Ramblings of a Scatter Brained Girl

I've realized that I'm going crazy... Life gets complicated and I feel like I get interested in a bunch of quirky projects and hobbies to keep me sane. I mean, monotony sucks!But the problem is: I tend to lose motivation and move on quickly leaving me with a mediocre skill or and a ton of unfinished projects... I am scatter brained after all. But maybe its because I don't receive gratification since I have no one to share things with. Hopefully this blog can give me an outlet that can cure my insanity. Or is this just another project I've started that will fall victim to my craziness... Guess we will find out...

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after rain

by butisitartphoto.tumblr.com

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really like this photo

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Rain Racer

It’s probably no surprise that it rains a lot in the Seattle area (thanks twilight) but can you imagine racing in it? … ON A MOTORCYCLE? Queue the crazies of WMRRA: Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association. This past Memorial Day weekend, die hard motorcycle lovers (and their girlfriends) toughed none stop pouring rain to witness the magic that is sport bike racing.

I feel that motorsports in general in the US is overshadowed by a lot, let alone club racing. These boarder line insane men and women (yes, women) mount their saddles to complete twisting tracks with at least 10 turns at 180 plus miles per hour! For what? Two words: Bragging rights. Yes, money can be earned and contingencies paid for top placers, but it is an expensive enough hobby where even the top plate holders complete the season (dare I say an entire career) in a deficit.

A typical weekend consists of practices the first half of the day followed by races broken up into classes that separate big engine bikes from little engines, vintage bikes, even sidecars and scooters! Camping, pit parties, shenanigans, whiskey and beer are squeezed somewhere in between. On long weekends, a real treat our race association has are endurance races ranging from two to six hours!

This picture shows snippets of what racing is like in the Pacific North West. Yes, that is intense rain hitting the asphalt not a pond; Yes, that is a muddy motorcycle from a crash (all is okay); And yes, that is beer in those Solo cups among pit parties. One picture is of our race team completing the originally scheduled 6 hour endurance race that was cut to 4 due to… well… rain.*Side note: feel free to message me if you are involved in club racing in another state, I would love to see what that’s about*.

 If you love motorcycles and want to surround yourself in moto-goodness (even if cars are your thing), promise me you’ll look into your local race clubs, they could always use the support. People are very welcoming, more so if you bring no ego and lots of beer. Fortunately, it doesn’t always rain and track riding is the by far the safest way to enjoy sport bikes in my opinion. None the less this one’s for you WMRRA racers. Craziness like this can only be one thing: love.

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A Rocky Start

  Over the river and through the woods, to Hansen Creek we go! Saturday June 1st was my first rock hounding trip! I’m using Garret Romaine’s Gem Trails of Washington as a guide. This is a series that has been recommended to me by multiple people. It is a great beginner’s guide. Eventually, I hope to do like the old hounds do and follow historic maps! Speaking of, following the specified locations was a lot like following a treasure map AARRRR!

Hansen Creek is located off of Tinkham Road by I-90 on the western side of the Cascades just before Snoqualmie Pass. We live about 45 minutes away, so en route we dabbled the Issaquah Farmer’s Market held every Saturday morning from the end of April to mid-October. This is a must do if you are ever in Issaquah and not too hung over to get up early. I picked up my tomato plants from the sweetest man of Linda’s Tomatoes. His wife has passed a few years ago but he continues to come out every year until about father’s day in homage to her. So this year I will try extra hard to not kill these tomatoes… for Linda!

Rolling back (or forward I guess), we drove up old logging roads until we found a blocked off entrance to the trail. This is only one of multiple spots along Hansen Creek. It’s been raining a ton recently so it wasn’t a surprise the mile hike in to find all the land slides. This actually worked in our favor because I guess this location isn’t known for high yielding hounds. It was raining quartz! They literally littered the soft soil but they were tiny. You have to dig for the large formations. I really had no idea what I was doing so I hand sifted through the dirt to hound. Finds were easier than I expected in the sense that even though I was foreign to it all, I instinctually picked up a system. Though, it was harder than I imagined to see through the dirt!  I smartened up just before it was getting dark and looked at the base of trees. Still, I made due with lots of smaller clear quartz, larger specimens with crystal growth, a few rose quartz pieces, even smaller smoky quartz crystals and the tiniest pyrite cube. Hansen Creek is known for the build up of iron in the dirt that cling on to the quartz so I’m on day three of soaking, brushing and pruned fingers to no avail! Well, back to scrubbing!

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Sand and Teeth, the knitty gritty of my trip

I know I’ve been slacking, like most excuses: I’ve been busy. Needless to say, lots of posts on the way to catch up.  So… yeah I definitely didn’t get a chance to blog while in California ( called it!) but in consolation, I didn’t get a chance to go to the beach very much either.

I’ve mentioned I work on teeth for a living. “What do you do?” you ask. Well, it’s hard to explain since I wear multiple hats, but in a nutshell I started off as an assistant and now I manage the office. I hope to finish as a dentist one day. Any who, California called and asked if we wanted to learn more about Lumineers, an advanced type of veneer. So our clinical team headed down to the Santa Barbara/Santa Inez Valley area where we drove about an hour north to Santa Maria. We stayed at the historic Santa Maria Inn where we heard from multiple sources was haunted. Regardless, (and yes something questionable did happen) it was beautiful but the restaurant had no idea how to make an Italian soda (not being snotty, literally we had to describe what one was lol).  Here was where the seminar was held with a bunch of interesting folks. I’ve been to a few of these before but have never had the chance to chat with the families of the offices. I got to sit during dinner with a Canadian dentist’s trophy (compliment) wife. One of the reasons I got into blogging was I enjoy getting a glimpse into other people’s lives (hope it’s mutual). Yes, hers is one lived fully.

On the way there we stopped by the town Solvang (Danish for “sunny field”). Super cute tourist trap where the buildings are adorned with Danish goodness and shopping. If you’ve ever been to Washington, its similar to a town here called Leavenworth except not phony (or German) because Solvang was started by a group of Danish teachers. There still are quite a few Danish people in town. On the way in is where you can find the Santa Inez Mission and we got to tour the historic church. Growing up in the North West, our history doesn’t go back that far. So seeing things from the 1500s blows my mind.

In between was a lot of Dental jargon, it wasn’t until the last couple days that we got to sight see. Explored Pismo Beach and on the way out we visited Refugio State Beach.  The Pismo area was neat, but Refugio I have tacked to my places to go back to and hopefully camp. Eventually we made our way back to the Santa Barbara airport which I have deemed my favorite thus far. It has a lot of charm like it hasn’t been touched since the 70’s. Retro or not, the planes here brought us safely back home. PS Alaska Airlines ROCKS, they still serve peanuts and complimentary wine or beer!

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Can't wait for Animal Crossing New Leaf! I love that there are people out there as passionate as I am about it. Pretty sure this is going to be my town path. 11 days to go! 😃

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Riceland - Velly Nice Rice logo isolated and cleaned-up - late 1960’s early 1970’s by JasonLiebig on Flickr.

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Following this awesome blog, couldn't pass up this to repost! =)

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Covering the Surface

So... it doesn't have the best camera especially in low light, but it still deserves a cover! This is what I'm going to make a simple sock sleeve from. This yarn is from my new favorite yarn store Serial Knitters in Kirkland, WA. Its called Ripple by Stacy Charles, INC. Very pretty stuff, it thins and thickens but its flat like tape floss (lol). They have a sample sweater made from it in this exact color and its so beautiful in stockinet stitch. I better get a stitchin' or I'll be bitchin' cause I leave in two days for Santa Maria and want to protect the outer surface of my surface!

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On the Surface

Today I write from the newest addition of my small electronic arsenal: MY NEW SURFACE PRO! Yesterday, we picked up this guy from Best Buy. They offer “open box items” which means it was either a display or a return and not refurbished. I’m pretty sure mine was a return though in pristine condition. The tradeoff is a huge discount! I’ve purchased tvs and my father’s laptop this way and have never experienced problems. *knocks on wood*

It’s been recommended not to purchase at this time (gizmodo) since prices are scheduled to drop soon with next quarter’s items getting ready to launch. But since I got the 128gb for almost 200 dollars off, I figured now is a good a time as any. There was also the opportunity to purchase the Dell XPS that has a longer battery life and a built in keyboard. Though it may be a good competitor to the Surface Pro, call me a snob or bias but there is just something cheap feeling about it. I also really want the stylus since I’m a physical-note-taker by nature.

My goal is to replace my laptop especially since it is on its last legs and I was never able to tote that thing around in the first place. So, why not aim for something that can be more portable and can still do everything a home pc can. Though the battery life is short (3-5 hours tops) it isn’t a turn off for me since I’ve always owned items that needed a constant charge (yes I own an android phone) and have never been bothered by this.

So far I’m very happy with my Surface. I’m not very tech savvy, but it’s fast enough for my patience (faster even) and has a very beautiful display. It has Microsoft office and can run full programs and websites which I like because relying on apps has become frustrating. I really look forward to seeing a game like the Sims on this and trying stylus necessary programs like One Note. I also can’t wait to see how editing photos and videos will be so I can finally add them to my feed.

The only negatives are getting use to Windows 8 and using the much more compact keyboard. You can choose between a touch, which I opted for (it comes in colors…I got baby blue…pretty) or the type that mimics raised buttons. Both act as a cover, are compact and weigh about the same but I may have to try the type cover to appease my fingers and brain. An even lesser negative is the smaller screen. I plan on using my tv as my monitor (wirelessly possibly with Apple TV or similar) but I’m use to my Nook and phone so no big.

Like any relationship, only time can tell. Will the surface be enough for my home and away games? At the end of this week I’m going to be traveling to California for more dental training. We shall see how much I like this thing once I’ve had a chance to try out all those extra features. Needless to say the update is soon to come if I get around to blogging at all (lol). Oh well, there is always the 15 day return policy!

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A New Leaf

Spring is for sure in full swing in the PNW. I don't know what it is, but I sense something good is coming, even though my car crapped out on me. Today I've decided I need to upgrade my laptop. Though with what I do not know yet. I'm almost decided on the Microsoft Surface Pro just for a good portable do-it-all computer but we shall see. I also picked up some gem and rock books!

Anyways: ITS THE 9TH!!! And that means Animal Crossing: New Leaf is only a month away from being in my ever so welcoming hands!!!! I've reserved the limited addition Animal Crossing Nintendo 3DS  at Gamestop. So happy Nintendo decided to release it in the US. I've been doing my research and some really cool red head dude on youtube had created a journal for his Japanese version. This game is actually the grain that tipped the scale since that guy mentioned he found some awesome patterns on Tumblr. Thanks Mayor Joshy (or Joshi, sorry). In only four weeks I'm going to be able to apply my findings to my own town! Uh, so impatient... but yes, definitely something good comes this way.

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Time to ROCK!

Since I was little, I've always been drawn to rocks. I imagined myself walking through the forest and finding fossils or arrow heads. Chiseling  away at billion year old mountain sides for amethysts or cultivating minerals.

Problem was I grew up in the city and we were on a tight budget so the means for collecting rocks were limited. Usually I saved enough of my allowance to be able to purchase out of those bins where you paid ten dollars for a small drawstring bag that you stuffed with little polished rocks. On occasion, my mom would spoil me by bringing me to stores like Natural Wonders (no longer around in WA). There she would pick up rarer specimens like a sparkling geode or gem.

I would stare at those small treasures for hours. Though deep down my relationship with these rocks felt... generic. Yes, I know I'm an odd one. Who would label something with a rock and of all things a relationship!?

Well, today this odd duckling has taken a step closer to embracing my oddness: I went and joined the Bellevue Rock Club of WA! I was invited by my patients to come check things out after they had lured me in with some of their shiny finds. An application and a $7.00 check later and boom: a rock hounder is born!

In today's meeting they shared from their most recent field trip. I've found that I've got a lot to learn. Hunting or "hounding" for rocks takes not only physical work but a keen eye to look beyond the dirt. There are also tons of new terms or generalizations to be corrected in my forever churning head. Just like a "band-aid" is most widely used for an "adhesive bandage", agates are not a rock, but a type of formation. Whoo! Look at me go!

Sadly, we also discussed the poor conditions and exploitation of amethyst and crystal quarries in countries like Brazil where unfortunately most of my store bought "rarer specimens" had likely come from.

All in all, I feel blessed and I can't wait to see and learn more from this warm and welcoming community. I plan on visiting my local Half Priced Books to find some good digs (har har, I made a funny). I also plan on sharing and learning about some rocks that would catch my eye from my past travels, a habit I never quite shed from my childhood. But none of this would have been possible with out my awesome patients who have given me my first pieces to my official collection (Pictures to come) and have introduced me to something I have long searched for.

Here's to a rocky future!!!!

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First time for everything

So, here goes... I'm new to Tumblr and blogging all together. Pretty excited to grow a place for all my thoughts, that is if I can figure things out... Just in case no one sees my description, this will sum up why I'm bleeding my heart out:

I've realized that I'm going crazy... Life gets complicated and I feel like I get interested in a bunch of quirky projects and hobbies to keep me sane. I mean, monotony sucks! But the problem is: I tend to lose motivation and move on quickly leaving me with a mediocre skill or and a ton of unfinished projects... I am scatter brained after all. But maybe its because I don't receive gratification since I have no one to share things with. Hopefully this blog can give me an outlet that can cure my insanity and or give me the motivation to seek greater things. Or is this just another project I've started that will fall victim to my craziness... Guess we will find out... 

And with that said, a few things about me: I'm a girl who grew up in the Pacific Northwest of the U S of A. I work on mouths for a living and not really sure where to take my life from here. I'm a terrible speller and in a nutshell most of my interests are Dogs, Videogames, Knitting, Rocks, Motorcycles, Traveling, Gardening, Reading, and all sorts of random interesting-ness. Cheers!