Author Archives: jilladler PCSkiGal

Sundance Day Two

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My new favorite place is the Village at the Yard. I’m sure the organizers had this intension. They split with Best Events (Village at the Lift) to start their own enterprise and although it’s not drawing the A-listers just yet, because of the off-Main Street location, they have so much more to offer- including parking, room to breathe in the café and less snooty check-in girls.
Here’s my royal peeve. Even if you are unrecognizable as a celeb or don’t travel with a publicist in tow, you should be treated with the same respect or at least attention. You have absolutely NO idea when that person you just dissed might have something you need (whether its press, a ski lesson or your next job). And yet some folks here think their sh*t don’t stink. I read somewhere that you should treat everyone like a fan. Best advice I’ve ever had to consider. It made sense to me first when I was the third wheel of a #1 morning radio show. It was a classic rock show (like Howard Stern) and all sorts of characters approached like they knew me. As much as some of them scared me, I didn’t want strangers who were meeting me for the first time to run home and tell their friends what a bitch I was; and stop listening because of me. I wanted to be the one people talked about as “so nice”. Folks at the House of Hype whispered that all yesterday afternoon after Brittany Murphy floated through. Brittany’s got the right idea.
You want to be nice; even if you can’t help or can’t upgrade one type of pass to an all-access one. As I stood waiting for my turn at The Lift’s credential desk, I watched the girls at checkin assume one personality –sycophantic- when they recognized a name on a list, or arrogant and dismissive when they didn’t. Of course, some people just don’t care and I’ve been guilty of that on occasion but not on purpose. Sometimes our egos get the best of us and I suppose a four-day stint as the gatekeeper of a Sundance Lounge can go to your head, but jeez, folks, don’t let it!
In the everyday world, these girls they hire as Sundance credentialers are no more important than the person who foams their lattes on Monday morning. Just because they have the power of denial for this event should not spawn the kind of attitude you witness at the Sundance Film Festival. Unfortunately, This phenomenon is not limited to The Lift girls. It’s at the Sundance office itself, the houses and the parties. The ones who are the best at their jobs, however, (Fingerprint Communications operating the Boost Mobile Lounge, Stacey Wechsler’s Hired Gun Publicity, Tracy Paul & Company) get it. They actually look forward to meeting new people. But if you don’t, then fake it. You never know when the relationship you create will pay off.
That said, I was in wherever I wanted to be yesterday.
Kudos to Anderson Lumber off hwy 224 for moving out for the weekend to make the big bucks as the BNCPR’s Village at the Yard. In back, industry, media, and invited guests could drink Amstel Light around bonfire, snow tube on a mini sled hill, dine for breakfast, lunch and late night snacks at the wired T-Mobile Diner. With nearly 100,000 square feet, you aren’t angling for elbow room. I stopped at The Lift this morning and couldn’t help bumping into people- granted many had crowded around the front to take pictures with Method Man.
The VAY’s sponsors seemed to be more relaxed in their spacious environs. Timberland showcased their eco-friendly Earthkeeper boots. I can’t wait for it to warm up so I can don my Chelsea’s – the lining and outsole are recycled, the lining is also moisture wicking, they are fully waterproofed and they’re styling! I also picked up some Coochy cream from Pure Romance. Stealthy gifting celebs, the in-home personal products and accessories company has thought of everything for the bedroom; down to the “toy cleaner”. I’m looking forward to testing out the Basic Instinct pheromone cologne at the Roxy party tonight at Celsius. There was also room for the Humane Society to educate guests on seal-clubbing (I got a stuffed animal baby seal for Sage’s crib) and Diesel in partnership with A Perfect World encouraged me to select an outfit from their kids collection for one needy child participating in the APW are program. Twelve-year-old Shemar will be one styling dude soon! I stocked up with cream and conditioner at Drugstore.com’s Essentials Suite (I could have gotten some Airborne but my cold was at bay) and headed up town to the House of Hype for, what else?, hype.

First day of Sundance- Thursday Jan. 18

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Location: Harry O’s NightclubSnow falls gently outside as maybe hundreds of eager Akon (or simply party) fans crowd the metal guardrail. The hoard of attractive women and guys in blazers, scarves and knit hats beg for VIP passage into the exit-only door. Many manage to squeak by, bewildering security.
As I make my move to the front to check the guest list, I merge with a group with obvious cache; I’m with them it’s assumed; I stick out my wrist and a plastic green band appears. I’m in, no questions asked! The mob behind me waiting to groove inside has no clue what just happened.After 2o minutes of hunting for that list to get my friends in the door, the guys give up and hand me two more bands. We’re all in! It’s nearly 11 p.m. The beat thumps and go-go dancers dressed like Halley Barry from James Bond, with striped knee socks and fuzzy black boots, gyrate; mesmerizing the men who obviously haven’t seen much action in a while. I silently wish I could dance like that.It’ll be a green night for Harry O’s. Patron shots ($12) sold like they’re running out of them. Akon doesn’t come on until nearly 1 a.m. (last call time) and I’ve sworn to leave by 1:30. Sigh. In the meantime, I’ve met a guy who promises to get me into the Maroon 5 show at Harry O’s tonight and another guy who will get me into the Hard Rock Party across the street and a gal who will get me into the ASCAP Music Café at the Star Bar. Everyone’s connected.More people will arrive today. Yesterday was mellow in comparison. I could find parking, my friends waitlisting for the Opening Night Premiere of In Bruges got in without a problem despite signing up only 30 minutes prior. I skipped that movie because Chase Masterson invited me to see her new movie debuting at the Park City Music Film Festival. I’m such a sucker for personal invites. The movie “Yesterday Was A Lie” held an interesting concept about time and memory but was a bit obtuse (obscure?) for the general public. Chase, however, did a great acting job. No complaints there.Today, it’s all about the gifting lounges before the evening festivities. I’m assuming that I’ll see as much green as Harry O’s. After all, green is ‘in’. For starters, the Sundance VIP baskets were filled only by eco-friendly companies. Chaos hats- with whom I work with in the ski industry- threw in a thick alpaca beanie and, although quite itchy, will look tres cool on the domes of Peter Sarsgaard, Quentin Tarantino, Jimmy Fallon, Mos Def, and more. So there’s The Lift, The Village at the Yard (which used to be the Village At The Lift), The Gibson Guitar Lounge, The Boost Mobile Lounge/The Marquee, The House of Hype, The L-R-G Gifting Villa, and I’m sure I’ve missed a bunch! Tonight, I’m looking forward to the Breakout British group The Horrors’ documentary screening at The Marquee and the after party. The MySpace premiere party is at the House of Hype from 6-9pm before that. And, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that secret entry into Maroon 5. Whew. I’ll sleep when it’s over. I’ll also ski when it’s over. It’s too frickin’ cold right now anyway – 10 degrees!!!

Happy Holidays!

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Time flies and we just closed our second Christmas with Sage.

Where did October and November go? I could have sworn I blogged at least once those months but then I’m slightly brain fried since beginning this construction project. What the hell was I thinking?? Starting a new addition in the winter?! The guy I hired to draw my plans- IN MAY- didn’t get them submitted to the county for approval until OCTOBER. By then, the guys I had hired as my contractors totally flaked and stopped returning phonecalls. I decided to scrap the project until the spring but then my friend Steve Weinstein, a local Park City contractor, made me an offer I couldn’t refuse- being that I’m fiscally conservative and all. He would oversee my project by phone and only charge me for days he actually had to show up at my house. I would handle everything and he would translate for me so that I understood what needed to be done and how to do it. Basically, he would be my consultant and I, the contractor. Insanity.

All of a sudden, I’m fielding phone calls, bids, inspections, material deliveries and charges. I get fun little surprises like hearing that the plans I paid $2k for were scrap paper because the designer failed to locate the septic tank before crafting his masterpiece. Steve redesigned on the fly and didn’t really charge me because I hired his crew to excavate and frame. Today, Aspen Roofing is laying shingle and Aron (Steve’s laborer) is sheeting the exterior for siding. Don’t I sound like a construction guy? Pretty cool learning a whole new industry. I can’t say I won’t leave the job to professionals the next time around but I have saved some $5k so far even with the extra surprises – moving the septic tank cleanout location, the 10feet deep hard stone that had to be jackhammered for a week before they could excavate my backyard, my phone line getting sliced (Qwest raped me of $400 just to run a longer cable and connect wires!), paying a very nice Bosnian to cut part of a concrete wall that was in the way of framing ($550). Oh, and then it started to snow! Propane heaters to melt snow from the concrete and warm workers’ hands and feet; trucks that couldn’t make it up I-80 for deliveries or up my icy driveway.

The holidays sent this place into ghostville but we’re back on track today. The goal is to at least have my guest room back to liveable so friends can stay over. Keith says if I let him crash here, he’ll tile my new bathroom for me. Not a bad deal. And no, I have yet to tear apart my closet and bathroom for this remodel but, oh won’t that be fun!

When it’s all done, I will have a HUGE office and Sage will have her very own playroom. Right now I have divided my office via babygate. She gets half and I get half. With all her new holiday toys, however, there’s no more room for me. 🙁

She got skis from Karhu- little ones that strap to her feet so she doesn’t need to wear ski boots. They have a herring bone pattern on the bottom so she won’t slide backward. Once it warms up (we’re at 6 degrees today) we’ll go out and shuffle around. If she’s really a daredevil, we’ll slide down my driveway!

My parents sent her a Teddy bear bigger than she is and we got her a Leap Frog activity table she can’t stop playing. Ryan’s parents sent her a ski suit and lots of other little goodies for the tree. I know we’re Jewish but you can’t deny a small child the pleasures of wrapped gifts surrounding nature (indoor nature :)). My dad didn’t take the news of our Christmas tree well. But I swear Sage will get her Bat Mitzvah in 13 years.
The skiing has been great. I’ve had friends in town for the past week and we’ve been tolerating the temps for the freshies. A couple in the group got hurt but merely flesh wounds. They’ll be skiing again full steam in a couple of weeks. You have to be on alert when it’s early season. Your body isn’t as catlike as it is by mid-winter. More snow is on call for tonight but today has been clear and sunny. Perfect Kodak day. I prefer tomorrow’s forecast. Snow snow snow. The sun messes with your skin.

I better get back to work. Lots to do and workers to manage. 😉 Don’t call me if you have a construction project- although I have lots of good people to refer. BTW stay away from a company called KJ Builders. Concrete guys that will rob you blind. Luckily, I sniffed out the scam before I lost $2k. They want half up front then never show up to actually do the work. Lou Dellapena did the job right without an ounce of anxiety.

To Infinite and Beyond! Sage as a One-Year-Old.

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I dreamt last night that I was at a Don Henley concert except that Don was the spitting image of Sam Elliott and sang more like Bruce Springsteen than a former Eagles. And there I was sitting on scaffolding, watching the action below when all of a sudden he’s standing behind me, singing. I’m creeped out, not psyched and all I want to do is get down from there. Concert’s over and I’m searching everywhere for Sage. She’s near the portal and the stairs. Running for them. She’s her actual age and all of sudden she’s found her legs, she can walk, or better, run. She’s not hearing or seeing me, she’s taken off running. Faster than one of those pigs in a greased pig event. I dive and catch her but she’s desperate to get away. And there are people everywhere getting in the way. I’m trying not to take it personally but she’s running away from me! I panic. When did she learn to run?! I awake. It’s just a dream. Whew.
Sage is still sleeping soundly in her room. She’s not walking. She’s not running. Not yet. But she sure likes to move around. I’m not sure what the Don Henley part has to do with anything but I do know how scared I am of Sage running around. When I put her on the bed, it’s like she’s break dancing. She must dig the softness of the mattress and sheets. On the floor, she scoots on one knee with the other foot flat on the ground to propel her. Soon, there’ll be no stopping her?
She stands on her own, briefly, then sits back down. But mostly she plays quietly with her toys happy to greet you and share her toys with you. Walking may not be too far off and I’m not sure what to do at that point. Let her run up and down the hall? My books seem surprisingly vague about what to do with your newly mobile child beyond childproofing the house. How much time is minimally acceptable to spend playing during the day when you have work to do? Obviously supervision is key but does that mean I must leave the house every day for a romp in the park? Is every other day or three times a week acceptable? What should a one year old’s ‘normal’ day look like? And what about eating? How much is normal when it’s real people food? I’m used to the jars 2-3 a day. With eggs or spaghetti or bread, I can’t tell if she’s full or just doesn’t like her food after a few bites. And my pede told me I should start weaning her from her bottle – at least start by cutting out one a day and giving her milk in a (sippy) cup. I try but she just skips her milk altogether until it’s back in the bottle. I should be tougher but in the back of my head, the pede’s words that I “really shouldn’t worry about it until 15 months echo.” The good news is that she doesn’t need her nighttime bottle anymore. Water works fine. It’s time for more recon.
It’s been easy so far but Motherhood is rearing its ugly head and I have slim to no info about one-year-olds and how to be with them.
Next Monday, I head to Lake Powell for a four-day river trip on the Grand. No, I am not taking the baby. Ryan will get to stay with her all by himself. A first for both of them! And my first time leaving her for more than a day since she was born. I’m just a 5-hour drive away if there’s an emergency but they should be just fine bonding without mommy there. Hell, they’ll probably love it. The way he makes her laugh when he reads to her or dances with her. It’s precious. Everyone should laugh like that at least once a day.
Oh well, the babe is sleeping soundly (as usual, or course 😉 ) and I need to made good use of the quiet night and get back to work. For recent pictures of Sage and our quick trip to Vegas last week go to http://picasaweb.google.com/mtnmedia/VegasBaby.
Hope all is well and if you have any advice, I’m all ears.

She’s on the Move!

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Beach baby! You can see more pics from our San Diego trip at http://picasaweb.google.com/mtnmedia/MoreSDPhotos?authkey=Yylk4EdvLI8

At 5:15 p.m. on July 26, 2007, Sage crawled to me! We really thought she’d be one of those babies who skipped the dogmarch and went straight for walking but nope.
There she was, playing with Ryan in her room, with me watching from the doorway, when she spun on her bum and bee-lined for me like a padding puppy. I opened my arms wides, called to her and gave her the biggest, warmest hug when she got to me. I almost cried. My little baby was no longer completely dependent on me for transportation. I can’t arrest the process. She’s growing up. Uh Oh! Can this spell disaster? She’s already fussing when I lay her on the changing table. Crying and squirming where she used to twirl the diaper cream tube and smile up at me as I wiped. She wants to sit up and play with the light switch.

It’s back to the books to find out what I need to do to keep her from feeling cooped up yet plan the day so I can still work. Up till now, I could sit her down at various “stations” where she would play alone, and gleefully, for 1-2 hours until it was time for a scene change. She’s still good at keeping herself entertained but I’d like her to be able to stretch her legs, or better, knees and arms too. 😉 However, what happens now that I have to keep an eye on her?

Today, I caught Sage sitting in Tenaya’s dog bed, swinging around the electric cord that she had just pulled from the wallplug. Yikes! I jumped down from the bed with a gasp, whisked her to another corner of my room where she could safely play with my pile of parenting magazines. Later, she tried to wrestle Tenaya’s bone from the dog’s mouth. Tenaya actually saw this as a game. as soon as she felt a tug, she’d let go of the bone, then Sage would hand it back to her. Good Doggy.

I gotta go. I’m on deadline for Salt Lake Magazine. They’ve asked me to be a regular contributer to their outdoors section. My first piece is due tomorrow! I interviewed for an editorial position there about two months ago but they aren’t ready to allow their employees to telecommute and I learned a long time ago that M-F, 9-6 in a cubicle, just isn’t in my genetic makeup. Wish it was; then Sage might actually have a college trust. Instead, she gets mommy 24/7. I’ll remind her of that when she’s 17 and begging for a new car!

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