Contrasting Faces...
I just got back from Park City...had to run up there to do some touch-up painting on the set. As I was walking back to my car, I was really struck by the contrasts in the whole place. It tries to maintain kind of a small-town feel and look, yet is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the state. It can present a wonderfully sophisticated air...but can be so simple and backwards sometimes.
The thing that really hit it home to me happened as I was walking down the alley next to the Egyptian, on my way to the parking terrace. Another guy, someone I have never seen before, was walking the other way...and out of the blue, nodded and said hi. Totally unexpected, but Park City does have a very friendly side to it. So I nodded back and exchanged greetings, and we each went on our way.
Then I looked down...and saw the five or six broken beer bottles, and even parts of a broken glass from one of the restaurants...pieces of shattered glass all over the walkway. I could only visualize what might have happened...three or four friends in the alley, roaring drunk the night before, smashing their beer bottles for kicks, or throwing them into a corner between the wall and one of the pipes because they were too drunk to give a damn about who might possibly stumble into the glass the next day.
Yeah, it's a friendly place...until drunk. Sweden was the opposite, in a lot of ways, when I was there. Everyone was extremely reserved--civil, but reserved. Until the weekends, when almost everyone went out drinking. You could find an avowed lifelong friend in about five minutes, on any weekend--you might never have seen them before, and would likely never see them again...but on that night, they'd give their right arm for you (at least, until they started to sober up).
I think that's one of the reasons I've never been interested in trying alcohol. Too many times, I've seen it take someone that was very nice and turn them into a total lout, or take someone who's very reserved and proper and turn them into a total fool. I know it doesn't do that to everyone (I've seen a lot of people drink a lot, and just turn into a more mellow or more intense version of themselves)--but I don't want to find out what kind of person I'd become if I was drunk. I like who I am, the way I am...and I'm afraid that boozing it up would change my perception of myself.
It really hit me, though, just how many people can be so totally different in different situations. I've got friends that were absolutely a pleasure to be around...until they were driving. Or in some kind of competitive situation. Then some kind of demon comes out. It's not a universal thing, because most people I know are not like that. Makes me wonder what makes the difference, why one person can remain so consistently the same person in every situation, while another can be an absolute angel one minute, and an absolute ass the next.
In a less philosophical vein--Annette's list of diva demands has been percolating in my head, so I think I've got some ideas for one of my own.
1--An unlimited supply of strawberry Twizzlers must be available, along with Mountain Dew or 7-Up (need both, in case my caffeine level gets too high with the sugar).
2--A licensed Swedish masseuse (not licensed in the Swedish massage technique, necessarily, but she's got to be Swedish, so I can practice again) must be available at any time.
3--Dinners shall consist of either A) medium-rare sirloin steak, B) Dutch Oven barbecued chicken and cheese potatoes, or C) chicken caesar salad with extra chicken, and a side of barbecue sauce.
4--I want an Applebee's Triple-Chocolate Meltdown at the end of the night each night (I'd actually prefer Wolfgang Puck's Chocolate Chocolate Mousse, but I'm willing to make a concession on this).
Yeah, beyond that, I'm pretty flexible. And since I'm not much of a diva to start with, most of those can be crossed off the list in the first place. But if you're looking to bribe me--that list is a good place to start...
I just got back from Park City...had to run up there to do some touch-up painting on the set. As I was walking back to my car, I was really struck by the contrasts in the whole place. It tries to maintain kind of a small-town feel and look, yet is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the state. It can present a wonderfully sophisticated air...but can be so simple and backwards sometimes.
The thing that really hit it home to me happened as I was walking down the alley next to the Egyptian, on my way to the parking terrace. Another guy, someone I have never seen before, was walking the other way...and out of the blue, nodded and said hi. Totally unexpected, but Park City does have a very friendly side to it. So I nodded back and exchanged greetings, and we each went on our way.
Then I looked down...and saw the five or six broken beer bottles, and even parts of a broken glass from one of the restaurants...pieces of shattered glass all over the walkway. I could only visualize what might have happened...three or four friends in the alley, roaring drunk the night before, smashing their beer bottles for kicks, or throwing them into a corner between the wall and one of the pipes because they were too drunk to give a damn about who might possibly stumble into the glass the next day.
Yeah, it's a friendly place...until drunk. Sweden was the opposite, in a lot of ways, when I was there. Everyone was extremely reserved--civil, but reserved. Until the weekends, when almost everyone went out drinking. You could find an avowed lifelong friend in about five minutes, on any weekend--you might never have seen them before, and would likely never see them again...but on that night, they'd give their right arm for you (at least, until they started to sober up).
I think that's one of the reasons I've never been interested in trying alcohol. Too many times, I've seen it take someone that was very nice and turn them into a total lout, or take someone who's very reserved and proper and turn them into a total fool. I know it doesn't do that to everyone (I've seen a lot of people drink a lot, and just turn into a more mellow or more intense version of themselves)--but I don't want to find out what kind of person I'd become if I was drunk. I like who I am, the way I am...and I'm afraid that boozing it up would change my perception of myself.
It really hit me, though, just how many people can be so totally different in different situations. I've got friends that were absolutely a pleasure to be around...until they were driving. Or in some kind of competitive situation. Then some kind of demon comes out. It's not a universal thing, because most people I know are not like that. Makes me wonder what makes the difference, why one person can remain so consistently the same person in every situation, while another can be an absolute angel one minute, and an absolute ass the next.
In a less philosophical vein--Annette's list of diva demands has been percolating in my head, so I think I've got some ideas for one of my own.
1--An unlimited supply of strawberry Twizzlers must be available, along with Mountain Dew or 7-Up (need both, in case my caffeine level gets too high with the sugar).
2--A licensed Swedish masseuse (not licensed in the Swedish massage technique, necessarily, but she's got to be Swedish, so I can practice again) must be available at any time.
3--Dinners shall consist of either A) medium-rare sirloin steak, B) Dutch Oven barbecued chicken and cheese potatoes, or C) chicken caesar salad with extra chicken, and a side of barbecue sauce.
4--I want an Applebee's Triple-Chocolate Meltdown at the end of the night each night (I'd actually prefer Wolfgang Puck's Chocolate Chocolate Mousse, but I'm willing to make a concession on this).
Yeah, beyond that, I'm pretty flexible. And since I'm not much of a diva to start with, most of those can be crossed off the list in the first place. But if you're looking to bribe me--that list is a good place to start...
posted by Curtis at 2:27 PM
1 Comments:
yeah, there's nothing scarier than people that over-indulge. If you have that inclination, it's better to stay away from anything that you might abuse - alcohol, drugs, tobacco, food... and then there's the list of other abuses - women, children, laws (by a majority perhaps), tenure, property, oh- there's tons.
The answer is moderation in all things. Responsibility. If Park City was broken glass from top to bottom, then I'd be worried.
The overwhelming number of people don't abuse. And the overwhelming number of people experience things without becoming addicted. I think too many people forget that.
I'm all for trying everything legal and discovering for yourself whether it's worth it for you or not.
Not surprisingly, I'm also for the legalization of drugs. What that means, for those who aren't up on it, is that drugs would be regulated by government - like tobacco, firearms and alcohol - so that they could be controlled. Those who find themselves abusing would have avenues for curing their addiction. Legalizing drugs would eliminate the secrecy of those who play in it and would most certainly eliminate the criminal side of the drug issue. It happened with alcohol when prohibition was repealed. It would happen with drugs as well.
Same with prostitution. We'll never get rid of it. You want to know how many prositutes come to town during a conference weekend? Study the situation in Amsterdam. I realize the politics and ways of the people there are very different from us. But the Dutch government and people realized what the problems were and addressed them so that it all was regulated, safe and controlled. Crime plummeted.
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