Scavenger Hunts are Hard

So, today, along with my friend X, I took part in the Washington Post's Annual Post Hunt. Now, I think of myself as a pretty good thinker. I'm right brained (gooooo lefties!) and so I figured this would come pretty easily to me. FALSE.

So, it starts with a few pre-questions that have no logic to them at all. Turns out, they just give you the map coordinates of the five clue locations. Then, your job is to go to the five clue locations and figure out the answer, which is always a number. To make sure that you can find the correct number, they give you a sheet of "possible answers." Now, for those of you who took ISTEP (or any other standardized test, SATs, GREs, etc), you will be very familiar with their tactics. They give you all five correct numbers and a ton of numbers that could be correct. They either are the result of a mathematical error or a problem solving error. Which means that if you don't have the answer 100% right, you can get the wrong answer. Ugh.

And so it goes. We spent the next three hours walking all over downtown DC trying to pretend that we were smarter than we looked. We got two of five answers right and didn't even attempt the final answer, although we could have figured out step one of the final three steps.

All in all, a good time. Would be even more awesome with a team of 4 or 5 instead of just two. A definitely recommended thing to do if you're in the DC area at the right time.

adall

Long Time, No Post

This seems to be a common thread for me. I'll get really really into blogging for a while and then quit. Well, I'm back on the wagon again. We'll see how long it lasts this time.

So, since my last post, I've switched jobs, run two half marathons, broken up with my boyfriend, and started dating someone new. So, that's my life update. Whoa.

Speaking of half marathons, I think I'm burnt out a bit. Since my last one (which was in Indy in May) I have run only a handful of times. That, in combination with my new office feeding us lots of food and my new boyfriend making me dinner almost every night, I've gained 10 lbs. Not good. So, I've decided to train for a triathlon. I've gotten my bike fixed since my bike accident in October (see previous post) and the aquatic center near my house is free (!) for DC residents. This is exciting. It seems everything for starting my tri training is falling into place. It's just a matter of doing it at this point...

I also, in the last week, have developed the most genius plan of all time. So, a little bit of background. I want a Kindle. I crave a Kindle. At first, I was all "Oh, I'll never get a Kindle. I love books." But now I want one. So, so badly. BUT, I am currently on the bad end of funds. As in, I have none of them. SO, I devised "The Most Genius Plan Of All Time."

Apparently, you can use a website to exchange a gift card that you have that you're not going to use (in my case, it was a $50 card to Bath and Body Works, where I haven't been since I was, oh, twelve) and exchange it for an Amazon gift card. MONEY. So, step one: exchange $50 at BaBW (which, I just realized, has the EXACT SAME INITIALS as Build a Bear Workshop, where I slaved away for four years) for $41 in an Amazon gift card. Step two: exchange old ipod touch that you no longer use for $35 in Amazon gift cards (Amazon's trade in program is awesome!). Step three: apply $20 Amazon gift card that you paid $10 for with a LivingSocial deal to cost of said Kindle. Final step: PAY ALMOST NOTHING for a brand new Kindle. Now the trick is to just be patient until I get all of the money back from the various places before buying the actual Kindle. Wish me luck.

Also, check out my friend M's new blog: cityglitter.co! It's awesome, just like she is.

A presto!