QUARTZSITE 2002

January 10, 2002
Thursday

Windy day, there is a covering of dust EVERYWHERE. It does get gusty around here...makes me so glad I had little angels looking after me, pestering me to stake the canopies down deep into the hard packed ground and tie it all down. Those angels coming in the form of men wanting to look after me. :) I AM appreciative.

It is a mere 1:00, windy, things blowing all over the place, a potato salad still to make, and few customers. One person to walk up is a man who proceeds to initiate a very, very deep and involved conversation. We spoke of astrology, numerology, energies in general, and then computers. He's a MacHead like me. :)

I have realized now why the man the other day drained all of my energy with his negativity, and why I have been attracting people to me this whole trip who come to me with messages and enlightening conversations.

This desert holds an energy for me that is significant in my psyche. I have felt it from the beginning, and it was only a matter of days before I felt my channels opening up. I am feeling very open and receptive. I do believe something happened, a door opened, allowing for growth. People have been walking up to me with enlightening messages, some are stopping me first with deep looks, they look into my eyes, and it seems as the energy cycles for a moment before they tell me something I have been needing to hear, something that perhaps confirms a thought that has been circulating in my soul, or perhaps something that introduces an entirely new idea to my thought process. I feel sometimes it is not words that are getting through, but feelings, some energy they are sharing with me that will empower me to move forward. I am also crossing paths with others who I know I am helping along, it all comes and goes, it all feels so natural.

This man today is a trader I believe, one of the people who come out here to sell or trade their goods. He was by a few days ago showing me his beads. Today he came back telling me there was unfinished business, and that he felt my energy calling him. We spoke for at least 2 hours, maybe more. At times I felt at one with him. It was an even exchange, at times I felt him pulling on my energy without an immediate return, at other times though, I felt his entering into me unconditionally. What I noticed the most was the connection was always there, and the occasional off balance exchange was not *wrong*, just a little different.

~~~

I did get the potato salad made, and it came out excellent if I say so myself. I often amaze myself when I can pull something together without a recipe, I don't pride myself on my cooking skills.

When I went to the Wild RV I was quiet, for a while any way. BUT, they had shots of tequila going round. I am telling you, Quartzsite is a party town, it will take a good year to recover. Then next year will be party all over again. :)

They were all teasing me about the salad, saying "I thought you said you cant cook?

No, I CAN cook, I just don't enjoy it. Can't we really do what we put our minds to anyway? That is what my father always told me. As a little girl, he constantly reminded me that I could do anything I put my mind to, there were few limitations, gender had nothing to do with it, that I should never think I can't do something simply because I am a female. Of course, cooking is very female, but I am actually more comfortable with mechanical things or logic...computers, electronics, machines, whatnot than I am with domestic stuff.

I think I have alot of male energy. As female as I feel in the physical, I feel that much male in the psyche. I have to tell you though, I entirely enjoy being a woman, I have never really wished I was a man. That could be again, because of my father drilling into my head that there were no limitations.

It is quite possible in this day and age, women have more freedom than men. (at least in this part of the world), we have the choice of whether we are independent or dependent, we can choose a career or choose to be full time caregivers to our families, we can be weak or strong, doody ourselves up or go el naturale.

Yea, men can make many many choices as well, but I think it is so expected of men to be in that strong supportive role, and they are expected to support us in whatever role we choose. You can turn everything around and it makes sense the opposite as well, but this is how I am feeling at this very moment.

~~~

I sense the water out here is not very healthy. Tomorrow I am going to buy some gallons of water to make my coffee with, and do my cooking with. I am not quite sure what makes me feel this way, but it is there.

January 11, 2002
Friday

I have been taking advantage of the nicer showers over where the Laundromat is, they are only a quarter, well, 50 cents for me, I always need a little more time than they want to allow me. :)

Upon leaving, I met a man who is selling over at Desert Gardens too, we chatted for a while and he invited me for a hike up Q Mountain later that evening. It is like this out here, "Sure, I'd be glad to join you". Why resist any experience? I have been wanting to hike up there and get some nice photos.

Today was beautiful, I pulled the chairs into the sun, put my feet up and actually dozed for a bit. More people mulling about, but not many wanting to spend. I should be concerned, but what can I do right now but just relax and *know* it will all be alright.

Somehow the relaxing energy around here is soothing me, I just have to look to the mountains and it all feels good. I think it is so wonderful, how you will be standing there in your booth, a person walks by, you say hello, and they actually stop to chat for a bit, then go on their way, right after them, another will stop, and if you open up that sharing energy, they will all come one after the other to share with you something. Sometimes I will sit here and close the energy off a bit to relax in the sun or type, and they stop until I open it back up again.

Dave and his friend JC stopped for a while. They mentioned they wanted to get a drumming circle going at the top of Q mountain, the vision was a good 30 people drumming up there. I mentioned I was going up there tonight, a friend and I, and that I hoped to see them there. Mark is the guy with the nice eyes, JC has a pretty face, dreds and a very peaceful demeanor. He even has his goatee braided, but what I found myself doing is watching his goatee bounce around while he talked. But, I liked how he had two locks dredded at his temples, and he pulled them behind his head and banded them to tie down his hair. I am not especially drawn to dreds, but there's something about it. Hey! I know, most dreds require long hair! There you go. :)

I ran out of propane this morning, woke up and realized it. I thought I had better get some more, then I procrastinated on it in the morning, and since I am hiking this evening I figured it would be a cold night. I then decided to check the other one that came with the trailer, and found out there was still some propane in there. I get so lucky sometimes.

My new friend of today, his name is Gonzo, I am sure it is short for Gonzales. He came by ready to leave, before I was, so I quickly shut up the booth, threw some jeans and hiking boots on, grabbed my camera and we head out.

This is the mountain we hiked.

It's not that bad, I kept stopping for shots, but it maybe took us a 1/2 hour to get to the top. Here are some of the shots on the way up. And then, at the tippity top of the mountain...well...hill. :)

The Big Q		I loved this old mine shaft
	Dave and JC
Parasailing...doesn't this just look too patriotic		A snip of the panoramic I shot. I love these mountains

Not too long after we made it to the top, I was in the middle of taking a series of shots for a panoramic I am working on, and Dave and JC showed up.

Dave and JC and I were discussing how there would not be enough room there at the top for a drumming circle, and especially a bonfire. Besides the fact that the police would be waiting for everyone at the bottom of the hill, with the bonfire idea. :)

It was at that point the parasailer flew right overhead. I got a shot of him and the flag, up above, it was way cool. I hadn't realized the parasail was red white and blue also until I got home and viewed it through the computer.

They were taking the rocks that someone had written on and were throwing them down the hill. I thought it was pretty thoughtful of them. To not just comment on the awfulness of defacing mother nature, but to do something about it.

They left, and Gonzo and I chatted for a bit, about ready to head down when we saw a couple more people walking up. It was a lady named Sara and her son and dog. We all chatted for a bit longer, and went down together. We took the easier route back down. Once we were up on the hill we saw the trail that is much easier...better for walking when the light was disappearing. He had a flashlight, which was good because once I was heading right into a bush (after we descended the hill and were coming into camp) before he shone a light on it. I wouldn't have relished becoming tangled up in a pokey bush late at night.

Tonight I worked on splicing that panoramic photo together, and it is awesome. I have to figure a way to get it up here on the web. I wonder if there is an applet that will create a 360 degree panarama?

January 12, 2002
Saturday

Beautiful, gorgeous day. Oh Man, warm, sunny, slightly breezy, falling asleep in the sun day. I didn't but I could have.

I had my celtic music on...Old Blind Dogs, Tempest, and Loreena McKennit this time. I get lost in Celtic.

I did show off my panoramic to alot of people, I just can't stand it, when I have something so cool I just want to show it off all of the time! I must have had 10 people in my trailer at different times. I can take my laptop outside, but the monitor looks dark out in the daylight, even in the shade, but in here you can see it better.

I gained more neighbors. I thought we were only a 2 cap, but turns out not. Fine, the more vendors around, the more people mulling about. They are really sweet people, from Texas. They sell rocks. :) Everyone sells rocks, of course.He gave me a little gift of some polished petrified Palm Wood, the state rock of Texas. I also bought some of his wife's homemade Wild Plum Jelly.

Oh, speaking of gifts. I am still in awe of this. Earlier, Africa John, who cuts, polishes and drills stone beads all by hand, he is actually somewhat well known in these circles, came walking by. He told me he had a gift hanging in the center of his booth. Big smile, I love his work, I jumped up and followed him back to his booth.

He gave me this...

It is sugilite and Lemon Chrysophrase. One stone is something different, Alan told me tonight what it is, I can't remember. It is awesome, it came with instructions to wear it for a month. Cool, will do.

~~~

I must have had the "propose to me" energy going on today. One man, drinking his beer and huge toothless smiles wants to take me away to Alaska. I imagine he is in his 70's. He tried hard to convince me to go with him. I had a great time talking to him.

He evidently went back and told Don he purposely didn't tell me his age. That if he didn't tell me, I would never know! He said I am his type of gal. :) That makes me smile.

Then, another old man came by talking to me about pros and cons of having a companion. Financially, being the #1 biggest pro. Then, he slowly began to tell me how rich he is, and how many Rolex Watches he has buried out in this desert. He could buy me a brand new Corvette, treat me right, I would never go without.

I gave him a big huge smile and thanked him for the offer, but that I do believe I truly enjoy NOT being tied down with a man. He said he wouldn't tie me down, he would only want a kiss every morning. ha. It was so cute.

Ahhh, it is a wondrous thing, this charged energy here in Quartzsite.

~~~

I was able to get cell service enough to talk to my little girl, well, the oldest of my little girls. She always sounds so little on the phone. It was so nice to hear her voice, I miss them so much. As I say with tears in my eyes...it is so much the toughest part. This is only the second week.

~~~

Another beautiful sunset tonight. Yes, more sunset photos, I just cant resist.

this was early on	and one of the last I took

After taking the photos, I head over to the Wild RV. Showed off the panoramic, and went to Taco Mia for fish tacos. I saw a familiar face in there, a man who is selling here too, Tom. He asked if he could join me at a table, I said by all means. We had a wonderful conversation, he is a miner, and very easy to be around.

He looked over my shoulder to say hello to someone walking in, and it was Alan, who joined us at our table for a bit. It is cool how everybody knows everyone around here.

Since Alan was on foot, I was not, I gave him a ride back.

~~~

I then went in and visited with the wild bunch (J-Me, Vi and Guy) again. Worked on some beads for them, (there is always work to be done) and a couple hours later, said my good nights.

• BEAD HOME •
• QUARTZSITE 2001 •