Week 16

Monday and Tuesday nights I stayed after school to help with the technical work for a small school production. The senior drama students each chose a scene and then directed the younger students in it’s production. The night was basically so the drama teacher, Miss Veil, could scope new talent and the seniors could receive a grade. It wasn’t too bad, not overly entertaining but not a complete waste of time.

Wednesday night was spent at Chucky Cheeses. Chucky Cheese is kind of like Timezone but is also part pizza parlor. Louisa and I had some fun mucking around with the ‘older’ games whilst the kids all played on the equipment. Pavel taught Corbin, 2, to cheat on that game where you have to roll the ball up this ramp and try and get it into the circles, the smaller the circle the more the points. Pavel had him climb up there and just place the balls in. We did this a number of times before we were caught.

Thursday was a very long day. I arrived at school at 4am so to attend a photography trip. Slots Canyon, also known as Antelope Canyon, was right on the Utah/Arizona border, not far from a town called Page. Technically I was in Utah for five minutes. The caves were on Navajo land and we had Navajo Indians guiding us.
‘The general rock is sandstone, in various shades of red and orange; it is sunlight, shining down and reflecting along the canyon walls that gives the canyons their special beauty; the shadows and colors change constantly as the sun moves overhead.’
The canyons were beautiful, though very crowded with tourists. One of the canyons, Lower Antelope Canyon, was empty but for us. I loved this canyon the most as it required some climbing and squeezing and a Navajo sat inside the canyons playing these haunting melodies on his guitar. There was nothing more beautiful.

Friday we drove to Cottonwood, but not before spending a few hours looking at the Glen Canyon Dam and walking around Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Photographing these and the Colorado River all the while. Saturday was spent in Jerome. Jerome was a mining town back in the 1800’s and many of the original buildings were still there, including one of the many brothels which is now a museum/shop.
‘Jerome became a notorious “wild west” town, a hotbed of prostitution, gambling, and vice. On 5 February 1903, the New York Sun proclaimed Jerome to be “the wickedest town in the West”.’
The town was very interesting, but I’m afraid I spent more time shopping and reading the historical plaques everywhere that my photos of this location are limited.

I’m certain that on this trip I took many beautiful shots, but none will see them until they are edited and posted on my art website.

Sunday I was supposed to go the Arizona Mills Mall, a giant shopping centre, where I was to purchase my second suitcase and whatever else I had promised to buy for people. Unfortunatley, once again, what I needed to do was not going to happen and so I was stuck at home with the grandkids all day. I am not sure when I will be able to go now as according to the majority of people, EF is unlikely to tell me flight dates until the night before.

Oh, Tommo, I picked up a book about Native American astrology. I’ll bring it out next time I see you.

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