Da Goddess

I am officially home. I’m also officially a bit sunburned, a lot tired, and really happy to have had the Death Valley experience. I met some wonderful people, saw beautiful sights, and have memories that will last a lifetime.

For a couple hours my first day there, I thought I might have to spend the next year digging sand out of my ears. I feel confident in proclaiming this is not the case. However, I do have a camera that is in need of a major deep cleaning. The sensor is not happy.

There was a point Saturday morning when I thought I was developing a serious case of frostbite. I recovered. But that bitter, biting cold will stay with me for a very long time. I’m still not quite over the deep chill of the memory.

I carried a few ghosts to and from this adventure. More on that later. For now, I’m home, I’m safe, and I’m ready for a nap. But first I must upload 1,800 photos.

P.S. Is it mere coincidence that tonight’s Little People, Big World has the Roloff family making a stop in Death Valley?

According to the Diego Zoo’s Conservation Research program, not all bunnies multiply like, well, bunnies. Apparently there are two species with numbers so low, they’re facing extinction.

Another endangered species, the volcano rabbit, survives in just three discontinuous areas near Mexico City with a total population of ~1,000.

But that’s not the worst news. Not by a long shot.

In the United States, pygmy rabbits are found only in the Columbia Basin, Columbia Plateau, and Great Basin, and only 30 are believed to remain in the wild, with an additional 81 remaining in captivity in non self-sustaining populations.

Don’t tell the kids. Just buy more candy and let the bunnies save their energy for more important tasks, if you know what I mean. (Oh no! I just channeled Norm McDonald and freaked myself out.)

My daughter has a gigantic keychain. She left it in the trunk of the car a couple weeks ago when we went to the Children’s Museum. It took a while for it to get back to her, but it did find its way home. I spent a long time looking at it, studying the items she had on there besides the five keys (five keys, five hundred keychain ornaments), and it was like getting a glimpse of something special and precious, which she is.

I’m so grateful for the time we can spend together. I know she’s busy. I know she has a life. But it’s nice to have those moments.

Shh, pretend I’m not here. Oh, wait, I’m not. But that doesn’t keep me from posting, does it? Not with WP and the ability to publish according to schedule.

Being as how I’m out of town, taking photos, learning new techniques, exploring, etc., I thought it would be only proper to pose the question:

Where do you want to go? If you had an unlimited budget and could just run off someplace, where would you go? Why? And do you have a specific sight you’d like to see?

I’ve always loved travel. I began flying when I was young, thanks to a father who worked for American Airlines. There are so many places I’ve yet to visit and so many things I want to see.

In no particular order, I want to see:

All of America. I want to visit every state, see all the regular touristy things, and then explore the hidden wonders that tourists rarely see. States in particular that top the list are Alaska, Mississippi, Missouri, Hawaii, Tennessee, Florida, and I really want to explore more of New Mexico. (My mom and I did a trip through New Mexico and Colorado before my daughter was born and I’ve been fascinated ever since.)

Outside the U.S., I’d like visit Scotland. Ever since I worked with a woman from Edinburgh, I’ve been wanting to go. I also want to kick around England and Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. Hell, gimme all of Europe while I’m at it.

I’ve said for a million years, I’m going to Australia someday. I will, too. I want to see Uluru, Coober Pedy, the Great Barrier Reef, and visit friends in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. That would lead to the rest of Australasia/Oceana, taking me into Borneo, Sumatra, etc. And of course, I’d have to have a good trip through Asia.

Next, I want to go to Africa. I want to be able to take my time exploring, but I’d also like to be a part of some conservation expedition and some sort of humanitarian effort.

Eventually, I’d want to make my way through South America. Especially to see the Atacama Desert and the Amazon River. It would take a long time, but that’s okay.

As you can see from this quick list, I would happily traipse about the world if I could. I want to see everything, experience everything. It’s a lot to ask, but I want to try it anyway. More than seeing someplace just because it’s beautiful, I would very much like to immerse myself in the local culture, get to know the people, and do something to help those I meet along the way.

For instance, in Australia, I’d like to volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center, help fire victims rebuild their homes, or help them make new memories — take photos of what they still have, the love they share, something like that.

In truly impoverished areas, I’d like to help someone fortify their home, get running water, or find them medical care, immunizations, or something…anything that makes their lives a little easier.

Travel has always been something I’ve loved. I was bitten by the bug early, as I mentioned before. Growing up with a case of wanderlust, I had big, big, HUGE dreams of a passport with stamps from all over the world. One passport would retire quickly, only to be replaced with another, newer, shinier version. I got sidetracked, as most young adults do, and I never really did get to do much in the way of world travel. But I still dream. I still have that urge to go walkabout. Slowly but surely, I’m seeing more of this country, with more destinations jumping in, waving wildly, and beckoning me.

No matter where I go, the physical travel component to the destination itself is only part of the fun. The people, experiences with those I meet or with whom I travel, and what I learn make the journey exciting. There’s so much to learn and I’m too curious to ever turn down the opportunity to discover something new. Even in California, there’s more here than I’ve ever been able to visit and I’m going to do my best to keep finding new places and making new friends.

And now you. Where do you want to go?

That’s right! Get up early and grab your camera for the Project.

I told you all about it the other day. Now it’s time for action.

I’m in Death Valley, but I’ve been planning for this shot since I found out about the project. (Which is why I’m preparing this entry days in advance.)

Don’t forget to set your alarm, take a few photos, and then go back to sleep. You can upload your photos to Flickr or your blog when you’ve had your beauty rest. C’mon. C’MON! You can do this! I know you can. It’ll be fun. Really. I promise.

You know, I put together quick reviews for the blues society. It seems a shame not to share my finds with you, too. I mean, if I like the CDs enough to play them over and over again, it seems like a no brainer to pass along the joy I get from the music. So, here are three quick reviews for your listening pleasure.

J.C. Smith Band — Defining Cool ~ Cozmik Records

Hailing from San Jose, J.C. Smith bursts onto the national scene with a big sound. He’s a man who can fill a room with his mere presence, but it doesn’t hurt that he’s a great vocalist and guitar player, too. This CD is a testament to the influences who’ve helped make him the rising star he is. Only three of the tunes are penned by him, but the covers he includes showcase his talent beautifully. The first few tunes feature a full horn section, deep voice, and a blend of Chicago gruffness with West Coast smoothness, but when he steps away from the horns, he still shines. The way he caresses each tune is what makes him stand out. On Defining Cool, you’ll find no shredding guitars, instead, you get an ably finessed Gibson that both wraps itself around Smith’s vocals and sings alongside him. J.C. Smith and his band are engaging, so plan on listening to this disc over and over again.

Bobby Jones – Comin’ Back Hard ~ Delta Groove Music

He was in Chicago back around the time Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters were The Kings of the Blues, and Bobby Jones made the most of this education, taking on the role of featured singer for the Aces, as well as for the Chicago Blues Union with Mike Bloomfield and others. It didn’t lead to fame and fortune for Jones, though, and he quietly stepped into the shadows and away from the blues. Not one to let his talent go to waste, Bobby Jones worked his voice with some fine Southern Soul singing, even making a bit of a name for himself with a couple of self-produced CDs in the 80s, and then again in the 90s with the song “Somebody Stole My Freak” (under the name Bobby Jonz). Luck smiled on Jones in 2007, when an old friend, Leon Blue, asked him to come along to a recording session for the Mannish Boys. At some point, Bobby was introduced as a singer and before long, he recorded a couple tracks. This was followed with a few more tunes on the Mannish Boys’ 2008 CD Lowdown Feelin’. Recognizing that there was something special happening, producer Randy Chortkoff worked with Jones to produce Coming Back Hard.

Recorded on tape, the sound is pure Chicago strut and swagger, with bit of West Coast sway. Jones does well by the material, too. He sings every song as if it’s his last song, with all his heart. Comin’ Back Hard is a defining moment in this man’s life. And as long as he doesn’t disappear again, I’d say he’s ready to hit it big. This album, recorded with the Mannish Boys band, give Bobby Jones a chance to rock, howl, and moan his way into the heart of any blues lover. Soulful and rich, Jones is in his element as the spotlight shines on him. Old school through and through, Coming Bark Hard is exactly the album you’ve been waiting for.

Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm – 2 Man Wrecking Crew ~ Delta Groove Music

If you haven’t heard of these two men already, don’t despair, they’re on their way up and they’ll be hard to miss. The unlikely duo are steeped in lessons learned at the feet of legends like R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Otha Turner, and many others playing that hill country blues. On the quality of songs and musicianship alone, this would be enough to ensure them a rightful place on a blues stage anywhere, but they don’t rely solely on their roots or a single influence to “get by”. No, they work in a little of everything and mix it all up like some sort of wild mash hopped up on late night sessions at a juke joint.

For a couple guys playing guitar and drums, one would think there’d be a lot of leftover spaces to fill musically. But get this, there’s plenty of music to fill out every space fully. It’s not just sound — it’s MUSIC. The good kind, too. Even when Jason Ricci adds his blues harp to the mix on three tunes, it’s as spare as anything Burnside or Malcolm offer up. That’s not a bad thing. It doesn’t matter who’s singing, playing guitar, or on drums (they switch off), the fact is, the simplicity of the band allows them to occupy more space, stuffing it chock full o’ ripe goodness that’s just waiting to be picked. All songs on 2 Man Wrecking Crew were crafted by either Burnside or Malcolm, with track #9 (“Stay Here in Your Arms”) owing its true roots to Junior Kimbrough’s “Meet Me in the City” (a grand blues tradition of creating new lyrics for a familiar tune). Kimbrough would be proud. Not every tune is old school hill country blues, though. Factor in some heavy late 60s/early 70s electric blues, a bit of hip-hop, and a dash of funk, and you get something that feels altogether familiar and fresh at the same time.

So how does this translate outside of the studio? Quite well. Having recently seen Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm performing live at the Phoenix Blues Blast, I can tell you this: everything you hear on this disc is the real deal and it only gets better in person. On top of that, they are unfailingly polite Southern gentlemen, making my recommendation of this CD an easy choice. Yes, this is currently my most-played CD, it’s that good.

And for those of you keeping score at home, you’ll remember Malcolm from my trip to Phoenix.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me. I just got an email back from a local photographer who’s looking for an assistant/second shooter. I was afraid she’d reply after I left for my trip, but I lucked out and she emailed before!

I’d really prefer to work with another independent photographer than at one of those mall photography centers. Sure, there’s plenty to be learned there and blah blah blah, but seeing as how I want to go independent myself, I’d much rather work with someone else who is doing what I want to do.

Don’t get me wrong. If I need to go to some cutesy mall photo gig, I will. I would much prefer going this other route, though.

Say a prayer and/or cross your fingers, please!