Don't Make Me Come to Vegas/ I Can't See New York

Alas, I had to come back sometime. But visiting New York after so long (it'd been 8 years), made me more homesick for it than ever. Especially after spending all weekend with Hina, and it being just like we'd never been apart, much less for 19 years.

The comparisons would be patently unfair. There's no city like New York. But we also visited some places on Long Island, our old stomping grounds, as well as Hina's current home in Westchester and her brother's home in Rockland County. Places I'd never been, people I'd never met, but all as familiar and comfortable as can be. Especially our visit to Citi Field, the new home of the Mets. In Vegas, everything is new. They tear down old buildings and put up new ones all the time. In New York, this is not so common. Of course the skyline has changed, due to circumstances beyond the control of the City and its residents. Two buildings missing. A glaring void.

Perhaps two new baseball stadiums mean next to nothing in that context. But to me, they show the resilience of the city and its inhabitants. There is still much to celebrate. And Citi Field is a celebratory place. A rotunda is named for the great Jackie Robinson, who was the first black player in the major leagues. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, one of the Mets' two precursors. But his legacy is carried through, new teams, new eras, and new buildings. His words, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives," are emblazoned around the rotunda's half circumference.



And it's true of course. We all measure our lives by the relationships we have with others. Some of those relationships being so formative to our identity, despite the short time they may have lasted. I was glad when Hina found me. I was glad to know how she was doing, that she was having a good life. But I didn't realize that the bond between us could still be as strong. I had thought there was no getting that back. And I was gladly wrong about that. Hina, and her family too, are just as lovely and funny and generous and all around fantastic as I remembered. And remembering is tricky. The memories we have kept with us all this time are vastly different in some places. Why she would remember about some things and I about others is hard to say. But the essence is the same. She is a dear dear friend of mine, and I hope not to lose her again. I'll do all I can. And perhaps the time that has gone by doesn't matter, and perhaps it means everything. Can we ever really appreciate our friends and loved ones enough?

Though I live in Vegas now (and it's where I should be, with my family), it doesn't make me any less a New Yorker. Seeing the greenery and the bridges across the waters and the traffic and the bustling of Times Square and the quaintness of Long Island with its tiny houses and large yards, and the signs calling out the familiar streets and towns, it made me feel place can be funny, how it just triggers the feelings that come rushing back to you. When at once, you can feel that your foot has touched the earth in this same spot before, but your footprint is a bit larger now, and your imprint a bit fainter because it can't stay as long.

How come it's so hard for some people to even think of leaving home, and so easy for others. A life of moving from place to place has its charms, but its disadvantages too. There's always something to leave behind. Even here in Vegas, a place that is always changing and never stays still. When I leave here one day, a bit of me will remain. All I can do is hold on to those people and places and experiences and memories as tightly as I can. And if I do let some of them slip, because all of us do without realizing, I can consider myself lucky if I get them back again. Like I do now.

Postcard of a Painting

I spent this past Labor Day weekend, stripping wallpaper and painting in my bedroom. Just one wall. But it's funny how a little paint can make all the difference. I moved the furniture around too and it seems like a completely different space now. The warm caramel colour on the wall and the new cozy configuration with the bed facing the TV, and the desk with the computers by the window, mean I'm really enjoying spending time in here now. But they mean something else too. For one thing, I probably wouldn't have gone to all the trouble if I thought I'd be moving out into my own place anytime soon. I'd lived with that odd tropical wallpaper all this time, knowing this wasn't really my room. I was still just a guest in my parents' house. A tenant perhaps. But now this is no longer the case. I'm here for the foreseeable future. So I may as well get comfortable. Yesterday I started putting the shelves back up (and watched some re-runs of Sex and the City). Today I finished the shelves and did some more adjustment with the furniture. All my stuff is back in here now so I've officially finished the project. There are a few odds and ends I need to do. Touch up the ceiling where I had a bit of a slip with the paint roller, etc. But by and large, it's done.I'm going to look for a new bedside table since I moved the dresser I used to use across the room to hold the TV. I've got a few ideas in mind and went to West Elm yesterday to check them out. I'd like to have more of a proper bedside table with a drawer or two that I can stash things in. For now, I've put my old TV stand there, just to hold my clock and radio and small lamp within reach. It's too short to serve that purpose permanently though since the bed is so high.
Now that I've moved everything and it's not against that wall, my lovely painting handiwork really stands out. Originally I had put my comfy Todd Oldham La-z-boy chair next to the bed. That way I could watch TV from my bed or the chair. But I moved it back towards the dresser. It's just a smidge too big to leave it in the aisle. My poor chair seems always to be the odd man out. Just because the room could stand to be a bit bigger.

I still love the chair though, and I figure I can always move it around to face the TV later on if I feel like it. We work with what we have.

Like the Weather

Last weekend the MINI Club drove up Mt. Charleston for our annual picnic with the British Auto Club. When we left the parking lot at Sante Fe station, it was muggy from the rain the previous day. I was actually happy about the rain. We went to Aliante Station that day, then to our local dealer, Desert MINI, for a 50th birthday celebration. Minis are 50! Anyway, it rained on the way to the dealer and then when I made the dash from my car to the showroom, I pulled out my Harry Potter umbrella which I love but hardly ever get to use. I was delighted to finally have some different weather. The downside though was the mugginess on Sunday. So we all headed up to Mt. Charleston where the weather was decidedly more pleasant. It was 68F with a welcome breeze.

We had a nice picnic but it seemed a bit awkward. I think it always is with the British Auto Club. They seem like nice people. But there is a perception, maybe just paranoia on our part, of a touch of snobbery. The guy with the Rolls Royce wasn't there this year. But in general the cars they have are more high end than our minis. Minis are more like the cars of the everyman. One reason why we love them. But the BACLV were gracious hosts, and cooked up loads of burgers and hot dogs for us. And we brought along many side dishes and desserts. Tons of food left over as usual.

There were a few cute dogs to play with, including Pedro's dog Yuna, a sweet little pug. I drove down the mountain afterwards thinking of seeing a movie. I still haven't seen that latest Harry Potter. Shame on me. At least I got to use the umbrella. I stopped instead at the mall in the Palazzo which is a nice place to browse. I stopped in Bottega Veneta for the first time. Quite an intimidating experience. The gorgeous leather items, bags, wallets, etc. were way out of my price range. Pretty much ridiculously so. The leather is soft and buttery. Yes. But in the end my assessment was that a Bottega would be much too precious. I'd never be able to take it anywhere without worrying about it. I visited my perennial favourite Cole Haan and bought a pair of shoes. The sales associates at Cole Haan are very attentive. The girl wouldn't let me take the shoes out of the box myself. She unwrapped them and presented them to me to try on. That kind of thing is nice. But it makes me feel a little odd. I'm a simple girl really. Used to doing things for myself. But it's a nice treat to be pampered a bit.

This week, I planned to do some more shopping. Yesterday I managed to browse around without doing any damage at all to my bank account. I didn't want to be impulsive. But I did find a few things I would like to have. Bags of course, and a few other bits and bobs. I stopped by the other Cole Haan store, the one in Fashion Show mall, and the associate there told me about a special event the next day. He gave me his card and an invitation which included 20% off any purchase. Even the new season's collection. I asked about the Maria Sharapova black hobo bag I'd been eyeing in the catalog. And he said he'd have to order it. I decided to stop back in for the event, and maybe order that bag, and maybe pick up something else while I had use of a discount. So I did go back today, and bought a beautiful dark grey soft woven leather tote (who needs Bottega after all!) and ordered the black hobo. Two bags in one go. Naughty. But I was happy with my purchases and continued shopping knowing that overall I was still good budget wise. If a bit poorer for this weekend. A girl could use a little splurge every now and then. Especially when she's trying to avoid the awful summer heat and look forward to the cooler autumn. It won't be that much cooler right away. But I still found a couple of cozy sweaters and a decadently beautiful sort of trench coat. Didn't buy that. It would have been impulsive. And it would've maxed out my NM card. I told the saleswoman I'd think it over. Still haven't decided. Might be worth it for my trip to New York next month. Then again, I'd like to have some money to spend while I'm there.

It's a dilemma.

In any case, it's nice to know that the weather will be changing soon. I've always been more of a winter girl.

Still Can't Find the Phone

My brother lost his phone a few nights ago while he was at work. He was pretty frustrated, because he uses his phone a great deal at work and losing it made it harder for him to do his job. Then there were all the other considerations. The phone had his contacts and pictures and whatever else he needs to have with him everyday. Plus, it was a pretty nice phone. It got me thinking, as technology continues to give us conveniences and capabilities that weren't dreamt of even 50 years ago, it can also be a bit of a burden.

We don't think about all that we carry in our pockets and purses until it's suddenly gone. And then, PANIC! Guys used to have to worry about only two things. Wallet and keys. Now it's wallet and keys at a minimum, but most likely also a mobile phone. Depending on the features of the phone, they may or not want to also carry an mp3 player, a camera, a GPS device...or any number of other gadgets.

For women it's always been more complicated. We may carry a couple of necessities in our pockets if we have any, but for the most part, we have a constant companion known as a purse, or a handbag. Much the same as for men, women generally carry a wallet and keys. Losing that stuff is bad enough, because these days we carry all manner of information in our wallets like a driver's license, credit and debit cards, work ID, library cards, membership and loyalty cards (including ones that can be used as cash like a Starbucks Card). And of course there may actually be a bit of cash in there too. Keys can include house keys, car keys, keys to any storage units, mailboxes or other secured facilities. Those are all an enormous headache to lose and have to replace. But in these days of identity theft, the worries are compounded. Plus if they get your wallet and keys, they know where you live and can get into your house! Quick, it's time to change the locks as well.

We've all been living with these potential hassles and even dangers for years now. Cell phones have been around more than a decade. But it seems like in the last few years alone the "must have" technologies have become "never leave the house without them" daily essentials. After my brother's experience, I decided to have a look in my handbag to see what I carry with me everywhere I go, and consider the catastrophe of losing any of it.



Let's see: I've got my wallet and keys of course. Hairbrush, cosmetics pouch, a couple of pens, some mints, coupons and bus tickets for work. Then the mobile phone, in this case a Blackberry with access to all my email accounts, etc. My iPod Touch, both for the music capabilities and the applications that I depend on, and the little pouch with my earphones. Pack of tissues, planner/datebook (slightly redundant since my iPod and my Blackberry both have calendar functions) and my Kindle. I mentioned this item to my brother and he said, "Geez, you carry your Kindle with you Everyday!" I don't, but every workday, yes, because I read on the bus. Also usually carried but not pictured are my work ID and car keys. And to be honest, concealed inside the cosmetics pouch are a few pricey personal care goodies including several jars/tubes of lipbalm that may or may not cost up to $20 a piece. (No, I'm not proud). And oh yeah, occasionally my wallet actually has a bit of cash in it. (Not much).

Put that all together with the value of the handbag itself (in this case a reasonably-priced DKNY hobo but often a pricier bag), and a purse snatcher must beware. He's not getting this stash without a fight. I mean, obviously if it's life and limb, I'm letting it go, but you get the idea.

I have a good female friend who travels sans handbag all the time. I don't know how she does it, but sometimes I envy her. She must be free of the constant burden of worry that I share with so many women. What if something happens and I don't have my __________ (hand sanitizer gel, band-aids, tampons, cutlery, handcuffs, change of clothes, etc.)?! I'm one of those be-prepared-for-every-situation-type girls. And I love my handbag. It's my life I'm carrying in there. That makes it a companion to me as much as an inanimate sack full of stuff can be. And full of stuff it is. Much more than in the past. Which is why I believe losing your handbag, or even just your phone, like my brother did his, is a nightmare waiting to happen. I just hope it never happens to me.

Queen of the World

Ida Maria is my new hero. I saw her last Friday at House of Blues opening for Glasvegas and she was pretty wow. I've been listening to her music since I heard her on BBC 6 last year and when I saw she was coming with Glasvegas, I was excited to see her. She's such a lively great performer. Yes, that's part of it. But there was something else. She just had this attitude. Like my arms aren't totally toned, and I have bruises on my legs from falling down, but I still rock. Well, I doubt those are her actual feelings, but she does rock. That part is right. And she just radiated this inner confidence and the willingness to totally make fun of herself. She just had a great energy. I've never been great at reviewing music. As much as I love and get so caught up in a great live show, I find verbal description difficult. So I don't do reviews. Just impressions. I went to the show with my friend Kristie who hadn't heard either band before. I was anxious to know what she thought. I think she thought they were both cool which I was glad about. I just wish the H.O.B. folks hadn't cut her off before she did her last song, which I'm guessing would've been "Oh My God." They were closing those big quilted curtains they have there. And Ida gasped, "Thank you. I hope you liked that." I did.

Which brings me to Glasvegas. They were pretty great too. But my overwhelming feeling after the show was that it was so wonderful to see a young band from the U.K. on their first big tour of the States. Not yet jaded, just taking in the fact that it is all happening. James Allan, the band's singer, didn't let a moment go by without showing his love for the crowd. He seemed amazed that he was here on stage in this strange town (which partially gave the band their name) and people were singing his words back to him. I imagine this is a heady feeling for any performer. But never before have I seen the guy on stage taking in the love and returning it so immediately and earnestly. At least not that I can remember; I've been to so many shows. But it made the show fresher, more of an event. And I can't neglect to mention the awesomeness of Caroline McKay's stand up drumming. Another gal who totally rocks.

And I'm still singing...

"I'm Queen of the World, I bump into things....I spin around in circles...and I'm singing"

Weekend Without Makeup

This weekend I had a planned trip to Zion National Park in Utah. It was with my STC chapter colleagues. We've been planning it for a couple of months or so. And as the time approached I was excited for the chance to get out of town, and see our St. George friends and to experience something new. Even though I'd lived in Utah for five years (in Provo), I'd never been to Zion. I'm not a big fan of the outdoors much of the time. Especially when it's so hot, but I do appreciate amazing scenery and natural history.

The day before the trip I had to take care of my car registration. I expected to spend the day at the DMV. First though, I took MINIfir to my regular garage to see if she was ready to pass the smog test. A week earlier, she failed due to the thermostat keeping her a little too cool. I didn't realize that would affect emissions, but it did. I had to buy the OEM thermostat and my dad was kind enough to install it for me. My mechanic cleared the engine code, but he advised not to have her retested until I'd driven a good 100 miles with the new thermostat. The computer had to cycle through some checks before she'd pass smog. So no trip for the DMV for me that day. I was out so early in the day, I wondered if there were any other errands I should run before my trip the next day, or if I could just pass some time before going home to watch the Mets game. Being on that side of town, I figured I'd stop into the mall to see if there was anything good at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. I knew it was dangerous to go there, but I had a plan to avoid overspending. I had been good about it lately. Browsing and seeing things I liked, but ultimately deciding I didn't need them. I could stay out of trouble. Exceptions only for things that were a good deal AND absolutely wanted (as in not just purchased for the sake of it being on sale) AND that I could afford. I had some money in the bank now, and had paid off my credit cards and it seemed doable to drop $600 on a new handbag. But I realized that I would feel bad about it later, and that I shouldn't do it. And that any new bag would eventually be on sale if I waited long enough, and if I still wanted it when it was on sale, I could buy it. Rules. I had to stick to them. Especially if I wanted to make some extra car payments as I'd planned before all the repair bills set me back. Anyway, I went to Nordstrom and looked at all the new bag styles that were on sale. Lots of nice stuff, there was a big crowd sifting through the items. But I easily settled on the bag I'd been thinking of, a hobo by Treesje that even came in a blue color that I hadn't known of before. It fit my criteria. Half price. Even when it's out of season, it's unlikely to be sold for less than that. And I really wanted it. Now that I saw it in person, and not just the catalog, I realized it was exactly what I was looking for. And at half price, affordable. And buying it wouldn't derail my plan to make extra car payments. I was within my means. Okay. Good.

So then with my new purchase in hand, I stopped into Macy's. The bag department there is a nice place to browse, but I rarely find anything I really want to buy, so it's pretty safe. As I made my way past the Origins counter, the makeup artist made her pitch. "Want a free makeover?" I politely declined. I admitted that I could probably use a makeover, considering my less than polished appearance, but it was rather pointless as no matter how great a job she did, I'd never use any of the products that I might end up buying. She said that she didn't mean to imply that I needed a makeover. And that I didn't have to buy anything. She was just bored and would be grateful for an opportunity to work on someone instead of just standing around. For some reason I was moved. I agreed with the condition that she kept it light. No reason for me to be walking around fully made up. But a cleansing would be nice.

Her name was Jessica and she had on a sleeveless top showing off her full sleeve of tattoos. She asked me about myself, what I did for a living, what I'd been shopping for. I told her I bought a bag. And she said, "Oh, you're a bag girl. I'm defintely not a bag girl. I won't pay more than $20 for a bag usually." I shared the deal I got on my new Treesje. Fifty percent off. She said, "Yeah, 50% off $600 dollars right." She had guessed correctly. She said she'd never even consider spending that much on a bag. But she had her own thing, Tattoos, $1000 worth at least. That's cool, I responded. Everyone has their own thing. While we chatted she cleansed and exfoliated and then began asking if I felt comfortable with some loose powder, blush, mascara, etc. I asked her to be minimal. No mascara as I'm allergic. But I guessed evening out my skin with powder was okay. She set to work. And we continued chatting. She was true to her word. She didn't try to sell me anything. And she was grateful to be kept busy. I thanked her and she thanked me too. I went about my way in the store. Bought a pair of shoes on sale. And then I ran into Jessica in the restroom. She was on break I guess. She told me to enjoy the rest of my day and I wished her the same. I didn't feel weird. She had done a nice understated job. Of course I knew that by the time I got home, most of it would have melted away, after I had something to eat, and then ventured out into the hot sun. After a trip to CVS on my way home. It was barely noticable. I cleansed the rest off with a moist towelette and then got ready to watch the ballgame. It wasn't pretty. An 11-0 route by the Braves.

Oh well. I had the Zion trip to look forward to the next day. And of course it wouldn't much matter how I looked then. After a couple of tough hikes (for me, my companions considered them easy), the sunscreen and sweat had blended and dripped into my eyes. It was messy, but fun. I rewarded myself with an ice cream. In the late afternoon, we made our way back to our hosts' house for a bar-b-que. And then we got to go visit their horses. They were sweet, friendly animals. A joy to be around. We fed them carrots and then went back to the house for some pie. I was sweaty and dirty all day. But I didn't care. Everyone else was too. Even Jessica would admit there was no point worrying about appearances. The real star of the day was the natural beauty. The massive rock formations, the wild animals we saw, and of course the horses.

Andy, You're a Star

I don't follow professional tennis that closely. Baseball is my main sports devotion. But I try to always catch at least part of Wimbledon, especially the men's final. The time difference makes this a bit tricky, as it's 6a.m. here in Las Vegas when the Championship Match begins in London. Las Vegas has it's own claim to tennis fame. Andre Agassi is a Vegas native and still lives here with his wife and fellow champion Steffi Graf. The Agassis do loads of work for the community. Still, Vegas is a long way from London.

Last year's Wimbledon final, won by Rafael Nadal in the dusk of early evening after several rain delays and an epic 5 set match against Roger Federer, is well documented. I'm reading the book on the match by L. Jon Wertheim right now on my Kindle (It's called "Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played.") I remember watching the match, on and off between rain delays, sleepy in my bed, and then with the Mets game on the computer on the other side of the room. The Mets actually started and finished their game that day before the Wimbledon final was completed. A marathon day for all involved. I don't remember what the Mets did that day. But I certainly remember the tension and the greatness of that tennis match. Sometimes that happens.

And today was another day like that. This time the amazing match ended just as the Mets were beginning their lackluster day against the Phillies. So there wasn't the division of attention that was necessary last year. I again woke late, tuning in sleepily after being up half the night with our dog Miracle and her fireworks anxiety. It was already in the fourth set. But I'm glad I got there when I did. Andy Roddick was our guy this time against Federer.

Tennis being an idividual sport makes it different from baseball in that there is no team as such. Yes, there are doubles teams, and Davis Cup teams. But in the Grand Slam tournaments, the singles players are on their own. You have your favorites. I remember when Agassi made his amazing final run in the U.S. Open. in 2006. He was injured but he battled and the crowd was definitely behind him. This year's Wimbledon Semi-final saw Britain's star Andy Murray with great home country support from the crowd, as he lost a tough match to Roddick.

Now in the final it was Roddick vs. Federer, the 5 time champion. Roddick had met Federer in the Wimbledon final before, back in 2004 and 2005 and came up short each time. Their last match up in 2005 was an easy 3 set win for Federer. So of course you have to root for Andy this time. At least to make the match more competitive, if not to have a real chance to win it. Yes, the American player got my support, but not just because I'm American (and I did talk about the national pride in watching sports in yesterday's entry). But in tennis you really think of the player as an individual, and here I rooted for Andy because he had worked so hard to get back to the final. He did everything he could to give himself a chance to win it. I'm a big fan of Federer also. I mean, he's got to be the greatest player of all time, considering what he's done. So he's not the enemy. He never has been. I cheered for him in the final against Nadal last year, and felt bad for him when he lost it. This year Federer was just coming off his first French Open win, and was going for his 15th Grand Slam title, to surpass Pete Sampras. He was making history and you can't help but want to see that too. I just didn't want it to be too easy for him. And fortunately for me, and for tennis as a whole, it was a great competitive match. It went 5 sets. And the fifth set took 30 games for Federer to finally come out on top. Roddick held his serve in every game until the very last.

The sports media is on top of reporting this story, despite the fact that it's not front page news in the U.S. (I had to make a concerted effort to check the results and find out the match-ups on line, it was strange.). So I don't feel compelled here to give a detailed account of the match. Suffice it to say that I was glad to have seen it. Andy and Roger both played their hearts out. And Roger came out on top today. The history and the glory are his. But to Andy I say, Well done! You did us all proud :)