Salt Lake Surfing

So I just got back from Salt Lake City this last weekend. It was a pretty good trip. Here are a few of the highlights:

Hotel - The one thing I like about Salt Lake is that it feels pretty safe. Almost erie how safe it feels. We stayed in the Marriot across from the Temple. Which is a cool looking building. However the other erie aspect of Salt Lake is that everything is (or seems to be) owned by the Mormons. Everything is run by the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints "Fill in the blank" Incorporated. Not that religion is bad in business, but when you have it in the name of your business, it just puts up a big flag for Equal Opportunity Employment among other obvious issues.


Deer Park Wastach Brewery - The Meter maid here tried to give us a ticket before we got out of the car (almost as impressive as Bozeman). Nice drive, however it doesn't hold a candle to Big Sky as far as scenery. As far as the actual brewery goes... Okay food... Great beer! The Polygamy porter was awesome, grabbed a growler and walked around Deer Park a bit (Not with the growler in hand ;) ). It was a good little side track and a nice community.


Green Concert in the Park - Okay so I have been reading "Let My People Go Surfing" by Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia founder and owner). It is a great story of a reluctant businessman who does the right thing, while making money. Ironically we came upon a Free Green concert in the park. Patagonia was one of the companies there. They really do a lot to make an effort for the environment and produce quality products along the way. Apparently Los Lobos were there? Which I think they played later, either that or they had some members replaced with high school students. Either way, the music needed some help. All-in-all the concert really made me realize how far Montana is behind on the issue of the environment. Their is a serious lack in environmental ethics when it comes to education, recycling and grassroots environmental initiatives. Which is sad, really. As I think it is a need in the community.

The Game - The Suns beat the Jazz. All I have to say about that is that Steve Nash has rejuvenated my hope for the NBA that I thought was lost with Michael Jordan. Nash is just a great player to watch. A definite possibility for the MVP. Let's just say the Jazz looked slightly foolish and the lack of defense was laughable when Nash was leading the offense.



Nightcap - Afterward we went out for a bit, was fun. I realized, I think for the first time, how weird people look when they are dancing. Maybe it was just the aerial view, I don't know but people look really funny when they're cutting the rug. I think their are 3 types of dancers. 1. The safety dancers - they stay in their area and don't stray away. Usually happens in groups, usually female. 2. The couple that has lost all inhibitions aka Dirty Dancing... just add alcohol. They have usually lost a sense of their personal space as well. 3. The "I'm too cool to dance so I'm going to make fun of dancing" dancers - Pulp Fiction, Saturday Night Fever imitators. Usually self conscious but feel that if they make fun of it, then it's okay.

Their are different phases of all of these dancers, however it was pretty early when #2 & #3 came out on the dance floor Saturday night.

When it was all said and done, the trip was very good, and memorable. Weather stayed nice and the drive went fast. Who knows I may actually watch more than just the NBA championship game this year.