tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74391832167164916932024-02-20T12:24:04.154-08:00Living Life Loudly<b>Life List Tracking for a Dizzy Blonde</b><br><br>
<i>Previously: The Home of Project 30 <br> Tracking the progress of accomplishing 30 new things to celebrate turning 30 in 2008.</i>Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-4800471939878322752011-10-18T08:56:00.000-07:002011-10-18T08:56:11.921-07:00Bikram YogaI did Bikram yoga yesterday for the first time and I'm so proud of myself. It was so hard mentally, but I stuck with it and came out so happy I did. The teacher said the only thing for the first time is that I had to stay in the room the whole time, and when I wasn't feeling it, to just do the sit or standing rest position. I spent a lot of time in my sitting position during the standing poses. It was definitely a challenge. I was super thankful I was by the door and that she opened it to the outside a few times, or I don't think I would have ever made it back to doing the postures. By the time we got to the floor postures, I was already an hour in and couldn't believe it. At the end I was definitely whipped by the heat and sweat that waterfalled out of my body. I just let the voice in my head be my teacher, as was suggested by my friend, and ultimately just realized my limits and tried to not push past them. I wish my schedule wasn't so hectic this week so I really could go back and use more of my 10 days, but I am really hoping to make it back again this week at least a few times and definitely see how it could be a good thing for my life. I'm goin'g to need a lot more towels and clothes though because otherwise I'm going to be doing a lot of laundry every week to go regularly. That's some serious sweating. Wow.Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-85369549997118603272011-09-28T08:15:00.000-07:002011-09-28T08:16:56.302-07:00I like tall places.I recently heard on the news about <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/washington-monument-closed/2011/09/27/gIQAfU0g1K_gallery.html#photo=1">the Washington Monument being closed indefinitely due to earthquake damage</a> and was so saddened by that. I traveled to Washington DC as part of the original Project 30 and fell in love with the <a href="http://iveneverproject.blogspot.com/2008/04/project-30-free-museums.html">Free Museums</a>, monuments and this one particular Mexican restaurant that had the best tortilla soup. I was also lucky enough to get up early enough one day to get in line to score a free ticket to the inside and up to the top of the Washington Monument. After having a special moment at the <a href="http://iveneverproject.blogspot.com/2010/01/statue-of-liberty.html">Statue of Liberty</a> and including many of the tall buildings in New York on my trip storming the east, I found myself setting aside my fear of heights and drawn to high places with great views. I felt like this monument was something I couldn't miss. After hearing the news of the closure, it made me even more thankful that I had made that effort to get up that day, even with a persistent cold!<br><br>
Did you know that inside is a brick made of a piece of native stone or granite from each state? As you rise in the elevator, you see out the window shows you the names of the states and the changing textures. It was beautiful. The entire experience was beautiful. It is an iconic monument for this country, and I'm glad I got to visit it.<br><br>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2410273407/" title="Washington Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img alt="Washington Monument" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2410273407_8d5a073d11.jpg" width="375" /></a><br><br>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2411020066/" title="Washington Monument & Reflecting Pool by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img alt="Washington Monument & Reflecting Pool" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2411020066_9a26378c20.jpg" width="500" /></a><br><br>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2414082742/" title="Top of the Washington Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img alt="Top of the Washington Monument" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2045/2414082742_9cbcf11aef.jpg" width="375" /></a><br><br>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2414086872/" title="Top of the Washington Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img alt="Top of the Washington Monument" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2159/2414086872_ae41a41b31.jpg" width="375" /></a><br><br>
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You can <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Monument">read more about the Washington Monument</a> on Wikipedia.Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-86115116387092315392011-09-27T21:56:00.000-07:002011-09-27T21:57:02.737-07:00Sunset.com: 10 places for your life listYay! A new list. Sunset Magazine just published <a href="http://www.sunset.com/travel/outdoor-adventure/top-national-monuments-00418000067408/page14.html">10 western national monuments to visit before you die</a>. <br />
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I've been to ONE already and <a href="http://iveneverproject.blogspot.com/2010/03/pinnacles-national-monument-campground.html">wrote about my visit</a> to <a href="http://www.sunset.com/travel/outdoor-adventure/top-national-monuments-00418000067408/page11.html">Pinnacles National Monument</a>. I look forward to possibly visiting more of these outdoorsy locations in my backyard! Thanks Sunset!Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-28329065786027451712011-08-31T22:43:00.000-07:002011-08-31T23:14:19.885-07:00Living Life Lots. 2011 so far - The DONE list.I know it's traditional to wait until the end of the year to do a wrap up of activities and achievements, but I thought I'd do a check-in now anyway. I've been feeling very busy and perhaps a little too focused on the list of things not getting done and not focusing on the done. I spent some time flipping through the months on my calendar tonight and thought maybe it was time to utilize this space a bit better in tracking how absolutely awesome my life has been. I read an article recently called <a href="http://www.twistimage.com/blog/archives/failing-miserably/">"Failing Miserably"</a> that talked about a similar anxiety and focus on the undone. I realized I need to step back more often and list out the things I'm actually doing, and so here I am taking a look at the last 8 months...<br />
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I can't believe I started the year on the other coast and saw the ball drop in the same actual time zone. That was special. I also tried Borscht for the first time at Russian Christmas with Mike's family before we flew home, and actually liked it!<br />
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Speaking of liking new things, who knew this year would have me buying asparagus and bell peppers without a gun to my head? This is big people. My willingness to try new food and expand my edible horizons this year has been huge with great results. Who would have thunk it?<br />
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I also managed to get Bella to the vet and she didn't claw anyone's eyes out and no one was otherwise permanently scarred (emotionally or physically) in the process. She's healthy, just scaredy.<br />
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Silly but small, but the fact my gorgeous car is alive and well and ahead in payments and up on maintenance is something I'm proud of. I get so much enjoyment out of driving it, it makes me very happy and I'm grateful for it.<br />
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I've seen 18 live music performances this year all over the Bay Area from bands big and small. A special bonus was taking Mike to a Rugburns show at the Belly-up and having him meet so many of my music friends. I've also seen 1 Cirque show, gone to a Sharks hockey game and attended my first music festival, camping out at High Sierra. I still find myself closing my eyes and remembering how it felt dancing to the funk in the sun without a care in the world. I hope I get to go back every year forever. Even though some of the days were hot and long, it was a great vacation together this year and I'm so glad we have those memories.<br />
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I've run in 6 races this year (up from 4 last year) and improved performance overall - 3 half marathons, a 5k, a 12k and a 6 miler. I got 2nd place in the 5k for my age division for the 2nd year and actually stayed to get my medal this time. <br />
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I've had some great times with friends so far. As much as I complain about how busy I am and don't see people enough, I've actually had some very meaningful times this year. I found myself finally hugging a decade old friend from another continent, resuming a playoff football watching tradition with a girlfriend, and camping with two of my closest friends to celebrate Beltane. There was also lots of introducing my man to some of my favorite people for the first time. We found ourselves starting a tradition and celebrated 2 passport wine tasting weekends with friends. It was also the year for meeting quite a few new little ones and celebrating the birthdays of growing munchkins. <br />
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There was a change in plans on the February trip to San Diego where we saw the Rugburns when the snow blocked our chance to see my parents in the mountains. Mike and I embraced the free time to explore San Diego and had an amazing vegan friendly breakfast by the ocean and spent some time exploring childhood memories in corners of Balboa Park. <br />
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I went back to San Diego in May to visit my parents by myself and enjoyed the road trip across California, but had to quickly come back and prepare for my solo adventure to Puerto Vallerta, Mexico. I spent 5 amazing days lounging on the beach, only venturing out of my all-inclusive haven to bravely take on a zip lining adventure. The trip was perfect.<br />
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I came straight back from my vacation into full on birthday mode. It started with an amazing dinner with some close friends. Discovering this tiny, but pricey Italian restaurant last December, I have come to want to call it a favorite but can't justify the splurge often enough to go back, but each meal has been a fantastic memory. Dinner tumbled into a fantastical surprise. When preparing for a wonderful picnic BBQ in the forest with a large group of my favorites people, I was blindsided by the granting of a birthday wish - my friend Shannon from far away was here and going to my picnic too! Tricked by Mike, his trip to drop someone off at the airport was actually an arrival and it made the day that much better. Flustered and excited, I managed to compose myself and get everything set up for our day. It couldn't have been a more beautiful spot and perfect weather for people to drop in and out helping me celebrate. So many friends from far and wide able to connect and meet. Strange how so many people interact so frequently over time because of Facebook, but so neat to see how many people connect and continue to communicate later too.<br />
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June was already in full swing and I found myself driving south yet again to participate in celebrating my awesome cousin's graduation from high school, with the side benefit that the celebrating included a chance to spend some really valuable time with my grandma and my aunt. A trip to a brewery, a museum and an awesome candy store kept us busy.<br />
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I have kicked ass at work this year. At times I've thought I was sacrificing my personal life for work, but I think I've started to find a balance for both. Though I feel like I have been advancing steadily for a decade and earned my place at the table last year, I feel like this is the year I've started to own my skill set and am proving what I can offer with it. I've never worked this hard but it is paying off. This has been the year that everything I've been able to learn has finally been able to come together and I have been able to lead and contribute at a significant level, not just a significant volume. I've had some really successful ideas this year, and put together some great marketing programs that I'm proud of and even snuck in a trip to Comic-Con. I feel like Q3 hasn't even wrapped up and I have a strong year of output shown. Even with everything we accomplished during business hours, we still found time to build bikes for kids and make care packages for soldiers. I'm pretty lucky to have the job I do, but I'm pretty proud of how well I do it too.<br />
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In trying to own my marketing skillz, I took on some new outside projects and helped launch a couple new Wordpress websites. I was also able to get rolling on a couple of my of my own. I had great hopes for the Live Loud Challenge, and really wanted to be leader in encouraging people to make small bolder choices in their lives. While it doesn't get the attention it deserves, the fact I bought my own domain, hosting and set up the whole site by myself was something I was (AM!) really proud of. I now have a second domain that will hopefully be my hub, and was bold and recently swiped up a third URL to park due to a random brainstorm for a new company I may want to start someday. <br />
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I took on the garden for a second year. While I've had some awesome help from Mike a few times, I'm pretty proud that this year I've spent so many hours by myself doing some serious labor. We built one garden box together, but I got all the supplies and then decided it wasn't hard so built a second all on my own. I've weeded and shoveled. While some things have been more successful than others and the experience doesn't come without frustration, the garden is a great accomplishment. I found myself unable to hide my pride when it got compliments for being ready ahead of the group.<br />
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I also just got back from a solo camping adventure in the Sierras. It was a challenge, but a memory I'm happy to have.<br />
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It's been a busy, full year. I've had to say no, I've not seen many of my friends, there were missed chances to travel, go or play. I've spent far too much time concentrating on the list of things that hasn't been accomplished, the people I haven't seen, the projects I wish I had more time for and what I feel like I'm failing at. I'm so glad I spent the last hour dedicated to showing myself that the last 8 months have been this full and wonderful and given myself a reminder to fall back on. It is easy to forget, and important to remember. I really need to stop expecting each post here to be some full report and just write more often to remind myself that <b>this is the life I want.</b> I'm so lucky.<br />
Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-88523470669122441712011-02-08T23:11:00.000-08:002011-08-04T19:55:40.298-07:00Running<i>Last Updated - August 4, 2011</i><br />
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<b>Currently Personal Milestones:</b><br />
10 races: 4 halfs, 3 5k's, 1 12k, 1 5mi, 1 6mi<br />
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PR for Half: 2:25:21 Pace: 11:06 - <i>SF 2nd Half, July 2011</i><br />
PR for 5k: 29:40 Pace: 9:33 - <i>Watsonville Mother's Day Race, May 2011</i><br />
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Best Pace Over 5K distance: 11:02 - <i>SC Wharf to Wharf, July 2011<br />
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<b>San Francisco - 2nd Half Marathon July 2011</b><br />
Bib: 36157 <br />
Overall: 2938 out of 4243<br />
Women: 1399 out of 2365<br />
F 30-39: 493 out of 795<br />
Age/Grade: 45.49% Place: 2883<br />
<b>Finish: 2:25:21 Pace: 11:06</b><br />
Tag Time: 2:25:21 Gun Time: 2:31:02<br />
1.6 Mi: 16:15 Pace: 10:09<br />
6.9 Mi: 1:14:41 Pace: 10:50<br />
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<b>Wharf to Wharf 6 miles, Santa Cruz, July 24, 2011</b><br />
Bib: 8025<br />
Overall: 4999 out of 11003<br />
Women: 2441 out of 6720<br />
F 30-34: 379 out of 950<br />
<b>Finish: 1:06:12 Pace: 11:02</b><br />
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<b>Bay to Breakers 12k, San Francisco, May 15, 2011</b><br />
Bib: 6605<br />
Overall: 17,571 out of 43,954<br />
Women: 7538 out of 24,140<br />
F 30-39: 2537 out of 6776<br />
<b>Finish: 1:32:50 </b><br />
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<b>Mother's Day 5k Race, Watsonville, May 8, 2011</b><br />
Bib: <br />
Overall: 60 out of 373<br />
F 30-34: 2 out of 21<br />
<b>Finish: 29:40 Pace: 9:33</b><br />
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<b>Santa Cruz Half Marathon, Santa Cruz, April 10, 2011</b><br />
Bib: 2142<br />
Overall: 1871 out of 2912<br />
Women: 1096<br />
F 30-39: 365<br />
<b>Finish: 2:29:19 Pace: 11:23</b><br />
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<b>Surf City Half Marathon, Huntington Beach, February 6, 2011</b><br />
Bib: 14509<br />
Overall: 8227 out of 13256<br />
Women: 4506 out of 8357<br />
F 30-34: 812 out of 1341<br />
Age/Grade: 44.99% Place: 8588<br />
<b>Finish: 2:26:43 Pace: 11:12</b><br />
Tag Time: 2:26:43<br />
Gun Time: 2:53:16<br />
Split Times<br />
3 Mi: 30:30 Pace: 10:10<br />
8.2 Mi: 1:27:12 Pace: 10:38<br />
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<b>Jingle Bell Rock 5k, Santa Cruz - December 2010</b><br />
67th female overall, 19th females 30-39<br />
Bib: 244 <b>Time: 34:29.1</b><br />
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<b>San Francisco - 1st Half Marathon July 2010</b><br />
Bib: 62310 <br />
Overall: 5115 out of 8430<br />
Women: 2588 out of 5007<br />
F 30-39: 946 out of 1735<br />
Age/Grade: 44.85% Place: 5135<br />
<b>Finish: 2:27:11 Pace: 11:14</b><br />
Tag Time: 2:27:11<br />
Gun Time: 3:27:04<br />
Split Times<br />
7.6 M: 1:22:07 Pace: 10:49<br />
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<b>Aptos Women's 5 Miler - June 13, 2010</b><br />
<b>Time: 55:52 Pace: 11:11</b> <br />
Women: 59 Division: 5/7 30-34<br />
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<b>Pajaro Valley Shelter Mother's Day Run 5k - May 9, 2010</b><br />
<b>Time: 30:06 Pace: 9:42 </b><br />
Overall: 64 Division: 2/19 Women 30-34Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-49040692477015388482011-02-08T21:32:00.000-08:002011-02-08T21:32:09.700-08:00Sorely NeglectedHi Life List! I want you to know, I've been out living and doing things, I've just been very bad about documenting them! But that's all about to change, and I've got some catching up to do! I'm going to fill these pages with lots of updates soon about all the things I've done since the beginning of 2010, but first I have to go off and upload all the pictures I've been stacking up so I can share them with you! I love having this place to remind myself that my life has been full of wonderful things and memories.Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-41307893422369575442010-04-07T13:36:00.000-07:002010-04-07T13:36:59.109-07:00Independence Hall<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2401135150/" title="Me in front of Independence Hall by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2288/2401135150_eb8de11866.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Me in front of Independence Hall" /></a><br />
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Sandwiched between 2 Project 30 adventures (NYC & DC), I visited Philadelphia by train in April 2008 to see the birthplace of democracy. Originally thinking I would be a politician, I spent a lot of my years in college thinking about political theory, and found myself giddy to be in the city of brotherly love. Unfortunately, while I spent a large part of my few days in Philly in bed at the hotel knocked out on Nyquil, the small size of the town and the relative close locations of things left me able to see plenty of the sites I came to see.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2402655614/" title="0804 1436 by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2402655614_ed3256f453.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="0804 1436" /></a><br />
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One of those sites high on the list was Independence Hall. (Independence Hall is not only on the <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/78">World Heritage Location List</a>, but also one of the "1,000 Places to See" both in the US and Internationally, knocking off a slot on 3 lists once again. Also as a <a href="http://www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm">member of the National Park Service</a>, adds to my collection there.) I was so excited about my chance to see this place, that I had booked my tour ticket months in advance to secure my ability to tour inside the rooms where the founding fathers of our nation debated the future. Having found myself immersed in the John Adams series playing at that time on HBO, the past seemed even closer to be walking through the hall. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2401844407/" title="0804 1447 by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2292/2401844407_8bee5253f6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="0804 1447" /></a><br />
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Being in Philadelphia really effected me. From seeing the Liberty Bell, to seeing an amazing video at the Constitution center that reminded me what an amazing time we are living in. After coming from New York, and having such a dramatic reaction to the Statue of Liberty, this town really cemented for me that I was proud to be alive in these true times of change. I spent a lot of my time on the train from Philly to DC writing about my experience, but a sad computer ate the whole thing. I still think sometimes about the thoughts that poured out of my head and fingers in those hours after I left that town. Independence Hall was truly an inspiring place. <br />
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I also was able to visit the Liberty Bell, the famous LOVE sign (which I also saw a replica of in Tokyo), Betsy Ross' house, and many more historic places. The only place I missed seeing was the Philadelphia Art museum and the famous Rocky steps, but you always have to leave some reason to go back right?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2404854518/" title="0804 1530 by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2404854518_c6b7271c80_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="0804 1530" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2400308941/" title="52 Weeks: Week 20: Liberty. by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2243/2400308941_80a1a34c7b_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="52 Weeks: Week 20: Liberty." /></a>Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-86248872516985917452010-03-25T15:30:00.000-07:002010-03-25T15:38:28.220-07:00Pinnacles National Monument & Campground - Solo Camping Adventure<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4452833371/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2696/4452833371_b51a2206f7_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453523524/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2802/4453523524_ceaa7db9bc_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />I have had mixed feelings about camping over the last 10 years. As a girl who grew up spending a large part of her childhood on the road, or living in campgrounds and sleeping in a tent as part of a lifestyle, I never really saw the draw to do it if you had money and a place to sleep in a bed at night. When I was kidnapped to Burning Man the first time, I had to borrow almost everything, and swore that they would “vote me off the playa” before the sun even set on the first night. (Joking aside, this was actually a real fear of not being able to “hang” with the survival camping.) But I made it, in a very limited camp, and even after a little distance from the experience, had a desire to go back.<br /><br />In the past few years, I’ve not only returned and flourished on the playa two more times, but I’ve also found myself camping in neat places like Big Basin, Kirkcreek and Fernwood in Big Sur and Sequoia National Park. I was more and more prepared, borrowed less things and generally improved my attitude and experience all around with each visit. While I am nowhere near being nature girl, I’m definitely not someone who is shy of the outdoors anymore, and I’m really beginning to enjoy it. In January, I purchased a new tent to replace the playa-fried one that I had been using the last few years, and I was anxious to try it out, and to have a reason to finally splurge on a new warmer sleeping bag, simpler pad and a camp stove of my very own. Unfortunately, trying to coordinate schedules with various people and myself left it weeks before there was an open night for me to sleep in the stars and I was really bummed. On top of it all, this April was starting to look a little down for me, since the previous two years, I had done outstanding adventures by myself. I spent days powering through the east coast cities of NYC, Philly and DC and then one upped myself last year and traveled across the Atlantic to Amsterdam and Paris. Each time, being forced into situations and challenges during those adventures that forced me to test my independence and self-reliance, I was able to grow and learn more about myself. Without Burning Man in my future, and without the cash laying around this year to plot out something bigger than Paris, I was really struggling to find something introspective to push myself forward.<br /><br />I started thinking that I really didn’t need anyone to go with me to satisfy my need for wildflowers and outdoor slumber, and I could really use a few days away from it all. A self-admitted technology addict, you literally have to take me out of range of wifi and cell signals to get me to disconnect, and disconnecting is something I desperately need to force myself to do more often. On top of that, I also think sometimes when you do things with other people, there becomes an average of your limits. It’s hard to truly test your own personal limits when you have to compromise and either push yourself further than you want, or are not sure you’re pushing far enough. It was time to see what some of my own limits were. So it was decided, solo camping it was, as soon as possible. I got the last of my gear, and started researching places to go. I had some requirements. I wanted to leave on a Friday from work, and be able to drive home Sunday, and not spend most of the weekend in the car. I needed to feel safe enough hiking and camping by myself, so there needed to be people fairly close by, no real hike-in spots for me this time. I also wanted to save some places to explore with my boyfriend, or places that were close enough for us to spontaneously camp on a Saturday night this summer. I was looking for some place fairly lush, I wanted wildflowers and flowing water. If I couldn’t have the ocean, I wanted a big stream or a waterfall or something wet. I didn’t want dry and crunchy. I had it down to Pinnacles and Big Sur, but a reminder that the first would be too hot in the coming months, and it seemed to fit most of the other requirements, I was in. (Plus, it’s one of the cards in my Bay Area Back Roads Deck!)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/pinn/index.htm">Pinnacles National Monument</a> is an Ancient Volcano. NPS says "Rising out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California's Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4452741867/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4452741867_626388e653.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />I took a ½ day on Friday, drove down the gorgeous highway 25 past fields of flowers, and found myself setting up camp with no one else around. It was sort of nice to be the first in my group of 3 sites to be there, allowing me to set up in quiet and arrange myself how I wanted without being watched. I was also a little self conscious about being out there alone and didn’t really want to talk to anyone or answer any questions about it. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453528534/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/4453528534_14ea6331e0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />I set up camp in under an hour, thanks to the tent practice the night before, and had plenty of daylight left for an adventure. I talked to the Ranger, and plotted myself out a little 6.5 mile hike for the evening, which I did in just under 2 hours. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4452803885/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4452803885_eb7020c797_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453040995/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4453040995_15068dc266_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />It was fantastic to be out there almost completely by myself, and walking through such diverse areas of the park. I was glad I knocked this off on Friday, because on Saturday it was loaded with people, and it was easy to cut off this part of the trail group with a shuttle. I think I saw a dozen different wildflower types within the first hour, and was amazed by how many lizards and birds I saw as well. I remember saying out loud over and over that it was just so freaking beautiful. It was neat to take note of the flowers that grew in the lush shade by the river stream, or the flowers that thrived in the sun. I found myself thinking about the traveling of the patches year over year as the seeds blew in the wind, propagating for future generations. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4452990327/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4452990327_f540e0748b_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453010499/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4453010499_25bdfd865a_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />Some things I learned:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453719892/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4453719892_0c277195a7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />I spent a lot of time contemplating my own personal definition of “beautiful” in Nature. As I said above, when I started planning for this trip, I realized that I was looking for some place lush and green. After 2 days a bit inland, I realize that I need to alter my definition of beauty a bit. Especially because so much of this world isn’t coastal, realizing that there can be beautiful things in the high hills or the desert is probably something good to my future travel pleasures. I was so pleased with the variety of landscape in the park, and was really quite shocked how much I found appreciation for the crunchy shrubs.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453050223/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/4453050223_178b9eb1e0_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453822002/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4453822002_6d853982ba_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />Reading and relaxing is an important thing. I need to do this more.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4452858133/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4452858133_4aed3be79d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />I am not patient. Wait, didn’t I already know this? Yes, but I generally give myself grief for not being patient with other people. This trip confirmed that I’m not even patient with myself. There was a handful of times when I was so frustrated and I knew that I just needed to take a deep breath and shift focus, but I just got angry instead. A good example of this was setting up the tent the night before the trip to realize I didn’t have the instructions, couldn’t find them online, was quickly running out of both daylight and time to do the rest of my chores, and ended up wanting to throw a fit. I didn’t, but it was definitely a test.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453627650/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4453627650_777a2cf75b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453616720/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4453616720_9228a67e42.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />I do not like people around me in nature. I did a lot of contemplating about this during the weekend, because it’s such a balance for me. After the last few years of traveling around the world to popular monuments and museums and realizing how much I have space issues, I have this selfish part of me that wants these places all for myself. Then I realize that if they were more exclusive, that I’d likely never be able to see any of them, because wait lists and requirements would just be outlandish. So while I was overwhelmed by the shuttle line, and at times felt like I was in Disneyland with the numerous children buzzing around, I really can’t complain about all the people. I think it’s great that parents are taking their kids to outside places at all instead of keeping them in front of the TV. I felt the same way about the campground. While I really wish my tent was further away from my neighbors, or there was some blockage in between us to create privacy, there really isn’t a lot of options if we all want to be there and enjoy the monument. Either it’s more private and less people come, or we can all deal with a little bit of crowding. I guess I’ll deal.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4452962799/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/4452962799_ddfc86f004_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453783452/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4453783452_8de4f48d4b_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4452914263/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2692/4452914263_14568979bf.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />It doesn’t matter if I’m by myself or with someone else – I’m going to go hard, and then bitch about it. I powered up the heated side of the hill, forcing myself through “just one more switchback” before stopping. I remember the uphill hike at Sequoia and how I never thought I’d ever want to hike again, that Mike was going to dump me from my whining, and that this was all seriously lame. I also remember at the end saying that it was worth it to see the butterflies, the bear and the lady bugs, and that I actually felt pretty accomplished and awesome physically for doing it. The hike up on Saturday was very similar. When I walked up to a world of children, I asked the ranger where they were going, and where they would not be, so I could pick that option. They chuckled, but I was serious that I needed some thinking time in quiet areas, and after being in boy scout land back at camp, I knew their echoing screams were going to ruin my day the way they had my night. The first 2 miles seemed like a serious mistake most of the time. I have serious “running out of water” paranoia, especially after Sequoia, and was afraid to drink too much, was scared I was going to trip and break something and die, and I still had more than ½ of the hike left once I actually got to the top of the hill. But a few hours later, as I was hobbling my blistered feet to the shuttle to take me back to camp, I was certain that I had made all the right decisions that day, and the extra effort was worth it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453824386/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4453824386_c646e974cc.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />While Oak is fantastic wood to burn for hours, for the second camping trip in a row, I’ve forgotten both newspaper and cheaper fire starting wood. There was absolutely no wood gathering here, plus the ground was a little wet anyway. I struggled a bit Friday night to get my fire going, and Saturday gave in and bought pine from the ranger’s station like we did in Sequoia. While I was greatly disappointed in my fires both nights, I decided the important part was that I got them going and didn’t freeze. It doesn’t really matter how it happened or what I did it with, just that I had a challenge, and I found a solution.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453647078/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4453647078_dc59948b62.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4452872479/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4452872479_c9c614205d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4452961423/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2726/4452961423_667b039949.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />So in summary, it was a really freaking beautiful place that I had never been too before, and it was really neat camping by myself, and seeing how I worked things out. For a test of self-reliance and self-sufficiency, it probably could/should have been at least a day or two longer, but it still served a great purpose and got me outside and away from it all for a while. AND, it’s actually a few less things that I’ve never done!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4452992579/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4452992579_5bb43d3afe.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/sets/72157623544003685/">See all the pictures from my adventure here.</a><br /><br />What's your favorite place to camp? Have you ever camped alone? Have you been to Pinnacles - tell me about your experience?Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-87573554084507246722010-03-22T11:17:00.000-07:002010-03-22T11:21:09.418-07:00I had never seen anything like this.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/4453520894/" title="Pinnacles National Monument by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4453520894_805d37578f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pinnacles National Monument" /></a><br /><br />Driving down Highway 25 to Pinnacles National Monument, I was blown away by the hills covered in yellow. It was exactly the sight I wished for. <br /><br />I've also now been camping by myself. That's pretty damn kick ass. I'll write more about it as part of a post on the Pinnacles, but for now it's enough to say CHECK, one more life experience on the list.Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-23260584662193876722010-01-11T21:57:00.001-08:002010-04-07T16:34:09.240-07:00Statue of Liberty<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2395672071/" title="Statue of Liberty by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2328/2395672071_1377f1270f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Statue of Liberty" /></a><br />
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One of the most moving experiences of the last 5 years was visiting the Statue of Liberty. As part of my original Project 30 adventure to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/collections/72157604437842527/">New York City</a>, I was not really expecting this large monument to move me so much, but it left a sincere lasting impression and incredibly fond memories. It also happens to appear on MANY of the "Must-See" lists that I'm tracking on, including the one that excites me the most, the <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/307">World Heritage location</a> list from UNESCO.<br />
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It's not just one of the 1,000 place to see in the US & Canada, but makes the bigger cut of the <a href="http://www.1000beforeyoudie.com/">1,000 places to see</a> internationally! Only 999 more to go on each of those lists!<br />
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Here is what the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm">National Park Service</a> says about the Statue of Liberty National Monument - <br />
<span style="font-style:italic;"><br />
Liberty Enlightening the World<br />
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Located on a 12 acre island, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.<br />
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Here is what I wrote in my <a href="http://iveneverproject.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-am-not-sure-how-my-feet-will-survive.html">blog entry</a> about my visit:<br />
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<span style="font-style:italic;">First piece of advice - If you ever plan on coming to New York and seeing the Statue of Liberty, get your ferry and monument tickets ahead of time, get there at 8 o'clock and in line to pick them up and go on the very first ferry out. If you miss Ellis Island, you're still pushing noon. Between 2 security checkpoints, lines, etc, it's a big ordeal, and when I turned around to see the line behind me, I was shocked. Anyway, even though the ferry was insanely crowded, and the line to the monument still seemed long in front of me, I managed to work my way through security faster than everyone but one couple. What that meant is that for a brief moment, I was in the statue of liberty alone. When I walked in the door at the base, I wept. I walked all 156 steps to the pedestal, and came out in full tears. I called my grandmother and told her where I was, I needed to share it with someone at least a little closer to my time zone. I am very thankful I had her to call, I needed to share that desperately. It was seriously life changing.<br />
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She is beautiful. As you take the ferry there, you start to think she is so much smaller than you thought, but when you are standing under her, looking at every fold so carefully carved, you realize the undertaking. She is majestic, and amazing. I was so glad that I was there as the sun broke through the sky, gleaming her torch in the sun. As far as moments in my life go, I am certain that this was one of the most amazing. I walked to the lowest level of the pedestal, still free from any other people who seemed to be crawling like ants below. I laid on the ground and stared up at her. I am sure that anyone up at the top at this time may have thought I was nuts. I walked up and I touched the rock that held her up and thanked her for guiding us.</span><br />
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It was really something that still moves me to think about. I'm really very glad I got to experience this monument. Last year I called my grandmother from the top of the Eiffel Tower just to keep the tradition.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/sets/72157604396974616/"><br />
See the entire set of pictures here.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2389880265/" title="Statue of Liberty by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2389880265_c95aa2e428.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Statue of Liberty" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2396387310/" title="Me & the Statue of Liberty by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2001/2396387310_06219e3505.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Me & the Statue of Liberty" /></a>Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-32919170570190664462009-12-21T09:54:00.000-08:002010-01-11T17:36:44.193-08:00I found a new thing to life list<a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list">World Heritage locations.</a><br /><br />I've been to 3 that I could tell from scanning.<br /><br />---January 2010 - I realize, wow, I've been to 6! I'm going to knock out these posts this week.Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-79930085112782674152009-08-05T15:49:00.000-07:002009-08-05T15:56:05.452-07:00I'm just not indie enough.<span style="font-weight:bold;">Exile in Guyville</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Phair, Liz</span><br /><a href="http://www.1000recordings.com/music/exile-guyville/">The Indie Rock Exile</a><br /><br />Here is another album I borrowed along the way. Another artist that I had an album from (Liz Phair), and another with more albums on my Ipod that I've never heard all the way through. One or two songs may have appeared on shuffle, but she certainly wasn't an artist that I searched out for, or found myself longing for.<br /><br />After listening and reading the article about why it's supposedly so phenomenal, I realized I should probably listen to it a few more times for it's powerful lyrics. Having it on as background music while I was working didn't leave me feeling warm musically at the end of the album. She is amazing and powerful, and I can see the "Rolling Stone rockers" and how her self named album was a bit of a sell out in comparison...but it's just not me. Anyway, this one is on the Ipod, and in shuffle, and I'm not opposed to listening to it again. Glad I spent some time to hear it.<br /><br />5/1000 down!Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-80980298792197199322009-08-05T14:24:00.000-07:002009-08-05T14:36:05.204-07:00The Big Eat SF: 100 Things to Eat in SF Before You DieEarlier this year, I embarked on attempting to count down as many on <a href="http://7x7.com/content/eat-drink/big-eat-sf-100-things-try-you-die">7x7.com's The Big Eat SF</a>! (Which even has an awesome Facebook ap to help you track and post your progress!) <br /><br />I particularly love <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100155479232369832148.000461e349a231567ecec&z=13">this Google Map</a> that someone laid out, so you can just grab something when you're in a particular neighborhood.<br /><br />Thankfully, I've had a buddy in Pixy for all 4 of my conquests so far! (Okay, she did her Irish Coffee at the airport, but we're even!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">#35 Salted-caramel ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery </span> tasted JUST LIKE A STICK OF BUTTER. It was seriously delicious. I bought a shirt that says something about licking and tasting good. I figured it couldn't be too bad if they had it right there on the wall at the store in front of kids, but I've not been brave enough to wear it in public yet!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">#68 Irish coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe </span> was part of the really awesome San Francisco adventure of a lifetime that I had with KC. I'm so thankful that he took me here on our photo date adventure before we drove all over the city in the little yellow buggy!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/2045545068/" title="Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2193/2045545068_b13f44213f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">#86 A cheese slice at Arinell Pizza </span> was actually a damn yummy piece of pizza. I was doubtful when I took the ladies here on Valentines Day. How could a simple slice of cheese pizza be all that? But it was.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">#88 Buckwheat crepe and a French cider at Ti Couz </span> was to die for. I inhaled the mushroom crepe, and the dessert one was heavenly. This yummy alcoholic French Cider wasn't bad either!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/3565251547/" title="San Francisco by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2471/3565251547_05baba6979.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="San Francisco" /></a><br /><br />Personally - my #1 thing to have in SF before you die is a <span style="font-weight:bold;">Bloody Mary at Zeitgeist</span>, the most awesome bar in all of the city. I try and take every person I know here at least once...which means I get to go back over and over and over and check out street art in the area! You should check it out! I don't even like bloody mary's but this one is YUM and the characters that are there from the staff to the random cross section of SF hanging out, is a people watching heaven!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/castarlet/3566062806/" title="San Francisco by Soaked In Sin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2448/3566062806_9ec167b3ab.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="San Francisco" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://iveneverproject.blogspot.com/search/label/bigeatsf">Watch my progress on the "BigEatSF" tag!</a>Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-65573799813149621282009-08-05T13:25:00.000-07:002009-08-05T13:20:12.711-07:00Surfing Single Sensations!In addition to full albums on the list, there are also singles...so I decided to knock a couple of those out as fast as possible...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.1000recordings.com/music/california-dreamin/">"California Dreamin'"</a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Mamas and the Papas</span><br />I love this song. It's always been great to LIVE in California.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.1000recordings.com/music/good-vibrations/">"Good Vibrations"</a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Beach Boys</span><br />*Sigh* Again, I just LOVE this song, and LOVE that I get to be a "part" of the California surfing culture. This song reminds me of road trips with my brother when we were kids. Most Beach Boys songs do.<br /><br />Woohoo, we're up to 4/1000!Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-16698523431277406672009-08-05T13:15:00.000-07:002009-08-05T13:05:29.611-07:00Fiona is Fabulous!<span style="font-weight:bold;">When the Pawn. . .</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Apple, Fiona</span><br /><a href="http://www.1000recordings.com/music/when-pawn/">A Ninety-Word Title, and It Doesn't Begin to Sum This Up. . .</a><br /><br />I have this on my Ipod because I borrowed it from somewhere, but I'm not sure I've ever listened to it straight through, until now. I like Fiona, but I bought Tidal, not this one.<br /><br />Listening begins...<br />...and ends.<br /><br />Wow! What a great album of MUSIC. So many places where I just got lost in the tunes. I think this is definitely a thumbs up album I need to listen to. Lots of great lyrics too. I'm very pleased!<br /><br />2 down, 998 to go!Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-31389617557352831412009-08-05T12:43:00.000-07:002009-08-05T20:55:30.424-07:00My musical boyfriend always comes first.<span style="font-weight:bold;">Heartbreaker</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Ryan Adams</span><br /><a href="http://www.1000recordings.com/music/heartbreaker/">"Young, Sad, High = Songwriting Genius"</a><br /><br />This album to this day is still one of my most favorites ever, and contains some of my most favorite songs. <br /><br />"To Be Young" is by far one of my favorite tunes, and I feel like it connects with me. Having spent so much time young and sad. I listen to a lot of live Ryan, but the studio version of this song never disappoints.<br /><br />Come Pick Me Up...Ugh. Beautiful. <br /><br />I can remember when I first got this album, before I ever even saw Ryan in concert. I had only heard "Gold" with it's pop-ness, and liked it enough...but Pixy told me I should "Start" with Heartbreaker, so I bought it and listened to it quickly through before I picked her up and went off to see his toes a few inches from my face at the Catalyst. I can remember thinking that "Lucy" was fairly "noisy" and not caring for it - which is so weird, since now, I can listen to 100 different live versions of it in a row, and will rock out like crazy to it in the car without a care in the world. I think I just didn't have a big appreciation for it until I learned to love him.<br /><br />Don't ask for the water is such a come down after Lucy, but so perfectly brilliant, I am moved every time. The album finishes off peaceful, and wonderful.<br /><br />*sigh* I really love this album. I cannot wait for the day I get to hear it on Vinyl with pops and cracks. I definitely need an Austin trip.<br /><br />1 recording down, 999 to go!Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-49185002889142486682009-08-05T12:01:00.000-07:002009-08-05T13:05:40.938-07:001000 Recordings To Hear Before You DieI have had this book for a while, and as musically obsessed as I am, it seemed like a good suggested life list goal to start with. You can follow and play along if you like, this list is conveniently online for you <a href="http://www.1000recordings.com/the-list/">here</a>.<br /><br />Work is a great place to listen to music and I've not listened to many albums straight through since I got my Ipod over 18 months ago. So that also is a neat part of this project too. I'm not going to go in order, and I don't own a lot of those albums, but I do own some, so I'm going to start there.<br /><br />Watch for my progress by following the tag <a href="http://iveneverproject.blogspot.com/search/label/1000recordings">1000recordings</a>, and tell me what you think of the albums on the list and your experiences with them as we go along!Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-37167989360438057632009-08-05T10:14:00.000-07:002009-08-05T10:23:15.431-07:00I'm going to do this a bit differently.So right now I have a few drafts running:<br /><br />I need to sum up Project 30 and what it meant to me. I've just been unable to spend the time to say everything about how that project changed my life in the way that I should.<br /><br />Then, I've decided to use a bunch of different books and lists to drive different goals and my owns lists here. So I'm going to reorganize my living list, and the places I have been and want to go into new different lists. <br /><br />I've decided that I'm going to start at work with the 1,000 recordings I want to hear before I die. Expect that post next.Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-53986330933486927842009-06-30T19:41:00.000-07:002009-06-30T19:43:36.301-07:00Places I Have Been - InternationalCancun, Mexico - November 2006<br />Chichen Itza, Mexico - November 2006<br /><br />Tokyo, Japan – April 2006, Primarily Shinjuku District<br /><br />Fontainbleau, France (Including Royal Chateau)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Paris, France – April 2009</span><br /> Top of the Eiffel Tower<br /> Les Invalides & Musee de l’Armee<br /> Sacre Couer<br /> Jardin du Luxembourg<br /> Erotic Museum<br /> Musee du Louvre<br /> Sainte Chapelle<br /> Top of the Arc de Triomphe <br /> Musee d’Orsay<br /> Pantheon<br /> Notre Dame<br /> Musee Rodin & Rodin Gardens<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Amsterdam, Holland – April 2009</span><br /> Flower Market<br /> Coffeeshops<br /> Van Gogh Museum<br /> Anne Frank Haus<br /> Riks MuseumTorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-72493361693606831112009-06-30T19:39:00.000-07:002009-06-30T19:40:28.374-07:00Places I Have Been - United StatesLas Vegas, NV – December 2007, April 2009<br />Denver, CO – January 2008<br />New Orleans, LA – May 2001<br /><br />Boston, MA<br /> Cow Parade Art<br /> Oldest Restaurant in the United States – Union Oyster House<br /><br />Austin, TX – May 2007, Feb 2008, March 2009<br /> Guitartown Art Guitars<br /><br />Gruene, TX – Feb 2008<br />San Antonio, TX – March 2009<br /> The Alamo<br /><br />Farmington, MO – March 2008<br />Meramec Caverns – West Stanton, MO X 2<br />St. Louis, MO – Arch on Nov. 3, 2000 & November 19, 2002<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">New York – April 2008</span><br />Statue of Liberty <br />Museum of Modern Art <br />Central Park <br />(Old) Yankee Stadium <br />(Old) Shea Stadium <br />Museum of Sex <br />Madame Tussand’s Wax Museum <br />Empire State Building<br />Rockefeller Center & Top of The Rock<br />Times Square<br />Bryant Park & outside New York Public Library<br />Guggenheim Museum <br />Whitney Museum of American Art<br />Outside Madison Square Garden<br />Washington Arch at Night<br />Greenwich Village<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Washington, DC – April 2008</span><br />Arlington National Cemetery <br />Outside Capitol Building & White House <br />Inside Washington Monument <br />National Mall & Lincoln Memorial <br />Vietnam & Korean War Memorials <br />National Air & Space Museum <br />Treasures of American History <br />Hope Diamond & Smithsonian Natural History Museum <br />Smithsonian Castle<br />Smithsonian Sculpture Garden <br />National Portrait Gallery & American Museum of Contemporary Art<br />Newseum – Grand Opening Day<br />US Constitution, Declaration of Independence & Magna Carta at National Archives <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Philadelphia, PA – April 2008</span><br />The Liberty Bell <br />Independence Hall <br />Betsy Ross’ House<br />Original LOVE artwork<br />National Constitution Center, Samples from Cooperstown<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Last Updated: June 30, 2009</span>Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-65532886041800970242009-06-30T19:26:00.000-07:002009-06-30T19:34:43.723-07:00Places I Have Been - California<span style="font-weight:bold;">San Diego County</span><br />Mt. Soledad <br />Crystal Pier <br />Zoo <br />Mission Beach <br />Gaslamp District <br />Encinitas, CA<br />Lake Henshaw, CA<br />Julian, CA<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Santa Cruz County</span><br />Big Basin State Park – May 2009<br />Mystery Spot <br />Roaring Camp Railroad <br />Covered Bridge Park, Felton<br />Henry Cowell State Park <br />Boardwalk & Wharf<br />Capitola Wharf<br />Natural Bridges State Park & Monarch Butterflies<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SF Bay Area</span><br />Alcatraz Island <br />The Haight <br />The Mission <br />Baker Beach <br />Golden Gate Park <br />Yerba Buena Gardens <br />Lombard Street<br />Clarion Street Art Alley <br />Museum of Modern Art<br />Musee Mecanique<br />Berkeley, CA<br /><br />Ventura, CA – December 2008<br />Santa Monica Pier – December 2008, Los Angeles, CA<br />Hollywood Blvd & Walk of Fame – February 2008, Los Angeles, CA<br />Beverly Hills & Rodeo Drive - February 2008, Los Angeles, CA <br /><br />Hwy 1 – Seacliff, CA<br />Hwy 1 – Missile Park<br />Hwy 1 - San Simeon & Hearst Castle – December 2001<br />Hwy 1 - Elephant Seals – June 2008, Piedras Blancas, CA<br />Hwy 1 – Pigeon Pt. Lighthouse<br />Hwy 1 - Elephant Seals – Ano Nuevo State Park, CA<br />Hwy 1 – Stinson Beach, CA<br />Hwy 1 – Golden Gate National Recreation Area & Marin Headlands<br /><br />Monterey Bay Aquarium <br />Monterey Fisherman’s Wharf<br /><br />Winchester Mystery House – February 2008, San Jose, CA<br />Rosicrucian Museum – February 2008, San Jose, CA<br /><br />Sequoia National Forest & General Sherman Tree – June 2009<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Last Updated: June 30, 2009</span>Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-69443270210784864742009-06-30T13:54:00.001-07:002011-02-08T22:50:03.147-08:00Events, Activities, Festivals & Shows12th Annual Hot Rods on the Beach – October 10, 2009, Santa Cruz, CA<br />
Samurai Exhibit - Asian Art Museum, San Francisco - September 13, 2009<br />
Tutankhamun Exhibit - De Young Museum, San Francisco - August 10, 2009<br />
Concourse Lemons - August 2009, Marina, CA<br />
Maker Faire – June 2009, San Mateo, CA<br />
Vday Pillow Fight – February 2009, San Francisco, CA<br />
<br />
Dance Odyssey Student Recital – June 14, 2008, Santa Cruz, CA<br />
Car Show – June 7, 2008, Capitola, CA <br />
National Cherry Blossom Parade – April 2008, Washington, DC<br />
Friday Night Waltz – March 2008, Palo Alto, CA<br />
Multi Course Dinner at Asia SF – February 2008, San Francisco, CA<br />
New Years Eve at the Clocktower – January 2008, Santa Cruz, CA<br />
<br />
Fillmore & Western Railroad – December 29, 2007<br />
10th Annual Hot Rods on the Beach – October 6, 2007, Santa Cruz, CA<br />
NorCal Renaissance Fair – September 29, 2007, Bay Area, CA<br />
HowWeird Street Fair – May 6, 2007, San Francisco, CA<br />
<br />
Desert Dance Festival – Sept 16, 2006, San Jose, CA<br />
Art Car Festival – Sept 16, 2006, San Jose, CA<br />
<br />
Bill Clinton @ North Island Naval Station – May 17th, 1993<br />
<br />
<b>Burning Man</b><br />
Burning Man Decompression – 2005, 2007, 2008, San Francisco, CA<br />
Burning Man Festival – 2005, 2007, 2008, Black Rock Desert, NV<br />
<br />
<b>Trade Shows</b><br />
Siggraph – 2006 Boston, 2007 San Diego, 2008 Los Angeles<br />
San Diego Comic Con - 2006, 2007, 2008<br />
New York Comic Con – April 2008<br />
WonderCon – February 2008, San Francisco, CA<br />
Macworld – January 2008, San Francisco, CA<br />
<br />
<b>Sporting Events</b><br />
San Diego Padres vs San Francisco Giants - August 13, 2010, San Francisco, CA<br />
San Jose Giants Minor League Baseball Game – July 5, 2009, San Jose, CA<br />
San Jose Giants vs. RC Quakes Minor League Baseball Game – July 5, 2008, San Jose, CA<br />
Oakland A’s vs. Cleveland Indians @ Oakland – August 23, 2001<br />
San Diego Padres vs. St. Louis Cardinals @ Jack Murphy Stadium – May 27, 1994<br />
Sharks vs. Blues Hockey Game – March 2008, San Jose, CA<br />
Yankees vs. Devil Rays - April 7, 2008, New York City<br />
Mets vs. Nationals – April 17, 2008, New York City<br />
<br />
<b>Camping, Hiking and Outdoor Adventures</b><br />
Pinnacles National Monument - March 2010<br />
Hiking at Butano State Park - May 2010<br />
Huntington Lake, Sierra National Forest - July 2010<br />
Grover Hot Springs, Sierra National Forest - August 2010<br />
<br />
<b>Dances</b><br />
Mission Bay High School Senior Year Homecoming -<br />
Mission Bay High School Junior Year Homecoming – October 7, 1995<br />
Mission Bay High School Sophomore Year Homecoming – October 29, 1994<br />
Mission Bay High School Freshman Year Homecoming – October 23, 1993<br />
Mission Bay High School Senior Prom – June 1, 1996<br />
USDHS Homecoming @ Hotel Del Coronado - 1994<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style:italic;">Last Updated: January 2010</span>Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-4082034337268612852009-06-30T13:52:00.005-07:002011-02-08T22:50:07.761-08:00Live Music & Performance Adventures<b>Festivals/Tours</b><br />
Anger Management w/ Eminem, Lil' John, etc. – July 19, 2005<br />
Smokin' Grooves w/ Outkast, Lauren Hill, etc.<br />
Ozzfest w/ Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, etc.<br />
Area One w/ Moby, Outkast, etc. @ Shoreline Amphitheater, San Jose - July 31, 2001<br />
<br />
<b>Individual Artists/Groups</b><br />
Robert Earl Keen & Band @ Rio Theater, Santa Cruz - January 20, 2011<br />
Shawn Colvin & Mary Chapin Carpenter @ Mountain Winery, Saratoga - August 5, 2010<br />
Mike Doughty @ The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz - February 2010<br />
Dark Star Orchestra @ Fillmore, San Francisco - October 3, 2009<br />
Tim Easton @ The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz - September 2009<br />
Gregory Page @ Paul's House Concert, San Francisco - August 22, 2009<br />
The Sunday Gospel Brunch @ House of Blues, Las Vegas – April 26, 2009<br />
Thunder from Down Under @ Excalibur, Las Vegas – April 25, 2009<br />
Paula Poundstone @ the Rio - February 7, 2009<br />
Chuck Prophet @ the Crepe Place – January 29, 2009<br />
<br />
The Wrong Trousers @ Lestats, San Diego – December 28, 2008<br />
Hayes Carll @ Don Quixote’s, Felton – June 18, 2008<br />
Juvenators @ the Wharf House, Capitola - June 7, 2008<br />
Colin Gilmore @ Flipnotics, Austin – February 16, 2008<br />
Devil Doll @ Continental Club, Austin - February 15, 2008<br />
<br />
The Courtney Janes @ Marin Coffee Roasters, San Anselmo – December 22, 2007<br />
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers w/ Eliot Randall @ Slim’s, SF – November 16, 2007<br />
The Resentments @ the Saxon Pub – May 27, 2007<br />
<br />
Tori Amos @ San Jose Center for Performing Arts – April 12, 2003<br />
Three Doors Down w/ Nickelback @ Fillmore, San Francisco<br />
Jimmy Buffett @ Shoreline Amphitheater, San Jose – Sept 26, 2002<br />
Ronnie Dawson & The Blasters @ The Mayan Theater, Los Angeles – August 13, 2001<br />
<br />
Garth Brooks @ San Diego Sports Arena – June 14, 1996<br />
Alanis Morrisette <br />
Tom Petty @ San Diego Sports Arena<br />
<br />
<b>Steve Poltz</b><br />
Steve Poltz @ Belly Up Tavern, San Diego - October 23, 2010<br />
Steve Poltz @ KC Turner House Concert Music Series - August 7, 2010<br />
Steve Poltz @ the Crepe Place, Santa Cruz – August 6, 2010<br />
Steve Poltz @ Belly Up Tavern, San Diego - February 19, 2010<br />
Steve Poltz @ Cheers, Ramona - September 19, 2009<br />
Steve Poltz @ Meg's House, Orange County - September 18, 2009<br />
Steve Poltz @ the Crepe Place, Santa Cruz – April 28, 2009<br />
Steve Poltz & the Rugburns @ the Casbah, San Diego - December 31, 2008<br />
Steve Poltz & Friends Benefit Show @ 4th & B, San Diego – December 27, 2008<br />
Steve Poltz and the Cynics @ the Crepe Place, Santa Cruz - April 13, 2008<br />
Tim Bluhm w/ Steve Poltz & the Cynics @ the Crepe Place, Santa Cruz - Jan. 26, 2008<br />
Steve Poltz & Friends @ Belly-Up Tavern, San Diego – August 8, 2007<br />
Steve Poltz @ Bamboo Yoga Studio, Austin, TX – May 25, 2007<br />
Steve Poltz @ 12 Galaxies, San Francisco - April 12, 2007<br />
Steve Poltz @ Paul’s LRC, Sunnyvale, CA – December 4, 2005<br />
Steve Poltz & the Rugburns @ The Casbah, San Diego – May 27, 2005<br />
Steve Poltz @ The Starry Plough, Berkeley – October 8, 2004<br />
Steve Poltz w/ Jeff Berkeley @ Santa Cruz – February 21, 2004<br />
Steve Poltz w/ Jeff Berkeley @ Sacramento Coffee Shop – February 20, 2004<br />
Steve Poltz Bday Show w/ Jeff Berkeley @ The Starry Plough, Berkeley – Feb. 19, 2004<br />
Steve Poltz w/ Jeff Berkley @ 12 Galaxies – February 18, 2004<br />
Steve Poltz w/ Jeff Berkley @ Altadena Coffee Shop, Los Angeles – February 16, 2004<br />
Steve Poltz @ M-Theory In Store, San Diego – February 15, 2004<br />
Steve Poltz w/ Doug Pettibone & Anya Marina @ The Casbah – February 14, 2004<br />
Steve Poltz & The Rugburns @ Belly Up Tavern – Dec 31, 2003<br />
Steve Poltz – Old Ironsides, Sacramento, CA <br />
Steve Poltz w/ Hannan Brothers @ The Starry Plough, Berkeley – June 19, 2003<br />
Steve Poltz @ Dana & Bill’s LRC, Suffolk, VA<br />
<br />
<b>Matt the Electrician</b><br />
Matt the Electrician w/ Scrappy @ House Concert, Santa Cruz - November 2010<br />
Matt the Electrician w/ Scrappy @ the Crepe Place, Santa Cruz - August 17, 2009<br />
Tom Freund w/ Matt the Electrician @ the Crepe Place, Santa Cruz - November 14, 2008<br />
Matt the Electrician (solo) @ the Crepe Place, Santa Cruz - July 19, 2008<br />
Matt the Electrician w/ The Courtney Janes @ The Crepe Place – October 16, 2007<br />
Matt the Electrician w/ Bob Schneider @ the Saxon Pub – May 28, 2007<br />
Matt the Electrician w/ Michael Fracasso (PopStars) @ Opal Divine’s – May 27, 2007<br />
Matt the Electrician @ the Attic, Santa Cruz – April 11, 2007<br />
<br />
<b>Todd Snider</b><br />
Todd Snider @ the Rio, Santa Cruz - December 11, 2009<br />
Todd Snider @ The American Music Hall, San Francisco – February 10, 2009<br />
<br />
<b>Indigo Girls</b><br />
Indigo Girls @ the Catalyst, Santa Cruz - June 25, 2008<br />
Indigo Girls @ the Fillmore, San Francisco – July 24, 2001<br />
<br />
<b>Ryan Adams</b><br />
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals @ The Majestic, San Antonio - March 3, 2009<br />
Oasis with Ryan Adams & the Cardinals @ Oracle Arena, Oakland - December 3, 2008<br />
Ryan Adams & the Cardinals @ the Catalyst, Santa Cruz – January 29, 2008<br />
Ryan Adams & The Cardinal @ The Catalyst, Santa Cruz – June 21, 2007<br />
<br />
<b>Willie Nelson</b><br />
Willie Nelson @ Palomar Starlight Theater – July 15, 2007<br />
Willie Nelson @ the Catalyst, Santa Cruz – May 7, 2007<br />
<br />
<b>Steve Miller</b><br />
Steve Miller Band w/ George Thoroughgood, Greg Kihn Band, etc. @ Shoreline – Sept 17, 2005<br />
Steve Miller Band w/ The Doobie Brothers @ San Diego Sports Arena – 1996?<br />
<br />
<b>Britney Spears</b><br />
Britney Spears @ MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas – April 25, 2009<br />
Britney Spears @ Compaq Center, San Jose – June 2, 2002<br />
<br />
<b>Luce</b><br />
Luce @ Fox Theater – October 20, 2007<br />
Luce @ Palo Alto Summer Nights – July 10, 2007<br />
Luce @ the Boardwalk<br />
<br />
<b>Authors</b><br />
Mary Roach<br />
Christopher Moore x2<br />
Susie Bright<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style:italic;">Last updated - January, 2010</span>Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-29187421984662537302009-06-30T13:52:00.003-07:002011-02-08T22:50:04.594-08:00Play & Musical AdventuresPoint Break Live @ Metreon, San Francisco - June 2010<br />
Wicked @ Orpheum Theater, San Francisco - April 14, 2010<br />
Ovo @ Cirque du Soleil @ Grand Chapiteau, San Jose, CA – March 2, 2010<br />
<br />
Spring Awakening @ San Jose Center for the Performing Arts - October 28, 2009<br />
Wicked @ Orpheum Theater, San Francisco - September 26, 2009<br />
Julius Caesar @ Shakespeare Santa Cruz - August 1, 2009<br />
<br />
Spring Awakening @ Curran Theater, San Francisco - October 4, 2008<br />
A Chorus Line @ Currant Theater, San Francisco - July 13, 2008<br />
Beauty & the Beast @ American Musical Theater, San Jose - May 18, 2008<br />
Mamma Mia @ American Musical Theater, San Jose - April 26, 2008<br />
Mary Poppins @ New Amsterdam Theater, New York City – April 6, 2008<br />
Gypsy @ St. James Theater, New York City – April 5, 2008<br />
Kooza Cirque du Soleil @ Grand Chapiteau, San Jose, CA – February 28, 2008<br />
Wicked @ Pantages Theater, Los Angeles – February 2, 2008<br />
<br />
Avenue Q @ Orpheum Theater, San Francisco – August 10, 2007<br />
Movin’ Out @ Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco – August 20, 2004<br />
<br />
Rent @ Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium – December 9, 2002<br />
The Blue Room @ Theater on San Pedro Square - March 2, 2002<br />
Rent @ Orpheum Theater, San Francisco – July 14, 2001<br />
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change @ Theater on San Pedro Square – Dec 28, 2000<br />
<br />
<br />
Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Kresge Town Hall – October 31, 1997<br />
<br />
Hair @ Starlight Theater, San Diego, December 3, 1994<br />
<br />
Rent in San Diego<br />
West Side Story<br />
Phantom of the Opera<br />
Grease<br />
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying<br />
Faust @ La Jolla Playhouse – Thur Oct 12, XXXX<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style:italic;">Last Updated: January, 2010</span>Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439183216716491693.post-4031709061159639382009-06-30T13:49:00.000-07:002011-02-08T21:50:26.846-08:00Life List 2.0 - (Things from Dream It. List It. Do It.)Almost all of these things came from the "Dream It. List It. Do It." book from 43things.com. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">DO:</span><br />
Do the 365 days of Self Portraits project on Flickr.<br />
Eat a tequila worm.<br />
Bungee Jump.<br />
Walk across a tightrope.<br />
Take a 50-mile bike ride.<br />
Walk across Hot coals.<br />
March for a cause.<br />
Give a lottery ticket to a stranger.<br />
Serve Xmas or Thanksgiving dinner at a homeless shelter.<br />
Volunteer at a zoo.<br />
Volunteer for the SPCA.<br />
Volunteer for the Library.<br />
Volunteer for a local park or beach.<br />
Give a microloan through Kiva.org<br />
Be an anonymous donor.<br />
Participate in a beach cleanup day.<br />
Sleep on the beach.<br />
Say "Shut up and kiss me."<br />
Spontaneously kiss a stranger.<br />
Say to a taxi driver "Follow that car..." or "...And step on it!"<br />
Dance in the street.<br />
Write on a bathroom wall.<br />
See a concert on a whim.<br />
Throw a public water balloon fight.<br />
Own a house.<br />
Pay off all my student loans.<br />
Pay off all my debts.<br />
Start my own business.<br />
Own a vintage guitar.<br />
Perform in a local musical.<br />
Be a street performer.<br />
Play the steel drums on my 50th birthday.<br />
Give 10% of my income to charity.<br />
Have a spa day.<br />
Go to a health spa for a week.<br />
Get a facial.<br />
Walk a marathon.<br />
<s>Run a mile without stopping.</s><br />
Do a colon cleanse.<br />
Bicycle 200 miles in a month.<br />
Run a 10k.<br />
Plant a fruit tree.<br />
Eat a fresh fig.<br />
Jump into a huge pile of leaves.<br />
Skip stones across a lake.<br />
Plant a rose garden.<br />
<s>Grow sunflowers.</s><br />
Eat a piece of fruit right from the tree.<br />
Plant a tree on Arbor Day.<br />
Play chess with the guys at the park.<br />
Feed the ducks.<br />
Have a sunrise picnic.<br />
Make a sock monkey.<br />
Write a children's book.<br />
Have my writing published.<br />
Publish a coffee table book of my photography.<br />
<s>Stencil public property.</s><br />
Make a papier-mache mask.<br />
Collaborate on an art installation.<br />
Paint with oils.<br />
Choreograph a dance.<br />
Cast a sculpture in bronze.<br />
Carve an ice sculpture.<br />
Tie-dye a T-shirt.<br />
Bury a box of treasures.<br />
Play spin the bottle.<br />
Run through the sprinklers at night.<br />
Slide down a banister.<br />
Twirl a baton.<br />
Make balloon animals.<br />
Roll down a sand dune.<br />
Throw a paper airplane off the Empire State Building.<br />
Blow bubbles in a mall.<br />
Start a food fight.<br />
Play hopscotch with kids I don't know.<br />
Bury a friend in the sand.<br />
Send a singing telegram.<br />
Win a trophy.<br />
Lead a conga line.<br />
Take a famous photo.<br />
Bury a time capsule.<br />
Publish my autobiography.<br />
Scan all my family photos.<br />
<s>Build a snowman.</s><br />
Build a kite.<br />
Build a clock.<br />
Play paintball.<br />
Bet $100 on black in roulette in Vegas.<br />
Steal a lawn gnome.<br />
Pose nude.<br />
Spray champagne on someone.<br />
Run through sprinklers when I'm 80.<br />
Write my name in wet cement.<br />
Ride a motorcycle.<br />
Visit as many ballparks and stadiums as possible.<br />
Have a tea leaf reading.<br />
Have a phrenology reading.<br />
Have my Tarot cards read.<br />
Get kissed under the mistletoe.<br />
Get checked for skin cancer.<br />
<s>Get an eye exam.</s><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">GO:</span><br />
Walk through an orchard.<br />
Go underwater spelunking.<br />
White Water Raft.<br />
Leave town and don't tell anyone.<br />
Go on a yoga retreat.<br />
<s>Visit hot springs.</s><br />
Snorkel in a coral reef.<br />
Swim in a bioluminescent bay.<br />
See a buffalo.<br />
Run through a field of wildflowers.<br />
Walk on a glacier.<br />
Go to a big gala or charity event dressed to the nines.<br />
Attend a film festival.<br />
Drink tea in a Japanese tea garden.<br />
Attend a poetry reading.<br />
Visit a candy factory.<br />
Go to the opera.<br />
Go to a wine tasting event.<br />
Attend a fashion show.<br />
Go to an afternoon tea.<br />
Attend the symphony.<br />
<s>Go to a pub crawl.</s><br />
Go for a sleigh ride.<br />
Go on a hay ride.<br />
Go for a horse drawn carriage ride.<br />
Visit a planetarium.<br />
Play bingo.<br />
Show up at the airport with my Passport and a bag and take the next flight.<br />
Go to the Olympic Games.<br />
Throw a dart in the map and go wherever it lands.<br />
Take a hot air balloon ride.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">International Destinations:</span><br />
Ride an elephant in India.<br />
Ride a camel in Egypt.<br />
Walk the Great Wall of China.<br />
Kayak in the Galapagos.<br />
Go on safari in Africa.<br />
Ride the Orient Express.<br />
Go on a walkabout in Australia.<br />
Visit Victoria, British Columbia.<br />
Visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem.<br />
Go to Stonehenge.<br />
Kiss the Blarney Stone.<br />
Have dinner at the Moulin Rouge.<br />
Bicycle in Holland.<br />
Ride a gondola in Venice.<br />
Zipline over the Amazon.<br />
Visit the Forbidden City in Beijing.<br />
See a rugby match in London.<br />
Ride the Chunnel from England to France.<br />
Visit Dracula's Castle.<br />
Samba at Carnival in Brazil.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">US Destinations:</span><br />
Drive the entire Route 66.<br />
Do an Outward Bound wilderness trip.<br />
Go to a juke joint in Mississippi.<br />
Camp in Death Valley.<br />
Dive in the kelp forest of Monterey Bay.<br />
Camp in Yellowstone National Park.<br />
Have a picnic in Joshua Tree.<br />
Camp at Yosemite.<br />
Visit the SF Zoo.<br />
See the Marfa Mystery Lights in Texas.<br />
See Mt. Rushmore.<br />
See the Grand Canyon.<br />
Go to the Rose Bowl.<br />
Take a steamboat down the Mississippi.<br />
See the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Live.<br />
Do a girls only trip to Vegas.<br />
Visit a winery in Napa.<br />
Attend Sundance.<br />
See a NASA shuttle launch.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Learn:</span><br />
Whistle with a blade of grass.<br />
Learn to whistle with my fingers.<br />
<br />
Learn to drive a stick shift confidently.<br />
<br />
Learn to identify at least 5 constellations other than the Dippers & Orion.<br />
Learn more about Mythology.<br />
Learn to hacky sack.<br />
Learn to play bridge.<br />
Learn to pick a lock.<br />
<br />
Get another degree.<br />
Take a public speaking class.<br />
Know conversational Spanish.<br />
Sing an entire song in Spanish.<br />
Learn the phonetic alphabet.<br />
Learn shorthand.<br />
Learn to read Hieroglyphics.<br />
Learn Sign Language.<br />
Learn to read Braille.<br />
Learn Calligraphy.<br />
<br />
Take a massage class.<br />
Learn Tai Chi.<br />
Learn to do a pushup.<br />
Be able to do pull ups.<br />
Learn to do a handstand.<br />
Learn to swim confidently.<br />
<br />
Learn to play the spoons.<br />
Learn to read music (again.)<br />
Learn to play "Heart and Soul" on the piano.<br />
Learn to play Fur Elise.<br />
Learn to quilt.<br />
Learn to make Mosaics.<br />
Learn the art of Bonsai.<br />
Learn pinhole photography.<br />
Take a stained glass making class.<br />
Take a woodworking class.<br />
Take a jewelry making class.<br />
Take a flower arranging class.<br />
Take an acrylic painting class.<br />
Take a pottery class.<br />
Learn to sew with a sewing machine.<br />
Learn to blow glass beads.<br />
Learn to silk screen.<br />
<br />
Learn to knit.<br />
Learn to crochet.<br />
Learn ceramics.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Food:</span><br />
Learn to make a great cup of coffee.<br />
Roast a duck.<br />
Make baked Alaska.<br />
Make yogurt.<br />
Take a knife skills class.<br />
Grill pineapple.<br />
Make jam.<br />
Prepare a flambe.<br />
Deep fry a pickle.<br />
Make gnocchi.<br />
Make egg rolls.<br />
Learn to make Soul food.<br />
Make my own spaghetti sauce.<br />
Make risotto.<br />
Learn to cook chinese food.<br />
Crystallize Creme Brulee with a blowtorch<br />
Bake my own bread.<br />
Make a cookbook of family recipes<br />
Make Samosas<br />
Make biscuits<br />
Make a gingerbread house from scratch<br />
Make Pad Thai<br />
Make a souffle<br />
Learn to cook osso buco<br />
Crystallize flowers<br />
Learn to make curry<br />
Learn more about spices<br />
<s>Make hummus from scratch</s><br />
Take a cake decorating class.Torihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596155951731427895noreply@blogger.com0