Perhaps you have been asking yourself “Huh, where’d Rebekah go?”
Pull up a chair and I’ll tell you.
Weekend before last, I voyaged to NYC. Not for any official business or pressing matters, merely to visit friends. This friendly visit entailed a trip to the New Museum (where I nearly trod on a Lynda Benglis floor painting— color me gauche. Honestly, who raised me?), watching Vic Ruggiero perform at Two Boots, and getting something akin to food poisoning from either the hot chocolate or macaroni and cheese at The City Bakery. My churning innards survived a brief trip to H&M (which I’ve heard about for years, and never dreamed would be so bland) and a subway ride before forcing me to hurl my guts out in Park Slope. I feared the Huxtables might see me, but later remembered they live in Brooklyn Heights. Can I get a “whew”?
Cell phone self-potrait of the artist struggling not to vomit in H&M
By traveling lightly, I was able to pack my pajamas, toiletries, and next day’s outfit in my teal purse– on top of my usual purse contents. There’s something pleasantly ridiculous about walking through Times Square carrying a jammies and a toothbrush
I didn’t take many pictures in New York, largely because 1) yo, I never feel like taking pictures and 2), New York has been documented aplenty, and my blurry amateur photos would contribute nothing. However, the spirit moved me to document this brunch at Ulysses, which featured my first mojito (which tasted like alcohol. Curses!) and a beautiful chocolate cake decorated with slabs of printed chocolate. Printed chocolate! Clearly, my prayers were answered and I’ve been reincarnated as Bertie Wooster. How silly of me not to notice sooner.
If you squint hard enough, this looks like a Rembrandt still life. Ulysses is a remarkably dark restaurant--- this was mid-morning
A few days later, I packed a carry-on and flew to New Mexico to see Mr. Jaunty as Count Almaviva in the NMSU production of Mozart’s ultra-popular opera The Marriage of Figaro. No, seriously; Mr. S. had bought me a plane ticket, so off I flew to spend four days in the sunny desert of my oh-so-recent youth.
Remember how I hate taking pictures? I made myself take a real (not a cell phone, that is) camera to New Mexico… but through the entire trip, I only took pictures of… wait for it…..
Mr. Ian Jaunty doin’ stage makeup in the men’s dressing room! I was no help whatsoever, as I only know about Standard Female Daily Wear Makeup, and sometimes I strike out at even that. I did touch up the second cast’s Count’s hair a couple o’ times, but that’s about all the fun I could stand.
The opera went very well— and somehow, Ian convinced me to watch the other cast’s performance the following night. Readers, if anyone ever asks you to sit through the same opera twice in 48 hours, think carefully before you accept. Good as the show may be, it’s a big time commitment.
The New Mexico trip allowed me to briefly visit a fleet of loved ones from my university days. I fully intended to buy several packages of Roberto’s Tortillas, the food of the gods… but alas, I ran out of time. Then Mr. Jaunty ran out of time. Now it’s too late. Regrets, I haz them. We did eat plenty of other good Mexican food, so I can’t complain. Screw it, yes I can; I WANTED THOSE TORTILLAS! I’VE THOUGHT OF LITTLE ELSE THESE PAST SEVEN MONTHS! MY LIFE HAS LOST ALL MEANING! NOOOOOOOOOOooooOOOooooooooooooOOOOOO!
Meaningless life aside, it felt absolutely wonderful to be back on my old stomping grounds, back where so many of my life’s big events took place. I didn’t expect to ever see it again, let alone return within a year of leaving… it felt a big like a time warp, seeing so many people, places, and things I used to know intimately and had nearly forgotten… The adobe! The cacti! The fleet of ugly blue chairs in the Music Center!
To make up for shirking my vacationer camera-wielding responsibilities, here is a real photographer’s take on Cruces:
image by Neomexicanus Ic via Wikimedia Commons
You may think of me as a third-rate blogger with a hairy stomach, but this post should hint at my hidden depth and complexity; I’m a furry-stomached, third-rate blogger WHO TRAVELS.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it, world.
Count Almaviva is a great role – congrats to Mr. Jaunty. I’m assuming (rightfully, I’m sure) that he was aces.
And what mountains! I live at the base of mountains, too, but they start off more gently than I suspect they do in NM. Not quite as foreboding looking out my window…
Finally, it’s an absolute sin that either hot chocolate or mac ‘n cheese should make you ill. Those are foods of the gods and should therefore be like perfect ambrosia. Shame, City Bakery. Shame.
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You know…I swear H&M used to be really great. Then they put one in out in the ‘burbs here, and I trekked out there all excited only to be underwhelmed. Oh well, less of my money parted with, I suppose.
Having lived mostly in the Midwest (Cornfields! Olive Gardens!), I’ll admit that the Southwest looks truly otherworldly to me. My grandparents lived in Arizona for a time and I felt like I was on another planet for the durations of my visits there.
But, yay! Travel!
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Rebekah… Do you want me to go to the store and send you a flat rate box of Roberto’s tortillas? I hate to think of you over there without any taste of real mexican food… and little cans of green chiles from Hatch if they have em haha
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Evie, I lived in Arizona for nearly a decade, and it still felt like another planet. Of course, now I feel like that other planet is home, but there’s no escaping how weird looking it is even when you’re used to it.
Ms. Jaunty, I really dig that shot. Not because I’m in it of course. Something about the room looks really cool. Chris looks so committed to receiving his highlights. And it’s a miracle that no one was wandering around in only their tights.
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Katie – He WAS aces. I’d gush, but no one ever believes the girlfriend.
Three of us dined at the City Bakery, and only one of her tossed her cookies. Then again, I was the only one who opted for the Tropical Hot Chocolate…
Evie – Do you remember when Delia’s was cool? I would STILL love to own everything in their late 90′s catalogs… I’ve tried finding them online for inspiration, but to no avail. Must hunt again.
I grew up in Indiana/Ohio. Moving to New Mexico WAS otherworldly; and my first day there, I burned to a crisp.
Lori – Bless your beautiful hide! If you’ll email me your address, I’ll send you cash or a check! Mmmm….
Mr. Jaunty – Yeah, I forgot it was the men’s DRESSING room until Fico started changing clothes. I hope no one was inconvenienced by my thoughtless presence. Sorry, singer dudes!
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I was going to offer to ship you some tortillas as well, but it looks like Lori has it covered! Sounds like you had a full week.
@ Katie — They look a lot bigger in the photo than they look when you live nearby — don’t get me wrong, I think they are beautiful and whenever I see them it feels like home, but they don’t have the imposing height of the mountains in Colorado or Utah.
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Rebekah Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 12:50 PM
I am still KEENLY interested in Roberto’s tortillas, the love of my young life. Would you please send me some when you’re not too busy? Would you prefer to be paid in advance or to invoice me?
Ooohhhhh, I loved those tortillas… the tortillas here taste like flour. Not in a good way.
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hazelnutmegan Reply:
March 21st, 2011 at 2:31 PM
I can send some out this weekend. I’ll put a note inside letting you know how much money you owe me, but HOW MANY DO YOU WANT? 1-2 (12 count) packages? or more? They actually freeze pretty well, so if you have a freezer, you could do more…?
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Rebekah Reply:
March 21st, 2011 at 11:05 PM
Ooh la la! Can I trust myself to leave them in the freezer for more than a day? Hmmm….. How about 3 packages, if they’ll fit in a box or envelope. I’ll be sure to reimburse you for shipping and handling, too.
Are there any northeastern delicacies you’d like? Pierogies are luscious, if I can figure out how to ship frozen goods.
Alright Rebekah – I will mail those 3 packages tomorrow, because I only have a half day of work. And they should fit into a small box from USPS – pre-paid shipping boxes.
And about the Northeastern delicacies…do you have a Japanese Bakery anywhere nearby? I really liked Melon Pan (Melon Bread), but we really don’t have access to an actual Japanese Bakery around here.
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Rebekah Reply:
March 23rd, 2011 at 5:53 PM
Thank you so much!!
PA is short on Japanese bakeries, but NYC has a number. Next time I’m there, I’ll track down some Melon Pan— assuming it ships okay.
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hazelnutmegan Reply:
March 25th, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Sent out the goods yesterday via Priority Mail… let me know when they arrive and in what condition. The packages were each $1.76, and shipping was $10.95, so the grand total is $16.23. Hopefully you will get them and they will be everything you were dreaming of! :)
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