What happened to the beer tree?

I grew up in Las Vegas. Yes, I know, no one grows up in Las Vegas. Well, I did. And my mom was a nurse and my dad was an anesthesiologist. No one worked in a casino (okay, so I worked at the Banana Republic at the Venetian one summer and my uncle was a pit boss at the Imperial Palace), and we all went to school at regular schools and lived in regular houses. I tell people that growing up in Las Vegas is like growing up anywhere else, except stuff is open later. (When I went to college and learned that bars close, I was dumbfounded.) I had a pretty normal childhood. I would almost say that I was a sheltered kid – I didn’t drink until my senior year of high school, never had a fake ID, was a cheerleader all four years of high school, and drove a 76 Blazer that I adored. Nothing exciting. But we used to drink at what we called Natch. I don’t know where the name came from, or even who started drinking out in the middle of the desert. But that’s where we went. And there was a bush where you threw your bottles when you were finished (or in my case, when I pretended to be finished). And now it’s apartments. They bulldozed the beer tree years ago and built on top of the ruins. Las Vegas has grown tremendously since I was in high school and since I lived here full time. It’s always fun to drive around a bit and see what’s changed. The biggest change for me is how far up Charleston you have to drive to clear the lights of the city and see stars. I used to drive up Charleston a lot when I was younger, when I needed some space or some thinking time away from my family and friends. I’d roll my windows down and turn the radio up and drive fast up to Red Rock Canyon, the pull off to the side of the road and climb on top of my car and stare at the lights. It was pretty and calm and quiet, not something easy to come by in the busy city of Vegas. And I still like to drive up and see the lights, but it takes longer and I have to drive further and the view isn’t as good anymore. But I guess that’s what happens. I’m happy to have lived in a place that’s grown so much, but it makes me a little sad when the places of my childhood no longer exist. The places in the desert where I used to make out with boys and drink underage are gone now. I wonder where the high schools kids go now. Probably just out further, so they can see the lights and the stars.

Here we go……

So I’ve been thinking about this blogging thing for a while. I read a lot of them, like a lot of them, and maybe I want one of my own. So I’m going to try. Who knows what will happen – maybe I’ve just been off work for 4 months and I’m bored and getting crazy – I guess we’ll see.

I like to eat, and I’m trying to learn new things in the kitchen. Right now, this means reading as many food blogs as I can and trying to recreate the recipes I see. I haven’t quite gotten to the point where I want to start creating my own recipes – I’m still in early stages yet. There’s still things I haven’t tried (breads with intense kneading), and things I’m afraid to cook (mussels and clams), but I’m going to try, I swear. So you’ll have to bear with me as I attempt new recipes I find.

I also just bought a new camera. Not a DSLR, I don’t think I’m ready for that craziness yet. But I bought a Canon Powershot SX50 HS – a nice bridge camera. It got good reviews…. I know. I’m a sucker for a good review. I’m taking a class in a few weeks to learn some basics. So you’ll have to excuse my photographs – I’m learning here.

Books. I’ll talk about books here too, since I read them all. Literature, mostly, with some mystery, sci fi, YA, memoirs…. Pretty much anything that sounds good I’ll read. Unless it takes place in a place I don’t want to visit.

And the coffee. I drink coffee. I drink it black, just the way my mother taught me. My life needs a coffee maker with a timer, a grinder, a scale, and multiple kinds of beans on hand at all times. I also need a Hario V60, a Chemex, and a French press. And I take some of these things on vacation with me, because drinking subpar coffee is no longer an option for me. And when I can’t bring these my coffee with me, then you can count on me scouring yelp for a coffee shop that roasts their own beans or carries fun roasters and has pour overs. Because I’ll be their best customer for however long i’m in town.

So that’s what I’m thinking for this blog. Random Zuke thoughts, all in one place.

And Zuke? Well, that was my nickname in high school. There’s still a handful of people in my life that call me that, and it always makes me smile.