Grand Canyon or Bust

I was last there in 2002 with... well never mind about that trip. But, here I am sitting ON the rim with friend Eileen. That's me in pink on the left. I doubt I will hang off the edge this time. I hope to camp at least five days and ebike the rim. Not the entire rim, but parts of the south rim. Pictures can not do this place justice, not even my 3D Viewmaster reels. It's one of those places that must be seen and experienced.

While I won't devulge exactly when I'm gone, cause that's stupid (even tho there will be giant dobermans and guests with guns at my house while I'm gone. Ha, actually a mad man with a chain saw really will be there.) I will provide as much evocative description as possible. I will also participate in dark sky star gazing in Flagstaff, AZ and spend a few days in Sedona to meditate and cleanse my crystals (and chakras, tee hee /Wu Wei.) Sedona bums me out with all the development now, but it's still a wondrous place. Yep, it's alright, hold tight, I'm a highway star (glance to the right for links on that ;)

Alone vs. Lonely

I'm often amazed that so many people assume being single or solo also means being lonely. Is it better to be with someone who causes stress and anxiety, than to enjoy the many benefits of solitude? Not for me.

One of the few blogs I read is "Solo Traveler." I linked to her description of this topic in my title. But, another contributor on her site wrote a fabulous article on traveling alone to "still the anger." Here's a great excerpt;

The best thing about solo travel is that it can be anything you want it to be, because, ultimately, everything you do is totally up to you. It can be rehabilitative, healing, reflective, cheap, luxurious, serious or just plain unadulterated fun. It can even be a mix of all these. It all depends on the experience you want out of it and if you want to take this opportunity to discover yourself or challenge your boundaries.

Read the whole article for his perspective on the anger part. (And, look at those fab pics of Australia! I'll be checking out his blog, too.) I spend a lot of time pondering the anger angle and use all the Buddhist and Taoist techniques I can find to deal with it. But, for this post, I'm primarily considering solo travel.

I admit I have anxieties about it. I could write a tome on the pros and cons. Many pros were succinctly said in the quote. I would add no one nagging about directions or schedules. If I want to veer off to see something, I do. My dog does not question why. She's happy to go wherever I go. That's a huge plus! I guess technically I'm not solo, since I opt for RV Van travel so she can go with me. It's not a minor point -- being ALONE is different from traveling with dog. Izzi is a companion and protects me. She just can't help with heavy lifting. sigh...
And, I'm only speaking about road trips. If I was flying to foreign countries, I might have an entirely different take on travel, and I'm afraid I couldn't do it with a dog. I guess I'll consider that later when (IF) I truly am solo.

Finally, on a recent Charlie Rose show (late night PBS) Rose asked E.L Doctorow why someone would look inward rather than outward. Wow, I was blown away and E.L. looked rather stunned, too. It's really a bias toward coupling and especially here in the U.S. An automatic assumption that all answers are "out there" -- for God, for happiness and for society. I strongly believe that if you aren't comfortable in your own skin, you can never successfully be part of a couple or society.

09.09.09

At 9:09 today -- 09.09.09 I stopped. I even unplugged all the electrical stuff in the house. I wanted a moment of real quiet. It was great. I really believe all the electro-magnetic waves and energy affects us. Yeah, people "poo-poo'd" environmental contamination, too, until we saw polluted communities where everyone is deformed or has cancer.

I realized that's probably why I really enjoy sitting outside in the front yard. All the power lines are in the back. Maybe subconsciously it was affecting me. All I know is I like the front yard and there are NO wires nearby. I hear birds chirping and a hint of wind chimes from the neighbor. ( I want more of those, again.) I can position my reclining camp chair so I see mostly trees and greenery. This is interrupted occasionally by some low-rider cruising down my street blasting ranchero music, or the tree guy and his chain saw. That's pretty disturbing ;) But, I get long stretches in the early morning of quiet and it's great for PM star gazing, too.

I'm blogging outside, and I like it! (sans power cord, of course.) So, back to NINE. The title link is to a numerology site that claims nine is all about the Utopian Dream, creativity and imagination. Good! I need that for the upcoming months if I'm really going to finish this languishing novel. I thought of today as a giant reset button. I didn't do so hot on 08.08.08 so I envisioned a new opportunity.

After the 09 moment passed, I randomly opened Pema, Eckhart and Thay for some wisdom. Here's want I found: Pema says our attempts to live more humanely are not wasted, even if we fail. We keep trying. All efforts to cultivate peace and harmony over anger and prejudice may ultimately save humanity from extinction. My random message from Eckhart Tolle is how arguments are hazardous to our health. (We know this one ;) Getting mad raises blood pressure and hardens arteries. Even thinking about unpleasant events causes physical reactions in us. This is why forgiving and forgetting is good for our physical and mental health. Finally, Thay (Thich Nhat Hanh) says meditation reveals and heals. He says under the gaze of meditation, hatred reveals it's nature and we can remove the thorn -- just like removing a thorn from our foot. Every step is peace once it's gone.

Day One of Phase II

Today is the first "official" day of my government retirement. Until now I was still "tethered" to red tape, paperwork, phone calls, insurance, etc. I have met all the requirements, done all the paperwork, and I am letting go! Deep exhalation!

Here is my path ahead - the Tao. It's simply "what is." The natural way. Rise with the Sun, sit with the cool morning air to meditate/journal, do yoga or ride my bicycle. During midday, do what needs to be done, or travel, or work on my novel, or do art, take a class, whatever i choose! In the evening, do T'ai Chi with sunset and stargaze at night! What more could one want??

I certainly give thanks for my health, that I am not in the fires of California, nor suffering financially; that I have everything I need (and more.) I feel very blessed on this day. It was a gamble -- "a crap shoot" I used to say -- whether staying in one government job was the thing to do. Was I giving up too much staying there? As I feel on this day, NO! I am FREE! I can travel or just relax and enjoy this wonderful "world class" weather (in New Mexico.) Freedom, the Tao -- what a glorious sensation!

A Passing Star

On the night my mom died, I was out stargazing with my then-fiance (and husband of 12 years.) We saw a spectacular meteor. I vividly remember telling him we've got to go back (to her care facility.) I knew it was her spirit passing. I knew because it was related to experiences I had a few years earlier when my dad died -- yes I lost them both by the time I was 21.

In my novel I write that my protagonist, Niki, saw a bright meteor the night of March 2, 1982. She thought aloud, "I bet someone important is passing." That was Philip K Dick.

Last night I was stargazing late, 11 pm - 1 am. Around midnight (MDT), I saw an incredibly bright shooting star with long flashy trail. "Wow!" I said aloud in awe, then immediately wondered who died. I felt worried that it might be Thay, who has been ill.
This morning we all learned that a true star passed last night.
We knew it was coming, but it's sad and the country will not be the same without Ted Kennedy's strong leadership. He fought for forty years for health care reform. Let it pass, and not like a shooting star -- but into law for everyone.

Great Ted Kennedy site. Namaste, Senator Kennedy.

Cruisin' the Milky Way

It's been years since I was so excited by the stars -- the real stars! I used to have a large glow-in-the-dark sky map on my back porch and routinely kept an eye on the night sky. My car plate still says "Cosmic" (I'm Sirius!) Somehow busy life and other interests diverted my gaze. Well, that Star Gaze is back, Dr. Gribbin! Good thing, since chapter one (of my novel-in-progress) is all about the Jupiter Effect, Grand Alignment and John Gribbin. (Copyright, soon to be published.)

The Perseid's meteor shower got my attention about a week ago. I discovered big ole Jupiter (really bright in the East sky) and that was it. I was all amped up on magnitude ! I just love blogs -- I can be as cornball as can be here. Novel writing, not so much.

What amazes me, as much as the stars and planets, is how viewing has changed. On Sky and Telescope you see a box on right side menu. For free, you can register and instantly see beautiful sky maps/chart interface (better than Google Sky, cause it's simple to use and no install.) It's full color, totally interactive and allows you to plug in your position (lat/long) or enter a city name, and print custom maps! Right below that is a link to get Planetarium software for your iPhone! I just downloaded podcasts for listening on MP3 while sky gazing! In other words, your own guided tour of the night sky, which really is 'Cruisin' the Milky Way.' Too cool!

For now, I like looking with my binoculars and will probably upgrade to a 8 x 50 pair (over my 7 x 35.) This will provide a little more magnification and larger viewing area. It's easy to get started (or refresh) and now everything you can want is online and books for free at your local library. As Carl Sagan would say there are "billions and billions" of things to see! Oh, and I'm a star now on MeteorBlog! (down and right menu, recent comments!) Soon I'll have the T (shirt) to prove it! Fun, fun, fun! (read my comments, good stuff there including FREE download info.)