? Robert Van Winkle (aka Vanilla Ice) did a show at the Liar’s Club block party stage for Memorial Day weekend.? I had to get by without a telephoto lens and difficult lighting, so please forgive the quality issues.
He let a ton of people on the stage as a publicity stunt.? They all can go home and call everyone they know to tell them they were on the stage.? It was? too crowded for any of them to move around.? The affect was Vanilla Ice had to compete with the stage girls for attention.
? Vanilla Ice himself
? Nice soundboards, they were ginormous.
? Chicks were flashing various body parts.
? Vanilla Ice attempts to get more girls to undress.? The crowd wasn’t very receptive of his plea.
? Half the time you couldn’t even see him because the stage was over crowded.? Vanilla Ice’s show was interesting at best.
? I couldn’t say that I digged anything I heard.? We were hoping he would play some of the old school hits that we remember from childhood, but he must be too cool for that now.? It’s understandable that he’d be embarrassed.? We just wanted to hear some “Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go” or “Ice, Ice, Baby.”
Des Moines, Downtown, Music, Night, Outdoor, People
We stayed at the Marriot in downtown Des Moines
Looking South of downtown Des Moines
Just borrowing? a cart?
Buildings, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits
We went to Liar’s Club.
? Ran into Stevie’s crew
Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Night, People
? We went to Tequila Tom’s on Court Ave. in Des Moines after eating.? We got there around 7pm.? It was fairly early for bars on Court Ave, we didn’t run into many people.
? Down the hatch
? Chewed up Worm
? One handed bottle juggling
Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Night, Outdoor, People
? Can’t decide which is better, so here’s the other.? If I didn’t overexpose the top leaves in the first one, there wouldn’t be any question about it.? I’ll have to go back and try this again sometime.
Frankenstein Tree, half alive and half dead.
Nature, Night, Outdoor
? We went to Stix for Bailey’s 21st birthday.
? Savanah always makes it a point to give me butt shots.? I’ll humor her and actually post one.
Then things got real blurry
This is how Savanah picks up guys.? Well, that and cruising the loop blasting Ill Mitch.
Bailey accidentally spilled beer down Cherish’s back.
Bars, Night, People
? We met a couple originally from Missouri, with a young bulldog.? They said they’re moving back soon.? Can’t remember the name, but it was a sweet pup.
How many times do I have to tell you?? I’m not sad!
Animals
Where’s Waldo?? We got a more scenic camping site at Jester Park this year.? It’s a lot more popular over here on the edge of the lake, but I thought it was worth it.? I got to play with my super-wide angle lens some more.? The girls weren’t impressed when they learned that they’ll look fat if they’re towards the edge of the frame.
? Roots
Richard and Brad found some “walking sticks.”? Richard came charging up a path to the lake with his stick.? This family didn’t find our antics to be very funny.? After we were done trespassing on their campsite, they resumed their impressions of skits from the Lawrence Welk Show.
? Check out our walking sticks
Stephanie brought out the preschool posse for the day.
Time-out photo-shoot.? Great for kids that can’t stand still.
Sip and pass
? “Stop it, that’s my friend”
Time to cook some grub
? More Dave Hill affect.
Camping and Recreation in IA
Not much later, a few cop cars came down and swarmed a campsite a few down from us.? We felt comfortable again, like we never voyaged a few miles from the city at all.
Attractions, Greatest Hits, Nature, Night, Outdoor, Parties, People, Travel
I spent an hour or two driving around different parts of Saylorville Lake, trying to find photo ops.
Saylorville lake seems almost like a large pond to me, since you can see the opposite shore from anywhere.? Growing up in the Milwaukee area, we spent a lot of time at Lake Michigan.? I’ve been? to Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.
This is the wildest I’ve ever seen the tides here.? The lake is probably larger at the moment due to the flooding.
? Wide angle affects and Dave Hill affect.
Plenty of land between Saylorville Lake and Des Moines hasn’t been sold out to developers yet.
View from atop the Saylorville Dam
The outlet of the Dam, where it becomes the Des Moines River again.
I still haven’t figured out how the water coming out maintains a height much lower than the river.? Unless it’s an illusion, the water rises maybe? 15 feet or so from the pipe to the river.? The sheer power of the water coming out is amazing.
Attractions, Greatest Hits, Nature, Outdoor, Travel
? Cherish forgot to reserve Saturday off from work, so we just came to visit Friday.? We? camped here at Jester Park on? Saturday night.? This was my first day with my new Sigma 10-20mm wide-angle lens.? As of last I heard, this is still the widest rectilinear lens available for any digital camera.
? Koombaya?
? Master chef Pee-Wee grills up some fish.
? Not really sure
Nature, Night, Outdoor, Parties, People, Travel
Or were they?
I’m sure there’s many country songs written about this pickup truck.
Cars, Holidays, Travel
? Rain sensing wipers, dual massaging front seats, flourescent gages, 60mph reverse gear, 300hp, weather radio, traction control drives both wheels on snow/ice, four heated seats, rear vents with seperate heating/cooling controls, electronic suspension,? limp home mode, genuine? Zebrano wood trim/stearing? wheel/shifter,? and? more.? The pillow stuffed lap of luxery.
You’ll always be in my heart.
Cars
You’re 18 kid.? Here’s a carton, smoke up. (Breakfast Club reference)
Traditional birthday stogie.
? Smoke rings in the wind
Outdoor, People
We missed going to Valley Junction for Cinco De Mayo this year.? Eric’s brother was sick (cough-cough)? and couldn’t make it to their bar to DJ.? Eric had to fill in, so that’s where we landed.? We ended up staying there with boring white people, where it was just another fifth day of May.
? Black and white is for your grandmother.
Lucky for this small? bachelorette party, Eric showed up to control the mic.? They did some song by Queen and another one that made less of an? impression on me.
? Fancy bathroom murals
Girlies
Pain is life? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Life is pain
Bars, Des Moines, Holidays, Music, Night, People
After bowling, we hung out at the? interesting bar inside Air Lanes.? They do karaoke here all the time.
Look Ma, I’m on Cyberspace!
Look lady, I’m just the bartender.? Serenade someone else.
? These guys were good, they were taking requests to sing karaoke.? They could do anything from rock to country to mild rap.? I just had to hear them do something by OutKast.? Impressive flexibility.
? Eight mile without the vomit and insults
? Then this woman sung a love song to another woman
She seeked out a new target and chose Pee Wee for this song, who was less than flattered.? Richard was jamming out and head banging to her love song.
? Freaking rock stars in here
We had the backstage pass so everything was cool.
Bars, Des Moines, Music, Night, People
