Weekend trip to California - Plus testing out packing light

Tomorrow I leave for California. I am going to try out some light packing that Tim Ferriss has talked about on his blog. Here is his post on light packing: Packing Light

I started by outlining the trip: Which consists of two nights three days, first night, Friday in Hollywood, Universal on Saturday and Huntington beach for body boarding and shopping on Sunday. Also to note about this trip, is this is the first time I have not planed the trip. I am usually the one to make the entire trip artinerary. So I am anxious to see how things go, and how well I can recoup from any unseen events that may happen. This is a test to see how well I can act on my toes.

I created a list of what I think I should pack which included,

Camera - Batteries
Sun Glasses
Beanie - For waking up and leaving quickly (also entering more formal events) I tend to not brush my hair on trips, but rather air it out. Quite relaxing
One pair of underwear (plus the pair I was wearing out)
Shoes - Broken in adidas (worn on the way out, used for universal studious)
Sandals (for the beach and light car travel)
One Pair of socks (worn on the way out)
Jeans (worn on the way out)
Swim trunks
Zip up cardigan
Two button up shirts
Two white t-shirts
Toothbrush - Wont need my own as I am traveling with my gf.
* No need for tooth paste as I know someone else will bring some
Deodorant
Contact case - filled with solution
Phone Charger

I then went back through the list to see what I really did need and what I could x out of the list to lighten the load. This was of importance because even though it is a short trip there will be minimal time where I will be staying in one spot (around a 10 hour buffer). This is the perfect opportunity to test out traveling light, verses necessities.
Here is the list I composed.

Camera
Beanie
Sunglasses
Shoes
Underwear
Shorts - To swim and also sleep in
One T-shirt
2 Button ups
Jeans
One Pair of socks
Sandals - only for the beach, light car travel
Deodorant
Contact case - with solution inside the case
Phone Charger

I will post up after the trip with some photos and full opinions on how the packing turned out for the trip.

Danny Gans and Celeb hand shake

Danny Gans, has been reviewed as a decent show not worth the money. I had the opportunity to see his show on Saturday, minus the $100.00 a ticket. This plays perfect into my reviews where I can remove the amount of money for the ticket as a way that sways someones true opinion of a show. Danny Gans was a B-, fresh material hour and a half show. Decent impersonations... most of the time he announced who he was doing, adult jokes, that make a younger audience lost. Over All not a bad show, very nice theatre in the Mirage. Now for a hundred or over for a ticket, go see a cirque du sole show or phantom, more bang for the buck with a longer lasting impression.

What made my night beyond memorable was the fact that I noticed Larry G. Jones four rows infront of me. He is one of the best impersonators I have seen, with his up beat hilarious show at the 4 Queens. I had the opportunity to shake his hand... haha lame I know but he is a true entertainer.

All and all it was a fantastic night with my girlfriend and her brother.

Life: One Big Hidden Fee

This huge epidemic took place in my mind on Tuesday. I have always been aware subconsciously of hidden fees, not really carrying to much just expecting the fact that they are what they are little nuisances’. To the point of revelation: My girlfriend and I went to the mall the weekend before the Pinched Fee Day (also known as The Tuesday). At the mall she prompted to tell me that they were doing a blood drive, great knowing I hate the idea of transferring blood through a synthetic tube. But she uttered the words that would for sure make it worth my while to at least wait for her to give blood, and that was free tickets to a choice of two shows for the donation. Great, of course I was down to wait, plus this would be a good chance to check out the book store and kayaks. She finished and choose to see a show at Planet Hollywood, formally the Middle Eastern Hotel? No wonder it tanked. The show was called Toxic Audio, a loose comic act by 5 individuals performing beats and songs with just their voices. The Tuesday came and we proceeded to make our way down to the PH, I approached the ticket booth with my two complimentary tickets in hand. The employee said, "Great, that will be $10.00 sir, $5.00 processing fee for each of the tickets". At this point I thought this was so comical, of course there’s a fee, I uttered back at her. How could I expect that someone could give blood and receive a so called complimentary ticket. It wasn't so much the $10.00 what so ever, it was the deceiving way you get suckered into thinking by doing something good you will in turn get the promised deliverable. I would love to see their faces if I could charge them for my blood after they suck it from me. Bear none, I am sure that the blood drive had no idea of the huge ahah scam taking place at PH. Anyway, I am glad that this money will be used for the millions in renovation they are putting into the property. This whole event just reminded me never to let your guard down... To many penny pinchers in the o so deceiving world.

Dave Attel and Peter Lik weekend enjoyment

This past weekend I had the pleasure to finally sit in on Dave Attel's (known from Insomniac) stand up. This was a lot of fun, hilarious for the hour and half he was on. He is truly the best comic that works with and against the audience. While I was waiting for Attel's show to start I stumbled into a photographers gallery by the name Peter Lik. WOW! is all I can say, his work of landscape scenery is the best I have seen. The composition and play of light gives an absolutely clear crisp picture, that over expresses how it would look in nature. Creating pieces that truly are a sight to look at. I was so inspired from a night of laughter and gazing that I couldn't wait to tell Andrea about the pieces Lik had in the Mandalay Bay. I showed her his gallery online, but it just didnt do that work justice at all, so I made a mends to take her the next day to see his other gallery in the Forum shops at Caesars! After she finally viewed the work with her eyes she was completely in awe herself, this made me really happy. That not only can I enjoy my weekends, but I can stumble on knew things that were right in front of me and share them! This is the start of my mini retirements :)... To end the weekend Andre told me that she had chosen to write a paper for school on Lik, good to see inspiring isn't as hard as it is made out to be.

I think everyone should go out and enjoy the world around them, no more excuses about time, work, money. NOTHING! Because the smallest things can change your overall outlook on things. To view some of Peter's work check out his online galley at www.peterlik.com/ I also highly recommend following that up with a laugh with Dave Attel, http://www.daveattell.com/main.php

-Keep fighting the game
Chris