Clean Slate

On the Jukebox: "Housework" by the B52's

Quote: "Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?" ~ L. M. Montgomery

Flair: Right at home

It's a new year and that means a fresh start for everyone. It would be nice if we could start clean in every way. Unfortunately, many of us had company over the Christmas holidays and some hosted New Year's Eve parties so there are a few leftover messes to be dealt with. Such is life! Some of us are the hot messes that need tidying.

I'm getting a fresh start this year in a big way. I'm getting to see things in a new way thanks to my little girl. Everything is new and exciting to her and watching her learn allows me to experience things I've taken for granted with renewed enthusiasm and appreciation. My daughter recently invented gravity and enjoys demonstrating its awesome power for me by tossing items from her lunch tray onto my freshly mopped floors. I'm learning to appreciate that she wants me to have job security and therefore does her part to make sure I will never be unemployed in a perfectly clean kitchen.

Of course there are days when she takes a spill as she toddles over the uneven tiles.She gets upset and babbles in some fascinating language that I never learned but I'm fairly certain from her intonation that she's quoting Homer Simpson, "Oh come on gravity. You used to be cool!" She then collapses into a tear soaked, runny nosed, claggy mess that I have to clean up.

Have you ever wondered how we learned that egg protein was good for conditioning our hair or avocado makes a good facial mask? I'm positive a mother invented those homemade beauty aids after cleaning up after her little mess maker. I'm doing my best to be cheerful about the variety of messes I am called upon to tidy but think it unfair that even the areas of my home that I previously cleaned and haven't used since have the audacity to get dirty when no one is in them. Therefore I decree that dust is a country accent and cat fur is just taking the animal print theme to the next level.

In lieu of a spic and span home I'm starting fresh with a better attitude. Over the past few years I've allowed cynicism and complaints to taint my life much like a buildup of soap scum in the bathtub. I'm making a conscious effort to choose gratitude, patience, and mercy instead of anger and critical thoughts. I know that this will take a lot of mental elbow grease so I'll be putting off scrubbing and resealing the grout for a few months. It'll be fine. They call it spring cleaning for a reason!

Life in the Dish

On the Jukebox: "Heaven or Las Vegas" by Cocteau Twins
Quote: "The night before I left Las Vegas I walked out into the desert to look at the moon. There was a jeweled city on the horizon, spires rising in the night, but the jewels were diadems of electric and the spires were the neon of signs ten stories high. " ~ Norman Mailer
Flair: Cut-rate Babylon

Two years ago I moved to southern Nevada from the Salt Lake area. What a contrast of cultures to go from Temple-dotted vistas to views of half-naked people of billboards. Fortunately, most of that tasteless stuff is relegated to the Strip and other resort areas. Where I live is relatively tame and untouched by flashing neon come-ons for tourists. The Strip is not for me yet, I confess that I can't help but admire the architecture of the newer casinos and hotels. It's like someone picked up the world's treasures and plopped them down in one place. The valley horizon boasts a pyramid, the Eiffel Tower, the New York skyline, a somewhat cheesy castle, a gorgeous Italian palace, a miniature Lake Como, a half dozen glass skyscrapers, and a towering space needle. It's the world's most interactive nightlight.

I've come to reflect on how I've spent the majority of my years in dish-like valleys. I like the way the land feels protected by strong walls. I especially loved the Central Coast of California. Santa Maria Valley was beautiful with its temperate weather and panoramic views of the ocean, strawberry fields, vineyards, and foothills of the Sierra Nevadas dotted with oak trees. I also came to love the Salt Lake Valley. Even though it is a high desert, a surprising amount of things flourish there and its snow capped majesty is breathtaking. It quickly felt like home because it mirrored the Santa Maria Valley in that the high mountains were to the east and the water was on the west side with the freeway bisecting the valley.

Now I've come to dwell in another valley that is a complementary combination of the last two. It has a population of over a million people so it's big city like SLC with an international airport and local LDS Temple. It is also heavily influenced by the west coast. Nevada is on Pacific time because most of the people who make the mecca here are from Los Angeles and we must cater to them. The local population has a liberal sprinkling of Mormons (who were the original founders of town) and California transplants. I love the diversity of cultures and languages spoken here. I like the oddities that come from resort type towns. I've passed the 'Zombie Apacolypse' store several times on my way to Chinatown and must investigate further. You know how we Mormons are about food storage and personal preparedness...

I like that although it is widely known as 'Sin City' and I recently moved from 'Zion.'  A place is what you make it. So for me my home is Zion in the midst of Babylon. It's a good reminder to be in the world but not of the world. In all my 'dwelling dishes' I've used landmarks such as mountains to navigate. In my previous two valleys I knew the mountains should be on my right if I was headed north and vice versa if I was headed south. Here the mountains, with the exception of Mt. Charleston, are all pretty much the same height so looking around the dish to determine direction can get confusing. Thank goodness for the Stratosphere Tower. It stands near the center of town and can be seen both night and day. All I have to do is find the Tower and I can figure out where I am. Likewise, I also have the Temple as a landmark. It is centered at the base of the mountains on the east side of town and has lovely spires which catch the light. When I lose my way spiritually, I need but look to the Temple for divine direction.

I like this place no matter what others say about it. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas? Well, yes, if you bought a home here good luck trying to sell it to move elsewhere. You're also lucky if you have a job here, but this town is all about making your own luck. Vegas, baby! It should be my new maxim since we have expanded our family to include a native Nevadan, a Vegas baby  if you will.

Bring in the New Year

On the Jukebox: "The New Year" by Death Cab for Cutie
Mood: Optimistic
Quote: "All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you." ~ Walt Disney
Flair: Bring it!

Happy New Year! I'm catching onto a pattern as this seems to happen approximately every 365 days. I still don't understand the need to evaluate the passing year in a pessimistic sense and turn to the next with unrealistic expectations. Surely, every passing year had something great to offer us. Trials we overcame, goals we mastered, journeys taken, and relationships we strengthened. The key is to focus on the positives and then it is easy to see the gift each day offers us. May 2012 be our best year yet!