The ocean draws people like light draws moths on a sweet, sticky, southern night.. Especially when there is something like THE US OPEN OF SURFING GOING ON.
Yes, that's right. Today I went to the quarter finals and finals of junior surfing. These kids were the best of the best. They were SO good. I would have put a video up here but I forgot my camera. ;)
There were so many people at the beach. It was almost like I was actually in the sea, because of the current I was fighting. There were all kinds there, and most of them were half naked. I'm sorry to put it so bluntly, but it's true. It seems like the more skin showing, the better around here. A lot of the people I saw had "Free Hugs" written across there midriffs in lipstick or eyeliner.
The air was filled with dust, which from afar looked like a dark cloud of smog, but once I got into it I realized it was only half smog, and the rest was sand-dust kicked up into the air by the ever flowing crowd.
It was better once we got down to the water's edge, the air was cleaner and the surf washing up onto the sand was nicely refreshing. We got there just as the final heat of the junior women's was wrapping up, and we watched as the two girls fought for the waves. We stood in the three-foot-area of sand that we claimed as our own for two hours, watching the people ride and dance and play on the waves.
I have to say the coolest event was probably the junior men's long boarding. You can do so many more cool tricks when you are londg boarding. There's a lot you can do on short boards, but these guys were dancing back and forth on their boards. There's this trick called "hang ten" which has now also become quite the phrase in Cali, but it's where, when you're riding the wave, you walk all the way out to the front end of your board and hang all ten toes over the edge. And these guys would walk out to the front of their board, shuffle back, and forth, back, and forth. They looked like they were dancing on the waves.
Eventually, all the standing in the sun and watching the wave-riders caused our stomachs to grumble, so we made our way up the boardwalk to Wahoo's Fish Tacos. THE best taco I've had, in, a long time. Well, The waves are calling. Have a good night everyone!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Awesome Opossum
Today me and my mom were peacefully making lunch, when Grace came in the backdoor. She walked past us into the living room, took one look, turned back and came into the kitchen again.
"Mama, I don't want to scare you or anything," she said with no expression on her face, "But there's a baby opossum in our living room."
"What?? Where?? Go get your father!"
"Ok," she responded cheerfully.
So my dad came in and we made a blockade and propped the door open so that the only way it could go was out the door. (Apparently the opossum was under our chair)
We put pictures and boxes against the chair and then my dad pushed all over underneath the chair. We waited in much suspense for a little baby opossum to come scurrying out, and finally it ran out and out the door. Grace and I chased it around the house and into the garden where it ran under a log. I didn't see very much of it, but I saw enough to see how very adorable it was!
Finally something exciting happened!
"Mama, I don't want to scare you or anything," she said with no expression on her face, "But there's a baby opossum in our living room."
"What?? Where?? Go get your father!"
"Ok," she responded cheerfully.
So my dad came in and we made a blockade and propped the door open so that the only way it could go was out the door. (Apparently the opossum was under our chair)
We put pictures and boxes against the chair and then my dad pushed all over underneath the chair. We waited in much suspense for a little baby opossum to come scurrying out, and finally it ran out and out the door. Grace and I chased it around the house and into the garden where it ran under a log. I didn't see very much of it, but I saw enough to see how very adorable it was!
Finally something exciting happened!
| Who could be scared of these little guys?? |
Friday, July 19, 2013
Lost in Translation
Something happened today that made me appreciate my small town that much more.
My mom and sister and I were peacefully unpacking a box in our garage when a commotion started up in the street.
A white van had stopped in the middle of our road and another car was behind it. It seemed like the white van was waiting for the other car to pass it but that car was waiting for the white van to move. Finally the white van moved and the other car pulled up into it's spot. Once it was parked the driver got out of the car and started yelling at the driver of the white van obnoxiously loud, and the driver of the van started yelling back. "Learn how to drive!!" the car driver yelled, repeatedly. The van driver was yelling back and I couldn't understand what they were saying. This went on for about 6 or 7 minutes, the continuous yelling, and then they both got into their cars, slammed the doors and drove off.
It was terrible how loud they were yelling, and the argument was finished with one person yelling, "Get out of our neighborhood!"
Now, if this had happened in our little town back in Wisconsin, it would have been so differently. It would have went more like this...
The two cars pull up, the person in front engrossed in a phone call.
The car behind beeps politely, and the person in front waves and moves out of the way.
Once the car in front stops, the person behind the wheel steps out and hangs up her phone. She motions for the car behind her to stop, and they do. The other driver gets out of the car, walking up to the first driver.
The first driver walks up to the second and gives her a hug.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there,"
"No really," the second says "It's my fault,"
"No really, I should've been watching better, let me take you out for tea,"
"Well, if you say so, at least let me buy the scones then," the second says.
"OK, that sounds great. Come over to my house, say, around, 3?"
"Oh perfect, I'll be sure to get the scones."
"Great! See you later!"
They smile at each other and get into their cars and drive off.
California: 0
Small Wisconsin Town: 1
My mom and sister and I were peacefully unpacking a box in our garage when a commotion started up in the street.
A white van had stopped in the middle of our road and another car was behind it. It seemed like the white van was waiting for the other car to pass it but that car was waiting for the white van to move. Finally the white van moved and the other car pulled up into it's spot. Once it was parked the driver got out of the car and started yelling at the driver of the white van obnoxiously loud, and the driver of the van started yelling back. "Learn how to drive!!" the car driver yelled, repeatedly. The van driver was yelling back and I couldn't understand what they were saying. This went on for about 6 or 7 minutes, the continuous yelling, and then they both got into their cars, slammed the doors and drove off.
It was terrible how loud they were yelling, and the argument was finished with one person yelling, "Get out of our neighborhood!"
Now, if this had happened in our little town back in Wisconsin, it would have been so differently. It would have went more like this...
The two cars pull up, the person in front engrossed in a phone call.
The car behind beeps politely, and the person in front waves and moves out of the way.
Once the car in front stops, the person behind the wheel steps out and hangs up her phone. She motions for the car behind her to stop, and they do. The other driver gets out of the car, walking up to the first driver.
The first driver walks up to the second and gives her a hug.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there,"
"No really," the second says "It's my fault,"
"No really, I should've been watching better, let me take you out for tea,"
"Well, if you say so, at least let me buy the scones then," the second says.
"OK, that sounds great. Come over to my house, say, around, 3?"
"Oh perfect, I'll be sure to get the scones."
"Great! See you later!"
They smile at each other and get into their cars and drive off.
California: 0
Small Wisconsin Town: 1
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
The Length of a Day
Today was one of those days that when you look back on what happened, it seems impossible that it all could've happened in one day. I look back and I think, that was today?
And yes, it was.
For the most part of the day we were unpacking boxes, and we finally found our kitchen stuff! We found our plates and the emerald green glasses with the little paintings on them, the pots and pans and the silverware.
It's so nice to find all our stuff, because when you're plopped down in a completely unfamiliar place, it's not so nice. But then eventually memories and happy images begin to surround as your things do as well. It's a very nice feeling.
I also got a super nice letter that may or may not have made me cry in an awkward sort of way, and then after reading the message inscribed in Morse code I went back to work, but with a bit of a smile on my face.
When my dad finally got home we went to the ocean, and every time I go to the ocean I become happy all over again. Grace and I bounded into the waves and rode them on our boogie boards (I haven't went surfing yet, but I'm filling the gap with boogie boarding which is much easier but almost as fun)
After ditching our boards on the sand we grabbed our masks and snorkels and dove into the underwater world.
And guess what!?
I saw a stingray!!!!!
It was so cool and so exciting, and ironically enough just the other day one of my friends sent me a letter in the mail, and in this letter was a bucket list. And on this bucket list, as number 6 or 7, was "Pet a Stingray."
But the stingray was so cool! It was just drifting along the bottom, and when it saw me it looked at me like, "Sup dude," and continued on it's way. The edges of it were all ribbony as it pressed against the bottom and it's tail was waving back and forth. It's eyes just looked like holes in it's head from above, but they didn't miss anything.
I was so excited when I saw it that I forgot the bucket list entirely and bounded up the beach to my dad, bouncing along like an excited little puppy.
"I saw a stingray! I saw a stingray!"
When we left the beach I was starving, and when we got home dinner was ready, which is pretty much the best thing ever, to have a meal all ready for you when you get home.
After dinner I had a thoroughly amusing and long conversation on the phone, which brings us to now. And this is beginning to sound boring now, so I leave you all with this:
"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and good with ketchup."
And yes, it was.
For the most part of the day we were unpacking boxes, and we finally found our kitchen stuff! We found our plates and the emerald green glasses with the little paintings on them, the pots and pans and the silverware.
It's so nice to find all our stuff, because when you're plopped down in a completely unfamiliar place, it's not so nice. But then eventually memories and happy images begin to surround as your things do as well. It's a very nice feeling.
I also got a super nice letter that may or may not have made me cry in an awkward sort of way, and then after reading the message inscribed in Morse code I went back to work, but with a bit of a smile on my face.
When my dad finally got home we went to the ocean, and every time I go to the ocean I become happy all over again. Grace and I bounded into the waves and rode them on our boogie boards (I haven't went surfing yet, but I'm filling the gap with boogie boarding which is much easier but almost as fun)
After ditching our boards on the sand we grabbed our masks and snorkels and dove into the underwater world.
And guess what!?
I saw a stingray!!!!!
It was so cool and so exciting, and ironically enough just the other day one of my friends sent me a letter in the mail, and in this letter was a bucket list. And on this bucket list, as number 6 or 7, was "Pet a Stingray."
But the stingray was so cool! It was just drifting along the bottom, and when it saw me it looked at me like, "Sup dude," and continued on it's way. The edges of it were all ribbony as it pressed against the bottom and it's tail was waving back and forth. It's eyes just looked like holes in it's head from above, but they didn't miss anything.
I was so excited when I saw it that I forgot the bucket list entirely and bounded up the beach to my dad, bouncing along like an excited little puppy.
"I saw a stingray! I saw a stingray!"
When we left the beach I was starving, and when we got home dinner was ready, which is pretty much the best thing ever, to have a meal all ready for you when you get home.
After dinner I had a thoroughly amusing and long conversation on the phone, which brings us to now. And this is beginning to sound boring now, so I leave you all with this:
"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and good with ketchup."
Saturday, July 13, 2013
The Greatest Distance
This morning I woke up sick. Today was supposed to be a work day, since it's Saturday and my dad is home, but i woke up sick, and I always tend to feel guilty when I'm sick and lay around all day and everyone else is working.
But I was running a fever, so, in bed I lay, amusing my self with photography books and the short stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Quite good, by the way.
Sometime when I started to feel hungry I ate, and then after lunch I lay outside on our small grass lawn, under my blanket that is the color of the sea.
As I lay there the leaves whispered to me and the wind blew softly around me, and the sun fell in a dappled pattern on the grass.
It was the perfect atmosphere to fall asleep, but my thoughts were running a thousand miles a minute. I watched the leaves glisten in the sunlight and the next thing I knew an hour had passed. This caused me to think of a philosophical conversation I had had earlier in the summer. It went something like this.
We walked into the woods carefully, avoiding the thistles and branches that threatened our path. We were quiet for a while, which is not unusual for us, as we often are quiet, thinking our separate thoughts together.
She spoke up then, starting the conversation, but I don't remember exactly how. It quickly turned in a philosophical direction, as philosophical conversations are our specialty. Soon we were talking of time, how it just goes on, never stopping to wait for anyone.
"Time, I think, is the greatest distance," she said, "Because no matter what you do there is no way to cross the distance. You can cross any distance of land, if you try, but there is no way to cross the distance of time."
I was quiet for a moment, letting that roll around in my mind.
This is only one of the many discussions we have had, but I'm afraid it also is one of the last. Because no matter how much we say that it's not, 2,000 miles is a pretty great distance itself, and life tends to get in the way.
But as I lay in the grass today, that particular conversation came back to me. And I continued it with myself. I thought about how time passes differently for everyone. For the traveling writer time may pass in used up pens and pencil leads broken, and if you were to ask them them the time they may reply, in an ambling matter, "Why, it is three spilled lattes past one wrinkled manuscript."
Or for the rushed office worker it is, "Exactly six minutes until nine and I am already late," they spout, as they shove you out of their way.
For the grandmother rocking in her rocking chair the world goes by in cups of tea and grand children's visits, but for the factory worker it goes by in hours put in and the desperate time between paychecks.
For the detective it is mug shots taken and cases solved, and for the child it is Pb&j sandwiches and nap times.
For the priest it is sermons given and blessings made, and for the tired hotel housekeeper it is sheets washed and towels folded.
How does time pass for you?
Does it pass in the rambling way of the breeze, who has no rush whatsoever, or the frenzied rain, who must thoroughly soak everything before the sun has the chance to dry it up?
Or is it in the consistent crashing of the waves on your feet, or the rolling sensation of the grain of sand?
Next time you are rushing because you are late, look at the old homeless woman who is counting the hours and days by the coins dropped in her little Styrofoam cup. Slow down a little. Look at the little girl who isn't counting the time at all, but living life by the number of scraped knees and ice cream cones. Slow down a little. Enjoy it. This isn't like the fair, where you buy one wrist band and come back again and again.
You only get one ride.
But I was running a fever, so, in bed I lay, amusing my self with photography books and the short stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Quite good, by the way.
Sometime when I started to feel hungry I ate, and then after lunch I lay outside on our small grass lawn, under my blanket that is the color of the sea.
As I lay there the leaves whispered to me and the wind blew softly around me, and the sun fell in a dappled pattern on the grass.
It was the perfect atmosphere to fall asleep, but my thoughts were running a thousand miles a minute. I watched the leaves glisten in the sunlight and the next thing I knew an hour had passed. This caused me to think of a philosophical conversation I had had earlier in the summer. It went something like this.
We walked into the woods carefully, avoiding the thistles and branches that threatened our path. We were quiet for a while, which is not unusual for us, as we often are quiet, thinking our separate thoughts together.
She spoke up then, starting the conversation, but I don't remember exactly how. It quickly turned in a philosophical direction, as philosophical conversations are our specialty. Soon we were talking of time, how it just goes on, never stopping to wait for anyone.
"Time, I think, is the greatest distance," she said, "Because no matter what you do there is no way to cross the distance. You can cross any distance of land, if you try, but there is no way to cross the distance of time."
I was quiet for a moment, letting that roll around in my mind.
This is only one of the many discussions we have had, but I'm afraid it also is one of the last. Because no matter how much we say that it's not, 2,000 miles is a pretty great distance itself, and life tends to get in the way.
But as I lay in the grass today, that particular conversation came back to me. And I continued it with myself. I thought about how time passes differently for everyone. For the traveling writer time may pass in used up pens and pencil leads broken, and if you were to ask them them the time they may reply, in an ambling matter, "Why, it is three spilled lattes past one wrinkled manuscript."
Or for the rushed office worker it is, "Exactly six minutes until nine and I am already late," they spout, as they shove you out of their way.
For the grandmother rocking in her rocking chair the world goes by in cups of tea and grand children's visits, but for the factory worker it goes by in hours put in and the desperate time between paychecks.
For the detective it is mug shots taken and cases solved, and for the child it is Pb&j sandwiches and nap times.
For the priest it is sermons given and blessings made, and for the tired hotel housekeeper it is sheets washed and towels folded.
How does time pass for you?
Does it pass in the rambling way of the breeze, who has no rush whatsoever, or the frenzied rain, who must thoroughly soak everything before the sun has the chance to dry it up?
Or is it in the consistent crashing of the waves on your feet, or the rolling sensation of the grain of sand?
Next time you are rushing because you are late, look at the old homeless woman who is counting the hours and days by the coins dropped in her little Styrofoam cup. Slow down a little. Look at the little girl who isn't counting the time at all, but living life by the number of scraped knees and ice cream cones. Slow down a little. Enjoy it. This isn't like the fair, where you buy one wrist band and come back again and again.
You only get one ride.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
An Underestimated Power
I'm sorry, but these past few days have not been the best. I've been feeling pretty overwhelmed with all the boxes crowding our house, and today we really did nothing. All three of us needed a break and we found it by disappearing into our various books and TV shows.
But as I was moping about today, thinking about how it seemed we had too much stuff, I had a much needed epiphany.
I realized that I have so much to be grateful for.
I have a roof over my head every night.
I have three meals a day.
I have an awesome sister and parents who love me enough to send me to a Waldorf school and pay tuition in Southern California.
I realized that I cannot rightfully complain about having too much stuff, because so many other people have nothing.
I decided to make a list of the little things I am grateful for, to help remind me, and I hope you do too.
And remember to be grateful everyday for being alive, because you never know when that might be taken away from you.
But as I was moping about today, thinking about how it seemed we had too much stuff, I had a much needed epiphany.
I realized that I have so much to be grateful for.
I have a roof over my head every night.
I have three meals a day.
I have an awesome sister and parents who love me enough to send me to a Waldorf school and pay tuition in Southern California.
I realized that I cannot rightfully complain about having too much stuff, because so many other people have nothing.
I decided to make a list of the little things I am grateful for, to help remind me, and I hope you do too.
- My dog
- Summer Breezes
- Long boarding
- Getting hilarious e-mails from my best friend that cheer up my whole day
- Realizing I am actually over someone
- Being excited for the future
- The ocean
- Having a house
- Internet access
- My ukulele
- La Maison
- Viroqua
- Costa Mesa
- Good music
- My Family
- Ice cream
- Laughing till I forget
- California sunsets
- avocados
- Sunshine
- Saltwater
- food
- My friends in Viroqua
- My future friend in Costa Mesa
- My two bestest friends
- Showers
- Hot water
- electricity
- woods
- wildlife
- lemonade
- good books
- passing a whole day doing nothing
- passing a whole day being absolutely productive
- seeing the number of views on my blog quickly rising
- getting letters via snail mail
- carpet
- being ninja without even trying
- grass
- falling into bed
- bagels
- being happy
- inside jokes
And remember to be grateful everyday for being alive, because you never know when that might be taken away from you.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
1800 to 1100...An Interesting Fit
I don't have time to write much right now, but I'll try.
First order of business..
I'm sorry for any typos in my blog, some are written at a very late hour, but if you find any could you comment or email me? It always helps, and I'll try to go back and fix it.
Second order of business..
Moving from a four square-three bedroom-two-bath-1800-sq.ft house on four acres of land to a 1100 sq. ft house does not work very well.
I mean, I love our little house here, but our stuff just doesn't fit.
We have been working on it, my mom, my sister and I, and it is slowly coming along, slowly being the key word here.
But that's okay, I think, to go it slow.
Because the process of getting here took so long and so much energy, that's it's okay to rest and recuperate out here.
I hope everyone who is reading this had a lovely day, or is having a lovely day, and I'm very thankful that you've all stuck with me this far.
More later.
Over and out.
First order of business..
I'm sorry for any typos in my blog, some are written at a very late hour, but if you find any could you comment or email me? It always helps, and I'll try to go back and fix it.
Second order of business..
Moving from a four square-three bedroom-two-bath-1800-sq.ft house on four acres of land to a 1100 sq. ft house does not work very well.
I mean, I love our little house here, but our stuff just doesn't fit.
We have been working on it, my mom, my sister and I, and it is slowly coming along, slowly being the key word here.
But that's okay, I think, to go it slow.
Because the process of getting here took so long and so much energy, that's it's okay to rest and recuperate out here.
I hope everyone who is reading this had a lovely day, or is having a lovely day, and I'm very thankful that you've all stuck with me this far.
More later.
Over and out.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
A Glittering Horizon
Tonight we went to this thing called a "Grunion Run" which is a watch for a type of fish. The short version is this:
A grunion is a very unique type of fish because it is the only type of fish that lays its eggs on land. The grunions "run" when the tide is very high, which is either at a full moon or a new moon. In this case, it was a new moon.
The female swims as far up onto the sand as it can and then digs her tail into the sand. She lays her eggs there and then the male comes and fertilizes them. They hatch at the next moon cycle, be it new or full, and then the baby grunions swim out to sea.
So anyways, we were at this thing, and we were seeing zero fish. Zilch. Nada.
Since the tide was so high the waves were huge, and I was playing this game where I would run down as far as the wave went out and then wait until the very last second before the wave touched my feet and sprint back up the beach. One time, when I was pausing in my running I looked to my right and saw a beautiful, brilliantly glittering horizon. The lights from the city were magnificent. Then I looked out at the sea with the giant waves, which I couldn't even see until they broke. It would be completely dark and then a white cap would appear out of nowhere. It was then that I realized how lucky I am.
A truck came by and the driver yelled out their loudspeaker that it was 10 o'clock and everyone had to leave, which I think is ridiculous, personally. But since we were with this "grunion run" group, we didn't have to leave.
I went back to my wave racing and admired the city line.
Even if we didn't see any fish it was a good excuse to stay on the beach after curfew.
A grunion is a very unique type of fish because it is the only type of fish that lays its eggs on land. The grunions "run" when the tide is very high, which is either at a full moon or a new moon. In this case, it was a new moon.
The female swims as far up onto the sand as it can and then digs her tail into the sand. She lays her eggs there and then the male comes and fertilizes them. They hatch at the next moon cycle, be it new or full, and then the baby grunions swim out to sea.
So anyways, we were at this thing, and we were seeing zero fish. Zilch. Nada.
Since the tide was so high the waves were huge, and I was playing this game where I would run down as far as the wave went out and then wait until the very last second before the wave touched my feet and sprint back up the beach. One time, when I was pausing in my running I looked to my right and saw a beautiful, brilliantly glittering horizon. The lights from the city were magnificent. Then I looked out at the sea with the giant waves, which I couldn't even see until they broke. It would be completely dark and then a white cap would appear out of nowhere. It was then that I realized how lucky I am.
A truck came by and the driver yelled out their loudspeaker that it was 10 o'clock and everyone had to leave, which I think is ridiculous, personally. But since we were with this "grunion run" group, we didn't have to leave.
I went back to my wave racing and admired the city line.
Even if we didn't see any fish it was a good excuse to stay on the beach after curfew.
Hermit Crabs and Dirt Paths
Three days in California, and only one time swimming! What is this? That's okay though, it was worth the wait.
Today, when my dad got home from work he took me and Grace, I mean, Grace and I, on the bike path that leads to the beach. It is about a 15 minute ride, and not at all unpleasant.
We rode on hard dirt paths, up and down hills and around curves. The dirt path joined a more legit bike path that lead under the highway. Once we came out from under the bridge the ocean was there in front of us, beckoning with its crashing waves.
The path abruptly ended and gave way to sand, and I dropped my bike and kicked off my shoes and ran into the surf.
The water was the perfect temperature after the bike ride, and once I was in the water I proclaimed aloud how much I had missed it.
I dove under the waves and jumped over them and ran through them and rode them. We weren't quite to the Huntington Beach yet so we didn't have all the crowds, which was nice. We had our own little sliver of sea.
After I was satisfied with my water experience I took to walking along the beach. We were at the part of the ocean where the Santa Ana river joins it, so there were rock piers on either side of it with an abundance of crabs hiding in them. I was hopping happily from rock to rock like a little mountain goat when I found a family of these creatures. The small crabs were scuttling back and forth and stopping to eat off the rocks. When my giant shadow passed over them they ran for cover or wedged themselves in between two rocks and were impossible for me to grab.
After a lot of determination but no success I was turning to go when I spotted a shape out of place. It looked suspiciously like a giant buffed-up snail. I grabbed it with lightning speed and was quite gleefully surprised to see little legs clawing at the air!
The little legs were almost transparent with blue rings circling where the ankles would've been. It seemed I had found a hermit crab.
I put the little guy in a stray styrofoam cup and ran back to my dad like a child who had just won a teddy bear at the county fair.
"Look Papa," I said holding out the cup to him.
"Look at that!" he said. "Hermie!"
I took Hermie out of the cup and set him on my palm. Out popped his little legs, and he went crawling across my hand leaving a tingling sensation in his wake.
I brought him back to his little home on the rock and put him back where he was. I went back to my bike and all three of us rode home, happy and salty and free.
Today, when my dad got home from work he took me and Grace, I mean, Grace and I, on the bike path that leads to the beach. It is about a 15 minute ride, and not at all unpleasant.
We rode on hard dirt paths, up and down hills and around curves. The dirt path joined a more legit bike path that lead under the highway. Once we came out from under the bridge the ocean was there in front of us, beckoning with its crashing waves.
The path abruptly ended and gave way to sand, and I dropped my bike and kicked off my shoes and ran into the surf.
The water was the perfect temperature after the bike ride, and once I was in the water I proclaimed aloud how much I had missed it.
I dove under the waves and jumped over them and ran through them and rode them. We weren't quite to the Huntington Beach yet so we didn't have all the crowds, which was nice. We had our own little sliver of sea.
After I was satisfied with my water experience I took to walking along the beach. We were at the part of the ocean where the Santa Ana river joins it, so there were rock piers on either side of it with an abundance of crabs hiding in them. I was hopping happily from rock to rock like a little mountain goat when I found a family of these creatures. The small crabs were scuttling back and forth and stopping to eat off the rocks. When my giant shadow passed over them they ran for cover or wedged themselves in between two rocks and were impossible for me to grab.
After a lot of determination but no success I was turning to go when I spotted a shape out of place. It looked suspiciously like a giant buffed-up snail. I grabbed it with lightning speed and was quite gleefully surprised to see little legs clawing at the air!
The little legs were almost transparent with blue rings circling where the ankles would've been. It seemed I had found a hermit crab.
I put the little guy in a stray styrofoam cup and ran back to my dad like a child who had just won a teddy bear at the county fair.
"Look Papa," I said holding out the cup to him.
"Look at that!" he said. "Hermie!"
I took Hermie out of the cup and set him on my palm. Out popped his little legs, and he went crawling across my hand leaving a tingling sensation in his wake.
I brought him back to his little home on the rock and put him back where he was. I went back to my bike and all three of us rode home, happy and salty and free.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
California: for Better or Worse, but Mostly Better.
Today we are finally in California!!
Our goal was to make it here for my birthday, and we are one day early.
I might actually get to go surfing on my birthday!
Yeah, that's right. Be jealous.
Last night, when we got here at 6:30, it was 108 degrees, so Grace and I promptly jumped in the pool.
Today it's supposed to get up to 115 degrees and we have to drive across the Mohave Desert.
At least the air conditioning actually works now. On our last trip out to California the AC didn't work.
Now, that was hot.
It's weird though, thinking we are going to be living out here now.
It still doesn't seem real. I mean, we've done long road trips like this before and I feel like we should be turning around soon and driving back to Viroqua, to our little house down in the valley. We should be getting back and catching up on the garden, swimming in our little stream, and running through the woods.
But, honestly, I'm glad we're not.
I like it here.
I like the hot desert wind blowing endlessly across the plains.
I like the mountains, how small they make me feel.
I like having my whole family living in one house again.
I like being back where I was born.
I like our little house at the end of the street.
I like the woods that I can disappear into and completely forget that I am in the city.
I like the prospect of making new friends at the Waldorf School of Orange County.
I like having a change in my life. As much as I didn't want to go, as much as I cried, as much as I tried to hold on, it's a good thing I came to California.
Because even though I lost so much salt water out of my body, I don't have to worry. The ocean will keep me filled up.
Our goal was to make it here for my birthday, and we are one day early.
I might actually get to go surfing on my birthday!
Yeah, that's right. Be jealous.
Last night, when we got here at 6:30, it was 108 degrees, so Grace and I promptly jumped in the pool.
Today it's supposed to get up to 115 degrees and we have to drive across the Mohave Desert.
At least the air conditioning actually works now. On our last trip out to California the AC didn't work.
Now, that was hot.
It's weird though, thinking we are going to be living out here now.
It still doesn't seem real. I mean, we've done long road trips like this before and I feel like we should be turning around soon and driving back to Viroqua, to our little house down in the valley. We should be getting back and catching up on the garden, swimming in our little stream, and running through the woods.
But, honestly, I'm glad we're not.
I like it here.
I like the hot desert wind blowing endlessly across the plains.
I like the mountains, how small they make me feel.
I like having my whole family living in one house again.
I like being back where I was born.
I like our little house at the end of the street.
I like the woods that I can disappear into and completely forget that I am in the city.
I like the prospect of making new friends at the Waldorf School of Orange County.
I like having a change in my life. As much as I didn't want to go, as much as I cried, as much as I tried to hold on, it's a good thing I came to California.
Because even though I lost so much salt water out of my body, I don't have to worry. The ocean will keep me filled up.
The Land of Enchantement
The land of New Mexico is some of the most beautiful land I've seen.
The flat plains of Texas give way to jutting plateaus, which make room for dry riverbeds which turn into tall, scraggly mountain ranges that reach into the sky. As we drove along through the amazing landscape, the rounded red rock rolling by at tremendous heights, I wanted so badly to stop and climb it.
But, alas, we had to keep driving.
The rock has been there for so long, I feel like if I were to climb the rock I would find a nice ledge and sit there forever, because the awesome monstrosity would have me transfixed with its stories and I would never be able to move.
It would whisper me to me about the sands of time that have taken their toll on it, it would bubble the stories of the rains to me, the tales of the animals and people it has seen.
But in all it's storytelling it would complain not once. Because even though it sat there through the rain and snow and floods and fires, if none of that would have happened, it wouldn't be what it is today.
The flat plains of Texas give way to jutting plateaus, which make room for dry riverbeds which turn into tall, scraggly mountain ranges that reach into the sky. As we drove along through the amazing landscape, the rounded red rock rolling by at tremendous heights, I wanted so badly to stop and climb it.
But, alas, we had to keep driving.
The rock has been there for so long, I feel like if I were to climb the rock I would find a nice ledge and sit there forever, because the awesome monstrosity would have me transfixed with its stories and I would never be able to move.
It would whisper me to me about the sands of time that have taken their toll on it, it would bubble the stories of the rains to me, the tales of the animals and people it has seen.
But in all it's storytelling it would complain not once. Because even though it sat there through the rain and snow and floods and fires, if none of that would have happened, it wouldn't be what it is today.
Read the Fine Print
OK, so I'm trying to catch up. Having a blog is exhausting.
I think it was, maybe, 2 days ago that we were in Texas. We stayed at this place called The Big Texan Hotel and Ranch, or something like that, and next door to it was The Big Texan Steak House. This steakhouse is home to the world famous FREE 72 oz. steak dinner (if you can eat it in one hour)
Now, this place was gluttony, and America, at its finest.
There was a raised stage in the middle of the dining room, where the "contestants" sat.
Those brave enough to try to eat it were up there sawing away at their steaks with the red neon signs above them flashing however much time was left in the hour.
Now, these steaks were humongous. I mean, ginormous. 72 oz, is, about 4 and a half pounds, and you also have to eat a baked potato and some rolls and a salad in order to win. Now remember, you get this whole meal for free, (if you eat it in one hour) If you don't, well, you have to pay for it. 73 dollars to be exact.
These guys were up there on the stage, and they all had garbage cans next to them. There was a whole crowd gathered around them cheering them on.
One of the guys did manage to finish it, but three others ended up throwing up into their garbage cans.
It was revolting.
But the next morning, when we came back for breakfast it was nice and calm and there was a little buffet filled with fresh melon and pineapple and strawberries, and french toast.
Outside the restaurant their sign boasts the "Free 72oz steak dinner...(if you can eat it in one hour)"
So, be sure to read the fine print before you stop for that "free" steak dinner.
I think it was, maybe, 2 days ago that we were in Texas. We stayed at this place called The Big Texan Hotel and Ranch, or something like that, and next door to it was The Big Texan Steak House. This steakhouse is home to the world famous FREE 72 oz. steak dinner (if you can eat it in one hour)
Now, this place was gluttony, and America, at its finest.
There was a raised stage in the middle of the dining room, where the "contestants" sat.
Those brave enough to try to eat it were up there sawing away at their steaks with the red neon signs above them flashing however much time was left in the hour.
Now, these steaks were humongous. I mean, ginormous. 72 oz, is, about 4 and a half pounds, and you also have to eat a baked potato and some rolls and a salad in order to win. Now remember, you get this whole meal for free, (if you eat it in one hour) If you don't, well, you have to pay for it. 73 dollars to be exact.
These guys were up there on the stage, and they all had garbage cans next to them. There was a whole crowd gathered around them cheering them on.
One of the guys did manage to finish it, but three others ended up throwing up into their garbage cans.
It was revolting.
But the next morning, when we came back for breakfast it was nice and calm and there was a little buffet filled with fresh melon and pineapple and strawberries, and french toast.
Outside the restaurant their sign boasts the "Free 72oz steak dinner...(if you can eat it in one hour)"
So, be sure to read the fine print before you stop for that "free" steak dinner.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
The Difference of Two Minutes
Yesterday we went to see the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
For those of you who don't know, this is the memorial for the bombing that happened in 1995.
On April 19th, 1995, a man who didn't like the government bombed a government building, and this government building happened to have a daycare in it, and he killed 19 children in his bombing. Overall, 168 people died from this.
This was the first act of terrorism that happened on american soil.
Why is there such evil in our world?
If you have something against the government, you don't go and blow up a building full of children.
You don't go and blow a building full of anyone, for that matter.
If you have a problem, you talk to who it is that you have a problem with.
At the memorial they have empty chairs. Rows upon rows of empty chairs. They have one chair for each person who died, and each chair has a name on it.
They have a wide open field, and the field is filled with chairs, big chairs, little chairs, chairs and chairs and chairs.
They are high-backed, elegant chairs, with a granite seat and iridescent legs.
Each chair has a flag next to it, and if you look in the direction in which the chairs are facing, you see the Reflection Pool, a shallow expanse of water that stretches from one tower to another.
The two towers reach for the sky, and the one on the left says 9:01, and the one right says 9:03.
This is the time before and after the bombing. TWO MINUTES. Two minutes. Just think. How many times in your life have you looked back and thought what a great two minutes you just had? Now compare that to the amount of times you've said, "Man, I wish I could get those two minutes back."
We all have so much to be grateful for. We all have so much to live for.
Now get up off the couch and stop feeling sorry for yourself.
At least you're alive.
At least you have more than two minutes to live.
Start being grateful for the little things.
For those of you who don't know, this is the memorial for the bombing that happened in 1995.
On April 19th, 1995, a man who didn't like the government bombed a government building, and this government building happened to have a daycare in it, and he killed 19 children in his bombing. Overall, 168 people died from this.
This was the first act of terrorism that happened on american soil.
Why is there such evil in our world?
If you have something against the government, you don't go and blow up a building full of children.
You don't go and blow a building full of anyone, for that matter.
If you have a problem, you talk to who it is that you have a problem with.
At the memorial they have empty chairs. Rows upon rows of empty chairs. They have one chair for each person who died, and each chair has a name on it.
They have a wide open field, and the field is filled with chairs, big chairs, little chairs, chairs and chairs and chairs.
They are high-backed, elegant chairs, with a granite seat and iridescent legs.
Each chair has a flag next to it, and if you look in the direction in which the chairs are facing, you see the Reflection Pool, a shallow expanse of water that stretches from one tower to another.
The two towers reach for the sky, and the one on the left says 9:01, and the one right says 9:03.
This is the time before and after the bombing. TWO MINUTES. Two minutes. Just think. How many times in your life have you looked back and thought what a great two minutes you just had? Now compare that to the amount of times you've said, "Man, I wish I could get those two minutes back."
We all have so much to be grateful for. We all have so much to live for.
Now get up off the couch and stop feeling sorry for yourself.
At least you're alive.
At least you have more than two minutes to live.
Start being grateful for the little things.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
This post seems like it's going to be a waste of your time but it turns out not to be. (spoiler)
Today was....You'll never guess...
(drum roll please.......)
MORE DRIVING!
How did you guess?
NO, it's really not that bad. There's just not much to report when all we do is drive..so I'm sorry for the uneventfulness.
Let's see...what did happen today...
Oh!
We bought lemon drops!
Yep...that's pretty much it.
Well, we are in A-town-that-starts-with-an-S, Oklahoma, and at least they have a pool here. As lovely as the Wagon Wheel Inn was, they didn't have a pool.
That's okay though,
I was too busy tending to other business to swim anyways.
The only actual problem on our drive so far is the fact that our lovely dog, Copper, has a bad front leg and has a really hard time getting in and out of the car and walking around. Like today, she got up, but then just sat right back down again when her back legs collapsed underneath her. But she's getting better.
And so are we.
Cause we're in awesome-accent country now! Down here they say "ma'am" and "sweet pea" and everyone drives a pickup and the waitresses sound like this:
"If y'all need anythin' you just give me a holla, alright?"
I love it!
I think when I grow up I'm going to have to travel around the world so I can do everything, because I really want to do just that. Everything.
I was telling my mom this and she said that I would need money, and an immediate solution came to mind.
Why I would write books of course!
I would go to every place that I was setting my novel in, and then live there for as long as I'm writing it.
And while I write the book I'll also write stories for the local paper and be a waitress at whatever restaurant to make money.
I'll go to Georgia and write sticky, sweet, summer romances, Brazil, to write fast paced adventures set in the Amazon,
New York, where adolescents over come their troubles while growing up in the South Bronx,
Australia, where the young girl saves the animals by slashing the tires on the terrible machines.
I wish there was more time!
I don't know how I'm going to accomplish all of this, but I am most certainly going to try.
(drum roll please.......)
MORE DRIVING!
How did you guess?
NO, it's really not that bad. There's just not much to report when all we do is drive..so I'm sorry for the uneventfulness.
Let's see...what did happen today...
Oh!
We bought lemon drops!
Yep...that's pretty much it.
Well, we are in A-town-that-starts-with-an-S, Oklahoma, and at least they have a pool here. As lovely as the Wagon Wheel Inn was, they didn't have a pool.
That's okay though,
I was too busy tending to other business to swim anyways.
The only actual problem on our drive so far is the fact that our lovely dog, Copper, has a bad front leg and has a really hard time getting in and out of the car and walking around. Like today, she got up, but then just sat right back down again when her back legs collapsed underneath her. But she's getting better.
And so are we.
Cause we're in awesome-accent country now! Down here they say "ma'am" and "sweet pea" and everyone drives a pickup and the waitresses sound like this:
"If y'all need anythin' you just give me a holla, alright?"
I love it!
I think when I grow up I'm going to have to travel around the world so I can do everything, because I really want to do just that. Everything.
I was telling my mom this and she said that I would need money, and an immediate solution came to mind.
Why I would write books of course!
I would go to every place that I was setting my novel in, and then live there for as long as I'm writing it.
And while I write the book I'll also write stories for the local paper and be a waitress at whatever restaurant to make money.
I'll go to Georgia and write sticky, sweet, summer romances, Brazil, to write fast paced adventures set in the Amazon,
New York, where adolescents over come their troubles while growing up in the South Bronx,
Australia, where the young girl saves the animals by slashing the tires on the terrible machines.
I wish there was more time!
I don't know how I'm going to accomplish all of this, but I am most certainly going to try.
 |
| These are some various Route 66 signs that were in an art contest that we saw. |
Gateway to the West
Yesterday was far too late to write anything, so this is about yesterday, July 1st.
We got off to a bit of a late start, around one o'clock, so we didn't get to St. Louis until around eight-ish, and our hotel was another hour from there.
But as we drove into St. Louis I was astounded by how big the city was. It seemed like the perfect city for, say, a rising musician to live in, with the old graffiti-ed on brick walls and the basketball games going on atop the roof tops.
I have this friend who wants to be a musician when he grows up, and I can totally picture him living there, up in an apartment high up in a skyscraper looking out over his city, writing the next number one song.
The city flashed by quickly out my window and we were soon back on the highway in the fading light, speeding toward Cuba, Missouri.
Yes, that's right.
Cuba.
It sounds much cooler than it is, and I expected it to be a tiny little town with a one pump gas station and one motel.
The lady from our motel even called us and told us that our key was under the mat behind number one, and she was calling cuz she wanted to go to bed.
But when we drove up to Cuba, this huge city seemed to rise up out of the gloom, glittering and gleaming with all the lights.
Our motel was a little Mom and Pop sort of place, with little brick buildings and 50s style rooms. but look at the pictures for more, because check out is in 7 minutes, and I have to go!
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Oklahoma City, here we come.
We got off to a bit of a late start, around one o'clock, so we didn't get to St. Louis until around eight-ish, and our hotel was another hour from there.
But as we drove into St. Louis I was astounded by how big the city was. It seemed like the perfect city for, say, a rising musician to live in, with the old graffiti-ed on brick walls and the basketball games going on atop the roof tops.
I have this friend who wants to be a musician when he grows up, and I can totally picture him living there, up in an apartment high up in a skyscraper looking out over his city, writing the next number one song.
The city flashed by quickly out my window and we were soon back on the highway in the fading light, speeding toward Cuba, Missouri.
Yes, that's right.
Cuba.
It sounds much cooler than it is, and I expected it to be a tiny little town with a one pump gas station and one motel.
The lady from our motel even called us and told us that our key was under the mat behind number one, and she was calling cuz she wanted to go to bed.
But when we drove up to Cuba, this huge city seemed to rise up out of the gloom, glittering and gleaming with all the lights.
Our motel was a little Mom and Pop sort of place, with little brick buildings and 50s style rooms. but look at the pictures for more, because check out is in 7 minutes, and I have to go!
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Oklahoma City, here we come.
 |
| It's obviously cooler in person |
 |
| this is NOT a selfie, I just wanted you to see the mirror ;) |
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