New digs or Let the fun begin

Well, it's official.

After more than a decade in the same location, my office will be moving.

I don't know exactly when we'll be moving but I know where.

It's a raw space so we'll have to do a complete tenant build out and the timeframe is anyone's guess.

See, this is Aspen and it's notoriously hard to build here, even if you're just improving an existing space.

Rumor has it that building permit approvals are 20 weeks out. That's from the time of submission. And we're no where near ready to submit . . .

But, it's coming. The next year is going to be fun, exciting, stressful and exhausting.

Here we go . . .

1-800-SUICIDE

The Kristin Brooks Hope Center and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline need financial help. Donate here.



From their website:

1-800-SUICIDE marks its tenth anniversary this year. It was founded in 1998 by Reese Butler in memory of his wife, Kristin who had committed suicide. The Kristin Brooks Hope Center has helped almost three million callers connect to help and hope.

As they enter their second decade of service to the public, continued support is needed to ensure that the confidentiality of every caller is protected. Because they are totally privately funded, they need to prove to the government that they are capable of supporting 1-800-SUICIDE to keep control of the line from being taken over by the federal government.

The money you donate will not only be used to pay the phone bill that connects about 50,000 callers each month to the Hopeline Network, but will also be used to pay for training of online crisis counselors who will provide the same support via online counseling. This is where the young people of today reach out for help. The success of 1-800-SUICIDE is based on individuals in crisis knowing that any personal identifiable information is kept strictly confidential.

The Hope Center's volunteer staff and Board remain committed to preserving confidential suicide prevention programs. Your action today assures their sustainability!

The Kristin Brooks Hope Center and its national 1-800-SUICIDE hotline is a great asset to our society - one of those private-sector initiatives called a "point of light." For reasons of their own, certain officials within the government tried to snuff that light. With your help and support together we can prevent that tragedy from occurring and help the Hopeline achieve success in liberating 1-800-SUICIDE from government control permanently.

Insecure adolescents

No matter how many years or how many accomplishments we are able to put between our present selves and the insecure, conflicted adolescent we once were, we're never fully able to leave that teenager behind.

I'm sure I'm not the first one to say this but so what?

At present, I'm pretty secure in where I'm at. Not so secure that I'd say it's all perfect and while I guess I could complain if I really wanted to, I don't and I won't.

Which makes it all the more surprising how inordinately pleased the following episode made me.

Last night, Steve and I were at Belly Up to see Cash'd Out, a Johnny Cash tribute band (or cover band, if you're old school).

At one point in the evening, I was sitting by myself watching the band and watching my dancing fool of a husband when a complete stranger approached me. Due to the low lighting in the club, I wouldn't recognize him again but I remember clearly what he said, completely unbidden.

Excuse me. I've been sitting behind you and I just want to tell you, be patient. You are a very beautiful woman.

I thanked him and before I could even process anything, he walked away.

Now, as someone who did her fair share of "clubbing" back in the day, I'm no stranger to compliments but one thing you quickly learn whilst clubbing is that most, if not all, compliments from the opposite sex are driven by a desire for . . . (yes, I'm going to say it) sex.

But this guy didn't want anything except to tell me what he thought.

And that was pretty cool. And made the insecure adolescent me beam.

Although, I'm still not sure what he meant by be patient . . .

The Odd Couple

This evening's drink choices.
Guess who was drinking which?

Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer

Pride and Prejudice is largely told from Elizabeth's point of view. This novel attempts to tell Elizabeth and Darcy's story from Darcy's point of view and, to some extent, succeeds.

A conscious choice, the author, who writes under the pseudonym of Janet Aylmer, repeats much of Austen's original dialogue. While this works to allow the novel to stand on its own, having just finished the original, I found myself skimming over long passages.

To its credit and to my enjoyment, Darcy's Story fleshes out the character of Georgiana, Darcy's sister and allows her to play an integral role in Darcy's growth and ultimately successful courtship of Elizabeth. Aylmer also provides some insight into Darcy's motivations and rationale for the approach he takes when he first asks for Elizabeth's hand.

And yet, the novel is often just presenting Austen's work all over again. This repetition rather weighs down the few original insights which Aylmer offers.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

As I begin to remedy my failure to have read any of Jane Austen's novels, I chose to start with Pride and Prejudice, perhaps due to familiarity or perhaps due to it being her most popular.

Familiarity and high expectations did not diminish my first written Austen experience.

Pride and Prejudice is a complex romance which harkens to the silly romance novels I read as a teenager only so far as to enhance its brilliance.

Elizabeth is sculpted as a completely sympathetic, bright and witty woman. Darcy is only slightly less sympathetic and is more interesting in his character development throughout the novel.

These two are contrasted nicely with many other lesser characters who share some of their character flaws without any of their redeeming qualities.

The preoccupation with class is a dominant theme throughout the book and one with which it is hard for the relatively class "un"conscious to relate. Only by surrendering to the mores of the time can the reader make sense of the characters' choices and prejudices.

You like me, right now, you like me . . .

Had another customer tell one of my bosses how nice I am the other day.

I had just walked away and she (my boss) was so excited that she tried to run after me.

From her odd reaction, the poor customer thought maybe he had gotten me in trouble or something.

She explained, that, no, she thought I was nice too but it was unusual for one of our customers to say so.

He didn't quite know what to make of that.

(here's my post about the last time that happened)

I'm so excited . . .

I just can't hide it

I'm about to lose control

and I think I like it!

(channeling the Pointer Sisters here)

Saturday, since Rachel was checking out tour dates for the Jonas Brothers, I started checking out tour dates for KT Tunstall.

I'm seeing a lot of Europe dates, but then there's some east coast dates, some Ohio dates, oh look, she's in Denver (that's within striking distance), then Salt Lake City (that's only 6 hours away), back in Denver and then . . .

Holy shit!

She's playing Belly Up Aspen!

60 seconds later, I had three tickets for August 25th in my hot little hands.

I love the Internet!

La Fete de la Musique

Found out while perusing Paris Daily Photo that yesterday was la Fete de la Musique so it was fitting that we went to the Brian Setzer Orchestra concert last night.

Two years ago, we were in Paris on la Fete de la Musique. We found it quite entertaining to come out of the Metro on the Champs Elysee to be greeted by a group of Native Americans performing on the street.

Of course, between Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Aspen Music Festival, Thursday night concerts on Fanny Hill in Snowmass and music students performing for tips on the malls, almost every day during the summer is la Fete de la Musique day.

As I write this, I can hear Los Lonely Boys playing up the hill . . .

There, I said it.

Now, I'm no Obama fan (there, I said it.)

I can't really verbalize why. He just doesn't pass my gut check. I've felt this way since before I even realized that I felt this way.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm going to vote for him, the cliched "hold my nose and vote for him" vote.

Conversely, I am a Scott Simon (NPR) fan. I enjoy listening to him on Saturday mornings. I like his easygoing, witty style.

But today, he's forcing me to side with Obama.

This morning, on Weekend Edition Saturday, Scott Simon's commentary, Simon Says, focused on some remarks Obama made yesterday in Florida. And I think Simon missed the point.

Obama said,

The choice is clear. Most of all we can choose between hope and fear. It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign policy. We know what kind of campaign they’re going to run. They’re going to try to make you afraid. They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. 'He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?'

In his criticism of Obama for "playing the race card," Simon altered Obama's statement ever so slightly, making it appear that Obama had specifically pointed the finger at John McCain.

Granted, John McCain is a Republican . (Although, perhaps not Republican enough for some Republicans.) But, stating that Republicans are going to do certain things in the course of the campaign is not the same as saying that McCain is going to, himself, do those things.

I read Obama's statement above and find it to be remarkably accurate. Obama's talking about the same guys who swift boated Kerry, the same guys who have turned fear mongering into an art.

And, heck yeah, among those voters with whom it will play (and they are out there), the Republicans will be wondering out loud if we really want a black man as president.

Simon is naive if he truly thinks that this is not the case.

An aside: for some reason, while I was working on this post, the CNN Political Ticker post about Obama's Friday comments and the accompanying video disappeared. Now, you see it, now, you don't. Wonder what that's about . . .

Ah, to be a teenager again . . .

A lazy summer afternoon
At least, she did get up and work this morning

Zocalito Latin Bistro

My mom was intrigued by the menu so we had dinner here tonight.

I'd eaten at their no longer extant location in Carbondale years ago and had enjoyed it but had yet to eat at their Aspen location.

Latin cuisine? Not sure how to characterize it.

Think upscale Mexican or Mexican crossed with Spanish with maybe some other South American influences . . .

We had a cheese and chorizo dip, Peruvian ceviche, portabello mushroom with red peppers and chorizo, scallops and chorizo, flank steak with mozzarella, rib eye steak and potatoes with shitake mushrooms and chorizo.

Wow, that list is pretty heavy on the chorizo, more due to the choices of the diners than due to any lack of selection on the menu.

All plates were cleaned and no leftovers were to be had.

I'd say that's four thumbs up.

My favorite place

Drove up to the Grottos today for a picnic lunch.

The spring melt has the Roaring Fork River raging.

What a fantastic place.

27 Dresses

I liked this Katherine Heigl movie better than I did Knocked Up.

Jane is a romantic who's been enchanted with weddings since she was a young girl.

So enchanted that she's been a bridesmaid 27 times.

And now she's been roped into planning her shallow sister's wedding to her secret crush.

Heigl is adorable as the put upon Jane, defiant in her romanticism and passive in her broken-heartedness.

James Marsden is adorable as the cynical, jaded Kevin Doyle, who, under a pseudonym, writes the society wedding column which Jane collects.

Cute bit of fluff.

Priceless

With Audrey Tautou of Amelie and Gad Elmaleh of The Valet, this charmer pleases from beginning to end.

Irene is a schemer, hoping to hook a sugar daddy. Jean is a hard working hotel employee.

She shouldn't give him a second look.

But she does and we benefit from it.

Set on the coasts of Southern France, Hors de Prix (its French title) presents the European world of luxury and society, along with its pervasive gold-diggers, boy toys, cougars and sugar daddies.

But, in its French farce fashion, Priceless uses the mistaken identity plot device to show us the heart underneath all of that conniving.

Delightful.

The Flight of the Red Balloon

A Taiwanese director, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, makes a movie about a French family based on the 1956 French film, The Red Balloon.

So, is it a French movie? Or an Asian movie?

Whichever, it didn't speak to this American.

The movie peaks into the life of a French mother and son and their Chinese film student nanny but never gives us enough.

One reviewer called it austere and I have to agree.

Where the Red Balloon was magical, this is merely mundane.

If you're into minimalist, art-house cinema, this will be right up your alley. Otherwise, it's a bit of a bore.

Heredity

Walking around the Food & Wine Classic Grand Tastings with my parents the past two days, I've noticed that my father and I share a similar affinity for sweeter wines.

Since he doesn't drink very often, I hadn't really realized it before this weekend.

This afternoon, I mentioned that I now knew from where I got my sweet palate.

He immediately reminded me of my grandfather's preference for Mogen David Concord wine.

I had forgotten that, yes, we always had a jug of Mogen David on hand for my grandfather. In fact, I'd wager that Mogen David Concord wine was in fact the first wine that ever passed my lips, illicitly of course, as my siblings and cousins and I sneaked sips at family gatherings.

Although, to listen to my mother's stories of having a glass of wine while breastfeeding me to ensure a longer, uninterrupted sleep, Mogen David was probably not my first wine ever . . .

My new favorite drink

Yum.

Now, all of Food & Wine was basically yum (except for some of those red wines that I really just can't wrap my palate around).

But,

this drink was especially yum. My mom and I had seconds and my dad even drank one (although he claimed it was for my mom, even as he was drinking it down).

2 Shots Champagne* or Dry White Wine
1 ½ Shots St-Germain
2 Shots Sparkling Water or Club Soda

Method: Stir ingredients in a tall ice-filled Collins glass, mixing completely. Think of Paris circa 1947. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Variation: Think of Sartre circa 1947. Be the lemon twist.

* Or Sparkling Wine, Prosecco or Cava

Food & Wine Classic

And it begins . . .

I was sitting down to write tonight's post when someone banged at our door.

Who the heck is banging on the door at 9:30 pm?

Open the door to . . . no one. And then it dawns on me.

Fireworks!

They're doing fireworks for the opening of Food & Wine!

So, Ellie and I stood outside and watched the fireworks over Aspen Mountain, Ellie barking and me laughing.

Woo-hoo! Three days of fun have begun!

Fool's Gold

Eh.

Not so much.

This movie has plenty of eye candy for both men and women, including an amusing riff where two gay men drool over Matthew McConaughey.

It just doesn't seem to know what it wants to be when it grows up.

It appears to be striving for a Romancing the Stone comedy/adventure/romance vibe but falls far short of that classic.

It didn't help that I saw it on the flight home and it appeared to have some funky edits, I can only assume for content to make it more appropriate for the family audience on a flight from Orlando to Denver.

Shot down

Tried to go to Sea World this afternoon.

It just wasn't to be.

Beautiful all day until . . .

As we were going out to the bus, there were ugly dark thunderclouds.

As the bus was driving to Sea World, those thunderclouds disgorged incredible amounts of water and lightning.

We sat in the parking lot for a half an hour waiting for the rain to abate with no luck.

After a near revolt, in which the transportation company was going to try to make us get off our bus in the rain, only to get on the one sitting next to us in order to ride back to the hotel, the driver admitted defeat and drove us back to the hotel.

It was a great ride. Get it? Ride?

So, anyone want to buy two tickets to Sea World? They're good until 12/31/08 . . .

Sex and the City

In an attempt to escape the heat, Rachel and I ducked into the 24 screen AMC Theatre in Downtown Disney.

While there were many, many choices, the next showing was Sex and the City, so, even though Rachel and I probably haven't seen more than one episode each, in we went.

Even as Sex and the City newbies, we enjoyed the movie.

They did a good job of not being too insider about it.

There was romance, heartbreak, fashion, friendship and, of course, sex.

It made me feel like I was all caught up and didn't need to watch any of the missed episodes.

It made Rachel want to go out and buy Sex and the City, the Complete Series.

Still sweating

More heat, humidity and crowds.

Yesterday, Disney's Hollywood Studios and a move to a new (nicer) hotel and today, Disney's Animal Kingdom and a return to Downtown Disney.

I have to say that for all that Disney does right, they pretty much suck at moving people around (other than from the airport to the hotel).

It must be that Southern thing, everything takes longer than it should.

Tonight, after days of slow travel, we finally bailed off two buses in a row and caught a cab back to our hotel.

But we have ridden every roller coaster in Walt Disney World (except for the ridiculous spinning roller coaster in Dinoland in the Animal Kingdom which doesn't count because I said so).

Hot, sticky & irritable

I am not built for Florida weather. I'm especially not built for Florida weather coupled with crowds.

Thank goodness for Magic Extended Hours. The Magic Kingdom's extended hours were from 11 pm last night until 2 am this morning. That meant that Rachel and I could amble over to the theme park around 11 am, spend a few hours there until the heat got the best of us, go back to the hotel for a nap and return for the festivities during the cooler evening and night hours.

We had a few disappointments, the biggest one being that the Pirates of the Caribbean closed on Thursday for two weeks. We were just appalled. I mean, it's only the biggest Disney draw right now, other than Hannah Montana.

When we returned to Space Mountain for our Fast Pass entry time, it was closed due to technical difficulties, although we did get to use the Fast Pass line to ride it later. We ended the night by getting stuck on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with a bunch of punk kids and had to walk out.

But, hey, at least we got to ride It's a Small World twice!

The surprise was how much we enjoyed both the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor show and the Mickey's Philharmonic show. The first was a very clever comedy show and the latter was a cute and surprising 3D show.

Off to Orlando

For all my whining, yesterday's travel went smoothly.

Since I had lost my seats when my tickets were cancelled, we got upgraded to an exit row for our Denver to Orlando flight.

It was 47 degrees and rainy when we left and 90 degrees and sunny when we arrived.

We're staying at a Disney hotel for two nights so our shuttle from the airport to the hotel was pain free. Disney does know how to move its guests from the airport to the hotel.

As Disney hotel guests, we're entitled to visit the parks for extended hours, specific parks on specific days. Yesterday was Epcot's day to be open late, until midnight, and since Rachel and I are still on Colorado time, that was perfect.

We settled in our hotel room, then had an early dinner at the hotel cafeteria and grabbed the shuttle bus to Epcot. We had time to visit a few attractions and see the sights at the Around the World Lagoon before catching the Illuminations firewords and laser light show.

When Susie and I were in Beijing, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest was closed for renovation and covered in scaffolding so I found it entertaining that Epcot, they've got a half sized reproduction.

I have to say that the Illuminations show gives Aspen Mountain fireworks a run for their money. The setting is no where near as spectacular but the Illuminations show has fire, laser lights and a floating video globe in addition to the fireworks.

Today, we're off to the Magic Kingdom . . .

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

Significantly different from the movie.

But I mostly mean that in a good way.

In an effort to distract Sylvia from her impending divorce, Jocelyn decides to start a Jane Austen book club, one Jane Austen book a month for 6 months. The book club is made up of Sylvia, Sylvia's daughter Allegra, Jocelyn, Bernadette, Prudie and Grigg, the lone guy.

The book has some odd flashbacks to several incidents during Jocelyn and Sylvia's high school years which serve little purpose. They don't advance the narrative nor do they really seem to shape Jocelyn's future behaviors.

As a Jane Austen neophyte, I found the insights into and analysis of the Jane Austen books intriguing and a redeeming feature of the novel.

And yet, I must say that this is one of those circumstances where, even having read the novel after seeing the movie, the movie was more enjoyable. Generally, I feel that movies suffer in comparison when seen after having read the book, but in this case, it is the book which suffers in comparison.

Enough already

Not sure if I'm referring to enough air travel problems or enough of me whining about them.

This morning I went online to check in for our flights tomorrow only to discover that my itinerary could not be found. I got Rachel checked in and girded my loins for battle with the overseas agents.

While painful, the resolution was positive so it could have been worse. Mr. Ajeed Singh turned out to be very helpful and patient as it took him almost an hour to sort everything out.

After doing some investigating, he informed me that someone named "Stuti" (?!?) had called on the 2d to cancel my ticket. When I said that I didn't know anyone by the name of Stuti, he immediately said that he'd see what he could do.

Good answer.

Upon further investigation, I discovered that one of our return flights next week had been cancelled and that Rachel had been rebooked, although no one had bothered to inform us.

I'm convinced that "Stuti" had been attempting to rebook my tickets when s/he accidentally cancelled them.

But, in the spirit of cooperation, I merely said thank you when Ajeed reminded me that he was making an exception and not charging me a change fee. (Huh?)

To complicate my life more, while Ajeed was diligently working to get me rebooked and to insure that Rachel was on the same flights, our internet went down. (Gotta love Comcast.)

Ajeed's typing furiously while I'm running around the house trying to troubleshoot our internet connection.

Finally, Ajeed says that he's gotten it all taken care of but that he wants to stay on the phone while I go online and check in so that we know it's all good.

No dice. No internet.

I have to drive to my office to use the internet there. I reluctantly let Ajeed off the phone after requesting that the new itineraries be emailed.

Rachel's itinerary arrives. (Remember, she's already checked in.) Mine, however, does not.

More angst.

But, in the end, success. I got to the office, logged onto United.com and voila, there was my itinerary.

Rachel and I no longer have seats together but oh well, you can't have everything.

Who should I vote for?

Who should you vote for?

Mike Gravel				90
Barack Obama				52
Hillary Clinton				30
Ron Paul				9
John McCain	-12
Mike Huckabee	-75

You expected: Hillary Clinton
Your recommendation: Mike Gravel

Party: Democratic
Born: 1930, Springfield, Massachusetts
Family: Married twice. Two children and four grandchildren
Career: US Army; Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps; taxi driver; barman; brakeman; property developer
Political career: 3rd Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives, 1965-6; US Senator from Alaska 1969-1981. Environment and Public Works and Finance and Interior Committees; chaired the Energy, Water Resources, and Environmental Pollution subcommittees
Hot topic: Fair tax
Did you know? Born to French-Canadian immigrant parents, Marie Bourassa and Alphonse Gravel; Mike spoke only French until he was seven years old
Supported by: Ralph Nader

(Not that You Asked) by Steve Almond

Eh.

Let me say that I am perversely offended by this Advance Reader's Edition "special excerpt booklet." Perversely because, although I didn't really enjoy the "special excerpt booklet," I'm offended that "they" didn't send me the entire book. I do understand that there's an element of looking a gift horse in the mouth involved here. But, what can I say? I find it kinda chintzy.

Getting past my irritation with the form to my thoughts on the substance, I will say that Almond occasionally made me chuckle but, for the most part, I was unimpressed. His insights came across as shallow and self-satisfied.

Which is probably why it took me 10 months to finish a 42 page "booklet."

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson

I'm so glad that "they" turned this book into a movie.

If not for the movie, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I'm thinking that this book, which I also thoroughly enjoyed, might have never crossed my radar.

And that would have been a shame.

The book better conveys Guinevere Pettigrew's internal turmoil and uncertainty than the movie (don't books always do so?) and there are character and plot differences between the two which serve both equally well.

Watson charmingly describes the trepidation and elation with which the poor, desperate Miss Pettigrew gets caught up in the social whirlwind of Miss LaFosse.

All of that and happy endings all around, too!