Take it on the Road

Today was a very different day at work for me. Usually, I sit at my desk and work through the day, sometimes taking a short lunch break to run errands. Today, we went on a road trip, to our other office, in another city, for a meeting.

Four of us drove to Gallup in one of the company cars, a Jeep Cherokee. Since I wasn't driving, I brought along my camera. It's about a two hour drive so while we talked, I took pictures. I'm sure the others thought I was crazy for taking so many photographs. ;) I considered it a great opportunity to practice taking landscape shots from a fast moving car. Be prepared for a lot of photos. I know many of you are not familiar with New Mexico landscapes but I hope I don't bore you. Also, do keep in mind that our average speed was 65 and these were shot through the window glass.

Here we go, heading west.This is one of the Native American pueblos along the way.

I like this little homestead. What a view they have!Here's an old adobe house.
The morning shadows were striking on the sandstone formations.There were small homesteads all along the way.
The blurry black stuff in the front is lava rock. This area, near Grants, is the outskirts of the Mal Pais, the Badlands.
We saw lots of very long, colorful trains that didn't quite fit in the picture.
Here are some more houses out in the middle of nowhere. It's hard to tell if they were abandoned or still lived in.

Just look at the size and color of these bluffs! Magnificent, aren't they?

The distant rock formation in the top right hand corner is Churchrock. It's too bad I couldn't get a picture without all the power lines.

Here is the other office. I love the rainbow effect down by the planter.This sign is over the front door.

It has special meaning:

O you who dwell In the house made of the dawn,

In the house made of the evening twilight . . .

Where the dark mist curtains the doorway,

The path to which is on the rainbow . . .

I have made your sacrifice.

I have prepared a smoke for you.

My feet restore for me.

My limbs restore for me.

My body restore for me.

My mind restore for me.

My voice restore for me.

Today, take away your spell from me.

Away from me you have taken it.

Far Off from me you have taken it.

Happily I recover.

Happily my interior becomes cool.

Happily my eyes regain their power.

Happily my head becomes cool.

Happily my limbs regain their power.

Happily I hear again.

Happily for me the spell is taken Off.

Happily I walk.

Impervious to pain, I walk.

Feeling light within, I walk . . .

In beauty I walk.

With beauty before me, I walk.

With beauty behind me, I walk.

With beauty below me, I walk.

With beauty all around me, I walk.

It is finished in beauty.

It is finished in beauty.

It is finished in beauty.

Traditional Navajo Prayer

Tomorrow, I will show you the inside of our office, definitely not the traditional working environment.

Take it on the Road - song: Always Crashing in the Same Car, artist: David Bowie, album: Low