too long away - (went to another planet)

I have not posted for SO long.  What's been going on that's kept me away?

A few snapshots of what I've been up to:

Driving a few miles from my home I saw these two 'trees' installed on parallel roads.   Love that someone took the time to create them. (what possessed them?  whatever it is, i love it!) It would have be easy to drive right by and not notice them - so glad I didn't. (click on the photos for a full view, but then click your return button to come back...)

Finished the weekly workshop I was taking in NYC: "Writing for Performance."  I've been working on material that I thought I might include in a one-woman show (something i've toyed around with doing for a while - not a serious "career" thing ... just cuz ...), and got some good feedback and interesting direction on the old things, and ideas for some new stuff.  In a few weeks, I'll be trying out 10 minutes of it at the Happy Hour Salon - October 21st, 6:30 at Ripley-Grier Studios in Manhattan. 

Spoke at a really cool arts conference.  Fun to be with "my people" - artists, arts administrators, and people who get that a life without the arts just plain sucks.  ;)

Spent a long weekend in NY with my cousin (she of 'girlene' fame).  Snagged tickets to Spamalot at the last minute.  It is warped and wonderful (like the movie it's based on) and I there were a few times that I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.

The cuz lives in St. Louis now, so we don't get that much time to hang together these days (we used to live 10 minutes from each other in CA), so even without Spamalot, the visit was fab-wah. (fab-wah: a variation on the theme of fab-u-licious...)

I also visited "Planet Fashion."  What a world.

An old friend from high school is a pretty famous fashion designer (for those who follow fashion stuff: he's the "mischka" in badgley mischka).  Another buddy of ours flew in from Miami with his partner, and the three of us ventured into the city to see James' big "Fashion Week" show.  It is truly another world than the one that I inhabit. 

I've been to another one of the Badgley Mischka shows a couple of years ago.  That time I actually tried to dress the part of someone who might possibly belong at a fashion show.  Those who know me understand the futility of such a thing; not to say that I don't have a fashion sense - I do.  Sort of.  It's just that it's MINE, and not one that 7th Avenue would likely approve of.  Trying to dress the part of a fashionista-ish sort was a real bust.  I was hot and uncomfortable and I probably looked like someone who was trying not to look conspicuous, but did anyway because she was trying too damn hard not to.  (another beautiful day in paradox!)  This time I wore my silky pants that feel like pj's and flats and I was a happy gal. 

Besides, nobody goes there to look at me; they're looking through me.  They're looking at the models and the used-to-be-models.  They're looking (actually more like straining their necks) to see the celebrities (from the a, b, c, d, and e list) and those who are a-listers in the fashion world but who the rest of us not living on Planet Fashion wouldn't know from a spangly or chiffonned hole in the wall.

Many of the women (and i'm not just talking about the models) look like they're desperate for a sandwich and/or they're wearing shoes that I know they couldn't have been walking the streets of NY in without screaming every step of the way. 

Perhaps you can tell that I found myself being a bit judgmental about them all.  Except James.  I don't get judgmental about him because I've known him since we were kids and I know he's not shallow - he's a craftsman and he's one of the most generous and sweet guys I know.  (that's him on the left in the photo..)  Yet, everyone around him (except his partner mark - non-judgment by association), I decided were all pomp and circumstance - no substance.

It was an interesting lesson for me to notice.  How quick I was to judge this world that is so far from the one I move in - even as I enjoyed the hooplah and spectacle of it immensely.  Strange how I make a point in my life to remember that people are different and not everyone has the same interests or priorities as I do (wow, what a revelation), but sometimes I need to be reminded. 

And looking at pretty dresses, hanging out with Marty and Paco, and supporting James wasn't such a bad way to do it.  Yep, it's one fabulous strut for models in marvy frocks, one huge step for Deb.  (but i'm glad to be back down to earth again...)

Comments

[Marilyn]

I was sitting in the salon chair last night...and as the color set (and my enormous gray roots began to disappear) my stylist asked if I'd like a magazine. Yes, please. She handed me the October Vogue with Gwyneth P. on the cover. I actually have a Vogue subscription, but only because it was a gift. So I was sitting there reading about Gwyneth at Valentino's recent show...and how she langorously turned to her photographer friend in the row behind her and said, "I'm getting too old for this." I agree, Gwynnie...I think I'm getting too old to read Vogue. ;) I completely understand how/why you'd have a fabulous time at the B/M show...AND why you'd be happy to be home again. Congrats on trying out your performance stuff...let us know how it goes, huh?

[maria]

Yes -- glad to have you back indeed! Sounds like you've been having quite a few adventures without us :-)

Congratulations on completing your Writing for Performance course!! I had forgotten you were going to do that. How exciting about the 21st. I would be pooping in my pants, of course, but that's why I love brave people like you ... because I can live vicariously.

... which brings me to Planet Fashion ... oh so funny, especially the line about trying to dress as if you might possibly belong at a fashion show. I laughed out loud because I tried to picture myself doing the same thing and it did not compute ... at all ... and the line about the shoes ... well, having walked the streets of NYC when I worked in the city for a year (hmmm, that line doesn't sound too good ... just to be clear, I worked for a reputable company, in an office, and not on the streets) ... I could feel their pain (and laughed out loud again). They are not kind streets ... but, there sure were a LOT of shoe stores along the way, between Port Authority and Two Penn Plaza ... maybe just in case ours gave out.

It's fun to check out other worlds, isn't it? It's especially fun when one can just quickly pop in, and then go home to our comfy couch :-). Thanks for taking us along.

[Will]

Glad to have you back!

What an adventure. Would love to hear more about this performance thing that you are working on. Please, do tell.