Elevators, Counting by Fives, Weird Dreams, and Costa Rica

I absolutely hate elevators and have had this hatred for as long as I can remember!  A tiny box with no escape moving through a confined shaft supported by a little wire?  Who ever thought that was a good idea!? On the first night of astronomy lab, I was very distraught when I learned that the only way to access the observatory was by an elevator- a very old elevator that won't do anything unless someone has a key. 

Last night, I learned that my fear of elevators is entirely rational!  The teaching assistant got stuck on the observatory roof when the elevator refused to move.  Someone came into my class announcing the elevator failure and my professor promptly shushed him (there are other intelligent elevator-haters in that class).  They tried to get the elevator to work, but campus police deemed it unsafe!  I asked my professor if there was another way to the roof (you know, like stairs) for the rest of the semester.  He replied a cherry picker (apparently they've had to use that to evacuate the observatory before) or a ladder.  I said I would take either over the elevator any time!  The teaching assistant did eventually get down somehow.

Meanwhile, our lab required lots of drawing lines (which I could not make straight even with a ruler), connecting dots to form a constellation (surprisingly more challenging than it sounds), and counting by fives.  I could count by fives in first grade, but apparently I can't anymore.  I thought it was just due to the late hour, but when I paid at Whole Foods today, I tried to overpay by $5 (the cashier was kind enough to catch my counting mistake and return the $5).

All this elevator madness and astronomy led to a rather bizarre dream (which I think was also influenced by The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy).  I dreamt that my astronomy class was in some elevator-like space ship, but it malfunctioned, so we were preserved in a state of suspended animation for thousands of years.  We then ended up on some alien planet and on a bus with Olympic athletes.  It was rather bizarre and slightly terrifying.  Major props to anyone who knows to which scene in that series I'm referring! (Comment below if you wish!)

 Now, on a happier note.  It was five years ago today that I left for Costa Rica, beginning nine amazing days! 

I loved Costa Rica!  The volcanoes, zip lining over the rain forest, visiting hot springs, horseback riding through coffee fields, and swimming in a waterfall were all amazing experiences!

I've developed a habit of giving the more exciting grocery products a photo shoot after returning from Whole Foods.  (When I do strange things like this I'm glad I don't have a roommate!)  Here are some of my purchases over the last few weeks.

I have a new obsession for tapioca and rice pudding (which is weird because I used to hate pudding).  I also recently recovered from a two-month aversion to chocolate (even the thought of chocolate gave me a stomach ache).  Luckily, I'm over that now as you can see by the organic chocolates.  I'm also interested in trying the Coco Café, a coconut water/espresso mix.   Of course there is mochi green tea ice cream.  Oh, and those dinosaur-shaped cheddar cheese things are called Organicasaurus, which is quite possibly the greatest name ever.

I'm also really obsessed with Greek yogurt and ice cream.  It has been in the upper 70s, so it is finally ice cream season!  The one Greek yogurt was cherry and port wine flavored.  I don't usually like the taste of wine, but I decided to try it since I'm twenty-one now! I could taste it, but barely.  Also, coconut and peanut butter is one of the most exciting combinations ever.

I think that's all I had to share for today!  Do you have any irrational fears or unusual habits? 

Thanks for reading!