Thursday, January 29, 2009

#BNBLV Week 3 - Still Growing

Strongbow Cider is the starting drink this evening, we filled up fast. Reserved three tables for us, they were full in about 45 minutes. Things are definitely growing around here, more laptops, more cameras, more people.

The owner of the Freakin Frog stopped in for a visit tonight, to say hello and check out the group. Also a representative from the Las Vegas Twestival, more info on that can be found here:

http://lasvegas.twestival.com/

Next up, Giddy Up Ale made with espresso, nice beer on the light side Belgium Ale, and dun dun dun the guy at the bar starts talking to me about it. He is drunk and annoying, the only thing I took from the conversation was a crack about "and I like to say from cocaine to Rogaine".

Later as the crowd at the BNB break into smaller groups, I wander up to get my second beer, trying to avoid the creepy drunk guy. Unfortunately he has another victim cornered who introduces herself to me in order to break off from him, and I am spotted. I get another 20 minute drunken tale, about what he did on New Years Eve.

After a long chat with @NealMason about World of Warcraft, it's time to head out to the Fail Kitchen to make some food for the work pot luck on Friday. But I cannot resist introducing drunk creepy guy to Neal and his friend Brian.

They thank me for this...

Needless to say, shenanigans ensued and I did not get out of their at my intended target time, but much later. Now officially named "The Creepy Guy", he set out on a barrage of victims and tirades that would make a sailor blush. But I will let the video evidence speak for itself, my poor quality cell phone vids can be found here on You Tube.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Monday Night Draft House

So, I cannot stand keeping my house keys on my car keys ring. Small car, short legs, the keys bump my leg when I drive. So I keep it light.

This however has led to me locking myself out of the house. We have to lock the door to the house, in the garage locked because my girl won't stop feeding the neighbors cats. Trust me all this randomness does collide into a point of commonality.

The neighbor cats think they live in our garage now, so girl also leaves the door cracked so they can go in and out as they please. Hence why the house door must be locked. Did I mention the pigeons?

So I have on occassion forgotten to throw my keys in my bag. Today was such a day. So with a couple of hours to kill I made my way to Big Dogs Draft House, our local watering hole.

Hey how can you say no to two for one burgers and cold micro brew. My favorite Red Hydrant Ale so not too bad a night for locking myself out of the house.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

BNBLV Week Two


Another successful Beer N Blog in Vegas... details and editing later. It was another good showing and managed to meet some new folks tonight. Alas had to call it in a bit early.

We tried to gain some structure this week and plan for some constructive get togethers in the future. I am looking forward to seeing how the group progress and evolves. For now, we are definetly still growing and forming, the Tweets point to a number of people that still have yet to attend.

For now I will just sit back and watch it form, do my part as I can and enjoy the ride.

Escaped For Lunch

Exciting lunch at Starbucks, so I can run a test mobile post. Hopefully everything is working well so I can report from the Beer N Blog tonight! Move along nothing to see here, just getting out of the office for half hour to enjoy the weather.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Beer N Blog - Las Vegas Edition


So, I really should learn not to flash my phone rom before I head out to a social networking event. It makes it difficult for me to mobile blog when my phone will not send the message out properly, add alcohol to the mix and well you get the idea.


At any rate, the first Beer and Blog in Las Vegas was a huge hit last night. Expectations varied but with over 30 people attending, it's safe to say that a second event will be in order. Apparently Twitter really is an effective social media tool, because it propagated quite a bit through the Interwebs.


I certainly did not have the opportunity to meet many of the attendees, but did chat at length with several of them. Definitely looking forward to meeting some other folks in
the future.


But really, on to the fun stuff. As #bnblv crowd thinned out, the college crowd began to fill in, and to our "delight" we found ourselves amid open mic night. There was quite a cast of celebrities, especially if you are a fan of nineties alternative music. We had Lisa Loeb, the lead singer of Midnight Oil and the late, great (op‌ions may vary) Kurt Cobain in attendance. Oh and some guy with a Mac singing about Star Wars, looked so bored with himself, I thought he was gonna go all narcoleptic in his chair.


While I am known in my circles as a ham in Rock Band, especially when I sing and play guitar at the same time. However, I generally tend to keep that to the privacy of my living room. Well except for that time last week at Harrah's, but we won't talk about that. Still it was great fun mocking the youngsters with references they really didn't understand.

Lots of good beer, some tasty fried food, not a bad little joint, the Freakin' Frog, btw, helps to mention the place you are talking about. Big shout out to everyone that attended, hope you all had as much fun as I did.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

CES09 - Day Four Wrap Up

After the fail of Saturday, I needed to get off to an early start on Sunday. Although the scary folks, in line in their pajamas at Starbucks had other ideas. I managed to get down to the convention center just after nine.

Sunday was pretty quiet, but I had a lot of ground to cover. I worked from the North to South halls before deciding to head over to the Sands. A quick bus trip over there and the crowd was a bit heavier thanks to the Adult Entertainment Expo.

Normally I really enjoy the Sands portion of the show, but this year, not so much. I grew bored pretty quickly as my mind and stomach became more interested in lunch. The next big decision of the day, Gordon Biersch which would be taxi or on foot or shuttle back to the CC and a hike to the Hilton.

I opted for football and the Hilton, made my way over to the theatre for $1 hot dogs and $2 beers. Watched the end of the Giants / Eagles game and the start of the Chargers / Steelers. That was a nice break that gave me the energy to make another pass through the convention center.

Admittedly I got caught up in the last minute swag opportunities at the show. I got some of my best stuff in the last hour, lots of Micro SD cards, card holders, hats, shirts and orange pens. Why so many damn orange pens? Well I take those to work at any rate.

Surprisingly I stayed until the show closed at 4 before getting in my car and finding myself home by 430 to watch the end of the game. I definitely did not cover the show as much as I had intended, but I did have a good time. In the end, that's all that matters.

CES09 - Day Three Fail Blog

Fail so hard it gets posted on Sunday...

So a long night Friday, shopping and real life Saturday morning. Follow that up with two power naps and a craving for steak... and you end up with failing to attend CES on Saturday.

But that is pergoative you can have when you attend on your own dime and time and live in Vegtas. Had a nice day at home, watched football, had a good steak dinner.

Back in action today @CES09, working my way through everything. Stay Tuned.

Friday, January 9, 2009

CES09 - Day Two Firefly

Finally landed at Firefly Tapas Bar, having some mojitos and sangria and tapas. Good stuff. We sampled the watermelon and blood orange mojitos, the watermelon won.

Now we have to decide on the tapas, everything looks excellent. This may take a while... no rush the parties don't start until five.

CES09 - Day Two Lunch

So a couple disappointments starting with the often legen...wait for it...dary Gibson tent. Looks like no concerts or happy hours this year.

We toured the booth and got to check out the Marcus Henderson guitar, but no sign of the Joan Jett. We will try again later.

We then moved over to the food court behind the tents. Not much selection and pretty crap food. This in no way is anything on par with my pulled pork.
Anyway, time to head back to the floor.

CES09 - Day Two @ Microsoft

Working our way around, many interesting things so far. Just stopped in at Microsoft for a number of reasons.

First checking on the after market availability of Sync. Playing with the touch screen interface of Windows 7. Off to gaming next and hopefully a normal W7 demo.

CES09 - Day Two

Finally arrived @ CES09! Things going smoothly so far, we got great parking, whisked through the badge holder pick up, grabbed breakfast. Now just waiting for the magic 9am hour to hit the show room floor.

We have about six hours today before heading over to Firefly tapas bar for an early dinner. Plans to hit the It Won't Stay In Vegas party. Also hoping Gibson will have it's usual great events planned.

More to come, so stayed tuned.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

CES09 - Day One

Day one, spent oh so close yet so far away. I work just a few miles from the Convention Center, but I never got to lunch today, little lone a drive by on CES. I got some early glances at Twitter, following up on some party invites and wishing I was there.

At any rate, it was a busy day not at CES, now I have my gadgets packed and am ready to get an early start in the morning. Except for the fact I left my extra phone battery at work, so an early stop by work is now on the books for Friday.

No parties for me tonight, no CES love, just some love through the tweet lines and some tv coverage on G4. All is well, the weekend is here and the next three days I can enjoy, can't wait!

Also a few of us are going to happy hour at Firefly tomorrow 3pm.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

CES09 - Media Day

One of the most frustrating parts of being in town, is that when the pre convention stuff starts, I am stuck at that 40 a week grind that pays the bills. So I followed the Tweets and Feeds and such as I could today from a far. I have yet to pay my dues enough to garner a blogger or press type badge. Also bowing out of day one until after the 5pm bell rings out the end of my work week.

Still getting excited for the event, updating my phone and my blog and my many online hang outs in preperation of a long weekend of texting, blogging and taking pics of coold stuff. Going to try and keep the updates brief for the most part, be sure and follow the Twitter updates as well.

Off to watch the Ballmer keynote online.

Monday, January 5, 2009

New Year

The opportunities to blog on the go have been few and far between these winter months. But what better way to start out the new year then lots of posts from CES. The annual invasion of Las Vegas by the tech industry begins this week.

The posts should be plentiful over the next few days, stay tuned.