It's gonna be another beach Christmas

My family specializes in vacationing to weird places during off-season. First Tortola, British Virgin Islands during the hurricane season, and now Pensacola Beach, Florida during the winter...

The thing is, I like it this way. Eliminate the crowds and heat, and you get miles of pure white sand beaches all to yourself! The native Floridians do look at me strangely from underneath their layers of sweatshirts, jackets, and parkas, but a Florida winter is, as predicted, very much like a New Zealand summer. Which calls for t-shirts, shorts, and flip flops. As for the swimming thing, it is yet to happen. I did, however, go on an early morning (hah, considering 8:30 early) sea kayak trip in the rain in which I got completely soaked! I have decided just about the most peaceful feeling in the world is sitting by yourself by the ocean in the middle of the night. Tell me I'm crazy, but if you get the chance one day, try it!

Since I've gotten here, I've made and given away three cranes. I call that success!

268- Grace at Sunset Lifestyles, Destin FL. This is where I finally got some Toms!  I haven't bought any before because...well, although they are cool and all, I am super cheap. And Toms are anything but cheap. However, I love the idea behind the company and I decided to finally look past the price tag... (http://www.toms.com/our-movement)

169- Lisa, Pensacola Visitor's Center 

George & Gisela, National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola FL

And here are a couple I didn't post earlier:

164- Abbie, 96th Street Steakburgers, Carmel IN

165- Mindi, Steak N' Sheak, Carmel IN

167- Megan (and the turkey!), Carmel IN

Well that just about sums things up! It is currently my sister's birthday, so happy birthday Jenny!! <3

On the road to sunny Florida

Deepest apologies for the relative inactivity of the the whole crane thing...college really does take a lot out of you! For a normal college student, you get to pick two out of a social life, good grades, and sleep. As an architecture student, you pick one....

But now, after good times and new experiences, meeting so many interesting people, and somehow managing to keep up with all my classes, I am finally home and the fam is off travelling again!

This time, we're headed off to sunny Florida. Pensacola to be exact- the sight of my parent's honeymoon. I have heard the beaches are some of the best in the world, with fine, pure white sand...we'll see what the situation is like during the winter!

The funny thing is, I looked up a weather forecast for Pensacola in the winter and Nelson New Zealand at the same time (during the summer of course). The turned out to be uncannily close. So, of course, I reasoned that if I could brave the cold water there pretending it was warm, the same can be done in Florida...stay updated on this prediction. I take it as a challenge. :)

It's a 13-hour drive to the 'ol Sunshine state. On the way, I plan to get ahead on craning.

Bon voyage!

Myth Busters, College Edition

Well, there ya go, I leave for college and don't fold a single crane for months. What dedication. So much has been happening though...everyone told me that studying architecture at Ball State was a total life-killer. Well, you know what? They're completely right. And the whole thing about having to choose only two among good grades, sleep, and a social life? That is true as well. By process of elimination, or at least subconsciously, sleep got hit pretty hard. I am proud to say I have not had any all-nighters yet, although came close finishing my last project at about 4:30 am. Good times, good times. I would just like to say that whoever came up with the idea for putting an automatic 65 cent coffee machine in the Ball State architecture building is pretty much the most awesome person ever.

First of all, I'm going to post pictures I never put up from New Mexico, then add some new ones. I just got back from Chicago on Wednesday (College of Architecture field trip), so can now add Illinois to my list of craned states. Wohooo! Oh, lastly but not leastly...Chicago pizza really isn't all it's cracked up to be. I mean, it was all I could do to choke my way through the gobs of cheese. Not that it wasn't good, it just took a lot of chewing...

147- Carmen, Las Cruses New Mexico

148- Jane, Las Cruses NM

149- Mona, Las Cruses NM

150- Jerry, Las Cruses

151- Judy, Las Cruses. Although she was blind, Judy loved her crane and told me she would hang it in a special place in her room forever.

A couple of the pics are on my other memory card and I'm too lazy (and tired) to upload them now, so we're going to skip a couple..

159- Kevin, Whole Foods Carmel IN. 

162- Misa, Wicker Park, Illinois. For my dear friend Maya's birthday, we took the "L" to Wicker Park,  did a little shopping, and ate at this little vegan-type restaurant with odd but completely yummy items such as lavender lemonade and strawberry fresco. It was definitely my kind of place- healthy but delicious. Native Foods...so good! http://nativefoods.com/

Okay, I know I have so much catching up to do. Working on it...for now, I think it's time to call it a night. Home for Friday and then back to the stress of school next week!

Peace cranes, ya'll <3

Cranes from the Land of Enchantment

CRANE COUNT: 158
JAPAN FUND: $33.10

Hey guys! It's good to be back home in 'ol Indiana! ("cue "Back Home in Indiana")

We had quite an interesting drive back from New Mexico- after the RV broke down, we left it by the highway somewhere near Chandler, Oklahoma. After unhooking the Chevy Trailblazer we were towing, we packed four people, two very big dogs, and most the contents of the RV into it. Long story made short: the RV is still in Oklahoma, and somehow, by some miracle, we and the Blazer made it back to Indy at 3 am in time for work on Monday! I honestly can say I am done with road trips for a while =P

Although Oklahoma as a state is not my idea of a great time, I have to hand it to Oklahomians. Somehow, at a gas stop in Oklahoma, my ipod touch fell out of the car and onto the pavement. The lady who almost ran over it in her car (ahhh!) found my phone number on it, called, and promised to send it back. And sure enough, I got a package in the mail today- less than a week since I had lost it- with my ipod carefully packed in two layers of bubble wrap! Little acts of kindness like this really makes me feel better about the world in general. It really would have been so easy to have not looked for a phone number, to just have kept it, or to even have forgotten to mail it back...it most definitely made my day<3

It also put the crane project on a slight hold, since it is on there that I keep the official list with each person's name and crane number. Ok, enough yabbering and excuses though...I have some catching up to do.

135- Amy

136- Drew

137- Justin

139- Christy & Jim- Ladybug Campground in Cuba, Missouri.

Christy & Jim were  motorcycling route 66 and staying at campgrounds along the way:)

140 -Dave & Valencia, KOA Campground, Clinton Oklahoma.

As a side note: if you ever decide to go on a RV/camping road trip, try to stay at KOA's. Two words: free pancakes. Oh, and usually they have a pool.

141- Debby, Amarillo Texas

142- Suzi & Peter, Carizozo Market- Carizozo, New Mexico.

On the drive through this little town, my dad spotted a sign for Carizozo apple cider, and we stopped at a little grocery store to get some- flavors raspberry or cherry. After careful consideration, we selected raspberry, and the taste was like literally nothing I have every tried before. I decided on a mixture of Dr. Pepper and vinegar with an aftertaste of chocolate chip cookies....yep! I think you will just need to take a trip to Carizozo to experience it;)

143- my Grandma Dorothy, Mesilla, New Mexico

144- Sarah, Mesilla, New Mexico

And I'm having some technical difficulties with 145 currently...

146- Paulette, Las Cruses, New Mexico

I have quite a few more....I'll put em up in my next post- don't worry!

CRANE COUNT: 155
JAPAN FUND: $33.10

OK, finally! Since the last post, I have driven across half the country (or at least from Indy to New Mexico) and given cranes to people in four new states along the way- Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico! I was busy folding them in everywhere from Mexican restaurants and nursing homes to campgrounds and tiny grocery stores- out of menus, travel brochures, frilly paper table mats, and KOA pamphlets...

The road trip, which although lent itself to some good opportunities to share cranes, did not lend itself to having much internet availability! So I have quite a lot of catching up to do- I've made and given away 29 cranes since the last post!! I also have a few pictures from before the trip, so here it goes!!

127- Alexis

128- Destinie

129- Hillary and Jenny

130- Scott at Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt in Carmel (his crane was made out of a watermelon frozen yogurt card) 

131- Dempsey at Kroger

132- Melinda at....guess where?!?! Steak and Shake, duh!!

133- Jon at Bub's Cafe on Father's day

134- Dave at hhgreg electronics

Well I am currently writing this from a motel room in a tiny town in Oklahoma after the RV broke down....hopefully it will be fixed and we will be on the road again by tomorrow!

Last thing: tonight another natural disaster struck Japan- a 7.1 earthquake. Read more at http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/07/09/japan.earthquake/.

Currently there are no reported injuries or damage, but it only occurred around 40 minutes ago. Please keep the Japanese people in your prayers!<3

I still have a lot of pictures to post, so I will put them up later.

Another Earthquake...

CRANE COUNT: 126
DONATIONS: $33.10 (Japan fund)

So if you didn't realize, I am also trying to start a fund to help with the rebuilding of Christchurch, New Zealand after the devastating earthquake felt there in February of this year.  Since my dad was originally from New Zealand, a lot of my family (and friends) live there and I feel a very strong connection to NZ. My family and I have visited Christchurch many times..it was a beautiful city and will never be the same :/

Before/after the first earthquake- the CTV building in Christcurch

Before/after downtown

On Monday, another earthquake hit the city. At a 6.0 on the Richter scale, it was almost as strong as the one felt previously this year (a 6.3 and 7.1)- and some experts are predicting a 20% chance of more to come, along with the aftershocks already felt since Monday. Since it happened during the day, there are no reported deaths; however, the already devastated city has been even more severely damaged. Click here for a more in depth account...

If you would like to help, click on either of the following links and email me at chrispianist04@gmail.com to let me know how much you donated.

http://www.christchurchearthquakeappeal.govt.nz/
http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate

And here are some more cranes, of course!

118- Jennifer, who is going to major in fine arts next year! With her beautiful picture and green napkin crane.

121- Michelle

122- Melissa and the Ball State University map crane

123- Emily (and Mary, who I promised would get her own crane later!)

124- Maeleen. Orientation roomies!

125- Preston + mini yellow crane

126- Ryan

It's feast or famine in the crane business

CRANE COUNT: 119

DONATIONS: $32.10

I can't remember how many times so far I've wanted to forget about this whole thing. Why?? It's not really doing any good, right? I mean, I've raised about 2 bucks lol. That's pathetic. But every time I feel like quitting, something or someone inspires me to keep on going. It might not seem like too much trouble to fold and give away origami, but for someone naturally shy like me...HAH...I wonder why I decided to torture myself every day like this!! I'm pretty sure I won't have any shyness left in my by crane 1,000. =P

This time, I want to thank the girls at 2nd Reformed Presbyterian church in Indy...their enthusiasm was contagious, and together they contributed about $30 to my Japanese Red Cross fund!! It's a great start. :)  Thank you so much, Jenny, Vineeta, Bekah, Cindy, Laura M., Laura N, and Beth (not pictured). I love you girls!!

Here are the new ones since last post:

108- Stephanie

110- at the SoHo cafe in Carmel

111- Kieghea at the Indy Zoo. (which I hadn't been to in literally years!  It's changed a lot since then, adding a new aquarium as well as a reptile exhibit which was pretty cool. )

112- McDonald's gal! I've got to remember to ask for people's names. It's  enough to have to explain the crazy project, tell them about the blog, and ask if I can take their picture =P

113- Vineeta, who just got back from a missions trip in India,, you go girl! :)

114- Bekah!!

115- Beth :)

116- Laura

117- Cindy

...yes, I accidentally skipped 118 again. You'd think I would learn haha

119- Dani

I am writing this while listing to some awesome live jazz music at open mic night at the SoHo Cafe in Carmel. It's a little gem of a cafe/art gallery tucked away in the Mohawk Place shopping center just north of 126th and Rangeline Road (also backs up onto the Monon Trail). Check it out sometime..there's open mic night every Thursday. Plus they have amazinggg smoothies!

I realized that I haven't posted for a long time when I went to SoHo today and remembered that I hadn't put up my crane picture from when I went a week ago...haha whoops. But first thing I saw was my brown napkin crane sitting on top of the coffee cups! But..apparently not my crane...an impostor!! My original crane had somehow (mysteriously) been replaced by a new one slightly different...!! It's my first crane mystery =D

The impostor!!

Sighh..yes, I know I have been very slow at crane-making lately. I think I need a new system: make a ton of them, put them in my bag, and just number them as I give them away. The whole using-found-materials thing greatly reduces the crane quantity since I really don't have enough time in my day!

Ok I'm done now:) I hope your summer is going amazingly so far!