lostboyblue's posterous

OH LAS VEGAS! How crazy you have made me feel lately. This is a great town that I have been a happy resident of for just more than 10 years.. but how this town has been beating me, and maybe you up lately.. Is. So. Rough. The economy, blah, blah, blah.. yes I know, we all know. It sucks. Moving forward is really the only solution, and dwelling in what was, or is no longer - does no-one any kind of good. Having said that.. I do what i can to be the best I can at whatever it is I am doing.. and being in a good mood and being thankful for everything I Do have is tough..when there are so many people that are not looking out for anyone but themselves. I know that you  might say it's a selfish town.. and with that I would have to disagree. I have learned more about who I am and what it is I want to be when I grow up, through the  hearts and lives of so many cool people I have met in my decade here.

In 2010 it's not quite the Utopian World we may have all hoped for, but it is a great place to be if you let it. I gotta say that my fellow Las Vegans, for the most part, are doing what they can to get the ball rolling again and make things happen.. but there are some out there that just do no care. That sucks. Someone recently told me to "turn my personality down" ... ... ... really? Ha. I was literally so stumped by that, that I just had to walk away. It was an attempt to deflate me of my good mood at the the time, and I really could not believe it was said out loud. Really? It's an example of what I refer to when I say that  there are those just not out for anyone else but themselves. This town is designed for people to have fun in. I know that  the current trend of of things makes it more difficult for people to get away and have fun in Las Vegas, but it IS happening. So let's be thankful for that, ya know?

I have literally never felt so much optimism in myself, as I do lately. I know it is going to be better, I want to be part of that and contribute to that but I cannot do it alone. It's more than smiling and being kind to your neighbor. It's more along the lines of being the best you can for yourself and striving for something bigger in the long run. I recently heard a guy complain that he is only, ONLY, averaging $200 a night where he works. Let me tell you, I am well aware that there have been much better days in terms of pay.. but complaining about an average of $200 dollars a night.. is ridiculous. RIDICULOUS. It just doesn't make sense to me. Sure, there are alot of people that were accustom to a different life-style that involved having alot of nice luxuries.. but those days are few and far between.  Work has to be done to make things right again, and it doesn't begin in Las Vegas, but it sure can't hurt for us to all do our part.

Something that has been in  my head since I saw one of Conan O'Brien's  last shows as host of the Tonight Show.. (you are better off Coco!) .. was what he said in the early part of a program.

"Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard, and you’re kind, amazing things will happen..."

If you work really hard..and you're kind... AMAZING THINGS WILL HAPPEN. It's not any kind of new concept. It's not a concept at all, you know it, I know it.. If you are a good person and work hard, you will be rewarded. It may not always be instant, but the gratification will come, as you deserve it. Things are changing, but as Human Beings, we are designed to adapt. It is how we have come this far. All I am saying, is if we stick it out together, we can only succeed and support one another where needed. I dunno. That's my rant. I love this town, and its people and the things I have experienced here. Just keep smiling and do your best. Please. Thanks. More on this later.

I have now seen this movie a couple of times, and to quote a buddy of mine, "it was even better the second time". I personally really loved it in fact. It was fun to watch, in regards to special effects, and action sequences. The second time I saw it, I went with my Mother and two teenage girls, (sister and cousin), and they thought it was amazing. My Mom gave it rave reviews and that just never happens. She just isn't' into sci-fi or fantasy much.. and even after we saw Return of the King, she wasn't that excited. She thought AVATAR was really cool.

According to James Cameron, he began writing the story for the film, in 1995.. but knew that the technology to execute the film in the way he imagined, just didn't exist. So in 2005 he brought the idea back to the table and started the work to make this in a real film. Stages were built, programs were written, and filming began. This is a revolutionary film and the art of it is the compliment to the technology involved in the making.

For me, it was the coolest, dreamiest, and most perfect version of a movie created in a decades.. in terms of this style anyway.. Many parts were so perfect in the execution of effect and performance, that I was hardly even aware that the the run time was over 2 and a half hours.  It was fantastic. If you have a chance to see it in the REAL 3D that it is being presented in, in many cities.. I highly recommend it. It makes the experience even more amazing. Check it out and let me know what you think!

I honestly have a great time doing that job, and playing doorman to a bunch of overly-excited girls that are all about the 'celebrity of the moment', that happens to be in the club. It is a nightly compilations of stories and good laughs that make it all really fun to deal with at times. The main thing I have always done for work, is the restaurant industry. It is something I love. I originally got into the food service line of work, through a desire to want to learn to cook. I up and moved to New Orleans, La when I was 19 and decided to make a life of it.. That is another story..

Recently I went to an "Open-Call" for work at the Mirage Casino here in Las Vegas.. eager to find work in the high-end restaurant field, I went in prepared for anything. The Mirage Casino and Hotel has recently been re-vamping themselves to be more of a nightlife and dining spot than they were once previously. I figured I would give it a shot, so resumes in hand and suit on, I showed up at the call. When I arrived, I found that the "Open-Call" for work, was actually for the LIGHT group, the company that owns the BANK Nightclub, and the company I was currently working for. It caught me a bit off-guard, as I had really never thought of working for the dining-side of the LIGHT Group. They are restaurants that I enjoy dining in, and as I always tell my guests at the club, and extension of the nightclub. Trendy, attractive people working their establishments, and designed to help you have a great dining experience while out on the town. I just never saw myself as the type that would fit on their team. Yet here I was, interviewing like mad for a position. Best foot forward, I had 3 interviews the very day I walked into the call.

Months later.. I am happy to say that I am among the newest members of the LIGHT Group dining establishments. It is called UNION Steakhouse and is part of the newest and largest project that Las Vegas has ever seen - City Center. It has been weeks of training and lots of re-familiarizing moments .. but it has been a great experience thus far. Stay tuned, I will be posting more about it all very soon! See you on the next post. - Jiggins.