<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4030024.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4967" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4030024-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>I can hardly remember life before <strong><a href="http://www.groupon.com" target="_blank">Groupon </a></strong>and <strong><a href="http://www.livingsocial.com" target="_blank">Living Social</a></strong>.  They provide me with daily ideas for living curiously at a greatly reduced cost. What perfect timing for them to grow into their Superpower status right around the same time this blog was born!

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Each morning after I power up my Crackberry, I stare blearily at my incoming emails (<strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/02/day-186-unsubscribing-from-the-avalanche/" target="_blank">greatly reduced now thanks to Day 186</a></strong>) to discover my Daily Deals.

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A few weeks ago, I rolled out of bed to find an Amazing Race-style event Groupon.  I've never seen myself as an Amazing Race kinda gal, and that's exactly why I knew I needed to tackle this urban adventure.

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<span style="color: #800080; font-size: medium;"><strong>My Partner-in-Crime: </strong></span> My Birthday Twin, Sarah.  (Not to be confused with <strong><a href="http://www.606diaries.com" target="_blank">my other Birthday Twin, Todd</a></strong>.)

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<span style="color: #800080; font-size: medium;"><strong>Our Mission That We Chose to Accept:</strong></span> Fun.  I'm competitive at Scrabble, <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/02/day-95-rainy-day-rummikub/" target="_blank">Rummikub</a></strong>, and <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/14/day-48-card-sharks/" target="_blank">Scrooged</a></strong>, but I know my limitations.

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Honestly, we had four hours to complete the race, and Sarah and I talked about taking pit stops for margaritas at a local bar and cobbler at a cobbler shop (cobbler shop as in "pie" not "shoes") that I've <em>always</em> wanted to try but is <em>always </em>closed.

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<span style="font-size: medium; color: #800080;"><strong>Our Host: </strong></span> <strong><a href="http://www.challengenation.com/" target="_blank">Challenge Nation.</a></strong> Great event.  I highly recommend signing up for the race in your fair city.

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<span style="color: #800080; font-size: medium;"><strong>Rules:</strong></span>

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<ul>
	<li>We were not allowed to use cars, bikes, scooters, etc.  We were allowed to use public transport, but Sarah and I preferred the Sunday afternoon stroll version.</li>
	<li>We could use smartphones, maps, and a lifeline.  We opted for using the maps on our phones, and I also learned that Sarah has a pretty good sense of direction.</li>
	<li>We had to solve 11 out of the 12 clues and take photos of ourselves at all locations.</li>
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<span style="font-size: xx-large; color: #800080;"><strong>GO!</strong></span>

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The nearly 1000 registrants seemed pretty into it -- running and shouting like mad. It's Sunday, people!  Chill!

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Sarah read the clues to me over and over.  We were both in brain fog until...

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Sarah captured my attention with a "Curioser and Curioser" clue #7:  As one of downtown's most visited institutions, it's likely you've been here since it opened its newest home in 1997.  But you probably haven't seen the latest treat in their renovated lobby -- it was just dedicated on Friday night.  <span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Titled "Curioser and Curioser" after a passage of <em>Alice in Wonderland </em></strong></span>enjoy the air conditioning and take a photo with one of your teammates using the eye piece and everyone else posing around them.

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Why did this clue stand out for me above the rest, you're asking?  Take a look at the right-hand side of this page, please. (Third green rectangular box from the top.)

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<span style="font-size: xx-large; color: #800080;"><strong>Holy Coincidence, Batman!! </strong></span>

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I Googled "curioser and curioser lobby phoenix" and BAM!  Our destination was the AZ Science Center.

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I was officially awake and ready to compete.  I took photos of the clue sheet, and emailed them to my Lifeline aka Mom.  I called her, told her to enlarge all images so they were readable, and asked her to start cybersleuthing away.

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It's now time for my Second Slideshow Ever!  (Without any help from the Apple store or Christy Jo.  I have about 5 minutes to figure these things out these days.)
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<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kZUeWaa61mE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Sarah and I completed the race in about 2 hours.  I thought we had a great shot at winning until we heard that we were 179th out of 240-ish.  Oh, well.  If we had only solved clues in the first 1/2 hour instead of discussing margaritas and cobbler, we may have cracked the top 50.

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Somehow my new Twitter friend <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/warfin" target="_blank">@warfarin </a></strong>(who came to the <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23challengephx" target="_blank">#challengephx</a></strong> hash tag rescue) finished 7th.  I'm thinking he must be an athletic brainiac who doesn't care for pie or tequila.

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A very special thanks to my Lifelines aka Mom &amp; Dad, as well as Brookie P who braved the downtown streets to show up and serve as our official photographer.

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