Flagging

My resolve is flagging.

But I just looked back and discovered that, in addition to it being the last day of NaBloPoMo, today puts me a month away from posting every day for a year.

One month. 31 days.

So close.

I can't quit now. My charming Type A qualities just won't let me.

(How's that for a pep talk? Yeah, pretty lame)

Making lemonade

Spent a few hours today making lemonade (as in when life gives you lemons . . .)

Had a bunch of extra work dumped on me unexpectedly but wisely turned it into an opportunity to make a bit of extra income.

Definitely lessens the sting and allows me to see that in the long run, this long-resisted change is a really good thing.

Nothing like clearing out the dead weight and solidifying one's position.

109 East Palace by Jennet Conant

Whilst in Santa Fe this summer, we picked up a couple of books about Los Alamos and Robert Oppenheimer.

109 East Palace serves as an interesting and illuminating, if not stellar, social history about the creation of and living conditions at Los Alamos.

Using Dorothy McKibben, the Santa Fean who ran the small office which served as the entry point for the secret Los Alamos installation, as the entry point for the story, Conant's first intention seems to be to provide us with the look and feel of the war time home of many of the best scientific minds of the era. As long as she is working towards this end, her book works.

However, as she strays from this goal and begins to try to become more of an overall historian of the overarching events put into motion at Los Alamos, the book loses its focus and suffers from superficiality.

This superficiality became brutally apparent upon reading just a few pages of the other book we purchased in Santa Fe, American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin.

In comparison, American Prometheus is clearly the better crafted project but, considered on its own, 109 East Palace is a supremely serviceable entry into the subject matter.

Australia

As an example of Baz Luhrman's unique vision and held up to comparison with Moulin Rouge, Australia is a disappointment. As an opportunity to gaze upon the eye candy also known as Hugh Jackman, Australia delights. As a sweeping epic, Australia holds its own but never rises to the top of the heap.

Brandon Walters, the 11 year old Aboriginal novice actor who serves as the movie's narrator, absolutely steals the show. David Gulpilil, the Aboriginal actor who has been named an Australian National Treasure, projects dignity and grace throughout abominable bigotry. It was fun seeing Bryan Brown, the Australian actor I first came to like in the 1981 miniseries, A Town Like Alice, in a ruthless businessman who isn't quite that ruthless role.

Steve wasn't sure that he wanted to see Australia because he thought it looked like a typical commercial big box office film. I persuaded him to accompany us with the argument that it was a Baz Luhrman film. He was right.

But, all that being said, I told Rachel that I'd go see it again.

Here's Rachel's assessment/rebuttal.

Candied Sweet Potatoes

This is the recipe I'm going to attempt for the first time tomorrow. We didn't do candied yams in my family but they're on the menu for the potluck we're going to tomorrow. Putting it here so that I can find it when I need it. Hope they turn out.

CANDIED SWEET POTATOES OR YAMS
Printed from COOKS.COM

6 large bright orange sweet potatoes
1 lb. dark brown sugar
1 stick of butter
2 cups of miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup of white sugar
2 teaspoons of salt

Wash and peel potatoes. Chunk potatoes into 2 inch disks. Put potatoes in a pan and cover with water. Add 2 teaspoons of salt and 1/4 cup of white sugar to the potatoes and water. Cover. Boil until potatoes are fork tender (approximately 30 minutes). Drain potatoes.

Put potatoes in a baking dish and sprinkle with brown sugar. Dot potatoes with butter.

Bake for 20 minutes in 350 degree oven. Sprinkle with marshmallows. Return to oven and bake until marshmallows are brown.

Twilight - The Movie

Despite Rachel's persistent requests, I have not read the book. But, in an effort to be good parents, Steve and I did go to see the movie with her the other night.

The teenage girl in me liked the relationship between Edward and Bella. The adult woman in me disliked the victiminess of Bella. She was quite the little damsel in distress. Steve liked the campy baseball scene.

Rachel is extremely annoyed that I didn't like Bella better. She claims that Bella in the book is nowhere near as one dimensional and is once again insisting that I read the book so that I don't think as poorly of Bella.

Former bosses in high places

My former boss (from like 24 years ago), Ed Tapscott, was just named the Washington Wizards temporary head coach.

Today was his first practice as head coach.

This is kinda cool.

Don't go there today

There's quite the little dust-up at PostSecret today over a particularly graphic image and I have to admit that I'm in the minority on this one.

I saw it early this morning and tried to give myself some time to get over it but here it is 8 hours later and I'm still really disturbed by it.

There's an online poll regarding whether the image should be removed and the nays are running away with it.

That's unfortunate.

I know that by even publishing this post, I may be causing people to check it out but don't say I didn't warn you. Even though the picture is actually a photoshopped hoax, if you're the type that avoids graphic images of things like necrotizing fasciitis and other dermatological conditions, you want to skip this one. If you enjoy those sorts of images, then have at it.

The PostSecret discussion board is full of people who don't see the problem; who think removing the image would be censorship; who, since the image is fake, claim not to be disturbed by it; who think that's it's horrible that people are so bothered by this fake image but not by real life horrors like rape and abuse.

My take is that PostSecret is, by its very nature, censored since Frank chooses what to post each week and that, in choosing to post this image (which doesn't even really qualify as a secret), he was clearly going for the shock factor, the sensationalism. Perhaps this image isn't as disturbing as many real life images but I'm not trying to look at those either.

The fact that there's worse stuff out there doesn't change the fact that this is a revolting image and I wish I hadn't seen it.

I don't like the direction PostSecret is going.

Past my bedtime . . .

Somehow Rachel talked Steve and me into accompanying her to the Isis to see the 6:30 pm showing of Twilight (her second time and our first). She was all sweetness and light and even cooked Steve dinner.

Then disaster struck. As Steve was showering, Rachel, getting nervous since we weren't leaving as early as she'd like, checked the ticket status on line.

Sold out.

Oh, no.

Storm clouds gathered but after a mighty effort, the front cleared fairly quickly.

Even though Steve is exhausted after having boot packed the entire day (can you walk up and down a 35 degree slope in the snow at 12,000 feet for 8 hours?), he agreed to accompany Rachel to the 9:20 pm show. Of course, I'm tagging along too.

Rachel has already bought our tickets. No backing out now . . .

Teenage girls

Steve and I are feeling our age tonight. (That's seems to be a theme recently.)

We're sitting in the family room, reading, while the teenage girls (Rachel and two of her friends) are are in the next room, giggling, listening to music and getting ready to go to a techno-rave at Belly-Up.

Steve's never experienced the social phenomenon that is teenage girls getting ready for a night out. He's rather bemused by the whole spectacle.

He just looked at me and said, "Wow, we're the parents, sitting in the living room, aren't we?"

More small world

I had a meeting tonight with two bankers here in town, both of whom grew up within walking distance of where I grew up.

And now, here we all are, working and living the life in Aspen.

Of course, they're both at least a decade younger than I am so it's not like we crossed paths or anything in our previous lives.

Most of the time when I'm hanging out socially here in Aspen, I'm with my husband's friends and I'm the young one in the crowd.

It was a bit disconcerting to be on the flip side of that tonight. I coped by drinking too much wine (if you call one glass which went straight to my head too much).

1-20-09

Am seriously considering taking Rachel to DC for this historic inauguration.

Spent the day mulling over options.

Hmmmm . . .

Oops

I was crossing Main Street Sunday morning in the pedestrian cross walk. Since it was a Sunday morning in off season, there wasn't too much traffic. As I started across, on the near side, about a block away, was an Aspen police car.

I got halfway and paused, as is my wont, to assess the oncoming traffic on the far side of the street. There were a few cars in the far lane (Main Street being four lanes with a turn lane) as I continued across and the first of the three or four cars didn't stop.

This didn't bother me since he cleared me with plenty of room (like an entire traffic lane) to spare but, as evidenced by the screeching tires as he pulled a U-turn behind me, I guess the cop wasn't quite so cool with it.

He pulled the guy over.

I felt bad.

I hope he only gave the guy a warning.

**Without googling it, can you name the 1975 movie from which the above image draws its cultural reference? I couldn't and was surprised to see that it's being remade.

Two favorites this week

Rachel Getting Married

No feel good movie, this one.

And yet, superbly emotive.

Anne Hathaway fascinates as Kym, the 9 month sober addict, released from rehab in order to attend her sister Rachel's wedding.

The film takes us along as a severely wounded family tries to reconnect during the whirlwind of pre-nuptial and nuptial celebrations.

Poignant and affecting, the movie avoids ever becoming too painful to watch.

Chicago

We went to see the Aspen Community Theater's production of Chicago last night.

Fabulous.

This was my seventh ACT production and by far the best. Professional and tight. With creative staging, provocative dancing and singing, the ACT has raised the bar for future performances.

Frustration

I just figured out that I have a meeting next Tuesday night.

Normally this wouldn't be a big deal except . . .

I was really looking forward to going to BellyUp to see Gonzo for free.

Of course, it wouldn't really have been free because we would have eaten and drank but it would have been fun.

And now, it's not to be.

I'm bummed.

Lamy of Santa Fe by Paul Horgan

1976 Pulitzer Prize for History.

It caught my eye this past July while I was in Santa Fe.

Fascinating window into the difficult life that was the West in the mid to late 19th century. Horgan takes us from France to Ohio to New Mexico and back many times as we follow Jean Baptiste Lamy and his lifelong friend, Joseph Projectus Machebeuf on their journey from young priests sneaking away in France to Archbishops of Santa Fe and Denver respectively.

Horgan painstakingly details the conditions and tribulations these two men encountered as they did their part in bringing education and religion to the American West.

Well researched and well written translates into well-read.

Late to the party?

Ok, I'm sure I'm not the first person to have figured this out but how cool is it that Inauguration Day 2009 is the day after Martin Luther King Day?

PostSecret Favorite

Henry Rollins

Wow.

What a bundle of energy.

What a show.

Went to see Henry Rollins at Belly Up Aspen last night. What a smart, funny guy.

He came out on stage, assumed what my friend who knows more about these things called the punk rocker stance, and proceeded to talk for 2 hours without stopping, without even taking a drink of water.

He talked politics, travel, TSA, economics, music, school, touring, movies. He referenced Malthusian economics. I'm betting that less than 5% of the people in the room had ever even heard of Malthus.

If you're in Seattle on November 26 or Santa Rosa, CA on February 6, do yourself a favor and go see him.

Watching it, I cried again

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

Dr. Atomic

First, the simulcast. This is a very cool thing. The New York Metropolitan Opera offers live HD simulcasts of select performances in movie theaters around the country. In addition to the opera, the simulcast provides a view of the New York audience as they await the start of the opera and the second act, a behind the scenes view as the maestro is called to the pit and special intermission interviews with the lead and the composer. It is an awesome way to see New York Metropolitan Operas without the expense and hassles of travel to New York.

The opera was a bit of a disappointment. It's the story of the few days leading up to the Trinity test of the atomic bomb at Los Alamos and we were all very intrigued by the subject matter. The staging was visually engaging but the tempo of the opera was too slow for our tastes. We all felt that Kitty's role was puzzling and overdone. I felt that, in trying to capture the angst of creating such a destructive force, the opera made Oppenheimer look unbalanced.

We are willing to acknowledge that, since we're not really opera aficionados, perhaps some of our criticisms stem from a lack of familiarity with the genre.

The Big City

Steve and I and another couple came to Denver today for a little big city excitement.

We rented a Hyundai Santa Fe for the leg room since neither of our cars have very spacious back seats. The Santa Fe was pretty plush with XM satellite radio, an iPod dock and an MP3 connection.

We stopped at Sopp & Truscott, a great bakery in funky old Silver Plume and had a very good and very inexpensive lunch.

We checked out the newest Tattered Cover on East Colfax in the historic Lowenstein Theater. Love the bookstore and the building still maintained many of its theater characteristics.

We checked into the Sheraton on the 16th Street Mall to find a convention of school principals. Got a few laughs off of that one.

After cocktails at Purple Martini, we had dinner at Alto which we chose since it replaced Sambuca, the restaurant we thought we were going to go to. It was very good with a nice ambience and live music. I think though that I might have offended the Republicans at the next table with my opinions on W., the movie (and the President).

Suzannah and I called it a night but Steve and Patrick went out to check out Lucky Strike Lanes, the bowling alley which they reported is very cool and hip.

Tomorrow, Dr. Atomic, simulcast from the New York Metropolitan Opera.

Cultured

as in I am so . . .

Going to see a simulcast of the New York Metropolitan Opera, Dr. Atomic, on Saturday.

Going to see Henry Rollins on Sunday.

Going to see Chicago on Friday (next Friday).

History

From last night

Blogging the election

Georgia to McCain? West Virginia to McCain. Dumbass rednecks. Oooo, that's kinda mean.

I'm amazed at the turnout here at Belly Up.

Wow, Obama leading Ohio by 56%?

I'm texting my husband and my boss, IMing my daughter, blogging, watching CNN, tracking NPR.com and CNN.com, poaching wireless and drinking in a public place. I'm living in the future.

CNN just called Ohio.

I'm starting to feel optimistic.

Obama's holding his party in public Grant Park, Daley invited the whole city. McCain's holding his party at the exclusive Biltmore. What could be more telling?

John what's his face on CNN just hypothetically gave Colorado to McCain and the crowd erupted in boos.

Such good energy here!

I just emailed my one friend in Ohio to tell him that I guess Ohio doesn't suck.

New Mexico doesn't suck either.

Utah sucks but we knew that.

Kansas still thinks the world is flat so they don't count. (hehehehe-Rachel)

Colorado is 75% against the Human Life amendment. This is a good thing.

GOP insiders say that it's over for McCain 8:04 pm MST!

Boo, Texas. What the heck is wrong with Texas?

Dana Bash has the McCain blink thing going on.

Arkansas, Mississippi, dumbass rednecks

Someone here has a tshirt that says put the black man in the white house.

This is really cool. But as Rachel says, it'so only cool 'cause we're winning.

Wow, a lot of time with no news. 8:49 pm

Obama's grandmother's vote will be counted. That's cool.

Rachel says that Anderson Cooper's hair makes him look like an anime character.

Wow, 5th consecutive election where the candidate with the better war record doesn't win?

Rachel says that CNN is good for people with ADD.

Virginia called for Obama. That puts him at 220. Add California's 55 and what do you get? 275!!!!

Barack Obama is the projected President Elect! This place is going crazy!

Yes, we can!

It's been a long time but I'm proud to be an American.

Colorado went Obama! We rock!

Look at Jesse Jackson cry!

My friends? So not.

Classy concession speech. When he wants to be, McCain can be a classy guy. But only when he wants to be.

Nice mention of Obama's grandmother.

What he's saying is good. Too bad he got lost in the campaign.

No more pretending to be Canadian when we travel overseas.

No, the failure is in your choice of Palin . . .

For all the shit he's been through, he does not look like a 72 year old.

I had this vision that with all the running around McCain has done, he was going to get elected and then drop dead on election night.

I don't know what more we could have done to win this election? Different VP!

With the difference in the electoral vote, it's amazing how close the popular vote is.

I'm so glad that Palin is not our VP.

Now the Secret Service really has to do its job! For the next 4 or 8 years.

Day after tomorrow, Rachel goes to visit her black family . . .

Rachel says Hillary is saying, I wish it was me but oh, thank god!

Oprah & Stedman in the house.

So glad to hear that the popular vote is also clear.

So where's Obama?

Wow, expectations are gonna be high. But Rachel says he's tall. And he has big feet. (as in shoes to fill)

I was wrong. Happy to be wrong. Wrong about McCain on the night of the Iowa caucus and wrong about the US's readiness to elect a black man.

Someone just asked me if Anderson Cooper was married. A friend says no, he's gay.

Oh shit, battery died. Found power!

Can you imagine? Ohmigod, my father's president of the US.

Man, does he look presidential!

Look at the bullet proof glass.

We are the UNITED States of America.

No more politics of fear.

Change had come to America. AMEN.

Nice mention of McCain's sacrifice.

Where's Biden?

Michelle, the new Jackie?

A new first puppy?

Mention of his grandmother makes me cry.

As I look at my beautiful biracial daughter, I think what a beautiful biracial president we have.

Rachel says he has Will Smith ears. Is this a compliment?

Hope.

Rachel just saw one of her teachers in Grant Park.

There's Joe Biden.

I'm so glad it's VP Biden and not VP Palin.

There may be a god.

Holy shit.

Wrong number?

I got home this evening to a voicemail message inviting me to a McCain victory rally in Grand Junction tomorrow.

Someone is very confused or desperate and I don't think it's me.

Today's favorite

Steve's T-shirt