Raven Jake Dawes

King Tut at the California Science Center

Although I am generally as frugal as I am ornery, for King Tut I had to make an exception. Even went full-boat with the IMAX movie package. Now I'm savin' my bottlecaps for some gold sandals. The treasures of Egypt make you think like that. If you're anywhere near Los Angeles, and even if you ain't, KING TUT: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh is only here for a couple more months, and you've gotta see it.

All of the usual suspects (except the death mask)  are touring along with a few that have never left Egypt before. There are about a hundred artifacts on display and they are not C-list material and they are wonderfully curated. You get an appreciation of the kind of magic someone would need to get through the afterlife - not something that could be accomplished by the poor and obscure - and how close Tut got to being permanently erased both in this world and the next. 

 

 

Grand Canyon Railway

Seems like every time I go into AAA to pay my insurance. someone's hollerin' "Hey Raven Jake, when you goin' on the Grand Canyon Railway?" and handing me a brochure. Y'all know I love trains, but I've got beer tastes and a tap water budget.  That changed August 4, 2018. We took the plunge, and it was awesome! 

You see that motley crew to the right? They're notorious train robbers. Ruthless rascals. Their level of criminality is such that they generally shoot each other before law enforcement even shows up. Which is good, because the sheriff is a total layabout. 

Now you see up above where it looks like I've got the whole car to myself? That's 'cause I did! (with lovely Jane, of course) Now surely your results are going to differ, but we upgraded to "first class" (there are a few price points and they all have posh-sounding names) and literally there was no one in the car with us. We even got our own steward. There were folks coming in and out - the sheriff, musicians, the conductor and goodness help us, even the robbers, who would come by, do their thing, jawbone a spell. Entertainment and food included.  Train drops off right by the rim and then you've got a few hours to wander around and enjoy the breathtaking views. 

I count this journey as a total win. Grand Canyon Railway will be seein' us again!

 

42 Spirits Eco Farm and Art Community

Y'all the primary reason for our little trip across Arizona was to scope out how Dragon and Zia's new ranch was takin' shape.  For as long as we've known 'em - around 15 years - they've been wanting to get back to the land and set their souls free, and looks like that's happening with 42 Spirits.

Folks can contact them about staying there as part of a spiritual/work retreat and eat some homegrown vegetarian food, learn some skills and make some friends in McNeal, which is midway between Bisbee and Tombstone. It's remote, but not far from amenities. 

While we were stayin' out there, nature put on quite a show - huge thunderstorm every darned afternoon. It was glorious. We'll be rollin' by there again for sure. 

42 Spirits Eco Farm and Art Community