The bridge at Hoover Dam

hoover dam, originally uploaded by jilly71.

for my dad

when superhero's hang out

when superhero's hang out, originally uploaded by jilly71.

Snapped on Las Vegas' infamous "Strip".

Viva

Vegas baby..

Vegas is a cartoon glossy magazine image in my head. It involves feathers, neon, and Elvis. I expect to see Ann Margaret slink past in a cat suit. Exaggerated excess fed through a crayon factory and splashed across the desert.

I came hear once before but I was 11. I think it was a stop for gas on our way home from a family trip to Disneyland. My parents took me and my 14 year old sister to Disneyland. That's what childhoods are made of! Back then, my pit stop in Vegas kept me with no memories of what could possibly be in store for me ts weekend.

Vegas.. Until Sunday night.

Chinatown

Chinatown, originally uploaded by jilly71.

Alcatraz

HIP_325977946.254394, originally uploaded by jilly71.

I climbed Coit Tower today for the views on another sunny, cloudless day in Frisco. Truth be told I was hoping I would see the parrots, but they "go somewhere" midday (apparently over 100 wild parrots live on Telegraph Hill.)

I love my IPhone app that let's me take these wacky retro looking photos..by the way.

Art investment

HIP_325984922.560380, originally uploaded by jilly71.

Wandering around in North Beach in San Francisco today, the home of beat poetry, City Light Bookstore, Gino & Carlo's and Coit Tower. I wandered into a little gallery and the proprietor pointed out a set of lithographs for $1200 done by famed beat poet, Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Chatting a bit about his life: being friends with Jack Kerouac, publisher of Allen Ginsburg's HOWL and founder of City Light Bookstore, I asked about a framed sketch..not a lithograph..an original. It was a Ferlinghetti and to my flabbergast..I could afford it. So, I bought it because I happen to like it. But, I am also suspiciously aware of the value of art when the artist dies. As sad and cynical as it is.. But come 5 years today,s $275 could be worth $1000. Ferlinghetti is 92 and something about him talking about Picasso seemed like a good investment.

Now, I just need to get it home.