The Illuminated Landscape
The land and sky paint itself here in Northern New Mexico. You drive along and the mountains will be blue and grey with clouds and just at the foothills will be a line of pink and yellow light. You turn to see where such a sliver of light could be coming from and see a sunset with rays of light beaming from an orange ball surrounded by storm clouds and hints of blue, blue sky.
Yesterday I woke up to snow--again. By mid-day it's warm again. The mysteries of living here in the land of enchantment.
May your sky be painted bold and bright and my your day be beautiful.
New Job, New Couch, Neauveaux (sp?)
Well, I've accepted a new job here in the nonprofit entities. I start as soon as we can find a replacement for me here at my current job. The new position will be a lot of pressure, but it's a move in a direction I've been seeking to return to for a while now--publishing. I'll be project coordinator for Teacher Training Level 2. What a ride itwill be!
I got my new couch in today. I love the color--Spring Green--but it doesn't love the color of my walls--I thought it would mesh better. Oh well. I'll live with it a while and see if it grows on me.
But now I have a couch you can nap on! I've had many complaints in the past about just that thing. Too short, too cold, too, too. So all is remedied and I invite you to come nap in my living room whenever you wish.
Tonight I'm going to see a 6'5" man play the role of Martha Graham, the great modern dance choreographer. Should be a hoot!
film stuff
Well, it's been a slow few weeks for movies. But I have seen a few gems. Mentioned earlier from my trip to Seattle, The Matador, a funny, dark film with Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear (who's one of my favorites). I will forever have emblazened in my memory the image of Pierce walking through a hotel lobby with a beer in one hand, sunglasses, a black speedo, and ankle boots unzipped. What bravery for an actor who for years has been known for his class. In fact, it took his producing this movie to get the first decent role in years, if ever. Greg Kinnear is perfect, as usual. I recommend it; if it's still playing in your neighborhood that is.
Dave Chapelle's Block Party. Oh man! To have been in Brooklyn back in 2004 and seen this show--amazing. All the best hip-hop artists (with the exception of KRS-1) from the past 15 years there on stage together. And then, there's Dave. Why he's so funny I can't quite figure out--but he is! I think it's his casual attitude, like yeah, I'm here, so what? The other thing that it proved to me was this: something is really wrong with Lauren Hill.
Failure to Launch. Okay. So I'm smart, I know why the critics panned it, but I still love SJP so much that I tolerated MM. It wasn't a great movie--but if you're in the mood, it's just right.
Things are cooking here at work folks, so my entries may be fewer and further between. Apologies in advance.
Shivaratri in Seattle
Well, I've been back for a week and haven't had time or inclination to update this journal. I got sick for a couple of days, which didn't help me catch up on things at work. Oh well. I would have to say my trip was mixed. Going home is always tricky, whether it's home to your family, or as I found, home to your friends. You don't get to see as many people as you'd like to --or for as long as you'd like. You're exhausted. And you eat too much. These are the down sides of the journey home. The up side was that I got to find out who my good friends really are, which is always interesting if you can let your mind open up to new things.
I was met at the airport by two good friends--Kathleen and Carol--we had been quite the threesome over the years and it was great to see them still in perfect form! We lunched; we bantered; we laughed. Then it was a leisurely walk downtown to meet my friend Kathy for the traditional Friday matinee movie. This was a routine of ours which was quite nice to re-enact. I won't submit my movie review here, but suffice to say, The Matador, was the perfect entre to my weekend.
We then went for crepes at one of my favorite joints in Seattle: 611 Supreme. Yum. And the coffee is to die for.
Then off to visit friends and settle in for the night. The next day began with a meeting and more coffee! My eye was twitching all weekend! I'm out of the habit. Then off to the new Olympus Spa in Lynnwood. Lovely and amazing. (No, not the movie.) I got a moisturizing treatment that felt like a dream and my skin was like velvet for days! I lounged with friends and ate at the Korean cafe. A delightful way to spend a cold day in Seattle. Then a stop by my favorite merchants to say hello--Travelers--and was invited to participate in the Mahashivaratri events that evening. It made for a VERY long day, but it was worth it to stay up and chant and sing with old friends and make some new ones.
Sunday started with breakfast at Glo's--yummy yummy biscuits and vegan gravy! and a ribald tale of Iain's debauchery the night before. I do not envy the hair on that dog! He recovered well and the day was spent lounging and visiting. One of the main reasons for my trip was to see Roxanne since she got herself knocked up (smile) and it was great to lay around talking about Junior Mint (their pet name for the baby and my favorite candy) and their plans. We topped it off with pizza in Wallingford and sooner than I knew it--the trip was almost over.
Monday morning was spent getting my 6-year sobriety coin and catching up with my friend Sahaj. What a sweetheart! We had tea and talk and then ran some errands (had to get my cats their favorite toy, which they don't seem to carry here in NM, that got some looks getting on the plane, let me tell you) and finally finished off the trip at my favorite deli in the ID--$1.50 sandwiches and taro bubble tea! Fabulous!
So, Seattle, my long-time friend and foe, I have to say I miss three things: walking about, food, and a few familiar faces. But beyond that, which is a lot, I was happy to be settled into my seat and headed back to the Southwest (on Southwest!).
