Notes on Things (and Things of Note)

• The new Metric album?  Rocking my world, just like their last album. Can't quite seem to listen to anything else, no matter how hard I try!
• South Lake Tahoe in the summertime is kinda magical. Especially when you get to stay in a big, beautiful house on a small lake with a hot tub! I'm usually there in the winter, so it was a nice (and hot) change of pace.
• I seriously can't believe how booked up my summer has become - and summer isn't even starting until Wed!  Phew! I'm certainly not complaining, but a little down time might be nice.  From Tahoe to Reno to Montana, oh my! Camping and gambling and volunteering and birthday-ing, when will I have time to Prepare for the Playa?
• Speaking of Burning Man, Ryan and I went to Joann's on our way back from Tahoe to pick up some project-like things.  Needless to say, I have a few yards of toule and an elastic band just waiting for that non-existent down time I mentioned above.  Tutu, anyone?
• My 30-day Vegan Challenge started today, it was sorta inspired by the E2 Diet I read about last week via Whole Foods.  I'm curious what changes will come from this - I'm hoping for clearer skin, a happier belly and digestive tract, a little bit of weight loss, a lot more energy, and a decrease in my insomnia-related ailments.  After 30 days, I'm not sure what will happen.  I have to make it to day 30 first, people!  I'm hoping to move to a pescatarian diet, if nothing else.  But honestly, we'll have to see.  A follow up blog on how my Day 1 went to come later.  Got a favorite vegan food or recipe? I'd love to hear about it!
• Remember how I said I was in Tahoe this weekend? It was for a wedding and I wore these little devils:

• As cute as they are, wearing them to an outdoorsy wedding got me a golfball sized ankle.  *Sigh*

Notes on Things (and Things of Note)

• 31 doesn't feel any different than 30, I'm not even sure that 30 was all that special to begin with!
• The Giant Dipper is, hands down, my favorite roller coaster.  Always has been, always will be.
• Roller coasters have a machine smell that nothing else smells like (and I love that smell)
• Home-made carrot cake should ALWAYS follow hikes through redwoods.  They go together extremely well.
• Carrot Cake should always be home made.  Never again will I buy a slice from Safeway.
• I'm not as good at laser tag as I remember being... although I'm not sure I was ever good in an arena.  Puzzle Fighter is still one of my fortes.
• Being able to drive 20 minutes from the Pacific Ocean into a Redwood Forest is something that I take for granted too often.  This should be remedied (by more beach days followed by camping trips).  California is truly a magical place, I need to spend more time in her beauty.
• California adventures I plan on doing this spring/summer:
• Take the ferry to, and explore, Angel Island (this is actually happening next weekend)
• Tour Alcatraz (I've only ever boated by, never stepped foot on)
• Walk over the Golden Gate Bridge (it's free, so really? why not)
• Watch the sun set from the top of Mt. Tamalpais
• Hike through Muir Woods (I think the last time I was in there was 6th grade)
• Eat clam chowder at Bodega Bay
• Take Ryan to Panther Rock Beach
• Attend an Art Murmur in Oakland
• I should really knit more things.  Or at least finish something that I start.
• I got a new iPod for my birfdae!  32 GB, bring it!  Also got this super cutesy owl case (which I lurve <3):
• Got some awesome schwag for Burning Man from my friends as well... some home-made (yay for crocheted arm warm warmers and a bike seat cover!), some store bought (feather hair extenders and purple make up), all equally thoughtful <3
• Hmmm... maybe it's time to start thinking more about Burning Man?  Meh, not yet.
• It is time to start planning this year's river float!  Weeee!  Hopefully it doesn't randomly snow over Memorial Day making the water fuh-reezing this year!  Yikes! 

Notes On Things (and things of note)

• Listening to my iPod in alphabetical order by song has proven to be a better song shuffler than the "shuffle" option itself.
• Upon listening to my iPod in this way has also proven to me that many artists have blocks of songs starting with the same letter.... here's me: "Hm, I haven't heard any Muse in awhile."  Here's my iPod, on the letter "S": 8 Muse songs (I'm only up to "G", *sigh*)
• For some reason, 8GB of music is not enough and I struggle every time I want to put new music onto my iPod with the decision of what songs to leave behind, as if I will never hear them again.
• Discovering Pinterest has made my days at work far less boring.  Follow me here
• With my current obsession with Cookie Butter (and the unfortunate discovery of it being sold at my local Whole Foods store), it's a terrible thing to have found this (don't worry, I'll  make it soon.):
• I have a friend crush on my Zumba instructor.  We should totally be bffs, if only because we live in the same town (and all my other friends live 25-50 minutes away).  Found out that her b-day is the day before mine!  We should hang out.  All.The.Time.
• I have too many places I want to go before the world ends end of the year, how to decide?!?
• One of those places is North Carolina.  I miss my old bestie.
• Another place is Montana.  I miss my physics friend.
• Neither of those states were ever on my bucket list until I had friends move there (p.s. please come "home").
• For some strange reason, I like planning things.  Camping trips, Costa Rica vacations, birthday parties, dinner... Am I a closet control freak?  Maybe.
• Currently planning my birthday (which happens to be the day before Easter this year, blah) here:
• When did volunteering become so tiring?  When my telescope operator training last night lasted until 11 pm, when it was scheduled to end at 9:30 pm.  And really?  How is learning the History of Telescopes (again) going to help me operate one?!?  Ok, I may just be super tired.  I was probably the only schmuck there who decided to start volunteering somewhere that takes 45 minutes to get to from their house.  But who's counting?  (That's actually less than my commute time to work, believe it or not)
• Thinking about buying a house-soonishly.  Any idea how much I need at contract signing?  20% isn't looking very feesible in Marin County, even with house prices on the low side.  Also, any idea how much additional monthly costs can range (for insurance, etc... anything that isn't the mortgage payment)?  Trying to create a budget is hard.