The not-so-Great Depression

I know we're not officially in a "depression" right now, but the three items below are definitely making me depressed.

1. Delta’s $15 checked baggage fee: Thanks for charging me for something I used to get for free, jerks.

2. Marriott’s lack of toiletries: Remember the glory days when the hotel would give you a tiny bottle of shampoo, a miniature bottle of conditioner, AND a petite bottle of body lotion? They’ve apparently arrived at the conclusion that human skin no longer needs any supplemental moisture, because it’s too expensive. NO LOTION FOR YOU! No shower gel either?! Do I look like a bar soap kind of girl to you?

3. Wendy’s nuggets: While perusing the trusty 99 cent menu the other day, I saw a disturbing item: 4-piece chicken nuggets. 4-piece chicken nuggets? What are you, INSANE?! Wendy, did you really think we’d just FORGET that we used to get 5 nuggets for 99 cents, and now we only get 4? I will not forget. I cannot forget. I will not go quietly into the night, with one fewer nugget than before.

Beyond the Border recap

So I can't really say that the art show itself was a smashing succe$$, but regardless of what P. Diddy proclaims, it ain't, in actuality, all about the Benjamins. We made a few connections, enjoyed many open bars, experienced the most beautiful hotel I've ever seen, went to three different beaches, and managed to make a vacation out of a business trip. We're pretty good at doing that.

To finish out his UrbanNature series, Mason added "Stargazing Lily," and "Aspen Spray" to the aforementioned "Wistful Thistle."

Stargazer Lilies have been a family favorite for years (even though Mase's dad says they smell like tires), and I love how the shadows make this one look incredibly real.

"Aspen Spray" started out with graffiti on ply wood:
Then, the aspen trees were sprayed on a Plexiglas layer on top of the wood. The result is a bright mixture of the urban and natural landscapes. I'm a big fan. And, while it sucks that it didn't sell at the show, it's now hanging in the entryway of my house. I'm a glass-half-full kind of gal.
First of all, we packed waaaaaaay too much art. The other 15 artists represented by our little SLC gallery also brought way too much art. This resulted in 15 artists trying to hang 300 pieces of art in a ten-foot by ten-foot booth. Does not compute. So.....we hauled down epic tons of art, and Mason only showed two pieces. This is another instance where my glass-half-full mentality was very helpful.

We quickly discovered that a 10' x 10' booth was nowhere for all 15 artists to be hanging out at once, and got out and enjoyed the beauty of SoCal. We went to Torrey Pines beach, Del Mar, and then across the bridge to Coronado to re-live our honeymoon. It was magical. The ocean is therapy for me.
At the swanky opening night party, I couldn't help but commiserate with good ol' Ryan Atwood from the wildly popular early 2000's teenage soap opera, The O.C. You may have heard of it. Surrounded by Chardonnay and silicone, you start to appreciate your own small, normal, REAL life. Seriously, if I lived amongst these people, I would probably lose all perspective as to what a real person actually looks like. When you have that much money, you can essentially pay to make yourself perfect. Well....."perfect" anyway. I can't complain about the scenery though, be it automotive scenery, or actual, natural scenery....

I always could "see myself" in a Maserati. Ba dum ching!

It was a great week. I love my husband and the fact that his talents have taken us both coasts of the USA in 2009. I have no doubt there are more Ryan Atwood moments to come in our future, and I look forward to enduring them all with my best friend.

Signs, signs, everywhere signs...

I definitely qualify for some free coffee.....



Nothing says good Chinese food like Bobber the Clown!