The weather was decent, not great but decent today and I took the chance to get the deck scrubbed. It’s been a few weeks since I got out there and power washed the debris off, last night I spent a few hours and got to scrub about half of it, I’ll get the rest on the next decent evening. Now I just need three dry days in a row and I can get the sealant down.I just hope the good weather gets here sooner rather than later, the next week looks mixed at best, and the countdown to the Sounders thrashing of the Timbers is clearly underway with so much trash talking on the forums. It’s a shame it’s the same weekend as the Oregon Trial.

In my opinion one of the unfriendliest airports in this world is LAX. It has 9 terminals, some of which have not seen a significant update since the early 60’s. The terminals aren’t connected and it’s a pain in the arse to move from one to another. They are doing some much needed building work there, and it really needs updating.

Taking the shuttle bus between terminals I passed this, a 747 sitting in the tarmac next to an A380. I worked the 747 production line for a few years and it’s a big airplane, it’s a magnificent piece of engineering. But the scale of the A380 is astounding.

I’ve seen A380’s on the ground at Heathrow, Tokyo, Frankfurt and one or two other airports, but somehow never got the scale of the thing until today. It really is huge and I’ve discovered something cool about LAX, a good day.

Ostentatious: adjective

• Characterized by or given to pretentious or conspicuous show in an attempt to impress others.

The hot new hotel in Vegas right now is the Cosmopolitan, we took a wander around earlier today looking for lunch. In real estate talk the Cosmopolitan would be described as “compact”. It’s on a small plot of land sandwiched between other projects and is rather confusing inside with stuff spread over many floors, but in the middle of the building is a bar surrounded by three floors of crystals on strings.

There must be millions of them, it’s not a subtle look and reflects the rest of the hotel nicely. The whole hotel does not have much of a theme (trendy in Vegas today, which when one of your biggest hotels is shaped like a pyramid and has a giant concrete sphinx outside it’s a little tricky to de-theme), and I mean that a a complement. From the massive video displays in the lobby with bubbles floating around on them to the white leather lounge furniture. It’s all very much what you expect from Vegas, and really I quite liked it.

Onto lunch, there are plenty of “fusion” restaurants around, and Vegas has more than it’s fair share. However today we discovered something that sounds a little stranger than most.

Chinese/Mexican… Yep, a Chinese Mexican restaurant, with tacos and dim sum on the same lunchtime menu.It took a couple of moments to get out collective heads around that one.

Having said that, it was very, very good and just what we needed prior to touring some very affordable real estate for a couple of hours this afternoon. House prices are not where they were a few years ago, they have recovered slightly, but only slightly and we were told today that well over 50% of the market still has negative equity. It’s interesting looking at a job that really only needs an internet connection and close proximity to a major airport, it really does open up a lot of options.

A lot to think about and it’s time to get on an airplane. Thank you for the upgrades Delta.

Tonight was wonderfully entertaining. A great undercard, followed by a spectacular entrance and a fight with one athlete at the top of his game while his opponent looked past his best.

First the great, the final fight on the undercard was Vazquez Jr taking on Arce for the WBO Bantamweight title. There was a very large Mexican group sitting close by who were very vocal during what was a terrific fight with both boxers going for the win. There were two technically good boxers who were able to punch hard.

As the fight wore on Arce became more and more aggressive, something he needed to do after being knocked down in the 4^th by a huge left hook. The later rounds were all about Vazquez counter punching to Arce’s aggressiveness.

It all came to an end in the 11^th as Vazquez looked very unstable, but Arce could not find the punch to put the fight away. As the final round started Arce came out looking to end it and had the champion on the ropes a couple of time before his corner threw the town in and stopped the fight.

Vazquez gave a great defence of his title and it takes two good boxers to make a good fight, and this was a terrific match.

The main event was what wed come to see, the bookies in Vegas were clear that they felt this was going to be a Paquiao win with the odds on Mosley getting longer through the day.

One of the reasions I’ve wanted to go to a big match was for the hype around the fight itself, and tonight did not disappoint. There was Jamie Fox, LL Cool J (“I’m going to knock you out” as Mosley came into the arena), Jimi Jamison from survivor (singing “Eye of the tiger” as Pacquao entered) were all part of the build up in the ring. The entrances and everything prior to the fight was wonderful to behold, it’s a spectacle that really is made for Vegas. The noise from the full arena just added to the event. It really was something to behold.

The fight itself went the full 12 rounds and I don’t think there was any question who would get the decision.

Shane Mosley took a lot of hard hits from a great boxer, Pacquiao deserves the reputation he has. As the fight wore on it was Pacquiao who took over. In the third he landed a hard two punch combination that sent Mosley tumbling to the mat. To his credit he got up and managed to survive and get back to his corner, but from that point on he was unable to go after the champion in any meaningful way.

In round 10 the two men clinched and Mosley clearly shoved Pacquiao to the mat. Somehow it got scored as a knockdown and this missed call made Pacquiao look to get the knockout.

After the final bell in the 12th I don’t think there was much doubt as to who would get his hand raised. The guy in the row behind me put it best, Shane Mosley looked every bit of 39 years and was unable to put any control on the fight. Pacquiao’s lived up to his reputation for aggression, but the toughness of Mosley allowed him to survive the full twelve rounds.

It was a lot of fun, and I’m very happy I took the opportunity to go. It may have been where I we were sitting, but the crowd was very pro-Paquiao. He perhaps had the majority of the support, including a couple of young Philippine women in the row infront of us whose demure demeanor very entertainingly gave way to full on calls for blood the moment the fight started. It really was people watching at it’s finest.

The crowd really was Vegas at it’s very best, the hype was everything you would expect from a big fight and I had an absolute blast, thanks for the invite chaps, it was awesome. Today I fully get why people go to big fights, it’s really is one of the great sporting experiences I’ve been to.

OK here we go, someone is going to take this personally, but it’s not aimed at any particular individual self absorbed, vacuous individual other than the one checking in last night…

This started a couple of weeks ago when one of the engineers that worked with me dropped by my desk and asked for some advise on surprising her husband with a trip to Vegas. They have a 4 year old son and my first question was “Who is looking after the kid?”

This post is inspired by the rest of that conversation, the bitter experience of the last 20 hours and a few unbelievably self obsessed people last night.

To whom it may concern…

There was an evening, it may have been a few days ago, it could conceivably have been months before your arse hit the strip complete with that hot Vegas accessory, the stroller. If this may be you, step away from your yard of margarita, put down that attractive “Welcome to Las Vegas” fridge magnet and take stock of what you are doing.

Who the hell brings kids to Las Vegas? It’s called “Sin City”, the tag line is “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”, what made you think this was a great place for a family vacation? Oh yeah, that’s right you are a selfish arse who wants to play poker while letting the 9 year old run around the Adventuredome for 8 hours by herself.

I can see the conversation

Dad – what about a vacation this year? Any thoughts?

Mum – Well there is always DisneyLand, they are at the right age to enjoy that…

Dad – Or we could go to Vegas, blow their college fund playing blackjack and get that threesome with a hooker we’ve been talking about for a while…

Mum – That sounds like an awesome idea, can I choose the hooker? You know how I like false tits… But what about the kids?

Dad – It will be fine, we’ll get adjoining rooms…

Perhaps I should rephrase it as “What happens in Vegas when almost criminally negligent parents are wandering along the strip at midnight while pushing their offspring, stays in Vegas until they are all in the family therapists office in 10 years time”

I’ve said before there should be parent licenses. I’ve seen some horrible parenting in my lifetime, you need a license to have dog in Snohomish, but across this country any selfish woman and random alcoholic baby-daddy can have a kid and then a few years later take them to Vegas. Parenting skills and having to be thoughtful of this little life you created are to some people very, very optional.

So Mr and Mrs Inconsiderate, I hope you’ve got good medical insurance, ’cause therapy ain’t cheap.

I’ve got a lot of problems with Vegas ($20 for a gin and tonic for a start), but the biggest one of the last 20 hours is kids. I can spot poor parenting at 200 yards and I am sick and tired of having to deal with the consequences of terrible parenting. I’m sick of fact that I have to censor myself when we are sitting in a restaurant after midnight because the parents at the next table are clucking in disapproval at a wonderful, profanity laden story about jumping a racecar 164 feet (“and then Jeff said “That is so fucking cool…”).

In England there is the “watershed”, it means nothing racy on TV before 9pm, there is nothing similar in Las Vegas and there should be. The clock strikes 9 and the strip becomes a kid free zone.

I hate how slow the check in line moved last night because the self absorbed parents are too busy dealing with whining, crying Johnny who thinks now is the right time to empty the contents of his sisters diaper bag on the floor of the check in area in the Wynn. WTF, I really mean WTF. A lot of credit to the Wynn here, they handled the situation perfectly and it has a no stroller policy. And I like that. This is a place where people come to gamble, drink, have fun and discreetly stare at silicon chested stripper wannabes by the pool.

If you really must be so selfish as to bring your kids to Vegas, at least have the decency to stay at Circus Circus. Next time I inadvertently bump into your precious while backing away from the $5 craps table in Bills after a series of good rolls, you can apologise to me, because you are a thoughtless, self absorbed arse. When I’m on my 4th gin & tonic, and still feel like the responsible one in an argument, it’s not a good reflection on you.

So thank you for your time, it’s been at least a decade since Vegas even pretended that it’s a family vacation spot. And there is a good reason for that, because it’s not.

Thank you, and have a good night, because I have a dinner reservation with my friends and a fight to attend.

And the Wynn really did a great job in dealing with the issue, I am very, very happy with the customer service. My problem is not with them, but the inconsiderate arse who checks into the hotel at midnight with two kids who are “expressing themselves”.

Last weekend Sir Henry Cooper died, too most people in the US that name does not mean much; in the UK it’s a different story. He is known as the best heavyweight the country has ever produced. Not the most successful, he was never world champion, but a man who was so close to changing the history of the sport.

Cooper fought Muhammad Ali twice, the first at Wembley Arena in 1963 when he still went by the name of Cassius Clay and was building his career after winning Olympic gold in Rome three years earlier.

The 10-round fight was billed as a title eliminator; the winner would have a chance at Sonny Liston and his world title. Cooper came glove-splittingly close to changing the course of boxing when he put Clay down with a huge left. But Clay endured and went on win the fight, win the rematch, win the title and changed the world.

Today boxing is missing the great characters of the past, the value of a world championship has been diluted and the top fighters in each weight avoid each other. Exhibit a) in this argument would be Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Boxing need something to get it going, and if a single fight could reignite some interest in boxing in the US, that could be the one.

Boxing has many issues from the multiple sanctioning bodies, promoters just interested in a quick big payday rather than taking a long-term view of what is good for the sport. It’s far too much about what happens outside the ring, when it should be about what goes on inside.

In the US MMA has taken over from boxing in the public’s imagination precisely because it’s over come these issues. It promotes the characters, it concentrates on what goes on in the cage, it is unified and one person is in control. Four sanctioning bodies and fighters controlled by agents interested in the money and little else.

There are a lot of reasons that the sport is domestically loosing and to reverse that boxing needs to put it’s house in order, set it’s priorities, clean up and start promoting the fighters as personalities. There is no equivalent of Tyson (who despite his issues was a hell of an athlete) or De La Hoya anymore. And the sport desperately needs that, but it’s not the only or even the biggest issue.

I think it’s safe to say that today Manny Pacquiao is pound for pound the best boxer in the world, and seeing any athlete at the top of their game is exciting.

Boxing is still doing well elsewhere in the world; Pacquiao is the biggest Philippine sportsmen ever and is a huge draw at home. In the heavyweight division the Ukrainian Klitschko brothers sell out huge stadiums in Europe. The sport looks healthy elsewhere, but it’s certainly struggling in the incredibly US domestic market.

In the UK the sport is producing some great athletes with David Haye and Amir Khan being the pick of the bunch, but Carl Froch and Ricky Burns also hold world belts. And there are plenty of others trying for that level, including Beijing gold medalist James DeGale. In the amateur ranks Team GB has maybe never been stronger and has realistic hopes of 6 or possibly 8 medals at the Olympics next year.

In short, every successful spectator sport comes down to what happens on the field of play, the compelling stories and likable athletes competing at a high level. That is what sports fans want and makes them come back for more. At this time boxing doesn’t have that most of the time.

The stories are there, and of course any discussion about that must start with Pacquiao. He started in the slums of General Santos City in the Philippines and through boxing became his country’s highest profile athlete. He has worked his way through the lighter weight divisions and earned his place at the top of the sport. He is technically a great fighter and his style is great to watch, if only he and Mayweather Jr could find a way to get into the ring at the same time.

Tonight Pacquiao takes on Sugar Shane Mosley in Vegas. I’ve always wanted to go to a big fight, this is my chance and I’m very excited to be here. I think Mosley is over matched and if he is going to win, it will have to be early as I don’t think he has the endurance to stay with him. The bookies have Pacquiao as the big favorite. This is going to be a fun experience in a sold out arena.

Waking up in Vegas and just being able to lean over and touch the remote control for the windows… It’s very cool and just what I need in my bedroom.

It’s been a very emotional and tough week. A day hanging out with some friends, looking a a little real estate and finding some pool time before a big evening out is just what’s required.

I never got around to publishing my daily pictures this week, lots of important stuff got in the way and I really did not feel up to it.

Lets start with Tuesday, I got home to discover that Pud has discovered not only how to open the cupboards where her treats were kept, but that was also a fan of the rice crackers she found in there. This is was the guilty looking cat I found when I got in from work on Tuesday night.

Wednesday had a lot going on, talking over my plans for the next couple of months with my manager. Handing over my responsibilities and leaving TBC for pastures greener. Exciting, but very, very scary. I got in, had dinner largely prepared for me (thanks) and say down to enjoy it. Wonderful stuffed mushrooms and steak. Later in the evening I looked round and there were the guys just quietly sitting there.

Thursday was a big night out with some work friends. We went to Theatro Zinzani by the Space Needle. As ever, great food,very good entertainment and a lot of laughs.

Friday was all about traveling, disappointments and meetings. It was almost midnight before I got into my hotel room, and it all became worth is as this was the view I was greeted with.

And it’s looking rather green now. It’s been the wettest April ever recorded in Seattle and that’s been good for the greenery.  The grass is growing, the weeds have largely been pulled up and the “green belt” is starting to live up to it’s name. It’s beautiful out there.

This weekend I got a very interesting offer to do something new, outside of aero. I’ve been thinking about this for a while and that it may be time to leave the safety net of my current job and go do something different. I’ve been there for a long time and as I’m making breaks in other parts of my life, I think it’s time for a change professionally, to use the skills I have and stretch myself professionally at something totally new.

Over the next two or three months it’s time to transition to a new job, get a little more creative and create the framework for something new and different. There has been a lot of thought and advice and I think the move is the right thing. I’m very excited.

This weekend I was competing in the Olympus Rally with Carey, it’s our first rally together for almost four years and we had a lot of rust to shake off. We started Saturday morning over some very familiar stages including the Northwest classic “Brooklyn Tavern”. We were building up speed as the day carried on and things were starting to come together and we were becoming more competitive.

I was writing a long piece about our weekend with lots of photos. I got back from the rally tonight and that’s not happening.

On stage Six, the second running of the Smith Creek stage 5 or 6 cars in front of us was the pairing of Matt Marker and Chris Gordon. I did not know them well, but was familiar with both of them. I spoke to them a couple of times earlier in the day swapping stage times and while hanging out before the stages start.

Matt Marker has a big accident on Smith Creek and was fatally injured during the accident. Chris Gordon was uninjured and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

It’s not the first time I’ve been through this. We all accept when we get in the car that we may have accidents, it’s part of the sport and I’ve spoken about my feelings about this in the past. That’s not changed and the fact that we literally put our lives in each others hands makes this such a tight group of people.

Matt Marker was part of the rally family, as JB reminded me tonight, knowing we are all in this together makes the sport so special on both a regional and national level. So to Matt, Tracy, Alex, Lianne, Carey, JB, Kelly, Steve, Max and the rest of you that cried, hugged, shared thoughts and feelings, thank you all for the last 24 hours.