Posts Tagged ‘booze’
New Years Was the Bomb
January 2nd, 2009 Posted 7:10 am
Out of all the places you could celebrate New Years Eve…. London, New York, Los Angeles… you’d think Aspen, Colorado would be the LEAST dangerous place. However at 2:30 yesterday afternoon the entire town was put on lockdown and evacuated because bombs had been delivered by a madman to two local banks. They later found a black sled with two more bombs in an alley… he’d apparently abandoned his plan halfway through. He was 71 years old, had apparently grown up in Aspen, and had previous run-ins with the law. They found him dead in his Jeep Cherokee from a self inflicted gunshot wound. Really sad, but I’m glad that no one was hurt by his insanity.
Needless to say, there were a LOT of pissed rich people here last night. Both fireworks shows were canceled, and the dozens of ritzy parties all over town were called off as well- because police tape was blocking off the entire town! Tickets to the parties were prohibitively expensive, from $50 to $500 and up, and the boys and I hadn’t laid out any cash to party… thank goodness. I guess all the locations are going to have to refund the money and the to
wn is losing millions- I bet it’ll force some of those places to close, especially after this year’s economy.
Regardless, we stayed late at the gallery, then went to Devon’s friend Michelle’s adoreable ski chalet home for an amazing dinner and tons of excellent wine and champagne! She thought she recognized me, and after some talk, we realized that we’re 80% sure she was my ski instructor in Vail over 10 years ago.
She is part Swedish and a wine expert. We all got a warm buzz going on and all I know is I woke up this morning in my pjs in my own bed. I never drink Champagne, and I think somehow it makes me lose time when I do!
I wasn’t toooo hung over, maybe thanks to my little no-hangover patch I slapped on when I woke up at 6am feeling a little surly. I went into the Gallery at 1 and ended up staying until 11:30 pm hanging out with Devon and Brad. Today Devon taught me lots of interesting things on Picasso, Renoir and Chagal. I’m really falling in love with the art in our gallery… and the whole idea of working in this business. Devon is very passionate about art - “the Great Tresures of our world” as he calls them. All I know is I remember all the stories he tells me about each piece with relative ease, and enjoy recounting them to customers. I lover being around the art all day. I love the idea of helping Devon be it’s caretaker until we can find a home for each piece. I love working with it. It makes me want to be creative - it inspires me and makes me feel happy.
At 8:30 the town put on it’s New Years fireworks display. It was absolutely breathtaking. They launch the fireworks from a little way’s up the ski mountain, and the entire snowy slopes light up pink, green, and blue in their glow. I stood out in the freeing cold for 30 minutes mesmerized by it. What a perfect first day for 2009.
After work we headed over to Jimmy’s and had some excellent lamb and mac and cheese. It was a very coold little bar, and on the wall everyone with the name Jimmy signed it. I signed my father’s name (Jim) in his memory :) I like the idea of his name being on the wall of a place I spent time in this gorgeous mountain town. He’s still here with me every day 
I was very tired after our late dinner (where I ate almost nothing- still no appetite- is it the altitude?!), but it was 1am and there was only one hour of bartime left so we hopped over to some place I’ve already forgotten the name of. People were partying like it was New Year’s eve, but the crowd was really thin- I think a lot of people flew out today. The club smelled like vomit and I was pretty grossed out, but managed to stay on both feet until we mercifully went home.
This was the best New Year’s I’ve ever had. I’m sad because Devon, Brad and Adam are leaving tomorrow for a few days and I might be lonely… but at I have the day off tomorrow so I can explore the town a bit, maybe do some hiking, reading and writing. Besides, it’s a little boring being the 4th female wheel while they hit on girls as we walk around. I need to start making some friends of my own here so I’m not so reliant on hanging out with them, but I have to say, they are the most fun, hilarious group of people I’ve met in a while and I love spending time with them.
I’m really excited about 2009. I just have this feeling that it’s going to be one of the best year’s of my life.