Yesterday I met a fellow photographer, and we walked in the Bosque. It was a fantastic hour in nature. ... and the area was beautiful. The cottonwood trees were aglow with the afternoon sunlight, and the sky looked as if it was raining cottonwood fluff all about us.

I am having a hard time. I feel as if everything is a mess... and I get caught up in other people's drama far too easily. I need a break. I need to re-focus and re-charge my energy.

Normally, it would not be a huge task to just run off for awhile.... but there are commitments, money is tight, and it's hard to get moving and get around when the melancholy of life is coursing through your body.

In an effort to relieve some of this; the daughter and I went to Flying Star today. For the cost of a couple cups of tea ... we spent a couple hours relaxing, reading magazines... and talking about food/ culture/ art. We were also able to enjoy the air conditioning; as our swamp cooler is on the fritz.... it was nice.

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse."... Helen Keller