There and Back Again

Disposition: Resting
Listening: Christmas carols
Reading: Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Watching: Keith Urban
Obsessing: Hayden Christensen
Pondering: Las Vegas is every man’s cut-rate Babylon. Not far away there is, or was, a roadside lunch counter and over it a sign proclaiming in three words that a Roman emperor’s orgy is now a democratic institution. (Alistair Cooke)

I’m writing from the Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada. I arrived yesterday afternoon and I started writing this entry at 2:10 a.m. Such is the rule, it seems, in Vegas - you are awake when the rest of the world is sleeping and asleep when everyone else is awake.

Earlier this evening, I went to see Keith Urban’s first show at the Hilton LV Theater. I was in for quite an evening. First of all, let me explain that the same time Keith’s concerts are going, some cowboy convention is also on the bill and they’re not talking Dallas football. No, these are real-life cowboys, their wannabes and groupies. Everywhere you turn, you see cowboy hat-wearin’ and pointy boots-lovin’ fellas just milling about with dirty blonde, denim jacket-sportin’ ladies towing along. It was to be expected but still quite a shock - to my pop and classical music-loving system, I mean - when Keith’s opening act was one of them guys. I don’t even remember his name but I do remember how uncomfortably unfun it was to watch him perform and listen to his type of music. Proof-positive that despite my love for Keith Urban and his two albums and despite the fact that I do watch CMT once in awhile, I still can’t stand country music. Anyway, back to this dude…I swear that throughout his performance, I kept waiting and wishing for Yosemite Sam to show up and join in the fun. And as if his whole get up, painfully unfunny standup jokes and total lack of rapport with the crowd wasn’t enough, he sings a song entitled, I’m Country. Yeah, dude I can see that! You don’t need to mention it again.

But all bad things must come to an end and thankfully, Mr. Cowboy left the stage after 30 minutes of pure torture for me. Then the lovely Keith Urban appeared on stage and amazed me, as always, with his moves. The man is a guitar-master, I tell you and not only that, he sounds so good! He sounded better tonight than when I last saw him. And he’s thinner but just as gorgeous. He sang a lot of songs this time too, unlike in Vancouver. If I remember correctly, the playlist looked a little something like this:

Who Wouldn’t Want To Be Me?
You Look Good In My Shirt
I Walk The Line (short tribute to Johnny Cash)
You Won
Raining On Sunday
Whenever I Run
I Wanna Be Your Everything
Winter Wonderland
You Will Think Of Me
But For The Grace Of God
Jeans On
Where The Blacktop Ends
Somebody Like You

For his encore, he sang You’re Not Alone Tonight and a cover of a song I am unfamiliar with.

I can’t wait for tonight’s show. This time, I think my sister and I are skipping the opening act and have dinner while he’s performing. I doubt he’s changed his act overnight. And in the meantime, I have to go to bed cause my eyes are drooping.

By the way, CONGRATULATIONS to my friends Jennie and Myla for the exciting job opportunity going their way! Girls, see you at the next analyst meeting…