Michael and I were on the move again this weekend. We left work early on Friday and went camping at the Valley of Fire.

It had to be the most amazing place we have been camping. The deep red sandstone formations jetting out of the ground are truly breathtaking. Our campsite was tucked into a small sandstone formation and we were surrounded by these dunes filled with wind blown caves and holes.

We met our neighbors Saturday afternoon and ended up partying with them around their campfire until the early hours of the morning. As it turned out they are two artist from different states that meet in the past at an art show. They have been planning this trip for some time now. They were very interesting guys, and they even have web sites I can share

Kris Sacksteder, (Weird Woods) is from Seattle and he has been selling his wood art at Pike Place Market, a place I have been to several times now, and he’s been there for 20 years. I can’t wait until the next time I am there to say hi, and see his wood work!

David Gibson, (David Gibson Ceramics) is from Salt Lake City, soon to be Sante Fe. I was very fascinated at hearing him tell how he creates his wheel-thrown Raku fired pottery, and it’s so beautiful! We will definately be visiting his new studio he is building in Sante Fe, New Mexico.

As always…Valley of Fire pictures can be seen in the Just Julie’s Photo Gallery. ENJOY!

What is this…the 5th season…the 6th??? I got so into this show during the Kelly Clarkson era that I thought there could never EVER be a better winner than she was. I remember being just blown a-freaking-way by her (and I still do when I watch her perform). But where on earth have these contestants been hiding?

WOW!

Taylor Hicks is the next American Idol! I sat here on my bed CLAPPING when he was done with his performance as if I was sitting in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium watching him live. I got soooo excited during his interview when he said he was going to sing Levon and I immediately recognized it as an Elton John song.

I’ll really be showing my age now, but that album was one of my favorites growing up. The sound of Elton’s voice coming from that scratchy, dust clogged needle on the vinyl…Levon, Tiny Dancer…OMG! He picked one of the greatest songs EVER.

Having said that…CAST YOUR VOTES! These are my favorites so far…

GIRLS:

• Paris Bennett: 866-IDOLS-05
• Katharine McPhee: 866-IDOLS-12
• Kellie Pickler: 866-IDOLS-02
• Ayla Brown: 866-IDOLS-04
• Lisa Tucker: 866-IDOLS-10

BOYZ:

• Chris Daughtry: 866-IDOLS-06
• Elliot Yamin: 866-IDOLS-09
• Ace Young (and his brother - HOTTIE!): 866-IDOLS-11
• Taylor Hicks: 866-IDOLS-12

Oh this week has been hell. I have been so tired, achy, and just plain not well at all. I have 1 fever blister, 2 cold sores, and another one on its way. My monthly visitor, Aunt Flow, has kicked into high gear making me totally forget the last couple months that I thought maybe I was going to come around and have normal visits again. And my neck…OH MY GOD…my neck feels like someone has shoved a large knife in the base of it and every now and again gives it a little twist that shoots pain from each shoulder, back and forth. Someone take me out back and just shoot me puhleasssse!

I’ve been getting plenty of rest, eating right, and we’re on the go every single day so it’s not like I am sitting around getting no exercise whatsoever. I’ve even been walking to get food at lunch instead of driving for it. I’m down to ONE soda a day and sometimes I don’t have one at all. I’ve been drinking enough water to cover my entire families recommended intake for the day. So yeah, I have no idea why my immune system is telling me that it hates me right now. I thought I was being kind to it.

I went to the doctor on Friday and she ordered X-rays on my neck. I had those done and I hope to hear something this week. Aunt Flow is just the bitch she always has been and I just have to deal with her. And I have to play the waiting game for the cold sores to go away.

Maybe I just need a vacation. Anybody want a house guest? I promise I won’t bitch and moan too much.

Michael found this book at REI about a month ago, Touring California and Nevada Hot Springs by Matt C. Bischoff. After looking through it we decided that we must visit the Gold Strike Hot Springs that is only about 5 miles from our house.

After the long, and sometimes treacherous, hike we made it to the hot springs. We set up camp while the boyz immediately jumped in and enjoyed the hot water. Soon after they came back with the look of shock in their faces. Apparently the older couple that was setting up camp next to us had gotten completely naked and got into the hot springs. Their two young children, in swimming suits I might add, soon followed.

It was just too much for three pubescent boyz to grasp so they spent the rest of the trip basically hanging around our camp site which was blocked from the main pool by a large boulder.

Michael and I got in the springs, with swimsuits thankyouverymuch, and really did enjoy being in the middle of this canyon, with jetting rocks reaching hundreds of feet in the air surrounding us. The family was very nice and we soon forgot they were naked underneath the water.

We spent a good portion of the night in the hot springs and eventually decided to try it sans swimming suits after everyone was out of the pool and sound asleep in their tents. We put tea lights all around the rocky edge and it was very beautiful with the flickering candles and the moon above.

I didn’t sleep very good at all, and I have no idea why. The weather was perfect and all, but I just kept waking up all night long about every 30-40 minutes. The sun came up around 6:30 AM and we decided to just get up and stop fighting it. We were all sitting around our camp site eating bagels and cream cheese when this older man came running down the trail all smiling and happy. The other family was already enjoying the pool and he asked them if he could join them. They said sure, hop in! He stripped down naked and got in the water. Not to soon after that the hot springs was filled with naked people.

I looked at Micheal, he looked at me, and we looked at the boyz. All three of them said, it’s time to go mom. We packed up and hiked the two miles back to the car.

I bought a pedometer at Walmart on Friday night before our trip that I wore for the whole trip. According to it I made 18,210 steps that equaled out to 8.60 miles. It was set at a 30 inch stride, so I’m not sure how accurate that is for me. I didn’t notice I could change that until right now when I was searching for it so I could link it. My quads are really feeling it. The walking part of the trail was fine. It was the rock climbing that did my legs in.

Overall I had a really good time, I just wish the boyz would have enjoyed it more.

I hear a lot about how people think books are so much better than the internet, but in this case I would have to disagree. A little bit of searching online would have told me that this was an adult only destination, and a very popular past time for the nudist community.

As usual we took a lot of pictures and you can see them here in Julie’s Photo Gallery.

I found this at Amy’s and got to giggling so hard on some of the stories that I had to share it. Here is what you now have to do…

Assignment from your English teacher:

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, (even if we don’t speak often or don’t really know each other) please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me. It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE. When you’re finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON’T ACTUALLY remember about you!

Post away - and be creative!