over the river times ten

a good friend of mine has a loved one in prison. on saturday stitch and i drove her out to Blythe, Ca for visiting hours. we had nothing but free time from 8 am to 3 pm. at a nearby liquor store, i talked with a man who suggested driving through quartzsite, az, which was just up the way.

this sign was about the most interesting thing in quartzsite... and the very nice english couple we met in an AM/PM. they were headed out to tombstone for a wedding. they were kind enough to invite us along, if i cleaned out their car first...

this is Parker Dam. here is stitch playing vanna white. it was pretty hot out. the single public bathroom didn't have a lock on the door. the man monitoring the dam must've thought we were a couple of nut cases, we were goofing off so much...

there are turn-outs all along the winding mountain roads that overlook the river. we pulled off on one and decided to go hiking. finally made it to the top of a mini-mountain and had a rock throwing contest. stitch was sitting to my right, so i couldn't get a full rotation as i threw... otherwise, i would've totally wasted his butt!!! (um, yeah, that's it...)

by the end of our adventure, we had crossed the colorado river ten times, drove through lake havesue, and ate a bunch of junk food (mostly diet soda and sun chips. and some jack in the box). i have two new pretty rocks.

we also did a lot of talking. about the kids, about taking more trips, and about me starting work (hopefully) soon. there were times that i was giddy and optimistic about life and love, and times when i was tired and found myself brooding on things that have been weighing heavily on me lately.

one of these particular times i fell alseep. that's when stitch's inner photographer emerged and decided to be a bit creative with the props...

i'm so gonna get his ass back...

AND he friggin' kept a poker face for the rest of the trip until later on at home i went through the camera...

juggling with dilemas is like wading through mud for me. i just want someone to sedate me and wake me when the toughest part is over. what a brat, huh? there is so much you learn about another person if you just take the time to listen and pay attention.

then it gets really scary. then the other person starts figuring you out, too.

i feel so naked...