Looking for my muse in Las Vegas

Living in Charlotte where it feels like you're walking around in hot bathwater half the year, it seems so incredibly arid here in the desert. Don't let those palm trees fool you. If you haven't ever been here and are packing a bag, don't forget Chapstick and some kind of good, rich lotion. This isn't a commercial, it's a public service announcement. Even the water feels dry here.

Meetings let out early this morning so John and I were free to walk, explore, and lose money. We did a little of each, now he's napping, and I'm blogging.
Beyond the glitz is another world, one you'll miss if you're not careful. We passed a homeless guy proudly displaying a ragged, corrugated cardboard sign reading, "Why lie? I need beer." Maybe I should have, but I didn't have the heart to take his picture.

We noticed window washers hanging precariously from tall buildings while Batman studied the Monorail schedule. Now that just seems wrong.

John hung out with Dino, Sammy, and Blue Eyes before lunch at Bally's,

We hit the floor for awhile, which is about all we hit,

Followed a lame guinea hen around for a little while out back at Flamingo,

Got a shot of a washed-up looking Flamingo off the trail,

And speaking of washing, John got a washed-out picture of me.

If my features were even somewhat visible here, you would detect a little desperation.
Slot machines are not satisfying my urge to use my hands and make something. Luckily, I brought along my Rowan Kidsilk Haze and decided to just knit a neckwarmer in the round with it. 122 stitches, Knit 2 Purl 2, simple as that. If it's too huge I can always felt it a little, because it will still turn out very soft.

My own lesson of the day is: My Muse lingers off the beaten path--it's up to me to do the searching. And when I do, I usually find it, whether out in the world or just in my own head and soul.

Example: We ducked into a little gallery last night after eating at the Cheesecake Factory. We didn't have to, it was late, but as a result we soaked up some of the most incredible art work I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot. I'll have to see about their web site so I can hopefully put a link here. I want to share it with you, too. Totally mesmerizing. More later, thanks for visiting!