A wall at Planet Hollywood, Times Square. It contains a couple of hundred Gibson Guitars, mostly the Les Paul.

This is a fitting memorial to the famous Les Paul, who died on August 13 2009. He created the Gibson Les Paul guitar, which was played by almost every rock band in the world.

He also invented multi-track recording, which of course revolutionised the music industry.

Paul McCartney’s bass guitar, originally uploaded by Craig Strachan.

Here is a picture of Paul McCartney’s bass guitar – yes the original! It was on the wall at Planet Hollywood on Times Square, New York.

On Friday we had supper with my cousin Bruce and his wife Melissa. We met at a great  restaurant called John’s Pizzeria just of Time Square. I had forgotten how crazy Time Square is, with all the bright lights and TV screens. The screens seem to be getting bigger and bigger (and also better quality) – I would love to get one for home!

Although we had to wait about an hour before we got our table, the pizza’s were great, and in good American tradition, they were huge. Two were plenty enough for four of us to share. The highlight of the evening was to meet our new cousin, Emily. She was  on born six weeks ago, and this was her first official outing, so it was quite a treat for all. We were also the first of the Cameron side of the family to meet her!

Emily Cameron

It was not the greatest picture, but she was being really quiet and we didn’t want to disturb her, but she is really sweet!

Here is proud dad feeding her.

We had a great evening, and it was cool to catch up with some of the family in USA, and to get to spend time with my techie cousin. It is kind of bizarre that in a family of Camerons (who are generally very quite), both Bruce and I love public speaking, and are absolute techno-junkies.

Thanks guys for dinner, hope to see you next Sunday for dinner.

Outside, it is pouring with rain, it seems like the sky is trying to empty on our heads. This is after I told Lois that I thought that we were over the worst of the rain, oh well clearly my prediction skills are not as good as I would like. However, in less than a week we will be in the middle of summer, first in New York, and then in Connecticut, attending the Toastmasters International Convention at Foxwoods. Foxwoods is the largest stand-alone casino in the world.

I have been to the MGM in Vegas, if I am correct the casino floor was over 50000 square feet, so for this one to be larger than that is really quite something!

The next day, we will rent a car and meet the other half of our group, Rob and Keryn, and then off to Foxwoods, the largest single casino in the world. I am really looking forward to catching up with my Toastmastering friends, and meeting new people.

MGM Hotel in Las Vegas

So we are getting towards the final stages of packing for the trip. Packing for me always seems to be a little of a last-minute thing, I don’t seem to be able to plan it to far ahead. But then I think that it is because I don’t feel a need to have to plan it too far ahead, after all I seem to remember to take everything and I don’t really forget anything important.

Also, it is not like we are travelling to the middle of nowhere, it will after all be USA, and we really can get anything that we need there! We are going to hire a car, so that will also make the travelling arrangements a little easier.

Times Square

We are going to have Pizza on Time Square with my cousin Bruce when we get there, I have not seen him in a very long time, so I am looking forward to catching up with him, and to meeting his wife Melissa, and their new baby. I am dreading the long flight. 16 hours in an aeroplane is simply far too long for me, I have done it three times now, and I really don’t feel like a forth, but not too much choice there!

So, just two days left at work, and then off to USA – I am really excited about the trip.

Here is a quite cool map of countries that I have visited. Visit the link below, and you can create your own. When you look at it visually, it really does not look like much. I will simply have to travel more!

visited 15 states (6.66%) Create your own visited map of The World or try another Douwe Osinga project