Sun’s Swan Song

On my way home from work tonight. I thought it was pretty.

The other side of Las Vegas

—–
Currently listening to So Tonight That I May See, by Mazzy Star

Yup.

The Brady Bunch

Don’t Ask

Don’t Tell.

We become the Brady Bunch, at Poly Esthers, January 19, 2008 for the Zollywood Zappos party.

—-

Currently (& obsessively) listening to Stories from the City Stories from the Sea, by PJ Harvey

Yup.

White Rock Trail

Map of Red Rock Canyon Trail System

I went hiking on a new (for me) trail yesterday in Red Rock Canyon, and it was gorgeous! This time I went with my friend Charlie, and he has a pretty good knowledge of most of the trails at the park, which is awesome, cause I know so few. This trail requires a little off-road driving to reach, but it’s not that bad.

For January, the weather was wonderful. I wore a t-shirt and a long sleeve shirt underneath, and jeans, and that’s it! Didn’t even need a jacket or a vest. It was sunny and just gorgeous. Above is my favorite photo of the entire hike. The moon was rising and the red sandstone looked bold and just majestic.

There are several trails you can take at White Rock, and I’m not sure which one we took, but it was pretty easy. The trail was pretty well marked, and there was a tiny bit of scrambling, but nothing that any able-bodied person couldn’t easily scale.

We went up, up, and then plateaued and then descended back into a valley a bit. We walked into a woodsy area, uncommon for the desert, of juniper and some pine and a bunch of other trees I can’t identify.

Here’s a picture of a cool old guy I found on the trail. He looked like he’d been around for a long, long time.

Here’s a photo of the trail head. We hiked for about 2.5 hours and had it been a little earlier in the day when we arrived, we probably would have stayed out for longer, but we had to turn around so as not to get trapped out in the dark.

I haven’t done much hiking in the last few months, so this was an especially invigorating trip. I had a great time, thanks to Charlie who knew where we were going and was kind enough to bring chocolate and cheese for the hike.

Driving back home, in the desert sunset, I got that wonderful feeling that I sometimes get, when I remember that I’m living in the western desert. The buildings seem to loom twice as tall and the atmosphere thins and I can feel the curve of the earth as we cross over its surface. That feeling makes me love living here.

Here’s a link to the post about the last hike I did in Red Rock in Sept of 2007 [link]

—-

Currently listening to Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea by PJ Harvey

Yup.

Bruno the Boston Terrier

Saw this dog on Cute Overload, and found it later on Flickr. It’s like, the cutest dog ever and I couldn’t resist drawing it. Click here to see the photo.

—–
Currently listening to “Ghost Town” by The Specials

Yup.

Dear Leap Year: Please Let Nothing Change, I’ve Got the Spins, and I Need a Rest

2008 came busting through the door while I had my back turned, I think. But, now that I find myself present, accounted for and alive–I find myself pretty satisfied with where I am this January. 2007 was such a cathartic year, such a catalytic year. Change was common and frequent, like walking out of one room into another. Good things, bad things–luckily they have balanced each other out and I am starting to feel stable once again.

Was talking with a friend today about years of change versus years of routine, and how we both prefer these two types of years to alternate, so as not to get us too bored or too displaced.

I hope this is my year of stability. For sure, I need it. I want everything in my life to freeze for 2008, so that I may have time to adjust. Certain events, however, are leading me to believe that I’m in for more change yet.

I just need some time to assess all that has happened! I need time to reflect and learn from past events, before being thrown on the tilt-a-whirl another time.

If our greatest power, as humans, is our ability to adapt, how can it also be true that our greatest weakness is our resistance to change?

—–
Currently listening to Under the Iron Sea by Keane

Yup.

2007 Review in Photos

Oil Pump, Oklahoma, December

2007 was an excellent year. Rather than tell you about it, I’m just going to post some of my favorite photos from the past 12 months.

Bull in Oklahoma, December 2007

Fremont Street East, December

Moonrise at Valley of Fire, November

Video Poker at the Thunderbird Lounge, November

View of the Las Vegas Strip from the Fashion Show Mall, October

The Pharmacy, October

>Henderson, NV Sunset, October


Being here, you’d never expect the neon was so close…. October

Rainbow Vista, Valley of Fire, October

The Flaming Lips at the Palms hotel, September

Raven at Atlatl Rock, Valley of Fire, September

Paris & Bally’s hotels, September

Hoover Dam, Lake Mojave Side, September

Atlatl Rock, Valley of Fire, September

Logan at the Valley of Fire, September

Welc_me to Fabulous Las Vegas, August

Sunset on Las Vegas Boulevard, July

Grand Canyon, July

Flamingo, July

Griffith Observatory, Hollywood, CA, July

Apartments, Los Angeles, CA, July

Kwik-E-Mart, July

Mariah’s Dance Recital, June

Excalibur, June

Kelso Sand Dunes, CA, May

Kelso Sand Dunes, CA, May

World Famous Chapel of the Bells Wedding, Las Vegas, May

Holiday Motel, My Favorite Sign In Vegas, May

Ville INN, May

No Better Way to Describe Las Vegas, May

Bonanza Gift Shop Sign, Stratosphere in Background, April

Yucca, April

The Moon and Mojave, April

El Rancho Boulder Motel, Boulder City, April

Dead Cows on Sale, Boulder City, April

Saguaro Cactus Skeleton, Calico Basin, March

Carp in Lake Mead, March

Quail Hollow Ranch in Calico Basin, February

Caboose in Calico Basin, February

Flamingo Bird Habitat, February

Bingo at Sunset Station, February

Red Rock Vista, January

The Old West, January

Sweet Burrito, January

Turtle Head, January

Clouds Stretching, January

Dead Yucca, January

Surprise, January

Rain Party, The Palms, January

The Phoenix, January

Because there is no love
Where there is no obstacle
And there is no love
Where there is no bramble
There is no love
On the hacked away plateau
And there is no love
In the unerring
And there is no love
On the one true path

Oh I cantered out here
Now I’m galloping back

So bury me in wood
And I will splinter
Bury me in stone
And I will quake
Bury me in water
And I will geyser
Bury me in fire
And I’m gonna phoenix

I’m gonna phoenix….

Lyrics from ‘Say Valley Maker’, by Smog

—–
Currently listening to Superwolf by Matt Sweeney & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Yup.