vegas.  My travel schedule this year has been particularly brutal, so I've missed almost all of the events.  The one exception I can recall was an event the day after I landed from Europe, and by the time I noticed it and decided to go, it was sold out. 

I do plan to go back at some point, because I enjoy telling stories in that format, but right now, I have no idea when I will.  I'm home most of December, but then the next two months are chock-a-block with trips. 

I'll try to remember to let folks know here the next time I manage to attend. 

My first series binge-watch: American Gods

Well aware that I was possibly one of the last Americans not to have binge-watched a series, I decided to remedy this cultural omission by devoting today to a viewing of the complete first season of American Gods. 

Predictably, binge-watching came entirely too easily to me.  As someone who has watched five movies in a day on multiple occasions, this was no surprise, but I was somewhat taken aback by how much I enjoyed getting to see an entire series in a day.  Fortunately or not, my life won't permit this luxury often--I should have worked more today--but it was an enjoyable way to pass an afternoon and much of an evening. 

As for the show itself, I liked it a great deal.  In preparation for this event, I recently re-read the version with the author's preferred text.  I consider the book to be Gaiman's best novel, and I wanted it fresh in mind as I watched the show.  The series proved to be a pleasant blend of Gaiman's story and Bryan Fuller's style and obsessions.  I definitely recommend it and look forward to the remaining season(s). 

A quick Thanksgiving meal recap

A small group of us, family and extended family, gathered at the Drake's for dinner, companionship, and to give thanks for all that we enjoy.  I tried to stay more or less under control this year, though my plate was definitely heaping with food. 

Click an image for a larger version. 
As you can tell, I love gravy--on turkey, on stuffing, on mashed potatoes.  The roll is Sarah's and was wonderful.  Everything was delicious.  I make no apologies, by the way, for the quivering mass of from-the-can cranberry sauce; to me, it is essential Thanksgiving fare.

I forgot to take a picture of my plate full of desserts, but many wonderful ones were on offer.


My particular favorites were Jennie's banana cream pie, a favorite of my kids and Ben and me, and Sarah's caramel cake, which I am grateful she took home, but I sampled everything. 

I should never need a reminder to be thankful for my life and those in it and all I enjoy, but Thanksgiving is wonderful because it is just that. 

Thank you, all, for your support.