Santa Cruz and Capitola

Saturday, August 1:

Drove south to Santa Cruz and Capitola with Lisa.

Capitola was a recommendation from a co-worker and it turned out to be quite a cute little town with a pier, a beach, and some cross streets of small expensive shops. We ate at Pizza my Heart, a pizza place that served thin sliced fabulous reheated pizza (also a suggestion) and walked out to the pier.



We were rewarded by a lovely view of the anchored boats, a restaurant that served floofy drinks on a roof top bar, and a live band playing old music. I danced, floofy drink in hand, with the old smiling people at the bar as they played beach music. Then we moved on towards the mission of the day: to find surfers surfing.

We found the surfers in a place called "The Hook" at Pleasure Point. The waves were lame, but some of the better ones managed to stay upright. One older fellow even managed a few turns- but of course my camera didn't catch that particular picture in time!



Finally, we headed to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and explored the games and rides. I rode the Big Dipper, a roller coaster, and screamed my head off for sheer fun. It put me in an enormously good mood. I think I shall have to find an amusement park here in California, however, I will avoid Discovery Point with their nasty roller coaster that was stuck for 4 hours a few weeks ago! Lisa hates rides, but agreed to go on the sky thingie. She was only a little petrified as we rode over the board walk. We also sampled some of the boardwalk food to the detriment of my cholesterol levels. I'm not even going to guess how many points or calories that deep fried twinkie dipped in chocolate sauce was worth!



The mission of finding a surfer dude was completed. There was dancing. There was screaming. There was eating of scrumptious snacks. And it ended in a harrowing drive through dark twisty mountain roads. It was a successful day.

Alcatraz

Okay, it's been awhile and a few weekends have passed. I have made the pact with myself that since I am in California for a short time, and there is so much to see, I will plan one trip each weekend.

July 26th: Visited the city and met up with Lisa, her mom, and her two nephews. We went to Alcatraz and toured the famous prison.



I've never seen a prison before, though I did work in the prison unit of the teaching hospital in Augusta, GA occasionally during my first few years as an SLP. If prisons were built and ran the same as this prison, there would be a few less people getting into prison I think. Very small cells. Very strict limits.



Beautiful views of the city and all the things that you, as a prisoner, were not to experience.



After Alcatraz, I split from Lisa's family and headed up towards North Beach to find a pastry shop. I had eaten breakfast at 7am, and had a cookie and a slim jim for lunch, and it as well past 4pm. I wandered through the streets, past cute little eateries, when I heard someone call out my name. I didn't even slow down- just kind of nodded, then blinked....then stopped. It was an old college friend and his wife from Atlanta, GA!!! I had heard through the grapevine that they may be visiting SF, but had not made plans with them! In that great big city, I happened to wander down the street on which they were enjoying a late lunch. A certain Disney song floats through my head...

It's a world of laughter
A world of tears
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all....

The Kelly & Kelly Project

I finished reading Julie & Julia the other day- an easy read with moments of insight but mostly just an quirky point of view. It is on its merry snail mail way to a friend- hopefully in time for her to enjoy it while her husband is at quake-fest or something-a-ruther.

After a stressful day of being dragged into office politics (impossible as it may seem- home health still has politics apparently) I wanted to see a light hearted movie. Or I was going to re-see Harry Potter cause I like it mucho.

Julie & Julia was perfect. Meryl Streep was absolutely fascinating as Julia Childs. She was so funny. The movie was extremely funny- not so much in the silly slapstick way, but in the chuck/snort into your drink way. "Stiff as a cock" indeed. It was worth the full price of a movie ticket- and thoroughly pulled me out of my office-politics-induced mood.

It made me want to go buy cooking stuff and a french cookbook. I walked into Sur La Table, a cookware shop, and resisted all gadgets and gizmos and fancy steaming pots-- I bought a spoon to replace my bamboo one that was starting to look shabby and is probably harboring swine flu or other such baddies.

My only question: Where's my book deal? Where's my movie? :-)

I did find a website that will publish your blog- I'm pricing it out and will publish at least ONE copy of my happy little adventures. I WILL be published- and I will set it on my coffee table when I stop traveling and settle down and buy a house. After I earn my Ph.D. We'll see...