Air Jordan XI "Gamma Blue"

I got these shoes when they were released on Saturday December 21st.  I was aware that lots of people were anticipating the release of these shoes when I noted that people on the Wednesday BEFORE the release were already waiting in line.  Keep in mind that week, it was freaking cold, and it rained several times while these people slept on the sidewalk.  When I did pick them up on Saturday, I actually had a confrontation with a fellow "sneakerhead".  Needless to say, I got my shoes and I doubt he got his.  I saw this article from the NY Daily News and there were actually fights that broke out.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/release-nike-air-jordan-gamma-blue-11s-brawls-shoe-stores-nationwide-article-1.1556245

So here we go with the unboxing.

The box was interesting.  It says Jordan on the left in yellow and on the right it says "Jumpman" but you have to look at it sideways.  On the top it is obviously has a 23.

"Gamma Blue"  $185.  Not cheap!

Nice plastic casing.  If you look closely you can see several messages.

"TINKER MAKE THEM SHINE"

This is a reference to the shoe designer Tinker Hatfield.  He is responsible for making one of the most memorable and my favorite Air Jordan shoes to date.

Well, duh!

"YOU MADE THEM ICONIC"

At least they gave credit to all the people that coughed up their hard earned cash to buy these shoes!

The tissue paper was unique and carried the Carbon Fiber theme.

And here we have the first glimpse of the AJ XI "Gamma Blue"

Here we are.  Patent leather!  I like patent leather!

Normally, I do not like non-original colorways, but in this case, 

this is the BEST looking non O.G. colorway of recent memory.

Note the yellow 23 in the back.

Yellow Jumpman.  Too bad they come off easily.

Note the textured carbon fiber and clear icy blue sole.

2013 Las Vegas, Again

Hey everyone!  I just got back from Las Vegas.  This makes it the third time of going to Las Vegas this year. I got some cool stuff to share with you.

So I went to go check out the Neon Museum.  It is a handful of blocks away from downtown Las Vegas.

I believe they opened up the museum a year ago.

This sign they got it straight from the Sahara.  It is in excellent condition.

The signs are scattered throughout.

Note the rocks... don't go beyond the rocks!

The signs are huge!

Stay on the walkway....

Tam 'O Shanter.  That  thing in front is the Tam.  

The Stardust Sign with our tour guide, Ian.  He told us that this was the first "Nuclear Themed" Casino.  They used to watch on top of the hotel atom bomb testing and would give out goggles as protection.  This sign was super huge.  They have parts of it all over the place.

Here is the first Aladdin Hotel Lamp.

Tropicana with parts of the Stardust sign...

Note Cesar's Palace with more Stardust....

This duck is from Ugly Duckling Cars. 

This sign was completely restored and works!  

You have to come after 5pm and they turn it on!

SEMA 2013

I just got back from SEMA 2013 and it was astonishing how many people came down to check it out.  I was impressed the wide range of anything that had to do with cars/trucks was represented in this show.  They had lots of cars and trucks and most of them really looked tacky.

 

 

 

Here is an interesting car, but the booth was for the lift for auto shops.

 

The interior was very interesting.  Check out the shifter.

 

 

One side has the engine exposed.

 

Here is a truck called Fermented Fruit. 

 

Note the headlights had green goo and little bugs in it!

 

Here is a picture of the rims and tire area.

 

 

Jaguar E-type

Here is one of the few classier cars that haven't been molested.

 

Here is Willy from Duck Dynasty.

 

 

Lots of people outside.

 

So they had a "ride along" in a Ford Raptor. 

This one is filled with passengers.

 

Here is the world's fastest lawnmower.
Supposedly it goes 133 MPH!

 

Here is a custom FedEx truck.
No, I didn't see a UPS or USPS truck...
 

These people have pimped out engines.  I like the pink one.

It was shocking how common Lamborghinis were at the auto show.

 

Uhhhhh, nice rim?

 

The Ford Raptor is filled with passengers for a ride along!

 

What does a Ferrari have anything to do with a Prius?

I saw this at the airport parking lot.

 

 

 

 



Montreal Botanical Gardens

When I was in Montreal, I wanted to check out their Botanical Garden. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Botanical_Garden

It is in the Olympic Stadium.  Seriously this place is really impressive.  I am not an expert about gardens but this has to be the best one or at least in the top 5 in the entire world.  First of all the place is enormous.  You can easily spend a day there looking around seeing plants from all over the Americas.  Thankfully with your ticket, you can come back another time. They have an Insectarium which basically houses insects.  I didn't have enough time to check it out though.  =(

You see these things all over the garden.

I think this guy is a beekeeper?

Here is a piano.

These are actually apples!

These are the Moai from Easter Island.  Pretty neat.

Cool fountain and frogs!

Mother Earth.

This one was really impressive.

 Here are some ducks!

Faucet watering the flowers!

This one has to be the more impressive one in the whole park.  

It is really huge!

So they actually had a garden with poisonous plants.  Yup.  Actual real plants that are very dangerous.  This is a testament to how they roll in Canada.  They obviously have enough confidence in the visitors that they will not do something stupid like touch it.  You would NEVER EVER see this kind of thing where the public can easily access it in the mighty US of A.  Did I mention that they had MANY poisonous plants?  Here are a handful, and there were quite a few more that were there.

Poison Hemlock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conium

Here is the plant where you can make Ricin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castor_oil_plant

Here is the Poison Ivy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poison_ivy

Poison Sumac.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poison_sumac

Lily of the Valley

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_of_the_valley

We saw some foxes in the gardens also!  

I would have gotten more pictures but my camera battery was dying.  =(

Lastly they have this gargantuan greenhouse.  

I swear to you this is the biggest by far I have ever seen.  It seemed like a dozen were connected.

Sorry about the lesser quality of the following pictures.  

My good camera died so I had to use my phone.

They had lots of Bonsai trees.  Note the wires holding them "just so".

Here is another mini tree.

Chinese Elm.

Here is the Pitcher Plant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitcher_plant

The unique thing with this plant is that it is actually a carnivore.  It traps and eats flies!