Today is...

Today is a great day to remember the Earth you stand on. The following are only some of the things you can do to celebrate this day that should be celebrated every day:

-Pick up five pieces of trash.

-Bike or walk instead of driving.

-Take your car to a car washer instead of washing it in your drive way.

-Plant a tree.

-Plant some flowers.

-Send a letter to your Congressman telling him or her to support more environmental legislation.

-Start a petition in support of the Kyoto Treaty.

-Feed the birds.

-Take a shorter, colder shower.

-Eat cake :)

Happy Earthday everyone!

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.