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Ceil,

Very well put.  I can't disagree with anything you say.  I can see that you have given a lot of spiritual contemplation to the experiences that you have been through.  Enlightenment does not fall into our laps, but it can be attained.

               

posted by Jack_Flash on January 14, 2007 at 2:39 AM | link to this | reply

Wow, deja vu all over again!

This world, is a school in which we evolving spirits learn how to make choices. That's how the Universe looks to me, anyway... 

Experience leads to good judgement.
Poor judgement leads to experience.

So much of the learning also seems to stem from breaking the programming of our early years, and discovering that lightning does not strike, the world does not end if we rewrite a few rules to accomodate our own natures. 

Of course, there can be a bushel of education in the consequences of breaking those rules, too. 

Ah, well-- I choose to follow the lead of my own nature, and the belief that the Universe has its non-negotiables, but is largely very open-minded and forgiving.  If not, the human race would not have lasted this long!

 

posted by Ciel on January 9, 2007 at 1:28 PM | link to this | reply

ciel,

It's good that you can have that freedom and be married.  I haven't had much luck in getting things worked out that way.  I don't blame anyone but myself.  I could count the number of right decisions I have made on my fingers, and have enough left over to keep counting.   

posted by Jack_Flash on January 8, 2007 at 11:32 PM | link to this | reply

It's legal, Jack, but...

I am, in fact, more or less married.  But not in a way that I can't take off on an adventure or a migration as needed.  It is, like just about everything in my life, not exactly in the fat part of the bell-curve of societal normalcy.  I never have liked a crowd...

posted by Ciel on January 8, 2007 at 7:36 PM | link to this | reply

ciel,

I had to wonder about Flash myself, as I replied to your previous comment.

They could be fussy about pictures for the reasons that you mention. I'm not sure about the legal issues there, but contesting anything like that is a massive waste of time and energy. The world is far beyond saving, so I try to just shut up and slip by quietly.

Based on the link, I'm sure Kartchner is a state park. As far as Indian Reservations, what they say goes. Original treaties set them up essentially as nations within the nation. It doesn't really work that way, but that is the basic principle.

I was in Bellingham, WA once for about four months, so I understand you feelings about rain.

I really love the desert myself. When I was in the Sierras of Northeastern California I came to really love the mountains, but on my way back from Colorado one time I happened through the Goosenecks of the upper Colorado river right after a summer rain. The fresh smell of creosote smothered the air. I knew I was back home.

Migratory is good. My sister lives a few miles away, in the Scottsdale area, and she has a home there, but she is always gone somewhere that makes me jealous. I used to do that often myself, but lately it seems I am always tied down by something. I don't think you are currently married, are you? Don't make the mistake of getting that way. (Oops! Is it legal to say that?)

jj Flash

posted by Jack_Flash on January 8, 2007 at 3:59 AM | link to this | reply

I generally prefer to use ambient light, no offense, Flash...

and one of my wee digitals actually handles low light very well.  I will have to enquire if it is only flash pictures that are forbidden-- could be they don't want anyone to take pictures of their cave but their photographer, so they can sell their postcards in their gift shop.  I gather it is a state park, not a national park, so the rules are different.  Utah is like that, too--very picky about some things that the NPS doesn't care about.  It was explained to me that the state doesn't get any part of the NPS budget, so there!

I didn't ask if it was okay to commercialize my NPS photos--If my calendars take off, I would happily share the profits with the parks where I took them.  Monument Valley, a Tribal Park, specifically states in the brochure "...with permission only" for commercial use of photos. 

I have a streak of geologist in me, and would love to see the green streams of the copper mining country around Bisbee again...  And there is something about the scent of the desert that is pure home to me--I love being in the southwest best, I think, of this whole beautiful country!  It has always been a toss-up with the Pacific NW rainforests, but after 30 years there, I am a bit done with rain. 

I think I shall become migratory.

posted by Ciel on January 7, 2007 at 8:28 AM | link to this | reply

Ciel,

I'm glad you got a chance to look at that.  I didn't realize the part about guided tours being required.  As far as pictures, I can understand the banning of photos because everyone uses flash.  I doubt the accuracy of it, but the light from a flash is supposed to deteriorate the mineral deposits.  Of course, the tours would have to be well lit, so you might be able to talk them into letting you use existing light.  Digital cameras are painfully slow at exposing, but it might work.  If you have a 35mm film camera and got the fastest color film available, it might work--if the temp balance of the film is right.  A good photo processing shop could get the film onto digital media with no problem.  I have scanned film transparencies into digital images, and I get better results that way than I do with a digital camera.  Digital cameras are really pretty lame when compared to film cameras.  Cost of film media is the big problem.  Of course, if you happen to have some spare change, a $5000-10000 digital camera probably gets fairly decent results.

The southern parts of Arizona are really the most pleasant.  The northern parts of the state have really been overrun by both instate and out of state tourists.  It's like going to Disneyland.  The desert in the south is much nicer, too.  Maybe just because it hasn't been trampled yet.

posted by Jack_Flash on January 7, 2007 at 12:40 AM | link to this | reply

Yes, Kartchener was what I was looking for.

I took a look at their site, and see that there are only guided tours, and no photos allowed. One of the things we most liked about Carlsbad (I know what you mean, about knees-- for me, it was shinsplints!)  is that the tour is not guided, you can go at your own pace, and take pictures. 

The time I have spent in Arizona previously was mostly in the Chirichauha Mountains, down in the southeastern corner of the state.  I remember a drive over the mountains, and down to Bisbee and border towns--Agua Prieta, I think, in that neighborhood.  We went to the Sonoran Desert Museum near Tucson, too, and being a kid at the time and enamored of "The High Chapparal" I wanted to see the movie sets at Old Tucson, but being a kid, my parents made all the decisions.  They disapproved generally of tv, so we didn't get there.  (I didn't get to see koalas in San Diego, either.)

I'll definitely let you know when we are coming down, and maybe we can get together for some real Mexican food!  And check out your tour recommendations!

posted by Ciel on January 6, 2007 at 1:54 PM | link to this | reply

Ciel,

I will look up information on calendars.  As I said, I need to go to that website and look it up myself.  I don't know if you are familiar with the Writers' Market book, but the website is done by the same company (Writers' Digest) and has all of the information that is in the book, but it is updated frequently.  It's fairly inexpensive, so I signed up for it.  I plan to look into the information for my own use, so I'll keep notes for you and send them to you.

I always like calendar pictures myself.  Some of the scenic calendars have pictures that are well worth saving.

Bryce Canyon is very nice.  If you get into that area, there are a million things to see.  Zion is quite incredible, as are Shiprock and Monument Valley.  The entire Four Corners area would be a fantastic place for a camping trip that could easily last a month.  None of it is very far from Santa Fe, Taos, Holbrook, Winslow, and Gallup.  Those are all very interesting areas, and they are really the heart of the American Indian culture in the Southwest.  Anyone with an interest in Indian jewelry would go nuts in that area.  The Indian pueblo, in the Taos/Santa Fe area, is also well worth seeing.  The bridge that crosses the Colorado between NM and Colorado is a nice ''car break.''  Walk to the middle and drop a rock off.  I love to see how long it takes it to fall to the river.  As I recall, it's about 1500 feet from the bridge to the water.  It takes the rock about ten seconds to splash down.

I think I know of the cavern you mentioned.  It's down by Tucson. There is Kartchner caverns (see http://www.azparks.gov/Parks/parkhtml/kartchner.html ).  I think it used to have another name, but I just googled, and Kartchner is currently the biggy.  I think they may have changed the name to Katrchner when it became a state park.  There was one with some really dumb name, but I didn't see it on google, so it must have become Kartchner.

Carlsbad is well worth the trip, but the endless downhill hike will get to your knees.  It got to mine, and I think I was only about twelve at the time.

If you start getting ready for a trip down this way, let me know.  I've seen just about everything worth seeing in the Southwest and Northwestern Mexico, and can bury you under suggestions.
      jack

posted by Jack_Flash on January 5, 2007 at 7:01 PM | link to this | reply

Yes, thanks, I'd love to have information about selling calendar images!

Calendars are a great source of stuff to be framed and hung the next year-- I don't think I have ever deliberately thrown away a wall calendar!  (Just have lost track of where they got put, over the years. )

I had forgotten you live in Arizona-- Next time I get down to the canyons, I plan to go further south into the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, and use up a few more gigs of memory.  My son is antsy to see Bryce Canyon in person, and we both want to see Carlsbad Caverns again.  Do you know the name of the caverns opened to the public a few years ago in Arizona that is said to rival Carlsbad in beauty?  We will have to find it, and check it out, too!

 

posted by Ciel on January 5, 2007 at 9:53 AM | link to this | reply

Ciel,

Thanks for that info and the site link.  I'll definitely get over for a look.  You should check into the calendar market.  If you focus the theme of your pictures, you might very well be able to publish a calendar.  If you are at all interested, I can get you some information on the Writer's Market website.  I need to look into the calendar market for my own work anyway.  Calendar publishers take a myriad of themss for photographs.  You wouldn't get rich on that one publication outlet, but anyone making a living, or just a few extra bucks, at freelancing works on a piecework basis.  More work, more pay.  Every little bit helps.

The main thing that any publisher is going to be interested in, from a technical standpoint, is high megapixels.  Use of digital photos has become pretty common anong the media.  They just need to like your pictures.

     thanks.....    jj flash 

posted by Jack_Flash on January 4, 2007 at 11:48 PM | link to this | reply

For all the lovers of cats and cat personalities, I made a calendar

over on my cafepress site:  www.cafepress.com/rovingeye  in the calendars cat-gory...  Look for URGO: THE LOST PRINCE OF KENNEWICK.   It's a collage with story of the kitten that climbed up my leg out in the wilds around Kennewick, WA last spring. 

I'm still on the road-- have made it to my dad's computer in Loveland, CO, and will be home again on Sunday-- weather allowing--where I can post a photo or two...  I may already have posted the one of Urgo watching Meerkat Manor.  He is the first pet I've had that watches TV. 

When he was new, the tiny mite stared at the screen from a footstool in front of it, and suddenly-- leaped at the screen, hit it spreadeagled, and slid down it just like the classic cartoon...  Shame to have missed that shot with the camera!  But we would have to have a video camera running all the time, pointed in every direction! 

posted by Ciel on January 4, 2007 at 12:49 PM | link to this | reply

starzy,

I presume you mean the kitty kats are sweet. I'm actually an ogre, but a lot of the time people think that bad is good. I can understand that. I feel that way about some things, but I probably shouldn't go into a lot of detail on that matter.
    JJ McFlash (Batman's Brother)

posted by Jack_Flash on January 3, 2007 at 8:12 PM | link to this | reply

Ciel,

That's a really amazing thing to me.  The less I work on a blog, the higher that score goes.  It's almost as if there is a reverse relationship.  The more you work on blogs, the lower the rating score goes.  I think Blogit's computer must have a minus sign where there shoould be a plus sign.  I just can't believe some of the stuff that goes on in the world.

         jj flash --- somtimes it gives me duh blues.....

posted by Jack_Flash on January 3, 2007 at 8:01 PM | link to this | reply

sweet

posted by star4sky5 on January 1, 2007 at 10:55 AM | link to this | reply

Wow, I never read a blog here with a popularity over 2350 before...

posted by Ciel on December 29, 2006 at 4:17 PM | link to this | reply

krisles,

I completely agree with you that people who don't like cats have never really known any.  They say dumb things like ''cats just don't have any personality.''  Have you ever heard a statement that dumb?

I really like dogs and cats both.  Dogs have much different personalities than cats, but the truth of the matter is that there are many breeds of dogs that are hardly affectionate at all.

Of course, it all depends on the owner.  If a person owns pets, the pets tell you more about the person in five minutes; than you could learn in months if they had no pets.

Strays do accumulate at an incredible rate for anyone who cares about animals.  I have had them build up to numbers that I won't even admit to.  Luckily, it's at a sensible level now.  You always see something about ''the lady with 50 dogs and cats.''  Then the person gets portrayed as an animal abuser, even if it doesn't appear to be true at all.  That's the ''News'' for you.

Thanks for the comment.  (NM isn't much cooler than Texas, in most parts, but Texas humidity can knock you flat on your back, gasping for air.) 

posted by Jack_Flash on May 6, 2006 at 4:14 AM | link to this | reply

Jack_Flash

What darlings!  Your comment below is sooooo on the money!  I love both, too.....but, something deep inside just seems to be drawn to cats.....had to do without for many years 'cause husband doesn't think he likes - I phrase it like that because I find most people who say they don't like just never have really experienced a cat.  Anyway, I now have two living with me in my hotel room while I'm on this deployment (almost 6mos now) and 2 I'm having to have taken care of at the lakehouse as they are the "outside" cats.....and, my mom has two more she's now rescued and "fixed" that she will take out there for me to care for when she goes to NM to excape the TX heat.....sigh......uh, you were saying about strays?.......

posted by Krisles on May 4, 2006 at 5:36 PM | link to this | reply

B Ball,

It's kind of funny how people are about cats and dogs.  Men are usually dog people, and many of them dislike cats rather strongly.  It seems to be a psychological thing that has to do with gender identity, male ego, and all of that.  I couldn't begin to go into that subject in a comment.  I have thought about blogging on the subject, but it would stir up a lot of tempers and disagreements, and I just don't want to deal with that.

I like cats and dogs botn.  They are quite different in personality, but they can get along very well under the right circumstances.  The easiest thing is if they begin together at a young age.  Under those circumstances, they most often become very good friends.

Be careful in your affection for strays.  I have been through that many times, and it is really easy to accumulate a dozen cats or more.  They start getting together, then a litter comes along, then another.  Then you have to start spending a fortune on spaying and neutering or you get more and more.  If you get as emotional about animals as I do, the whole thing can get really hard on you.

I'm not saying you should ignore strays.  I certainly can't do that.  Just don't let the problem become monumental.

I'm glad you feel the way you do about cats and/or dogs.  People who don't feel that way usually don't have much feeling for other people.   

posted by Jack_Flash on May 4, 2006 at 3:44 AM | link to this | reply

I love your cats

But I can't have any because my husband is a dog lover. We don't have a dog either but we constantly fight over what to have. But I actually have two cats.Don't tell him. I feed them outside, they are strays and now that I have fed two cats more have come and now I have five. Word gets around fast when your a stray.

posted by 8-ball on May 3, 2006 at 6:34 PM | link to this | reply

symphony,

It's nice to take a dog for a walk.  You end up with more benefit from it than the dog.

posted by Jack_Flash on April 28, 2006 at 2:39 AM | link to this | reply

I am still going to say.......ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......hehehehe.

she knows what she wants....hahahaha......bless her!

just like my poorly dog who I have got to take out for a walk now... (it is 1.26am)

talk to you soonish....I should be a bed by now...but it has been such a long time since I blogged that I had to make up for it...

posted by _Symphony_ on April 25, 2006 at 5:19 PM | link to this | reply

symphony,

They are sweet babies but Panda, the one with her leg hanging over the table, just snagged me not ten minutes ago.  When she wants something, usually attention, she reaches out to hook you as you walk past.  If you have a shirt sleeve, she pulls loose a bunch of threads.  If not, she has claws like little fish hooks that sink right into your skin.  It's like ''HEY, hold on there buddy.  I need a little something.''  I can tell you, that hurts.  She's so nice though, that you just can't get mad.
      

posted by Jack_Flash on April 25, 2006 at 5:13 PM | link to this | reply

ahhhh so sweet...

posted by _Symphony_ on April 25, 2006 at 4:19 AM | link to this | reply

Angel,

Nice to see you.  I need to get back to posting in this blog more often.  I put this post here because the picture came out well enough that I wanted to show off my sweeties and bring the blog a little up to date.  What did I get?  My favorite readers.  I need to reorganize my blog priorities.  (And get more visiting done.)

Thanks for coming by.  

posted by Jack_Flash on April 21, 2006 at 9:57 PM | link to this | reply

QWEEN,

Nice to see you come by.  I don't know whether you haven't been around Blogit very much or whether I have just been in a non-porductive spell.  In any case, good to hear from you.  I need to get around to some other people's blogs, as well as yours, but I have been burdened by BS for a month or two.

I can understand why you don't have a load of pets.  For a very long time I didn't, then I somehow inherited a number of them.  It is a little constraining, but once you get them you can't part with them.  The best thing is not to get them until you are in a situation where you want to make a commitment.  It's too painful to do anything else. 

posted by Jack_Flash on April 21, 2006 at 9:50 PM | link to this | reply

Sass,

That is true.  The one on the left is Spanky, and he actually acts like he is in a nice tux.  All three of them are really friendly cats.  It seems like every breed has it's own personality traits.  From what I have read, the black and whites are Norwegian Forest cats.  They are always fussy about being held, and it takes a while to get to know them, but they are never cranky.  Shy, but never cranky.

I have heard a lot of people say that cats have no personality.  That is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard.
           

posted by Jack_Flash on April 21, 2006 at 9:39 PM | link to this | reply

They are beautiful!

posted by anglofinspirtion on April 21, 2006 at 4:55 PM | link to this | reply

I loooove

kitty's but I haven't had a 'real one' for many a year for the ex is allergic and before the ex I was on the road all the time yada, yada, yada. BUT I do confess that I have a cute little (fake) kitty. (Can't say the 'f' word too loudly or she'll hear). Anyway my orange stripped kitty  'Pirate katrina' is an adorable non fuss non muss kitty and I know this sounds all quite insane so I'll stop now. Good readin ya Cute cats

posted by ALWAYSALOVER on April 21, 2006 at 4:44 PM | link to this | reply

The one on the far left looks like my cat Sylvester

I love Tuxedo cats as they always look like they are ready to go to the ritz, they just need the bowtie.

posted by Sherri_G on April 21, 2006 at 6:14 AM | link to this | reply