Need to Knead.

Adventures in bread-making, attempt #1.

Looks ready to play softball with...

The bread looks great in terms of color (and I sure did a good job with scoring the top!), but the loaf is smaller than expected.  I haven't even cut it open to take a taste and I know I didn't knead it enough!

I probably should have watched this video first:

Epicurious.com's video on kneading bread.

Oh well.  Hopefully it tastes somewhat decent.  I will make a second attempt next week and will hopefully post a delightful loaf of bread, like my dear friend over at Sachi's Kitchen.  I also used the Cook's Illustrated recipe, but maybe I will try her minor edits next time...

I haven't been blogging much lately, as I've been busy with the new job and holiday travels, but I hope to update more about life in Carson City once the new year begins!

Carson City.

 In honor of my recent return to Nevada:

Top 10  8 Things About Carson City.

1. Only twenty minutes to Lake Tahoe, 30-60 minutes to most of the ski resorts.

2. No state income tax in Nevada (personal, business, or corporate).

3. Low housing costs!  (If you're in the market to buy, you would get a lot of bang for your buck here.)

4. Small town feel, bigger city amenities (see below).

5. There's a Target store. 

6. There's also a Trader Joe's! 

7. Only about 2.5 hours to Yosemite National Park's eastern gate.

8. There is a relaxed pace of life, which is a welcome change from Washington D.C.

I was aiming for top 10...but it may take me a little while to figure out two more!

Working woman. Work, woman.

I am exhausted.  But I'm excited to have begun my new job.  It's been a while since I've worked a standard work day + work week.  My body is trying to get used to sitting at a desk all day long. 

This past week: moved back to Nevada, fit in a few hours of snowboarding, ran errands, worked on grad school stuff, re-entered the work force after 3.5 years of student life, and was thrown into the Northern Nevada cold weather.

Since I'm yawning, I think I will submit to an early to bed, early to rise (with coffee) plan.  More updates on "small town" life to come!

Christmas came early.

But it only came early because my Christmas present to myself (is that allowed?) arrived in the mail today!

I can't wait to try out the America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Illustrated bread recipe that multiple people have raved about to me. 

Man, it's just so darn purdy...

Goodbye, East Coast...again.

The countdown to my official move has started.  In less than 72 hours, I will be on a plane with all my worldly goods (okay, just the ones I have here in D.C.), headed back to Nevada.  It's making it very difficult to focus and I have a lot to get done: language test, last day of unpaid work, packing, cleaning, saying goodbyes.  I don't have a lot of patience when I know something is coming down the road, and it's taking a lot of willpower to not just change my flight and hop on the next plane home. Especially with the past week I've had transiting around.

For Thanksgiving, I met Mr. TPG in Boise, Idaho and we drove into Eastern Oregon to my brother- and sister-in-law's place.  We had a grand ol' time, devouring delicious food, going on walks in the crisp winter air, and playing a lot of nerdy games.  We also celebrated news of a new nephew or niece on the way (so exciting!), as well as my birthday (don't ask my age...it's starting to even shock me).  But it was also very tiring, since I flew out immediately after a workday, spent one night in Boise (Mountain Time), a few nights in Oregon (Pacific Time), back to Boise for another night (Mountain Time again), and then flew back to D.C. (Eastern Time).  Whew.  It was a lot of states and a lot of time zones for less than a week.  Now I'm back in D.C. for only four days before heading West again.  And while my body and mind is still figuring out exactly where I am, I cannot wait to be in my home later this week.


Over the past few months when people have asked me where I live, I've sputtered out a long, complicated answer: Well, I kind of live in D.C. At least I do right now.  I've lived in D.C. for almost three and a half years.  But I moved to Nevada in May.  And my home, husband, and all my stuff is in Nevada.  So I've been going back and forth a lot.  And living out of a suitcase. 

Yeah, not the most eloquent of answers.

So it will be nice to finally have the short, sweet answer: My husband, my home, my work, my house, my stuff...it's all in Nevada. 

Hopefully I survive the week in one piece.  Here's to officially turning the page and starting the next chapter!

Two lawyers walk into a bar...

...and they are husband and wife. 

Sometimes it's challenging being an (almost) lawyer married to another lawyer.  Friendly discussions easily turn into heated debates - especially those involving politics, since Mr. TPG and I grew up in nearly opposite worlds when it comes to the political spectrum.  And even the ones that don't sometimes ring like lawyers shooting down each others' arguments. 

Man, I sure hope our children turn out okay. 

Coffee lover.

Last spring, my doctor told me I should cut caffeine out of my diet. I tried, and tried hard. But six months later, I am back to reveling in my daily cup of coffee. Since my departure from D.C. is coming up very quickly, I thought I should pay tribute to some of my favorite places in my neighborhood. I will miss them so.

Up first is the venue that feeds my addiction:

Peregrine Espresso 

 

Peregrine is a locally-owned coffee shop on 7th Street S.E., right across from the Eastern Market metro station.  It's got a slightly modern, funky design (thanks to the awesome Scott & Amy Herbert at Aesthetic Answers) and is a cozy place to read - or work - while sipping some great coffee.  The baristas are really nice and the atmosphere is lively without being too loud.  There are plenty of kiddies that come to this cafe (which you may love, or not) - for me, it always brings a smile to my face to have a two-year-old waving at me while I work. 

 This is a typical morning scene.

I almost always order a bran muffin and either a cup of regular brewed coffee or a latte.  Can't speak to their drip coffee, but it must be good based on the busyness.  The lines in this place can get crazy - it's an incredibly popular coffee spot on the Hill.  On Sunday morning, as I sat outside drinking my coffee while people streamed in and out of the cafe, I watched a young female patron get up from her table at Le Pain Quotidien next door to come peek into the window to see what the fuss was all about.  Nothing to see, except people flocking to Peregrine for their morning coffee like bees to honey.  I think she will be back to try it out. 

There are some locally-owned coffee places in Carson, which I am looking forward to trying out.  As much as Starbucks can get me through the day, there's something very special about a friendly, well-run, neighborhood coffee shop. 

Movember.

A friend of mine posted this on facebook because he is participating this year, and I thought it was too creative not to tip my hat:

It's Movember.

When else can you grow your 'stache for a good cause? I'm not a big fan of upper-lip decor on my man in general, but I admit there is something awesome about the mustache coming back into style. If you happen to have a penchant for the soup strainer, you should definitely check out the Fuzzy Ink t-shirts sold at Eastern Market in D.C. - this one is my favorite.

Seventh Inning Stretch.

It's almost the end of October. It's been almost four weeks since I was last in Carson, and I'm looking forward to being back there this weekend.

A little over six more weeks until I pack up my temporary DC home (into one suitcase and carryon!) and head back West "for good."

So much to do -- finishing editing a book, continue to work at the court, bring my Japanese up to speed, and write a paper. Time to push it to hit the finish line. I'm tired just thinking about it.

So you're thinking about law school...

I was skimming through my ABA Journal weekly email, when their survey question caught my eye: Law School Grads: Take This Six-Question Survey on Finding That First Job.

I actually read every single comment and it made me sad to think about all my fellow law grads who have been struggling to find paid employment since graduation. I think the graduating classes of 2008-2011 in particular have received the brunt of the pain. It also made me feel very lucky that my job hunt hasn't been as lengthy as many others.

But the fifth question made me stop and think, and I penned this response:


5) Would you recommend attending law school to a recent graduate?

It depends. Do you really want to be a lawyer? Is the legal job a good fit for you? Are you good at researching and writing, okay with sitting at a desk most of the time, comfortable speaking in front of other people, willing to put in long hours, etc.? Are you committed to the profession even if you won't be living a luxurious lifestyle?

Do you have a realistic view of legal employment coming in, and do you make practical decisions? I knew that I didn't want to work in BigLaw when I started law school in 2008, so against the standard "wisdom," I chose to go to a lower ranked school (still Tier 1) that had offered me $ instead of the higher ranked schools that would just take all of my $. I also knew that I would not be making an exorbitant salary immediately upon graduation - everyone who starts a professional degree should estimate how much loans they will be taking out and how long it will take to repay them at a realistic salary. Also, recognize the fact that you're living on borrowed money. Is that extra round at the bar worth it? That fancy new ipad? I've been able to pay back a chunk of my loans already because I lived rather frugally while a student.

However, in this economy, if you will be paying full price tuition and living fully on student loans, I recommend waiting. If you really want to be a lawyer, then you will probably still want to be a lawyer in 5 years. Get a job where you can and don't take out the hefty loans when jobs are uncertain. My four years of work experience between college and law school helped me land my unpaid jobs during law school (and also gave me experience to fall back on if I couldn't find a legal job). My unpaid jobs during law school helped me land a paid job post-law school. I also worked very hard in law school: top ~15%, law review, multiple externships, worked for 3 professors, and got very little sleep for three years. Only commit to the activities you can do well, but your success in law school will help you after you graduate. Think of your time in law school as your chance to build your "portfolio" for the post-grad job hunt and make wise choices. And learn to market yourself - cultivate good relationships with employers and professors, learn how to write targeted cover letters/applications, do a realistic assessment of your strengths and weaknesses and know how to highlight your strengths, practice interviewing. It's something career offices do not teach students well.

So while it's not a black and white answer, I think every person thinking about law school needs to face the harsh reality of the job market right now, and make a wise decision as to whether the costs are worth it. Each person has different circumstances. A full scholarship would change the equation. A current employer who will transition you to an attorney after graduation would change the equation. But any law school applicant should consider the fact that many law grads over the past few years have spent months - or even years - job hunting, and those grads come from the T-20 schools all the way to Tier 4 schools. The job placement of every single school has been hit by the economy. Face the reality, and then think long and hard about whether the degree is still worth it to you.

Didn't it just become summer?

When we moved to Nevada in May, I was ready for summer. Instead, it snowed just days after we arrived.

And now, in this first week of October, Tahoe is expecting some snow once again. That was an awfully short summer. But I did just buy my Heavenly/Northstar season pass, so I guess you could say I'm juiced for the winter.

On the flip side, I wish it would warm up a little bit in D.C. I've been waiting through a month of rain to get one last beautiful East Coast fall and I haven't seen it yet!

The hunt is over.

After we moved to Carson in May, I had been preparing myself to be unemployed for a while after finishing my M.A. this December. I kind of reveled in the idea of it - I could drop Mr. TPG off at work, head up to Heavenly for a few hours, and still have time to learn to cook delicious meals and bake delectable desserts. But there is a practical realist (and a person who just loves to work) inside of me that I couldn't escape, so I continued to look for jobs that interested me in the area.

And I found one. After a lengthy application, getting selected for an interview, and a strenuous interview process (four hours, including an interview, written exercise, and presentation), I was not feeling good about the prospects. I kicked myself for two days, wishing my brain had worked faster through the cases I was given to analyze. I drove Mr. TPG crazy, lamenting about the things I wished I had said in my presentation.

Mr. TPG's response was "if it's meant to be, it will happen, and if it's not, then you will get to snowboard." But I still felt uneasy about it, which was worse now because I thought the job was interesting and really liked the people I met at my interview. I continued to wrestle inside to get to a place of being content in all that I have, because I am already extraordinarily blessed.

Then yesterday, I got the call. And just like that -- the next chapter of life is waiting for me in Carson. Sometimes it just takes a little faith in knowing that whatever the future holds, life will continue to bring about amazing things, whether it be a job, a period of rest, or life in a new city.

Carson is starting to feel more and more like home.

Home, Sweet Home.

Yesterday was a long trek back to Carson from DC. My journey took me to stopovers in both Chicago and San Francisco (oh, so close and yet so far from the City). I was exhausted by the time I got home yesterday evening. It's been nearly a month since I was last in Carson and it has that oddly familiar-yet-out-of-place feeling to it.

This morning I took Mr. TPG to work, per my usual routine here in Carson, but we first grabbed breakfast baked goods from Schat's Bakery (my favorite!) as a "welcome home" treat. It was delicious. Their blueberry scones are awesome - flaky inside with a crunchy outside and just the right amount of sweetness. Though I did have trouble deciding between the sweet goods and their ham & cheese croissant, which is also amazing.

I just got home from the "long" 12 minute commute to find some surprises in our front lawn. Does anyone know how to get rid of these? Do I just pull them?

Makes me think of mushroom risotto...or a portabella mushroom burger...mmm.

I guess I'd better start going down my checklist of to-dos for the day. Unfortunately, there's a lot on there...

Torture.

Giants torture (of a slightly different kind than last season), that is.

Just when the wild card was looking like it was completely out of grasp, the SF Giants have finally been on a winning streak.

Can they get there? C'mon, boys!

Social butterfly.

Once upon a time, I was pretty social. Then life happened: moved abroad (and back again), worked long hours, got married, moved across the country, went to law school...and I wondered how in the world you maintain a social life between all of those things. This week was kind of a flashback to what life with normal hours (i.e. evenings and weekends free) is like.

Weekend: Wedding of my college gal pal in Los Angeles. Awesome weather. Got to see Mr. TPG who flew in from Carson and met me there. Dinner with Mr. TPG's college friend/roommate and wife. Explored downtown LA's Little Tokyo (and acquired yummy Japanese snacks). All-day wedding festivities with college friends. And even though I spent more than 12 hours of my weekend in airports/airplanes, the weekend trip was well worth it.

Week: Random weekday lunch with law school friend at Shake Shack (yes, they made it to DC). Two full work days. Two coffee meetings for a book project I'm working on. Wednesday dinner with a college friend who just moved to DC at Maoz. And tomorrow will probably be both happy hour with one group of friends and then yummy dinner out with another.

I'm not used to so much socializing after three years of being buried under law school books/providing assistance to a brand new country/and trying to be a decent wife at the same time, and think I've been compensating by holing up in my bedroom even more than usual and only leaving to go to work, run errands, or go for a run. How does one maintain the energy to do this multiple nights a week? I just feel old...and lame.

On a side note, I have a job interview out in Nevada next week (my first interview out there - woohoo!), which means I will be doing the coast-to-almost-coast trip again in a few days. Wish me luck! It would be a great opportunity, even though getting this job would destroy my dream of being a snowboard bum all winter...

9/11.

The ten year anniversary of 9/11 is coming up on Sunday. It's hard to believe that ten years have passed since that day that changed so much about how we Americans think and perceive the world around us. A friend and I talked about how we can still remember that morning so clearly - the things we were doing, where we were, the images we saw, the emotions we felt. It's a moment that is so much a part of my generation, and yet it's strange to think that many young people, even some not much younger than me, don't remember that day with the same clarity because of their age at that time. I read an thoughtful opinion piece about telling your children about 9/11. And while I don't have children, I related to the feeling of trying to explain it to someone who couldn't comprehend that day when it happened.

I was entering my sophomore year of college and had just moved into a new apartment with friends. It was so new, we barely had any furniture and no television. On top of our TV stand was our boombox radio (man, I feel old typing that), which we would turn on in the mornings while we got ready for work/school/the day. That morning, we flipped the radio on, and instead of the latest hip hop song we heard President Bush's voice speaking. It was solemn. It was serious. My roommate and I stood there frozen, listening as the news came across the airwaves. Even now, I remember the knot in my stomach, the furrowed brow as I tried to take in all that was happening. We went down to the theater room in our apartment complex and asked them to turn the news on. And we sat and watched on the large screen, as images of the World Trade Center towers flashed over and over, leaving an imprint that has not faded in ten years time. I didn't know how to feel - sad, anxious, scared, hopeless, confused, shocked. It was a jumble of emotions and to this day, I can't sort them all out.

The rest of the day was a blur. Eventually, we reached my cousin who was living in the heart of NYC at the time. We reached our close family friend who worked in the Pentagon. We learned that those we knew personally were safe, but that the tragedy of our fellow Americans still pierced our souls with grief.

My mom was in a state of heightened anxiety, because my brother has enlisted in the Army two years earlier. Her prayer had been that there would be no wars during his four-year term of service. And immediately on that day, we knew that there would be a response to such a violent attack on American soil. (He was later deployed to the Middle East, but did not get looped in to the extended active duty that so many soldiers were recalled for.)

It's strange to think back to how things used to be different, and yet we don't even notice now because they have become so commonplace. As I'm currently blogging from the airport on a layover during one of my coast-to-coast trips, this is where things have changed so much. I remember when you used to be able to escort your loved one to the gate and watch their plane fly off into the sky. Or when you didn't need to get little travel sized liquids to fit in a small zip lock bag. Or when you didn't need to throw out that half-drunk Coke bottle because you could just take it with you to the plane. Individual pat downs were rare, and there wasn't even body scanner technology available. It was a different world, one with fewer fears and, admittedly, fewer dangers.

I will be flying back into D.C. on Sunday, the tenth anniversary of 9/11. I will be praying for a safe journey, and for the safety of all Americans on that day.

Sorrow.

When I got home in the evening from class yesterday, I opened the news on my laptop and immediately went cold. There was a shooting spree in Carson. A man fired on a woman in a shopping center parking lot, then walked into the IHOP restaurant and fired all around the restaurant, killing one civilian woman and three Nevada National Guardsmen. He then left the IHOP and began shooting up other buildings in the center, then shot himself in the head.

I immediately saw the IHOP in my head. Though I left Carson nearly two weeks ago, the familiar place came flooding back into my mind. I slowly realized that over the summer, I was in that very same shopping center parking lot one or two mornings a week, picking up groceries at Raley's. And while I felt lucky to have not been there, the tragedy still hits home for me on the other side of the country. My sleepy country "town", that has shocked my city-girl crime senses, is now dealing with likely the worst incident that Carson has ever experienced. The city girl in me said "people get killed on the streets of Oakland nearly every day." But the little bit of country girl in me, the part on which Carson is growing fondly, just felt traumatized by the news.

My thoughts and prayers are with my new home town. Mr. TPG is safe and sound.

When the cat's away...

Since I've been back in D.C., Mr. TPG has continuing to explore around the Carson/Tahoe area. He snapped this photo with his cell phone and text messaged it to me, while I was sitting in a shopping mall with a friend. Talk about two different worlds!

View from the top of Mt. Tallac

Me, that sweaty girl.

Since I've been back in D.C., I've been trying to get back into my 4-5 day/week running routine that I had going for most of June and July. It's been different, running back on the streets instead of the treadmill, but it's also been fun to run past all the familiar sights. And by sights, I mean the Washington Monument, the Capitol building, the Smithsonian museums...yes, as a runner you are spoiled living in the nation's capital.

But I've also been trying to get used to being back in the humidity of D.C. There is pretty much no humidity in Carson City during the summer. Though I suppose the real question is whether I ever got used to it while living here for the past three years! I was not built for hot and humid summers like Mr. TPG, who thinks D.C. is a piece of cake compared to Houston summers.

So, I run. I sweat. I pant. I turn red.

Because of all those things, I try to tune everyone else out because I know I must look like a crazy person. To illustrate, today a group of African-American teenage boys skated by my on skateboards. One waved in encouragement. And one looked at me, his eyes got big (again, imagine a red-faced, drenched-in-sweat, panting-like-a-dog girl), and he said to me, "girl, you get your workout on!"

So if you are in D.C., enjoying a jaunt along the National Mall, snapping a picture or two of the Capitol Building, and you see a small Asian girl that looks like she just ran through the sprinklers and is about to keel over, give a wave and say "hello" to the Two Pint Girl.

Strong female characters.

A friend of mine tweeted this short piece from the New York Times called "A Plague of Strong Female Characters". I had to stop and read it because I use this phrase regularly. I like TV shows that feature strong female characters, books that feature the same, and I aspire to be a strong female myself.

I think that one of the problems with this phrase - the author of the piece obviously takes issue with it - is that it all depends on your definition of "strong." To me, toughness is a part of it. I am probably less sympathetic than many women, but I do still cry at any touching moment in a movie (I am not an emotional robot!). But there is something strong about controlling your emotions - not letting other people's words, actions, or opinions cut you down or cause you to lose control. Do I always hold myself together? No, but I also don't freely let myself get tossed back and forth on an emotional roller coaster all the time.

Also, I value physical strength and have always been one to play with the boys, play sports, push myself to physical limits. Our family often spoke the words, "if it doesn't kill you, it just makes you stronger." You don't have to be a body builder, but simply understand that the body is a tool that can do far more than most people think.

And most of all, a strong female character to me has confidence. It can be a quiet confidence or a boisterous confidence, but confidence nonetheless. I personally prefer a kind, polite, and humble confidence. She is confident in her character, her abilities, and her experiences. And because of that confidence, she is resilient, she doesn't get pushed around, she holds true to her values, she has goals and ambition, she is ready to take on the world. She may have fears, but she doesn't let them hold her back. She may not be good at something, let alone the best at something, but it doesn't stop her from giving it her best shot. She may fail, may have a breakdown, may experience hardship, may have a sobfest (what I call having "a moment") - but the story doesn't end there for her. Life does not end with being a pity party, but she picks herself back up, dusts herself off, and finds her confidence again.

This author claims that "“Strong women characters” are a canard. They refer to the old-fashioned “strong, silent type,” a type that tolerates very little blubbering, dithering, neuroticism, anxiety, melancholy or any other character flaw or weakness that makes a character unpredictable and human."

I agree that we all have our moments of weakness, anxiety, and neuroticism. But is this author trying to say that all women are like this? Or worse, should be like this? That I take issue with. Because if the world was full of blubbering, neurotic, weak, emotionally unstable people - women or men - who were unable to persevere through life's difficulties with some semblance of strength, I think the world would be a pretty terrible place.

The morning after.

After sleeping in a little bit after the storm kept me up, it was refreshing to walk over to my local coffee shop and see all the people out and about on the Hill. There are a few downed trees, and a lot of leaves and small branches all over the place. But this was my favorite scene from the morning:

No, honey, turn the wheel away from the leaves.

I managed to walk by at the perfect time -- this couple was trying to figure out how to navigate their car out from under this tree branch, but the branch hadn't hit the car at all. Talk about a lucky break.

Now that the storm has passed through, I might try to get in my first run back in D.C. this afternoon. And then, my fall schedule officially begins tomorrow with my fellowship down at the D.C. Superior Court (and class on Tuesday).

Hurricane Irene.

I made it back to D.C. today, two suitcases (one carry-on, one larger) in hand. Just in time to be completely unprepared for Hurricane Irene. I don't even have my normal toiletries & groceries, let alone emergency ones. All I have is a salad from the airport, a small bag of trail mix, and the goodwill of my new landlords.

Nevertheless, it will be an interesting first weekend.

Tomorrow morning I will go "hunting" for supplies. Tomorrow afternoon I'm supposedly doing a rescheduled meeting that was supposed to be on Sunday. Seriously, back to the grind -- not even in town 24 hours and already back to work.

I miss Nevada. I miss my house, my bed, my unemployed-ness. And I miss Mr. TPG - a lot. Hopefully I will survive these next four months living out of my suitcase, living 2,600 miles away from my dear husband. While I was planning to go back once a month, earlier this week I tearfully declared it would be every three weeks. Guess I will just rack up frequent flyer miles this fall!

If I Die Young.

I've always had a sweet spot for country music, especially songs by female vocalists, which is now much more appropriate since I live in the "country" and not the city. There's something sweet and passionate about it that is so easy to relate to.

This is my latest music addiction:



The Band Perry - If I Die Young

The sky is falling!

Sitting at my computer today in sunny Carson City, suddenly my online media began to shake, rattle, and roll. Well, not quite. But there was quite a flurry of sudden posts about the 5.8 quake that hit Virginia earlier today.

Haven't heard about it yet? You must live under a rock. Or in California, where earthquakes are abundant and less exciting than when Specialty's Warm Cookie Radar sends out an alert.

I don't mean to bag on our fine East Coast friends. After all, there was some damage done (some of the spires fell off the National Cathedral!) and after living in the nation's capital city for three years, I know the heightened fears of attacks that come along with being a resident of a terrorist target region. But some of the panic seems a little over the top.

All together now, panic!

While I can't help but be slightly amused by the mass freak out going on back east, I'm also a tad disappointed that I missed it! It's been over three years since my last earthquake, and something about those shakers make me feel at home.

I still remember the last "larger" quake I felt, which was very similar in size to the one in D.C. today. It was October 30, 2007. I was at work (yes, at 8:00pm) on the 31st floor of a high-rise building in downtown San Francisco. The building started to sway. I looked up from my computer screen, realized it was a quake, gchatted a friend "quake!", and then continued to work away. Didn't even jump under my desk. But I guess after you live through a Loma Prieta quake as a kid, the things start to scare you less...

Four years is a long time to go without feeling the earth shake and I wish I could have been there for this one. But alas, I don't fly back east until Friday -- just in time to welcome Hurricane Irene. Never a dull weather moment on the East Coast!

Long Weekend: Tahoe Monday

We came back from Yosemite a day early so I could wash my hair so we could hit the beach at Lake Tahoe on Monday before Mr. TPG's long vacay weekend ended. We did some google-ing and found a beach on the Nevada side of the lake, a short hike down from the highway. We weren't quite sure where to park to get there, but took a guess based on the cars parked on the shoulder of the road. We sure got some funny looks carrying our beach chairs, towels, and cooler down the dirt trail towards the lake. I could soon guess at least one reason for the looks - we had parked about half a mile early and thus had a slightly longer hike to get to the sandy shore. And I do mean an actual hike -- dirt trails and surrounding trees involved. But when we got there, we were pleasantly surprised. The beach was small, but there weren't too many people there. The water was warm. And the sun was perfect for tanning.

Either the actual "Secret Harbor" beach, or somewhere close.

While the beach we chose is apparently a clothing-optional beach, much like Black's Beach which stood in the shadows of my alma mater, both Mr. TPG and I stayed fully clothed. In fact, we didn't see anyone at all in their birthday suit. Hmm...maybe that's why Mr. TPG and I got weird looks as we walked down to the beach -- I believe most clothing-optional beach goers are of the older generation!

It was the perfect cherry on top of a sweet long weekend, and I don't think Mr. TPG wanted to return to work the next day. I was pretty glad that I got to rest from our "relaxing" weekend!

Long Weekend: Yosemite Days 3 & 4

Day 3 in Yosemite, we hiked to Tuolumne Falls in the Tuolumne Meadows area. It was a pretty flat hike, roughly five miles in and five miles out. The views were great though. After feeling pretty grimy from the combination of sunscreen, sweat, and deet (the mossies were in peak season), I had to dunk my head in the river to clean off. Yes, the water was cold - thanks to the massive amount of snow in the Sierras this year.

The river around Tuloumne Falls

We then took the evening to relax around the campsite...and watch as a bear raced through the campsites next to us! We had heard the bear-scare sounds around the Tuolumne campgrounds pretty much every day. Mr. TPG and I were playing cards in the quietness of our campsite when we heard a voice call out, "bear coming your way!" We looked towards the voice and saw a blonde colored bear run into the campsite next to us, pause for a minute to look at the rangers following him, and then take off again in a dash up the hillside. I called him our "albino bear" for a while, until I learned that many black bears in Yosemite are actually blonde! Who knew.


Day 4 of our adventure, we decided to head down into the valley and do the popular/famed Vernal Falls & Nevada Falls "mist trail". That hike was more difficult than I thought it would be, considering it was paved all the way up to Vernal Falls. But Mr. TPG and I were booking it, sweating like crazy, and passing the impressive grandmas making their way up the steep hike. We relaxed more once we passed Vernal Falls and the crowds died down.

Top of Nevada Falls

At the top of Nevada Falls, we dipped our feet in the water and had a leisurely lunch before racing back down on the JMT (John Muir Trail). Racing, because we decided to head home a night early and we wanted to eat dinner at Bodie Mike's BBQ in Lee Vining, since the last time we passed through on the way to Mammoth it was still closed for the winter.

Racing back along Tioga Pass

The descent from Yosemite's eastern gate to Mono Lake/Lee Vining

Amazingly, we made it back to Carson around 9:30pm and didn't even unpack the car, but rather showered and crawled into bed. But our long weekend adventures didn't end there, because we partially headed back a day early so we could enjoy a lazy Monday up at Lake Tahoe...

Long Weekend: Yosemite Day 2

Though Day 1 of our trip seeped into Day 2, once Day 2 "officially" began after we set up our campsite, it was a good, relaxing one.

Once we had our camp set up, we read a little bit (me: The Omnivore's Dilemma, Mr.: The Living), and then took our blanket to the meadow and took a nap. Napping in the middle of Tuolumne Meadows is awesome.

The meadows around Elizabeth Lake.

The last thing we did, before dinner and sleep, was take a short (approx 5 miles roundtrip) hike up to Elizabeth Lake. It was only about 600 feet of elevation change, so while it was uphill, it wasn't too bad of a climb. When we reached the meadow and stream approaching the lake, it was beautiful. Except it was also full of mossies! The mosquitoes were out in full force, and after Mr. TPG dipped his feet in the lake and we shot a few pictures, we scrambled out of there as fast as we could.

Elizabeth Lake - still had patches of snow!

After a dinner of noodle soup and a campfire, our incredibly long Day 2 ended.

Long Weekend: Yosemite Day 1

Mr. TPG took a couple days off of work this past week and we headed up to Yosemite for a few days. It was quite a jam-packed weekend, though we had plenty of time to relax and I set some new tent sleeping records (almost 12 hours one night...why can't I sleep that long in my own bed?).

I picked Mr. TPG up from work on Thursday at 4pm and immediately headed south on Hwy 395 towards Yosemite. It's only two hours from Carson City to Lee Vining (the turnoff to Tioga Pass, which cuts through Yosemite National Park), so it was a relatively short drive. We were nervous though, because we were hoping to get a first come, first served campsite up in Tuolumne Meadows area and arriving on a Thursday evening in the middle of a short summer season was risky.

Finding a Place to Sleep

When we reached the eastern gate to the park, we got the news -- all campsites full. I was a little anxious, since it was about 7pm at that point. We sped back down Tioga Pass towards the Eastern Sierras, checking campsites along the way. Full....full....full. I was losing hope, but at the same time I resolved myself to the adventure -- we could essentially sleep anywhere: the car, the side of the road. The worst that could happen was a ticket for sleeping in the "wrong" place.

As the sun set, we raced towards the June Lake loop, betting that if we were to get lucky anywhere, it would be Grant Lake, the least pretty of the four lakes on the loop. And we got lucky -- if lucky counts as a campsite in the middle of mostly RVs, without a lake view, and without much ambiance!

The next morning, we resolved to waking up at 5am to get in line for the first come, first served campsites in Tuolumne Meadows. If you haven't been to Yosemite before, Tuolumne Meadows is the biggest campgrounds in the high eastern part of the park. Half of the campsites can be reserved in advance (and they go fast) and the other half are first come, first served based on the availability that day. The summer season started very late this year because of the massive amount of snow in the Sierras this past winter, so competition is especially high this year in the park - part of me thought we were crazy for trying on a Friday morning.

After waking at 4:30am in anticipation, I tapped Mr. TPG just before 5:00am and said, "let's get going." We got to the Tuolumne Meadows campground station at 5:30am and were surprised to see about five people already in line. Turns out, the first group got there at 4:30am. Yes, that is four thirty in the morning. Insane. We pulled out a blanket and camp chairs and took our place in line. We were shortly followed by three more groups. By 6:00am, there was a pretty steady stream of people arriving - with shocked looks on their faces when they saw the line - and hurrying to join the line.

Those of us in line shared a nervous camaraderie. The couple behind us pulled out their camp stove and was offering hot water to the rest of us (it was really stinkin' cold at 5:30am!). There was a hilarious Korean woman who chatted up nearly every person in line. And there were a couple of rock climbers who pulled out their crash pad and sleeping bags and tried to nap. After talking with some of the climbers, both Mr. TPG and I wished we were a little more experienced and had the gear to do outdoor climbing because Yosemite has great rock climbing and bouldering.

At 8:30am (three hours after we got in line), the ranger came out and gave the news -- there were nine campsites available that morning. Only those of us who joined the line by 5:45am ended up with a campsite. Talk about crazy competition!

But Mr. TPG and I were among the lucky few. Our backup plan was to get a backcountry permit and just head out backpacking since we threw our gear in the car just in case. But the campsite in Tuolumne Meadows was perfect. We could do day hikes and come back in the evening and have our camp all set up. Car camping is a relaxing change from our usual backpacking trips.

We ended up getting a campsite in the most remote of the three loops within the campgrounds. It was my first time camping in the Tuolumne Meadows campgrounds and it was really nice - tons of trees, tons of space between the campsites (at least where we were), and a good balance between feeling remote and having amenities.

Tuolumne Meadows

And that was our first 14 hours at Yosemite! More to come...

Saturday morning on the lake.

On Saturday morning, we made the drive - just under an hour - out to Kirkwood, CA to go kayaking on Caples Lake. It was awesome. The lake was pretty empty, the weather was perfect, and we got a good arm workout from paddling. The surrounding mountains still had a good amount of snow on them, which made the backdrop extra beautiful.

Priceless views on Caples Lake.

We also stopped for lunch at the Kirkwood Inn & Saloon, which is pretty much the only place to dine out that way. My burger and fries were awesome, which was good since it cost me a pretty penny ($11!). Mr. TPG enjoyed his steak sandwich and sweet potato fries, and we argued over whether his sweet potato fries were better than my regular fries (I preferred my regular fries).

It was a great way to spend Saturday morning. While we were out on the lake, I definitely contemplated not returning to D.C. in a few weeks.

On Sunday, we trekked up to Reno to visit my favorite store. I scored an awesome Mountain Hardware jacket on sale in my favorite color (turquoise), which I wouldn't put down once I found it on the rack. It will come in handy for the upcoming hiking trips we have planned!

My someday friend, the bicyclist.

There is an older man who I see almost every day, bicycling on South Carson Street (aka Highway 395). He looks like he has some mental deficiency, and he is usually laughing and smiling to himself as he slowly makes his way up and down the hills. Even more strange, he has a little towing piece attached to his bike and it looks like he carries a walker of some sort.

I usually see him making his way into downtown Carson in the morning when I drop Mr. TPG off at work, and then see him again making his way south out of town when I'm on my way home from picking Mr. TPG up from work.

I wonder about him every time I see him. He is a steady and constant presence on South Carson. He obviously has the physical stamina to make the five mile trek each way, up and down some large hills. He is always smiling to himself and swaying as he inches along the shoulder of the road. I wonder what his story is, whether he gets off his bike at all during the day, and why his routine makes him so happy.

Maybe one day I will find out. For now, I will just glance curiously at him as I pass by on the highway.


On a side note, I saw a teenage boy hitchhiking on Highway 395 today. A dark blue Subaru Outback pulled over to give him a ride. As I glanced back in my rear view mirror, I saw the kid - skinny guy in a neon green t-shirt - hop into the passenger seat. I couldn't help but say a little prayer that the driver was a good guy. There are so many devious people in the world, I just hope with all my heart that I didn't witness the beginning of a bad thing.

Back to life, back to reality.

I'm blogging from the gate at SFO, on my way back up to Carson City.

It's been a really good last 12 days in the Bay Area (though I did miss Mr. TPG quite a bit - the fall back in D.C. will be brutal!). I managed to maintain sanity throughout the bar exam days, though who knows whether I passed since results don't come out until November. There were 1,200+ people in the one testing room at the Oakland Convention Center, and the feeling of being herded like cattle did make me giggle inside a few times. The best thing, though, was staying at the hotel where the test was. I was able to escape from the masses of people and refocus, do some yoga stretches, and watch a How I Met Your Mother episode during my breaks. Definitely helped me to remain calm.

Since the test ended, I've just been seeing family and friends and eating. Saw my grandparents, uncle & aunt, cousin, family friends, and my best gal pals. Got to attend one of my college friend's bridal shower and bachelorette night on the town. It was fabulous being back in my favorite city and seeing so many friends. Every time I'm back in the Bay Area I'm reminded of how much I love it (and I hope to move back - for at least a few years - at some point in the future). There's something so comforting about the cityscape, the beautiful bay waters, the fog rolling into SF, and all of the fun neighborhoods of the East Bay where I grew up.

It was a delicious 12 days, and here's what I filled my stomach with (or the places I can remember at the moment):
- Dim sum #1 at Hong Kong Flower Lounge in Millbrae, right after I landed at SFO.
- Vietnamese bun at Pho Hoa-Thai in Richmond.
- Sushi (well, chirashi for me) at Sugata in Albany.
- Dim sum #2 at Saigon in El Cerrito.
- Amazing salmon at Fish & Farm in San Francisco.
- Bagel, cream cheese, lox, cucumber, tomato, and capers 'wich from Noah's Bagels -- there is a serious lacking of bagels in both D.C. and Carson.
- Deep dish pizza from Little Star Pizza in Albany, though I felt bad cheating on my Zachary's Pizza (Mr. TPG and I used to frequent the Divisadero location of Little Star when we lived in SF).
- Brunch (whole wheat pancakes!) at Fat Apples in El Cerrito (one of my childhood homes is a block away from here...so many memories).
- Dinner at Burma Superstar in San Francisco...oh, so ridiculously good.
- Kale and homemade sausage pizza from Gioia in Berkeley - amazing!


Okay, so I didn't think I ate that much, but after reading this list I think I'm going to have to run extra miles at the gym this week...

Back to Carson, back to my healthy diet, and back to the gym!

Back in the Bay.

A short flight down to San Francisco turned into one extended study break, between a delayed flight, dim sum with my parents in Millbrae, and my first afternoon nap in 6 weeks.

I guess it's about time to get this exam over with. Two days to game time, five days to freedom.

Might be time for a self-directed pep talk. So many to choose from:

"If it doesn't kill you, it only makes you stronger." (A family favorite)

"You are the queen of the beasts." (Nigel Lythgoe to Melanie Moore on So You Think You Can Dance)

"Your lips will turn blue and you will pass out, but you won't die." (Jillian Michaels to a Biggest Loser contestant)

"Fighting!" (My Korean friends)

"Visualize yourself opening that envelope in November and...you passed!" (Prof. Honingsberg, for Barbri)

"Git 'er done!" (Mr. TPG and the other southern boys)


How do you pump yourself up for a big challenge?

T-minus 12 days.

Well, the bar exam is really close now and I'm starting to feel the pressure. My mind is filled with all sorts of random knowledge, and my kitchen table is filled with books and flashcards. I'm starting to freak out a bit and my daily gym break is the only thing keeping me sane (that and solo dance parties in my kitchen).

Somehow throughout the madness I'm still keeping one finger on the future - trying to figure out where I will live when I return to D.C. for the fall semester (check), schedule my classes (almost finalized), and find some legal work to keep me "fresh" while I finish my master's degree courses (as of today, check).

All in all, I'm treading water on all fronts, trying to finish up my last degree and set myself up to find a job after I finish. Hopefully the madness will end soon. From the end of February through next spring, I hope to spend as much time as I can blowing off steam from the last 6 years (law degree, masters degree, two years of crazy hours in a law firm) on the slopes at Heavenly. Employment, who needs it? Okay, okay, I do - but at least Mr. TPG can bring home income while I revel in my unemployment (thank goodness for earnings & wages being community property!).

Back to studying. There probably will not be any more posts until July 29th - when I will be crying with joy or crying from the pain of the bar exam.

4th of July.

Happy Independence Day! I haven't left the house yet today, but I imagine that patriotism is bursting in the streets of Carson. Hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful summer weather, celebrating the founding of our great country.

Here's how we spent our weekend:

Grilling in the backyard. I *heart* veggies! This is a pre-meat photo.

Running on trails like this one, photo from Carson Valley Trails Association.

Baking banana bread, already half-eaten.

And lots of practice questions -- a stranger would probably be concerned if they saw these on our table.

How did you spend yours?

It's gettin' hot, hot, hot.

Things are heating up here in Carson City. The weather is topping off in the 90s and it supposed to stay this way for at least the first half of the week. While I would absolutely take this dry heat over the D.C. humidity, 90+ degrees is a little warm for my Bay Area-bred body. Nevertheless, I wish I was outside playing instead of inside doing practice bar exam questions.

Squaw Valley (and a couple of other resorts, including Alpine Meadows) have re-opened for the July 4th weekend and the pictures have me chomping at the bit to be done with this exam and out enjoying the Sierras. While there is something about the hustle and bustle and intellectual intensity in D.C. that I absolutely adore, I have to say that being back West tickles the active side of me. Growing up, I played sports, went skiing and snowboarding, camping, hiking and enjoyed what Northern California had to offer. Going to college in San Diego, California (UCSD alum here) was amazing for all the outdoors had to offer -- softball, outdoor basketball, running, boogie boarding, beachin' it...all year round. It wasn't so great for motivation to study though!

When we moved East a few years ago, Mr. TPG practically cried as we watched the Rockies shrink in the rear-view mirror. And now, living in Carson City, we are both super excited about all the outdoors has to offer nearby with the lakes (Lake Tahoe and the multitudes of lakes in the Sierras), rivers, and mountains. I only wish that we had friends up here to play sports or go hiking with! My group of college girlfriends included numerous athletic girls, and I'm sad to say that I haven't found any other girls that compare to them (athletic-wise) since.

Alright, I suppose that's enough dreaming and longing for today. Less than four weeks until I'm free from the bar exam -- then the Sierras will be mine!

Finding food, revisited.

Finding food, or found food? I was kind of grumpy last week, in case my two blogs (Finding Food & Anti-Fitness Postman) didn't convey that. Though one of my friends thinks that grumpy me is normal for most of the world. I beg to differ, but I will take the compliment!

Right after I wrote the Finding Food blog, Mr. TPG and I decided to check out one of the highest rated Carson restaurants on Yelp.com, which happens to be a Thai restaurant called The Basil. We only ordered two dishes (the downside of eating as two instead of a large group) -- a panang curry and a spicy noodle dish. They were both great. I wish I had room in my stomach for more food, because papaya salad and angel wings are also some of my Thai restaurant favorites. So I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and the service was great. The owner herself might have been waiting on our table. The ambiance was nice, and the walls looked like they were covered in Thai silk. We will definitely go back there again, and it made my day to know there's at least one great Asian restaurant to fall back on!

Spicy Basil Noodles. Yum!

I was definitely in a bit of a funk last week though. I think I'm hitting a fatigue point in my bar exam studying. So last night we took the evening "off" and went out to dinner and then watched a DVD at home. We were going to check out the brand new Olive Garden in town, as it's currently the hot spot in Carson, but we weren't the only ones with that idea and my 3.75 mile run + strength training made me starving enough that we left and just went to Chili's. [Side note: the Giants game was on when we were at Chili's. BWeez, I understand the angst, but holy frustration with your beating the water cooler!] Then we watched one of Mr. TPG's favorite movies, and one I like enough that I've seen about 6 times -- Legends of the Fall. As the Mr. said post-video, "they don't make 'em like that anymore!"

This holiday weekend, we are packing in the studying and celebrating in one way: we bought a Weber grill yesterday. Fajitas are on the menu for today and I don't have to cook since Mr. TPG likes to grill! I think I shall plan more grilled menus for the rest of summer. It's lovely to be up here in the dry heat of the Sierras, instead of the humidity of D.C. Can't wait until the bar exam is over and we can really live it up in Tahoe.

Anti-Fitness Postman?

I walked out to our mailbox today to grab the mail. We now have one of those actual mailboxes with a little red flag on it, unlike the narrow slit-top mailbox we had in the city. There's plenty of space inside it, thus I was surprised to find this:

My poor Runners World magazine.

Looks like a rabid animal went to town.

What do you think? Is my mail carrier anti-fitness? Didn't like the pink and orange outfit the model was wearing? Or just having a bad day?

So sad. Now I have to figure out how to actually read my magazine...since when I opened it a few torn-off corners were even tucked inside. Or, for you conspiracy theorists, maybe Barbri is conspiring to eliminate all of my distractions...

Whatever the case may be, thank you USPS for making my day a little more "interesting".

Finding food.

One of the aspects of living in Carson that I've been very pessimistic about it the food scene. Probably because if the food scene in Washington D.C. disappointed me, I know the food scene in Carson would be virtually non-existent. When I talk about food scene, I mean variety (i.e. diversity of genres and flavors), non-chain (though I eat at chains a good amount, I would prefer not to), and fresh, quality, tasty food.

I haven't explored too much, but nothing has really tickled my fancy, except for the fact that I have an In N Out Burger joint five minutes from my house now (so much better than Five Guys!!). There are, however, a surprising number of Asian restaurants here in town. But I'm very suspicious of Asian food in places where not too many Asians live -- the Asian population in Carson is about 2%, or about 1000 people out of 50,000. We tried one Vietnamese restaurant, called Pho Country, and it was decent. Not terrible, not terribly exciting either. But then again, I only ordered pho and that's not too difficult to make decently.

Mr. TPG's boss mentioned that there are a lot of sushi joints here in town. I'm on the hunt because this girl loves sushi, but the reviews on Yelp do not excite me very much. First off, and I apologize to my non-Asian readers including my dear Mr. TPG, but I take reviews of Asian food by non-Asians -- particularly non-Asians who grew up either (1) not eating a lot of good Asian food or (2) in a place without good Asian food -- with a grain of salt. This is because the flavors that most non-Asians like in their "Asian" food is not authentic. I prefer the authentic when I go to an Asian restaurant. If I don't want authentic, I go to Panda Express. Don't get me wrong, I eat at Panda Express probably as much as the typical American kid, much to the pity of my fellow Chinese people, but when I go to a local Asian restaurant I want real Asian flavors.

I'm probably never going to be satisfied unless I live in San Francisco, New York, Vancouver, or somewhere in Asia. But I can live with something decent. However, if you're putting slices of lemon on top of your sushi, I can tell you already that I probably will not be liking your restaurant. Fresh sushi melts in your mouth and doesn't really need anything to flavor it. I'm serious. The best sushi I've ever had didn't even need a dip in soy sauce. It was amazing. It was also in Japan. Hah. But lemon on things that shouldn't have lemon on them indicates that you are probably trying to mask a less-than-fresh fish taste.

Anyhow. I can rant forever about the way many sushi restaurants are (1) ruining true sushi by totally catering to American taste (seriously, the rolls are out of control) and (2) taking advantage of how "hip" sushi is by charging an arm and a leg for poor quality food. Call me a food snob, but from the way it looks -- though I'm hoping to be proven wrong -- I will be reserving all my food cravings for my trips back to the Bay Area.

Road to trail.

I'm somewhat of a runner. Definitely an amateur, but I've squeezed in a couple of half-marathons, shorter road races, and the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler over the past few years. Moving out to Carson I had two running concerns:

(1) I am out of shape. Period. Between early April and early June I ran only once. This was after running about four days a week between January and April, and my body has just fallen apart.

(2) I haven't really run at altitude. Carson is at about 4600 feet above sea level. I could just imagine passing out from lack of oxygen when trying to run up here.

This week we've been having gorgeous weather in Carson, so instead of hitting the gym today, Mr. TPG suggested we check out the trails behind our neighborhood. I was game. So we set off down the road. Soon we reached a park where there were some trailheads leading up into the hills. It was definitely high desert terrain: loose sand trails with rocks and brush along the sides of the trail. I almost couldn't make it up the first hill, lagging behind my long-legged husband. But when we reached the top we had a good pace running along the ridge, and it was simply beautiful -- the sun shining over the Carson Valley and mountains rising in the distance. It made me appreciate the struggle to get up the hill. We looped back down and made it home, recording a little over four miles.

Trail running is hard. Harder than road running. But the views and the sense of accomplishment are decent compensation for the extra strain on the muscles. Hopefully the next one will be easier on both my legs and lungs though!

My future running goal? The 2012 Lake Tahoe Half Marathon. Anyone want to join me?

The grind.

For the past two weeks, I haven't been able to keep track of what day of the week it is. That's because every day is pretty much the same. Wake up, eat breakfast, take Mr. TPG to work, go home, make coffee, study for six or seven hours, go to the gym, pick Mr. TPG up from work, make dinner, eat dinner, study for three or four more hours, go to sleep. Wake up, and repeat. The bar exam is a real big kink in my plan to enjoy post-law school life!

Okay, okay, I confess - sometimes I watch a little hulu in between all the madness. I think it helps that most of "my" shows are off for the summer, but So You Think You Can Dance is definitely a summer distraction. There are some amazing dancers on this year. Absolutely incredible.

I was even inspired to try to find a dance studio here in Carson. The last dance class I took was an Afro-Brazilian class in San Francisco at the ODC studios and it was awesome. But alas, no dance studio in Carson. No cupcakes in Carson. Only a few bad-reviewed hair salons in Carson. No real clothing stores in Carson. What's a girl to do?

Oh yes, study for the bar exam. D'oh. Back to the grind, whatever day of the week it may be...

For laughs.

Sometimes I get stir crazy while studying all day alone in our house. Our neighborhood is ridiculously quiet. Bar exam studying is ridiculously intense. And so sometimes I just need a good laugh.

This video was featured on the SFGate website, with a note that the lead guy graduated from my high school (albeit some years before me). I watched it four times yesterday and still find it witty and amusing.

Note: language might not be appropriate for your kids.

Somehow, he managed to get "kombucha" and "quinoa" into his rhymes. And he's making fun of the yuppy city-folk who live and die by Whole Foods (I have an "I <3 Veggies" bag too...). Love it.

Honest neighbors.

This morning I woke up wanting to go to the gym. I worked out with a trainer on Thursday (love the freebies when joining a new gym) and he shredded my ab muscles. My masochistic side wanted more.

But this entry is about what happened on the way out of the house. Mr. TPG and I opened the door leading into our garage and stopped in our tracks. The garage door was wide open. Whoops, I guess I forgot to close it after we got home last night, Mr. TPG admitted sheepishly. We've been having conversations all week about my "obsession" to make sure doors are locked at night and windows are shut, versus Mr. TPG's claims about how we live in such a safe neighborhood.

Growing up in the city -- a relatively urban city with significant crime -- I just don't take chances. I had the radio stolen from my car multiple times growing up. I knew people who got mugged, and knew people who committed muggings (another different story). You can ask me sometime about all the little safety habits I've developed. Some of them sound pretty crazy, but when you read about the crime from my home city/region, it makes sense!

But back to our open garage. I instinctively felt exposed and started examining our stuff. The garage was left open pretty much since yesterday around 5:00pm. Not only is our car in there, but so is all of our (expensive) backpacking gear that hasn't yet been dusted off and stored, Mr. TPG's tools, our brand-new lawn mower, and even some of our furniture that we haven't moved in yet.

And not a single thing was taken or disturbed.

It boggles my mind.

Add that to another mind-blowing "this place is safe" feature I noticed this week: at my gym, most people hang their car keys on a peg board on the back wall of the gym while they work out. I'm not kidding. There's a couple boards with like 25 sets of car keys hanging on it. Obviously there hasn't been a problem with theft since people still do it. It seriously boggles my mind after growing up in a place where you would be careful about setting something valuable down while you sit/stand beside it lest some hoodlum run by and grab it, let alone leave it unattended while you wander off.

Mind. Boggled.

Sometime I feel like Dorothy (Wizard of Oz) when she said "we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto"...and then I realize, I'm probably more in Kansas than in the 'hood back home.

We salute you, President Lincoln.

So between the intense bar exam studying (can you tell by my last post that it's a mental struggle to keep at it?), I've been reading the local news at Carson Now to try to stay informed about my new home city. When we got stuck in crazy traffic on the main road yesterday, I learned it was from a somewhat suspicious (or just freak) accident.

But something this morning caught my eye -- the Carson City Rendezvous, happening this weekend!

This is reportedly the area's largest special event, and boy does it promise to be a good one. There will be a reenactment of the inauguration of President Lincoln (whose second inaugural address is moving and appears on the wall of the Lincoln Memorial in D.C.), gunfighter shows, and western performers. And don't forget the mountain men encampment!

If that doesn't tickle your fancy, here is how the Carson Now describes it: The event is where the authentic and re-enactment collide, whether it’s the lingering smell of gunpowder after musket battle demonstrations, the boom of Civil War-era cannons or the taste of beans and bacon cooked in cast-iron dutch ovens over an open fire.

Fantastic. I might have to free myself from these bar exam study books and go check out the Wild West.

In parting, I leave you with the powerful closing words of our sixteenth president:

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan -- to do all which may achieve and cherish, a just and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."
- Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1865, Second Inaugural Address