Southern Utah

Greetings from St. George.  I was here about 10 years ago and  stopped long enough to buy a waffle iron in the Black and Decker outlet store.  I remember that it was clean and new and very very small.  Not much going on, just a stop to shop and grab a burger along the interstate.  Today it's a . . . a city.  No; it's more like a suburb in search of a city.  Really:  it's like Del Mar is to San Diego, or like Dunwoody is to Atlanta . . . except that there is no San Diego or Atlanta there. 

Every imaginable franchise is on every corner, all the streets are at least four lane, traffic is intense . . . what in the world has happend to St. George? 

Well, I know part of the story:  It became a haven for retirees.  Inexpensive but nice housing went up.  Then golf course after golf course.  There's like 12 of them here now.  And then the inevitable influx of younger people to serve and take care of the retirees and whalah:  instant suburb. 

I had not planned to come here on this trip, but I found myself a day ahead this morning and decided to drive down and visit the new broker I have here.  He's been open about 3 months and is probably very ripe for an in depth consultation. 

How did I get here?  I left Boise, drove down to Twin Falls and spent the night, then stopped by Pocatello to see my broker there, then up to Idaho Falls and Rexburg to spend the afternoon with my lady there (she's a major super star).  Then back to Pocatello to spend the night . . . and go to Charley's Bar. 

It's the only gay bar in Pocatello, home of Idaho State University.  That's not the only reason I stayed over in Pocatello, but it did figure in the decision.  I'm always curious about how people live in these out of the way places and wanted to drop in there for a bit.  As it turned out, I met a very interesting man there who had some very profound things to say to me.  I'm still mulling it, but soon I'll put down what I learned from Dave. 

This morning I got up and drove across the mountains and through the snow into Utah and stopped off south of Salt Lake City to see my guy here.  We had a marvelous visit.  There's so much about him I didn't know:  he's really one of the originals of my company, very in touch with our history and what we're all about.  He really has more to teach me than I do him, which I told him. 

I had already made the decision to blow off my reservations in SLC for the weekend.  What was I going to hang around there for? Instead, I left my meeting and drove on the five hours to St. George so I can see this new guy tomorrow.  It was a very technological drive! 

I stopped outside SLC and went into Office Depot.  There I bought an AC adapter for the car with a standard 110 volt plug for my computer, so I could plug it into the car and not worry about losing battery life.  Then I bought a new headset michrophone and plugged it into the computer.  I found a quiet street in a business park and pulled over.  There I opened the Speech engine in Windows XP and spend 20 minutes training it to recognize my voice. 

Then I hit the road. 

And I talked into my computer for about four hours straight.  I'd say a sentence or two and I'd glance over and there it would be typing away, writing out every word I was saying.  I captured my basic recollections of that amazing conversation I had with Dave in Pocatello and also did some stream of consciousness musing that took me down unusual paths, past odd mental landmarks.  Can't wait to read what I said.

I made it to my room here in St. George (after dinner at Outback) at about 9.  Of course, addict that I am, I immediately logged onto the net and read my email and checked the visitors to my website. 

Eureka!  Someone from Boise hit me in the wee hours of the morning yesterday.  He glanced at all three of my posts from Boise (one being the single line entry about Idahoers).  I gave my bar card to only one person in Boise:  Daniel (once again not his real name. . . maybe I should start calling him 'Daniel NHRN'?).  So I guess he read what I had to say about our . . . moment.  Good. 

I can understand why he'd like to put a bow on our encounter and just get on with his life.  I'd be doing the same thing at his point in life.  But I'm nearly twice as old as he and I know that these connections are not all that common as we tip-toe from the cradle to the grave.  Like I said, Daniel:  hang on to my number.  You never know when you'll need it. 

Tomorrow I'm going to spend the morning with my St. George guy, then I'm headed to Vegas.  That's the closest place to catch a plane for home . . . and it also gives me an opportunity to eat too much and gamble a little . . . and, well . . . other stuff.  I made a reservation for the Blue Moon Resort, the relatively new gay place just off the strip.  I've not stayed there but have heard it's lots of fun!  Clothing Optional pool area and all male guests.  Now, stop it!  Clothing Optional does not mean 'Orgy'.  It just means relaxed and friendly.  There's usually just as many guys NOT taking the option as are in these places.  I plan to soak up some rays, hook up with some folks and do the town tomorrow.  Friday night will be for blackjack.  Then I go home Saturday.

I'll go home to start packing up my crap.  I need to get it all in storage before I leave week after next.  If all goes as planned I won't be back to the little condo on First Ave. again after that.  Ciao!