Along 395 in California
Stopped roadside on my way from Yosemite National Park to Death Valley National Park.
OIL – Gas Prices
I don’t know what’s really going on with this whole oil thing, but the fluxuation in Gas prices over the last year has been insane.
In July of last year before my roadtrip, I commented on how cheap $3.76 a gallon was.
Does this help fuel (no pun intended) the argument that everything is relative?
Sales tax in South Carolina
So, it bummed me out that I got charged sales tax on my 1 year supply of contacts I just bought from 1800contacts.com. It is the first thing that will be shipped to my new apartment, and they said because you’re in SC, we’ll charge you tax. Whaaat? Boo! I looked it up…. and found http://www.sctax.org/News+Releases/Archived+News+Releases/2000+News+Releases/04140001.htm. I did all of my Christmas shopping online last year and I very much hate the whole shopping experience. Hopefully SC did not just Tax my American Freedoms. I mean, I thought this was the most Red state that you could get, doesn’t that mean less tax? I guess I’ll figure it out. But this is your word of warning. Think twice before moving somewhere… make sure you don’t get taxed on your internet purchases!
Blogger vs Twitter
This is my first mobile blog post… because isnt this what twitter is for? I think I am going to start using this over twitter just because. What do you use?
3 2 1 Contacts
My vision history is pretty straightforward. I’m nearsighted. In 10th grade, I got glasses to see in the back of the class and such. A prescription of -1.25 in both eyes. Time went on, and my sophomore year of college I got contacts:
Baileys Crossroads Hour Eyes Prescription -> Not bad, but eventually ran out.
Christiansburg Eye Doctor Prescription -> Acuvue Oasys = Corneal Ulcer = Not Fun
Another Christiansburg Eye Doctor Prescription -> Focus Night and Day = Still Dry eyes, but better, -1.50 in the left eye, and -1.75 for the right = at most can wear them during the day, but really red eyes if I wear them for long
MacDonald Eye in Ballston today: “You don’t need that much prescription, you are seeing better than 20/20 with -1.25 still, oh and these dont’ fit very well, try this other kind… AND THEY FIT PERFECTLY. It was amazing, that feeling where you have contacts on but don’t actually feel them. Wow, that makes sense. So Hopefully these will work out well when I get them! I went through so much discomfort and non vision because of shitty eye doctors. WTF. 
Mountain Bikingat Pandapas Pond – Put a Leash on your Dog!
Well, it’s slightly confusing. Best bet is to use a map… and I bought one at East Coasters for $2.50, but you can get it from other places around Blacksburg that are listed on DXHiker.com.
This past Thursday I hit up Pandapas Pond with my Mountain bike to check out what there is to be seen. I did a loop of Poverty Creek -> Snake Root -> Horse Nettle -> Lakespur. It was a nice ride (walk at times).
Poverty Creek Trail
As I was coming up Snake Root, I kept looking for a good place to take a picture, but there were too many trees to ever get a clear shot.
Snake Root Trail
This is the best shot I got, and I treked around a while before deciding to “settle” for it. Today definitely gave the argument for getting a telephoto lens 10 points.
Best Photo I Could Get From Snake Root Trail
Once I got up to Horse Nettle, I found a huge tower that was installed for Cell Phone Service. The last time I was up here (within the last 2 years), it was not there, and it was actually an abandoned house or something. Odd..
The Big Cell Phone Tower
View From the Tower (Standing on top of the gate)
It was getting closer to sunset and was time to get back down to the car. I took one of my favorite roots onto Lakespur so that I’d come out at Pandapas Pond. About 1/2 way down the trail I hear growling and barking coming from behind me, and it freaked me out. I was shaken up at first, then got to a more calm “NO!”, “Go.” This dog had a collar, but it didn’t seem very friendly. I got it to go away, and went down to the pond to get some pictures. However, once down at the pond the dog came out again, but this time with another dog! They both were barking and growling loudly at me as I stood by the water’s edge. I consistently said “NO! Go! (And Waved)” This time he was less reluctant to leave but finally did. I didn’t have my bike with me at this point so I felt a little more vulnerable.
I saw two ladies walk by and asked if they were their dogs. Of course not. A few minutes later a lady emerged from the trail and collected her dogs. What a crappy pet owner. She never appologized, and said the dog was young. I said “did you hear someone in the woods yelling ‘No!’?” and of course she had, but she didn’t really get it. If you have dogs, make sure you have them in sight if they are not on a leash, please.
A Washed out shot of Pandapas Pond
Sunset From the Parking Lot