Getting warmer

Hi Mom,

It's getting hot in the city. We seem to have skipped spring and sped right along to summer, which promises to be its usual sticky self.

Last night I was down at the Seaport for a birthday party at a New Zealand-themed pub--Michael Jackson was making a fortune, his songs blasting from every bar on the entire street! It was nice down by the water. I watched boats for awhile and looked at the city's pretty lights. Also saw a guy toss his girlfriend's purse into the water mid-argument. Takes all sorts.

Today a responsible me would do some work. This may, however, be one of the last weekends before it gets even hotter. These are life's big decisions.

Love,
Karen

Michael Jackson

Hi Mom,

Not sure if you recall, but I researched Michael Jackson when I was in fourth or fifth grade.

It was Black History Month and I had picked him as my subject. I read all about his family, his fame, and Captain EO (remember the Disney World EO thing?). They put our reports on some kind of swanky backgrounds and put them around the room for parent-teacher conferences.

I remember being impressed by how many siblings he had, plus all the stuff he had done as a kid. I'm not sure how I picked him, but I distinctly remember sitting on my floor with a stack of books and articles about the guy.

Coffee shops full of people in New York seem to be talking about his death. Last night everyone was buzzing about the vigil at the Apollo, and there seem to be rumors of more related events this weekend. If there are, they'll be competing with Pride and the BAM film shorts festival also taking the city by storm. Never a lack of things to do around here.

Hope the weather's good back home, and Happy Friday.

Love,
Karen

NYC

Hi Mom,

I'm back. After almost two weeks out and about, I return to the smelly streets I've come to know and love.

I had a great last day in Chicago; Zac and I had breakfast at seven a.m. before the conference, tucked into a booth eating skillet fare. They don't really do skillets in New York that much: I'm trying to decide if it's a Chicago thing.

I reported a lot, met David to split an inordinate number of fantastic cupcakes from Swirlz, got to see Jeremy's swanky new apartment (complete with stainless steel-front appliances), and met up with Kay, who raced with me to the airport. I was shockingly on time, maybe even what some would call a touch early.

To top it off, I caught an earlier flight, got upgraded to an exit row free of charge, and sat next to a really neat lawyer from Jersey who wound up giving me a ride to the train station in his company car, saving me several dollars and multiple hours of my life.

Having arrived back at my apartment, I'm ordering buffalo wings and going to bed. Tomorrow it's back to the office...

Love,
Karen

Lups!

Hi Mom,

Another crazy day of wandering the conference hall floor, meeting interesting people and trying to find out their companies' stories. I meant to get up early and see the lake, which Zac lives a block and a half from, but that of course didn't happen. Rather, I was happily snoring away in his extra bedroom when he left at six a.m. for spin class.

He was nice enough to call to rouse me from my slumber on his way back from the gym, meaning I actually got to the conference with time to spare. I hit up the press room for a tall cup of coffee--they usually know its best to feed the press at these kinds of things--and get to my first meeting.

Tonight we amassed a great group of people for Italian food. Monica was among them. She works in Chicago now for the botanic gardens doing event planning. Catching up was excellent. Then we all went for a drink at a nearby bar. They were all trying to get me to stay for the weekend. Another time. I'll be back. Chicago's that kind of place.

With most of Michigan residing somewhere between Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Rogers Park, I always kind of wonder if I'll wind up living there at some point. For now I'm pretty happy where I am.

Love,

Karen

Monday

Hi Mom,

Strange parking signs in Chicago. I stared at this one for about ten minutes, trying to figure out if it was actually legal to park there or not. Usually signage is pretty valuable in determining where to put a car, but this time, well, not really.

I'm happy to have landed in the last city on my tour, though I've really enjoyed coming back across the US one little hop at a time. I've almost got the airport security timing down so I can get my things off the conveyer belt before they get all jammed up at the end. I remain immensly glad I decided to do this trip with a carry-on and a hanging bag as opposed to something larger, or I'd be spending my life at baggage claim. I've also been able to take a shot at switching flights around more--the first question they ask is if you have bags checked. Gleefully negatory on that one. Today was the first day of the conference. Now I'm going to eat sushi.

Love,
Karen

Red Rocks

Hi Mom,

When I visit family, all I do is eat. I eat dinner, I eat dessert, I eat breakfast and lunch and snack and ice cream for good measure. Then someone comes by to ask if I've tried the homemade dip, the brie, the chocolate chip cookies and the eggplant. It's unavoidable, wonderful and horrific all at once.

That's why a trip to the red rocks, which does NOT involve eating, seemed like such a good idea. We saw the ampitheater, which gets great concerts like the one in Greece. I liked how they had carved seats and the whole thing seemed to fit in among the rocks.

It was raining. We walked around and slid down some muddy parts in the foothills, took pictures, stood on picnic tables and eventually started our journey back toward the city. We passed Buffalo Bill's grave--it rapidly became clear that I was the only one with any kind of alleigance to said Bill. We drove on.

Between my two skilled navigators we only missed the freeway twice, maybe three times. Added bonus; on the way home we stopped at The Morrison Inn, a Tex-Mex place with world-renown margaritas, even if they weren't very good! The place itself is something of an icon, and now I've been there. If it had not been raining, we would have sat on the patio.

Welcome back!

Love,
Karen

Friendly skies

Hi Mom,

Wound up flying through Las Vegas. I had fallen asleep on the plane and awoke very surprised, as it were, to find myself at that particular juncture. The airport is full of slot machines and smells like Vegas--it's a very distinct smell, though I can't exactly describe it.

I tried to get on an earlier flight. The excitement mounting (I had started the day in San Francisc0), I waited by the gate. It didn't happen. So I waited some more. Funny how waiting for your normal flight feels so much more disappointing after you thought you had a chance at getting on an earlier one.

I used free internet, checked the car rental, ate an omlette at California Pizza kitchen (outsmarting the Johnny Rockets look-alike serving much worse looking food at the very same prices), and was on my way. I slept almost the entire flight, woke up briefly to see red rocks out my window, and made my way into the sunlight.

Love,
Karen