Things that keep me entertained
My Junior year of college is well on in its way, and I’ve found that I’ve come to a slight bump in the road. I keep blaming it on the fact that I’ve now officially been in school for more than 16 years (including preschool) and forcing myself to pull through these last 2 years (not including grad school) is proving to be more difficult than it should be. I’ve talked to my sister and several other people who have now moved on to the “real world” and they can all relate to my current situation of complete lack of motivation. My sister reported to me that at one point she had two papers two on one day and she managed to pull a 36-hour stretch of sleepless writing (with the addition of a few crazy outbursts and the occasional extra large latte mixed with red bull). I’m proud to say that this has not happened to me yet, but unfortunately I am finding it hard to get more than 6 hours of sleep every night. And while I would love to admit that it was because I was doing homework, I cannot lie to you. I am an addict.
Hi. My name is Becky. And I am addicted to StumbleUpon.
I fear that if I tell you about the amazing features of StumbleUpon that I will make you curious enough to seek out this jewel and will turn you in to the Stumble Junkie that I am. I already have several friends who I have lost to this curse. My best friend’s computer recently died and when ever we talk, she always tells me of her longing for Stumbling. My roommates now know that when I am on my computer, there is a 90% chance that I am binging on information.
Pictures of cute puppies? Sure. Cool ways to tie your shoe laces? Of course. A video game where Obama fights pigs wearing lipstick? Why not.
The basic idea of StumbleUpon is that you download this program on to your computer and a StumbleUpon bar appears on your internet browser. On this bar, there is a “Stumble” button that will take you to a random web page that has something to do with an area of interest to you (when you register, you pick from a large list of random activities, things, place, animals, etc) so that they can generate these web sites. If you find a web page that you really like and you want to share it with others, just click “I like it” and that web page will be added to the database.
Here are some recent finds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRpD4wjIkQ4 – My personal favorite
http://foodporndaily.com/
http://www.theglobalintelligencer.com/december07/chrisjordan.php
http://faltu.tv/tricks-illusions/491-how-to-turn-water-into-marbles.html
http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/ – this website isn’t working that well, but when it starts working again, its very cool – you can see the most recent video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY
StumbleUpon is one of the few things I can spend hours doing and never get bored. The only other thing on this list is sleeping (which I am now doing less of thanks to this wonderful disaster of a program).
CAUTION:
If you have an important presentation, an exam, a baptism, surgery, dinner with the president, any sort of previous engagement, I’m warning you now that you will not get anything done. You will lose track of time, do poorly in classes and lose a few friends. It takes great restraint of which I have none.
Be careful. The Internet is an addictive and interesting place.
Northern Michigan – quit hogging all the lakes
Pack the car, grab a map and don’t forget your hiking booties because it’s Nooorthern Michigan! (I’ve seen Groundhog Day a few too many times).
You guessed it. I just returned from a vacation to what we Southern Michigan folk call Northern Michigan (we rarely remember to include the U.P. in our state).
An hour in to the road trip and we stop for lunch and what I still consider the best pizza place ever (and I live in Ann Arbor with Pizza House AND Cottage Inn) — Uno Chicago Grill. It’s a chain and they’re everywhere (EXCEPT ANN ARBOR! – because they decided to close the one that used to be here). My recommendation: anything deep dish, especially Shrooms.
Back on the road, drifting in and out of my food coma, we headed to Trout Creek, a resort where we rented a condo for the week. Three pools, tennis courts, and mosquito-infested nature trails – Welcome to Trout Creek, where we keep our pond stocked to satisfy your fishing needs (a concept that has always baffled me). The resort is located in Harbor Springs, just a few miles away from Petoskey. Our condo was very cute (almost too cute?) and obviously set up for the winter months when skiers come to show off their skills at Boyne Mountain or Nub’s Nob: fire place, a place to store your skis and framed signs reminding you to remove your boots (signed Jason and Jason’s mom – who apparently has no name).
Though we were on vacation, we were torn between enjoying the outdoors and watching the Olympics – after all, they only happen once every four years. Our schedule ended up as vacation-related activities during the day and Olympics at night (which worked out well with the 12-hour time difference between here and Beijing). Warning to future visitors of the Petoskey area: no restaurants are open on Sunday nights.
Fun fact: Wherever you are in Michigan, you will always been within 6 miles of water. My trip was proof. Round lake (not very round – more triangular), Crooked lake (kind of crooked), Walloon lake (surrounded by camps), Lake Michigan (big).
We dedicated one day to exploring Mackinac Island (still unsure if it’s with a c or w). We took a boat over to the island and decided to explore Fort Mackinaw first. We arrived just in time for the cannon firing, which was demonstrated by a clever man dressed in wool (in 85 degree heat) and who knew just when and how long to pause to allow the crowd to chuckle at his scripted jokes. We then took a tour, guided by another man dressed in wool (they really know how to treat their employees) and learned about how we created, lost and then won the fort from those darn British. We looked in every building, discovered that people used to be much short based on the size of their bunk beds, and got slightly sunburned before we headed to the other side of the town to enjoy lunch at the Grand Hotel restaurant (not actually in the Grand Hotel, but close by).
After my sister found half a fly in her salad (thoroughly grossing her out), we decided to do the mandatory bike ride around the island. I discovered that sometimes riding a bike is not like “riding a bike”, especially on a rented 1-gear bike with high handle bars. Along the way, my mom examined each house and tried to convince my family that we should live there. Her goal in life and in retirement is to own a house on a lake or an ocean.
We decided the perfect way to finish off the trip was to buy $50 worth of fudge (don’t worry, most of it was gifts… most 
). We decided on Murdick’s, which we believe is better than Ryba’s. After canceling out our bike ride with a slab of fudge is our bellies, we boarded the boat back to the mainland.
Our resort was only a few miles from the Petoskey State Park so we headed over, my sister and I determined to start a collection of petoskey stones. I was disappointed and how few petoskey stones there were. It ended up being a who-can-find-the-coolest-rock contest. I won.
We filled our nights by watching the Olympics and playing board games. My dad murdered us at scrabble… and at any kind of card game. But he failed to dominate the best game ever: Blockus. It was the Mensa Select Game of 2003. It is so much fun, but also frustrating and easy to make enemies. Great for all ages! (I should get paid for this).
The most interesting find of the trip was our last full day when we decided to drive around and visit Walloon lake. We were in the middle of no where surrounded by nothing but trees and the occasional cabin, and our gas light went on. We would see a sign for a town and feel a slight wave a relief, but the towns consist of two buildings: antiques and a small convenience store. Our gas tank was running dry (as were our hopes of ever making it) when we saw a sign for Cross Village, a very small town consisting of a car garage, a gas station (yay!) and Legs Inn, which is the weirdest place I’ve ever been (with the possible exception of Frankenmuth). It is a polish restaurant looking over Lake Michigan that served hundreds of kinds of beer, including from Sri Lanka (where my sister went for a few months so it was a blast from the past for her). The view from the patio was absolutely breath taking – blue sky, gorgeous lake, the smell of pierogies. Unfortunately I had a terrible stomach ache and polish cuisine consists of meat and potatoes (heavy heavy heavy). I munched on a salad while my family enjoyed potato pancakes, blintzes and stuffed cabbage. The Legs Inn building itself is very strange. It gets its name from the decoration around the roof – hundreds of little white oven legs. Why? I don’t know. Inside it looks like a hunting lodge with stuffed animals every where and everything is made of raw wood. There was a large room, big enough for a decent polka ho-down, even with the 20 totem poles that surrounded the room. There was also an odd wood sculpture that was a cross between a bear, a pile of fish and a physical representation of the Bush Administration. I have a picture, but I think it’s better left to your imagination. The Legs Inn also has some important history behind it, which I knew at one point before I was blind sighted by the giant moose head. Who knew that there was this gem hidden in Northern Michigan.
Summary of my trip:
Fudge is good
Mosquitoes love me
Legs Inn makes me sound like a crazy person
7 Flags: One More Than 6
Another wonderful thing about living in Southeast Michigan is that you are within reaching distance of the best amusement park on Earth: Cedar Point.
Some would argue that CP has nothing compared to 6 flags, but how can this be possible? Cedar Point has world-record-breaking rides around every turn and it has been voted “Best Amusement Park in the World” by Amusement Today for the past eleven years. CP also has more roller coasters (17) and more rides (75) than any other park.
I was shocked when I entered college and met several people who had never heard of Cedar Point! How is it possible that this amusement park gem is flying under the radar?
My recent trip to the Point was a success. It had been several summers since I went last. The last time I went was with my Physics class my senior year of high school. We were told to enjoy ourselves but keep in mind that it should be a learning experience. About 1/2 an hour in to the day, the entire class, including my teachers, forgot about the assignment and instead focused on playing “Who can scream the loudest on the first drop of the Millennium Force?”. When we arrived in class the next day, we found out that our CP trip was just to study for our week-long game of Jeopardy, where the winners would receive their favorite candy bar. Needless to say, I think I lost all of the brain cells that had previously housed the information I learned in my physics class on my third ride on the Raptor. Education at its finest!
So my recent trip was long overdue. I finally got to experience the new Maverick roller coaster that won the Best New Ride for 2007. It is an amazing ride, but forget about trying to keep your hands up the entire time because if you don’t brace yourself, your head act like a pinball in between your shoulder straps. I also learned a valuable lesson about hair clips: they don’t mix well with roller coasters. I think I have teeth marks permanently engraved in the back on my head.
First ride of the day was Millennium Force which has been and will continue to be my favorite ride. It is so smooth. Plus, it is a very long ride and well worth planning out your picture while you wait in line (the camera is in the 2nd tunnel). Those who have yet to conquer the MF always say they’re scared of the first drop, but honestly, it is amazing and only lasts for a split second. I dare you to get off the ride without a smile on your face. Though I can’t guarantee you won’t have jelly-legs — I know I sure get them every time.
But for those who are still scared of roller coasters, stay far away from Power Tower Down. It isn’t a roller coaster, but Power Tower Down is the only ride in the park that still scares me and my other “Ride Warrior” friends. They slowly lift you up to the top of the tower (which takes waay to long) and then locks you in to place with a huge jolt (my heart stopped). They then leave you there for an unknown amount of time and drop you, free-fall, flying towards the ground. I scream, you scream, we all scream for solid ground.
Raptor is a classic and never disappoints, though I’ve found lately that I’ve been banging my head on the shoulder straps a lot. I must be sitting weirdly. Any advice? They also decided to get rid of pictures and added a video camera to every seat. I don’t know about you, but I would hate to watch myself on a roller coaster — goofy grin mixed in with giggles and “wooo”s. I just hope they don’t add this feature to Power Tower — hyperventilation mixed with pure terror.
We decided to skip over the painful rides — Mean Streak, Corkscrew, Mantis (for the males– my friend who I went with said he blacked out last time he went on the Mantis because the horn in between his legs was a little too high). We also didn’t get to go on the Magnum because when we were waiting in line, it broke down and when we came back later, it was 90 minute wait for a ride that we’ve all been on before. Plus, I think that the Magnum is painful, too. I usually get off the ride with a few more bruises than when I got in to my seat.
I have yet to go on the Top Thrill Dragster because every time I go, there is always a 2-3 hour wait and I just can’t imagine waiting that long for a 17 second ride. I will do it some day, like if I ever open the park and there is a 15 minute wait. I’ve heard mixed reviews about this ride. Some say that it is worth the wait, others think that it’s a pointless ride and a waste of your time. I’ll have to check it out for myself one day.
Gemini is always a fun coaster. You can race your friends, though keep in mind that the car on the right when you walk in gets an advantage out of the gate (in my case, it was the blue car… and I was in the red one). It is a little painful just because it’s old and wooden (especially on the quads where the lap bar goes), but it is a must-ride.
For those who have a stomach made of steel and are tired of waiting in line for roller coasters, try Chaos, located in the front on the park to your right as you walk in. You’re strapped in to a car that rocks back and forth while the car is attached to a spinning wheel that also tilts. My friends and I always compete to see who can do the most flips in the car. This time around, my friend and I won with 3 full flips, while our competition didn’t have any.
And while you’re over near the beach, you should also ride the Wicked Twister. Don’t be scared by the yellow towers swaying in the wind; this ride is a lot of fun. We found that the best seat is in the front row, because you get one extra twirl up the tower. You also get a full view of the meals that people can’t hold in while on this ride. Sounds like a blast, right?
The day was cut a little short because we decided not to spend money in the park (aka, not buy a $5 hot dog) so we were all low on energy and grumpy by the time 7pm rolled around. Speaking of food in the park, Cedar Point has turned corporate. They now have a Subway, a Panda Express and a Chik-fil-a. (Do Chinese Food and roller coasters mix well? I don’t think so!). And the Subway doesn’t even promote their “5 dollar foot long” in the park. Try $13 for a foot long sub. Disgusting!
We decided to hold out for some delicious Max and Erma’s. After not having eaten since 8AM, a burger never tasted so good. FYI, best chocolate chip cookies EVER (better than Mrs. Fields.. and I worked at Mrs. F).
On the way home, I had my first almost-fall-asleep-at-the-wheel experience. Pretty terrifying. Decided that my friend should drive the rest of the way home.
It’s funny that the scariest part of my day was driving home versus flying 90 mph straight towards the ground.
Ann Arbor is the place to be
The Ann Arbor Art Fair is in full swing. The local businesses are thriving, out-of-towners are sweating buckets and purchasing thousands of dollars worth of 5-feet-tall copper rabbits and ceramic pots that a small child could live in, and the locals are counting the days until they can drive down State Street without being yelled at by college students to please park on their lawn for only $5.
I’ve discovered that after having lived in Ann Arbor for my whole life, I have conquered the Art Fair. Nothing wows me any more (although the wax sculptures on William are still very cool!). Walking down South U, I found myself saying “Been there, seen that”. This is an invitation to artists to please bring something new and exciting.
But with the Art Fair also comes the sales… and one very special one in particular: Urban Outfitters. Girls all gather on State Street to rummage through piles of unorganized, discounted clothes in order to find that one shirt they saw last week in the store that is now only $10! Why not get one in every color and size? The biggest problem with this sale? Hangars. They have a tendency to be greedy, grabbing on to more clothes than they were intended to hold. Nobel Prize to the person who can invent a hangar that is monogamous, faithful to only one shirt.
Another important Ann Arbor event that needs to be mentioned: The Alternate Routes concert. Incredible! The Ark is such a great place to see concerts. The concerts are so intimate. I sat 7 feet away from Tim Warren, the lead singer. Also, I was introduced to Virginia Coalition, an amazing band that obviously loves performing and music. I highly recommend seeing either one of these bands if you have the chance. The new AR Watershed EP CD is awesome. Only $3.99 on iTunes. Worth it. Get it. Be awesome. Have a nice day.
Blogging – Jump on the Bandwagon
One of my co-workers, the wise Jason Young, informed me that blogs are the future and I should try it out. Plus, I’ve officially scribed for a Jumpstart where we spent a solid 30 minutes convincing our client that blogs are a great way to spread the word.
Though I don’t have many words to spread, here goes nothing.
I mentioned to the other intern here at Pure Visibility that I had little to blog about. I can offer little advice, I have a limited amount of interesting stories, and I don’t think I have the patience to come up with a blog along the lines of “101 ways to Groom Your Poodle”.
What I can offer you is movie reviews, witty remarks and the occasional summary of my daily activities.
I promise not to bore you too much. Ideas are accepted with open arms and fingers capable of writing 70 words per minute.
I’m doing finger exercises as we speak/as you read.
The exciting news of the day is my favorite band, The Alternate Routes, is coming to Ann Arbor on July 13 at the Ark, PLUS they have a CD coming out tomorrow. I joined their Street Team, so it’s now my duty to promote this incredible band. Visit their website to listen to their music and learn more about them: http://www.thealternateroutes.com/
Looking forward to the exciting world of blogging!
