Mexican Hat

The evenings here are REALLY nice when we're not having apocalyptic weather. Summer started last weekend as if on cue, and the last couple of evenings have been sunny and warm--my favorite kind! Of course, I killed a mosquito as I was typing that sentence, so I guess it has its drawbacks, but I am determined to enjoy what I can of my favorite time of year even in the absence of the Lake and my favorite ice cream haunts. I slept in my tent last night, and I'm writing this entry from the picnic table behind the Homestead. All is unusually quiet, save for the birds, and the sun is at a most agreeable angle, soft and cozy instead of sharp and scorching.

Last night, I went with one of my colleagues to the Mancos Renaissance Festival. We were a little late for the festivities, but even in full swing, it wasn't on the same scale as the one in Sterling (or Castle Rock--went when I lived in Denver, too). It was mostly vendors, some of them with only tenuous ties to the Renaissance era----Sylvie the cat just walked by-I haven't seen her in ages! She wouldn't stop for me, though----There were the requisite turkey legs, mud shows, and armor tables, but no jousting, no man-powered rides, and the entertainment was belly dancing. The rabbi's family went today, and said it was basically just a place for anyone who owns any type of costume to trot it out. It's cute. I'm glad to have the opportunity to try on rural life for a little while (before I leave for Megalopolis). I'm really looking forward to the fireworks next weekend, and hoping that my *starring* role in the Waldorf teacher's conference won't prohibit my attendance on the 4th. (I'm excited for the Waldorf teachers to be here in 2 waves over the next 2 weeks--kind of tying in my past experiences by helping run a big meeting for teachers)

And speaking of the rabbi's family...we're hosting Panim Works, a Jewish youth service project thing. Making the kitchen Kosher has been a seriously massive task! We're getting really awesome vegetarian food lately, though. So Rabbi Jason and his wife & kids, from Washington, DC, have been here for the last week helping get things ready. His girls are 9 & 4, and nobody's told me the boy's age, but I'm guessing 7. Having them has been wonderful. They're intelligent & engaged (and mature, for a change!), and it's great talking with them at dinner. I wrote that sentence about the parents, but it could apply to the kids, too. The 9-year-old is friendly and super helpful, and the 4-year-old keeps us all in stitches. I'll really be sorry to see them go.

I got to do a real shuttle for the first time today, not just to Cortez or a local park, but all the way to Mexican Hat, UT. They've always sent people in pairs on shuttles; I have no idea why I went alone today, but I'm not complaining! It was a gorgeous day for a gorgeous drive, and I feel really lucky to have been chosen for the job. It was downright hot in Mexican Hat, and I added to my sunburn (I forgot it, Mark!)--forecast for Moab, where I'm headed for a day off tomorrow, is 99 degrees. Why I'm going to a major National Park during 4th of July week is a question I can't answer, but I digress. Mexican Hat is named for the upside-down sombrero-like rock formation just outside of town. I was all set to stop for a photo shoot, but then didn't, so hopefully I'll pass by it again. I feel like I've described this stuff to death, and I dont' really have any new analogies, but no sooner had I decided I'm sick of rocks than I came upon Comb Ridge and by Valley of the Gods and decided I'm not. Especially today, with the vivid blue sky and CGI-looking cloud puffs. There is no way to photograph it adequately. The wild variety of the 360-degree horizon is what makes it so incredible. Come see it for yourself!!

The towns I drove through today were small. 2 gas stations earns you County Seat. The only traffic lights I saw were in Cortez. They all have big, full-size schools, though. There must be a lot of kids with awfully long bus rides. I don't know where they would live--you can see for miles in every direction and there's never anything there but rocks and scrub. And occasionally sand. The churches are another story. Before I got the shuttle assignment, I was planning to go to church in Mancos today, and I want to at least once before I leave. But Mancos is enormous compared to the rest of these places. It has cross streets. The churches of Southern Utah are tiny, ramshackle, and made of the oddest materials. (Come to think of it, everything is made of odd materials...I suppose there's not much wood around) They're very sincere, though. It would be neat to see what goes on in one.

Adding horses to my list of open range animals I've had to stop for.

My "weekend" starts tomorrow. I sketched out a plan for my remaining weeks' sojourns, and this week was supposed to be New Mexico, but I just can't get motivated to go there. I've reallotted it for mid-July; we'll see if it happens. Tomorrow, I'm going to drive to Moab and go to Arches NP, and camp there (I think, if there's room for me); then come back on Tuesday via Telluride. Gotta see if I have any hikes around there. Originally thought I'd include Grand Junction/CO Nat'l Monument, but it's a bit ambitious for 2 days. I don't know if I'll touch I-70 at all on this trip, which is sad. I have to let go of the idea of seeing everything, though. I just can't.

I'm wiped out, but I had fun today. The drive was a blast, and I enjoyed chatting with the group and seeing what goes on "in the field". One month of work is over already, and with 2 weeks of Waldorf, that doesn't leave much left! Chatted with my supervisor yesterday and got really positive feedback, so I'm feeling at peace. Statements like that really invite disaster, but at this moment, life is not bad.