View allAll Photos Tagged upscale
Some of the single ladies from Lauren Land have gone to Verlot for a 2 day camping trip.
They need a break from their busy schedules.
On the left is Leslie who runs an upscale boutique. Next are Marcela & Jojo who both work in the History Dept at the University. And on the right is Connie, who is an interior decorator & design consultant.
Imagine being a kid living on a farm back in medieval times. What do you do for fun when all your chores are done? Well Leif and Sven use their favourite farm animals to have epic races around the farm, pretending to be in a colosseum like the old man Julius keeps talking about. But who’s the fastest? Sven and his goat or Leif and his pig?
Together with Dr. Church, we built these for the collaborative category of Brickscalibur - The Crazy Goat-Cart race. We have a goat, we have carts, and because Dan is hooked on motorizing everything, we have a crazy up-scaled size that can even race for real! Check out the video for a little sample of the cart actually driving.
This has been quite the ride! Or race? Thanks to Dan for designing the motor assembly and for coming up with this crazy idea. I’ve had a lot of fun! The most challenging part for me (aside from getting it to actually drive on my not very suitable for the task floors), was designing the pig. When I started out my collection of medium nougat consisted of maybe 10 different types of parts, including plates, tiles and bricks. Needless to say, my collection of medium nougat has grown a lot since then… Getting the head shaped especially was really challenging, but I am really pleased with the result!
LUNA CHELSEA – THE HEIRESS GOWN SET V2 -26
Command attention with timeless glamour and fierce sophistication. The Heiress Gown Set V2 -26 blends dramatic elegance with bold couture styling, featuring a stunning silhouette designed to turn every entrance into a statement.
The pack includes Blue, Red, and Natural effects, along with the elegant matching handbag to complete your luxury look.
✨ Compatible with:
Erika, Kupra, LaraX, LaraX Petite, Legacy (Bombshell & Perky), Maitreya, Maitreya Petite, Nhumana, Reborn, and Reborn Waifu bodies.
From upscale events to runway-worthy moments, The Heiress is made for those born to stand out.
✨ Compatible with:
Erika, Kupra, LaraX, LaraX Petite, Legacy (Bombshell & Perky), Maitreya, Maitreya Petite, Nhumana, Reborn, and Reborn Waifu bodies.
From upscale events to runway-worthy moments, The Heiress is made for those born to stand out.
✨ Available now at Designer Showcase
📅 May 5th – 20th
Big horn sheep rams gazing on some dried out grass on top of some hills/mountains in Yellowstone National Park.
A Prowling Affair
“A time for everything: A time to relax, and a time to be busy. A time to frolic and a time to labor. A time to give and a time to receive. A time to give, a time to begin and a time to finish.”
…Jonathon Lockwood Huie
“A time to lose and a time to gain. And for all these things, there is a first time, which is now.”
…Unknown
I’ve never cared for the rather unimaginatively given name of
“Pickpocket.”
Personally, I prefer the term “lifter” as a more adequately descriptive definition of what I was really into at the time.
Lifting as in from a pocket, purse, and beyond.
Beyond being lifting something specifically being worn by the person, such as a watch, bracelet, brooch, necklace, and even earring(s).
But then, that is just me being me.
So those statements being said, they are not really important to this story I am about to tell. For it was this occasion that “lifted” me into a whole different level of thievery.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I was at one of my favorite haunts, a wedding reception. This one is very upscale and quite richly delicious.
Almost like I had walked into the aftermath of two rooms being completely dumped onto a third one full of people. One room was full of expensive designer attire, the other full of over-the-top expensive jewellery.
Hopefully, you get the picture of what I was seeing.
I was dressed for an evening out, wearing a sexily short-skirted black satin dress with loose ruffles down the open neckline, a gold belt, and gold dangling earrings. My long red hair was straight down with a curl at the ends. I carried my long black velvet shoulder purse.
The reception was supposed to be a private affair but had so many guests that it was not hard for strangers like myself to mingle in.
It was a late evening affair, held in the huge basement area of a five-star hotel, with an interior entrance and one large exterior front entrance. Both of which had manned security booths set up. However, in the far backside, we’re two long corridors. One had the ladies' loo and a door at the end that led to outside gardens. The other contained the gentleman’s loo with a door at the end leading to a back parking lot, not fenced in.
Neither outside door was watched, or locked. And people were going in and out of those doors regularly. Didn’t make much sense not to be watched, but that was how I gained a surprisingly easy entry.
Cautiously I entered, immediately spying a pair of sweet sixteeners coming out of the loo ahead of me. They definitely were not sisters. They were also definitely royally decked out. Both were wearing long sequined satin gowns(blue and peach)with matching gloves. The gowns were fitted, designer, made, and had obviously been bridesmaid’s dresses for a different wedding each. Both wore their long silky hair elegantly up, held by mother-of-pearl clasps. The twittering pair also were jewelled up, sporting sweet gleaming sets of real matched pearls that swayed with a mesmerizing motion to the girl’s perky gait.
They paid no heed to me, and I lazily followed them inside the main chambre.
Contemplating that if the young adults were dolled up like this, what must the legal adults be wearing?
I had my answer soon enough, and my first few minutes inside is what plopped the rooms being dumped together thought of mine which I wrote about at the beginning.
It was delicious, moving in and out as I canvassed the room,admiring the sumptuous attire of the men and ladies present, expensive jewellery beckoning, plump purses, and fat wallets invitingly everywhere. I was ever on the lookout for opportunities to use my skilled fingers over.
My first opportunity looked to come my way as I whimsically found myself following a short brunette wearing a simply lovely gown that I actually owned a non-designer version of in the same colour , which is what caught my eye.
It was a green gown with a tight velvet bodice and free-falling taffeta skirt. I wish I looked as good in my copy as she did in her fitted one.
She was handsomely sporting a dazzling teardrop emerald pendant surrounded by diamonds hanging from a solid gold braided chain. It was bouncing from her perky breasts as she walked, creating quite the taunting show.
I could well imagine myself looking into a mirror wearing my version of that gown while also wearing that emerald and diamond set pendant.
As a plus, her long hair was up, exposing the gold clasp of the necklace she wore. Since I was still getting my feet wet, I was content with just stalking and seeing if it led to something.
It did, but not for her necklace.
As I was following the brunette I spotted a gorilla of a man wearing a far too-tight tux. He was showing off by lifting a squealing lady over his head like one would lift a set of weights.
Three of the lady's girlfriends, dressed in gowns of lavender, maroon, and neon lime, formed a half circle as they all watched laughing, pushing, and pawing against one another’s well-dressed figures as they cheered the bloke on.
With a twinge of reluctance, I decided to pass on the brunette for this much easier opportunity.
So I left her to go on her hip-swaying way, then got in with the half circle of sumptuously dressed ladies and joined in with the touchy-feely fun.
As he was bending over to put her down, I saw his jacket was lifted exposing a thick wallet now protruding from his hip pocket.
The girl joined her friends and as the “gorilla” watched with a half-pleased smile, I left them and walked past him, patting him on the rear with a slight squeeze.
I easily helped his wallet out the rest of the way as I patted his rear while saying to the prat’s backside…
“That has to be more fun than working out in a gym, eh laddie?”
Ok, so that was picking a pocket. But I still prefer the phrase lifting.
As in the solid silver Cartier watch, and the loosely worn emerald gemstone cocktail ring I lifted off two of the three watchers as we giggled together, and I happily stroked my fingers along their too soft sleek gowned, giggly warm, unsuspecting bodies.
With three scores now under my belt, my fingers deliciously tingled as I continued meandering my way amongst the happily partying guests, biding my time as I enjoyed the showy glamour of the reception halls’ guests.
The first dance time for the Bride and her Consort came.
Lights dimmed.
I began pressing up from behind against the couples in front. Seeing a sea of arms wrapped around silken waistlines. I eased off a man’s Rolex from his wrist as he held it against his wife’s satin-gowned waist. Similarly, I then relieved a lady’s gloved wrist of a gold jewelled bracelet as I pressed the fingers of my free hand against the side of her delightfully tingling feeling taffeta gown. My apologies to her were accepted as my other hand pocketed the bracelet.
Then as the wedding party held the floor, another hip pocket of a male watcher was relieved of a fat billfold.
Two picks and a lift for you language police out there.
Then the dance area, with the lights still dimmed, erupted as couples swarmed onto the floor. I went with the flow. Lifting a plump wallet from a swinging purse in the process as I cut through.
I then stationed myself in the outskirts watching the dancers. A fast dance tune started up and many of the men retreated leaving mostly ladies in shiny flowing gowns and swinging long shimmery skirts gyrating and jostling to the fast beat.
I spotted a lady wearing a taffeta gown with a diamond broach holding at the side of her waist.
I started to swing to the beat myself, wading in.
I worked my way to her, passing in the process the two sweet sixteen-year-olds and their swinging ropes of pearls. Brushing alongside them I spotted my prey. I zeroed in and jostled against her sweaty figure. Managing to easily pluck off her pricey broach as I slipped past.
Love the feel of an expensive taffeta gown.
I briefly considered leaving at that point. But there was still one traditional part of the reception I was waiting for, the Bride’s Bouquet throw.
Think of the potential.
A group of jostling, well-dressed ladies all focused on one thing. With someone like myself focused on another. There is no other opportunity like this, with the possible exception of midnight on New Year’s when the lights are dimmed over a swarming sea of guests.
So I behaved myself, catching a smoke and a free drink as I waited with anticipation.
Finally, it was announced and all of us single girls went out onto the dance floor.
I watched and like a lioness in the bush, circled around in the back.
I saw a young lady of twelve coming out to take part. She was a darling, dollied and dressed up like an adult. She was wearing blue mascara, that matched the colour of the long flowing blue satin gown she adorably was wearing. A fancy Long rhinestone necklace of diamonds and sapphires, were glistening down the front of her gown as she boldly made her way in.
When she passed me I cut her off and bumped right into her. As she wobbled on her blue leather pumps, my right hand shot up, lifting the front of her necklace as my left unsnapped the simple clasp. I pulled her necklace off with my right hand as she went off an apologetic ”Sorry miss ” like it had been her fault.
I had taken her necklace because I felt peeved that anyone not of marrying age would feel she should be allowed to take part, spoiling the tradition. Like having a cap and gown graduation for preschoolers, complete with diplomas. Kinda of ruins the meaning for those of us graduating after long years of schooling.
Sorry, but really, was a twelve-year-old going to be the one to marry next?
Oh by the by, the young girl's obviously wealthy mum was not wearing jewellery, otherwise, I would have targeted her instead to make my silent point.
So after that random encounter, I went back on the prowl, quickly choosing a likely victim and legitimately eligible participant.
I happily positioned myself.
The girl I had chosen was a tall thin blonde tightly encased in a white silk dress. Her jewels consisted mostly of 14K gold chains. Except for a gold tennis bracelet set with diamonds and rubies which is what I had my sights on.
Then, who should pop up next to the blonde? Why it was the short brunette wearing that simply lovely green velvet and taffeta gown like the one I had back in my closet at the flat.
Also wearing that delectable dazzling pendant.
I had not seen her since I had first started to follow her, and truth be told, had almost forgotten all about her.
I immediately wedged against the girl next to me(a nice lady in a silk gown with pearls) and got behind the brunette
The brunette chick's hair was still up, exposing the gold clasp of the necklace she wore, with that expensively flashy jewelled pendant at its bottom. She was short, the neckline of her gown coming up to my chin. It was now all a matter of timing.
As the bridal bouquet of roses was thrown and everyone lunged forward my fingers snaked up the backside of her soft gown and reaching the necklace I lifted the clasp and with a perfectly executed lift, opened it, slipping off her necklace almost before her high-heeled feet were firmly back on the ground.
I pulled away with my prize. And she with hers, for my victim had actually been the one catching the bouquet.
I turned, almost bumping into the pair of sweet sixteens in the satin bridesmaids' gowns who had been standing off to one side of us trying their luck at catching the bouquet.
We exchanged smiles and actually started walking off in the same direction. I pulled back and discreetly followed them.
Watching with interest as their gowns were richly fluttering along their svelte youthfully pointed figures. They then entered the same back corridor where I had first encountered them.
I saw one pulling out a pack of cigarettes as they whispered between themselves.
Happily, I overheard that they were sneaking off for a smoke.
For I saw opportunity knocking.
Following the girls I stood at the door of the loo as they slipped out the back door.
I turned and followed.
I was anticipating a chance to use their fear of being caught by me outside smoking, to allow me to chum right in and once I told them I saw no reason why they shouldn’t be smoking, receive relieved hugs from them as I left. Relieving each of them in turn by trimming off some of their pearled baubles.
At least that was the scenario that played out in my head.
One that had worked for me before. Except for that last time, three well-dressed younger ladies had been outside sneaking drinks from a flask. A pair of diamond earrings, a gold braided necklace, and a stunning diamond pin, had been my relieving picks from them.
So deciding that an opportunity for a pearl lift may be at hand I circled out and just followed the giggling and smoke signals emitting from their hidden roost.
I maneuvered up, unseen, behind them. And once again, I was that lioness hidden in the bush, waiting for the right moment to pounce.
As I waited, watching their adorably gowned and pearled figures as they giggled and gabbed on freely, I easily overheard the pair of sweet ones talking about their planned sleepover at the one girl's house.
The pretty pair were going to be alone since both parents were staying overnight at the hotel next to the reception.
I thought to myself how lovely it would be to burgle that house. To acquire all of the girl's delicious pearls, and possibly more?!
Then an epiphany as new as it was intriguing shot into my mind.
Why not try it?
I already had a nice haul for the evening. So if I could not pull it off I stood to lose nothing.
It was a gamble I was willing to take.
I stood there and watched, listened until the pair finished and swished their way back inside, none the wiser that they(and their pricy jewellery)had been watched in close proximity by a thief.
In a total bit of whimsy I went back to my sports coupe parked across an empty street from the lot. Once there I lit a cigarette of my own and stood vigil over the back parking lot.
There I could see several fancy cars parked. Including the fire-red Porsche that I had learned the one girl would be driving herself and her friend home in for their sleepover. The sports car was a sixteenth birthday gift from her parents.
All I received on my sweet sixteen was a summons to the head mistress’s office.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It was nearly two hours before I spied the fetchingly pretty pair walking out across that parking lot, smoking cigarettes like petite geysers.
They were vulnerably alone, their shiny long gowns flowing along svelte youthful figures with an air of elegance that called out to be noticed.
And with those gorgeous pearls, they were wearing, both clueless chicks presented a pair of prettily attired targets for a thief.
Fortunately, there were no muggers around. Only me, a thief with quite different aspirations on acquiring pearls this evening.
Seeing the girls leaving I got in my coupe and followed the red Porsche as it turned the corner.
It was easy to follow them. The driver was inexperienced enough not to have a lead foot.
The Porsche finally turned into the secluded driveway leading to a large two-story gothic stone structure, with small balconies outside the upper floor windows. As was a common sight with these large houses, a metal flower trellis reached up one side in between two balconies.
I found a place to pull over and quickly got out to sneak up and scout the grounds surrounding the house.
I saw a light go on upstairs, conveniently on the trellis side. Thankful my dress was tightly form-fitting, I went over and climbed up far enough to peek inside the upper-floor window
It was a bedroom, walls painted pink. Both girls were inside, starting to undress. Totally so into themselves that the pretty things had no idea a thief was eyeing them with sinister intent.
Licking my lips I watched the pair removing thier delicious pearls and piling them up on the vanity next to an open oak jewellery case, the contents shimmering in the light.
Then they pulled off their gloves and slipped out of their gowns, wearing only long slinking silk slips. Both girls, long hair now down, slipped into fancy satin robes and giggling, headed out the door.
I slipped back down the trellis and skirted the house. A light in the basement came on.
Crouching in the shadows I peeked in. The handsomely satin-wrapped pair were sitting on a couch in the furnished basement. Passing back and forth a clear bottle containing an amber-coloured liquor. Scotch I presumed.
Seeing they were becoming quickly intoxicated, I rose and with a feeling of utter confidence, went back to the trellis and climbed back up to the window.
It was conveniently left unlatched.
Piece of cake this burgling business apparently could be.
Turned out, It was a piece of cake.
Beginner’s luck, we’ll see.
I slipped over the sill and into the bedroom they had changed in.
The young lady's pearls piled on a vanity, next to the open jewellery case were my first target.
As the clueless young pair in the furnished basement was getting drunk, I put on a pair of satin evening gloves found on one of the gowns and lifted(or picked) the bedroom clean of valuables.
No persnickety housemaid could have done a more efficient job of picking clean that bedroom, or as quickly, as I did that early morning.
Then I left the room to hit the parent’s master bedroom.
It was the one on the opposite side of the hallway.
Inside I found a tall Jewelry Armoire. I opened it up and my eyes were dazzled by the display of pricy day jewelry it held. Or had held for another ten minutes until I emptied its contents into my already bulging purse.
I knew the mum would be wearing the good stuff at the wedding, the rest may be inside a safe, which was beyond my skill level in picking.
I briefly wondered if the owner of the red Porsche knew her parent's safe combination.
I thought of taking the time to find out. But shook my head no. Time to skedaddle.
Then I saw it. In my rush, I had almost missed a solitary piece of jewellery laying out on a nightstand.
It was a dazzler. An almost 7-centimeter wide bracelet, set with 7 strands of diamonds. Three strands of round stones each flanking a centre strand of pear-shaped stones. Vulgarly expensive.
But why was it out? A trap?
I edged up to the nightstand and looked around. Nothing else appeared out of place.
Except for that expensively flashy diamond bracelet.
Looking around, I carefully eased it off the nightstand. Nothing happened, not that I knew what could have happened.
I stuffed the bracelet inside my purse, still looking warily around.
I shrugged my feelings of danger off and left the room. Though perhaps a tad bit quicker than necessary.
I went back to the pink bedroom, then climbed back out the window and down the metal trellis
I stopped by the basement window for one last peek. The young shiny attired darlings were intensely hugging each other. The bottle of scotch was now almost empty.
Suddenly a naughty picture popped inside my head, with no proper rhyme, nor reason.
In that picture, I saw the pair still dressed voluptuously up in their satin gowns, tied up gagged, and sinister hands groping as the haplessly squirming sweet sixteeners were being relieved of pearls. Then long feminine fingers were tickling in the girl’s sensitive areas until a safe opening combination was coughed up.
It was a picture that would not go away. I shook my head to get them out and left.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I ruined the dress I was wearing, but I realized I had gotten away with enough small pricey valuables that gave me a profit that more than doubled my pickings combined over the previous 4 months.
As I drove home I experienced such a rush of euphoria that I decided the experience just had to be relived.
When I got back to my rooms, I changed into my satin pjs and empty my purse onto the black satin sheets of my bed.
I lifted the pearls and couldn’t stop fingering them as my euphoria overwhelmed me with sweeping hot flashes of giddiness over my accomplishments.
It was a lovely feeling. Both sensuous and a bit of hard sexual desires.
Not really sure where the bound and gagged fantasy picture came from. Or what it was foretelling if anything.
But the reality of tonight’s experience lay in glittering heaps on my black satin sheets.
I picked up the far to valuably shimmering diamond bracelet.
Pondering.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I bring that last memory up because years later I may have found out why the diamond bracelet had been left out.
For apparently some of the ultra-wealthy, as a ruse, will leave out several pieces of valuable jewels as a deterrent. Hoping the inexperienced thief will grab those and flee without searching further. Which is exactly what I did.
It also means that those two sweet sixteeners may have been the only barrier between me and a potentially small fortune in hidden jewels.
So maybe that fantasy vision I had about tickling to find a safe combination could have been an unrealized sixth sense moment?
One never knows.
Fini
Upscaled with Gigapixel v8.4.4. 4767x3178 => 9534x6356 (2x) @ 118 ppcm Model: High Fidelity V2, denoise: 0.25, sharpen: 0.5, decompression: 0.25
When I am doing some upscale shopping I like to dress the part. It's important to look classy to the ladies working in the stores and blending in with the other fashionable women shoppers. A moderate length hounds tooth skirt fits the bill for this type of shopping, and oh yeah, a happy big smile helps too !
This is not Venice; it is Fantasy Venice. Since it's "Venice" there are gondolas that traverse this canal that runs through the upscale shopping mall at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The ride proceeds under bridges, through short tunnels and to the outside where the canal continues around the enormous Venetian grounds.
40-60 million people a year visit the adult playground fantasy land called Las Vegas, and the Venetian is a luxury "theme hotel" in the middle of the Las Vegas "Strip" of hotels and casinos.
AI created in SDXL 1.0 mode on ClipDrop.
I use this for testing my prompts. Sometimes also to use the results as seed images on Nightcafe.
This particular image enhanced and upscaled in Photoshop
---
PROMPT:
"Waldrapp by Anna Dittman: intricate delicate wings: insanely detailed:: hyperrealistic:: perfect wings:: perfect hands:: perfect fingers:: colorful: maximalist Stunning masterpiece by Jonas De Ro:: russ mills:: H.R. Giger:: Josephine Wall:: Michael Page:: Amanda Sage:: enchanted:: magical glow:: shimmering:: glittering:: vivid:: dark colors"
LH image: original WOMBOdream ... 4.8cms X 7.8cms
RH image: print of original WOMBOdream &
hand enlargement ...... 26cms X 56 cms (A1)
Acrylic/Watercolour/Pen+Ink on cartridge paper
A spellbinding juxtaposition of beauty and beast, where a maiden in a serene blue gown stands amidst autumn's golden embrace, only to find herself face to face with a majestic beast
I was locking up my bike to have lunch with a friend in downtown Toronto’s upscale Yorkville area when I saw him. He was sitting on a bench with shop windows behind him and he had a large duffel bag and another bag beside him. It was clearly his impressive beard, eyebrows, and fly-away white hair which first caught my attention but his strong features added to what I felt could be a good portrait. I was also curious about him as he sat there in his suit looking quite regal.
I walked up to him and introduced myself and complimented his beard and asked if I could photograph him for my project. He asked a couple of questions about the project, followed by a nod of consent. Meet Vijay.
I photographed Vijay right where I found him and took the first photo from an angle then ended up with a couple of frames from head on. He was well-dressed (more so than I) and had his pockets stuffed with papers. His presence was commanding and impressive. Vijay did not tell me his age but when he relented and told me “forty” I said “Ok then, that makes me thirty.” He smiled. Vijay came to Canada from Singapore 40 years ago and told me he was an Architect. I was a bit confused by his story but he seemed a very proud man who told me he declined his government pension when he turned 65 because of his belief in “working for my money.”
While I was kneeling on the sidewalk taking this portrait a pedestrian passed behind me and patted me on the shoulder and said “It’s great to see an authentic photographer.” I turned around and thanked him and asked what he meant. He said “You’re taking a real photo of real life. That is an authentic man. While others are photographing buildings, you are photographing real life.” I thanked him for his compliment.
Vijay surprised me by asking about my camera and how I liked it. I told him I love the Olympus and he said he used to have an Olympus film camera and liked it a lot. He was disappointed when the world went digital. He knew the model number of the last film Olympus and asked about the sensor size of my camera. He seemed to like the photos I showed him on the display and we exchanged contact information. I told him I didn’t want to be late meeting my friend and we parted with a small salute and me wishing Vijay good health.
Thank you Vijay for participating in 100 Strangers. I enjoued meeting you. You are #805 in Round 9 of my project. The email address I have did not work so if you would like a free copy of your photo, please email me.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by the other photographers in our group at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page.
****************************************************************
Symmetry
A plot in Motion
As excerpted from
“An Odyssey Less Taken “@
Tallie looked into the mirror as the bound Olivia stirred, a self-satisfied smirk lighting up her pretty face. It was time to administer the syringe containing the liquid that would render Olivia unconscious until late the next morning, giving them plenty of time. Olivia would wake thinking she had been the victim of a robbery. She should have no clue that the real reason was a simple piece of paper she had had tucked away inside her gold purse.
A couple of hours earlier:
Tallie had jogged into the upscale inn’s main lobby wearing a black running suite with her long,hair tucked up under a neoprene running cap. Playing the part of a guest who had gone out for exercise, she was also wearing thin gloves, wide wraparound sunglasses, small backpack and listening to music on her I Phone. She took up station in a corner of the inns’ huge lobby, like she was resting, while listening to her music. Ten minutes later, Olivia, whom Tallie had been shadowing, came in. Olivia had been easy to follow. An eye catching figure clad in a gold silk dress and pearls. She was carrying a shiny gold purse, and holding a bag containing a deep purple satin gown. Olivia had headed straight to the elevator, tapped her floor button and disappeared inside.
Tallie spent an uncomfortably anxious 10 minutes deciding what to do. Olivia had not gone to the front desk to take her jewels from the safe. Although her jewelry was not a main part of the plan, Tallie had loftier goals in mind, they did present a rather profitable bonus. Tallie decided to proceed, not wanting to blow the whole operation for a few pretty baubles. She had just risen when the elevator tinged. The doors opened, and Olivia exited into the lobby, still clad in the gold silk, and headed to the desk. There, she had the manager retrieve a black case. Showtime Tallie thought, relieved now that she had waited, watching as Olivia once again left in the elevator. Ten minutes after that, it was time to put the plan in motion. Using her I Phone, Tallie rang Olivia’s room pretending to be a hotel employee. “Someone had found something of yours in the lobby; a manager is on her way up with it.” She hung up not giving Olivia any chance for response.
From then, it had gone like clockwork. Tallie, with delight, watched the shocked look on Olivia’s face when she opened the door expecting a female hotel manager, but instead came face to face with a Taser wielding double of herself, Tallie! Firing the Taser, the shocked girl slumped into Tallies’ welcome arms. Kicking the door shut, Tallie pulled Olivia into the bathroom, where she was then bound and gagged. To make it look like a robbery, Tallie stripped Olivia of her pearl necklace, earrings, bracelets and rings. Then she quickly looted the apartment of any other small, but valuable items. Placing these items, along with the small backpack, into a leather clutch. Tallie then went to the dresser top and opened the black case sitting there. She whistled to herself as she savored the shiny contents. Looking them over, she made a selection, then poured the remaining jewelry into the clutch, glittering explosive fire as they went. She placed the selected diamond jewelry on the bathroom sink. Tallie found Olivia’s gold purse and opened it and pulled the ticket out. Studying, with eager eyes, the prize they had worked so hard to obtain. The small ticket was the key to the whole plot, worth potentially millions.
Carrying the purse to the bathroom, Tallie started to get ready. De bagging Olivia’s purple gown, she slipped it on. It poured over her curvy figure perfectly, as they had known it would. Tallie had switched her calfskin gloves for a pair of Olivia’s satin ones. It was as she had been putting on Olivia’s glittering diamonds that the tied up girl started to stir. Walking over to the groggy eyed girl, Tallie pretended to fumble with the ropes knots, and administered the hypo containing the knockout drops. After checking the heavily sedated Olivia’s Pulse, Tallie finished putting on the unlucky girls jewels.
Tallie admired herself in the mirror, almost not recognizing herself. She had dyed her midnight black hair blonde to match Olivia‘s and had put in blue tinted contacts. The clingy gown fitted snugly in all the right places, tightly outlining her perky breasts and nicely rounded butt. Very nice, thought Tallie beaming. After putting on Olivia’s stiletto heels, Tallie pronounced herself ready. Picking up the purse, she patted it for luck, and went into the bedroom. Tallie called the front desk, asking to have a limo called to pick her up out front, then she also ordered a wakeup call with breakfast for eleven o’clock the next morning. Hanging up the phone, Tallie still had 12 minutes left to kill. She spent it retracing her steps around the entire apartment making sure nothing had been overlooked, and then double checked that Olivia was going to stay out of the picture. When her time was up, Tallie snatched the clutch up from the satin covers of the bed, heavy now with Olivia’s valuables and her running suit and backpack. Tallie left the apartment, closing the door after hanging a do not disturb sign on the lever. Tallie entered the empty elevator , pushed the down button, and focused on the task at hand.
Finally, after seemingly endless months of careful plotting, preparation, rehearsals and dry runs. It was time. The whole scheme had been planned to the minutest detail, it had to be. The main prize was the tens of millions of dollars’ worth of jewels worn by the female guests attending the annual formal Casino Night by the Bay Ball. The annual black tie ball was a Republican Political Fundraiser by special invitation only and Olivia, who had been carefully selected and shadowed for weeks now, had been one of the lucky ticket holders. As a final coup de grâce , Tallie would attend the ball wearing Olivia’s luxurious gown and her brilliantly expensive diamonds, fitting right in with the other attendees. Security would be checking ID’s at the door. But Tallie now resembled Olivia almost to a T. She would fool those rent a cops easily as they checked her against Olivia‘s driver’s license for identification, bending over and showing a little bosom for added distraction. Tallie couldn’t wait to mingle and rub elbows with the galas ultra-rich patrons. She would mark her time by mingling and endearing herself to as many of the male guests as possible in the short time allotted to her. She would use her rich welsh brogue to the fullest to win over the posh male Yanks. All the while admiring the shiny gowns and scoping out the shimmering jewels that would be adorning her fellow female guests. Those jewels would include the Dahlkemper pearls, the Caboyt diamonds with the brilliant sapphires that placed the “Hope Diamond” to shame, and, of course, the famous matching waterfall diamond sets the Dempsey Twins would be wearing (Not to mention their Mother’s emeralds and rubies) . The sets, which had been presented as gifts at the twins ultra- fancy coning out ball, were insured for over 1 million dollars by the girls parents.
Then at the appointed hour, Tallie would slip away to a seldom used back stage door, conveniently hidden neath a stairwell. Security would not have this door covered. It was there that Tallies’ husband and his troupe of fellow masked thieves would be waiting to make their entrance. If all went to plan and it would, she was sure of that, they would proceed to hold up and rob all the guests. Relieving the lot of their fat designer purses, thick leather wallets, gold Rolexes, and of course, their jewels, Lots and lots of shimmering, pricy jewelry. Not to mention the piles of loose cash lying on the gambling tables begging to be collected. Tallie’s heart beat faster at the enticing visions.
After the last guest had been relieved of their valuables, Tallie’s next part of the plot would come. This was where Tallie’s experience as an actress would pay off. The thieves would grab an innocent hostage (Tallie) by knifepoint Then, while threatening the life of the frightened squirming hostage, order the rest of the guests to strip off their clothing. If Tallie had played her part well, mingling and playing the doe eyed innocent who reminded those she met as someone who they would love to protect, her fellow guests would not want to see her harmed and be obedient to the robbers threats, not wishing any harm to come to her. The guests would be threatened to not to try anything for the next hour, or they would eliminate their hostage. The gang would then leave with their loot, as well as their hapless hostage. Then they would make, what in Tallie’s opinion, was a rather brilliantly orchestrated get away.
This was not the first time out for Tallie and her husband’s team, but it promised to be their last. The gang had been operating in Europe and Latin America, seeking out small, but lucrative, gatherings of the privileged and ultra-wealthy. They had gotten quite adept, fine tuning a formula that successfully paid attention to even the minutest detail.
Tallie loved playing the part of the inside victim. Getting as close as possible to the female guests (usually by flirting with husbands and boyfriends) to get a close appraisal of their jewels. Then, after letting her husband and crew loose, observing the well-dressed guests being herded to line up along the wall with raised hands. Usually creating a colorful array of swishing lace, satin, silk , velvety gowns and dresses, all flowing along forlorn figures. It was a thrill to watch their facial and body expressions and reactions. Especially of the women and girls present, as they were forced to hand over their flashy gemstones, their Shiny gold and silver, opulent pearls and other assorted fine jewelry were handed over reluctantly from about their persons.
Then would come the part that really aroused Tallie. The thieves would reach her and tell her to “fork over the jewels miss,” and depending on her mood, would do so, either acting defiant and forcing them to take them off her, or frightened(especially if the thief was her husband) , and timidly handing them over. She would be squirming inside with a deep, delicious delight as she took off , or had the thief wrench off, each precious piece. It was a reaction she did not fully understand, but just knew and accepted it as a scintillating feeling. Tallie, shivered, licking her lips at past memories of being a robbery “victim”.
The band had no qualms about was fair game, boldly invading Weddings, Receptions, Fancy dress dances and even the upscale prom or mansion party. All had been meticulously planned, all had been very lucrative. Their last raid had been carried out on a coming out party for an English Earl/ Minister and his titled wife’s only daughter. It had occurred at the minister’s isolated country manor located deep in the moors. Where, in addition to the jewels worn by the guests that ill-fated Saturday evening, the manor’s many bedroom safes yielded a dazzling array of cases of unworn jewelry brought by the guests for the four day weekend.
Tallie fondly remembered that raid. She had gained access to the family by going as the guest of a rather vain bachelor she had “happened to make an acquaintance with,” in London. The dinner gatherings and nightly parties that had led up to the night of the debutante’s ball had been all over the top, as only very old money can pull off. Tallie had almost suffered a system overload by observing the bounty of rich offerings at her fingertips. Beckoning jewels so very close, and as of yet, so very far. The Saturday evening ball could not have come soon enough. But come it did, and the minister’s daughter did not disappoint, nor did her mother or any other of their female guests. The young debutante had made her grand entrance in a long slinky blood red gown and matching gloves. Among the child’s perfect jewels was included an authentic family heirloom tiara, dripping with pristine diamonds, holding up the wavy curls of her silky fawn hair.
Tallies mouth had watered as she kept stealing looks, keeping her eyes glued to the precocious miss all evening. She inwardly was squirming with anticipation, up until the delightful moment when the begowned debutante limply removed and handed over the tiara, along with the rest of her gleaming diamonds and pearls to one of the gang of masked robbers who had had the “audacity “ to crash the party..
Now, Tallie was traditionally allowed to keep one piece of jewelry from the loot taken from each job as part of her take if she so desired. She always enjoyed picking out pieces she would like to have as she mingled with her fellow guests before her husband’s gang charged in. In the coming out party it had been the sad puppy faced debutante‘s cascading diamond earrings that Tallie had claimed for her own from the minute she first saw them dangling from the pretty girl’s delicate ears. Tallie had subsequently worn and been “robbed” of those earrings several times on jobs since then.
After the Manor house’s guests had been relieved of their valuables, the gang had made its getaway, seemingly vanishing into the moors misty air. The mechanics of that escape would form the basis of their getaway attempt after this evening’s robbery of the wealthy guests attending the “By the Bay Ball” Actually the symmetry of the two events did not stop there. The profit realized by the take from the Earl’s family and guests had given the gang the seed money for the enormous expense in planning tonight’s complex raid. And tonight’s successful raid on the ball, appropriately enough, its diamond jubilee, would be splashed over all of the countries newspapers, like the Manor raid had been. And like after the Manor raid, Tallie and her husband would be reading those papers in the safty of their isolated island retreat.
******************
As Tallie dwelt on that remembrance, the elevator completed its long, uninterrupted journey by tinging its 1st floor arrival. Showtime! Tallie thought with wry amusement as she stepped into the now crowded lobby. Tonight would be more of the same tingling robbery experiences, only ten times better and since it may very well be her last time , Tallie was going to savor every delicious minute.
Tallie left the elevator and moved quickly towards the sitting area she had occupied when watching for Olivia to come in. In one of the chairs sat a young man wearing wraparound sunglasses reading a blue covered novel. She swished by him, allowing her satin clad leg to brush along his. She watched with enticement as he straightened, uncomfortably, in his chair, his reaction to her teasing pleasing her immensely . Going around him, she placed her clutch on the chair behind him before turning and primping herself in front of one of the long mirrored walls that lined the sitting area. Seeing that no one as of yet was looking her way, she smiled to herself and swished her way back into the main lobby, leaving behind her clutch. She again passed the young man, who, even with the sunglasses, bore a striking resemblance to a young Sidney Poitier! No signal passed between them. The blue novel meant everything was going as planned, a red novel would have meant danger. The clutch on the chair behind him signaled the young man she had teased, Jessie by name , that everything was a go on Tallies end. After she left, Jessie would retrieve the clutch and rejoin Tallies husband and the rest of his gang.
With the prearranged signals exchanged, Tallie happily made her way to the fancy Glass doors where a uniformed Doorman was opening for arriving and departing guests. She could feel more than one pair of jealous eyes following her as she weaved her way through the crowd, her long gown swishing deliciously along her pretty figure. The pretty blond in the purple satin and shimmering diamonds was soon lost to sight, as she exited the doors to the misty street below. Those watching her were totally oblivious that the pretty blonde passing them was setting into motion the complex wheels of a rather ingenious scheme. Meanwhile in a ballroom some miles away a large group of extremely well dressed and decked out guests attending a certain excessively extravagant Ball , were innocently mingling, jewels sparkled with a frenzied riot of colours! These heavily gem encrusted guests were also totally oblivious as to what fate had in store for them in a few hours.
*************************************************************************************
@ Chatwick University extends its compliments to the unknown artist whose worthy photo and captivating title proved to be the spark that ignited the genesis of our Tallies Odyssey….
DISCLAIMER
All rights and copyrights observed by Chatwick University, Its contributors, associates and Agents
The purpose of these chronological photos and accompanying stories, articles is to educate, teach, instruct, and generally increase the awareness level of the general public as to the nature and intent of the underlying criminal elements that have historically plagued humankind.
No Part of this can reprinted, duplicated, or copied be without the express written permission and approval of Chatwick University.
These photos and stories are works of fiction. Any resemblance to people, living or deceased, is purely coincidental.
As with any work of fiction or fantasy the purpose is for entertainment and/or educational purposes only, and should never be attempted in real life.
We accept no responsibility for any events occurring outside this website.
********************************************************************************
************************************************************************************
Royal Crescent, Robert Cantwell, 1839 - Grade II* listed street
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Crescent,_London
www.flickr.com/photos/edk7/53185113397
----
Neighbourhood
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Park
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Borough_of_Kensington_and_Che...
----
Snapped from Oxford Tube London-to-Oxford coach
----
Nikon D50 + Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G AF-S DX SWM aspherical
www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond50
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_D50
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_AF-S_DX_Zoom-Nikkor_18-55mm_f...
_DSC3873 Anx2 Q90 1024h f10 f25
The Hubble image presented by NASA for the 32nd anniversary of Hubble about the Hickson Compact Group 40. This image was reconstructed using our artificial intelligence model. The file is available for download at 546.16 MP at 24126x22638 pixels.
Image Credit: NASA/ESA/ STScI; Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)/PipploIMP
Our Facebook page: bit.ly/PipploFB
Our YouTube channel: bit.ly/PipploYT
Upscaled with Gigapixel v1.0.7. 5283x3547 => 10566x7094 (2x) Model: Standard V2, denoise: 0.01, sharpen: 0.01, decompression: 0.01
Upscaled with Gigapixel v1.0.4. 3024x4032 => 18144x24192 (6x) Model: High Fidelity V2, denoise: 0.51, sharpen: 0.59, decompression: 0.01
Saw this upscale young woman trying to get through the security line at the pub crawl. She had forgotten her I.D. and was due to go to work at one of the establishments.. Now it was quite apparent she was not part of the zombie crowd. So where else would this young fashionista be going except to work? Let's use a little common sense here.
"Upscale apartments"
Vannes (Bretagne - Morbihan)
Website : www.fluidr.com/photos/pat21
www.flickriver.com/photos/pat21/sets/
"Copyright © – Patrick Bouchenard
The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained here in for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved."
This addition to the modified 1x2 Plate family features hollow studs on top and a 3.18 bar centered on the underside, allowing for offsets and inversions in one compact package. Originally this came from a struggle to narrow a microscale ship down to a single stud width without compromising on the structural integrity.
Built for the New Elementary make a wishbrick competition.
3D View: mecabricks.com/en/models/KZvmAMX7vG6