Most people who know Eddie and myself will agree quite readily, that out of the 2 of us,  I  am the worry wart. There are few things that will get Eddie worked up or anxious. "Missed my flight? Eh. Late for work? It'll be fine. Riding in a death cab? When it's my time to go, it's my time." I on the other hand am fairly certain I'm in the process of giving myself a large ulcer due to stress. That's one reason why this trip to the Grand Canyon has been a welcome and unexpected change in our roles.  Of all the things that bother me, heights has never been one of them. While Eddie spent the day in his Park Ranger Training (the whole reason we're out here in the first place), I explored several hiking trails and found the PERFECT one! It was right on the edge. Not so much as a rock wall or fence to keep us from creeping up to the very brim of the enormous hole in the earth.  Proud of my discovery, I took Eddie to the trail, excited to take some pictures o...

Okay, this may be the best photo I've ever snapped in my life. Someone who is great at making up captions,  please . This picture seriously needs a good one. Dinner with a view. High rise apartment. These little critters are just hoping the nature-starved tourists will drop a crumb. He thinks my camera is a candy bar. Scratch that. If I was a HUMAN, I'd live at the Grand Canyon!

Goodbye breath. You seem to have been taken away... Of Rocks and Mud  by Phillip Camitses "I have seen the dark rocks sitting still on the pale playa surface with their furrowed paths extending off into the distance. I muse over this image lingering in my mind. I have walked this unique quiet place in a desolate desert location of North America These rocks themselves have moved at one time. I have listened to others express their thoughts of rocks and mud. The traveling of these rocks remain without witnesses to find." It seems to be more than the elevation causing my shortness of breath. More to come from the Grand Canyon.

Wave hello Turn the light on Come in, and have a drink. Don't be a loner,  Mingle with the group. And when you're ready to take off, Be sure to wave goodbye.

Not many people can say they're truly "from" New York. Almost everyone here has moved from another part of the world. But over time, you pick up on things and after about 10 years, you can call yourself a true "New Yorker" (or so they say).  Growing up in Nebraska, it was quite a culture shock when we first came here. After nearly 2 years, I've gotten used to certain things like, traffic, high prices, and rudeness. In fact, when my husband and I took our first taxi ride, our destination was on Houston Street (pronounced hows-ton). Eddie, being from Texas, kept pronouncing it like the city, Houston, TX (Hugh-ston). The cab driver got so frustrated and could not understand what we were saying. Eventually, we figured it out though and made it to the location. Upon my best friend, Deb's visit this week (also from Nebraska), I'm reminded of just how strange it can be here. Her first night in town, we took her to the upscale restaurant where I play pian...

Just like music or a specific location, certain smells can bring a flood of memories to mind. I never told anyone but Eddie this, because I was afraid it was too weird (which Eddie assured me that it in fact  is  too weird), but my favorite smell from childhood is...cigarette smoke. I was born in Lincoln, NE in 1983, where the middle class smoked. If you asked someone in a restaurant or bar to put out their cigarette, you'd probably get punched in the face. Everyone knew smoking was generally bad for you, but the reality of just  how  bad hadn't quite set in yet.  My family lived in my grandparent's house for a few years when I was little, where their home was the hub of all extended family gatherings. My dad smoked, both grandparents, and so did all the uncles. (I am proud to say that my dad and grandma haven't smoked for a good decade and a half or more, and most of the family has quit since as well). But, unarguably, the smell was always around.  To t...

I saw this beauty at the park. There was just something regal about the way she stood, unafraid in the sunlight. She let us get so close to her. So we threw her an apple, which she picked up and crunched. This shot reminds me of Susan in the Boonies' button at her blog,  Wild Life in the Woods .