Traveler Amid the Red Rocks of Sedona 12/16/09

Well, we are back in Sedona, AZ, for another art showing in the Goldenstein Gallery. It's much colder here now than it was last time we came. There is even some snow up on the peaks.

Today, we decided to get out and take a Jeep tour with Pink Jeep Tours...

Our Jeep. She's pink and she is beautiful...

We headed out to do the Broken Arrow trail and then to see some ancient ruins!

We are in the Coconino National Forest...

The red rocks are just breathtaking!

I just love looking at all of the scenery...

That is Submarine Rock out there in the middle of the green trees.

A close up of Submarine Rock. I climbed on it.

The Jeep went up and down incredible trails, it was so much fun! This is a trail we drove down.

Here is a Prickly Pear cactus that has been eaten by Javalinas! Javalinas are wild pigs, I tried to find one but they were nowhere to be seen. I wonder if they look anything like Jimmy Dean?

This is a cliff dwelling called Palatki. It was inhabited by the Sinagua People who built the dwelling in approx 1100 ad. They are the same people who built Montezuma's Castle which I visited on my last trip.

See the dwelling?

This is a painting called a Pictograph. It is thought that the white circle painting was used as a sort of family crest which belonged to the people who lived in these particular set of rooms.

From time to time, rocks still break off and fall from the cliffs. Here is one piece that looks ready to fall at any moment! "Ah, Sally, hold up there, I think your shoe is untied..."

Afterwards the Girls brought me to Mickey-D's. The Sedona McDonald's is the only one not to have yellow arches! In Sedona the arches are turquoise. It was thought the yellow would clash with the red rocks. I like the blue!

Traveler Explores Chicago's Field Museum 12/5/09

We had some time off during the day, so I took the Girls into Chicago to the Field Museum.

This is Sue, a T-Rex. Sue is famous, just like me. While I am known for my cuteness and insight, she is famous for being the most complete and best preserved T-Rex skeleton ever found!

The Girls insisted in going to watch a 3D movie about Egypt, but Sally forgot to get me some 3D glasses of my own. Now I have a headache...

Back outside, I checked out an early horse skeleton. Looks a lot like Charlie...

These are the Man Eating Lions of Tsavo! These two mane less male lions killed approx 35 people in 1898 in Kenya! "Oh Sally, come on over here for a moment. I have something I would like you to see. Here kitty, kitty, kitty ..."

After Sally didn't show up, I headed off on my own to discover more cool things in the museum. This is a Crow headdress. How beautiful!

The Field Museum has a large collection of authentic Indian clothes. "Excuse me sir, is that horse hair or human hair hanging from that shirt?"

This is my favorite part of the museum...

Look at this beautiful dress- those are Elk teeth used as decorations.

This is a huge Bison, as you already know, they were extremely important to the Native Americans.

Later that night, it was off to work. I manned the beaded horseshoe area of the table. We have made almost $500.00 for the Shiloh Horses so far with the shoes.

Joe and I stood by as Tony's Security while he signed. Tony and I worked and signed for five hours straight last night!

During my break (and after I briefed Joe about security protocol), I met a new friend. This is Domo and he lives in the theater's limo where he brings Good Luck.

We rested and chatted a bit by the fire...


But, it was a long, long day and I was tired. So were Jill's feet, so I guarded her shoes until we were ready to go home...

Traveler in Chicago

Here I am in The Windy City, and I will tell you it is FREEZING! Tony and I are in town to do some book signings and movie screenings. But, I had a few hours off and decided to get out and see some sights...
I found myself on State Street- that great street, I just want to say, they do things they don't do on Broadway... Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town...

We were up in the Trump Tower for some press. Look at that view! You can see where the Chicago river flows into Lake Michigan. Did you know that the name Chicago came from a French translation of Native American word, shikaakwa, which means "wild onion"?

I went outside to get a closer view of the Chicago River...

Here is a plaque commemorating the French explorer La Salle's journey down the river in December 1681. They must have been so cold in their wet buckskins!

Here is the site of Fort Dearborn, built in 1803. It's right off of the river and Michigan avenue.

Plaques in the street and sidewalk show where the fort actually stood.

Sally and I went into the fort to see if we cold get warm. We couldn't...

This statue by the fort depicts the Fort Dearborn Massacre in 1812.