Light-skinned-ed Girl

Light-skinned-ed Girl in Mexico: Yummy Food

Last night we ate at an exquisite open-air cliffside restaurant that overlooks the bay called Tentaciones.  It was a gorgeous night and we started with champagne.  I fell in love with an amazing statue that looked like a Giacometti that decorated the space.  (Kind of looks like Obama don't you think?)  The food was as impressive as the surroundings.  It was a set prix-fixe five-course meal--each plate better than the previous one: salmon roll stuffed with mahi mahi tartare, mixed salad with roasted tomatoes and parmesan and walnut dressing, onion soup with Pernaud, grilled red snapper with yellow lemon sauce and julienned vegetables, and a coffee mouse on a dark-cookie crust for dessert.  All of this we consumed with a fantastic Mexican chardonnay.  Who knew Mexico had such good wine?  I had to workout this morning after all that food. But then there was massage, an early lunch, and a three-nap afternoon.  Not bad for a weekend vacation.  Tomorrow it's back to reality.

Light-skinned-ed Girl Turns Beige in Mexico

This relaxing thing is difficult.  I broke out my laptop while I was supposed to be lounging and sunning myself and enjoying the guilty pleasure of reading Cosmo mag and Us Weekly.  I limited myself to just a half hour and then put the computer away to head off for a little adventure in town.  We had delicious fish and lobster tacos at La Sirena Gorda and strolled along the town streets.  Sampled some mezcal and walked around some more.  We returned to the hotel and the sound of the bay filled my dreams as I napped.  So there's not much to report except that it's still beautiful here.  The sun's about to set and I'm going to go see how it shows off today!

A Margarita For You

This place is truly stunning--I'm overlooking the water--the sun is setting and there's a margarita waiting for my is.  Gotta go! NB: Yes, the photo is sideways but I already had a margarita and I'm on vacation! 

Hasta La Vista

I'm off to Mexico for a long weekend vacation.  I will have a margarita for you!

Still on the Road Home

Yesterday was a great transition day -- stayed inside, got a massage, played Scrabble drinking a kir royal (and won!), took a nap and ate a delicious dinner in front of the fireplace.  And all day enjoyed the view.  On to Salt Lake City today.

 

Light-skinned-ed Girl in Jackson, Wyoming

I have gone from a glorious situation--a month for privacy to write--to Heaven.  (That's a photo of the gang at the Silver Spur before I had to go.  Not pictured are Chris, Caroline, Scott and Rebecca.)  It was a difficult good-bye.  Got a little verklempt about the whole thing.

But there was a wonderful hello to look forward to.  I met husband at the airport and we drove from Sheridan to Jackson yesterday--a long beautiful drive through the Big Horn mountains and then mile after mile of beautiful landscape.  We had dinner by the fireplace--we're the only guests in the whole hotel with some 40 rooms.  It's amazing.  We arrived in the dark but woke to the view of the Grand Tetons.  Today is just a time to relax and reconnect and then back on the road again.

Some Random Thoughts from the Road Trip to Wyoming

We made it to Sheridan safely, and I'll be at my artist colony heaven by this afternoon.  But here are some random thoughts from my road trip.  If you have answers to the questions I'd love to know.

• Why is Carl's Jr. called Hardee's here?
• Why do the liquor stores have drive-thru windows?
• Road Kill Count (across 4 states): 1 bird, 3 deer, 2 unknowns, 1 wolf (possible?), 1 skunk, 1 pig (I swear it looked like a pig), 1 rabbit
• Joe Six Pack or Joe the Plumber drinks Pinot Noir and orders his dressing on the side (as seen at the Wyoming Chop House in Sheridan)
• How did the sky get so big out here?

Photos and updates from my creative binge to come!

The View on the Road East

I am in awe of how large this country is.  Here are a couple of photos from the road--the scenery gets really good outside of Salt Lake and in Wyoming.  Those pictures to come--as we make our way to Sheridan today in a long long drive.

 

Light-skinned-ed Girl in the Wild Wild West

Today we drove through Nevada, Arizona, and Utah and got as far as Salt Lake for the night.  This is the third time in four years that I've made this trip to Wyoming and each time I'm struck by how un-wild, and un-western the trip seems.  I should clarify--when I say wild, I really mean conservative--I expected to see a lot of political propaganda billboards, gosh darn, even bumper stickers, proclaiming this solidly McCain country.  Nope.  I only saw two political billboards between Las Vegas and Salt Lake --both just outside of Salt Lake.  (One was for a Republican who had halted torture of puppies--could he do that for the guys held at Guantanamo?  The other was for the Utah Republican Party--the "ican" party.  Hmmm . . . )  There was nary a bumper sticker in sight all day.  I'm pressed to say I saw even two, but I must have.
In truth, my interactions with folks is limited to gas stations, diners, and restaurants.  But still, I am thinking that it's time to redefine the way that we think of these states and the people who live here.  They are listening to country music, yes, but also hip hop, Spanish language stations and I even got the BBC news at one point.  They are not impressed by --and don't gawk at--the brown girl with the big bright eyes rolling up in her big car in their small towns. 
But still, how does this part of the country identify?  I got a clue when we asked a convenience store clerk: how far until the next medium-sized town before Salt Lake? 
Is this a medium-sized town? she asked.
Well, yes, we guess so.
Well,the next town that has a Wal-Mart is about a half hour past Beaver.  That's about two-and-a-half hours from here.
Of course, this is Wal-Mart country.  That's how people identify--which Wal-Mart is closest.  Wal-Mart is what makes a place a place.  Again, hmm . . .
But also, let me just say, I bought the jazziest Mickey Mouse pjs at Wal-Mart today for $15 bucks.  I too was feeling Wal-Mart. 

Home from Peru . . .

and tired beyond tiredness.  Started the long travel day at 3:30AM and just arrived home about five minutes ago.  That's about 16 hours.  I'm frazzled--filled with too many impressions, sensations, emotions and memories.  I'll be watching no-thinking tv tonight until I fall asleep drooling.  Tomorrow back to real thoughts and observations (drool-free).