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.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
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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