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The Hollywood concept shorthand for Todd Graff's semi-autobiographical musical comedy may be Fame-meets-Meatballs, but the film (nominated for the Grand Jury prize at the '03 Sundance Film Festival) has an energetic musical heart all its own. The original songs of Michael Gore (the original Fame) and Lynn Ahrens (Schoolhouse Rock, the Broadway adaptation of Ragtime) revolve around poles of upbeat gospel fervor ("Here's Where I Stand," "How Shall I See You Through My Tears") and introspective ballads ("I Sing For You"), while the score's choice of covers initially echo those concerns via Todd Rundgren's "The Want of a Nail" and the Stones' "Wild Horses," respectively. But the teen-voiced covers of Sondheim's middle-age missive "The Ladies Who Lunch" and Bacharach/David's loopy "Turkey Lurkey Time" also underscore its youthful sense of anything-goes abandon. The pop songs that round out the collection are a well-chosen and emotionally sympatico lot, especially the Replacements' "Skyway", the Wonder Stuff's "The Size of a Cow" and even Warren Wiebe's weepy ballad "I Believe in Us." This enhanced CD features include behind the scenes footage, film trailer, cast photos, and bios. --Jerry McCulley

My youngest son had six days off from his flying job, right when John, Ed, and I were taking our 2008 "road trip" down from Washington State. So, he tossed his hiking and camping gear into his Jeep and headed up from his Phoenix area home to join the old men for a few days. He didn't have any trouble at all keeping us with the "old men" on our hikes.

We are camped at campsite #1. The truck/camper in the background belong to a nice couple from Las Vegas. They are in campsite #2 and in my opinion the best site of the ten (views).

Since I snore so hard at night (according to reliable reports from friends and kin), all do their best to locate their tents as far from my yellow North Face Mountain 24 tent, as they can. Only thing I heard all night was a persistent camp owl. I always sleep well, it is the others who don't (when camped near me).

Ed's folding camp stove (seen on the picnic table) boiled the water we needed for freeze dried meals, oatmeal, hot chocolate, and the likes. As is my custom, when desert camping, I left the rainfly off my tent and always do, when I can get away with it. The nearly full moon provided a nice soft glow inside the tent at night.

What a wonderful way and place for a father and son, to be able to spend a few quality days together.

NOTES: Toroweap overlook is around 4,000 feet, the lowest point you can drive to the rim of the Grand Canyon. The Colorado River is at 1,640 feet at Lava Falls Rapids down river from the Toroweap overlook. The drop to the river at Toroweap (a.k.a Tuweep) is pretty much straight down.

Vulcan's Throne is a volcanic cinder cone visible just to the south of Toroweap, on the same side of the canyon. It was formed 75 to 100 thousand years ago and it is the volcanic activity that makes this part of the canyon so interesting (and lava falls rapids so wicked).

Geologist figure that lava flows poured into the canyon and totally blocked the river at least a dozen times. A large lake was sometimes formed behind the lava dams, until the river would finally break through. For 75 miles down river from Toroweap, you can see the evidence of this lava flow activity.

The Grand Canyon is measured in river miles starting at Lee's Ferry (mile 0) all the way down to Pearce Ferry above Lake Meade.
Phantom ranch is between mile 87 and 89. Toroweap is near mile 176. Lava falls rapids are at mile 179.5, and so on.

If you love history and a great adventure tale, read "Sunk without a sound" by Brad Dimock. It is well written and will give you a unique pause for thought, as you gaze down upon lava falls rapids from Toroweap.

It is the story of Glen and Bessie Hyde, who in 1928 took a Salmon River style double sweep boat (scow) down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.

They didn't wear life jackets and likely fell overboard and drowned at the rapids at mile 232, but they definitely made it through lava falls and photos they took of each other, indicated they were alive and well at mile 217 near Diamond Creek. GREAT STORY.

1955. Josie with Liz McCord (Dad's cousin?), eating at the long, mess hall-style table at the camp. Note the fold down toaster in the front left of the picture. That was still in use in the mid-70s at the Camp.