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.

Road Trip America! - Day 4 - Ojo Caliente and Taos, NM

I will edit this post shortly...but for now bullet points:

Ojo Caliente Mineral Hot Springs (and mud bath, baking in sun) - yes yes yes.


Driving from Ojo to Taos - a bit nerverwracking...Google Maps gave incorrect information, which i have to say is unlike them and more like their ugly sister, MapQuest. Bad directions led to happy accident = viewing the Rio Grande Gorge on my way in = first time ever had real, genuine knee knocking out of fear. The pics I have are RIDICULOUS in that they don't even give you a smidgen of a hair of a taste of the enormity of this HUGE FUCKING CRACK IN THE EARTH'S SURFACE. It was insanely awesome and very scary...and very fucking windy. I think I thought I might blow off that bridge and tumble down like some suicidal person (common suicide location apparently)

Taos and staying with Mark Miller, my pal Marisa's Pop...FABULOUS! and what a view he has when you step outside his home there. Jesus P Christo!
MARK MILLER'S PLACE:

AND THE VIEW FROM HIS FRONT DOOR:

More later...look at the pics!

Road Trip America! Day 3 - Santa Fe, NM

Wow! I haven't had internet access for two days and so I must catch up on my travel blogging. Day 3 I exited my Wig Wam a new woman and hit the road at 7 am...Drove from Holbrook, AZ to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

I stayed at the great Sage Inn. I was super lucky to get a deal thru Priceline.com and got this fabulous room for $58 all inclusive! It even included a deluxe continental breakfast the next morning.

I checked in to my awesome hotel room and put my walking shoes on and head down to the Plaza. My first stop on the way to the Plaza was the oldest church in America (apparently), San Miguels. It was one whole dollar to go in and look around. There was alot of Christ action in that place! And after I saw this 16th century painted Buffalo hide depicting the Passion of the Christ and read that this was one of the tools used to try and get the Native Americans to convert...my interest for the oldest church in America waned and I moved on.



I had read about a great chocolate boutique in the Plaza and promptly dropped in and spent WAY too much money for what I got. I mean it was good...but come on $3 to $4 for one little chocolate! I will say that the sea salt toffee in dark chocolate and the raspberry caramel dark chocolate were almost worth what I paid for them. Oh this place was called Todos Santos Chocolates...for any of you who may be in SFNM in the near future and who have an unlimited chocolate budget.

So I walked around the Plaza, looked at the native American jewelry, unsuccessfully tried to find a Mother's Day present, looked in a few galleries...and then it was time to eat. I went to the famous Coyote Cafe, but I dined in the much less expensive rooftop Cantina part of the restaurant. I had the mole chicken tacos and a wonderful margarita. Everything was top notch. I befriended my waitress, Francesca, rather quickly and after gabbing on and on she invited me to go out for a drink with her and her co-worker after they finished their shift.

I was hoping to make a stop at the renowned Cowgirl Hall of Fame for drinks and she said that's where we'd go. So I went back to the Sage to blog and rest up and then we met up at the Cowgirl later that night. As was reported, the margaritas ARE that good there. The vibe f the place is also great because all the Santa Fe weirdos hang out there. The band that played that night was kick ass too...I really enjoyed myself and then at 11:30 pm promptly began to fall asleep like an old lady and had to bid my new friends good nite.

I have to confess, the best thing about Santa Fe, in the context of everything thus far, was that I enjoyed the most heavenly, quiet and comfy night's of sleep in a long time. This bed was one of the best I've ever slept in...and there was no one staying in any of the adjacent rooms...I felt like a queen and slept like a rock. I seriously did not move.


AWESOME SAGE INN, SANTA FE, NM

Before i went to bed, I turned on the TV and crawled in (because you can do that in hotels...you can watch TV in bed and then turn everything off without even leaving the bed! It's really COOL!!) and even though I was almost unconscious with fatigue, I got a sudden burst of energy when I discovered the movie HEAVEN was on TV. You probably haven't seen HEAVEN since no one really did. But i did. I saw it years and years ago at the Toronto Film Festival and it stars Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi and it's directed by the dude who did RUN LOLA RUN...and I remember watching that film all those years ago and during the first two thirds thinking, I don't know about this...I don't know if I dig this...and then in the last third I was like SOLD! and so when I turned on the TV that night in Santa Fe, I dismissed all my exhaustion in favour of re-watching this film that I really really like (and alot of people DO NOT...so if you're one of those people...oh well)

That's about it for Santa Fe. Oh, one last thing. I was in this photography gallery, the Monroe and I saw this limited print of an Alfred Eisenstaedt photo called Three Frames of Children at a Puppet Theatre. And I want it. I want it bad. Many people have seen this picture, though I think more people have seen the single frame version. Go online and see if you can find the three frame one and see what you think. I think this will be in my home one day and every time I look at it I will think about the year i drove across American to workshop my first play and how happy I was.

much love, y'all.

MPG for today = 48 (!!!)

Road Trip America! Day 2 - Sedona & Holbrook, AZ

It’s about 5 am of Day 3. I’m sitting in my western-themed bed in my tee pee on old Route 66 in Holbrook, Arizona as I type this. They don’t have wireless internet here at the Wigwam Motel so I’m typing it and will insert it into my blog later once I get to Santa Fe. Wait a second. Did she say ‘tee pee’? Yes, dear readers, I did say tee pee. I am staying at the landmark Wigwam Motel in Holbrook…and it’s AWESOME. How have they managed to keep this place going and not let it turn into something overly cute, or overly kitchsy and horrific? I’d say it has everything to do with the fact that the Motel is run by the odd eccentric son of the man who built this place in the 50s. I was standing in the old wood registration area waiting to check in...and there was just me and the other guy checking in. It was quite obvious that I was there. And John (aforementioned eccentric 50ish year old son of Wig Wam originator) was giving the run down to the guy checking in...I heard every word. And when i checked in seconds later he gave me the exact same speech (the one I'd already heard) word for word, same inflections, same puns and same fake chuckles that followed. He had this look in his eye like he could snap at any minute. But was also the nicest man you'll ever meet. Creepy but lovely: my favourite combination! The “wig wams” are all original…though some need a new paint job, like mine, #14. The furniture inside (save the new FABULOUSLY comfortable beds and the new TVs) is ALL the original furniture from the 50s. There are cars from the 50s parked outside every wig wam and the main office where you check in is filled with items from John’s Dad’s collection from the 50s…lots of petrified wood (the Petrified National Forest is close by). I love this place so much and I wish that you can all stay here at one point in your life. I was kinda sad to leave it this morning at 7 am! But I’m getting ahead of myself! Yesterday was spent almost entirely in and around Sedona, Arizona…and for anyone who has been there before, you probably have some idea of what I am going to say. Sedona is so beautiful and breathtaking and overwhelming that it is hard to put into words. I’ve typed a sentence over and over here because everything is wrong. I keep deleting what I’ve typed. Because Sedona is that which cannot be named…some call it GOD, the energy, the divine, the universe. Sedona is God. Everywhere you look there it is: something so blessed and divine that it cannot be named or described.…and of course this is everywhere all around us at all times! But we have a harder time seeing it in our daily lives, don’t we? One feels it so strongly here. It is truly an overwhelming experience. To have so much pure love and positive energy coming at you from the Earth and the air all at once….all I can say is thank you. I started my day hiking at Bell Rock, a major vortex, very spiritual place. Once I got to the base of Bell Rock I saw some hikers climbing up it’s base a bit and decided to do the same. I got quite far up the base and climbed in a tiny nook and planted myself on a secluded area way high up. I lied on the rock and felt it with my hands. Why did it feel SO good? I didn’t know. But it did. And I stayed there for a while, meditating and soaking it all up. After a while I said my prayer to the divine and all the spirits and sages that were there with me…I was so grateful. I then moved on to Cathedral Rock. This is a hike that is marked as “strenuous” and I was all like hmmm, I wonder what they mean by strenuous? Is this an American fast Food version of strenuous (OK, my ego was definitely in check) – I was thinking, I hike Runyon Canyon and Griffith frequently…I’m sure it’s not all that bad. And it wasn’t. But it was tough. And scary. And incredibly challenging to mind as well as to my body. I mean, I was rock climbing, y’all! I had never done a hike/climb like this before! I went HIGH! Like REALLY BLOODY HIGH. When I reached the top I was looking around going I almost can’t believe I did this. It was pretty dumbfounding. And then of course you have to climb down. My ego definitely wanted all my friends and family to see me do this climb…I think I dreamed of a head-mounted mini-cam more than once. THIS is how high I climbed!!! -------------> So after this authentically strenuous climb it was definitely time for lunch. I ended up at this darling little hippie chick joint called the Bliss Raw Café (or the Raw Bliss Café). There I had a meal of 100% raw foods, including there version of a raw pizza. It was heaven. For dessert I had what they called a Magic Mystical Healing bar…which had raw dark chocolate, sweetened with pure agave and filled with herbs and spices and goji berries…it was also unbelievably delicious! I topped my meal off with a 10 minute pick me up oxygen session in their oxygen bar. I was feeling quite sleepy there and after the oxygen ($10 for 10 mins) I felt quite refreshed and ready for more. “More” ended up being walking around uptown Sedona, looking in shops, having an iced coffee at a café with a view so spectacular that you can hardly believe you’re sitting there drinking a coffee! You’re like WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE? I left Sedona around 5 pm and drove up 89 which was (again) so effing beautiful. I craned my head trying to see it all. The red rocks gave way to pine trees and rich greenery climbing up up all around me. Then there was oak Creek, so gorgeous with it’s white smooth stones and rushing waters. It was a sight to behold and be grateful for. I found myself thanking this earth over and over again. At one point I remember thinking I wanted to justget out of my car and go lie on the rocks, just curl up there like a little baby…and it was my mother. It was such a clear vision, such a clear desire in me to do this. That’s because this is our mother. This divinity, this earth, this energy…we are all of it too. Me and the rocks and the earth are all made of the same stardust, we know each other. It was so clear and so powerful. I’m grateful I could feel and accept all the love that was there for me.



I continued my drive along the I-40, heading East towards Holbrook. I loved that drive! It was only another hour but the speed limit was 75 and I sang at the top of my lungs, loving every minute of it! I thought to myself, so many people said to me about this trip, “well, it would be nice to do it with someone…” and I never really agreed with them. But last night I REALLY didn’t agree with them. I had an incredible day with myself and with the earth and that which cannot be named but some call God, yesterday. I got in my car with all my stuff spread out everywhere, with my music and all my joy and love…and I got to sing out! I sang and sang and I would not have done that had I been with someone. I wouldn’t have had the talks with myself that I had or been as goofy, talking to the earth and the animals all the time…I would have had a different experience and THIS is the experience I want. I am overflowing with happiness and love and spirit. And most of all I think: Gratitude. Sat Nam/This is Truth.

Road Trip America - Day 1

Hello There!

I have now been awake for 17 hours. I am hanging on by a thread...eye sight is blurry, typing impaired...but I am happy as Gordon Ramsey in Backwards Land. Huh? OK, that was lame. Admission: hell's kitchen is playing on the tv in my motel room.

Let me start from the beginning. I woe up at 4 am today...much to my chagrin. My alarm was set for 4:30 am but I woke up at 4:00 am and was SO excited, nervous, anxious, wired...that I simply could not go back to sleep but also could not got up. I lied there for almost a half hour and my stomach just ached with nerves.

I finally got up, got my crap all organized and was in the car, taking off at 5:30 am...the first thing that rocked on this journey were all these wind thingies...don't even know where that was...but see pic...it was very cool and eerie. It was like I was in some weird futuristic movie...you know where alternative energy is the norm and everyone plugs their cars in at night.

I tried to take a pic while driving...let's see how it turns out.



Ya, that was dangerous. I maybe shouldn't do that anymore.

Oh, I guess I should tell you WHY I am driving across America all the way to Toronto...going to do a workshop of my play, them & us. I'm really really excited and amazed and overwhelmed about the whole thing and I want to tell you more but it's 9:07 pm and I am barely awake...so more on the workshop later.

I will say this about the rest of my day today: Joshua Tree National Park (my first visit) was (as expected) beautiful and so much fun. All those lizards and rocks! YAY!!

But nothing, not even the majesty of JT (joshua tree, not justin timberlake), holds a candle to the drive up I-17 in Arizona. This was one of the most incredible, gorgeous drives I have ever made. At one point, I couldn't stop saying "So, gorgeous, Oh my god, its' so beautiful!" and yes, I even got a little choked up.

Nope, don't have pics of that. It was a very intense drive and it went from 86 degrees to 55 degrees very fast...and it started pouring rain too.

This was the highlight of my day today...and now I am off to bed, dear readers. I'm at The View Motel in Cottonwood, Arizona. What a great sign!



Favourite quote from today: in Joshua Tree I kept saying hello to every lizard that came across my path (which was alot). I'd say "Hello, Lizard!" and "Hello, Lizard!" and "Hello, Lizard!" and at one point I said to a lizard, "Gee, I hope you don't mind me calling you all the same thing. I don't want to give the impression that I think you all look alike. You're very distinct, I promise you"

MPG for Day 1: 43

2007 - WE HARDLY KNEW YA

films i loved and it's too bad if you didn't:

1. Into The Wild
2. The Host
3. No Country For Old Men
4. Eastern Promises
5. Broken English
6. The Darjeeling Limited
7. Superbad
8. The Lives of Others
9. The Diving Bell & The Butterfly
10. Sicko

film you must see at any cost:

1. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (this is the first time in my life that i actually needed...NEEDED a drink when the film was over. i have never felt so afeared in a theatre.)



movies that i really liked despite being flawed or whatever:

1. 2 Days in Paris
2. Knocked Up
3. The Savages
4. Lars and the Real Girl
5. Talk to Me
6. After The Wedding



good god great performances:

1. Julie Christie & Gordon Pinsent - Away From Her
2. Emile Hirsch - Into The Wild
3. Molly Shannon - Year of The Dog
4. Parker Posey - Broken English
5. Craig Robinson was brilliant as the bouncer who doesn't let the girls in the club...this was (with the Las Vegas hotel room scene running a close second) the best scene in Knocked Up.



6. Margo Martindale - Paris, Je T'aime
7. Ryan Gosling - Lars & The Real Girl
8. Don Cheadle - Talk to Me
9. Thomas Turgoose - This Is England
10. Hal Holbrook in Into The Wild



11. Keri Russell in Waitress
12. Jennifer Garner was wonderful in the over-hyped and trying-way-too-hard Juno
13. Timothy Spall in the grossly over-praised mistake that is Sweeney Todd.
14. Nicole Kidman's forehead in Margot at The Wedding...for never confessing a single emotion that may or may not have been rippling through the actress. methinks the actress is the dramatic equivalent of george thorogood's band, the luckiest bar band in history.



movies i am truly upset for having sat thru:

1. The Bourne Ultimatum (having never seen any of the previous Bourne offerings & not caring to, this was a stupid mistake and one i take almost full responsibility for. the remaining responsibility lies with my friend lou who really should have known better)
2. Sweeney Todd (I know this piece of operetta-musical genius inside & out and therefore should have known better than to go and witness an aging Edward Scissorhands eviscerate one of the greatest musicals of all time. but nothing could have prepared me for tim burton's offensive omission of the greek-chorus-like presence and harmonizations that the townsfolk of london are supposed to supply. you sir, are a dick.)
3. Charlie Wilson's War (ya ya ya ya we get it. Horrible)

trailers i wish i could've missed:

1. Across The Universe
2. The Heartbreak Kid
3. The Number 23

movies i haven't seen yet and therefore am sad:

1. There Will Be Blood
2. I'm Not There
3. Michael Clayton
4. No End In Sight
5. Grindhouse
6. 28 Weeks Later
7. I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With
8. Ratatouille
9. My Kid Could Paint That
10. Persepolis
11. Rescue Dawn
12. The Band's Visit