JANUARY 2009!

Looks like we’re back in 2009, lazier than ever, but with pictures that must be shared.

I think I’ll adopt the same format as I did in later months, posting between 10 and 15 photos for each month rather than 28-31. It isn’t quite the same, but it’s the best I can do with this life I’m leaping.

Cups

In tarot reading, cups are traditionally signs of prosperity or plenty. Here they demonstrate a gathering of wonderful friends, each with their own cup. To be filled in this case with mulled wine to accompany a fantastic meal.

Ecumenical

I’ve got all these little figurines, these little gifts from all over the world. They like to play together when I’m bored.

35

Then we hit the road. 35 runs straight down from Minneapolis all the way down to Oklahoma City, and we drove it all, past barren snowfields, wind turbines, turnpikes, cities, and a big full moon. Out of the snow to sleep in a tent.

66

This is the original Route 66, the Mother Road of America. Somewhere out in nowhere, Oklahoma, it lies along the regular road, which lies along Interstate 40, which killed countless small towns.

Trinity

The full moon followed the shadow of our car near Carrizozo, New Mexico, as we tried to find the Trinity test site.

White Sands

White Sands Park in New Mexico is easily one of the most incredible places I have ever been. Miles of white dunes rising out of nowhere, swallowing everything. Soft and warm and barren and beautiful.

Shadows on the Wall

Waking up in a crappy hotel room in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Glad to shower and be rid of the sand and grit of sleeping in a tent for three days. This has got to be one of my most favorite pictures.

Arizona

They’re always saying “Take only pictures, leave only footprints”, but guess what Arizona, I left my handprint at the Grand Canyon!

Open Road

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.

-Walt Whitman

Arizona 2

This entire state was beyond comprehension.

Rearview

Before going on this trip I had never seen such long roads, such mountains, such vanishing points. There was not a moment that I was not utterly impressed.

Roadtrips

Orange slice loves the open road, Orange slice loves Mexico.

Sometimes on road trips you go a little crazy.

Shanty

In Minnesota its so cold that you can build elaborate art structures out on a frozen lake. This one is built all of paper. Inside there is a man playing guitar.

Mason Jar

My little fishy, Mockdock. He lived in a mason jar. By now his little fishy soul is in fishy heaven. I had a premonition of his fishy death.

Wood

My good friend Eagan, sitting in his suit in a tool room late one night, singing his songs.

So goes January.