Sojourn to Arcosanti with Tastes of Sedona Spirituality and Desert Hot Springs Relaxation

Recently took a trip with Megan to visit her friend Jona--welder/hostess extraordinaire--at Arcosanti in Arizona. It was a devilish trip in terms of temperature (with my car's AC compressor biting the dust as evidence, but shout outs to Dean's Auto Repair in Phoenix for a day-of fix) but boy was it nice to taste and feel the heat, a mere mortal humbled. We had a great time despite the car setback and the "arcology" of Arcosanti, Paolo Soleri's passion project, was truly inspiring: with domed ceilings and fluid block construction with elements of sci-fi spirituality providing lush backdrops for the pervasive golden light. Definitely worth a visit. Sedona was an hour-away day trip and the options for hiking, vortex cleansing, crystal shops and thrift boutiques were impressive. Highly recommend Chocolatree for lunch or vegan-sweet-treat delighties!

Stopping at The Spring in Desert Hot Springs for an afternoon soak in their myriad of pools and then Rooster and the Pig for dinner in Palm Springs capped off our trip on Sunday.

Some of my favorite photos below, shot on my FujiFilm X-T2 and Polaroid OneStep 2.

Faces of: JITV @ Monterey Pop 50th Anniversary

Had a nice weekend in Monterey, California with happy families, nostalgic couples, buzzy colleagues and beautiful sunshine with a touch of heartbreak.

My grandmother--Pop Pop Jane--passed away on Friday and my mother called me mere minutes after Charles Bradley's set concluded, at which he proclaimed that his battles with cancer and chemo would never stop him from spreading love out into the world. I weeped silently against a wooden fence, as my recently purchased Lamb Curry cooled on the service counter. I could picture my mother and aunt at her bedside, as summery wafts from the lilac bush blew into her room through the open window. She went peacefully. A sporty red (PPJ's go-to car color) hearse came and it was deemed fitting. I saw a group of butterflies fluttering underneath a tree later on in the day and I couldn't help but think they carried her spirit with them. She was always partial to butterflies and birds and presumably, most winged creatures. She was a stand-up lady, quick to laugh and make others laugh too.

The loving community and quality musicianship at the festival, along with the support of my colleagues (thanks for the otter shirt from the aquarium, y'all!), helped me get through the weekend with a smile, of which I am more comfortable wearing than bearing an overarching sadness. I'll always cherish the memories I have with PPJ, and they flooded back ten fold this weekend as I processed this life change amidst smiling families, music-loving couples and friendly artists.