tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-324274932024-03-07T12:49:03.716-06:00Climbing-a-Mountain-in-HeelsExploring under every rock on the wayShoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-53625228933338120032011-10-17T00:08:00.004-05:002011-10-17T00:15:20.614-05:00Heat to FreezeIn the past two weekends, I engaged in a mini backpacking spree. The first weekend we traveled to Carey's Castle in Joshua Tree National Park - temps hit nearly 100 degrees.The following weekend we sought to visit fall leaves in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Bishop, CA.Instead we found ourselves camping in snow in early October. This photo is from our furtherest point - Piute Pass - up the Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-29620729762174212002011-07-06T22:28:00.011-05:002011-07-07T00:53:51.490-05:00Wine CampFor a change of pace, we organized a car-camping weekend in the Santa Barbara wine country. We organized the weekend to maximize our wine country experience mixed with seeing the famous sight-seeing spots from the movie Sideways. Friday we arrived in Buellton, California after driving only about 2 1/2 hours. We camped in the field of an RV park (award-winning!) which conveniently abutt the Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-71357639252690837132011-06-14T01:09:00.004-05:002011-06-14T01:32:11.701-05:00Nature KnowledgeLast weekend some friends and I attended a Nature Knowledge workshop in the San Bernardino Mountains outside Los Angeles. Below is just a sample of the nature knowledge we acquired: the name of every flower family; plants in forests, chaparral, and riparian (river) ecosystems; a scientific hypothesis of when the "big one" (earthquake) will shake California; mountain bird songs of birds in the Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-11840965438050846562011-06-14T00:33:00.005-05:002011-06-14T01:09:47.098-05:00Silverlake StairsTonight I led my first in a series of three hikes through the public staircases in my neighborhood of Silverlake. We based the hikes on a book entitled "Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles," by Charles Fleming. Even a local blogger who writes about hikes from the book joined in the hike. She promised a blog post about tonight's hike. Check out her site.We Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-47956864658009616352011-02-09T00:55:00.005-06:002011-02-09T01:20:37.804-06:00Rocks and SnowThis year has continued to be the Year of the Adventure, as declared. Last weekend I participated with my Wilderness Travel Course in the Joshua Tree National Park weekend. On Saturday we learned rock climbing techniques, up to class 3 rock climbing. For those of you like me who are new to rock climbing, here is a short explanation of the "class" of rocks. Class 3 means we climbed on rocks Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-21051898390198082122011-01-22T19:23:00.005-06:002011-01-22T19:34:52.580-06:00Saturday LobstaToday I hiked to Rocky Peak in Simi Valley, just into Ventura County from Los Angeles County. It's hard to believe the month is January with such beautiful sun and temperatures. The hike itself was 8 miles with 1800 feet of elevation gain in the Santa Susanna Mountains. The sandstone boulders, outcroppings, and green-ness make this hike stand out as a great urban hike. Also notable, the Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-85009487908855361782011-01-19T00:05:00.005-06:002011-01-19T00:41:40.266-06:00So 2011I have declared 2011 my year of the adventure. First, and most obvious, blogger has forced me to update my template. Adventures in Technology. I hope you find the new pictures, colors and format pleasing. Thank you blogger for launching me into 2011!Second, I discovered I love car washes. Adventures in modern day advances. After an unforgettable weekend in Yosemite (see #4 below), dirt and salt Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-62105665850256635432010-12-21T23:45:00.004-06:002010-12-22T00:14:10.402-06:00Mister Heavenly IITickets did not run as expensive as expected for the Passion Pit - Mister Heavenly - We Barbarian - Peter Rabbit 4-band line-up at the Palladium in Hollywood. How could I pass it up? My main draw had been Mister Heavenly, a project band made up of some good names: Nick Diamonds of Islands, drummer Joe Plummer of Modest Mouse, Honus Honus of Man Man, and on bass Michael Cera!! Cera is young butShoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-66252871708498702782010-12-02T00:55:00.003-06:002010-12-02T00:56:50.666-06:00Mister HeavenlyI just read that Michael Cera joined a band for this tour season called Mister Heavenly. This band is opening for Passion Pit next Tuesday in Hollywood. Tickets cost around $45 with fees or $30 at the door. Tempting.Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-35634775096637086512010-11-24T23:19:00.002-06:002010-11-24T23:21:24.907-06:00Happy ThanksgivingHappy Thanksgiving! Tonight I'm making some saffron buns to share at the celebration. This is a mid-December Swedish tradition I will share tomorrow. My family will be happy they are not subjected to the saffron.Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-89854428732738233142010-11-24T00:52:00.004-06:002010-11-24T01:08:22.761-06:00Provisional HikeSunday, I scouted a local trail to use for my provisional hike to become a hike leader. You can know this top secret, coveted information before it's even published. The hike will likely be to Echo Mountain and Inspiration Point in Altadena, CA; 10 miles round trip with 2700 ft elevation gain. It's a historic hike, tough, but well worth it. You'll encounter spectacular views of Los Angeles Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-4329387982011555372010-11-24T00:19:00.007-06:002010-11-24T01:35:18.847-06:00A Hike to Weigh the PumpkinA special thanks goes out to my neighbors who let me use their scale to weigh my pumpkin. The result of the great pumpkin contest of 2010 is that the pumpkin weighs 21.1 lbs. The winner may email to claim the prize...the pumpkin. The hike to my neighbor's house was the shortest one I've set out on lately. I have kept an active hiking calendar lately which brings me all sorts of happiness. MyShoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-58506060744707792792010-10-26T01:34:00.004-05:002010-10-26T01:37:21.088-05:00Pumpkin ContestSome of you have been following me through two pumpkin contests. The first is a huge pumpkin at my lunch cafeteria. It weighed so much I couldn't lift it, thus I guessed it weighed 97 pounds. The person closest to the actual weight won a free lunch from the cafeteria people. After a few weeks, the bum of the pumpkin grew moldy. The winner was announced today... the pumpkin weighed 60 pounds.Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-74031537380199571032010-10-25T01:59:00.004-05:002010-10-25T02:02:28.073-05:00Heels Signify a Top-Notch WeekendAfter an outstanding Los Angeles weekend, I could not resist buying the heels pictured here at a Malibu garage sale... cowboy boots for climbing a mountain in heels.Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-91580547679412747952010-10-25T01:20:00.005-05:002010-10-25T01:57:28.232-05:00Sufjan StevensSaturday eve Sufjan Stevens played at the Wiltern - a music venue in Koreatown in Los Angeles. Some fancy photos are posted here. Sufjan in my mind is remembered as the man who wanted to make an album based on every state - "the states project." After making Illinois and Michigan, he disappeared somewhat for 3 years, only to reappear with "The Age of Adz" album. Instead of the classic folk Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-73127900926582406592010-10-25T01:01:00.007-05:002010-10-25T01:19:58.472-05:00Tour de FatThis weekend I participated with neighborhood friends in our friendly neighborhood wonderous whimsy - the Tour de Fat. This event is sponsored by New Belgium brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado which makes Fat Tire beer. New Belgium hosts a carnival aimed at bicycle awareness, fun, and to "roust a city's inner-cyclist". The #1 rule is:1. Put no means of transport before thy bike: Come by bike Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-75061384696611218242010-10-11T22:02:00.004-05:002010-10-11T23:34:50.994-05:00CicLAvia Los Angeles -- 10.10.10On Sunday I took to (7.5 miles of) the streets of LA during a "CicLAvia" event. The city closed 7.5 miles of streets and opened the streets to bikers, skateboarders, runners, walkers, or strollers. I felt a rush as I zoomed through intersections downtown. I threw caution to the wind with no car to run me off the road. Strangely I was one of the only nerds with a bike helmet, but I considered Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-2210050641367187192010-10-11T21:32:00.005-05:002010-10-11T21:53:19.924-05:00San GorgonioMy alarm rang at 3:15 a.m. on Saturday morning. Whoever said weekends are for sleeping didn't live in Southern California. By 6:00 a.m. I had driven two hours to the Vivian Creek trailhead just past Forest Falls, CA. I joined a Sierra Club hiking group to complete the 18.2 mile, 5,600 ft. in elevation gain, round trip to San Gorgonio, the tallest point in Southern California. San G hails at Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-83543662980894443012010-10-04T23:22:00.007-05:002010-10-04T23:40:49.705-05:00Movies with Movie StarsThis past week I watched not one but two movies in the theater. First, I viewed "I'm Still Here," the Joaquin Phoenix mockumentary... or is it? For those who have not seen this movie, it's a documentary of a year following J.P. Remember when he showed up on David Letterman with a huge beard, was stoned out of his mind, and left his gum under Dave's desk? That was the year of filming. Anyway,Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-66707238566375091072010-09-29T00:29:00.003-05:002010-09-29T00:47:25.719-05:00New Couch DayToday my living room was transformed from the perfect picnic place to a living room. My first couch arrived today. Enjoy the pictures, but don't take my word for it. You are invited to visit and try it out for yourself.Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-51796378578448098412010-09-18T16:11:00.002-05:002010-09-18T16:11:59.309-05:00I'm back!Guess who has a new computer? Happy to be back to blogging. Pictures to follow.Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-547550128658524682010-05-20T01:20:00.004-05:002010-05-20T01:28:08.235-05:00More on CarsLast weekend I camped in the Big Sur, a California State Park on the ocean. On Saturday morning we were enjoying breakfast around the picnic table and heard a snapping noise. Slowly but surely, a tree fell across the road and SMACK onto a car. Seriously! And I thought I had it bad. Luckily no one was injured.Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-78454208899965363742010-04-29T01:33:00.003-05:002010-04-29T01:47:13.598-05:00The Universe Must Be BalancedHave you ever felt as though if you became too happy, something bad would happen to balance your universe? I have thought about this at various times when I have an incredibly satisfying morning, then the afternoon goes terribly. Or similarly, when you are very bored, then become very busy... it seems that balance is the trick.Today I upset the balance of the universe, and it led to a small Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-60948977843435653922010-04-21T01:31:00.001-05:002010-04-21T01:31:52.685-05:00First RattlerThis past weekend I joined a backpacking expedition in the Santa Rosa Wilderness Area. We hiked Martinez and Sheep Mountain and spotted this rattle snake about 20 minutes shy of returning to our cars. Glad to have made it back!I took many pictures of desert flowers.Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32427493.post-45803782787498418272010-04-21T01:30:00.000-05:002010-04-21T01:31:07.658-05:00California AdventuresOver spring break my sister visited. We whale watched on a boat tour - seeing sea lions, a whale spouting water and swimming near the boat, and dolphins. The second weekend, we took a drive to Sequoia National Park and where the giant trees greeted us with several feet of snow. On the drive back home, we stopped at a local orange stand for the best orange I have ever tasted, fresh from the Shoe Inhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09042103064205119821noreply@blogger.com1