Denver to Glenwood Springs: still in Colorado

I'm sitting at my desk in my jacuzzi suite in Glenwood Springs typing this on Thursday June 12. I got a free upgrade! Oh my God I love this room so much and don't wanna leave. The bed is GIGANTIC with fourteen million pillows and I haven't used the jacuzzi yet but I think I'm gonna have to, no? The above pic is the view from my hotel. That is the Colorado River and there is also (don't know if you can see it) an Amtrak train track there too. Can you imagine taking the train along the Colorado River and all thru that area???

Allright, let's go back a moment. Yesterday I left Denver and drove up Mount Evans...all the way to the summit: 14,000 feet! It was quite scary at times, I must say, because there is no guard rail and the road is NARROW. This is the highest paved road in North America. It was originally planned so that there could be an expressway that joined the two peaks of two mountains! Evans being one of them. This idea was scrapped as well...hello: it's CRAZY. I love that this was their idea though. I freaking expressway 14,000 feet in the air??? But thanks to their crazy idea and their folly we now can drive up Evans and see mountain goats and golden belled marmots and big horn sheep! OK, so I just saw the marmots. Oh and a beautiful deer. I think it was a deer...but it was kinda furrier and it's horns were kinda thick. So maybe it was a higher elevation, furrier deer? Yep, I'm sure that's the official name.

This is what it looked like where I was on Mount Evans (The Rockies!!!):




Anyway, driving up Evans was fun and then I got back on the I-70 and head west towards Glenwood Springs. I will admit, dear reader that I was spent. Maybe it's the higher altitude and maybe it's the fact that I've been go go go...but I needed a break. So Even though I only drove 200 miles yesterday i stopped here, went to the mineral hot springs, near the Colorado River, next to a mountain and soaked my bones before getting all snuggly in my upgraded jacuzzi suite! Two things: one, my mother, kind lady, treated me to this hotel room tonight so I could truly relax in this last stretch homeward. Motels are fine but they wear on you eventually. This place is NICE and I feel so good here! Thanks to Mum! Two: I had the most incredible mexican food last night and a kick ass margarita to boot! I got SO FREAKING LOADED from one marg it was hilarious! I keep forgetting about the elevation thing! I was seriously drunk and thank god my hotel was a block away. Flank steak tacos rancheros with rice, beans, guacamole, homemade chopped salsa...YUM. Oh ya, and that awesome white mexican crumbly cheese: dee-lish.

OK so that's it. I'm in this awesome hotel right on the Colorado River and I have to leave soon (Noooooo!) for Utah where I'm planning on doing some hiking and then I may just be stopping in Vegas before heading home.

I can't believe I'm almost there.

Driving to Denver

Let the Super 8 in Omaha not a moment too soon and set off driving for Denver. Couldn't believe the gas prices...as i listened to NPR i marvelled at the fact that i was driving TOWARDS the highest gas prices in America...in my home town, Los Angeles. Fuck.

The weather, however, was perfection. No storm clouds, no tornado sirens, not even a touch of gray. It was blue skies and 83 degrees the entire way to Denver. Oh and back to gas prices for a sec...I called david kalisher on my drive in to Denver to let him know that i was hooking up with Jenn, his good friend who offered to put me up for a night as I passed thru town...

In our phone conversation Kalisher informed me that the prices of Prius' in california were listed at about $8000 over the blue book value...and that my Honda Civic Hybrid, though purchased in october 2007, had likely not depreciated in value at all. What a revelation! This is sortof good news but that fact remains: gas is closing in on $5 a gallon in California and i don't know what I'm gonna do once I get home. Uhhhh not drive, maybe???

On this beautiful drive to Denver I finally began to listen to my last book on tape that I had brought along: Sarah Vowell's Assassination Vacation. Vowell is a regular contributor of This American Life and I think she's funny. Assassination Vacation is about her obsession with all things Presedential assassination...namely Lincoln, MicKinley and Garfield. The title refers to her traveling the USA going to places that have some link to these three assassinations...this is what the book documents. I'm not very far in just yet but I am enjoying it.

I had a jolt while listening to the introduction of the book...Vowel describes how she once felt really sad about the fact that Lincoln never got a chance to serve his second term and used to ponder what he would have accomplished for America...but as she researched the book she realized at some point how lucky we are that he exited at all and that it's something of a miracle that he survived as long as he did. Apparently Lincoln had an overabundance of death threats and actual botched attempts over the years. Vowell discovers that he used to keep all his death threat letters in his desk...this man was aware, and even embraced how he was loathed, how he threatened. At this point in listening I decided to turn off the audio book and turn on NPR on the car radio. The news told me that the presidential hopefuls John Mcain and Barak Obama had spent the day talking about economic policy...and I stopped listening...to hear those two names said back to back...suddenly I was hit with all that I had just heard about Lincoln. And everything started blending. My chest actually got tight. I thought to myself: will the people of America allow a man named BARACK OBAMA to be their president? Are they ready for this step. Not only is this a black man, but a highly intelligent, highly charming, good looking, educated black man whose name rings oh so Un-American (to the ignorant and hateful)

I had thought about Obama and the every-day possibility of his assassination before, this was nothing new. But his NAME struck me suddenly and I got really scared. Like the gravity of him becoming president and how HUGE that will be...it's so thrilling and terrifying too because you know (i hate to say this) that someone, somewhere is thinking, plotting something right now. Aren't they? Isn't that bloody chilling? Like Lincoln it will be a miracle if this inspiring man becomes President of the United States and survives to serve. But we must remain hopeful and ruthless in this quest (what can I do, a Canadian? -- prayer and meditation is not unhelpful I say) -- because imagine an America without Lincoln?

Filled up on gas just outside of Denver for $3.89 a gallon and woo hoo that was to be the last gas bargain I saw! Today in Glenwood Springs we're talking $4.28 a gallon and I can't wait to see what's waiting for me in LA. UGH.

I arrived in Denver and made my way to the lovely home of jenn Davidson, Kalisher's friend. I got settled in my room and then we went out to Watercourse Foods downtown. It was AWESOME! I had a huge salad with spinach and romaine and roasted portobellos, smoky tempeh, maple walnuts, sweet potatoes...it was heaven. And what I had been craving all day: healthy crunchy food! I also had a glass of this incredible organic wine from Argentina: a white called Torrontes (?) -- lord I did love it...I highly recommend it...and it's cheap too!

Jenn drove me around Denver showing me the sights. It was mind blowingly gorgeous that night, no humidity and warm but not hot. I loved the vibe in Denver alot. I was very very happy to be there!

I look forward to going back and also doing Boulder and Aspen next time too. I can't do everything, right?

Road Trip -- Heading back to LA - Shaw Festival, Chicago, Omaha

I left my folks place in Brampton on Thursday June 5 and arrived in Niagara on the Lake (aka The Shaw festival) at about 10:30 pm...after letting myself in to Blair Williams' place on Ball street I found myself ready for a cocktail and went out looking for Blair. First stop: the Angel Inn Pub where sure enough Williams sat, not knowing I had arrived. We quickly made our way to Jeff Meadows' birthday party being held at Moya and Torquil's pad (aka jane johansen's house). I proceeded to get my hot little hands on a Bombay Saffire g and t and sidled up to David Jansen for some post-workshop shop talk. I began to not understand my own self...i realized in these moments talking with dear David J. that I was quite obviously REELING for the workshop, from the knowledge that we do NOT have our cast all settled and in place with contracts signed...and also reeling from what was a simply thrilling experience: workshopping one's first play with the knowledge that it is being produced in the coming months at a major theatre in Canada.

It was at that moment that I realized I needed to get high.

And it just so happened that lovely old Peter Krantz had somehow gotten his hands on some 35 year old hash oil that belonged to his Mum or aunt or someone! A joint was rolled, we piled out to the wonderful bonfire out back and after that things are a bit more blurry. Thank Christ. I was beginning to bore myself silly with my own state of discombobulation. At a certain point you just have to stop talking and realize that right now...you're a freak. You will calm down, you will become coherent...but right this second: STOP. David Jansen (god love him with his dreamy beard and his blue velvet smoking jacket) was entirely on board with everything we talked about, insisted I was making total sense and was entirely sympathetic. love that guy.

And so: post 35 year old hash oil? what did we do? Well first Jansen and I got on about some theory about what makes the British the way they are...the sense of humor, the self-depracation...and the fact that no matter how successful you are, you still maintain (or face utter rejection by the public) a very working class, no-big-deal way about yourself...you may be a gazillionaire but you just like pints down at the pub and wear jeans and tees like the rest of us...

This is not that interesting or even remotely original a thought...what WAS unique was what jansen and I got on about next, which was the coming of the fall of the AMERICAN empire...what will it do to them as a nation...what will it do to their sense of humour...once they fall? Once America is no longer #1...what will happen to all the RAH RAH? Jansen insisted that it will have a very quick affect on the american people, their humour, the pop culture. But i say pop culture is one thing (ie) seeing the hopelessness of 8 years of Bush seeping into independent cinema a la There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men and the like...but sitcom humour? Everyday people? In terms of how or IF wit will CHANGE the American personality? I say this will take longer. Much longer. the "American rah rah, we're #1 mentality is a thing of BLOOD. It is so deeply ingrained that it will take much more than America's fall from grace and ultimate power to dissolve it.

I say it is so ingrained that the people will simply not know any other way, even when faced with not being number one...they will be dragged kicking and screaming from their arrogance and their grandeur. i don't believe this shift will be a quick one. But only time will tell, yes? And by the way; i don't BLAME the American people at ALL for their arrogance and rah rah mentality. They have been fed this since day ONE. It is mothers milk and this is why it will take more than a few years (or decades even) to shake this persona. Can we say that the Brits have the sense of humour that they have mainly becuz they were the super power, they were number one and then they fell? Hard? I don't know. But it's all very interesting.

Well...that's what Jansen and I got on about (the idea of how this all will affect America's collective sense of humour is utterly fascinating to me...simply because Jansen attributed the Brit's humour to the fact that THEY had once been number one and had to face that fall and therefore this fall contributed (undoubtedly) to their sense of self, humour etc...

After all this high talk on the deck, it was HIGH time for some boogeying! And boogey i did. What a great effing feeling to be high as a kite and close your eyes and just let it all GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. It was super duper NICE.

Blair and i went back to his place, drank a bunch of water and talked more about politics before crashing. The next day I stayed with lovely Deborah Hay and my final night in NOTL i crashed at Thom Allison's place. It was a fabulous 3 nights at Shaw and I was fortunate enough to cathc some great theatre too: namely the first preview of The President (Blair's directorial debut at Shaw)!!! It was OUTSTANDING. the entire cast was spot on and I was so thrilled for Blair and Morwyn (who did the adaptation)...I really loved it and know they will have an awesome run. What a crowd pleasing, hilarious show!

On Sunday June 8 I left NOTL and drove thru the craziest tornado-thunder storm weather in Michigan and landed safe and sound in Chicago where I stayed with Miles, a friend of Belinda's...Miles is sous chef at Blackbird in Chicago (Obama ate there a couple nights before I pulled into town!!!) and is a wonderful sweet, 26 year old dreamboat...Miles likes in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago...we stayed up all night talking and having tequila & tonic and smoking weed...it was super fun and I think Miles is top notch. Yay for friends of friends who are so generous to have you over in their home!!!

That night as we talked and talked the rain continued to pour down from the sky...it was quite a day of weather and the first tornado sirens I'd ever encountered (in Michigan) -- I've always wanted to see a funnel cloud but after that day I must say, I think I'll be OK not ever seeing one.

Here is the resnt of this post in point form...what a lazy sonofabitch!

-chicago morning coffee and then on the road again and hitting another majorly insane thunderstorm torrential downpour...the craziest skies i've ever seen in my life as I drove thru Iowa...just before the downpour...seriously the most apocalyptic sky ever...the scariest, largest scale 3-D painting of an apocalyptic sky ever. I cannot even begin to do it justice...I can only say that I, a realist, had quite vivid thoughts that the sky was about to swallow me whole in some Dante-esque inferno. No jokes, no exaggerations. this sky was TERRIFYING. And then the sky in omaha...the whole freaking sKy on fire...like it was filled with orange smoke and as if it were comlpetely ON FIRE...but it was more torrential rain off in the distance and the sun as it went down lighting up the sky and sheets of rain. never seen a sky like that and then the rain hit and i was lost in Omaha looking for the stupid motel and being all pissy and exhausted and hungry. Oh ya...and my poor car was battered today by hail in iowa and the biggest raindrops ever.

-finally arrived at motel 6 whose Wi-Fi internet was down and thank god i decided this was a dealbreaker becuz apparently that motel 6 is NAS-TEE...and (not to sound like a total greasy hippy) but the energy felt really bad in there also...so I paid a bit more and went to the ever so lush: super 8 motel...tequila out of a plastic cup never tasted so good. and what is that? A lovely faint scent of urine in the air? hmmmmm

good cookies though...love the Super 8 Motel cookies!

At first, I thought i was gonna explore omaha (John Bland and a NY time article say Omaha: hot up and coming art town of America) but now I just want to leave. bright eyes and tilly and the wall notwithstanding...i simply don't have the time to find the COOL part(s) of omaha. Denver here i come.

oh ya and my camera batts are dead so ZERO pics!!!!

thought for the day: cheap tequila is like a "bad" coen brothers movie...it's still better than everything else out there so drink up.