Madness and Joy.
There's been so much to get used to, so much that is new and different and that is a good thing. It's not always easy, but it's always good for me at this point in my fabulous life. The simplest and by far, the cheapest thing for me to do last October would have been to move back to New Orleans. It would also have been the laziest and craziest thing to do. My life in New Orleans had taken on a "groundhog day" sort of character long before Katrina; every day was just the same as the one before. Things weren't bad, in fact many things were very good and I miss some of these things very much, but I was also haunted by an overwhelming desire for a change. Most of the people from work in New Orleans understand this and some of my other friends in town do as well, but not all of them.
But let's take, for instance, the accident, where I smashed up my body and for the first time in my life, broke bones. Could I have possibly avoided that accident; was I somehow distracted by that desire for a new experience somewhere so much that I missed the point where I could have done something different that would have resulted in my continuing on home safe and sound? I don't think there's really any way to know, but I have wondered.
And after a decade of watching and learning about hurricanes as a matter of necessity, I did see the big one coming. I was almost sure that it would have been 2004; that year, for the first time in my life in New Orleans, I was worried and afraid about the possible outcome of the season. There were a large number of storms and some of them surprised everyone. By the beginning of 2005, I had studied all the worst case scenarios and realized that it could happen; my city could be seriously messed up. Katrina sure looked like the one to do it and that's why for the first time in over twenty years I evacuated. I must admit that the first day after the storm, I thought we would all be back in at most, a week. There would be some major damage, but it seemed that the worst had not happened. Several days glued to the television proved me wrong. It was shocking, stunning, and very close to the worst case scenarios. It was heart breaking. I loved this city.
But I had always meant to leave it this spring; it was my plan. I had built a team at work that was designed to make me redundant by spring and they were ready way before then. I was poised to move when my ass got kicked into the future. Everything that happened after that dog ran in front of my motorbike just sort of flowed...
So after a few weeks of working on this enormous project here in this beautiful valley, I had a little break this evening. I drove to the Strip today to meet luca; it took about twenty minutes from my house to the parking garage at the Barbary Coast Casino. It's easy to get to and centrally located. After checking on his location by cell, I met him in front of the casino. We went to the Bellagio first to view the spring version of their huge display.
As usual, it was amazing; this one featured an amazing amount of very fragrant orchids in a butterfly pavillion.
After that, we strolled down the boulevard to the shops at Caesar's Palace, an incredible assortment of shops; every major designer is there, but I was looking for Vosge, a chocolatier and we found them. I bought an Aztec Fire chocolate bar for us to nibble on as we walked and a package of their entirely stunning Aztec Fire cocoa mix. We continued on down the strip to the Fashion Show Mall, another reason to shop in Vegas; there are seven anchor stores! I got some basic tees from Banana Republic and we spent some time at Z-Gallery, where I found some things that I want to go back for and luca found a martini mix. We crossed the strip and came back down, stopping at Sephora, where I found a D & G product that I actually liked.
Luca showed me the wild life area at the Flamingo, something that I didn't know existed and we had something to eat at the cafe there. As we walked on, we decided to look for a lucky slot machine, and after passing on Bally's, we ended up at the Paris where I lost and luca broke even. (I tried a new kind of machine... and I never have won anything at the paris... la monde du merde!)
We stopped for a while, found a seat and called pebbles, who was in a car with St loup on their way back from Vancouver to Portland, where Pebs was to board his plane back home to lovely Des Moines. Of course, there was talk of Pebs upcoming visit to Vegas and the trip to the Grand Canyon. (I can't go... to soon after opening the new store!) But we will be going to the La Reve show at the Wynn together that Sunday night.
And then it was back to the Barbary, which by the way was rocking; for such a small strip place, it is often fun. We parted in the parking garage, but not without a last ogle at some young guy. Btw, there were an astonishing amount of good looking men on the strip today and the weather was fabulous! Luca and I enjoyed ourselves immensely! You might know that luca and I met the day before 9-11 and we've become good friends over the years, traveling together and visiting a lot. It's great to have someone here to go out with, someone that I trust and love. Our time together is always easy and fun.
We are going to see Kathy Griffin soon and luca is going to e-mail her to tell her that she doesn't need to bring "her gays" from LA, that we will take care of that for her while she is in Vegas. We are offering her dinner, either before the show, or after, and I think after is better really. And I am thinking definite photo-op here. I will also offer her free cheese, something I doubt she will be able to pass up. It will cost us some bucks, but KATHY GRIFFIN!! OMG!
Everything else...
My family is doing fine; my bro, the wife and kids, my Dad, my sister and Chris, who just got back from two weeks in Hawaii. And two of my dearest former co-workers in New Orleans recently left a very mushy message on my phone that obviously originated from the same bed, Very sweet! I love them them both.
So this is a long post, and it doesn't nearly cover everything, but you probably won't hear anything more for a few weeks. Monday I go into full store opening mode; eight days of intense attention to detail, followed by a lot of trying to maintain the magic.
Thrilling, dangerous, edgy and intense.
Just the thing.
durlx
There's been so much to get used to, so much that is new and different and that is a good thing. It's not always easy, but it's always good for me at this point in my fabulous life. The simplest and by far, the cheapest thing for me to do last October would have been to move back to New Orleans. It would also have been the laziest and craziest thing to do. My life in New Orleans had taken on a "groundhog day" sort of character long before Katrina; every day was just the same as the one before. Things weren't bad, in fact many things were very good and I miss some of these things very much, but I was also haunted by an overwhelming desire for a change. Most of the people from work in New Orleans understand this and some of my other friends in town do as well, but not all of them.
But let's take, for instance, the accident, where I smashed up my body and for the first time in my life, broke bones. Could I have possibly avoided that accident; was I somehow distracted by that desire for a new experience somewhere so much that I missed the point where I could have done something different that would have resulted in my continuing on home safe and sound? I don't think there's really any way to know, but I have wondered.
And after a decade of watching and learning about hurricanes as a matter of necessity, I did see the big one coming. I was almost sure that it would have been 2004; that year, for the first time in my life in New Orleans, I was worried and afraid about the possible outcome of the season. There were a large number of storms and some of them surprised everyone. By the beginning of 2005, I had studied all the worst case scenarios and realized that it could happen; my city could be seriously messed up. Katrina sure looked like the one to do it and that's why for the first time in over twenty years I evacuated. I must admit that the first day after the storm, I thought we would all be back in at most, a week. There would be some major damage, but it seemed that the worst had not happened. Several days glued to the television proved me wrong. It was shocking, stunning, and very close to the worst case scenarios. It was heart breaking. I loved this city.
But I had always meant to leave it this spring; it was my plan. I had built a team at work that was designed to make me redundant by spring and they were ready way before then. I was poised to move when my ass got kicked into the future. Everything that happened after that dog ran in front of my motorbike just sort of flowed...
So after a few weeks of working on this enormous project here in this beautiful valley, I had a little break this evening. I drove to the Strip today to meet luca; it took about twenty minutes from my house to the parking garage at the Barbary Coast Casino. It's easy to get to and centrally located. After checking on his location by cell, I met him in front of the casino. We went to the Bellagio first to view the spring version of their huge display.
As usual, it was amazing; this one featured an amazing amount of very fragrant orchids in a butterfly pavillion.
After that, we strolled down the boulevard to the shops at Caesar's Palace, an incredible assortment of shops; every major designer is there, but I was looking for Vosge, a chocolatier and we found them. I bought an Aztec Fire chocolate bar for us to nibble on as we walked and a package of their entirely stunning Aztec Fire cocoa mix. We continued on down the strip to the Fashion Show Mall, another reason to shop in Vegas; there are seven anchor stores! I got some basic tees from Banana Republic and we spent some time at Z-Gallery, where I found some things that I want to go back for and luca found a martini mix. We crossed the strip and came back down, stopping at Sephora, where I found a D & G product that I actually liked.
Luca showed me the wild life area at the Flamingo, something that I didn't know existed and we had something to eat at the cafe there. As we walked on, we decided to look for a lucky slot machine, and after passing on Bally's, we ended up at the Paris where I lost and luca broke even. (I tried a new kind of machine... and I never have won anything at the paris... la monde du merde!)
We stopped for a while, found a seat and called pebbles, who was in a car with St loup on their way back from Vancouver to Portland, where Pebs was to board his plane back home to lovely Des Moines. Of course, there was talk of Pebs upcoming visit to Vegas and the trip to the Grand Canyon. (I can't go... to soon after opening the new store!) But we will be going to the La Reve show at the Wynn together that Sunday night.
And then it was back to the Barbary, which by the way was rocking; for such a small strip place, it is often fun. We parted in the parking garage, but not without a last ogle at some young guy. Btw, there were an astonishing amount of good looking men on the strip today and the weather was fabulous! Luca and I enjoyed ourselves immensely! You might know that luca and I met the day before 9-11 and we've become good friends over the years, traveling together and visiting a lot. It's great to have someone here to go out with, someone that I trust and love. Our time together is always easy and fun.
We are going to see Kathy Griffin soon and luca is going to e-mail her to tell her that she doesn't need to bring "her gays" from LA, that we will take care of that for her while she is in Vegas. We are offering her dinner, either before the show, or after, and I think after is better really. And I am thinking definite photo-op here. I will also offer her free cheese, something I doubt she will be able to pass up. It will cost us some bucks, but KATHY GRIFFIN!! OMG!
Everything else...
My family is doing fine; my bro, the wife and kids, my Dad, my sister and Chris, who just got back from two weeks in Hawaii. And two of my dearest former co-workers in New Orleans recently left a very mushy message on my phone that obviously originated from the same bed, Very sweet! I love them them both.
So this is a long post, and it doesn't nearly cover everything, but you probably won't hear anything more for a few weeks. Monday I go into full store opening mode; eight days of intense attention to detail, followed by a lot of trying to maintain the magic.
Thrilling, dangerous, edgy and intense.
Just the thing.
durlx
posted by durlx at 3/26/2006 03:43:00 AM
4 Comments:
I'm very much looking forward to my trip to Vegas in a month Durlene! I wish that you could go with us on our little excursion dammit.
xoxo,
pebs
I wish I could go with you too, but it's just too soon after store opening. It will be fun to go to the show though!
thanks for the great photos of the strip etc Darryl, most appreciated.
So glad the Silver State is treating you so well in your Silver Years.
Or did u take Ken's recipe with you? :D
All our love, but none of our knishes,
odd and bittersweet
the way the winds do
us scatter to our fate
as we go...
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