Bragging Rights

Al helped me write this blog post back on November 17th and I haven't posted it yet. I could easily add in bragging rights for spending time in Mississippi and Asheville; however, this is a purely Hueco Tanks Bragging Rights List. Here goes:

Being Here

"Spelunking" to see cave art

(These scratchings below were done by "stagecoach taggers"… when the stagecoach came through here, we saw that someone named Mary got together with a certain James Jolley in 1887 in a tucked away hole... hmm, racy.)

Many laughs per hour.

Climbing steep stuff

Pulling off the coolest scab ever (we had a really gross description of it, which I'll share for those interested)… flaps on fingers… finding the silver lining in topical maladies. I don't have photos of this one...

Eating incredible Santa Barbara organics everyday. Avocados, Japanese tomatoes (gram for gram the best food ever), garlic everything else...

Surviving a Texas-sized wind storm in my tent

Dance parties with the best 2 year old dancer (and her mama, who is not only cool, but also a great dancer, too...)

Not clocking in.. tan maintenance

Games: Boggle (inventing new words such as vell and ditwit) and Rock Ranch Rummy

The best birthday party ever…(poor Tessa was upset with the piñata activity)

Fixing the piñata. The Rock Ranch manager told Tess, “It’s okay baby, tape is cheap”

AND THE BIGGEST BRAGGING RIGHTS EVER!!! I, Katherine Dunn, became the object of affection of a bonafide male porn star.

Yes, Al found out about this crush's career while looking for climbing videos on his computer. Our porn friend said, "You want to see some of my work?" And the thumbnails were enough.

We learned much about Ron Jeremy's depression; several erectile disfunction drugs ("Oh, that one will be full on and then nothing... it doesn't last"); and other ins and outs of the industry (pun intended).

This MPS knows some famous starlets, and gave us advice about writing and selling porn scripts for big money. I'll finally use my English degree!

He asked Al how to "score" me; I was glad when Al convinced him that it wouldn't be a good idea to visit my tent. We had several jokes about porn, especially when walking past large sausages in Target, but I have a real respect for this guy who is more than his big profession. On the night of the great birthday party, he poured out his story to us.

Hearing about his life gave me pause to even brag that he had a crush on me. I hope that I have respected him in this blog while still relishing in the novelty of this encounter.

This is me and the porn star. Just kidding. I didn't want to publish a photo of him (I think he's shy), so this is a photo of Al and me posing as porn stars.

Except that we have clothes on.

And that we look more like teenagers in an afterschool club trying to be tough. Or something completely different? I think that even Mary and James Jolley would laugh at this attempt to look sexy.

I'm glad to be home, but really think there was powerful energy in that pocket of desert.

montage for now.

Here is the holiday parade.

Yes, that is a fake campfire.

Yes, those are kayaks (and climbers hanging off the back, which you can't see).

Yes, that is a little caver inside of the float. Yes, we were so excited. Okay, I was so excited.

Here are a few from Hueco Tanks.

Tessa has the best style in the house.

Thanks for giving. On the swing with my favorite P.

With my favorite P's Momma. Wow. She is so wonderful.

It's good to play spades with the Momma on your side. We had creative ways of passing information. How much to bid? Let's just sing, "Three fat turkeys are we... we spent all night in a tree..."

Back now. Back to work and to a quiet house. Much reflection and little sleep.

December 3

So much between November 16th and December 3rd.

It is appropriate that Mrs. R urged me to change my profile quote from "I am trying to pay attention" to "I am paying attention."

In a daze of the fullness of life lately.

For now, I am focusing on advent and thinking, "Hush, little heart."