d_trektone_w

Last week I went to Phoenix on business. Haven't been doing a lot of business travel the last several years. Think I'm averaging once a year.

The night I got there I gave a call to uoggb. Maybe we'll connect IRL my next trip out your way. Or even give you a call again in the not-too-distant future. :)

Though I have several friends in Arizona, I decided to spend time with one who's also a co-worker. D works in Chandler (where she moved a couple of years ago) and she drove to downtown Phoenix Thursday night to have dinner w/me and a couple other folks. Matador had okay food and good margaritas.

On the way to her place D apologized profusely that her air conditioning had broken down and she wasn't able to get someone to fix it (she rents a house) until the next morning. I think it was the coolest night in a week, but it was still over 80 degrees F at 11pm. I didn't have much trouble getting to sleep, though.

We didn't have a plan for the weekend (both D & I had taken Friday off) except to relax and catch up. Some thoughts were to go up to Sedona or down to Tucson. Didn't do either during the weekend. Watched DVDS: "Hannibal Rising," "American Dreamz," and "Children of Men." Did some urban hiking (malls) -- eye candy! -- and I even accomplished some clothes shopping.

I hadn't been outside downtown Phoenix in a long time. I still remember when there was only one freeway. There are many, many big box stores in addition to malls, which I suppose isn't surprising since I think I read the Phoenix area is one of the fastest-growing in the U.S. Public transportation seems to be minimal at best where D and I drove around.

Within easy walking distance of D's place (and we did walk!) was A.J.'s, a more upscale supermarket line of a larger grocery chain. The coffee and baked goods were yum, and as we walked through the wine aisle I was amazed at the California presence, including a couple I had specifically looked for and couldn't find in shops where I live. We ended up speaking with Sharon, the store "cellar master" who turned out to be from Sonoma (right next to Napa). Wine talk fun ensued! And yes, the night before I left for home I went back to get a bottle of California wine.

We also went to Kokopelli Winery & Bistro, where we tasted some fun and some not-so-good locally-made wine. The best part of that experience was the opportunity to speak at length with the owner/winemaker, Dennis, who happened by and gave us an extra taste of a not-yet-bottled Cab Sauv (it was good; I hope that means the quality is improving). Dennis was enthusiastic and charming; D and I later agreed we found him easy on the eyes as well.

D & I talked and talked and talked. It was great. I helped her w/her iMac and she was thrilled to be able to use iTunes again. We also dined at Pita Jungle (mediterranean - good, not unique or extraordinary), The Good Egg (standard brunchy foods were decent, biscuit & gravy was good), Priya (generic, not bad Indian) and Voodoo Daddy (seemed more cajun than creole. Jambalaya & fried green tomatoes were uninteresting, alligator sausage was good, both seafood & non-seafood gumbos were very good as was the red beans & rice and the housemade potato chips. I'd definitely return!).

Lastly, I was very happy to visit Changing Hands Bookstore!

A couple of months ago I received an e-mail from a new lj user who noted we both had as an interest the author E. Lynn Harris. It reminded me of the booksignings I attended earlier this year.

I wandered over to Mr. Harris' website ... and lookee here! I guess this is just in case I need to be identified later. LOL!

Yay! New Tanya Huff novel in my hands (well, lap at the moment) -- nice after a stressful day at work.

Also picked up the anthology, Children of Magic, with stories by Huff, Fiona Patton, Michelle West and Alexander B. Potter, among other folks.

Favorite Novel:
Last year was a tough one for me and I didn't read as much fiction as usual. At the top of my not-very-long list, though, is "Fledgling" by Octavia E. Butler and the runner-up, Tony Book 2
aka "Smoke and Mirrors" by Tanya Huff.

Favorite Concert:
The Erasure Show at The Independent in San Francisco in May. Or rather, both of the Erasure shows I saw. Wonderful! While it would've been great to see all five shows, the two I attended were fantastic. A DVD of the Cologne tour stop is waiting for me at the Virgin Megastore or somewhere else.

Favorite Play or Musical:
Wicked. No, Les Miz. No, Wicked. No, Les Miz. No, Wicked. Yeah, the touring company of Wicked. Yeah, Fiyero. Yeah.

Favorite CD:
Tie. The dreamy Kate Bush double-cd, "Aerial." The Cyndi Lauper "The Body Acoustic" even though some of the songs weren't. The Lauper-Sarah McLachlan version of "Time After Time" still makes me cry.

Favorite snake:
No, not really. I love all my snakes. All seven. The baby is still alive. Yay!


10/22/05



1/26/06