Will Solve Clues for Diamonds

Boy, did we have a fun little adventure this weekend!

This Saturday was the third annual "Race for the Ring" in Downtown Sacramento. Shupasaurus and I were lucky enough to participate as "Team News n Review," courtesy of one of my BFF's who puts together events for SN&R.

This was our first year to participate and we had a blast!

Shupasaurus and I, Team News n Review

The race benefits the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, which recently had to overcome a huge fire at their facility. The event expected to bring in approximately $20,000 for the food bank. One of the major sponsors was Rogers Jewelers, which donated much of the $35,000 worth of prizes, including a huge diamond ring worth over $8,000. The prize the really had my eye was the baby blue beach cruiser, donated courtesy of a midtown vintage bike shop.

BFF Kev and I

Over 600 teams participated this year and the event was a blast. We zipped off from Raley Field at 10:30 and spent the next two hours biking from one Sacramento landmark to the next, answering questions and solving riddles.

Mayor Johnson was in attendance to do the race countdown

We trekked around to 25 different places, including the State Capitol, where our clue was, "Sacramento Panera Breads have been partnering with the Food Bank for 3 years. Find SCVNGR's Amanda infront of the Capitol and ask her the name of this campaign."

Of course, this has us and our fellow Race for the Ringers wandering the Capitol lawn asking quizzically, "Amanda? Amanda? Are you Amanda?"

Amanda!

After a couple hours of biking around beautiful Downtown Sacramento, we headed back with our score of 73, in the hopes that we beat the pants off of the competition. The after party at Raley Field was rockin', complete with a super fun cover band, awesome grub and ice cold brewskis!

Raley Field After Party

However, I am sad to report that Shupasaurus and I did not bring home the big prize. As a matter of fact, we were all but SMOKED by the competition, with the winning team racking up an impressive 112 points.

Although, we did spend the rest of the afternoon brainstorming ideas for improving our game next year, and we are looking forward to regaining our good name. :)

The shame of losing was nothing a few rounds of cheap beer couldn't wash away

Euro Trip 2012... The Beginning.

Five years ago this August/September, I travelled Europe with one of my best girlfriends. Though we hadn't seen each other for probably a year (after she ditched CA for a gig in Germany), I hopped a plane and reunited with her at the airport.

We travelled for just about a month, hitting Weisbaden (Germany), Milan, Barcelona, London, Paris, Amsterdam and Crete (Greece). It was the most fun month I have ever had in my entire life. And it came at the perfect time, when I was trying to remind myself why I wanted to keep going after the most painful event I would ever go through (losing my dad).

The trip taught me that not only is there an entire world out there, waiting to be explored, but there is a world full of wonderful people that are all waiting to meet you.

We travelled at a time when rumors of worldwide anti-Americanism were rampant. Thanks to my buddy GDub, we had successfully bullied our way to pissing off most of the globe. I was warned by numerous friends and family before my travels that I would be getting many the stink-eye from my European counterparts.

It was much to the contrary. We were welcomed, with open arms, by nearly everyone. Perhaps they found me more interesting because I was travelling with a beautiful Korean woman and it threw them off. Or perhaps it was because of the "IMPEACH BUSH" pin I wore proudly on my travel backpack. Whatever the reason, we were anything but shunned. (Heck, we even had this experience: while sitting at a little streetside cafe in Paris-which is notorious for snobs-a beautiful Parisian woman walking by stopped at the window we were sitting next to, looked at me and said, "You are a very beautiful woman." I don't think that has EVER happen in Cali.)

Anyway, the point of my rambling is this: It has been five years. It is time for a redo. It is GOING TO HAPPEN in the summer of 2012.

I know the more you talk about it happening, the more likely it will happen. The more you dream it, the more you will do it. So this is my commitment... No matter how much more money goes into the Shack, I will put away enough to make my Euro dream come true. Hopefully I can talk my fabulous Korean BFF to come with me, and I know a few others that have shared their interest in the trip.

So, let's throw some dollars in a jar, start the planning, and show those Euro's what CA has to offer!

A call to my neighbors...

Over the past weeks, I was privileged enough to participate in events celebrating the men and women who are out in our communities, everyday, keeping us safe.

While I enjoyed the camaraderie, it is disheartening that we must gather each year at the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony in memory of law enforcement members whose lives were taken much too soon.

This year, we honored the lives of eleven officers who unknowingly went to work one day and never returned home. These officers were making routine traffic stops, serving warrants and helping stranded motorists. They were doing their job, protecting our families, keeping our roads safe and enforcing the laws that ensure our state can operate.

As we witnessed the families, one by one, placing a rose on the monument in honor of their lost loved one, we were reminded of the true nature of a peace officer’s job.

I am fortunate enough to work closely with the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), the largest statewide association of public safety members in the nation. These are 62,000 of the men and women who work to protect us on a daily basis. I have learned, though our work together, just how important it is to have a functioning public safety network. Without these brave men and women, who we often take for granted, we could not live the lives we do. Of course, many of us bemoan about the unfortunate instances of being pulled over or getting into trouble, but the truth is that these officers work, selflessly, for you and me, everyday.

While you and I go through our daily routines, it usually never crosses our minds; the fact that we are able to live our lives without fear. The fact that there are perfect strangers out there keeping an eye on us. The fact that, in the unfortunate circumstance that we have an emergency, we can pick up the phone and call for help. This week, these facts were front and center.

Many of us recently read about the possible cuts facing Sacramento’s police force. As a lifetime resident of Sacramento, this scares me. I take comfort in knowing that if I need help, I can count on someone to be there. I feel safe knowing that I am a phone call away from assistance, if I need it. The threat of dozens of police layoffs is simply unacceptable.

Two weeks ago, law enforcement officers from throughout the state hit the halls of the State Capitol to urge lawmakers to continue to fund critical public safety programs. Although it is hard to believe that policymakers would even fathom putting our safety in jeopardy as part of political games, this is a harsh truth. I understand; times are tough. We must all do what we can to tighten our belts, but we must take care to pay attention to cuts that would endanger our families. Officers face layoffs, patrol cuts, the elimination of community policing and departments specifically tasked with taking control of the growing meth problem in our state, among other things. We need officers on the streets. It is not fair to play games with the safety of our communities.

Months ago, like many of my friends and family, I didn’t pay attention. But now I recognize the necessity of public safety and the absolute risk officers take daily, for my loved ones and me.

I urge my community members to come together to find solutions to California’s budget issues without sacrificing the safety we take for granted. Putting our safety on the line is not the answer. The danger on our streets is real, as we saw the last week when the families of our fallen heroes mourned the loss of eleven lives. We can work together to be part of the solution.

I do!

Over this past weekend, I was lucky enough to attend a beautiful afternoon bridal shower for a couple of my best girlfriends. Their wedding is next month and I couldn't be more excited to celebrate their love for one another. And before we do that, there is a bachelorette bonanza weekend ahead of us that is sure to be a party to remember.

All of this wedding talk has really gotten me thinking about, well, weddings.

I have been a long time believer in the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality, Hence the boyfriend (not husband) of 4+ years. However, as we get older (well, he can be considered "old" at the ripe age of 32, while I am still considered "just a kid" at 28. Right?) the pressure to take the plunge has increased exponentially.

I am ambivalent about marriage for many reasons. First (again) why mess with something that works? I don't feel any sort of pull to conform to what others think I "should" do. If I "should" get married, than I should be able to tell those who I think are crazy fools for getting married that they "shouldn't" get married. Trust me, I've fought that urge on a few occasions. Funny how those tables simply can't be turned. (To any of my friends who read this - I am definitely not talking about you, of course.)

Next is the fact that it is so sublimely unfair that I should be able to marry a Shupasaurus, when I have friends who cannot legally marry their heart's desire, simply because of their sex. Come on, I can marry a Chris Dinosaur and a dude can't marry a dude? If only the Prop 8 people knew I found a loophole in their "next thing will be people marrying animals" theory.

Furthermore, why, when I have so many house projects, would I want to throw thousands of bucks into a one day shindig. I am more than content with having the occasional impromptu backyard gatherings celebrating my life, my Shupe and my fabulous friends. Hell, I spend enough already trying to keep that damn wine fridge stocked! (Ok, it's mostly my fault that it is looking so sad, but I digress.)

Oh, and there's the fact that I have real moral concerns with wearing diamonds, the mainstay wedding accoutrement. I know, there are other options, but many people feel a wedding isn't a wedding without a rock. No to mention that I've put my "right hand" ring on my left hand before (by accident!) and it just feels all wrong.

Now, I ask, why the rush to the ring? I know it's the norm, but I must say I fall out of the "norm" box on a lot of my stances, this being just one.

So, even though I know there is already a pastor waiting in the wings to officiate the big day (thanks for the continuous offer, Melissa), for those of you who have been on the Shupasaurus/Chels wedding bandwagon, I respectfully request you pick another perfect couple to cheer for. I'm sure there's one out there somewhere. ;)