Sunburned

So instead of going to my digital photography class yesterday, I had a Geology field trip to see the San Andreas Fault. I learned more about the fault in relation to earthquakes and was able to identify a few of the rocks/minerals I learned in class, however the most important thing I learned is to ALWAYS wear sunblock when you go out on a field trip! It was windy and partly cloudy, but I still managed to get burned… pretty badly, too!

First stop of the San Andreas Fault, Lake Palmdale. When the earthquake hits, this dam/aqueduct and the highway on the left hand side is going to break.

Igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks!

Dang it, I wasn’t centered.

During the second to last stop, we went to Apple Tree Campground and there was SNOW! Yeah, I def. wore the wrong type of shoes. They are now dirty and yellow. Sad.

Look at this tree’s branches! They grew out so horizontally! That’s crazy.

This tree at Apple Tree Campground has been around earlier than the first LA earthquake in 1857!

So, since most of my posts are very random and useless, I guess I should allow you to leave this blog learning something beneficial today. The last tragic LA earthquake (8.2) was in 1857. During the 1970’s, a professor at Caltech (Dr. Kerry Sieh) did a landmark study and was able to establish an earthquake recurrence history that extended back nearly 2000 years. The recurrence is about every 150 years. If you do the math, we were supposed to have an earthquake last year, 2007, but because earthquakes are natural disasters, they are still fairly unpredictable. However… we are due for a disastrous earthquake within the next 20, 30, 40, 50 years. So, in conclusion, stock up on water, perishable food, etc! Make an earthquake kit so you will be ready when it comes!

That is all. Good day!

Plant Sale & Descanso Gardens!

So I went to the Plant Sale at Descano Gardens and bought 5 little pots of flowers! I bought 2 Poppy, 1 Freesia,1 Ranunculus and 1 Amaryllis. They all started to grow (in the pot, but I still need to transfer them into the soil), however haven’t bloomed yet. And, you know what I just realized? After I bought them, I realized that I had no idea what I was doing. I don’t anything about gardening! Where am I supposed to plant them? How far apart is each one supposed to be from the other? What do I have to do with the soil.

Aishhhhh. Internet doesn’t seem to help because every website about gardening doesn’t allow me to fully access unless I sign up. I guess I’ll have to resort to Borders.

Anyway, after I went into Descanso Gardens. I was lucky because I actually knew the person working at the cashier’s desk, so I got in for free! Woohoo!

That flower was beautiful. It was everywhere! They almost look like they’re made out of wax!

I don’t know why, but I like this picture a lot.

Tulips in the Promenade area!

They had a cute little tram/train thing that went around in a little circle. You see parents on there, but they’re riding it with their kiddies.

I found a Hummingbird!

More tulips!

Some bridal company came in to take pictures for a magazine! So cool!

Oh my goodness. It is already past 1 AM. I NEED TO SLEEP! I have a Geology field trip to the San Andreas Fault at 7:30 AM! Goodnight!

A Very Sport-Filled Day

Since I only had one class and had many hours to spare before tutoring the kiddies today, I decided to go to Arcadia High School’s track meet vs. Hoover. Hoover was never a very competitive school for track, so it was a little boring. Howeverrrr, I had nostalgia to the max. Being around that environment again really made me miss running/competing. Sometimes I regret the fact that I quit my senior year. Dang classes and activities that interfered with each other! It would have been so dang awesome to be involved in every activity/team/club/etc!

Also, I need to start living up to my sub-title (Viewing The World Through a Lens)… NOW!

I miss the sweaty hands and the anticipation of running on my tippy-toes right after the loud gun shot is sounded.

Even though I got extremely exhausted after “leaping” over those intimidating objects, I miss hurdling. I don’t think I can even jump over a hurdle anymore!

After, I went to Darren’s Little League practice at Kare Youth League. My conclusion is that I want my kids to grow up playing sports; girls and boys.

He is freaking good. KIM is his last name. I can imagine him playing up to high school and getting a VIP award or even getting recruited by a college for baseball! Mmmhm. He’s that good. : )

He’s just cute.

This is little Darren, one of the kids I tutor. You can already tell by his expression how his personality is.

And lastly, just because I want to, my lazy dog, Jade. She seems to like napping where the sun shines. It’s almost as if my dog tries to tan or something.

My Planned Spring Break (April 14-19)

So I just spent over an hour researching and looking at places/things to do around the LA area for my Spring Break in 3 weeks. Since PCC sacks and is the last freaking college to have Spring Break, I basically have to enjoy and spend my break by myself. However, I think it’ll be nice. So, after looking up a few websites to find admission prices, distances, days opened, special discounts, etc., I have created my schedule.

You’re probably thinking, what the heck, Loretta. Who makes a schedule for a break? Yes, I know. I am a ridiculous person. Hahah. That’s me!

Aquarium of the Pacific
Adult Admission Price: $20.95, $5 off if pre-order ticket online
Trip distance (according to Yahoo Maps from my house to destination): 39.26 miles, 78.52 total miles
Travel Time (without traffic): 45 mins.

Griffith Observatory
Admission Price: $0
Trip distance (according to Yahoo Maps from my house to destination): 21.61 miles, 43.22 miles total
Travel Time (without traffic): 31 mins.

Getty Center
Admission Price: $0, Parking: $8
Trip distance (according to Yahoo Maps from my house to destination): 32.98 miles, 65.96 miles total
Travel Time (without traffic): 40 mins.

Arboretum
Student w/ ID Admission Price: $5
Trip distance (according to Yahoo Maps from my house to destination): 1.93 miles, 3.86 miles total
Travel Time (without traffic): 6 mins.

Getty Villa
Admission Price: $8
Trip distance (according to Yahoo Maps from my house to destination): 44.58 miles 89.16 miles total
Travel Time (without traffic): 1 hr 1 min.

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So I calculated the total miles I will be traveling that week and it summed up to 280.72 miles! That’s like… driving from Arcadia to the furthest hotel on the Las Vegas strip (probably even a little further)!

I’ll only be spending $36.95 on admission tickets! However, the gas is what’s going to kill me. Let’s say my lame Kia Sportage runs 15 mpg (yeah, I think it’s that bad), so that means I’ll be needing around 18.71 gallons of gas. Gas right now is like, reg $3.59. So… that calculates to.. about $67 dollars for gas. Geez. That’s more expensive than all my admission tickets added together! Gas is going to be 2/3 of my expenses! This isn’t even adding all the little misc./souvenirs/food, etc. I might purchase! SADDDDDDDDDDDDD.

Well, at least I still work at least once a week at 21 Choices. My Spring Break money can come from my day’s worth of work.

Anyway, I found these two awesome websites while I was surfing the internet. They’re websites of things to do and places to go nearby LA! Take a look at it!

All right. It is time for the grandma to sleep. I have class tomorrow, unlike everyone else on Spring Break! Have a good break nonetheless!

P.S. If you’re interested (I’m going on the Fridays of those dates if you want to join me):
LA Garden Show May 2-4, 2008, 9-4:30 PM
Arboretum Student w/ ID Admission Price: $5.00

Descanso Gardens Plant Sale Mar 28-29, 2008, 9-4 PM
Student w/ ID Admission Price: $5.00

[Not] Fahneeeeeee!

Hahah. I love this video! It’s so fahneeeee (funny). The dad makes it more funny just because of his reaction.

The ending (last 10 seconds or so) is the best part. Oh, little kiddies.