R.I.P. Uncle Bill

i will always remember that though he was such a vigorous republican for most of his life - defending the Iraq war at my birthday party and justifying Bush's second term at Thanksgiving- my last few visits with him involved him saying Obama wasn't that bad.

yesterday i received a phone call from my mother letting me know that my great uncle bill passed away at around 5:30 AM on Friday January 23, 3009. though the last few months have been a struggle to make a man overrun by cancer and dementia as comfortable as possible, it still comes as a bit of an overwhelming shock that he has died.

I went to see him a few weeks before I left for Utah when he was still in Clove Lakes nursing home. I needed to talk to him about selling me his car; there were a few DMV papers he needed to sign. Normally, I hate visiting nursing homes or hospitals, they make me really depressed. Though, while there, I realized just how depressed most of the patients are and how I could leave the place but they were just stuck, most of them in wheelchairs.

I bumped into Hedi (the caregiver who took over when I left) in the hallway and she said that he was dressed and sitting in his wheelchair. Uncle Bill was never happier to see someone was there to visit him, even though it took a few minutes for him to realize it was me. I ended up spending an hour or so just shooting the breeze and watching baseball on the black and white television that sat on the dresser across from the hospital bed.

It was those few weeks that I lived with Aunt Ruth and visited Uncle Bill that I realized how little I really knew about them. I guess thats how it always goes, in movies at least; only in their final hours do I come to understand their ways, their quirks, their past.

rest in peace uncle bill.

i talked to kaytee montano recently.

this young lady once made a website dedicated to Tom
and for some reason she also considers me to be her mom
she's fun and she's smart
her straight hair is a work of art
and shes sweeter than a truckl0ad of sweet honey lip balm.

South Park Does Sundance

Drew told me about this episode a few days ago. We just watched it last night. Hysterical and dead on. Season 2. Episode 9.

I saw Millie and it made my evening

I maintained my demeanor.

I made no faux-pax.

But I TOTALLY had my Sundance experience last night, and I'm still beaming.

Some people scream when they see George Clooney.
Others get a boner when they see Pamela Anderson.
But what do you do when you work at a gallery and someone famous walks in to admire art?
The rule is: You do what you would do when any other prospective client walks in to admire art.

Okay. Damn? I can't ask for autographs or anything? Okay. Easy enough. Keep cool. And I did.

Luckily, there's no rule as to what you can or can't do after they leave!

Let's backtrack. This moment needs a preface.

Since its debut in 1999, I have loved the show Freaks and Geeks. Many stars got their start there - the ever popular Seth Rogen and James Franco. Linda Cardellini is pretty hot stuff now, too. Though it only lasted one season, it was brilliant in its themes and characters and I miss it everytime I re-watch an episode. As epic as it was for me, rarely can I strike up a conversation about an episode or reference it without people having no idea what I am talking about.

That being said, had Seth, James, or Linda walked into the gallery, most people would acknowledge the awesome experience. But my awesome experience is only going to be acknowledged by true F&G fans.

The chick who played Millie, the super-Christian, nerdy childhood friend of Lindsay, came into the gallery last night with a fella. I talked to her about a few of the pieces, not that I was presuming or expecting her to be qualified client, because frankly I didn't know, just as I don't initially know if anyone is --- but honestly, I went over to talk to her just so I could a) make sure it was her and b) say that I spoke to her. I told her to let me know if she had any questions. She didn't have any questions, but she did say goodbye when she left. The actress' name is Sarah Hagan and apparently she's in a movie that's showing at Sundance also starring Amy Poehler. I only learned of her name and resume after she left the gallery and I "IMDB'd" her. But I know for a fact that it was her. And I got to talk to her about art. Totally awesome.

the Sarah Hagan, that walked into the gallery

As excited as I am, not many people know who she is, but that makes my Sundance experience all the more tailored and awesome. I think that while celeb-gossip and star-gazing is kind of ridiculous, I definitely fall under the spell, especially when its a chance sighting. Even when not in a professional setting, such as the gallery, I find myself torn as to how I should act when spontaneously confronted with fame. Part of you wants proof - a photo, a signature - something to show off and keep for years to come, but in actuality, its a really lame interaction that just blends in with every other encounter that the celeb has had. Another part of you wants to remain cool, - they're human, there was once a point in their life that they weren't famous - so you don't want to make them upset or embarrassed, just as you wouldn't want to assault a stranger. It's not something you can really plan for, though if you do you should probably reassess your priorities in life, so I would suggest keeping your cool because as much as you want to be able to show how you made an idiot of yourself in front of John Stamos by standing next to his forced smile, its way cooler to tell the story about how you stood in line for coffee and happened to place and order after Julie Delply.

Its true that hype is relative to how famous you are; i'll leave it up to you to decide the unit with which fame is measured. Really famous people are kept in the shadows for protective measures - for the five people that love you there is the one jerk who probably wants you dead for some sick reason. Really famous people are among the untouchables, meaning the likelihood that you will cross paths with Brad Pitt is microscopic. So the real, more relevant question to all of us, is what happens to B-movie actors or people possessing a level of fame which allows them to walk the streets without being harassed constantly? How do they feel about being recognized, approached, since, I would assume, it happens less often?

It's a tough call and probably differs semi-famous person to semi-famous person. Some probably love the attention that they get. Others might choose to be only semi-famous in order to be able to preserve what privacy they can muster. (That's an interesting thought, at what point do you lose control over your fame? Does one ever have control over their fame?)

Either way, Sarah Hagan doesn't know that I knew it was her in the gallery last night. I made sure to treat her neutrally, greeting her amongst the few other people that wandered into the gallery at the same time. Though, if she happens upon my blog, I hope that she had a nice time in the gallery and if given the chance to converse I would like to have let her know, though she might not have cared, that I love Freaks and Geeks, and it was truly awesome to get to see a piece of the talent that made the show what it was in person.

:)

I'm such a Geek.

Top Ten Things Locals Hate About Sundance in Park City

Most locals avoid Main Street at all costs, but frankly, you can't avoid the death grips of Sundance unless you are holed up in your house for the ten days that its in town.

To give you a better understanding of why Sundance isn't loved by all, I give you the Top Ten Reasons why Locals Hate when Sundance comes to Park City compiled from various chats with "locals":

1. There is no parking on or around Main Street. Places, which on any other given day would offer you free four hour parking, or parking for a few quarters an hour, are now charging $20, no re-entry, to park downtown. As a matter of fact, it is impossible to park downtown if you:

• don't have a city parking permit that doesn't black out Sundance week (they go for about double what normal parking permits go for)
• don't know someone downtown who's house you can park at (luckily, my boss lives about 5 minutes from the gallery and allowed me to park there when I was in a jam yesterday).
  
• aren't willing to pay $20 or more to park.
  

This inconveniences not only people who work on Main Street and the tourists NOT here for Sundance, but it also leads to severe traffic congestion as frantic drivers who are not familiar with area wind around and sit idle on streets and in parking lots in search of the perfect parking spot. Sure, there are people directing traffic through the smaller streets, without whom there would probably be less transit coherency than exists now, but frankly, it is a bit insane.

2. Stupid people asking for stupid directions to Main Street. I am not talking about driving directions. I am not even talking about directions from the bus stop. I am talking about people who are literally a few feet away from Main Street asking me if the street parallel to Main Street was Main Street. First off, let's use a little common sense and make an inference from some basic observations - sir, does this look like Main Street? I know Park City is a small town, but if two stores, a long obvious stretch of the back of buildings, a Transit Center, and two parking lots look like a main street to you, then you really need to reconsider your concept of what a "main street" is. Second, if the big signs, most of which weren't there before the festival began, that have the words "Main Street" and an arrow pointing you away from the street you are currently standing on aren't enough, then maybe you ought to do as locals do and place your ear to the ground to listen for the stampedes of people that roam the main thoroughfare. It is the central artery of downtown Park City. I mean, come on, if you can navigate LA in your hummer or find the restrooms at Grand Central Station in NYC, I am sure, with just a minimal amount of effort you can comfotably find Main Street in Park City... that is if you happened to leave those three inch designer pumps you were wearing to dinner back in your hotel because, remember, you are visiting a mountain town filled with inclines and declines, something one of those such streets being Main Street. Oh, those were the only kind of shoes you brought? Have fun then.

3. Everyone on their cell phone all of the time. Normally, I would feel bad walking into the supermarket on my cell phone, but when I did just that two nights ago I was only taking part in the really obnoxious trend. The cell is truly an extension of the body this week; "go-go-gadget cellphone" if you will. Oh, how I would love to know if there were more iPhones or CRACKberries in Park City this week.

4. Lots of crazy drivers. Not that Utah normally boasts the most careful drivers, but its just a matter of mathematics -- the more people in Park City, the more cars there are in the Park City, the greater the ratio of bad drivers to good. To the hatred for crazy drivers we can add the hatred for the presence of obnoxious cars (especially Hummers). Not only are they stereotypically bad drivers, but the worst of the worst usually ride expensive ridiculous vehicles, like the ever-lovable Hummer. I mean, there is a reason the insurance for a bright yellow 2008 Hummer is higher than for a light blue 1988 Honda Civic... (go Betty, go!) Normally locals dig their Subarus, Priuses, antique Honda Civics (hahaha) or any other sports utility vehicle that doesn't totally annihilate the environment. Sundance brings in the "glamour" and anything/everything else that can be packed into the ridiculously-oversized-oversexed-gaudy-eyesore of a vehicle that is a Hummer. If not a Hummer, than it's a showy shiny rental that ranges in awe. I think the rule is, the "cooler" the car the more you posses the right to drive like a maniac. Yes, that's it. Pull a U-turn on a five lane road. You exercise your American rights.

5. The presence of peripheral not-so important people and dealing with their attitudes. One of the most hilarious aspects to Sundance is the amount of not-so important people who think they're important and the way they carry themselves. They are identifiable from a few feet away by the glow from their bluetooth or their flashy name tags on fancy mass-produced sundance lanyards that say something about how unimportant they are; they also never leave home without looking fashionably-fabulous and donning a nice big pair of sunglasses, so stay sensitive to those elements as well. They smile rarely and expect to be treated like their one of the stars whom they have no direct affiliation with. Ironically, the chiller the 'tude the more likely they are actually important.

6. The paparazzi. Drew has actually been warned by his company to be wary of any inquisitive phone calls they receive this week. On edge with every ring, the Paparazzi are known to go to truly evil depths to uncover the whereabouts and any other personal information about "famous" guests that were rumored to be staying in Park City for Sundance. Therefore, every phone call needs to be taken in stride and no-employee can be too eager to offer assistance or information. Its so strange. Even watching from the gallery windows, sly men with a beautiful camera strung around their neck dictate the hype on Main Street. As soon as you see them eye something, their prey, and begin to pick up their lens, the automatic reaction of everyone who notices them is to look at what, or more importantly, who, they are about to capture. Its almost frantic, because you honestly don't know when you will see Wesley Snipes walking down the street (as my boss did).

**A hilarious offshoot of this star-gazing phenomenon is the increased amount of eye contact everyone is giving and receiving in hopes of recognizing someone famous. It was fun to walk from the coffee shop to the gallery wearing a big hat and sunglasses, walking briskly. People will go out of their way, ducking and squinting, to get a better look at you if you purposefully dart the spotlight. I could totally pass as Ashley Judd if you cover up my face enough...

7. Most of the bars on Main Street have cover charges. All of the bars in town know that people are here to party and uhh.. yeah...watch movies... so in honor of the anticipated debauchery, this week, most hotspots in town have hiked up their cover charges (in most cases its rare that they even had one to begin with). Its annoying to lots of people, but frankly, I don't go out enough to care. Even if I did go out, I think the crowds would deter me, so I would be more likely to be found sitting on my couch with a fine glass of box wine, watching something fun, like House re-runs, than fighting my way into Harry O's to get an overpriced drink and no seat. No spanks.

8. Gas prices have gone up about 20 cents in the past week. Everyone is making money where they can, and though it affects the locals, the town wouldn't be what it is without the revenue the city pulls in this week. But yeah, its still annoying to fill up the tank when prices are what they were a few weeks ago.

9. The local coffee joint is a zoo, oh yeah...and good luck eating out or food shopping. The local triple organic yummy coffee place on Main Street, Java Cow, has become overrun by Starbucks junkies. I joked with Drew, "I can picture a woman walking in and asking for a 'grande' soy latte." Ironically, there is a sign on the register that says, "Lo siento, no hablan starbucks." Poor lady in a fur coat itching for a grande... there we only have a LARGE! Also, If you haven't gone food shopping weeks in advance buying out water and canned goods in the fashion of pre-hurricane prep, don't plan on eating this week. You are officially on the Sundance diet. Though, there is one restaurant who is only serving locals this week. Uptown Fare has hired a bouncer, like many restaurants do during Sundance, but his job is to keep the Sundancers out! You have to have proof of residence - a driver's license, a Library Card, or Local Ski Pass - in order to dine. She is also only staying open Monday to Friday 11am-3:300Pm. I don't know how I feel about this venture. I applaud her attempt to make locals a priority at a time when they are normally pushed aside, but maybe its me but there is something a little presumptuous about her mission. I am not exactly sure what service she is providing the locals by having limited hours...where is a local supposed to grab dinner after work if they are set on eating out? But, Uptown receives an A for effort.

10. The rise of litterbugs. Last night I was closing up the gallery and upon going outside the foyer of our mall area to take in our sandwich sign, I found myself fighting though an overflowing garbage can and scattered remnants of a liquor store run and energy drink canisters. Cigarette butts create kaleidoscopic patterns by the curb and torn posters, advertisements, and tossable swag make Main Street Park City look more like the aftermath of New Years Eve in Times Square or the Halloween Parade in the Village than a clean, sunny, mountain town. Its truly disgusting, considering the percentage of the local population that is eco-conscious. Also, as argued in the NYTimes article on Sundance, while Sundance films might be promoting environmental awareness, the amount of oil that is burned so that folks can get here and get around while here is absurd and almost contradictory, if not ironic, to the purported eco-awareness that Sundance is supposed to be promoting. Yay for hypocisy. You drive that Gibson Guitar bus around Main Street all day - I'll keep breathing in that black smoky exhaust that you keep spouting all over the place.

By posting this, I don't mean to purport the idea that all locals hate Sundance. I'm just a cynical schmuck who is fascinated by the "Sundance transformation" Park City undergoes to accomodate all of these people and am sincerely interested in how it affects the city and its dwellers.

There are locals that do dig Sundance and all the hype. They are the ones who volunteer every year, stand in the wait-list line for movies for hours, or attend Slamdance (the Sundance alternative festival).

Personally, I sit somewhere between the locals that hate it and love it. "Fascination" truly sums it up. I can people watch all day with my mouth agape and my eyes slightly squished. Everything about Park City fascinates me and makes me say, "wooooooooooooow" to myself the same way one might be amazed at someone reading a book upsidedown.

To be honest, the drivers, the cellphones, the litter, the gas prices - these are things I grew up with, so they, in and of themselves, don't annoy me (though littering is always disgusting). The traffic on Main Street (both pedestrian and automobile) is absolutely hysterical. The paparazzi are hysterical. The stupid people are hysterical. There is one major thing about Sundance that annoys me. It is how this entire ten days isn't about the beauty of Park City, enjoying what the town has to offer, or giving back to the town. Frankly, it seems as though people come in and transform the town because Sundance has become about bringing in the glamour that cushions hollywood so that when all of the Los Angelites and New Yorkers show up they feel right at home. Essentially Park City isn't good enough. In and of itself, its a cute resort town that serves as a nice stage where they can set up their lights and put up their wallpaper and party 'til the break of dawn with something resembling the "Sound of Music" atmosphere as the backdrop for their shitshow. Though Park City does benefit (financially) from this whole gig, I just wish there was a little more respect for the town and a little less litter.

I leave you with this thought:

People watching from our gallery windows, Maren and I wondered, "Where are such a volume of people headed?"

It is a matter of fact that each person is heading in a different direction and will ultimately end up at a different destination. Some paths will converge, I mean Park City is only so big. However, the likelihood that these people know of their destination at the moment we spotted them was very slim. So if you think about it, hundreds of people come to town, come to Main Street, with no destination in mind. Hundreds of wanderers come to Park City, toting an assortment of reasons for wandering: a star-gazer with hopes of finding that one photo-op with a celeb, a film school graduate with hopes of finding that big break, or a socialite with hopes of finding the most glamorous or raucous party of the evening or the perfect one night stand. The personalities are endless. Each charicature that comes to town has only one thing in common: they cannot pinpoint or even plan for the moment that their hopes will materialize, or if they ever will.

Nevertheless they wander with hope.

Drew says its a metaphor for the industry, and its true. But the metaphor gets very interesting, deeper and (in my opinion) sadder, the more you think about it.