Cinevegas

Summer break? Where? For the past 14 days I've had a staff position at the Cinevegas film festival, celebrated my first father's day and fifth wedding anniversary, attended graduate classes three nights a week, worked on my school's SIP team, said goodbye to my graduating seniors, attended many of the festival parties, and saw the world's smallest man outside the restroom at the Mirage.

The world's smallest man has an entourage and film crew. He also has a personal assistant that carries him around.

Dennis Hopper almost had his face removed by a man with a furious ping pong paddle.

I also saw a nude woman with a 6' weave juggle and eat fire while I ate strawberry anniversary cake with friends. The fascinating thing is that she was really more of a sideshow to everything else that was going on.

I saw a line wrapped throughout the Palms in which people stood for hours in order to receive a free pair of Croc sandals. Crocs are sort of like rubber clogs with holes. Back in the day, if you gambled enough you would get a free steak dinner or show tickets. Nowadays you get cheap sandals at the head of a line.

James Caan upon winning the Icon Award: "...and to my friends and family, please feel free to call me Jimmy, James, or Mr. Caan. There is no need for you to refer to me as "Icon."

I am happy that the festival is over. It was fun but very busy. Every year that I do this I get exhausted and flooded with the reminder that we have rebuilt Sodom and Gomorrah within a five mile stretch about 10 minutes from my front door. I've heard that we really are not doing anything differently out here in the desert that doesn't go on in many communities across America. I think that is oversimplified and falls into the general statement that Americans in general are moralistic in attitudes while hedonistic in behaviors.

What is community? I've lived in two places my whole life and both are extreme ends of the spectrum. If Gwen and I stay out here we will especially have to focus on stressing to Lola that this is not like most places and that outward beauty is irrelevant compared to critical thinking and independence. I met a student who has parents that moved out here from Pennsylvania and then had kids. She tells me that she spent family vacations back in PA and that helped ground her and expose her to the world outside of Vegas. Anyway, this girl now attends Yale as a film student.

I am looking forward to sitting around the house with Lola and Gwen. I hated being away from my family so much these past couple weeks but I had committed to the job. Lola's 3 month photos are done! Lola's 4 months old today! Gwen will be posting another update with the photos soon.

This is poorly written and unorganized. I really only wanted to post some photos.

The above photos are:
1. The Director's Suite at the Palms where many of the festival after-parties were held.
2. Me hamming it up on the red carpet at the honoree party.
3. Gwen and Amanda hamming it up at the honoree party.
4. Planet Hollywood from the poolside at night.
5. City Center construction site.

Life at the Marshall house

Just a quick update. Lola continues to grow up too fast. She is an amazing and lovable little girl. She is grasping the concept of sitting up and really does not like any other position. She smiles and talks all the time. She has started to laugh, but stops mid laugh without warning. It is really quite cute, but I can't wait for her to "belly laugh". She likes herself in the mirror. She loves toys that swing above her head. She hates tummy time, but does really well for those 5 minutes that she is on her tummy. She was eating well, but has started to quit eating mid feeding and refuses to eat anymore. She still sleeps through the night, which I thank God for and if anything, I ask for this little peace each day to continue. She makes the cutest sounds when she eats. She rubs her eyes and pulls at her ears when shes tired. She whines when she wants our attention. She is a happy, content little girl and so loved.

I have returned to work, which I do enjoy. Lola is doing really well with her sitter. I was able to return to a 4 day work week and have Wednesdays off, which is a nice break in the middle of the week to spend with Lola. Sean continues to be busy with CineVegas, which is an annual film festival in Vegas. He is also in summer school at UNLV. He will be home with Lola beginning mid July and until school in the fall. We have to look for day care this fall, which will be hard, but a necessary evil.

By the way, we bought our first video camera, so as soon as I learn how to download the videos on the computer, you will all get to see Lola in action.

No good stories to share, but Sean really is the better story teller.

Warning: more personal than usual :)

When I look back at the beginning of this blog - October 2007, which started as a way to stay in touch with family and friends who live far away, I did not anticipate the changes to come. My life has become so much bigger than just me. I now have a little girl who depends on me for everything. I worry about teaching her all of the right things, keeping her from the evil of the world, and shielding her from hurt. I worry not only because she will look to both Sean and I for guidance, answers, and for comfort, but also because I do not have it all figure it out. There are still things in life that I struggle with, relationships that I wish were mended, and places I wish I had seen. A persons identity when they have kids seems to stop or at least is put on hold and fairly suddenly (because one can never emotionally prepare for a child), one has to redefine self. I guess I am in the process of redefining myself...To be continued...