Leave No Trace

 

They say religions are born in the desert. And you have to walk the desert to understand exactly why.

There is so much, amidst the so little out there. It’s vast, and dead silent. Scary. You’re constantly waiting for something to happen. To erupt. And make it all noisy. And you wait. And the vast of the desert answers – with yet another day (or night) of silence. It’s almost despair, this wait, in vain. But after a while you get it. You take everything in, and not only you start to hear the very life of it, the tumultuous-ness of it, but you also know that, in the end, that is the ultimate truth: “the rest is silence”.

After a while, you learn to listen to every small, needle-y leaf swish in the dry air; you hear the howl of the wind through the canyons, you watch the rocks fall, ever so slightly, into the sharp valleys. You hear the wolves. You see how the clouds and the sun change the shades of red on the rocks – almost with a “ta-da” noise, each time. And see the deer and the free range cows jump and perk up their ears. In the summer, you’ll hear the lizards busy body-ing through the boulders. It’s alive.

But the world wraps everything in a blanket of hush. And just for a minute you might have the illusion that you’re alone. With Him.

We drove down in the heart of the Utah desert (where that is, exactly, don’t ask me – the whole state is a diverse, colorful, immense sea of wasteland) the other week, to spend a couple of days in this small town, population cca 300, of Bluff. I found it quite by accident, while trying to see where we could stay overnight if I were to go visit Goosenecks State Park. Their site was mentioning that it’s closest to the town of Bluff – of which I have never heard. But if it has a hotel and a gas station, I am typically OK! Minus the constant scare that I might be shot and buried in the middle of nothing, of course!

I was a bit nervous to go that big of a distance away from any civilization (about an hour and a half from Moab), but I was hungry for silence, and hungry for beauty. And boy, did we get both!

On Saturday, when we got there, there were only two restaurants open in town: Bluff City Café – a very small, Native American owned diner, and Twin Rocks Café. Since our hotel lady told us that Twin City Café will be the only food place open on Sunday, we decided to have some variety and ate at Bluff City Café the first night.

I got the Navajo taco (of course), and it was delicious. It was cool to watch how they make the fry bread, from scratch, right there. No frozen nothing from a huge Sam’s Club freezer bag dipped in the fryer. I am not sure what will stick with me from this place: the enormous (think The Green Mile giant) Navajo owner, who towered over us, yet was so helpful and nice and gentle tempered?, the delicious beef and bean chili on the fresh fry bread?, the cute water jugs they had, in the shape of Indian boots?, or the fact that on a Saturday night we were the only people in the whole joint. Us, the Indian man and his cook – who looked more like a Turkish immigrant than an Indian, in the middle of the dead silent world. No, it was not scary. Just very, very welcoming and cozy! 

 

The cute bootie water jugs at Bluff City Cafe 

Sunday, we ate both the breakfast and the dinner at Twin City Café- as there was no other choice other than the beef jerky at the gas station! Everything we had was again, delicious. It all tasted homemade. I know my husband will say that the brisket he had there for dinner will be something he’ll remember, but I loved the chicken noodle soup. I have not had homemade noodles since before I moved to the US, 15 years ago!

Between the only hotel that seemed open (ours – Desert Rose Inn and Cabins), the only gas station and the only restaurant open, we just about acquainted the whole town and all of its handful of visitors in 48 hours – just about. It was that small, and that intimate. 

 Goosenecks State Park

On Sunday, we drove around, looking for photo opps, of course and just getting lost in the wild . We saw Goosenecks Park, first, this beautiful canyon where the San Juan River twists and turns and forms these “S” shaped valleys, really close to each other. We visited the Natural Bridges National Monument . We drove around The Valley of the Gods – which is so appropriately named it’s not even funny! It’s huge, overwhelmingly so, and it has beautiful rock formations scattered all around it  that change their color in the moving sun, during the span on one day, with every cloud that shades them – it’s breathtaking. You just know all this cannot be at random!

The Valley of the Gods vista

We then drove by the Sand Island Park, and saw the thousands of petroglyphs carved in the side of the rocky mountains – a living testimony of times past. And that’s another thing about these parts: you feel and hear the steps of what used to be: the Old West, head-full-of-dreams cowboys trekking across the land, in search of  their fortune: gold? Cattle? Land? Who remembers?! Just searching. You hear the screams of the Indians defending and losing their own. The cooing of babies in the wagons. The barks of the dogs sensing the coyotes in the distance, and the screech of the wood wheels against the hard rocky, yet un-carved paths through the mountains. I always feel so small and so humble to be walking the same trails as all that civilization. The petroglyphs bring that all back to your mind. And you shiver.

Sand Island Park Petroglyphs

On the way down, we noticed lots of places called “port of entry” – just a  reminder of where one county stopped and another began, back when boundaries were sacred. The stores are called “trading posts” to this day, and they still have the wooden railings in front, where you can tie your horse.

Outside this fairy land, we also visited The Hole in the Rock house and grounds – a freak in architecture, as these folks in 1950’s carved their 5000 sq. ft. home in the side of a rocky mountain, right outside Moab. Their yard and store is just a vivid testimony of everything Americana stands for.

We also drove the 14 miles on Hwy 128 in the same area, to go visit The Red Cliffs Lodge and Castle Valley Winery, along the Colorado river – a place where hundreds of movies have been shot; so many, in fact, it beckoned the place to host a movie museum on its premises. The Red Cliffs Lodge will probably be on our short list of places to stay when we drive down to Moab, again. What a beautiful, serene, forgotten, hidden place! The Moab red mountains around turn the grounds into just a cathedral under the skies, complete with a beautiful, sunken in pasture, horses and cozy small cabins strung like beads along the river. 

Nearing The Red Cliffs Lodge - Moab

It was a visual as much as it was a spiritual journey, all in all! We got closer to nature, God, our land, our past, ourselves and each other, just in the span of 2 days! The desert wind will cover our footsteps, but the vivid red rocks will forever be imprinted in our brains and hearts, as forever as they are in the wild. 

 

Click on this picture to see the whole album that captures this trip

Because Love Is Worth It …

“Love and intimacy — our ability to connect with ourselves and others, is at the root of what makes us sick and what makes us well, what causes sadness and what brings happiness, what makes us suffer and what leads to healing.

I hope you and your loved ones enjoy a special Valentine's Day together. I look forward to spending mine surrounded by my amazing family.” (Dr. Dean Ornish, MD)

Some people make a matter of personal propaganda the fact that they do not celebrate Valentine’s Day. They wear the fact that they “think it’s stupid, commercial, dumb, useless” like a badge of personal pride and loftiness. They use that attitude as sort of a superiority mark against the rest of humanity, too low to be dumb, stupid and useless enough to celebrate it. 

All that makes me want to do is chuckle and sigh and pray  that they are going to snap the heck out of it, before their lives are spent. At least snap the heck out of thinking they are so right and the rest of the world is so wrong. 

I personally don’t believe we need a holiday to celebrate Jesus, either! I believe He should be celebrated every single second of the day and every day of the year, with every breath we take. And I definitely do not believe that we need to buy our loved ones millions of dollars of crap they won’t need in His name, around His holiday, either. And yet, on December 25^th we do just that! How is that less commercial than marking a day in the calendar to say to your loved ones “ I love you” on a special note, I see not!

I don’t believe, as Americans, we need any special holiday to say “thank you” for everything we’ve got on this beautiful land. To be appreciative for what our history and traditions have given us. I also don’t believe we should celebrate it with stuffing ourselves with turkey – why not chicken? Or mushrooms for that matter?! And yet, we do that. Every year. And that, somehow, makes us less commercial? And less “cheap” than buying a card on Valentine’s Day? Why?! 

I am grateful for my husband, and my family and Jesus, and His Resurrection and what America has given me every day of the year - sure. But I love the opportunity to stop, ponder and make a “big personal deal” about it at least once a year. I tell my husband “I love you” every day. But he only gets his favorite chocolates once a year. He’s a diabetic – and an occasion to allow that treat is welcome. I don’t wear it as a badge. I just see it as my personal choice. 

I hope you all enjoyed today – doing whatever it was you were doing. Not out of spite and self assurance, but just because it made sense to you. And along with Dr. Ornish said – I welcome one glorious day that reminds me why I love my husband and that this love leads me to healing, happiness, peace and wellness! Let this be my only sin, that I am loving celebrating love.

Five Things to Not Do in Las Vegas

I have lived in Utah for almost 3 years now (3 months short of 3 years) and I have been to Vegas that many times. Everyone I know that’s been born and raised around here has been there more times than they can count. Unlike the East Coast that has tons of fun places to visit within hours distance from anywhere you live, land is large and wide open here, Out West. Vegas is the one “fun”, big place that is drivable to, closest to Salt Lake, without having to jump on a plane or drive for 10 hours or more.

What I am trying to say is – a trip to Vegas might not seem as special to people who live around here as to those who plan their entire lives to make it there. However, I always find this trip special, despite my multiple treks there in a relatively short time.

There is almost nothing you can’t not do in Vegas (except for diving into the ocean, of course!). The amazing pools and spas it offers, though will make up for that! Your imagination is the limit in this town of lights, “sin”, money and fun. And you cannot possibly fit everything in the amount of several days – so every time you come, you should take a different bite out of its offerings – and this will keep the newness going for you.

The list of things not to do here is short, I guess, at least in my book. Here’s what I could come up with, from my experience there so far:

1.    Don’t go there solely for work. If your job requires you to be in Vegas for 3 days for work, take an extra day off to enjoy what the city has to offer! Whether you’re into gambling, watching shows, magic tricks, shopping, fooding, picture taking, drinking, crazy rides, spas – this city has all that and then some! Stay an extra day, on your own buck, if you have to, and make some time to take in the city! You will gripe less about the drive or the plane ride when you get back home, when you mix in some fun stuff with the serious stuff.

2.    Don’t plan to drive while in the city! Park your car at the hotel and forget about it for a couple of days! Parking is free. It is definitely a walkable city! And traffic is horrible and all it’ll do is make you mad! Pedestrians are slow, there are foreign visitors not knowing where to turn stalling you at every corner – stay happy and not frustrated with the driving! Walk, take the monorail, walk some more, take the cab, maybe. There is something to see, observe, learn from on every street – and there is no better way to learn a city and its soul than to walk it. You never feel unsafe – because there is so much foot traffic. And you can’t really say you’ve been there unless you have seen, smelled and tasted a place, and shaken hands with the street performers. So, walk and learn!

3.    Along the same lines – do not bring fancy shoes! Yes, I know you want to look just like a Vegas show girl when you walk down the avenues, with shortie short dresses and stiletto shoes. But trust me – leave that look to the professionals! Be comfortable and remember that you’re there to learn the city and see what the fuss is all about. Sure, if all you want in Vegas is hook up and have a one night stand – use the stilettos for one night at the hotel bar, to attract your prey. But do not walk down The Strip in them! There is nothing more painful to watch than a pretty girl in pain from uncomfortable shoe-wear. Relax, get a cocktail (which you can sip while walking about) and be comfy!

4.    Unless you want to see a show, there is not much planning needed to really experience Vegas! Everything it has to offer can pretty much be done on impulse – whatever you feel like doing you can pretty much do during your 2-3-4 day stay, as you run into it. Shows require advance reservations, for the most part. Do make a list of what you want to do, if you want, or if you walk by something that looks fun, jump on the opportunity and do it! There are things in Vegas that you cannot do back in your population 2000 small town. You never know when or if you’ll be back – so jump in, head first and do it now. Whether it’s a restaurant you want to experience, a drink you’ve never heard of, a game you never gambled at, a risqué show to watch – do it! It makes for good memories and stories. And there is no point in having any regrets! We all know the cliché about life being too short for those.

5.    And the very last and I think most important thing to not do in Vegas is worry about counting your money! I am usually careful with my spending and extremely budget minded – heck, some people that know me will even say I am a miser. But Vegas is designed around sucking the last penny outta ya! Whether you like it or not, if you breathe in Vegas, you pay!

Yes, they have coupon books and what not, but they cannot possibly have coupons for everything. You pay nothing for your drinks if you gamble – they are free, as long as you gamble, but if you want to eat, a burger will be $20! You want a side with that? It’s $8 extra. You want a nightcap at the hotel lounge, and you just played and lost your budget for the trip, so no more free drinks - $15 for a cocktail. There are resort fees, and fees if you want to move faster through the lines at the tourist attractions - $11 for the regular line which takes up to 30 minutes regardless of how long it is, or $14 for 5 minute waits. Everything costs! You’ll hear the “cha-ching” noise so much in this town, with everything you do, your head will spin! But you cannot know and live this city up, for even a day, without jumping into its heart and soul. If you want to experience Vegas and tell the world about it, do it – and work for the money to cover your fun later. Don’t get a depression over it – it’s part of the Vegas “charm”! One way or another, the house always wins, baby!

I have enjoyed this city more than once now, and I will be back. Gambling does nothing for me, but I have always found the shopping areas clean, beautifully designed places. As most of you know, I am a big window shopper. And for that, Vegas is my playground! I will be back also for a show or three, but that requires planning. Cannot wait for the next adventure, though.

To take in some of the sights of my latest trip there, click on the picture below, and enjoy:

 

 The city is the most amazing at night. So special, in fact, that to view it from the observation deck at the Eiffel Tower costs an extra $6 for night hours - in the slow line.

When Time Comes

"You say ‘good bye’, I say hello’." (The Beatles)

There is a time for laughs, and fun, and joy, and then, there are sadder days, of good byes and mourning …

For about a year now, I kept telling myself that I am not ready for a new car. I loved my Toyota Echo. As I have said before, I was attached to it.

It’s been with me for almost 10 years. And I bought it used – so it was even older than that! We have commuted together, gone to parties together, schlepped my nephew around in it, and my entire family, almost all my friends, took my friend to the ER in it more times than I can count … It took my small, very sick, beloved kitty to the vet on his last ride, and back to his grave .... We traveled all around the East Coast, it’s kept me safe while driving through Atlanta, Boston and DC. It’s been through a couple of collisions, but never failed to be a stable, reliable little car! I camped in it (literally), and ate my lunch in it. Read, wrote and napped in it, too! Probably the most amazing thing the Echo’s been through with me, my husband and my three cats is the across America trip of 2010. It did fantastic. It didn’t even need more air in the tires! It flew across the country like an eagle. With purpose, and direction!

Lately, it’s been starting to show signs of aging, however. It was still, I thought, a healthy little car. Since I moved to Utah, where the roads are crap (sorry, it’s true!) , it started squeaking a bit. I lost a couple of tires to the construction madness that we have had on the roads for the past 3 years. Some decal trim started to come off of it. A button inside the door frame that operates the light broke. My antenna was plucked out by the automatic wash … and the likes.

But it was still my baby! It’s been getting me through my crazy commute for the past year or so, 60 miles a day. Every day. Through rain, and snow and ice. It’s always been the absolute most comfortable car I have ever driven. I feel quite at home behind that steering wheel.

I was not ready for a new car, because I loved that little one! But as life would have it, just when I was contemplating that maybe, just maybe after 10 years, 100K+ miles of my own driving on it (135K total for the car), paint peeling off and springs screaming in pain when only my 115 lbs frame sits in the driver’s seat, maybe  … it’s time to say good bye … Just when I was thinking this, the Echo decides this week to throw a “check engine” light on its cute, central console dashboard. A “check engine” light that came with a $2600 + tax + labor fees tag on it.

I think it helped that I was kind of on the fence about buying a car, because my decision not to fix it was pretty fast. As of a couple of days ago, we retired the Echo, and we’re the happy new owners of a white, slightly used Prius. Yes, folks, now, I am “one of them”!

This will take some getting used to. I am still missing my crazy golden unbridled little two door wonder. I still cringe at the new car payment on the new beauty in my garage. But my carbon footprint just shrank! How can I not be happy about that?! Just teasing here, because that’s not why I bought this car. Having a hybrid kind of came to me, I didn’t look for it.

It’s a beautiful car – so far, although it’s not the Echo! … Without a doubt, it’s the most expensive one I have ever owned and the fanciest – leather (which I swore I would never buy!) and all. But as I get older, and I guess wiser about my career choices and savings, and as I find out that life is short and precious, comfort trumps cash for me lately. I tried other Toyotas, before I “settled” for the Prius, but none of them gave me the visibility and comfort in the driver’s seat that the Echo has given me for years. And alas, they don’t make them anymore! So, I settled.

I say ‘hello’ to my new car, with my heart still longing for the old. Life moves on. I hope a nice, college girl finds the Echo, after the dealer fixes it for $200 (and I made peace with that, too), and it goes on and on, as Toyotas go, for many more miles, making her happy and giving her happy memories, just like it did it for me.

And it’s sometimes just time to part with things (yes, things, too, just like lives …) that you love. Sometimes we’re ready, and sometimes life doesn’t ask. It just forces us to. 

 With the Echo in Vail, CO, on our Trans-America trip - 2010

Good bye, little Echo! It’s not because of lack of love. It’s because … it was time! Your place in my heart is safe and forever, don’t you worry!

And ‘hello’, Mr. Prius. Let’s see what your fanciness is all about! And for all of you, you can call me Ms. Green-In-Training. 

And I leave you with the masters ...