Nacimiento

Nacimiento in English means the origin. 

Perhaps the worst situations are just clearing the way for magic. 

Crummy camp spots were taken from Monterrey all of the way down to San Luis Obispo. We were stuck south of Big Sur without a dirt path to lay our heads, the sun set, and a dwindling tank of gas. With no idea what to do, we found a stray road and instead of heading north or south, we timidly went vertical. Climbing nearly two thousand feet in elevation, we came to a large curve in the road where some fellow stragglers were parked. We stopped and basked in the most etheric view possible. Silver clouds ebbed out over the water a thousand feet down, two oceans lain on top of each other. It was a full moon. 

We felt like aliens.

the Arizona Sky

Behold the classic Saguaro cacti in Arizona. 

I was so excited the first time I saw these. 

They look exactly like the ones I had always seen in books about the wild wild west. 

Bring me my camel. 

We missed the sandstorm although it looked like it was fast approaching. 

AZ or Cairo, the mountains look more like pyramids in the hot hot hot,
did I mention hot evening air. 

Little niece was so fun. We were resourceful in the hotel. We made ghost puppets from Kleenex, played improv songs on my ukulele about cooking breakfast on the hot sidewalk. I read her stories out of the Popular Science magazine which surprisingly held her attention. She’d say, “Oh that’s so interesting. Wow.” So cute - most of the time she had no idea what the article was talking about.

Not enjoying the Taming of the fro.

Arizona Attractions: 

1. Hanging out with family of course. 2. Grand Canyon of course. 3. Huge Cacti make the landscape look like a pin cushion. 4. Thunderstorms in summer. 5.  Tumbleweeds actually roll across the roads. 6. Sand dunes and 4-wheelers. 7. Roadrunners are alive and well. 8. Running in the rain doesn't make you cold. 9. Turquiose and feathers 10. Crystals, red rocks, and vortices in Sedona 11. Legends of cowboys, lawlessness, and Wyatt Earp. 12. Tombstone, AZ. 13. Spinkler misters on the eaves of buildings make you feel like veggies in a supermarket. 14. Ice cream is a matter of survival. 15. Mesas. 16. Gigantic open skies 17. Clear starry nights

Arizona Detractions:  

1. It did not get below 112 during the day. 2. My shoes actually melted! I had to buy huge flip-flops just to make it back to the hotel. 3. Deoderant, chapstick, chocolate cookies, fruit... everything melted. Nothing is safe. 4. The ipod found it inhumane.. (or intechane?) to work in such hostile conditions. 5. We had to freeze water in bottles before leaving the hotel. 6. No car AC, how did they live before AC?. 7. Not being able to be outside during the day. 8. Planned communities and prefab houses everywhere. 9. RV lots 

Obviously in this official synopsis shows the attractions win 17 to 9.
Every day seems to end in spectacular sunsets.

 We found fireworks on the way back near the border.

As we got closer, we saw a huge blaze on the horizon. Fire trucks were racing past. Apparently the fireworks caught fire and the entire field was ablaze. Luckily they detonate the show remotely, so no one was too close when the fireworks exploded on the ground.

bad dog

Will I get back to California? 

Let's hope the TSA are feeling merciful. 

On second thought, enjoying family here too much to go back anyway.

Shabu with Shibat

Shabu Shabu at the creme de la shabu on Sawtelle with Shibat. 

This is a stock picture, because I was too busy eating to take photos. You just dip that meat there into the boiling vat in front of you and stuff yourself.

Happy Birthday to Shibat

Today I would like to make a toast to one of my most favorite people in the whole world. 

Happy Birthday!

I'd give you both of my kidneys if you needed them, dear Shibat. 

Shibat was an activist during the civil rights movement in Los Angeles. Sometimes I feel like I was there because his stories are so vivid. Isn't that what the generations are supposed to do - pass on history? He started a community organization with a friend of his that has helped generations of youth get involved with the community (and stay off of drugs and out of trouble).

He now works as a chiropractor, acupuncturist, and natural healer in Los Angeles. He's the best at what he does, because he never stops learning. He has been a great mentor to me, and I am honored to know him.

Hooray!

I'm an AUNT!
 Her name is Evie! Welcome to the world little one.

I'm going to be such a good aunt! My family said I already seem like an aunt because, for some reason, they equated my scarves with aunt like behavior. So I shall wear my scarves, have tea parties with her, do puzzles and paint with her, bring her exotic gifts from far and wide. And call on all her birthdays. My lofty goals...