Southern California, Fall 2009

You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It's just a matter of paying attention to this miracle.

-Paulo Coelho

More Fall...Utah 2009

Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive--the risk to be alive and express what we really are. Just being ourself is the biggest fear of humans.

-Don Miguel Ruiz

Alpine Loop, Utah, 2009

Can you walk on water? You have done no better than a straw. Can you soar in the air? You have done no better than a fly. Conquer your heart; then you may become somebody.

-Ansari of Herat

"Heber Creeper" Railroad Track Walkabout, Fall 2009

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I . . . I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

I couldn't help but think of this quote while on the tracks yesterday:

"Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." --Gordon B. Hinckley

crazy looking caterpillar

Early Fall, Utah 2009

The Lord doesn't put us through this test just to give us a test: He does it because the process will change us. -Henry B. Eyring

I chose to get off of the mountain after this one...

Lightning/thunder storm over Timp, watching from Squaw Peak trail

Costa Rica, '09

If I feel depressed I will sing.
If I feel sad I will laugh.
If I feel ill I will double my labor.
If I feel fear I will plunge ahead.
If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice.
If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.
If I feel incompetent I will think of past success.
If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.
Today I will be the master of my emotions.

-Og Mandino

wild squirrel monkey

curious squirrel monkey in the wild

toucan in the wild

tree frog

hoffman's sloth in the wild

howler monkey in the wild--man, they're loud!

humming bird and crab

mother and baby howler monkies chilling in the wild

the man who happened to find my stolen camera lens in the jungle...?

baby howler leaping to mother

HUGE grasshoper

colorful crabs are running all over Costa Rica

!!! One of the kids who tried to rob us--his buddy pulled a fat knife out on us. Because I took this pic, we were able to identify him as "Franklin's Stepson" (the town's pastor). whoops.