home again home again jiggity jig

I got back day before yesterday on the (state ferry) Taku at about 10:30 at night. I'm done traveling for a while, it's a hell of a lot of money spent to be uncomfortable. Too many people, too much noise, too few moments above the survival level.

I took the ferry to Juneau, caught a plane to Seattle and another one to Vegas then did the same thing in reverse after taking some jewelry making classes there. I still hate that city and am developing a hate for air travel. Don't get me wrong, I love to fly over the land and sea in an airplane. I don't, however, love booger eating children and dehydrated germ laden air. The prices have gone up, the seats have gotten smaller and the whole experience more disturbing. On two of the 4 flying legs of my trip, I got to witness small boys fondling then devouring their own nasal extreta. What the hell parents?

The classes were good, I gained some confidence in using art clay silver and fine silver wire. I felt good about using a torch on the wire and think I'll try carving the clay. The instructor for my beginning class, and Cyn's advanced (carving) class in the art clay silver was Gordon Uyehara from Hawaii. He has a natural affinity for the clay that takes away the frantic 'panic, it's going to dry too fast' attitude and replaces it with calm. Carving the clay changes the whole picture from hurry up and mold it to one of almost all of the work is done when it's dry.