Flying North

Clouds are not spheres, mountains are not cones,

coastlines are not circles and bark is not smooth,
nor does lightning travel in a straight line.
- Benoit Mandelbrot

My day was spent packing and cleaning for a friend leaving town, so tonight's post is in honor of a special person: Korbin Bennett-Gold. In my attentions, he began as an underclassman I didn't know among the drama kids in high school. Years later, as brother of my friend at the movies, which eventually became brother of my boyfriend. The tides of time come in and out and I now find it true to say Korbin's become a friend of my own, albeit an unconventional one thus far.

Korbin loves to create. He's very into film-making, music connoisseuring, decorating and mixed-media art. He's got a zealous appreciation for nature and people and loves to be in the spotlight. He was, in fact, one of the original inspirer's of this blog, having once asked me what kind of adventures I had. He's years younger than myself, and that does manifest in a lot of ways, but age is a funny thing when you see that it means nothing about a person. Years, what are years? Blinks of an eye. As people age, they only become deeper and more complex and beautiful. Like a fractal. And as for what matters, it's rare to come upon someone who's as kindred in spirit to me as he is.

Most of the time you don't consider the influence of (who seem to be) the smaller role characters in your world. My first goodbye was speechless in both senses of the word. The second I did at least manage to say the most important thing, but again I dumbly lost the words I wanted. I tend to think people don't usually care as much as I do, but I realize now that I nearly never tell anyone my own opinion of them. I gave it thought. Here, though I don't normally labor over words, is what I forgot to say:

I'd been in a horrendously boring rut creatively for a long time post-high school. I must've gotten so used to using art/music therapeutically that when I moved out on my own, left dark places behind and released that pain, I lost my art too.. and hence an important part my soul. It's strange I let it go for so long without knowing what was happening. But the piece I'd lost, if I picked it up, stretched it and molded it in my hands into the shape of a human, I think it would certainly have your name..
I say this because your aura is powerful and permeating - the people around you can feel it. I really can't give a high enough value to seeing the physical apparition of what I knew was missing in me when I so needed a change. To having had an example set for me of someone who unabashedly flaunts their beautiful selves and all the things they are, splashing onto everything, who brings people together, who spreads music and art and love and spontaneity without heed to what will come of it or who'll like it. We should all get in touch with that spice inside us. Living in the moment and viewing life as the beauty and joy that surrounds you is what makes you glow. That is the ultimate happiness, no matter what's going on.. never ever change that. I don't believe the particular people in your life are there coincidentally, so thank you, Korbin, for being an inspiration and always so bright. I am lastingly lighter.

I hope (and know) it'll all go well in Washington! You'll have epic adventures and make new friends and continue learning and growing. I'll come see the pretty place you'll be living (maybe I'll hand-deliver your next scarf). It's sad to see you go, strikingly so... I've built up a big fondness for you. But it's also vicariously exciting to watch you start a new chapter - I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little envious. Have safe travels, keep shining

Goodbye Raptor Free Flight

It's slowly sinking in that my 2-year weekly volunteer job has given to my life in a huge way and that I, sadly, will not be returning in the fall.
Every Sunday I went to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, where I volunteered for the Raptor Free Flight program. Last school year (September to April) was my first season, and this year made my second. On Sundays there is a lovely crew of girls I got to work with: Heather, Chantal and Rita. We've been co-volunteers for both seasons.

So what is Raptor Free Flight? It's a demonstration of native birds and raptors flying free in the desert! Well, not quite that simple. The birds are released and fly over a specific range they've been trained to stay in. Some birds do a lot of soaring, others mostly fly from one snag to another. All are impressive and beautiful. They get rewarded for landing in the right place with a bit of meat ("tidbits," I love this word), and thus they are positively reinforced as the method of training.

Behind the scenes, the birds stay in the "mew" and are cared for exceptionally by the staff and volunteers.

Their weights are meticulously tracked multiple times per day.

The equipment: hoods and jesses.

Rita in front of the old male barn owl, and Heather/Chantal cleaning an enclosure.

Male Great Horned Owl in the flight enclosure - my favorite bird ever.
Let's see these birds in action! Due credit goes to Heather for the following fabulous pictures.

Great Horned Owl again.

Harris' Hawks: Elegant flyers and graceful landers.

Scarlet Macaw in flight training.

Ravens - birds who are too smart for their own good :P

This is the male Barn Owl, literally light as a feather.

The Ferruginous Hawk is the largest hawk in North America. Being trained to handle this one was my big victory this season.

Grey Hawk, a very cute bird. I mean.... vicious predator... with a uhh... piercing scream. That's it.

Roadrunner. I think this photo may be my favorite Heather took at RFF.

I'll miss RFF, surely. It has taught me so much in terms of animal handling and training, working with many different types of people, patience in all areas, natural history of the Sonoran Desert and the true natures of birds. I have an appreciation for birds I couldn't, and would not, have gotten from anywhere else. On top of all of that, I have it to thank for the three close friendships with amazing people I now have and know will last.

Dandelion Blowin

To mark the beginning of summer, as tradition goes, I got a horrendous sunburn. I now have those creepy-looking triangles on my chest and keep attempting to eradicate them with more sunburn. Hello cancer? Probably.

Dory came over came over for swimming. Woot!

Myself, pre-burn.

Chantal and I went and hiked to Romero Pools, which was gorgeous and flowing.

Nice getaways... peace of mind accomplished.
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OK So Maybe I Just Like Links

I'm listening to my digital music from start to finish, all the way through. Currently I'm on Ani and remembering how much her music means to me. I'd love to post an old drawing I made of her, but it isn't scanned. That would be a nice project for the summer.. since I often seem to want my art online.

Again I'm finding creation to be a necessary means to an end. More like requisite. Here's a painting I made recently:

It isn't my best work, but didn't turn out bad. I screwed in some hooks and a mount and made it a key holder. Another of my pipe dreams is to get an Etsy account up and running one of these days and fill it with homemade creations of some variety.

The comic on top (you'll need to click it to read it, that's as large as I can post with resolution) is something new I'm into called The Abominable Charles Christopher, a cute and inspiring weekly webcomic that is as aesthetically beautiful as it is heartfelt and funny. I highly recommend starting at the beginning in the archives menu and reading it in its entirety. The creator's style is like a modern-day Dr. Seuss.

I've been watching trillions of Netflix instant movies. The level of cool it is to have a movie store in your own bedroom is even above Wayne Newton's dance while singing Danke Shoen (oooh, contest me!). I can't get enough. Plus it passes the time when you need a new best friend.

I radiate with the glow of fresh freedom, like a newborn flower blossoming, pulling in love
around me,
and all I want, really...

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