Steve and I have spent the past week in Sedona, Arizona. It was our first visit to the beautiful Grand Canyon State, and we both fell in love.

Today’s post is devoted to some of my favorite photos from our trip, but you may also want to read about the day we picked up some hitchhikers, my camera malfunction, the friendly ghost town of Jerome, our hiking adventure, and a blast from the past.

I have a love/hate relationship with traveling.

I hate padding around in my stocking feet in front of strangers at the airport. And I hate having to carefully mete out my toiletries so they fit in a quart-sized plastic bag. But I absolutely love sitting at the airport and observing the fundamental commonalities of human nature. I also love it’s even possible to wake up in one city and fall asleep 3,000 miles away, none the worse for wear.

Thanks to this modern wonder, this evening I saw Sedona’s famous red rocks for the first time, and I spotted Steven Spielberg at the grocery store. (He was wearing blue jeans and a red rain jacket, and was aimlessly wandering in the bread and dairy sections like a lost puppy.) Two brushes with fame and greatness in one evening. What will the rest of the week bring?

Hopefully, lots of great stories.

If I’d had the courage to approach Mr. Spielberg—and if I’d had the audacity to invade his privacy—I would have told him that I think he’s one of the most extraordinary storytellers of our generation.

In fact, I can think of no better compliment. His stories have shaped my life and my perceptions as surely as my own experiences.

I consider this a very auspicious beginning to my journey.

Today I had the pleasure of almost visiting my first ghost town. I say almost because Jerome, Arizona is still very much alive. Although some buildings lie in ruins in the middle of this small town, the place is vibrant with history, culture and activity.

Steve and I drove in via 89A north, which took us from the comparatively flat steppes around Sedona into some of the steepest mountain passes I’ve seen this side of Colorado. The scenery was gorgeous, if a bit hair-raising: Our rental car handled like a wooden vegetable cart on those hair-pin curves.

In spite of the constant risk of plummeting 1,000 feet to our deaths, Steve and I still marveled at the incredible diversity and changeability of the plant life. In one hour’s drive, we saw flat scrub that stretched for miles, cactus-lined mountains, barren peaks, and finally dense coniferous forests. Talk about microclimates!

Jerome itself was both a pleasant surprise and a disappointment. Built into a steep cliff, it reminded me of San Francisco’s vertical construction. Some of the houses were built on stilts and hovered precariously over the cliffs, with only their front doors attached to the rock.

I was pleasantly surprised by the art galleries that lined Jerome’s narrow, steep streets, and by the plaques on the walls that told almost every building’s history. I was also pleasantly surprised by the friendliness and historical knowledge of the locals, who seemed to genuinely enjoy the tourists rather than begrudge them.

One shopkeeper told me and Steve about the local jail, which now sits in ruins near the bottom of a steep hill. During one earthquake in the early 1900s, it had slid about 200 yards down this hill, taking its sole prisoner (or should I say passenger?) for the ride of a lifetime.

We toured a gallery with a breathtaking view — and an equally breathtaking collection of art — before settling down for lunch at the tiny, unassuming Flatiron Cafe. Here’s my one-word review: WOW. Steve told the owner that we hadn’t had a meal that good since Paris, and he wasn’t exaggerating.

So, why was I a bit disappointed? I’d hoped to tour an actual ghost town. I’d imagined dusty ruins and weather-beaten wood. Still, I can’t complain. There are other ghost towns. But there’s no place else quite like Jerome.

I don’t usually bring my laptop when I travel, but it’s riding shotgun with me on this trip. So when I lay awake with insomnia at 3 this morning, I fired up the ol’ MouseBook and started sifting through yesterday’s photos.

To my horror, I discovered that there’s something wrong with my camera. I’m not yet sure whether the problem lies in the lens or the sensor, but wherever there should be details I’m finding only smudges. Either way, I’m pretty certain I won’t come back with any stunning landscapes from this trip.

I’m crushed. Yet, to my surprise, I’ve quickly accepted the situation. So my photos won’t reflect the layered beauty of the Grand Canyon, or the million crevices in Sedona’s red rocks, or the thousand spiny thorns of the saguaro. Oh, well.

Those of you who know me are probably scratching your heads. I live to take photos. And Sedona is one of the most naturally beautiful places I’ve seen. Yet I seem to be taking my camera’s failings in stride.

I’ve heard that Sedona imparts a strange calm on people. Some folks say that there are energy “vortexes” around here, while others attribute it to the natural beauty of this place. Whatever the case, I’m finding it to be true for me.

Yesterday’s drive to Jerome and Prescott left me and Steve a bit road-weary, so today we decided to park the car and just hike around Sedona. Little did we know that, by the end of the day, we would have covered at least 8 miles and 1,000 vertical feet.

We set out on foot from our hotel through some empty lots that run parallel to 89A. Along the way we stopped for a rest at the Sedona Botanical Garden (not quite as grand as it sounds) before heading up Gurley Road in search of the trail to the airport.

We never did find the trail head. But we did find a lady in her 70s who was in better shape than both of us put together, and who amiably guided us up a hill and onto the trail we’d been seeking. When we got to the proverbial fork, she kindly pointed us back toward town and continued her climb up the hill.

Steve and I ambled on the trails for another two hours before we saw signs of habitation again. We weren’t worried, though: Sedona’s mountains make great landmarks, so we knew we weren’t lost. But we were starting to get tired. It was at about this point that we climbed what we soon dubbed Weird Noise Mountain.

First, we were stopped in our tracks by a sudden cacophony of barking, yipping and howling. It sounded like a pack of coyotes with some domestic dogs and wolves thrown in for effect. It stopped as suddenly as it started, with only a few otherworldly yelps and barks trailing off into the silence. We concluded that it must be part of someone’s “stay the hell off my property” arsenal. If so, it was a damned good recording. It’s still making my hair stand on end.

Shortly after that, we heard a crunching noise, like a car driving on a gravel road. At first it seemed to be approaching us from behind. I turned several times, expecting to see a vehicle coming down the trail, but there was nothing. Within a couple of minutes, it sounded like it was running parallel to us. We both stopped again and looked around, but we didn’t see a car or the dust you’d expect on a desert road. Like the yelping dogs, the noise just vanished.

Before I continue, let me say that Steve and I don’t buy into the New Age hype that surrounds Sedona. But we also accept that some things can’t yet be explained with science. We’re not closed-minded, but we’re not believers, either. Whatever the source of those noises, Steve and I did fell an odd energy around us. Not scary or unpleasant, just different.

Back at the hotel, we treated ourselves to a dip in the hot tub as we recounted our day. “That was cool, and weird,” I said. “That was a long hike,” Steve replied.

We opened the champagne and clinked glasses as I wished him a happy birthday.

Another great day in Sedona—and another great year with Steve.

Steve and I slept in today, probably because we were a bit tuckered from yesterday’s adventures. “What’s close by?” he asked. “Wanna go see Montezuma Castle?” I asked.

We had a leisurely breakfast and tidied up a bit. Then, we stopped at the outlet mall on the outskirts of town. Then we also stopped at the gas station, grabbed a sandwich at Wendy’s, popped in on Ye Olde UFO Store (not open yet), and finally we headed out of town.

The trip to Montezuma Castle National Monument seemed almost comically short compared to yesterday’s epic tour of the Grand Canyon. But to me, it was just as significant.

These cliff dwellings have survived for almost 1,000 years. They were last inhabited in about 1400, and have been preserved by the desert ever since. Although many people believe they were built by the Sinagua, our volunteer guide put his money on the Hopi instead.

I’ll let the archaeologists and anthropologists duke it out.

What really made an impression on me was putting my hand on a cast made from the  interior walls, and discovering that my hand was a perfect fit. The shape of my palm, the length of my fingers, the beefiness of the muscle below my thumb—it all melted into that cast as if it were a custom-made glove.

I’ve never felt such a personal connection to a long-vanished people. It was emotionally overwhelming.

On the drive home, Steve and I passed a fry-bread stand. We stopped and tried to make small talk with the vendor’s son while she made Steve’s bread. The little boy seemed withdrawn, until we turned to leave. “Happy Thanksgiving,” he called out to us. I looked him in the eye and wished him a happy Thanksgiving, too.

Never mind the thousands of years that have passed since his ancestors first settled these lands, or the atrocities that some of my ancestors have committed. This afternoon it all boiled down to a handprint—and an earnest greeting from a little boy.

I woke up at 4:45 this morning, feeling restless and full of energy, so I snuck out for a walk. But I didn’t get very far.

As I walked past the hotel’s reception building, each step took me farther into a thick darkness that left me more unsure of my surroundings. I crossed the street into a vacant lot and looked up at the sky. The stars were breathtaking.

I quickly spotted Venus and the Big Dipper, but nothing else looked familiar. There were just too many stars. Then a sudden movement caught my eye. A meteorite dashed toward the horizon at an improbable speed.

How wonderful that Sedona has purposefully banned bright lights. No human invention could ever compare to the glorious light show of that desert sky.

Soon, the silhouette of Coffeepot Rock started to appear on the horizon. The sun was coming up.

I decided to drive up the steep, narrow, winding Airport Road to greet the sunrise from Airport Lookout. To my surprise, the parking lot was almost full. I took the last open spot and began the hike up the hillside. As I approached the crest, I saw the silhouettes of four or five photographers and their tripods. Beyond them, I glimpsed the first orange-red rays of the rising sun.

What a perfect way to start Thanksgiving Day.

A couple of hours later, Steve and I were on the road to my sister Regi’s house in Chandler. We shared a wonderful Thanksgiving feast of Greek food with Reg, her friend Danielle and four dogs. I was in heaven.

We all sat around and chatted until the light faded. It was time for our drive back to Sedona. I was sad to bid Regi farewell, and sad to know this would be my last night in Sedona. But as George Harrison once wrote, all things must pass.

For my part, I’m very grateful for my life. I’ve been truly privileged and incredibly fortunate. Happy Thanksgiving.

i am inspired by a recent trip to red rock country in sedona, az.

red rox with cacti

Thanksgiving is a time for reflection and while reflecting (and digitally filing papers on my desk) a fact sheet from ADEQ (that’s AZ Department of Environmental Quality) surfaced for consideration.

42 Recycling Facts and Statistics.

Let’s look at a few of them…

• Recycling 1 aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours
• Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees
• Each ton (2000 lbs) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water
• A modern glass bottle would take 4000 years or more to decompose — and even longer if it’s in the landfill
• Steel cans contain 25% recycled content and are completely recyclable
• On average, it costs $30/ton to recycle trash, $50 to send it to the landfill, and $65-$75 to incinerate it
  

  Kathy Howe

While ADEQ’s website does not show a link or a page to this handout, there are many very informative pages about educating the public on how they can help to make Arizona sustainable.  The education of kids to the benefits of recycling is a great place to start.

Sedonans are great recyclers, but there’s always room for improvement.

SedonaKathy

Tis the season! … and there’s a lot in store for Fairy and Mermaid fans in New Jersey, New York and Arizona.

Skip the malls and head to Sussex, NJ on Saturday, November 28, for what sounds like a terrific showing of talented artists and craftspeople selling some top-quality American-made items at the Sussex Elks Lodge Arts & Crafts Holiday Fair.

The event runs all day Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  I’ll be there with Fairy and Mermaid books, signing special notes for unsuspecting recipients.

The Elks Club is an active supporter of both Veterans and Disabled Children. Support the good causes and join the fun at: Sussex Elks Lodge, 152 County Route 565, Sussex, NJ. For more information call: 973-875-3990

…………………………………………

Next, I’m excited to be heading west to Sedona for the opening of my art exhibit / book signing event at the Tlaquepaque Andrea Smith Gallery. (Read more here.) The opening reception is Friday, December 4 from 5 – 8 p.m.. I’ll also be at the gallery on Saturday, December 5 from 12 – 4 p.m. Here’s the invitation in case you’re in the vicinity, or know someone who might be.

After Sedona, I’ll make a couple appearances in New York City at the much anticipated and highly rated  “Holiday Market at Union Square“. My publisher, Shenanigan Books, has a wonderful booth set up there through Christmas Eve – so if you’re going to the city, this would make a great, festive stop.

I’ll provide NYC book signing dates soon. In the meantime, here’s a sneak preview of the NYC Union Square booth. Hope to see you at one of these great events!

Many Sedonans live and work in Flagstaff…let alone those of us who use Flagstaff as our business, health, and shopping city.

Arizona Department of Transportation

When ADOT announced that they would close SR89A, Oak Creek Canyon, during snow days in order to meet the budget cuts required by all Arizona State agencies, the citizens of Sedona cried “No, please, No!”.

From the Red Rock News comes this story about how Sedonans are working with ADOT.

Sedonans are caring people and people who come to the aid of the Community.  Hats off to the Sedona Chamber of Commerce for entering into the solution arena to help ALL of Sedona. 

SedonaKathy aka Kathy Howe

651 Manzanita Drive, Sedona, AZ has retired the green washer & dryer to the Appliance Hall of Fame!

On 11/25/09. Home Depot delivered a new washer & dryer, hooked them up and hauled off the old appliances. 

Inquire about this house by calling Kathy Howe at 928-274-4088 or Mary Bowden at 928-301-8455.  We think it is truly one of the best houses in the neighborhood.

how2arizona real estate

 PS.  We treat all parties equally and abide by Fair Housing laws.

Yesterday I received an email from a real estate licensee who I met when I first moved to Sedona and opened my real estate school, how2educate LLC.  We’ve seldom seen each other since then, but have kept touch by email over the years.

What was so special about her email?  She included me in “the 12 most influential women in her life”.

Kathy Howe

Gladys, “thanks” for “giving” me a special feeling of humility and the realization that it’s what we do over the years that makes Thanksgiving such a special day.

To each of you who have left a part of you with me, you have made me a better person.  Each of you have helped me grow.  To each of you, I give thanks.

We are blessed by those special people in our lives. 

 It’s not just about food.

Kathy Howe aka SedonaKathy

In today’s economy, those of us in real estate are seeing more and more people who need to sell their homes to unburden themselves of their mortgage payment.

Some people are just unhappy that the market went down and their property is not worth as much as it was when it was purchased.  But, many people have lost jobs, pensions, retirement benefits, or have had their pay cut.  Not to mention those who are going through divorces or loss of a spouse.

What can a real estate licensee do to help?

We can give you a CMA (comparative market analysis) of the current market value of your property and suggest you call your “lender”…meaning you call the entity to whom you are paying your loan payments.  Remember that your loan may only be serviced by that entity.

First, request to talk to someone in loan modification and discuss your situation with them.

Second, it may be necessary for you to talk to someone in loss mitigation because you have little or no income and the loan modification department feels you do not meet their requirements for a loan modification; but, before you do, see an attorney. 

Arizona real estate licensees cannot give you advice.  They can explain real estate terms, documents, phrases, processes…but, they cannot advise you to do a “short sale” or how the tax events of a “short sale” will affect you.  An attorney who specializes in bankruptcy, real estate, or tax issues is the person who can review your situation and determine which route is best for you to take in order to get your financial house in order.

Does your Arizona real estate licensee keep up with information about “short sales” and foreclosures?  Many learn as much as they can so they can make accurate explanations to you about the “short sale” process and its implication.

Example:  This is a recent notice from the Arizona Association of REALTORS(R):

“Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act generally excludes income realized as a result of modification of the terms of the mortgage, or foreclosure on a principal residence in years 2007 through 2012. 

 Even though the forgiven debt is excluded from income, it still must be reported on a Form 982.

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=179414,00.html

There are other times when cancellation of debt is not taxable: 

1.  Bankruptcy

 2.  Insolvency: If total debts are more than the fair market value of total assets.

3.  Non-recourse loans: The lender cannot pursue a deficiency.  However, it may result in other tax consequences.

 These exceptions are discussed in detail in Publication 4681.”

Kathy Howe

Hiring a real estate professional who keeps up on issues that affect the sale of your property is the best thing you can do for yourself when you find that your finances are dwindling and you need to make some changes.  But, don’t forget to be looking for a good real estate attorney as well.  That attorney can save you making the mistake of signing documents saying you will pay any amount not realized by the lender in a “short sale” or a foreclosure.  You need advice about Arizona’s Anti-Deficiency law and Arizona’s homestead act.  The attorney’s advice will be worth its weight in gold.

Kathy Howe, Designated Broker

Le circuit proposé dans ce billet se déroule sur plusieurs états des USA et nous amènera à parcourir, partiellement il est vrai, le Colorado, l’Arizona, le Texas et le Nouveau-Mexique sur environ 5500 kilomètres.

Un minimum de trois semaines, voire quatre, sont nécessaires pour sillonner ces états mythiques hauts en couleurs et en surprises de tous ordres. Préparez vos cartes photographiques SD ou CF !

L’atterrissage a lieu le lundi 3 août 2009 à l’aéroport de Denver, capitale du Colorado, dans la vallée de la rivière South Platte sur le flanc ouest des Grandes Plaines.

Denver (566 974 habitants – 2 408 750 si l’on intègre la zone métropolitaine de Denver-Aurora) est surnommée la Mile-High City car son altitude officielle exacte est d’un mile (1609 m) au-dessus du niveau de la mer. L’artère principale est piétonne et il y fait bon flâner et se reposer sur ses terrasses bruyantes avant de récupérer son véhicule (idéalement un RV ou motorhome).

Le 4 août nous récupérons notre camping-car de 29 pieds de long (environ 9 mètres) auprès de notre loueur favori, “road bear”. Une fois les formalités accomplies (très rapide en raison de notre habitude à louer ce genre de véhicule) nous nous dirigeons, après un arrêt ravitaillement dans un des hypermarchés locaux (Albertsons Inc), par l’inter state I70 vers la sortie est de la ville, en direction des Montagnes Rocheuses que nous affectionnons tant.

Leadville, co, constitue le lieu de notre première étape. La petite ville de Leadville est située non loin de Denver à une altitude de 3094 m et abrite 2688 habitants. Une cinquantaine de bâtiments de l’époque victorienne (de 1880 à 1905) composent la ville. Cette bourgade est l’une des dernières villes minières des Etats-Unis qui se situe au milieu de décors somptueux de montagnes, de rivières sauvages de de lacs paisibles. C’est ici que Doc Holliday (1851-1887), dentiste, joueur invétéré est as de la gâchette, a tué son dernier homme. Il est célèbre pour sa participation au combat à Ok Corral en compagnie de Wyatt Earp.

La nuit se passe au campground (camping) RV Coral ($33). A cette altitude il vaut mieux s’être équipé d’une bonne couverture (rarement fournie par les loueurs) ou avoir pris la précaution d’avoir acheté un duvet supplémentaire…

Le lendemain matin, 5 août, nous reprenons la route par la US 24 South en direction de Great Sand Dunes National Monument où nous arrivons à 10 h 30.

Great Sand Dunes est un parc national et une réserve américaine, situé dans le Colorado. Il protège un ensemble de dunes, en fait les plus hautes d’Amérique du Nord (210 m). Nous y séjournons au Pinon Flats campground ($14 la nuit).

Le 6 août lever à 5 h 30 et départ vers Durango à 7 h 30 où nous ne séjournerons que quelques heures, ayant déjà visité la ville au cours d’un précédent voyage. Nous profitons de l’occasion et du cour du dollar très bas pour y acheter un appareil photographique Canon (un autre boitier de plus…). Nous poursuivons notre route pour arriver à Cameron (environ 60 miles de Grand Canyon) vers 20 h 30. Nous avons parcouru environ 486 miles (781 kms) dans la journée et un repos est bienvenu après un petit tour dans le village, histoire d’acheter quelques denrées alimentaires ; sans plus car l’endroit est un piège à touristes… Nuit au Cameron campground motel ($14). En route nous avons délaissé Monument Valley, déjà visité à plusieurs reprise.

Le 7 août nous nous dirigeons vers Grand Canyon Village South Rim.  Nous arrivons à destination vers 11 heures et nous nous installons au seul campground (Mather campground, AZ – $18 la nuit) existant au sein du village (ce sera la seule réservation faite depuis l’Europe, en raison de l’affluence prévisible et vérifiée). Nous y passons deux nuits et profitons du séjour pour revisiter Grand Canyon, du moins le South Rim : Desert view et sa watch tower, Yaki Point (coucher de soleil) et aussi la nouvelle route “Hermit’s road (utilisation d’une navette gratuite obligatoire), ouverte depuis novembre 2008.

Grand Canyon est un endroit fabuleux où les points de vue s’enchaînent les uns derrières les autres et nous émerveillent toujours plus.

Le 9 août lever à 5 h, petit déjeuner et départ, à regret,(mais il faut poursuivre le périple) vers le sud en direction de Sedona où nous arrivons, après une halte de quelques heuresà Flagstaff, à 16 h 30. Camping à Page Springs à 10 miles de Sedona au Lolo Mai Springs campground ($36). Le campground vaut le détour : calme, sérénité, piscine et… moufettes !

Sedona est une petite ville de l’Arizona, à une centaine de kilomètres au sud de Flagstaff, et constitue le deuxième haut lieu touristique de l’Arizona, connu quasiment uniquement des touristes américains. La petite ville de 11 200 habitants est entourée de roches rougeâtres et le spectacle est époustouflant. L’attraction principale de Sedona est son choix renversant de formations de grès rouge : nous sommes dans la “red rock country” est le détour valait vraiment la peine. Nous nous sommes promis d’y revenir et d’y séjourner plus longtemps…

La police est accueillante et bon enfant et nous n’avons écopé que d’un “warning” (avertissement) pour avoir légèrement enfreint les règle de circulation… On se demande d’ailleurs d’où ils sortent quand malencontreusement vous ne respectez pas involontairement un panneau de signalisation…

Une petite visite à Jerome, ville fantôme de l’Arizona recyclée en dortoir et échoppes à artistes de tous ordres, s’impose ainsi que de Boyton Canyon à Sedona.

Départ le 12 août à 11 h 30 vers Tucson/Marana, AZ, où nous arrivons vers 19 heures sous les orages et après avoir passé quelques heures au fameux casino “cliff Castle Mantezuma”, sans avoir perdu grand chose heureusement…

Petit conseil : si vous êtes piqué par des moustiques ou autres insectes ayez toujours un oignon dans votre placard… Croyez moi cela sert !

Le prochain arrêt programmé, le 13 août,  est le parc national de Saguaro à l’ouest de Tucson (une partie se trouve également à l’est de Tucson).

Le parc de Saguaro, côté oriental du désert de Sonora,  est un parc national d’une superficie de 370 km² au sein duquel on peut y admirer le fameux cactus Saguaro que nous avons découvert dans les westerns traditionnels. Un décor magnifique, très peu de touristes, et des Saguaros à perte de vue ! Un lieu qui aura marqué notre périple. La faune y est abondante et avec un peu de chance vous y verrez un bobcat (lynx).

Le 14 août à 8 h 30 nous nous dirigeons vers Alamogordo, Nouveau Mexique, pour visiter White Sands National Monument. Nous arrivons vers 18 h 30 pour séjourner au Roadrunner campground ($26 la nuit).

Le 15 août départ pour visiter le Space Museum puis White Sands Dunes National Monument.

White Sands est l’un des joyaux du National Park Service. C’est un désert de dunes blanches (le plus étendu au monde, environ 50 km de long sur 15 km de large).

Le sable des dunes est en fait du gypse blanc. Marcher dans ces dunes au moment du coucher du soleil est une expérience inoubliable.

White Sands National Monument est entouré par la base militaire de White Sands et son espace réservé aux tests de missiles (White Sands missile range). L’accès au parc peut être interdit pour des raisons de sécurité pendant une courte période (de 1 à 3 heures). Les tests sont assez fréquents : environ 2 fois par semaine.

Plus on descend vers le sud et la frontière mexicaine plus il fait chaud… Nous quittons vers 9 h le 16 août Alamogordo pour nous diriger vers le Texas et son fameux parc “Big Bend National Park” où nous arrivons vers 20 h 30 sous une chaleur encore oppressante.

Le parc se situe dans une cuvette et nous recherchons un camping ombragé.

Vu la longueur de notre véhicule, il nous faut nous diriger au fond de la cuvette, au bord du Rio Grande qui fait office de frontière naturelle entre les Etats-Unis et le Mexique. Nous y trouvons facilement un endroit puisque nous sommes seuls… En fait, en raison de la chaleur la majorité des infrastructures sont fermées entre juin et début octobre… Mauvaise pioche ! Il fait trop chaud et les moustiques nous assaillent en permanence hors du motorhome. Malgré le fait que le parc est magnifique, nous décidons de repartir dès le lendemain matin pour remonter vers le Nouveau Mexique. Nous ne regrettons néanmoins pas ce détour d’environ 400 miles qui nous aura fait découvrir en route El Paso et nous aura fait entrevoir les merveilleux paysages de ce parc et nous nous promettons de revenir l’année suivante, au mois de mars ou avril…

Nous quittons donc Big Bend National Park le 17 août à 12 h 30 pour Fort Stockton, Texas, où nous ne faisons que séjourner au Fort Stockton Campground ($25) avant de poursuivre notre périple en direction de Calsbad (à 138 miles de Fort Stockton) au Nouveau-Mexique, où nous arrivons vers 14 h 30.

Le lendemain matin lever à 7 h et départ à 10 h pour une visite sous terre, dans les fameuses Carlbad Caverns.

Le parc national de Carlsbad Caverns s’étend sur 189 km² et comprend 83 grottes, dont les plus célèbres sont donc celles de Carlsbad Caverns. Ce sont les grottes les plus profondes du pays (486 mètres). Le parc est listé au patrimoine mondial de l’Unesco.

La découverte de ces grottes se fait à pieds et il vaut mieux se munir d’une torche, d’un chandail malgré qu’il n’y fait pas vraiment trop frais ; il y règne toutefois une humidité importante. Question photographie, abandonnez le flash pour un trépied. Les grottes ont servi de base photographique pour le film “Voyage au centre de la Terre”.

Les jeux de lumière ont été subtilement organisés et révèlent des stalagmites et stalactites impressionnantes.

Notre prochaine étape est la ville de Roswell, NM, célèbre pour avoir été le lieu d’un supposé crash d’un OVNI en 1947 ; c’est le lieu de rencontre obligé de tout ufologue américain qui se respecte. A vrai dire la ville ne présente guère d’attrait, hormis son musée de l’ufologie qui, soyons honnêtes, ne nous a pas emballés…

Aussi nous décidons de n’y séjourner qu’une nuit et de nous diriger vers Ruidoso, NM, où nous avons bien l’intention de nous détendre un peu en nous rendons sur le champ de courses hippiques avec un détour obligé dans l’un des nombreux casinos que renferme la ville.

Ruidoso est une petite ville active d’environ 7600 habitants qui jouxte la Lincoln National Forest et où les activités sont nombreuses.

Après ce contact avec la civilisation, départ le 21 août vers Cedar Crest où débute la Turquoise Trail qui nous mènera vers la mythique Santa Fe où se déroule une importante manifestation d’exposition d’œuvres d’environ 1200 artistes indiens.

Nous séjournons à Cedar Crest une nuit, puis repartons vers Santa Fe en empruntant le Turquoise Trail avec un arrêt à Madrid, NM.

Madrid est une ancienne ville minière (charbon) où se sont réfugiés de nombreux artistes (ou pseudo artistes) et de nombreux marginaux, anciens du Vietnam notamment.

Cette petite bourgade est fort agréable et il y fait bon déambuler dans l’artère principale en y découvrant les réalisations des artistes locaux.

Santa Fe nous accueille le 23 août. Ce weekend est effectivement dédié aux artistes indiens ; les rues regorgent de stands d’artistes de tous ordres et la ville est noire de monde ! Trop à notre goût ! Photographier les superbes monuments est quasi impossible car ils sont occultés par les nombreux stands des artistes.

Le lendemain matin nous nous dirigeons vers les montagnes Rocheuses et la ville de TAOS, NM, via la High Road, une scenic road fort agréable et très escarpée. En route nous nous arrêtons à Chimayo pour y visiter l’église de “El Santuario de Chimayo”, la Lourdes américaine.

La ville de Taos est située à proximité du pueblo Taos, village de la tribu amérindienne dont elle porte le nom. Taos a été établie en 1615, à la suite de la conquête espagnole des villages indiens tiwa de la vallée dès les années 1540. Durant les années 1770, Taos fut l’objet de raids incessants des Comanches qui vivaient dans les plaines de l’actuel Colorado oriental. On y trouve de nombreux musées et galeries d’art, dont le musée et la maison de Kit Carson. La première fois que nous avons visité Taos (il y a 10 ans) nous avons découvert la tombe de Kit Carson avec des inscriptions à la peinture rouge “Indians killer”…

Le 26 août, il est temps de partir tout excités vers Cripple Creek, Colorado, dans les Rocheuses, non loin de Colorado Springs. Nous savons, pour y avoir déjà séjourné quelques années auparavant, que nous allons trouver une ville pittoresque, où foisonnent les petits casinos accueillants avec une ambiance formidable ! Rien à voir avec les casinos tenus par des indiens…

La ville est située à l’emplacement d’une ancienne mine d’or et culmine à 9494 pieds d’altitude (environ 2878 m).

L’animation y est constante et l’ambiance bon enfant. L’exploitation des casinos y est autorisée en raison du passé minier (or) de la région. Nous adorons cet endroit que nous quittons à regret le 29 août pour nous rendre à l’aéroport de Denver où nous attend un grand oiseau de fer qui nous ramènera à Luxembourg…

This is a painting I did for a public demo. The iris was given to me by one of my students, and I have been doing a series of paintings from photos I took of it. This is a watercolor; I poured paint and then erased it, which gives this very soft and mystical effect, which I love.

“Wanna go to the Grand Canyon?” Steve asked. “Sure. Sounds great!” I responded.

Neither of us had any idea of the improbable chain of events our casual decision would unfold.

We were on the road by about 9:30 a.m., winding our way through Sedona’s hills. We took 89A north into the mountains and quickly left the red rocks behind for dense alpine forests. The scenery reminded us of Oregon. For about 10 miles, I tried not to look out my window at the precipice that lay beyond the two-foot guardrail.

Eventually the road flattened out, and an hour later we were in Flagstaff. We stopped for gas in a desert prairie and I took the wheel. About an hour later, as we were approaching Bedrock, we saw two guys along the road with their thumbs up. “Should we pick them up?” I asked, as I slowed down and pulled over. “They don’t look like too much trouble,” Steve said.

Steve was right: Nick and Mark were no trouble at all. Nick was an adventure tour leader who was between trips. His friend Mark—whom Nick had known since their elementary school years in Pennsylvania—was an environmental engineer. They had a tradition of meeting up once a year to travel together.

Unfortunately, during this year’s trip, Nick’s car had broken down in Bedrock. They’d decided to hitchhike while the car was being fixed. And so it was that our paths intersected.

To make a long story short, Steve and I ended up spending the whole day with Nick and Mark. They were perfect travel companions: funny, educated, well-traveled, easygoing, considerate, and nimble as mountain goats. The latter freaked me out on more than one occasion as they leaped across a 2,000-foot divide from one stony outcrop to another.

But everyone survived. And along the way, we got to walk up to a group of resting elk cows, watch a pair of ravens playfully lock talons and plummet a hundred feet, hike for miles along the canyon’s rim, and take goofy pictures of each other at every overlook we encountered. Steve and I had a blast.

As the sun faded behind the hills, we dropped Nick and Mark off in the same parking lot where we had first seen them almost six hours earlier. We waited to make sure their car would start. When we got the thumbs-up, Steve turned toward the highway and we drove off. I was sad to leave them behind.

It still hasn’t quite sunk in that I’ve finally seen the Grand Canyon with my own eyes. It defies any description I can muster—either through words or photographs. But I will say this: Hiking its rim is one of the best ways to make new friends.

I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by.  Last year I was spending my holiday here in Sedona and here I am again, enjoying the red rocks, peace and serenity of mother nature.  I’m traveling a little further to the Grand Canyon in a few days so that will be a brand new adventure!  But I digress, I wanted to talk about Friends for the Holidays…. so here it is.

Friends…so great to have friends that you can talk to about anything without being judged, friends that you can trust to be there for you no matter what, friends that keep you real and won’t let you get away with being stupid or inappropriate. Friends who will keep your secrets in confidence and tell you like it is even though it may hurt.  It’s hard to find….. Having true friends is a treasure and we should never take it for granted.

Sometimes we may make mistakes, sometimes they will make mistakes, each of us acting less than our wonderful selves from pressures at home, at work…or just because we have some fear leading us in the wrong direction.  But owning up to our mistakes, taking responsibility for our actions and expressing any apologies needed is a start to getting things back on track. True friendship is golden and having true friends is the richest thing in the world.

I have groups of friends as we probably all do. Personal friends, work friends, comedy friends, professional-creative friends and a group of Goddess Friends.  There is some cross over but each group of friends is distinct and I can be a little different in each circle.  I know I am pretty quiet in the comedy group of friends as I’m a bit intimidated by all the wonderful talent!  I am very outspoken with my group of Goddess friends and personal friends, and the work and entertainment friend’s groups’ are a little more “political.”  Political meaning there are “correct” ways to act and interact.  I hate that but hey, that’s life right?  Honesty, integrity, fairness is the key to all interactions, no matter the group.  Trying to actually live that amongst all the personalities, political pulls and human nature is sometimes pretty challenging, especially when in a Management position. If I hold onto those 3 things, I’m doing good!

So I want to acknowledge a few groups of my friends.

Mary and Fred Willard’s Sketch comedy class friends – You inspire me.  You remind me not to take myself too seriously, and that there is joy and laughter in everything, even the tough times.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center work friends – You inspire me.  You keep me grounded, fulfilled, and real….knowing that we are helping people and fellow staff……working thru some tough system hurdles together and figuring it all out, because that’s what we do!

Crystal Eyes Entertainment friends – You inspire me.  You give me such joy! You bring out the creative juices in me for “The Cougar News©” or “TV ArtScapes®.”  Thank you for sharing your talent and creativity.

Goddess friends – You inspire me.  You are my best friends, my chosen sisters. I feel loved and blessed to have you in my life. …thank you for being my family.

So who do you count as your friends?  Have you told them lately that you are happy and blessed to have them in your life?  The holidays are a perfect time for that.  So what are you waiting for?   It’s almost 2012!   (Ok, it’s only a movie!)

Lots O’Love people!

Over Halloween weekend, I had my first visitors!  We decided to maximize my time in Arizona and visit the Grand Canyon.

We drove up on Friday, stopping in Sedona along the way.  The red rocks were basking in the sun and as the first brisk day of the season ( < 70 degrees ) the sunshine felt great on us too.  We walked through the downtown and stopped at the World of Jerky and Oaxaca Restaurant, which despite the haunted house decorations served up some great margaritas and guacamole.  Before leaving Sedona, we stopped at the Oak Creek Brewery for a drink which we enjoyed on their relaxing outside patio.

Our goal was to arrive at the Grand Canyon by sunset.  I am used to the beautiful sunsets I see everyday, but surprisingly the beautiful colors fail to make their way north.  We arrived at our hotel, the Maswik Lodge and set off for some dinner.  It was dark and there wasn’t much light, and the flashlight the website recommended to bring was still shrink wrapped back in our hotel room.  As we were walking to the restaurant at the Bright Angel Lodge, my eyes finally adjusted to the darkness and was alarmed that the Grand Canyon was right there!  My friends mistook my enthusiasm for thinking that we were at the Grand Canyon.  “No, ” I explained “Look closely its right there!”  We then stood in awe…for a few seconds until our stomachs began growling again.

The next morning, I convinced my guests to wake up for sunrise.  I’m surprised we actually made it and the joke of the morning was that the ring tone on my alarm sang “watch the sunrise…”.  The sunrise was not as spectacular as I was hoping.  The sun did not rise above the canyon as we, and the many people waiting outside with us, expected.  Instead it rose behind us and behind the canyon.  The colors cast on the canyon were indeed beautiful, but whether it was worth it for a 6am wake up call is only up for you to decide.

We had breakfast at the El Tovar dining room which was delightful.  The menu was a bit upscale and the waiter was incredibly friendly, even though he kept catching me in a manners faux pas each time he came by the table.  One time commenting: “We may be formal here, but we’re not stuffy.”

The rest of the day we spent hiking the Bright Angel trail.  We bundled up in plenty of layers (the high was only 50 degrees that day) and packed backpacks with water bottles, apples, and granola bars and started our journey.  The trail was steep at first but we quickly got into a groove.  We made it to the first 1.5 mile stopping point and decided to keep going.  We were definitely aware that we had to walk uphill whatever amount we were walking downhill, but we weren’t ready to turn around yet.  However, at the 3 mile marker we definitely hit our limit and turned around for the way up.

Overall, the 6 mile hike took about 3 hours.  It was certainly a fun accomplishment and we met lots of friendly folks along the way.  The most memorable was the 70 year old couple who we started the hike off with.  They joked that they were racing us to the bottom and we laughed in return.  Until they told us it was the husband’s 70th birthday and we realized we were being out hiked by 70 year olds when we were 40 years younger.  At that point, we all vowed to make health a priority in our lives.

Check out the Animoto video above and to see the rest of my pictures from the trip click here.

Aloha!

I had an amazing, exceptional experience at the Tom Bird Write Your Book in 8 Days retreat in Sedona in October! My book actually morphed into two books. I am in the editing process now, enjoying the process of preparing these for publication.

I highly recommend this retreat—if you’ve got a book in you, Tom will definitely help you get it out! I had been meaning to ‘get around to’ writing my book for five years! With such a busy schedule producing festivals and events and radio shows, I hadn’t had a chance to sit still long enough to do it.

Click HERE to check out Tom’s 2010 retreats!

Laura and her manuscript overlooking the red rocks of Sedona

I often dined at the restaurant owned by my friends Kelly Johnson and Jenn Warr, called The Chocolatree.

Laura at the Chocolatree, an awesome Sedona spot with lots of raw foods

Super Yum Salad at Chocolatree

After the retreat, I visited with my friends Morgan and Puma at their home and retreat center, Grace Grove.

Laura, Morgan and Puma at Grace Grove in Sedona

The working titles are Collaborative Visioning :: Co-creation Through The Resonant Field, and Visioning Together :: New Paradigm Tools for Co-Creation. Not sure what the names will end up as! However, the process continues to be fun, and Tom even taught us about the insider’s scoop on the publishing world, looking at all the choices of how to publish, and getting query letters out to publishers before we even left the retreat.

Tom Bird

Tom was able to hold us in a solid space of movement forward through his techniques which help us get into the “author within connected state.” With a group of mentors who had taken the course before, Tom helped us track our word counts and stay in the ‘fast writing pace’ which allows us to stay a clear channel for our book. The lucidity of the writing is surprising, especially for new writers. Words just start flying out… and they’re good, even on retrospect!

Here’s what happened with all the students at this retreat ::

·         Forty-one students completed a total of forty-three books;

·         Collectively, the group received over 1200 offers from literary agents to potentially represent their books to the top publishing houses in the country;

·         Eleven students were offered contracts from literary agents within three weeks of the retreat;

·         17 agents actually took the time out of their busy schedules to call my students;

·         And one student set a record by actually having over 100 agents interested in potentially representing his first book.

As you can see it was a great retreat.

As a result, Tom has scheduled three retreats in 2010 – March 6-14; June 11-20 and September 18-26.

Check it out. If you have had a feeling there’s a book in you, after this experience, I’m sure there is! And you should go for it.

Tom Bird Retreat Info

Blessings!

Laura Fox

VisionaryCulture.com

A wonderful drive and lovely day in Sedona is always healing for the soul.  A beautiful place to live, breathe and be.  Cheers to a blessed and beautiful day!

Haloo teman2…

Hari ini lumayan melelahkan… Dari kemarin  ga sempat kerja n baru hari ini bisa ke Oriflame …

Aku mau sharing sedikit ya. Siapa tau kalian juga mengalami yang aku alami..he he

Dari baru bangun tidur aku dah merasa tidak enak perasaannya… Trs tak bawa ampk siang.. setelah sembahyang aku melakukan sedona…( Sedona itu artinya sesuatu cara untuk melepas emosi )

Begitu lese sedona aku merasa enakan, tpi masih belum plog.. Disaat aku merasa seperti itu Tuhan selalu memberikan sesuatu ke bahagiaan padaku.. tau ga apa?? Tiba2 aja ada seseorang menelpon ku katanya dia dari suatu perusahaan. Dia menyuruhku iyuk mengisi acara Beauty class di tempatnya.. Wah aku kaget… Tinggal tunggu tlp nya lagi jadinya hari apa.. he he

Pokoknya hari ini sangat luar biasa, aku disuruh untuk selalu belajar..he he

Teman2 pokoknya Jangan Menyerah…( hehe kayak luganya Nidji aja ). Apapun yang terjadi itu artinya Tuhan lagi meberi hadiah pada kita. Dan hadiah yang saat itu  di kirim lah yang terbaik.. Aku yakin kalian pasti bisa.. Ayo semangat..

Go Director

Sedona is in the throes of swatting flies…woops…maybe it should be called, “swatting fiction”.  But, it really is like swatting flies mid-summer in Kansas City, MO.  The bug-zapper sounds like a pinball machine!

Returning from San Diego and catching up on email is one thing (I got my Google Wave invitation!!), but reading many news articles takes time.   Mr. Larson’s Editorial in the Red Rock News trying to bring an ounce of common sense and logic to the fiction that surrounds the ADOT/89A Lights brouhaha was a welcome read. 

You can read the full article here.                         

What makes people listen to a neighbor or fellow-member of an organization rather than listening to people who know the information? Why not search out the facts or at least check them out with experts?  And if people check out the facts with experts, why do they still call the facts, “lies”?  Are we so set in our thoughts and views of the world that there is no room for facts?  Could it all be about our personal opinions?  Could it be that we aren’t interested in facts, but, rather getting our way?

Many of you know that I have a real estate continuing education school in Sedona, how2educate LLC.  Rumors are something we discuss in the classroom.  Mostly we discuss how destructive rumors are because they change facts.  We infuse our own twist with information we have received.  We then pass it on.  The next person passes on “the” information from us, colored with our perception, and of course, have to add a little of their own color.  So on and so on… 

It has become such a pastime in Sedona to bash the 89A/ADOT lights that some of us have resorted to putting our fingers in our ears, closing our eyes, and saying, “lalalalalalalala…”

Mr. Larson brings us back to reality:  the lighting of 89A in West Sedona is about public safety, brought on by car/pedestrian deaths. 

Let’s all chill.  Can we ask questions and make a reasonable attempt to listen to the answers that are given by the experts?…instead of trying to be one?

Thank you, Mr. Larson, for your attempt to put things into perspective.

Kathy Howe

Kathy Howe

PS.  If you haven’t given your opinion to ADOT, please take the time to answer the interactive survey form and fax it to 602.386.9645 before November 25, 2009