Slice of Pink

Two Thousand Ten

I resolve to not go on the Internet after 8 PM (spoiler: massive fail). I cross some items off my 30 Before 30 list, including finding a good eyeliner, going on a hike, making an article of clothing, and wine tasting. I get annoyed at Facebook Fan Pages (but later create one for Slice of Pink! The hypocrisy!). I tell you seven random things about me and all about Will's polite contest. I teach you how to make healthy morning muffins.

I almost complete my 30 Before 30 list, and create a 31 Before 31 list. My friend Jenny organizes a perfectly pink Vegas extravaganza for my 30th birthday, complete with pink glittered cupcakes. I blow out 30 candles. I run a 5k, make some decisions, and knit yarn hearts on a chain link fence in Oakland. I get swindled.

Y'all taught me how to buy a dress on E-Bay. I get labeled crazy. My friends and I set up a photo shoot and I take pictures of all of our professors for the annual law school auction. I attend a conference in Denver to discuss the topic of mothering. I make another decision. The lovely Janet and I celebrate a very merry unbirthday at Crown and Crumpet. I introduce you to Greg.

I star in the law school movie. I help throw a bridal shower for my cousin, Katie, and discover the most perfect-ever bridal shower gift. I watch Katie and Greg tie the knot, then do a routine on the dance floor. I am very proud of my hair and dress. I eat at Fat Face, attend Picnic Day (and enjoy some drama), and make Blueberry Cows. I make some decisions. I complete my last law school class and then go watch the Depraved Hearts play for the last time. The law school coffee cart burns to the ground. My sister turns 20.

I take my final final and graduate from Law School (with an awesome hairdo). We make a trip to the Ferry Building, eat at Tartine, and do some shopping. I cross #17 off my 31 Before 31 list, make Fleur de Sel Caramels.

I gather macaron recipes for you. Nintendo throws a Wii party at my house. I launch Pink University, a series of posts from wonderful guest bloggers who cover Slice of Pink while I study for the Bar Exam. I am an Aunt! Apple caused me to fall even more in love with them.

This is the single existing photo of me from July 2010 as I spent the entire month studying for, taking, crying over, and talking about the California Bar Exam. I basically lost a month of my life. I also answered a few of your questions, did some decidering, and told you some random places I've stood.

I celebrate finishing the Bar in Santa Barbara, where I eat fancy figs and drink champagne, then end up at a club dancing to Pitbul. I make Brown Sugar Cherry Cakes and a bracelet. I sell things on Craigslist, do 13 things on Friday the 13th, and overuse the exclamation point. My mom calls to make sure I'm packing boxes. Instead of packing boxes, I go to San Francisco to pick up a bridesmaid dress and eat at a bakery. I eat a piece of bacon. I attend a gorgeous, lavender-filled wedding.

We move to the beach! My couch does not make it into the U-Haul (which just means we have to buy an awesome new one). I invite you over to shower. I eat a lot of Ben and Jerry's, buy a rocking chair and credenza, and live without a microwave (still going strong!). We celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary, late but in style. Some cute frat boys save the day at the annual Margarita and Avocado Festival. Will turns 35. I buy him a bread machine, get involved in a dangerous enchilada incident, and buy a big cake. I start the Black and Gray experiment. I attend the wedding of the beautiful and graceful Femme Curieuse.

I join the Style Lush team. I wear Black and Gray. I help Kickstart Ben's band. I buy an iPhone (and, even better, a Kate Spade case!). I find out that Buster Posey is, like, 12 years old. I complete the Isla Vista Loop and live to blog about it. We get caught in the rain and eat a lot of pumpkin pancakes.

I start teaching myself about wine (and provide you with some lessons as well). I make a Mighty SLO List and start crossing things off by going to the Drive-in. I make Ginger Molasses Cookies. I buy red shoes from a consignment store and jeans with stirrups from Gap. We go to see the 5 Browns. I check out Dinosaur Caves park. A salesperson talks me into some super fabulous sheets. I pass the Bar Exam and Jenny buys me a cherry pie to celebrate.

I guest post at Gen Pink and give you some more wine lessons (and a champagne lesson, too). I buy a defective Ikea dresser (they've since sent the missing part). I am surprised to find out that not everyone eats green Jell-o salad with their holiday meals. I fix my hair into a side bun, go a little crazy on the holiday treats aisle at Trader Joe's, and start re-reading Little Women, one of my childhood favorites. I find gift shopping complicated, as usual, and vow to simplify next year, as usual. I make some potpourri pies and give you a for realz last minute shopping list. I go to Ojai to ring in the New Year.

Good times, good year (minus July). Thanks for reading about all these adventures, dear friends, and for all the sweet comments! You make my world go round! See you in 2011!

30 Before 30, The Epilogue

Almost a year ago, I set out to complete thirty tasks before my thirtieth birthday. Some of the tasks were simple (bake something for a potluck), while others were decidedly more difficult (visit a foreign country). What a crazy, lovely, wine-filled, lively, sweet adventure it has been!

Some of you have written to say that you are creating 30 Before 30 lists of their own, which I think is a phenomenal idea. I am completely serious when I say that this list changed my year. I've always been the type of person who finds herself mixed up in some extraordinary adventures, but this list upped the ante on fun. Without this list, I probably wouldn't have dragged my sister to a trampoline house or ate only locally grown foods for thirty days or swam in Cancún's turquoise blue water (which reminds me, I have so many photos to show you, still, from our trip to the Yucatán).

I probably wouldn't have joined a conga line for free shots at a Señor Frogs. Then again, maybe that's something I would have done anyway.

But, I definitely would not have run a 5K. I can't tell you how many times I said to Will, panting during a slow training jog, "I'M ONLY DOING THIS FOR THE LIST!"

Best of all was the support from some amazing friends: Sarah who invited us to the A's home opener and an ice cream festival, Jenny who planned my So Pink 30th Birthday Extravaganza, my lovely sister who made peppermint hot cocoa marshmallows with me on Christmas day, April and Savannah who jumped around with me at Sky High, Professor Feeney who assigned a cop ride along as extra-credit in Criminal Procedure (nothing to get something crossed off your list like a little extra credit), Remy who sent me the Apple-Pear Crisp recipe (and Ms. Appetite for Conversation who organized the potluck), Michelle who visited the de Young with me (and provided lots of gentle reminders about keeping up with the list), and, of course, Will who went along for the entire ride, bless his heart.

And, of course, all of you lovely readers who made comments and suggestions and provided lots of enthusiasm! Thank you!

(I'll tell you, if you are going to make a list, by all means, publish it!)

My 31 Before 31 is almost complete--a whole new list of fun adventures (and some not-so-fun tasks, too (California Bar Exam, I'm talking about you)).

My cousin Mike suggested that we attempt the Isla Vista Loop (which is visiting all the places in Isla Vista that serve beer, and having a beer. By going to all beer-serving establishments, a loop is made). I put it on my list. Are you in? I'd love to have you join in on the merrymaking! And what's more merry than spending a day in a college town drinking beers? Alright then, it's settled. We're gonna party like we're 21 (not, um, almost 31).

Slice of Pink, Hardcore

This is me a few minutes before I ran five kilometers. I ran the race in 39 minutes and some seconds, which sounds, I know, pretty slow. But, it is actually a rather good time, considering that up until one month ago, my running shoes were buried in the back of my closet under old Halloween costumes and a hot pink feather boa that I purchased on Bourbon Street in 2001. Up until one month ago, my feather boa got more use than my running shoes is what I am saying.

So Pink Vegas Birthday Extravaganza: The Suspects

I know I've been talking about my very Vegas birthday for over a week now. Believe me, it's even worse if you have been hanging out with me in person. I'm just nonstop: The dueling pianos! The Diamond Fizz cocktails! The hot pink hotel room! The cupcakes! The day at the Bellagio spa (a birthday gift from my friends Gavin and Jenny. OMG, I know! How lucky am I?)!

Very lucky, as it turns out.

Very lucky to have these wonderful, wonderful friends.

Very lucky to be celebrating two birthdays in addition to mine (I know, big surprise considering how it's all me! me! me! on this Slice of Pink site).

Jenny, Jeff, and I were born within a week of one another, so this was actually a grand birthday merrymaking bash TIMES THREE. Which is so the way to go, especially with such fabulous friends (and fellow Aquarians).

Happy Birthday Jenny! Happy Birthday Jeff!

(And, by the way, how awesome is Jeff to have totally gone along with the very pink birthday party? Or, maybe it actually went down a little more like this: Jenny's vote for a pink party + my vote for a pink party = Jeff is outvoted. PINK IT IS!)

Great times, marvelous friends. Very lucky, indeed.

So Pink Vegas Birthday Extravaganza: The Cupcakes

On Saturday morning, after a night of merrymaking--dinner at Mon Ami Gabi, requesting songs from the dueling pianists at Napoleon's Lounge (Benny and the Jets, Push It, Billie Jean), and enjoying bottles of wine--the bell man arrived with a gift from my friend Jenny. Cupcakes! And, ohmygosh, not just any cupcakes, but a dozen Cupcakery cupcakes piled high with buttercream, sprinkles, and iridescent GLITTER. Oh, yes. Fairy-tales cupcakes!

Is there anything better in life than being all dressed up with one's best friends eating glittered chocolate peppermint cupcakes?

So Pink Vegas Birthday Extravaganza: The Flamingo

If you are going to have a very pink birthday celebration, you'll need to stay at the very pink Flamingo hotel in a Go room. The room comes complete with a white vinyl headboard, pink striped wallpaper, and a hot pink bathroom. There was pink mood lighting and a brown velvet couch with pink velvet throw pillows. Oh, yes.

We even had electronic drapes, which opened to this view of the Bellagio.

To celebrate my birthday, the Flamingo made us temporary Diamond Members, meaning that we got entry into a super-secret lounge with cocktails and cookies. It also moved us right up the waiting list at restaurants. Not quite accustomed to living the lifestyle of the rich and famous, I completely forgot about the card until we arrived for lunch at Serendipity 3 and the wait was over an hour. I pulled out my Diamond Card and voila! we were promoted to the front of the line. Nothing stands between me and my macaroni and cheese.

Guess who else was staying at the Flamingo?

Can you believe Jenny and I forgot to pack our tiaras? I hate when that happens.

So Pink Vegas Birthday Extravaganza: Sneak Preview

I have lots to share about my very grand birthday celebration in Vegas, but you KNOW you've had a good time when half your {uncropped} photos look like these.

Ruffles and Things

Task 24: Make an Article of Clothing.

(I know I shouldn't call the things on my 30 Before 30 list tasks. I chose all the things on the list, after all. But there are a just a few things that are starting to feel like chores here at the finale of my 29th year.)

Anyway, make an article of clothing.

Here's what I did: I bought two Forever 21 black tees ($3.50 a pop! Big Spender!), cut up one of the tees into strips, made the strips into three ruffles and a flower, sewed the ruffles and the flower onto the second tee, and voila! Homemade article of clothing! Sort-of!

(You know, these things go for, like, $60 at J. Crew.)

I was on my way to drink champagne with my girlfriends, but Will managed to snap a quick photo while I was getting ready. The lighting is poor and there was no time for retakes--I was on my way to drink champagne, people--so I have pointed out the ruffles and flower in the photo, to draw attention to my handiwork.

The shirt may very well fall apart in the wash.

Wine Tasting

Will and I took a day trip to Sonoma for some wine tasting, in an eleventh hour attempt to cross things off my list. I tried six wines, all red. I'm not sure if that's the proper way to wine taste, limiting one self to red only, but it was rainy and cold and I think rainy, cold days call for red wine.

Plus, I happen to just like red wine better.

A Long Walk in the Countryside

Will and I went on a hike, crossing number 4 off my 30 Before 30 list. This was Will's addition to the list originally and, while I agreed that everyone should try a hike sometime in their lives, it wasn't exactly top on my list of priorities. I imagined hiking involving really ugly boots and gross protein bars. So not my cup of tea.

But, as it turns out, a hike can just be a long walk in the countryside. Now doesn't that sound much lovelier?

The Eyeliner Chronicles

A few months ago, I tried to cross number 13 off my 30 Before 30 list: Buy an Amazing Eyeliner. I visited the Lancôme counter, all prepared to buy a Le Stylo Waterproof Long Lasting Liner. But, when I told the Lancôme lady that I was looking for an eyeliner that "would stay on forever," I was once again derailed by sales staff when she directed me to the MAC counter. Don't they work on commission, these Lancôme ladies?

***

A few days after Christmas, Will and I went on a quick getaway with our good friends Jen and Gavin to Santa Barbara. We drank some afternoon Margaritas and then walked up State Street to Nordstrom where Jen whisked me off to the Lancôme counter and promptly ordered me a Le Stylo Waterproof in Cafe, thankyouverymuch. Sometimes you need a friend to do your bidding and, er, makeup buying.

***

I'm crossing number 13 off the list. The eyeliner is good. It's not magic good, but it's very good and I'm happy (particularly when I wear it with my new Lorac Publicity Stunt 3-Day Long-Wearing Mascara, a gift from my friends at Nintendo, which is magic in that it basically refuses to come off, even with soap and water).

***

This concludes the great eyeliner search. Unless somebody comes out with a 3-Day Long-Wearing Eyeliner. I'd definitely give that a go.

Factory Touring

I crossed #11, Visit the Jelly Belly Factory, off my 30 Before 30 list a few months ago and promptly forgot to tell you all about it. This is probably due to the fact that we visited the factory on a Saturday. Here's my factory touring advice for you: visit on a weekday, when there are employees at the factory who are actually doing things. Like, people making Jelly Bellies, for instance, would have been totally cool to witness. As it was, we saw some large equipment, ate some beans, and watched videos of the process that, had we visited on a Tuesday, we would have witnessed live.

I don't much like Jelly Belly beans, anyway, so I'm not in a big hurry to visit again, weekday or otherwise. My next factory tour? I'm thinking Budweiser.

Two Thousand Nine

January

I was quoted in the AV Press, we smashed up our car, I was interviewed by the lovely Hope, and I taught y'all how to bike in a dress.

February

We were bailed out of our ridiculous tab at the Rouge Brewery. I turned 29, attended the My Bloggy Valentine Meetup in San Francisco, saw Lance Armstrong and, perhaps more excitingly, stood next to Christian Vande Velde. I attended the law school auction and went on a very girly getaway to San Diego.

March

My girlfriends and I partied with Nintendo in a hip San Francisco loft and I received a big box of marzipan cookies via emergency same-day courier. I met some Playboy Bunnies, got mad at the Bunnies, started a 30 Before 30 list, and went on another girly getaway to San Diego. I fought crime on a police ride along.

April

I made decisions about Twittering, colleges, high school club advising, concerts, gym-going, wedding hair. I milked a cow, attended the Doxie Derby, danced at the Battle of the Bands, and drank a ton of beer on Picnic Day. Some friends and I visited the De Young Museum in San Francisco. I met the Easter Bunny and attended the Oakland A's home opener. I gave you some legal advice.

May

I won a bet (and am pretty sure my husband still owes me the $100). In a moment of great irony, I did not bike to work on Bike to Work Day. I hula hooped with my community, ate a lot of Fage yogurt, and met Gavin Newsom (swoooon) at the Farmer's Market (and only slightly made a fool of myself).

June

I was interviewed by the gorgeous Love is Blonde. Will and I went to see a science comedian (nerd alert!), ate a ton of olives, and biked to a "biker" bar. I took photos of an adorable engaged couple. I drank some champagne (and some more champagne) at Zanon and Lisa's wedding.

July

Many of you ask why I'm vegetarian, so I answered (and then I answered some more of your questions about eating green). I celebrated the 4th of July in Davis. I whipped up a raspberry peach crisp using fruits I picked by hand and dragged seven family members out to the tennis courts to make sparkler art, which was awesome until the cops shut us down. I attended the Renegade Art Fair in San Francisco, built a fort in the living room, and bounced at Sky High. Our friends came to visit and Jenny and I drank wine while our husbands shopped for and cooked dinners for us (ah, the good life).

August

Will and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary. We traveled to the Yucatan Peninsula, visiting Merida, Chichen Itza, and Cancun. Our luggage was lost. We took our annual trip to the Cheshire Cat in Santa Barbara. I drank Black and Tans in an Irish pub, forgot to go to jury service, and tasted local ice creams at the Eat Real Festival in Oakland. We witnessed Lauren and Monty tie the knot and I visited Santa Barbara to attend Stacey and Todd's wedding.

September

For the month of September, with a few exceptions, we ate only foods grown and produced within 100 miles of our home. We traveled to Las Vegas to celebrate my sister-in-law's 21st birthday. Will turned 34. I asked y'all to fill out the Proust Questionnaire.

October

I answered the Proust Questionnaire and you did, too! I asked the Typepad Question of the Day. I actually baked for a potluck, rather than picking up something on the way. I visited Washington, DC and celebrated Halloween at the San Francisco Opera.

November

I attended Viv & Ingrid's 10th Anniversary celebration at Miette. I made beer and cheese soup, bought a ticket for BlogHer 2010 in NYC (are you going?), and met up with some girlfriends in Chicago (also: Michael Vick).

December

Oh, yes, I had some law school finals at some point, but even that didn't stop me from putting up the Christmas tree, hosting an eggnog party, and making reindeer food. I visited with family and friends at Brent's Deli, The Palace Grill, Sambos, Schooner's, and Panera Bread (and now I need to go for a run).

Good times, great year. Hello 2010!

The Land of Phantoms (also, sailors, peacocks, and chickens)

We spent Halloween night watching the spooky 1922 silent film, Nosferatu, with live accompaniment, at the San Francisco Symphony.

We dressed in the usual symphony-going cocktail attire, as did a majority of folks, but there was a fair share of costumed symphony-goers as well, including two sailor girls, sitting directly behind us, and a man in a full-on chicken costume. As might be expected, there were plenty of people dressed in nearly nothing running around the city and a few of them even made it to the symphony.

The best costume, perhaps, was a girl dressed as a peacock. She had arranged 10 or 12 real peacock feathers in her ponytail, so that they fanned out a foot above her head. I appreciated her costume, although I suspect the symphony-goers in the five rows directly behind her did not.

My exquisite headband, by the way, was a gift from a dear Slice of Pink friend who now has an Etsy shop full of pretty headbands and other goodies. Isn't it lovely? It arrived in the mail on Friday and I was suddenly all about purple, even convincing Will to wear a lilac shirt so that he would complement my eggplant headband and tights.

A handsome man and a hand-crafted headband: life's two best accessories.

Potluck Protocol

I'm attending a potluck dinner party tomorrow evening. The hostess requested on the Evite that we respond with what we intend to bring to encourage variety in the offerings.

Because I am the way I am (indecisive, self-deprecating, noncommittal), I répondez with the following:

Yay! I will attempt to bake something (so that I can cross #19 off my 30 before 30 list) but, depending on what kind of disaster that turns into, I may end up just picking up something on the way.

A few days later, a kind and encouraging email arrives in my inbox from a fellow attendee:

Hi Janet!
I couldn't help but notice your comment on Jen's invite that you need to bake something for a potluck. And, I want to support you in your 30 Before 30 list, too. Below is a go-to recipe that I've been making for almost ten years. It's from the "Complete Idiot’s Guide to Cooking Basics" (but I got it from a reprint in the LA Times, in 2001) and it always wins rave reviews!
Yours,
Remy

(Followed by a delicious-sounding and seasonally-appropriate recipe for Apple-Pear Crisp, which I'll post after the jump.)

So, I'm like, SWEET! No need to break out the old Betty Crocker or spend time surfing the Internet. I'm all for things I need just arriving in my inbox when I mention a need. (At this time, I will just go ahead and point out other needs I have and, were these items to appear in my inbox, I would be eternally grateful: an amazing business associations outline, a job offer, a gift certificate for a Banana Republic pants suit, an invitation for an all-expenses paid weekend getaway, tickets to Elton John in concert).

I'm all set to whip up an Apple-Pear Crisp, but when I take a look at the recipe to make a shopping list for the ingredients, I realize I have questions. I pop off a quick email to Remy, in which I reveal my cluelessness about baking for potlucks:

OMG! What do I DO about the fact that this dish is best served WARM? Do I bring it unbaked to Jen's house and use her oven? Or do I bake it before I arrive and, if so, won't it get cold before dessert time? Ack! So much for a "Complete Idiot’s Guide to Cooking Basics," huh?

Remy responded immediately, suggesting that I just reheat it at Jen's after cooking it at my place (duh) (Remy doesn't say "duh" in response, that's my own addition. She actually said that my reading the recipe ahead of time was an "expert move." Ha!).

In any event, after verifying with the hostess that I can reheat in her oven (is it proper potluck protocol to assume you can use the oven or should you call ahead?), I am going to make the crisp, cooking it in advance and popping it in the oven for a few to re-warm it when dessert time rolls around. I'm hoping for a successful crisp.

If you aren't as dramatic as I am, you can probably handle The Complete Idiot's Apple-Pear Crisp. I mean, really.

#7: For One Month, Be a Locavore

Everything about being a locavore can be summed up by The Jam:

1. Jam is (at least) twice as expensive at the farmers' market than it is at the grocery store.
2. Jam is (at least) twice as tasty at the farmers' market than it is from the grocery store.
3. Jam is (at least) twice as fresh at the farmers' market than it is at the grocery store.

This is the case with most foods we ate during the month. The food was more expensive by quite a bit, particularly the non-produce items such as the olive oils, jams, and almond butters. There were also significantly fewer choices since we were eating what was in season, within 100 miles. We went through 18 baskets of strawberries, at least a dozen zucchini, 15 cartons of almond milk, and a boatload of pears.

Despite the expense and the limited options, the experience was fantastic. We learned to make-do with whatever the farmers had to offer. We ate healthier by a long shot--nothing prepackaged or laden with preservatives. Best of all, the foods we ate were delicious, noticeably more tasty and more fresh than grocery store goods.

We even made our very own jar of jam during the month, a small batch strawberry jam that consisted of only two ingredients: strawberries and sugar. No high fructose corn syrup. No weird chemicals that you can't pronounce. Just plain old strawberries and sugar.

Yesterday, our locavore experiment ended, and we went off to the supermarket to get a few things that we had gone a month without: bananas, orange juice, macaroons. We passed right by the jam aisle, though, deciding that it is worth the few extra bucks to have simple jam that actually tastes like real fruit. Who would've known?

Locavore

First we became vegetarians. Tomorrow, we become vegetarian locavores. It's a little crazy, I know, to exclusively eat foods grown and produced within 100 miles. But, we live in California, the number one food producer in the United States. If we can't do it, geographically, then ain't nobody can do it.

Some of you are probably thinking: Who cares? And I get you. If you don't care what I have for lunch for the next 30 days, and I completely understand if you don't, have no fear: this is not going to turn into some hippie blog about growing your own produce from heirloom seeds or some crap. This place will just be business as usual.

For those of you who do care, I'm gonna chronicle everything I eat on Twitter @DavisLocavore. You can follow me there and get dailyish updates on what I am eating, what I am drinking, and when I am cheating (I hope not to cheat, but I promise to be honest).

The guidelines for the next month:

Locally produced: a substantial majority of the foods we will eat will be locally produced, that is, produced within approximately 100 miles of our home. I say approximately because I'm not going to calculate distance every time I eat a carrot stick. 100-ish works for me.

Local business: on the occasion that we meet up with friends, or are too busy to make dinner, we will eat only from locally owned and operated businesses.

Terrior: in very small amounts, we will eat foods famous for the region they are grown in (Brie cheese from Brie, France or Parmesan cheese from Parma, Italy).

Vegas: okay, so we're going to Vegas and, look, I'm not going to drag an ice chest of farm fresh pears to the next state. I'm going to eat at buffets. And lots of them. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right?

That's about it. I'm off to buy my last Coke for awhile.

Eat Real Ice Cream

I say, if you are gonna go to a food festival of some sort, you might as well make it an ice cream festival.

Will and I spent Friday night at the Eat Real Festival in Oakland, visiting with Sarah and Ben while crossing #28 off my thirty before thirty list.

We bought scoops from two vendors, Scream Sorbet and Ici Ice Cream, both offering lists of scrumptious, unusual flavors.

I had scoops of:

+ orange chocolate chip
+ pistachio
+ lemon shiso

And licks of:

+ coconut thai basil
+ blackberry lavender
+ saffron candied almond
+ vanilla almond

And there were still so many flavors left to sample. I think we should declare every Friday an Ice Cream Friday.

#9: Bounce at Sky High

I took my sister and Savannah over to Sky High to bounce around and check number 9 off my 30 Before 30 list.

The large area of trampolines doesn't actually require three people to squeeze onto a single square, but we were trying to all fit into the video.

Which causes things like this to happen:

Cheerleaders. Such bullies.

Fort Wallace

One of my Thirty Before Thirty tasks was to build a fort in the living room.

I think I should clarify one potentially confusing thing about the Thirty Before Thirty list, and that is: the list is not comprised solely of things I have never done. Like, for example, I have already been to a foreign country (several, in fact) and I have already done some acts of pure service. I have already been to lectures outside of law school and I have already baked things for potlucks (if you count making fruit dip out of marshmallow fluff and cream cheese "baking"). I've even built a fort in the living room.

In other words, the list is comprised of 30 things I want to do before I am thirty, some of which are repeats of things I've done before. But, really? Can one travel to too many foreign countries? Can one do too many acts of pure service? Can one make too much marshmallow fruit dip?

Can one build too many forts in the living room?

I don't think so.

Let's Go Oakland

A few weeks ago Sarah emailed me, asking if Will and I would like to join her and Ben for some A's baseball--and not just any A's game, the A's Home Opener. Would we? Um, HELL YES, we would.

So, on Friday night, we cruised out to Oakland to take Sarah up on her incredibly generous offer.

Since it was opening night, the freeway off ramp was jam-packed and by the time we made it off the freeway, the parking lots were completely full. We parked a good mile or so away, on the side of the road, and drank some beers on the walk to the stadium. Imagine it: the four of us walking down a street in Oaktown, toting a 12-pack, drinking some beers, accompanied by gangsta rap courtesy of the cars rollin' by next to us. It was definitely among my classiest moments. I even hid my beer in my purse when we walked by the police.

We had a fabulous time. There was a tailgate party, an appearance on the jumbotron, and lots of stadium food involved. There was almost an A's track jacket involved, but they didn't have my size.

The game was fun, but the A's lost. So here's what we did:

We pretended like they won.

Hello baseball season! So happy you've finally arrived.

Museum Going

I crossed #3 off my 30 Before 30 list: Go to an art museum that I have not yet visited.

I've been to a lot of art museums, more than most Americans I'm sure, but I had not been to the de Young in San Francisco so I headed off with three friends to check it out.

Some Highlights:

Mating Dogs

Dog Scratching its Head

Bread, Jasper Johns

I also took about a million photos of myself in these shiny ball-thingys by some artist whose name I didn't catch.

(This post is feeling a little irreverent, my being an Art Historian and all and museums being, like, MY CHURCH.)

I liked the de Young. I didn't love the de Young because they mix fine art with more crafty type pieces in a way that doesn't exactly float my boat. But there were some nice pieces, the Warhol exhibition was slightly tacky (Warhol would have so approved), and the coffee in the cafe was good.

The view from the top wasn't too shabby either.

Fighting Crime

Last night, I checked number 5 off my 30 Before 30 list: go on a police ride-along. A Davis police officer and I cruised our beat from seven in the evening until almost one in the morning, fighting crime.

Except, to be honest, there was very little crime fighting going on (we do live in Davis, after all, where the personal crime risk is less than half the national average, plus it was a Tuesday night). We pulled some folks over for bad driving, attended to some noise violations, talked to some suspicious-looking people.

Best of all, we recovered a stolen bike!

Here's my report:

Responded to a call at Ben and Jerry's* at 21:00. The reporting party says that he has located his stolen bicycle, but wants police back-up since the suspect is nearby. The suspect is, in fact, enjoying a beer on a bench; the bike is parked nearby.

We approach the suspect.

Officer: Hi, can I ask you a few questions?
Suspect: Sure.
Me: (I don't say anything, just stand nearby)
Officer: Is this your bike?
Suspect: Yes.
Officer: Where did you get it?
Suspect: Um, I bought it.
Officer: Who did you buy it from?
Suspect: Robbie.
Officer: How much did you pay for it?
Suspect: $30.
Officer: Okay, you see, this gentleman says the bike is his...

At this point the reporting party (RP) jumps in.

RP: I know it's mine because of the scratches and the bike light...
Suspect: It's cool, you can take it back.
RP: Huh? Really?
Suspect: Yeah. I figured it was stolen.
RP: Ummm...okay.
Suspect: Bike for $30 is too good to be true.

And then it gets even weirder. By this point the officer and I are basically bystanders as the reporting party and suspect carry on their conversation.

RP: Well, let me pay you $30 for it.
Suspect: Oh no. It's totally cool.
RP: No, I insist!
Suspect: No, I insist!
RP: I don't want you to be out a bike!
Suspect: No, it's no problem.
RP: Please, let me pay you your $30!
Suspect: No, it's really fine.
RP: How will you get home?
Suspect: Oh, I can walk. It's not far.
RP: But then you are out a bike.
Suspect: I have another at home.
RP: Are you sure?
Suspect: Absolutely! It is your bike after all.
RP: Well, thanks. I'm Dan, by the way.
Suspect: I'm Joe. Nice to meet you!
RP: So nice to meet you, too. Thanks again!
Suspect: No problem!

I knew Davis was one of the friendliest cities in America, but dudes, wtf?

* All names and locations have been changed to protect the innocent (and also so that I stay out of trouble with the PD).

Thirty Before Thirty

I've been 29 for over a month now and it has suddenly dawned on me that this last bit of my twenties is just flying by. I'm not crying over the loss of my twenties or anything--it's been a fabulous journey--but I am thinking that there are a few things that I need to get done before I meet thirty.

You know, I usually suck at following through on these sort of lists, instead letting the adventure of life sort of unfold on its own before me, but I am going to try really, really hard to accomplish these thirty things.

Here they are: thirty things to do before I turn thirty.

1. Enjoy a Kir Royale at Crown & Crumpet
2. Go wine tasting in wine country {01/24/10}
3. Go to an art museum that I have not yet visited {03/03/09}
4. Go on a hike{01/10/10}
5. Go on a police ride-along {03/24/09}
6. Run a 5K {02/07/10}
7. For a month, be a locavore {10/01/09}
8. Ride the Winter's Davis Loop
9. Jump at Sky High {08/07/09}
10. Go to an A's Game {04/10/09}
11. Take a Jelly Belly Factory Tour
12. Learn to and play Liar's Dice
13. Buy a really amazing eyeliner {12/29/09}
14. Attend a symphony or ballet in San Francisco {10/31/09}
15. Do an act of pure service {Two, actually!} {12/23/09}
16. Make French lemonade
17. Read a non-law book
18. Attend a lecture outside of the law school
19. Bake something for a potluck {10/10/09}
20. Build a fort in the living room {07/21/09}
21. Drink beers at an Irish pub {08/13/09}
22. Finish the A to Z Album
23. Visit a foreign country
24. Make an article of clothing {01/27/10}
25. Create a Hockney-style photo piece
26. Bet at the Doxie Derby
27. Update Slice of Pink (fix broken links, update About Me, etc.)
28. Attend a food festival {08/28/09}
29. Make Cocoa Candy Cane Marshmallows {12/25/09}
30. Celebrate the last night of my 20s in style

I have less than 11 months to complete these tasks, so I better get started.