Back from the East

My dad and I got back home a few hours ago from our week-long tour of east coast colleges (Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, and Florida Tech). I can say right now that Florida Tech is out; the school doesn't fit me at all (ah, just saw the pun in there). Other than that, I can't say anything because I still need to visit Harvey Mudd next week. More details about the trip will be on the way, but first I need to get some sleep. I've been on the road (air?) since 1:30 this morning, Pacific time. It's about time for a nap.

Easter got Canceled

Sarah aus Deutschland sent me this picture. I could not stop laughing, so I thought I'd share it with all of you.
Happy Easter everyone!

Death Valley

This Spring Break has actually been eventful. Usually I'm one of those people stays at home during breaks, lounging around the house in pajamas all day while snacking, browsing the web, and keeping odd hours. This year my family took advantage of the precious vacation days to go to Death Valley, California.

Aunt Kathryn and Cousin Bert tagged along with us, so we had a full car. We didn't mind, though, because the inside of the car, no matter how full, was always cooler than outside. The weather was pretty nice for Death Valley. It was in the 90's most of the day, which I thought was livable. As long as you drink lots of water and take a siesta, you can survive there.

Here follows a long photoblog about our three-day trip. Text will hopefully be at a minimum, except for a few sardonic captions here and there. So wait for your browser to finish loading the photos, and enjoy!

...because it wouldn't be called Death Valley otherwise.

"Fine, take this air. Just because the law requires it."

Wildlife.

If you look closely, the thermometer reads 120. It wasn't.

This date grove seems so out of place.

What dangerous animal made these tracks?

Oh.

That highest peak is our goal (dunes, not mountains, silly)

Stopping for a taste test.

Bert and Kathryn decided to go up the face of the
huge sand dune and collapsed halfway up.

We are the champions!

Going down the dune face.

One of the few photos mom let me take of her. All of them turned out perfect.

Someone left a tribute to Mosaic Canyon.

Water!

Salty water...

Pup fish!

Yes. I got to drive the van along a dirt road with a lot of hairpin turns.
Felt just like the Indiana Jones ride.
No one was injured in the taking of these photos.

More wildlife. There was a whole pack of them circling the van.
Well, only three. Okay, and all they did was cross the street.

Artist's Pallette.

Lowest point.

There was a random mill in the middle of the desert.


On the way home, we passed a truck
transporting pigs. It was only notable
because a pig mooned us while we passed.

That Red Sticky Stuff

My school's annual blood drive was today. It actually wasn't as big a deal as previous years. In the past there have been extremely militant students roving around school getting within inches of your face to ask in a dangerous voice, "Are you going to give blood this year???? Why not? Well, you should anyway. Think of all those people who die everyday because people like you refuse to grant them the few drops of blood that could save them." Then they pull out a gun and threaten to get your blood then and there, and you decide that maybe you'd rather face a needle. But you have to gulp it down and confess to your aggressor, "Um, but I'm only 15..?" The person then grumbles and moves away to the next person, hopefully at an eligible age to donate blood.

This year, however, I am 17, old enough to donate as long as my parents graciously sign a slip of paper that says the precious blood of their offspring may be put in another person's veins. I didn't need anybody to poke a gun in my face to make me donate blood. I was all too willing to join the que of students in the school gym eagerly pushing up their sleeves and begging for needles to be pushed in their arms.

I was actually the last person to be taken in before the makeshift clinic closed. They weren't open as long as previous years, either. A couple of teachers were denied their wish to give blood because they did not accept anyone who came after the bell rang. At least I managed to fulfill my desire and my duty to mankind. There is now 360-something more milliliters of blood to give to some poor, dying soul to sustain it and bring it back to life. I left with a content heart, a light head, and a pink badge to prove myself. On an equally heart-warming note, I have been accepted to Carnegie Mellon and waitlisted to Columbia Fu School of Engineering. Visiting college campuses in April will not be in vain!

Pointy needles won't be in vein, either, unfortunately. Not for another eight weeks, at least.