The MIM

We planned a trip to Phoenix to hear a concert (more about that later) and umm well we had no plan for the rest of the trip or how long it should be, other than lunch with my awesome cousin Heather and her great hubby Brian. For my birthday my hubby surprised me with a PLAN, we were going to the Music Instrument Museum, he figured with a camera in hand I would have a great time as would he. Boy was he right! I took over 700 pictures but don’t worry I edited it down to just a few favorites.

Just a few favorite things

• Cool headphones that use blue tooth technology so you can wonder where ever not in order.
• Hands on room (go in there after 2 or so when the daily field trips are over)
• Instruments from all regions of the world.
• High Tech and Low Tech at it’s best
• Videos that showed the instruments in action.

Who knew an accordion could be so beautiful
In contrast yes real snakes died for this
Make due with what you've got!
Look at the detail the frets of this lute are made with string.
Question: Can you guess what to moving parts are?
A: Vertebra! Who knew the spine could be so beautiful!

I loved the detail of the rings in this drum

A glimpse of India's display notice the TV there were 4 videos of different instruments in the display. This one one also included native masks.
Beautiful Bells
This is a body suit the grasses shake and make music in the islands
After the au' natural above a bit more manufactured in South America (I want to say Brazil but not sure)
Amazing
Check out the beautiful detail of these drums!
They were rocking out in 80's and 90's in Russia too!
Hey look they have a spot just for me!
American Jazz
Native American Drum Circles
Anything can create beautiful music notice the cans are labeled with their notes.
One of the drums form the Beijing Olympic opening ceremonies. It is HUGE
Hubby Playing in the Target Gallery.
Harmonica anyone!
I guess I never thought about where the bag for the bag pipe came from first.
Playing in the hands on gallery

Check out the detail of this music box.
I will leave you with one of my favorite shots!

The MIM was amazing check if you are in Phoenix check it out http://www.themim.org/ it will not disappoint and don’t forget to grab lunch at the cafeteria it is Top Chef good!

Favorite images from SF Avon Walk 2010

Sadly this is the last post of my Avon Walk 2010 crew experience. These are a few of my favorite shots from the weekend.

Awesome Cheerleaders at the finish line

I Love Love the look on these ladies faces

The Tower that is in each city.

Judy one of my favorite walkers. She is a multi city walker and walks with her DSLR (it was seeing her with hers that inspired me to do the same. Judy thank you for sharing your energy to all of those around you!

Carla our team leader with her mom and my friend Jean who was also a team leader at closing ceremonies in the background is Mike.

Jean and Carla supporting each other during closing ceremonies.

If you have been inspired by my post or just have a few dollars laying around many members of my team are walking in Santa Barbra (used to be Long Beach) please go to the Peggy's Spirit sit and help someone out if you so desire.http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/LosAngeles?team_id=78440&pg=team&fr_id=1960

Walkers and Cheer Leaders

The reason we were crewing was to support the real hero's and fundraisers and sometimes even survivors the walkers. Here are some of my favorite pictures of walkers and cheerleaders. I really did try to just pick my favorites!

Cheer leaders at rest stop 5

This little guy giggled every was hanging out in the park on a play date. Every time I rang my cow bell he came closer and was more curious. I asked (with parent permission) if he wanted to ring the bell. He cheered on walkers for 20 minutes or so. His play date was a cutie in a princess dress.

These girls waited patiently for their friend and cheered on every other walker like family. It was so beautiful to see these rays of sunshine keeping the walkers energy up.

There was a fleet of personal vehicles along the route cheering people on with blow hors blasting high energy music, the walkers needed it for those huge hills. This particular van was full of ladies dressed just like their van advertised.

Walkers coming entering our rest stop 21.6 miles of 26.2.

This was the first walker to get to our stop. Way to go Karen! One question though how do you walk that far and still look so fabulous?

I loved the t-shirt on these two amazing walkers. They are from a city in CA known for garlic, their shirt says (save the bulbs)

Amazing outfits gentlemen

Although this team of angles do compute for the cutest outfit in the walk

Hmm maybe it is this guy in the spiffy gold outfit he walked in several people.

Side not the guy in the pink hart hat is Mike from our team in fact his mom is the Peggy in Peggy's Spirit. Mike walked up the route and cheered people on talking and singing his songs.

Moto Crew they are the awesome men and women who help walkers across busy streets. Check out the whirly gig on the back of his bike. I wonder if Moto Crew decorates their bikes like this for Sturgis?

Sweep Vans

These highly festive vans cruise up and down the route picking up injured or exhausted walkers along the route. I have used their services once in Long Beach and I have to say the high energy and cool decorations help distract you from the frustrating fact that your body gave up before reaching your goal.

Set sail with Sweep

The Finish Line

I was so grateful to get into closing ceremonies to see so many amazing walkers finish. When I walk I tend so see the same walkers over the two days since we all have similar paces, and I usually finish near the end, and them I am worried about my own aching body. It was fun to see so many people cross the emotional finish, and cheer them in.

I love the emotion on the faces of these 3 fantastic ladies

Still smiling beautiful

I loved these fans with a theme "Putting a cork to breast cancer"

Watch what happens in the next picture...

Her friend were so proud and happy for her. Way to go!

Read the pink shirt, the lady in white is an amazing friend to do this. Bonus to the walker in pink at least she could not see the hills looming and extending in front of her.

The power of Pink Diva Friends

Families waiting with proud

A special thanks to the San Jose Police/Fire they had many walker I am not sure of the official number but I would guess 20-30 and most of those had a bike cop cheer leader who rode the route, and helped keep the walkers and their co workers safe. San Jose ROCKS!!!

The emotion on this gentleman's face and the picture on his shirt choked me up and most around me.

Mendocino Cancer Resource Center does not just give you care they help fund raise and raise awareness for their patients. Way to go! You can see how hard this route was on their faces. the second lady in makes my shins hurt just looking at her.

Thank you to every walker I and the rest of my team know that you have not only committed to a weekend of walking but also fundraising $1,800+ each walker, training, etc. thank you for raising along with crew 5.5 million dollars this weekend!