#165 - dream

As much of the world as possible! Cover the country! See every corner! Coast to coast! Obscure cities! Picturesque fields! Dance in the ocean!

My future map: (times 7 - for each continent)

see you there.

#164 - archaic trinket

My elementary school sported the Apple Computers; complete with epic games during computer lab time like Prince of Persia, Oregon Trail, Crystal Quest but my all time favorite was the "open Paintbrush tool and draw a picture" game. I rocked that game. Our school supplies list always included a pack of 25 floppy disks which were then promoted to hard disks. 80% of the time, one would be shoved in my backpack, containing multiple papers and projects for school. The 'shoving process would cause the silver metal piece to be bend, dented, or completely ripped off- destroying my academic career.

"It’s probably been a dog’s age since you even thought about floppy disks — let alone had a drive on your computer that could support one — but floppies are actually still popular in India and Japan. Sony is the last manufacturer of 3.5-inch floppy disks, and while the company sold more than 12 million of them in 2009, Sony has just announced it will stop making floppies as of March 2011."

As obnoxious as they were, they will be missed. Now my problem is losing the technology of the future. They make everything so dang tiny!

#163 - boise pineapple

"So how long have you lived in Boise?"
"Oh not too long; I just moved here in August."
"Wow, really? Where did you move from?"
"Washington!"
"So what brought you here?"
"... ... ... ... ... "

I have had this conversation countless times since I moved to Boise, ID - and I never have a good, consistent answer.

...seemed like a cool place - close to home/school - came here for work - locked into a contract - felt right - was headed home and ran out of gas in boise, decided to stay...

I've been trying to think of a really compelling response and so far, have come up wanting. To be honest, there was a slightly ridiculous reason I decided to come here, and a few dollops of whipped cream that sealed the deal:

dollop one: The Egyptian Theater
dollop two: The Record Exchange
dollop three: The Co-Op

Each day I find a new topping that keeps me happy and keeps me going and today was no exception. Boise Bicycle Week was just announced and I am SO excited! I plan on doing as many events as I can fit in on my new ride. There is a Vintage Bike Swap that I would love to watch (will not be trading anything), the Monday Kickoff, a Twilight Ride on Mardi Gras, Bike Maintenance stations, Street Smart Cycling, Women's Road Ride, the Recumbent Rally, Pedal Power Picnic to the Park, May in Motion Event, Bicycle Block Party, and the Pedal Power Parade.

Ride on.

#162 - banksy

A new Banksy was just found, yesterday, in San Francisco's Chinatown. I unfortunately missed his debut film "Exit Through the Gift Shop" when I went to the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, but did see two of his works on my excursion.

This is the one I saw in Park City:

And this is the one I saw in Salt Lake City:

#161 - tumtum tree

Today is a special day. The Day of the Earth!

Earth is so captivating! She has grand mountains, picturesque fields, vast blue oceans, rivers, streams, flowers, trees; beauty for sight, sound, taste, smell. And today, Earth. Today we salute you.

My salute:

riding my bike everywhere today instead of driving my car (except for work... that would take an hour and I could quite possible die on the freeway) ** not turning on the lights today... home by candlelight ** turning off the water while I'm brushing my teeth instead of letting it run ** unplugging my phone charger and other unnecessary cords **start my vegetable garden on my window sill ** opening the window instead of turning on the air

It has been easier to minimize my carbon footprint, living downtown and being able to bike all over instead of drive, but I can still do more!

Hooray Lady Earth!

#160 - prepared to sweat

This morning was my first attempt at Hot Yoga. The Bikram Yoga Studio is just a few blocks from my house and the earliest class is at 6:00 AM, so at 5:50, I rolled in. There was about 20 people in the class, but still managed to feel very individualized. She kept on saying things into the microphone like, "Straighten your legs a little more, Vanessa." and "Good arch in your back Mike, just tuck your head in."

90 minutes
26 yoga positions
107 degrees

I managed all but one position. The rest I attempted, but saw much need for improvement when I compared to the more experienced classmates.

drenched
dripping
depleted

dehydrated

She had this kind of mystical voice with a Yoga-ian accent. It was confusing at first, but I ended up liking it. I'm envisioning round two on Thursday will go slightly better.

#159 - tax man

April 15th, 2010: D-DAY

My normal taxes proceedure is to get them filed as soon as I receive my W-2 forms. I quickly filled out my online tax forms, only to discover I owed the tax man a few hundred. While all my friends celebrated their multi-hundred dollar returns, I tried to fit another deduction from my budget. Because I was paying, I was in no hurry to cut the government a check. Fast forward to April 15th. Federal taxes barely filed that morning and still the daunting State Income Tax. I had never had to do state taxes before (living in Washington) and did not want to go through the rigamarole. 4:00 pm... 6:00 pm... 8:00 pm... finally around 9:00 pm I finished my paperwork (with a little help from my friends), and headed over to the post office. I arrived to a bustle of cars mailing similar white envelopes, only to discover I didn't have stamps. I then drove across town to the Post Office that was actually open with employees (instead of just a drop box) only to hear that they didn't sell stamps. Drove over to Walmart to buy stamps. Left, to then notice I didn't have a pen to fill out the envelope. Back to Walmart to borrow a pen. Envelope in hand, I drove BACK to the post office at 10:30. It was rather comical: an endless stream of cars driving through a round-about, all sticking an envelope out their window, which is immediately grabbed and placed in a bucket by an out-door assistant to The Man. I felt the anarchistish camaraderie...

THEN!

I sped off for home (after realizing I slipped on the wrong freeway) to meet my friend on her bicycle in our parking lot. I ran upstairs, grabbed my bike to ride downtown. Us two met two more at a bar downtown for Goldfish Races. Masses of people crowded around two rain gutters as competitors coax their gold fish to swim down the line and run fish-head-first into the end of the gutter - claiming their prize ($125 bar tab). After cheering and flashing my camera for an hour-plus, we headed a few blocks down to a Karaoke bar. Horrid singing, but they all Karaoked just fine.
What a day!