Jhary

Not only are these folks creative, but they have each experienced life in their own unique ways. One witnessed and lived through the Gujarat riots of 2002; one worked as a journalist in Moscow and travelled to central Asia’s disappearing Aral sea; and one left the US with her family to live and work in a remote village in Equador for several years. And they all have the talents to write about their experiences. My project seems insignificant next to these. I’m honored to have heard their stories and to have met unique people.

I have received some excellent feedback for my project — a project I’ll be more forthcoming about soon. With a bit more work, I should have a solid final document to present to the Mailer Society this fall. Then, the real work begins. I have a lot to learn before I can actually begin what I propose.

Today is the half-way mark. I have enjoyed Salt Lake, especially the university’s proximity to mountain trails. It takes a Herculean effort not to put the running shoes on every morning and climb up a cliff. My left heel has been giving me issues as it is. Couple my extra running with all of the walking, and I should be in even better shape by the time I return to Georgia.

Finally, and most importantly, being away from Autumn reminds me of the central role she plays in my life. Her love, support, and encouragement are what make experiences like this possible for me. And while I wish she were here to share Utah with me, the very fact that she is not testifies to her love and solidifies my devotion to her. I’m a lucky guy, as my friends and family all remind me. Often.

Don't get me wrong: I think I have a good project — it just wasn't anything like the other two. Maybe that doesn't matter.

After the workshop, I walked with another fellow to find a wine shop. We chatted about politics and art, making our way to the midtown state wine shop before it closed at 7! Thanks, Utah. The shop wasn't bad, but it seemed expensive. I'm sure taxes here are more. And I thought Georgia made it difficult to buy alcoholic beverages, but SLC makes Macon look like Las Vegas. Here's what I got.

It's pretty tasty — like regular Evan kicked up to 11.

Apparently, most of the University of Utah's campus is under construction, so getting to the library — which should be a pretty straight shot from the guest house — was more like finding my way thorough a labyrinth under a heat lamp. After a couple of wrong turns and backtracks in the 100° heat, this wet rat's prize was a cool university library. Ah, like I'm back in graduate school.

And of course, like being a college student, I needed to get my bearings. I was sent to four different parts of the library on three different floors, just to get my guest pass. A true college experience. The guest allows me two hours’ work on the computer. I can research quickly, right?

The answer was "yes." I found quite a bit in two hours — enough to get me started, at least.

After my work, I met a another member of the Norman Mailer Writer's Center program, and he and I had dinner at Aristo's, of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives fame. I had a Greek salad and a chicken souvlaki, and Cliff and I shared a couple of dips. The food was adequate. My salad needed salt, but there was none on the table. I should have tried the octopus.

The road itself is gravel, and if you're not paying attention, you'll miss the many trailheads leading off and up. I decided that I would run the length of the road, but at about a mile in, it was fenced off. Good thing, since then I decided to get off the road anyway.

The first trail I tried was very rocky and steep — not very good for running, so I turned around. Across the road was a better one, at least at first. But it, too, got to be narrow and very steep on some of the descents. Not safe. All I needed to do was twist an ankle or break a leg even before the fellowship starts. After a bit, I found myself back on the road.

I thought that might be the end of it, but I happened on another trailhead. This was the one. (It turns out to be the Red Butte Skyline Nature Trail.) It climbed fairly steeply at first, but evened off half-way up the mountain. The trail continued fairly evenly with a beautiful view of Salt Lake City and the Utah Valley. Gorgeous. I could get used to this. I ran a couple of miles, following two other runners until the trail began to descend. I turned around, deciding not to overdo it the first day. I still managed five miles.

The flight to Salt Lake was as nice as a flight scan be, I guess. I had a row to myself and read Mike's bio on the way out. Currently, Mailer is a bit loony. He's in the late-1950s and not handling the poor reception of last two novels. He's decided to run for mayor of NYC and thinks he could be a good advisor to the newly elected JFK. He just published Advertisements, and "the Trouble" looms. I'm really enjoying the bio; I'm just sorry it took me so long to get to it.

After checking in to the guest house, I explored downtown a bit beginning with the Beerhive Pub. They had an excellent selection of beers, and quite a few local craft brews. I had three: the Red Rock Brewing IPA Junior (pictured below), the Wasatch Brewery Snap Down Header Lager, and the Desert Edge Brewery Utah Pale Ale. I list them in order of yumminess. The Beerhive's bar has a strip of frost that supposedly helps keep you beer cold. I'm not sure how effective it is, but it was fun to play with.

After my dinner beers, I walked to Crown Burgers — a local fast-food burger house. I was told to try the Crown Burger: a thin burger, topped with pastrami (!), cheese, Thousand-Island dressing, onions, tomatoes, and lettuce. It was OK, but more like eating a pastrami sandwich than a burger. The fries were traditional fast-food faire, but dipping them in the "fry sauce" (just more Thousand-Island) made them palatable. Well, I can cross that place off my bucket list.

After a stop at 7-Eleven, I rode TRAX back to the guest house and called it a night. I plan to run in the morning. There's also a campus tour at 1, and I need to hit Trader Joe's for some staples.