Entries by TATIANA

Tonight was the first out of three.....presidential debates that is.



Me and Chhaya were glued to the TV. Chhaya is voting for whomever that is going to be a strong advocate for animal rights and she is also for harsher mandatory punishments for assholes that abuse animals. She feels strongly about dog fighting rings. Me and Chhaya are not Michael Vick fans. She wants more funding for public parks and she also want people to educate themselves and stop breeding animals with no care for what happens to the offspring. Hello it's 2016, get your head out of your ass!
I am voting for the candidate that will put me on their latte tasting payroll and I am not cheap. I have a feeling that would be Trump. He likes foreign ladies that are tall, thin and pretty. Trump has a taste for the finer things in life.



Well.....there are two debates left. Hillary has way more experience than Trump in these scenarios and she did really well I think. Trump was more emotional and there is nothing wrong with that. People tend to get emotional in matters they feel passionate about - it's a good thing (I think). I am an emotional kind of person too, I would had been loud, bossy and animated had I been on that stage. I can't and don't want to pick a winner or a loser in tonight's debate. Besides.....at this point there is no "winner" and "loser". You have to look at the bigger picture, take it all in. Where does each candidate stand on all the important questions? Look at the bigger picture people!

The art scattered all over the Playa this year......I saw perhaps half? I was lazier this year than the previous years I have to admit. I did not see and photograph all the art I wanted to because I was actually physically tired......from all the biking back and forth that I did. It takes a toll on you to bike long distances in heat, wind and dust. But I did see some and here it is......Playa art 2016.
I love the colorful man just sitting there, he fits right in.





Yes, a real B747. It had the overhead bins and the seats in it still.

Here is the temple at Burning Man 2016 before it burned down Sunday night. It is always very emotional to visit the temple, I always cry. And I think about life and death and everybody in my life. Ugh......even writing about it makes me feel anxiety and tears are welling up. I do not attend temple burn. I have in the past and decided that visiting the temple is enough for me, I can't take that sadness.
The temple, as always, was beautiful.





I love this teddy bear. ❤



Other stuff that I took pics of inside the temple......













God rays (crepuscular rays).



I am so grateful that I have experienced Burning Man four times (in a row) now.
I hope that I get to go again and again and again. But you never know. Life can change a lot. The first year I went I remember when I came across the Talk To God phone booth. I lifted the receiver and there was a voice on the other line. It was God! 🙂 And all I said was "Thank You for everything God". And I choked up. I was SO happy and SO grateful right then and there. I will always remember that moment.
I miss the Playa. I miss Burning Man.

And here is an interesting article about the temple 2016 Burning Man. Read it.

http://www.rgj.com/story/life/arts/burning-man/2016/07/15/why-years-burning-man-temple-has-no-name/87088796/

So I found and tried another, new for me, coffeeshop in Vegas. Illumilatte Brew Society located on 6825 W Russell Road. The west side of the Strip is my side of town.
I went there last night with Janis, it was the first time for both of us. And I went back this morning for some more and I have a coffee date there set up next week sometime with Maja. One can never have enough FIKA time, alone or with friends.
I should be a professional FIKA person, I can't believe I am not getting paid to do that yet......!
I really like the inside of the place, many cozy couches to sink down and relax in, nice and interesting decor. Not the best latte I've had but OK. I still want to sample one or a few of their pastries and a few more espresso drinks before I look for another new place to try.





And today's local coffeeshop news.....
"LAS VEGAS (FOX5) - Las Vegas Metro police said a deadly shooting at a southwest area Starbucks may have stemmed from a confrontation over a declined card.
Police responded to the call at 11:32 a.m. at the business near Warm Springs Road and Rainbow Boulevard. Police said it was a very "confusing event" that involved a shooting. Citing the preliminary investigation, police said the suspect went through the drive-thru at the Starbucks when his card was declined. The suspect then drove to another part of the building and entered the business agitated. The suspect fired at least two shots in the air and then fired at a customer inside.
The customer was struck in the chest area and witnesses administered CPR. Since officers treated the incident as a hostage situation there was a delay to get medical treatment to the victim. The victim was transported to Spring Valley Hospital where he or she died. Nearby roadways were blocked off during the investigation. Motorists were urged to avoid the area."

Oh yes.....I was actually in that area today and had to make a huge circle, as traffic was being diverted, to get to my destination. I was very annoyed and thought it was yet ANOTHER traffic accident. Seriously, people in Vegas do not know how to drive.
I usually see one or two accidents per day if I am out driving. I suspect that about 1/4 of the drivers in Vegas are either drunk or high on something.
But to get so freakin' mad because your card got declined that you decide that the solution to the problem is to shoot somebody? Yeah.....there are some serious psychos out there. People are sitting and enjoying their coffees on a Sunday and some random psycho barges in and starts shooting. I have no words......

I found a gem in the middle of the hustle and bustle just steps away from Las Vegas Blvd the other day. It is called The Shrine Of The Four Faced Brahma and it is dedicated to people of all faiths, which I think is beautiful in itself. The shrine is very beautiful and you can light some incense (you can get incense at the shrine or perhaps bring your own), sit down and have a quiet moment.
I would like to come back in the evening on a weekday and bring Chhaya, I like showing her different things. I would love to take her to see the big squirrels inside the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Harvest Show is on display now. She would like that.







I also ate at Serendipity 3. The food was OK at the most, I would not go there again for the food. This is a place if you are craving dessert. Or milkshake. Sit outside for some people watching.



Alice.

Hillary or Trump? Are you a Democrat or a Republican? Neither? Does it really matter? The dissatisfaction with the two presidential candidates is high. It's more like a battle of the lesser of two evils many think. Kind of sad that the country that claims it is the best country in the world came up with two candidates that almost half of the voters are dissatisfied with and that people are making a choice based on the lesser of two evils. Is this the best America can do in 2016, the lesser of two evils?
To me a two party system seems extremely outdated. Not enough choices, the other parties that try to be involved stand no chance. I think a real change will happen only when the two party system is done and over with. A true Democracy should offer and have more choices. I also believe in having people vote in certain decisions, like when the people of England voted for Brexit.
And before people in general start alienating family and friends over whether one is voting for Hillary or Trump they should really educate themselves better in what each candidate stands for overall instead of just focusing on one issue. Yes, people are so wound up over this election that they are willing to lose friends over it if the friend is voting for the other person. Really? Do you really think that your life will change that drastically whether it is a Democrat or a Republican in the White House? Or in this election, whether it is Hillary or Trump? I don't think so.
Most people are content as long as they have the daily comforts they are used to. And if you really want a change then DO something about it. DOING something takes involvement and that is not always comfortable.
I am FAR FROM involved in politics. I am not DOING anything, I am also not voting. Issues that are important to me, that I would look at and study when deciding on whom I would vote for are (in no particular order)......animal rights, environment, health care, education, budget for military, human trafficking, stand on welfare, the protection of individual rights and freedom, how to battle terrorism, global involvement and interests. I can't think of anything else for now.
Also important to me is a presidents education. But also their emotional intelligence. A high education with a degree or two under your belt does not automatically mean that you are intelligent and a good person (I know plenty of examples of this myself). How does this person act in public? How will they interact with other world leaders? What have they done in the past? Have they done good? Do they seem honest, trustworthy and like a stand up good person. LOL.....honest and trustworthy.....I am forgetting that I am talking about US politics now. I am not in Sweden anymore. The $ rules here. Most people can be bought. Lies fly and saying one thing one day and another thing the next is just normal.
Somebody I know told me "it is time for some pussy in the White House". I cringed at that statement and I also said it is an awful and uneducated thing to blurt out. The person that is the MOST qualified should be in the White House, this has nothing to do with gender or race.....it has to do with qualification. By the way, there has been "pussy" in the White House since the very beginning.
Every president was married (don't quote me on that.....I am not sure if all 40 something US presidents were married) and I am sure most of the spouses as of lately have been strong and opinionated women that influenced their husband more than once.
I would love to attend the debate that will be held in Las Vegas on October 19 at UNLV. I looked into the possibilities of attending and a ticket to that event seems to be harder to obtain than a ticket to Burning Man.
Perhaps I can pretend to be media? HELLO......!!!? Do you not know who I am???
I write a blog that MILLIONS of people read and I will cover the presidential debate in my blog extensively, I DESERVE to be present! In fact, I should get my own microphone and be allowed to interject with questions and observations.
I don't know where I stand in this election. To shake up the country, if that is what you want, vote for Trump I guess and see what happens. To stay more on the same course vote for Hillary.
I am more worried about the state of Europe and Sweden. The Islamic State worries me. I care for how we treat animals. And this planet. If you really are the proud American that you say that you are.....then stop leaving your trash behind. Don't let some poor immigrant like me pick up your trash, because I do. For free.
I work for free for America! LOL. I care about human interactions and the importance of being nice to each other. I care about being open minded and possessing knowledge and learning. I think we should read more books and watch less stupidity. I think it is important to talk to each other and learn from each other. We all share the same planet. Me, you and everybody else.