Confession: I consider myself a relatively smart chickadee, but I am REALLY bad at geography.
For example, when I moved to Pittsburgh, I actually had no idea that Pennsylvania was next to Ohio and West Virginia until I was on the airplane. I was reading a US Airways magazine and looked at the map on the back. I remember being highly disappointed that I was not closer to a beach. Whoops.
Point being that I had to look at a map this morning to figure out exactly WHERE Baltimore is (which I’m going to tomorrow). I do know where Washington, DC is because I’ve been before and it’s the nation’s capital. 
Breakfast was Un-Overnight Oats. I made it with 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 cup Chobani Peach (mmm!, 1 banana, and some almonds.
The Best Raffle YET!!!
I am training for the Echelon Gran Fondo Century bike race, which raises money for the Livestrong Lance Armstrong Foundation, as well as local cancer research programs and hospitals. I’m running a series of awesome raffles on the blog in hopes of raising more than $3,000 for these charities. We’re almost at goal; let’s see if we can reach it with this AMAZING raffle!
This raffle is for a Blendtec Total Blender, which retails for $659.00! That’s quite a special blender! Just think of all the Green Monsters you can make.
Total Blender is the all-in-one appliance that makes smoothies, fresh juice, ice cream, milkshakes, cappuccinos, margaritas, soups, sauces, bread dough, dressings, salsas, and more! It replaces up to 9 other appliances with one fast easy-to-use machine. The Total Blender comes in four beautiful colors, and you can choose whichever you want! And last, but not least, the blender comes with a three-year warranty for US and Canadian customers.
Here’s how the raffle works:
- $5 gets you ONE raffle ticket.
- $10 gets you TWO raffle tickets.
- $15 gets you FOUR raffle tickets! What a deal!
- Submit your payment on the Echelon Gran Fondo website – HERE.
- The contest will run until Tuesday, March 23 and I’ll contact the winner at lunchtime.
- I will list everyone’s name on an Excel spreadsheet (one entry per $5, two entries per $10, and FOUR entries per $15), and the Husband will draw a winner using the Random Number Generator.
- Blendtec will then ship out the blender to the winner. If you live outside the US, you can enter this raffle but will be responsible for shipping fees and duties.
Thank you for your donations to the Livestrong Foundation! Remember to submit your payment for raffle tickets on the Echelon Gran Fondo website – HERE.
See you in Washington, DC! Blogging will probably be on the normal schedule or very close to normal!
Are you good at Geography? The Husband says he had to take Geography EVERY year he was in school in England, but I only took it twice (In 6th and 9th grades, I think?).
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I am horrible at geography. I feel dumb whenever it is brought up because I never know where anything is. I can tell you all the information you need to know about multiple topics but bring in maps, directions, and places and I get lost asap.
I”m unbelievably bad at geography.I can barely remember where NYC is in relation to Boston. In fact, my sense of direction in general is not so hot–I could get lost in my own apartment building
As shameful as it is, I am horrible at geography. To make things even worse, my Dad’s a geography teacher. Before I moved to NY, I didn’t even know it was an island, but don’t tell anyone.
I hope you enjoy Washington DC. I live in DC and love it
There are numerous cheap and healthy restaurants in the area!! Plus it’s supposed to be gorgeous. I’m sure your friends will show you a good time and introduce you to some fun veggie food! If you get a chance, I love Java Green which is a completely vegetarian restaurant with tons of options (though it’s a little pricey with limited seating) but it’s totally worth it!!
I’m actually a Geography major and make maps for a living! I think everyone has his/her strengths or weaknesses. For example I’m horrid at math.
I am terrible at Geography, always have been, even within our country. The Mid-West confuses me
Travel Safe!
I’m OK at geography, but don’t worry – I am sad everyday that Pittsburgh isn’t close to a beach.
Yay! A raffle I can enter
My geography of the US (I’ve kind of been obsessed with the US since the first time I went when I was 6 years old) and Australia (where I lived for two years) is really really good. Sadly my geography of the UK (which is much smaller and in which I have spent most of my life) is truly terrible…
But Caitlin was also on the middle school Geography Bee Team – only girl!- well, I was the coach.
yea but i sucked!
Haha your Dad is hilarious. I honestly didn’t know what “geography” as a subject WAS until I got to college, and now I’m getting my masters degree in it!! There is TONS more to the subject than cartography (maps). Basically, take a subject (political theory, sociology, biology, etc.), ask a question involving “where?” and you’ve got geography. I’m researching the effects of fire suppression in the Lake Tahoe Basin to aid managers in restoring the forest and ecosystem. I’ve always loved looking at maps, but when I’m actually IN a city, my sense of direction is NOT the best
It’s really sad how social studies in general is marginalized in our education system.
Haha that’s what I thought. I am not too bad with maps and locations but last year was my first year university and I took a shocking ‘geography subject’. It was globalisation, and looked at politics and global issues and the economy and I was straight out of high school like “um what!”. It definately broadened my knowledge though, and although I cried before the exam, and begged my dad not to make me go in, I got out of it with a credit.
p.s. my boyfriend lives in Baltimore, it’s REALLY NICE there this time of year. The Inner Harbor is awesome.
Just to let you know, you have Chicago written over Indiana, but its really in Illinois
I am also terrible at Geography and only noticed this because I live in Indiana.
yayyy…have fun in DC!! that’s where i live so i’m excited to see your pics from the day
I am not too terrible at Geography but that’s from watching many years of “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” as a child haha
Oh my goodness! I am TERRIBLE at geography! The boyfriend always makes fun fo me because I NEVER know where things are. I know the general area places are, but not much beyond that!
I am horrible, horrible, horrible at geography! I know the basic landmarks, but it’s embarrassing to admit how little I know. I would love to take the time and actually learn more about the world we live in.
I am also terrible at geography, I’ve pretty much only really known the “big states”. Thanks for the raffle, crossing fingers!
I’m ok with the east coast but anything out west is a pure mystery to me.
Ha, I’m pretty terrible at Geography. I’m okay at US geography, but get me into world geography, and I’m so totally lost.
I’m actually pretty good at geography. Even US states. Don’t they teach you that in school?
I’m pretty bad at geography. I don’t think i took it in school after 5th grade…that’s pretty bad!
I just donated – what a wonderful cause. Kristen (Eating RD) is doing this same fund-raiser, I do believe!
I am TERRRRRRRIBLE with geography, but my sense of direction when driving is actually really good!
yup! she’s on my team for the century! isn’t that fun
i love it
I get confused by the eastern states, they are so small and close together!! Oatmeal and yogurt – why haven’t I tried that???
Haha I SUCK at geography. I think Baltimore is in Maryland right?
I’m decent at geography. I started at a private school in 4th grade that stressed geography. My brother started in 6th grade missed geography in both the public and private schools… so he is realllllly bad at it. It’s actually kind of funny. We bought him a world map to hang in his house to help him out.
I am horrible at geography! I don’t know where anything is! My husband always corrects me because I always say “We’re going down to visit NYC” when NYC is clearly above us. Oh well.
I am amazing at geography. I seem to excel at things in life that are of basically little use to gain money or success, though.
Ok…I need some help! Is that Blendtec as good or better than a Vita-mix? I’m thinking about asking for one for my bday next month and I was SURE I was going to ask for a Vita-mix but is the Blendtec better??
Also, does anyone know the BEST kind of juicer?
i think they are pretty much the same, although i personally haven’t tried either.
my fiance was appalled when he learned about my terrible geography skills. i never had to learn where the states are! i can recite their names alphabetically, but i can’t identify a majority of the states that are not on the coast. i’m glad i’m not the only one!
its going to be a BEAUTIFUL weekend in baltimore, enjoy!
Holy crap. That is like the blender of all blenders!
i love looking at maps. both in high school and in college i needed to take a test and write out all that states in the USA and another test for Europe
just found this for you
http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/usaquiz.html
you might need to know all this stuff when you start your book tour
you don’t want to sound like some politicians when they have no idea where they are!
I’m pretty good at geography, mostly just because I travel so much. But I suck at the Middle East and central Africa… Blech.
Done! I actually did $30 for 8 chances. It’s such a great cause I thoroughly am behind cancer research foundations. And what a fun way to raise money…I bet you will have an amazing ride and such beautiful scenery. And that blender looks uber-cool! Hope I win! Have a great time on your trip!
thank you so much!
I can’t say I’m all that great at geography. Sometimes I see certain license plates and laugh at myself because I actually forgot that place was a state. Like Kentucky or Kansas. LOL
I have a Blendec blender and absolutely love it!
Awesome raffle.
Geography was my least favorite college course.
Enjoy Baltimore/DC! It’s beautiful up here right now!
Good gosh, that’s an expsensive blender!
I SUCK at geography, I don’t know where any countries are, let alone states! But cos I’m starting to understand where the US states are, now I’m applying for post grad work
Donated $15! I’m good with the states along the coastlines, but once we move towards the midwest I get all confused.
I actually never had to take a geography class, but got this game when i was younger where the puzzle pieces were the states and when you lifted a state, it’d tell you the capital. I don’t know why- other than I was totally into school at least until 9th grade- but I got such a kick out of it.
I live in Baltimore! You are lucking out – weather is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL this weekend.
Oh, girl… I’m not sure ANYONE could be worse at geography than me. Seriously! I also cannot read maps to save my life. I have gotten people lost on multiple occassions because they insisted I navigate using my iPhone’s “map”… yeah, almost missed a flight that way because my directions took us AWAY from the airport. Damn, I’m good! hahaha
ah I am also terrible at geography/having any sort of sense of direction. I get lost everywhere, know where nothing is, etc…. ugh. it actually kind of worries me.
best of luck in DC!
<3 http://www.prettytimepiece.org
I am horrible at geography (and I think that led to me having horrible direction in general when driving).
Sadly, my mom was a geography teacher. It’s embaressing for us all.
Glad I’m not alone—I’m absolutely AWFUL at geography! It’s seriously embarrassing.My boyfriend is from England and knows more about U.S. geography than I do! Pathetic. I always vow to make more of an effort to learn it better, but I just get lazzzzy.
http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/
There is an episode of friends where they try to name all of the states in 5 minutes (not even on a map!). It sounds easy, but my friends and I tried it and I completely forgot about 4 of them! Poor Kansas! That being said, I’m not good at geography either.
Haha, I’m terrible at geography as well. It drives my boyfriend nuts!
I hope you have a safe and happy trip north!
You should check out Inner Harbor ifyou have time while in Baltimore. It is supposed to be so nice this weekend so it is perfect weather for IH. There is also a great aquarium at IH!
Oh WOW what a blender!!! Ha that sentence doesn’t come up very much…
I’m awful at geography!!! For years and years I thought Washington, D.C. was actually in the state of Washington. That is embarrassing…
I am pretty good at geography, but I had a college roommate last year who was awful! I told him I go skiing in Vermont often and he asked if that was in Canada? Ha I love the oats by the way! Have fun in DC
Donated $15. A family member was recently diagnosed with cancer so I think that this is a great fundraiser and I love seeing all the support you’re getting.
DC is going to be beautiful this weekend!
thank you so much and i wish the best for your family member!
This blender sounds AMAZING! I’m in for four tries!
You’re doing so great in your fundraising!
Enjoy your time here in BEAUTIFUL DC and Bmore! It is supposed to be GREAT here this weekend!
I’m really good at geography, I had it in school every year, though. seems like a European thing. when I was an sxchange student in the US i took AP Human Geography, but by accident – I thought it was a funny way to express “anatomy”. LOL. (it ended up being my favourite class, though (: =
it’s EXchange student, not sxchange student. reads like “sexchange student”, lol. I’m easily amused, sorry.
I am pretty good at geography, but while I was interviewing for my job up here in Boston, I had to ask where Rhode Island was in relation to where we were. The northeast is made up of so many states, it’s hard to figure out sometimes.
I’m so-so at geography. Every now and then my 5 year old asks me where something is and we have to consult the globe.
Hope you have a great trip!
I’m pretty bad at geopgraphy, too.
I know where the midwestern states are on down to Florida, but anything on the west or east side (besides FL) of the country, I’m horrible with it! Don’t even get me started on global geography. I do think it’s super interesting, though!
awesome giveaway and it is going to a GREAT cause! Just entered!! Hope I win
I have great spacial relations and do really well with geography. I was a dork who took the course for an elective
Yea I’d day I’m pretty good at geography, mostly because my dad is obsessed with maps. I spent a lot of time reading and drawing maps as a kid. Now, I feel naked whenever I drive anywhere without one!
Side note: I NEED THAT BLENDER. Being separated from my food processor/blender at home and relying on my roomies tiny Magic Bullet = tough times in this girl’s kitchen. (May this be the worst of my problems)
I’m terribly at geography. I had to get a tutor when it came to learning the state capitals. (Granted, that was in elementary school. But it hasn’t gotten a whole lot better since then.) Can’t wait to meet you in person!
all of the states in the middle of the US i just give up on lol.. they all kind of blend together!
Geography=totally not my thing either. I hope you have a fun time on your trip! I’m in college in B’more and know a lot of amazing vegan/vegetarian restaurants if you need some yummy places to check out
Geography was something that was a part of the stuff we learned from about first grade through ninth grade through “social studies” or “global studies” classes. But after that I didn’t take any classes that mentioned it.
But I can actually still take a blank map of the US and plug in every state. Did it so much as a kid it’s like burned into my brain!
Have fun on your trip!
I’m horrible at Geography. It’s embarrassing and in my business, I have to correspond with customers all over the globe. I have to google places to determine if a distributor should handle the sale. So sad!
Awesome raffle prize! I’ve wanted a BlendTec blender ever since I first discovered the brilliant “Will It Blend” series of videos. (The hockey puck was one of the first that totally hooked me!)
I’m pretty good with Geography. I remember in 9th grade we used to play a map game, where we had to find obscure locations as fast as we could… I killed at that game!
You are doing so well with your fundraising – the blender looks awesome!
Looks like next you may need to raffle off some maps and globes
I am horrible at geography too!
Lol..I’m glad that I am not the only one that is geographically impaired. I’m embarrased to admit that before I actually went to D.C., I thought our nations capital was in the state of Washington..didn’t know it was so close to home!
See you in Baltimore!
I never had to take a specific geography class in school but for some reason I am weirdly good at it. I think it’s because I have a good memory. The geography questions are always the only ones I can get in trivia games!
Might have to enter this blender raffle. Too good to pass up!
I took an intense geography class in college where the final was being able to locate every country on the map….and I got 100%…. but all that information immediately vacated my brain after that final!
I took an intense geography class in college where the final was being able to locate every country on the map….and I got 100%…. but all that information immediately vacated my brain after that final!
I love geography. I was obsessed with the weather channel growing up, so I learned all my states early. I TA and it is amazing how bad college students are in geography!! How do you not know where the states are!!! They mix up New York and North Carolina!! I was in shock.
I have a map shower curtain in my house – I try to take a look at least once a day!
Also, just have to say I had a grilled banana/pear sandwich ala Caitlin this morning – amazing!
Hi Caitilin,
I recently discovered food blogs and wanted to thank you for your inspiration! Your blog and others have taught me so much about healthy eating and I’m well on my way to losing some weight that I gained during college. I am also so thankful for your operation beautiful project, the world needs it and as a chronic fat-talker I have appreciated reading about your project and using some of your tips. Good luck in your race! I plan on entering your raffle – what an awesome prize, especially for my new favorite green monsters. – Julie
thank you so much
Can’t wait to meet you in B’more! Have a safe trip
I’m so bad at geography…but I’ve always wanted to be able to rattle off the state capital for all the states in the US. I worked with a guy who could alphabetically say the capitals in just the matter of a few minutes…it was really impressive. Everyone has a hidden talent I guess.
Being from England, I also had to take geography every year! I have a map of the states up in front of me at work to look at every day so when I talk to people from all over the country, I know where they are! Geek!
I am still learning geography 101!
It just isn’t something that comes natural to me and I have to resort to basic memorization to legitimately remember places. SO BAD!
Enjoy fabulous Baltimore!
Geography? ha! I’m horrible at that . . and directions. When I moved to Denver, everyone told me to just find the mountains and I’d know where I was. I’ve lived here 3 years and still have no clue
I suck at Geography too. I got a D in it in college. Yikes!
In high school my fav place to go was The Garden. I would eat a ton of salad & breadsticks!!!
Great idea for a raffle and I’m in of course! Wish I could have made it to FitBloggin
haha I’m with you on this one. My ex-boyfriend used to get so mad that I did not know where all my states were, that one day he actually printed out a blank map of the US and quizzed me in hopes that I would learn… I failed miserably.
i really like geography…i am pretty good with US geography but i don’t know world geography that well besides general locations of things. my parents had these placemats when my brother and i were little that were US maps and they had all the capitals on them. i used to know all the capitals…i was a really cool kid haha.
I am not good at geography or history
I just can’t see to get it!
Have fun traveling
i am SO directionally and geographically challenged. i have noticed a lot of my friends are GURUS at capitals. pfff i know the capital of the state i live in and the state i was born in. thats all that matters right? gahhh
I am HORRIBLE at geography! I failed the “Geo-Bee” back in middle school and am still scarred by my experiences (I said that there were tall mountains in Wisconsin!). Your breakfast oatmeal also looks amazing!
I love geography. It appeals to my under-developed left-brain. I have to admit, my world geography is only okay, but I have US geography is on lock-down. I attribute it to playing States at recess every day for years on end. I played it as a full contact sport and ended up with a concussion in 2nd grade.
I love D.C.!!! You NEED to go to Sticky Fingers bakery in Columbia Heights if you can. It is a vegan bakery/cafe and they have the best cupcakes! Columbia Heights is right off the yellow/green line metro. They are so good!!!
I use to be pretty good at geopgraphy. I took it 5 times in 4 years of high school.Hey it was an easy A. The last year I took it I almost flunked the first term so my parents kicked me off the track team. Without studying or trying any harder I aced the second term and exam passing with an 88. Yeah I know my mom said the same thing…imagine what you would have got if you tried the whole time…lol.
Hahaha! I was actually a geography minor in college (would have been major if it were available) so I’d like to think I’ve got a good mental view of the world, but I even get stumped now and then! I knew California, Utah and Arizona boarded Nevada, but had no idea that Idaho and Oregon also shared boarders with the state I’ve lived in for the past 2 years!
LOL I am exactly the same way with geography! I’m especially bad and knowing where countries are in eastern Europe and the Middle East as well
I feel so lame for not knowing that stuff, but it won’t stick in my head!
Maybe it’s a girl thing – we’re just not good at geography in general…
I’m completely and embarrassingly awful at geography. In fact in the past week I tried to tell my fiance that Yellowstone was in California, not Wyoming because I claimed Wyoming was in the south. Um, oops. I’m good at the eastern seaboard states, but once you cross Ohio it’s no-man’s land for me.
Weather is GORGEOUS here in DC now! Sunny, high 60s/70s, no trace of snow! Have a great time!
I get terribly lost in shopping malls, does that count as being bad at geography? I also get terribly lost on the city streets of my own hometown (which I lived in until I was 18) … but I think that’s just a poor sense of direction. Hey, I also don’t know my right from my left. Random comment, I know.
I am not great at Geography, but I really like it. In school we had to memorize all the states, their capitals and where they were on the map … as well as obviously all the provinces in Canada, which is WAY easier because there are so few of them.
When I was in Junior High, I came in 2nd in our school’s geography bee. I lost to my cousin and he was a year younger than me.
i’m horrible at geography…i was actually being mocked this morning because of it! i just always feel like chicago should be in ohio…no reason, i just think it sounds better that way
Wow! It’s amazing how many people are bad at geography!
In Australia we study geography every year up until the 10th grade, and then optionally for 11th & 12th grades. I like to think that I’m really good at geography! I love maps and spend some time every day researching places to go on holidays overseas, and I’m always trying to improve my general global geography and awareness of where things are. I’m also doing a PhD in culture studies with an emphasis on human geography, so it’s quite important to me! I’ve also got an amazing sense of direction — not trying to sound arrogant, but people always rely on me for directions and getting out of tricky situations, like being lost.
I think being so geographically isolated, and comparatively small, you’d find that most Australians have a fair sense of geography.
[...] just last month, there was a conversation about geography going on at one of the blogs I read, and I couldn’t believe that in the States, students are barely required to learn any [...]