Keep Calm and Glamp On: West Coast Road Trip - Part II

Special thanks to Bill and Pam for hosting me at Wanser Farm.  I had the most incredible experience, and I hope you'll have me back again!

... Continued from West Coast Road Trip - Part I

We arrived at Wanser Farm just before midnight on Thursday. The 100 year old farm was undergoing some updates, so we set up camp on the front lawn.  The next morning, I woke up to an alarm clock that went "cock-a-doodle-doo," and I stepped outside to behold our little piece of country paradise.  The brown palm trees painted on the side of the trailer reminded me of how far we’d come.  And yet, I felt perfectly at home.

Keep Calm and Glamp On: West Coast Road Trip - Part I

Aunt Jojo and the Pacific Ocean (Somewhere in Oregon)

Summer vacation is not just for kids, though I still consider myself a kid at heart.  I usually satisfy my wanderlust with weekend adventures near Los Angeles, but when my Aunt Jojo mentioned a road trip to a family farm in Snohomish, WA, I suddenly felt the need to explore far away places.

Right now was a perfect time for us to make this journey together.  Aunt Jojo's boyfriend Donnie passed away almost a year ago, and I'm still looking for love.  Though we have a lot in common, our differences compliment each other very well.  I like to plan everything from start to finish, and Jojo likes to go with the flow.  Jojo is a morning person, and I am an evening person.  Jojo grew up in the '70's, and I have a passion for seventies music.  We joked about meeting a father/son pair on the road, but we were just as happy with the two of us.

Coachella 2013 - The Year of the Sandstorm

Coachella 2013

The following is a guest post by my little sister Kyrsti, my partner in crime.

Day 1

The weekend began with the familiar feeling of anticipation, the sun beating down on our faces, the dust rising in the air, and the faint sound of music drifting into our ears.  We could hardly contain our excitement as we walked onto the grassy polo fields on Friday afternoon.  Coachella 2013 had officially begun.

From Baby Jesus to East Jesus - Part II

Sunday afternoon at The Range, Slab City

... Continued From Baby Jesus to East Jesus - Part I

Hopefully you haven’t been holding your breath for too long.  Please resume your regular breathing immediately.  You’re turning blue!  In the last post, we mingled with the ghosts of old Hollywood along the shore of the Salton Sea.  Now, let’s get to East Jesus before the sun goes down. 

From Baby Jesus to East Jesus - Part I

Photo Cred: Saul Escobar

In February, my friend Marcela hosted a Baby Jesus Tamales Party, a Mexican tradition that begins with the sharing of Rosca de Reyes, or Kings bread, twelve days after Christmas.  The person who finds a plastic baby Jesus in their slice of bread must host a tamales party on February 2, Dia de la Candelaria.

At the Baby Jesus Tamales Party, I met Saul, an artist from Mexico.  Using my high school Spanish and his iPhone translator app, we shared enough words to have a conversation.  One word stood out from the rest: adventure.

Saul had trouble understanding the meaning of this word, even in Spanish.   He admitted that he had not been on an adventure in a long time, but his friend Cain had invited him on a tour of Slab City, a squatter campground inhabited by artists, vagabonds and Canadian snowbirds.  I convinced him to go, and he agreed to take me with him.

"B*tch, Don't Kill My Vibe"

Photo Cred: Justin Sullivan

I don't usually do adventure reruns, but last weekend, I just needed to get outside to clear my head, so I returned for a second hike to Murphy Ranch, an abandoned Nazi compound in the mountains of Los Angeles.

In 1933, Nazi sympathizers began construction on Murphy Ranch, Hitler's L.A. dream house.  The self-sustaining community had its own power plant, water tank, meat locker, bomb shelter and vegetable garden.  Original blueprints included plans for a four-story mansion with 22 bedrooms, five libraries and several dining rooms.  The compound was raided in 1941, sold and transformed into an artists' colony in the 60's and 70's.  The buildings were abandoned after the Mandeville Canyon Fire of 1978. (Curbed LA)

Today, the ruins can be accessed on a hike through Rustic Canyon.  My second hike to Murphy Ranch could not have been more different than the first.  In Los Angeles, seasonal change, Nazi ruins and secret waterfalls are real.  No Hollywood magic required.

Hike to Heart Rock Falls: A Love Story

Heart-shaped sunglasses for spotting heart-shaped waterfalls.

Somewhere in my closet, I have a valentine from my 5th grade crush with a lemon-flavored Lifesaver stuck to the back.  The front is a picture of a purple octopus next to the words, "You're My Main Squeeze."  Boy, I really wanted to be his main squeeze.  I didn't care that he gave the same valentine to every girl in the class.  But when he spoke to me, I forgot how to talk.  Also, I turned redder than a heart-shaped box of chocolates.

Since 5th grade, I've learned a few things: 1) don't go for the guy passing out valentines to every girl in the class, 2) red is totally my color, and 3) you don't need a sweetheart to get out and celebrate in the name of love.  How about a walk to a heart-shaped waterfall?

A Sand Castle for Giants

Shredding the Kelso Dunes

Over winter vacation, I found myself wanting to feel like a kid again.  I had two weeks off of “school”, and I was going to make the most of it.  Sledding is an activity that has the power to make the most serious grown-up feel like an eight-year-old.  You can do it in snow or on sand, and you don’t have to drive more than a few hours from Los Angeles to do both.  With that in mind, my sister sidekick and I set out on a two-part sledding adventure.

"Line Dancing is the Ugly Girl's Dance"

A couple of two-steppers at the Cowboy Palace Saloon

I grew up in the small town of Chatsworth, California.  You may know Chatsworth as the porn capital of the world, but I know it as the sleepy suburban horse town where the hottest nightlife is a bar called the Cowboy Palace.  Unfortunately, I moved away from Chatsworth before turning 21, so I never got to experience the Cowboy Palace.  So for my sister Kyrsti’s birthday, I decided it was time to go back.

My Brother, The Pirate

My Brother, the Pirate

Since I began Shoestring Adventures, my brother Mike has been my mentor in trouble-making.  Every few weeks, he checks up on me to make sure I have at least one weekend adventure planned.  Mike knows about a lot of stuff, like how to read weather patterns and geological maps and how to predict the precise location of buried treasure.

So when Mike confided he had a treasure map that led to a secret pirate cave, I volunteered to join him on the expedition.  I had a moment of panic when I saw the actual treasure map, a crumpled pink Post-It with a freeway exit written on it.  Mike had to remind me that this was an adventure, and I just had to trust him.

I Was A Girl Scout Dropout

2012 Shoestring Adventures

I was a Girl Scout dropout.  I started my own club instead.  It consisted of three members, and each of us held high-ranking positions in the organization. 

Our first order of business was to decide on a name.  My suggestion “Perennial Peace” was overruled by our babysitter, who said it sounded like the name of a funeral home.  So we agreed on “Perennial Friendship”.  My grandmother had just taught me the different types of flowering plants, and to me, perennial was the way to go.  Flowers all day, every day.  Friendship too.

A Perfect Day for a Wild Goat Chase

Mermaid Rachel

In late-September, my friend Rachel and I planned a leisurely hike to Three Pools Beyond Seven Falls in Santa Barbara.  Rachel is an exceptional adventure partner.  She encourages my crazy ideas.  She doesn't freak out when I lead her down an unbeaten path and tell her we may not end up anywhere.  She appreciates the little things, like leaves changing colors and the unusual texture of tree bark.  She doesn't think it's weird when I stick my nose in the air and fill my lungs with the smell of ancient eucalyptus trees.  She also makes these delicious hummus lettuce wraps that I really enjoy. 

Big Sur Jade Hunt: Beginner's Luck or Fool's Gold?

Beginner's luck or fool's gold?

For my Aunt Jojo.  One day, I hope we can take this trip together.
...

I've known my cousin Taylor since she was born. When she was in 2nd grade, my Aunt Jojo let me trim Taylor's bangs the day before class photos.  In this famous portrait, Taylor is wearing a mustard-colored turtleneck, and her bangs are cut straight across her forehead, about two inches above her eyebrows.  She looks more like a child actor in an episode of Star Trek than a second grader.  Fortunately, Taylor has forgiven me for destroying her 2nd grade image... or so I thought.

Taylor is now a grown up, living in Monterey, California.  When she told me she wanted to go jade hunting in Big Sur, I planned a road trip for the following weekend.  Before I arrived, she met an expert jade hunter at a Gangnam Style party.  She traded him surfing lessons for some insider tips on finding the precious green stone.

Do Some Good: Get in the Kitchen

I had to crop my hairnet out of this photo.

I invented at least three new dance moves during the writing of this blog post.  OK, so maybe I didn’t actually invent the “Stanky Leg,” but these moves look pretty sweet when I do them in front of the mirror and no one is looking.  But before I reveal too much, let me tell you how I ended up at this dance party for one.

Do Some Good: Do Some Bad

This is what my insides look like.

Last week I went to the doctor because my left arm and my right leg felt like they had fallen asleep and wouldn't wake up.  My right leg is familiar with this feeling, since I suffered from a bulging disc in my lower back for 15 months before finally having back surgery.  Chronic pain sucks.  But I've been pain free for over a year now, so when I started feeling that tingling last week, I panicked.  I was having a relapse.

Do Some Good: Go Back to 5th Grade

Being the middle child has one major advantage: You get to have a big sister and a little sister all at once!  I like it here in the middle.  I couldn't imagine my life without both of my sisters.  And now that I am a Big Sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, I can't imagine my life without all three of my sisters.

Do Some Good: It's Hammer Time

Good wood

When was the last time you asked your best friend to carpool to Compton?  For me, it was when Carmen and I decided to put on our work gloves and volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.

In case you haven't guessed it, I've decided to devote the next few posts to adventures in "doing good".  Sometimes those adventures can be the most rewarding, and I'm here to give you a few ideas, starting with building a house.

Desert Fever: Road Trip to Salvation

Last Friday, my little sister and I headed down to Palm Springs for the weekend.  When I told her I'd be waking her up early Saturday morning to get "saved", her only question was "What should I wear?"

Ever since I made the New Year's Resolution to get into more trouble, my little sister has been my biggest supporter in kicking off my goody two-shoes.  She is my good bad influence.  Even if she's been out partying until 4 am, she will show up at my door by 8am, ready for whatever I have in store.

Desert Fever: A Look Inside My Time Machine

The Integratron

I used to view the desert as the kind of place where you don’t stray far from the swimming pool.  I should know better.  One of my favorite childhood memories is camping in Death Valley in 132 degree heat, where the only swimming pool within 50 miles was 95 degrees and standing-room only.

The desert is anything but a barren landscape.  It’s a blank canvas that has inspired rocks musicians, UFO hunters, and artists alike... Oh, and little old me.  So far, my work of art includes a time machine, a secret waterfall, and some painted mountains.  All set before the bluest sky you can imagine.  Now let me paint you a better picture, starting with the time machine.

Announcement

Shoestring Kitchen has outgrown itself.  I finally decided it no longer makes sense to have a food blog with only the occasional recipe post.  So without further ado, welcome to Shoestring Adventures, a budget-friendly blog about all of life’s adventures, in and out of the kitchen.  Please stay tuned for more stories and, of course, the occasional recipe post.