Only two nights left of work this week. At least I don't have to run around doing a bunch of errands today before work. I just have some housework, and then work, so maybe I will have a bit more energy. I am also a bit letdown, of course, because our trip is over.

Just a few odds and ends that didn't make it into the entries, but I would like to remember.

Danlo and Lady Tam have a lovely home and yard. She grows herbs and flowers, and he has Tibetan prayer flags on one of the walls of their backyard/garden. It is very warm and welcoming there. Jam is a VERY sweet dog, and their two kitties, Samkitty and Chanel, are delightful. It is a true home, not just a house. And their yard is home to many lovely little hummingbirds.

All of my playing with Fist's (Highdrake's) head with the Dune Encyclopedia payed off on Friday night. I will let him fill in the details.

Birdy is every bit as sweet in real life as she is on the web. She and her hub are a very cute couple, and both are very nice.

Caamora is drop dead gorgeous, intelligent, and very funny. She asked great questions at the Donaldson interview!

I haven't gotten to the day in question yet, but Danlo took us to a really cool store in Albuquerque, where I found what shall always be known as the Fist & Faith Memorial Socks. They have little chili peppers all over them, and also have the words

Day Five

Got up early today to run Caamora to the bus station along with Variol Farseer and Damelon. (John's online name is Damelon, just as mine is Duchess). We had dropped her off (and saying goodbye to people really sucks ) and were driving back to the hotel, when the poor lady called my cell phone to say that her bus might be overbooked. I asked Damelon to turn around and go back, so back we went. There was no way that any of us were going to leave a possibly stranded person at a bus station. It turned out that the bus was also running quite late. But in the end, we saw her safely off (did I mention that saying goodbye to people really sucks?)

Then it was time to go find Andelain in the Jemez Mountains. We took three cars, me and my family in my baby Jeep, Danlo and Birdy and Leper Messiah in Danlo's SUV, and Fist, Variol Farseer, and Damelon in the Lordsmobile (two High Lords and their haruchai protector ) At this point, besides Caam, we had lost Romeo (who I didn't get a chance to talk to very much, but seems like a great guy), Markjeffrey (another I didn't get a chance to talk to much), Soulquest (yet another person I didn't get a chance to talk to very much), and Amok (who I didn't even know was there at the dinner until Danlo brought it up on another day!). (and did I mention that saying goodbye to people really sucks? )

Our first stop was to fill up on gas and at that stop we bought fresh, hot Indian fry bread. YUMMY!

We then went to a secret place in the mountains that Danlo knew about. It was a place where they had carved tunnels in the hill, that overlooks rapids and waterfalls. It was lovely there -- so lovely, we all wanted to stay -- but Danlo told us even better things were coming, so we continued our drive up into the mountains.

Our next stop was something called a soda dam. Somehow (possibly elements released through the just upstream hot springs?) a big dam had naturally formed across the river, and the river had cut caves through it. This was a totally cool place. Fist climbed right up the side of the cliff barefoot! And of course, my little son decided to climb up right after his pie buddy. Birdy and her hub and my older son explored the caves. We all took lots of pictures. What a great place!

A lot of the national forest up the road from the dam was closed due to the horrible fire danger. But Danlo pointed out all sorts of places, like where he and his Lady like to go camping, and where to go to get down to the hot springs and a pretty waterfall. But the most awesome place of all was still ahead -- ANDELAIN!!!!!!!

We just stood there in the calderra in absolute awe. There are no words. (takes off Elohimfest baseball cap and bows head)

We then returned to Danlo's home, where we had a delicious dinner, and a costume party. And we talked and talked and talked and talked. About the dinner and Donaldson's answers to our questions, and we also had a great discussion going about The One Tree. We also all took turns talking to Joy on the phone. Wish she could have been there!!!!!!