Old friends

I love those old friends that you only see once a year who always can bring a smile to your face. Thank you, friends, for a fantastic holiday party!

Of warm sand and warm baths

Encinitas is lovely. Just lovely! When I drive around I can't believe how fast I forgot how lovely it is! It may be December 22nd and many people are shoveling snow and huddled around fireplaces, but us San Diegoians are sitting at the beach in bikinis and eating lunch. Well, not me. I read a book while my toes were submerged in the wa
rm top sand. Warm breezes floated by, muffling the sounds of annoying children. This is the part I love about coming 'home.' The part I don't love? It has changed so much! I wanted to visitmy elementary school and I got lost on the roads because roads have been added, houses been built, and entire neighborhoods are standing where there used to just be greenhouses. I did visit my pre-school, and thankfully that hasn't changed.

My favorite record store has moved into the the smallest space and no longer carries as much 'new' music. Maybe if I go eat a burrito my outlook on life will cheer up.

I did take a bath. That helped my outlook on life, despite my overly pink childhood bathroom.

I have not seen many people yet. I did see Amanda, Justin, Ryan, and an awesome a girl named Bri. We went to a 'bar' in Del Mar that was supposed to be 'off the hook.' Instead we got a mostly empty sports bar with a bitchy waitress. We chatted but soon fled to Amanda's Grandmother's house in the Del Mar hills. More talking ensued and I finally got home around 1:30am. The whole drinking with friends then having to drive home thing stinks. I like being able to walk home, take a bus, or a 20$ cab from almost anywhere to get to my bed at night. But until San Diego gets smaller and easier to navigate it looks like I'll be drinking in moderation and spending hours in the car driving.

If you squint your eyes you should be able to tell who is who.

Suburbia

I basically woke up to the sound of a lawnmower. That's a sound I forgot about long ago.

Another journey

I haven't posted since 1/2 way through coming back home from the UK? All my fans never got a decompression post about my reflections and how I grew up in those 7 weeks traveling alone? Sorry. I guess you'll never get it now. Just know that I had a great time filled with lots of highs and a handful of lows. I made great memories and can positively say that I have been bitten by the travel bug.

So here I am. True it's not a very exciting travel adventure I am embarking on, but it is still a journey none-the-less. I just got home in Encinitas at my parent's house. I am typing this from my childhood room and bed. Strange.

Recap? Sure! Work, Dasha drove me to the airport, I got on a plane, sat next to a guy with a dog, read, de-planed, got rental car, drove to ENC. Much to my joy I see that my parents put up Christmas lights all over the juniper and along the balcony. Here is a photo to prove it. I love it.



I walk in at 11:30PM, the front door is unlocked, and my father is sleeping on the couch while Mom is watching TV. I get hugs. And kisses. Offerings of food. Water. Dad brings my suitcase upstairs. I quick chat and everybody is ready for bed. They even outfitted my bed with an electric blanket. And it was turned on all ready for my cold toes.

Tomorrow is going to yoga with my Mom. My parents just joined a gym and I have a day pass to go with them. I'm dragging my Mom to her first yoga class and I think she'll like it a lot. Dad'll do cardio. I'll also take lots of photos and post. It's nice to be back, even if it is much too quiet at nighttime. I almost miss the 21-Hayes bus going past every 15 minutes.