The City Escaped: Skiing Utah

 I'm not just from Utah, I am of Utah. Utah is more than my home; it is my heart and hearth. I carry it in my blood, my skin, and my mind. Though I haven't lived there full-time in twenty years, I'm proud and grateful that my family still does. I can escape to its mountains whenever I need, which, the longer I'm gone, is more and more often.

During winter, I ache for snow. I need to see it out the windows, casting my indoor comfort into a warm perspective, as well as to be in it, gliding on it, falling into it.

I woke up on morning with an itch for a snowy mountain. Living in Los Angeles, I could hop in my car and drive to Big Bear Mountain (and I might, before winter is up). But, a two hour drive to a mountain with a peak base snow depth of 60 inches, versus a 1.5 hour flight to a mountain (Brighton Resort) with a peak base snow depth of 117 inches – the choice was clear.

So, I took booked a last-minute flight, mere hours away, with the sole purpose of skiing Utah.

I threw a few days' worth of clothes into my new Chariot Titanic hardcase.

It looks small, and it is, but it's roomier than you think – it can easily fit a pair of size 8 snowboard boots.

Right: I'm learning to snowboard. I've been skiing for 25 years, but I've now spent five full days over the past two years on a snowboard.

Thank you @barefootecooutfitters for the cabin life snowboarding tee! And hiking/camping/backpacking/skiing tee. I will be LIVING in it. #snowboarding #skiing #saltlakecity #parkcity #utah

A photo posted by Channing Sargent (@channingsargent) on Jan 31, 2017 at 9:17am PST

The transition has not been easy. On my last day boarding, just a few days ago, I finally figured out how to turn heel-side to toe-side. The breakthrough felt mountain-shaking.

However, I don't yet know if I'm regular-footed or goofy-footed. That is, do I lead with my left foot or my right foot? The few times I've surfed, I go goofy. When someone pushes me unexpectedly, I catch myself with my right foot (that's goofy). But, I'm pretty comfortable boarding with my left foot forward. An instructor with whom I took a lesson last year insisted I was regular.

Story of my life. I'm regular! I'm goofy. I'm regular. I'm goofy! I want to be accepted but I feel like an outcast. Some talent agents think I'm too average, others say I have too much quirk. I live in Los Angeles, but I keep one foot in Utah. Let's just say I'm two-footed.

Chariot Travelware Titanic Hardcase  ||  Barefoot Eco Outfitters Cabin Life Tee

  

Don't Go, Huell Howser.

The LA Times reports that Huell Howser is retiring.  If don't believe I've ever heard sadder news for local California television.

Huell Howser, with his exuberant, Southern, every-man accent, easily wondered over California's unique natural, historical, and entertainment/tourism sites.  He traveled all over the state with a small film crew, exclaiming in his odd way over every thing imaginable.  His enthusiasm for otherwise fairly ordinary things, "A HOT DOG on a STICK!" always caused me to smile so big my cheeks would hurt.

There are rumors that he is ill, and as he is only 67 years old, I certainly hope the rumors are false.  Huell Howser goes hand in hand with California's sunny skies, bright horizons, and colorful characters. Please never stop doing the work you're doing Huell. And if you're ill, please, I beg you, get better.

Ready, Set, Run!

Remember when I wrote about my Free Run Days?  The product of that endeavor is now realized.  Watch it here:

Many readers have emailed me with questions about how to become a writer. To answer their questions, I made a brief but informative tutorial: How to be a Writer. Watch it below.

The Fashion District

Ninety degrees on a Tuesday in March. Fruit vendors slicing into watermelons and sliding sticks through mango slices. Rows of colorful trinkets and accessories, neon blouses blowing in the breeze, glittering fabrics catching the sun, none too-shy shop proprietors shouting "Ten for ten dollars! Get it all here!"


It's a colorful of discounts and deals. It's called The Fashion District.

Santee Alley is a narrow alley off of Santee Street filled with over 150 stores selling everything from discount nail polishes to designer knock-off shoes and warehouse clothing. I scored a neon Forever 21 blouse for $15, and had to seriously restrain myself from buying a bunch of $8 metal watches. They were really cool, but I just don't need anymore watches.

I was there to film an episode of The Haul for StyleHaul. I wanted to stay and absorb the atmosphere, drink in all of its frenzy. I think it's time to go on a vacation - I mean, a staycation.

Watch The Haul here:

Hosting Hollywood

Two days after The Oscars, I filmed a segment for StyleHaul right in front of The Kodak. I spoke about the uncertain future of the theatre and the Academy, about the history of the Babylonian Arch, and referred, tongue-in-cheek, to my pursuit of a career in acting.

Filming at Hollywood and Highland filled me with a sense of pride for the place where I live, and made me feel even further attached to it, because now I've spoken on camera about my passion for it, and I've had a crowd gathered round, watching and listening. Made up mostly of tourists, they now know that Kodak is removing its name from the theatre, and that the arch is a reference to the history of the site.

I have no intention of becoming a tour guide or docent for Hollywood, but I would so love to host a local Globe Trekker-type show. Maybe I'll become the next generation Huell Howser.

That'd be the dream.

Space Porn Mafia

I'd love your suggestions for this pitch to Joss Whedon.  Please watch, and leave a comment on the video!

Only in Hollywood: Catwoman Pepper Sprays Jack Sparrow

My friend posted this video to facebook with the status "watch the video. then you will understand why it's worth the arsons, winds and decapitations..."

She's speaking, of course, of Hollywood, and I agree completely. Beneath the dust created by arson fires and then kicked up by the Santa Anas that scatter about sometimes bizarre, sometimes ghastly but infrequent crimes, there lies a city dense in character and always animated with fantastically unexpected affairs.

Below is the interview that KTLA5 did with Spiderman about an alleged incident involving Catwoman, pepper spray, and Jack Sparrow.  The best surprise here is Spiderman's voice.  In full costume, he speaks to news anchor Eric Spillman, his weak, slightly lilted voice explaining the dynamics that take place between the characters on Hollywood Blvd.

Click the image to watch the video.

Here are some great tidbits:

Eric Spillman: "Other people say it was actually Ozzy Osbourne, and not the pirate . . . and what about the report we have of an alien also being involved here and that the alien and the Ozzy Osbourne character were intoxicated?"

Spiderman: "Yeah, that's true, they are best buddies."

Eric Spillman: "I did reach Catwoman by phone . . . she told me she wasn't the catwoman who pepper-sprayed here.  She says it was the crazy catwoman."

How to Knit an Afghan

It's a simple thing to do, as I demonstrate in this video: