03-02 Utah 2003

HOODOO SENTINALS It struck me funny that these three guys should just be standing around here, as if on watch -- or perhaps resting! I know how you feel, guys.

"CLICK, CLICK, CLICK . . . " As I was walking through the woods at the bottom of the hike, I kept hearing this soft clicking sound everywhere, sounding like a slowly tilted rainstick. My curiousity aroused, I stopped and listened very carefully, following the sound to its source. And what should I find making it than this tiny little cicada, less than an inch long overall. How funny. The ones we have in Texas are almost twice this guy's size and make a grating screeching sound that can drive you bonkers, especially when there are dozens of them going off at the same time. I hated using the flash to take this shot, but he had a shadow going right across his head.

RAINSTICK For those out there who are unfamiliar with rainsticks, here's a photo of mine. I've had several of these things over the years, as I find the sound they make very soothing. (One I bought for someone years ago for Christmas actually saved my sanity during an all-day marathon shopping spree. I kept it and bought them something else.) They're originally from Chile, and were thought to be used in ceremonies to call rainstorms during times of drought, and are made from cactus stems. The spines are removed and inserted into the stem, then the stem is sealed on one end and a small quantity of beads or seeds is added. The other end is then sealed and the rainstick is left to dry. When dry, the beads or seeds strike the spines, causing the tinkling sound. Try one out sometime.