Happy New Year's Eve

A perfect ending to a great year. Goodbye 2009 and another decade. Looking forward to an awesome 2010 and the next ten years.

Stay safe y'all and appoint a designated driver or call a cab. Be cool, don't drink and drive.

Sunset for my Tweeps

If there was a sunset tonight I missed it cause I'm too surfed out to take a picture. Another great picture from the freezer. :-)

Mind Surfing

Even when I'm not surfing, I'm still surfing in my mind.

Sand Dune Sunset

Between weather and work I don't think I ever saw the sun let alone the sunset today. This is the sunset from the sand dunes point of view, taken Lourdes knows when. I love the south west look and feel of it, though.

So Good!

The waves were so good today. My new board was better than any board I've ever owned. So good, I didn't even mind when I busted out the fin. Thank goddness for removable fins.

Apparently, as I was kicking out of an awesome wave, I didn't realize I was in shallow water, i.e. surfing on sand. My fin knew and snapped clean off, without disrupting the fin box on the surfboard. Phew!

And, "Yay for removal fins!"

One of my surfing buddies had pliers and removed the damaged fin. I popped in another set of fins, and paddled back out for more fun.

Candy Cane Lane

Santa unwinding after a busy Christmas season.

Merry Christmas!

Sometimes, the best presents are homemade. We made the one on the right a little over four years ago. And the one on the left eight and a half years ago. They truly are the gifts that keep on giving, and get better with age.

Candy Cane Lane

Shocking news, today, on Candy Candy Lane!

Wall-E was devastated when he over heard the Grinch utter "Kermit, I'm your father," in the muppet's ear.

In light of this news, I totally understand why Kermy is attracted to Miss Piggy after all these years. We are drawn to what terrifies us.

As for Wall-E, personally, if I were him I'd be relieved. But, I suppose there's always hope. Who is to say the Grinch isn't part Tiger? I mean they're both stingy, right?

Candy Cane Lane

Wonder Woman's invisible jet looked better in person.

Candy Cane Lane

I'm relieved these pups aren't coming for Christmas dinner. Everyone knows dogs are harder to raise than children..... ;-)

Candy Cane Lane

Surprise! Even vegetables celebrate Christmas.

Santa's Elves

Looks as if someone is behind schedule................

White Christmas Elvis Presley

Elvis may have left the the building, but he's in the howse. In fact, he's in the white house, on Candy Cane Lane singing White Christmas. If you visit him, no autographs, please, it disturbs his rhythm.

Sunset for my Tweeps

Barely made it tonight. Phew! Enjoy and breathe in the colors.

Rip Curl Ricki

This video reminds me Angels Are Real, and come in many different forms. Internet, meet my new favorite surfer, Ricochet, the surfing service dog.

Fool Proof Parenting

My new phone, Droid by Motorola, plays you tube videos. So, I've decided to employ the song, "Yakety Yak," as my main parenting tool. With the push of a few buttons, discipline is at my fingertips.

Gone are the days where I have to spend hours and hours, explaining why or why not the children should or shouldn't be engaging in certain undesirable behaviors. Because the lyrics speak for themselves.

The kids, however, are not thrilled.

"Aye, yai, yai," comments Vinny, on our new technique.

Sunset for my Tweeps!

No sunset tonight. So I pulled this out of the freezer for y'all.

A Perfect Day

What a day! And it isn't even over yet. Tonight Candy Cane Lane! Woot!

SeaGulls

Sunset for my Tweeps

Otter Have Another

Saw this cute little guy as I was driving away from the beach. I couldn't resist his cute face, so I hopped out of my car and snapped a picture.

Surfing Santa Is Following Me

Y'all are not gonna believe who is following me on twitter. Surfing Santa! Woot! Now if he can just bring me a few boards and a new wettie for Christmas.....

Coastal California Ski Slopes

Andrew Molera State Park

I love surfing this spot. Obviously, it's a river mouth. The wave can be really fun. But what I really love is the patchwork quilt of salt and fresh water, and swishing it around, in my mouth. It's like sipping coffee and tea from separate straws, simultaneously.

When Hubby reads this I know exactly what he'll say, "don't put that stuff in your mouth!"

Yes, surfing used to be my neti pot or mouth wash, depending on my mood. Until Hubby caught me snorting salt water while we were surfing, in Mexico.

"Stop that!" exclaims Hubby. "The water is dirty."

Yes, it was then, I realized, maybe, surfing and sinus infections were connected. So I stopped inhaling Pacific Ocean, going cold turkey, right then and there.

Of course, when I'm caught inside while paddling out, or going over the falls of a wave (think waterfall) the neti pot is mandatory, and filled with Goddess knows what. My nose, knows, those oceanic amoebas love to party.

"There's a party in my sinuses so yummy so yummy."



Video demo of some poor soul getting sucked over the falls. Enjoy!

Carmel Beach Sunset

Earlier and to the south.


Later and to the north.

A Merry Christmas Program

Here's a few pictures from last night's Christmas program. There are two more here and here.

The songs were awesome, not typical worn out Christmas songs. My Shining Star Vinny knew all the words. I know, I watched him through binoculars, from the back row. Believe me it was a relief to get those seats!

I really wanted to go shopping for a new outfit for the special night, but I went surfing instead (THE WAVES HAVE BEEN SO GOOD!) so I had to settle for something purple from my closet.

All in all, it was a great night and it definitely got me in the mood for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

Get Your Kids To Eat Lunch At School

Several years ago, while dropping Vinny off at school, we ran into a few of his friends. One of the girls, in particular, was thrilled with her lunch.

"I have a chocolate sandwich for lunch!" exclaimed the girl. "Want to see it?"

Before we could answer, she hastily pulled out her sandwich and showed us. The sandwich already had a few bites missing and it was barely 8 am. She then proceeded to take another bite, before packing it back up, for lunch.

Though, I'm fairly certain her chocolate delight never made it to the lunch hour.

Sunset for my Tweeps

Breakfast For Lunch

Today, I had breakfast for lunch. And it was delicious!

You're The Miracle

My focus for the last three or four years, has been simple, yet terrifying. Being me. Not some pretend version of me, or a version anyone else wants me to be.

It's not as scary as it was in the beginning. But frequently lurking in the back of mind is the thought, "this person isn't going to like me if I say what I'm really feeling, seeing, thinking."

How could someone not like a fun, honest, inspiring person? That's what I tell myself anyways. When I speak my truth, I usually remember, it is MY truth, not the other person's truth, though I'm right about 80% of the time. ;-)

And at some point, I realize the truth of the saying, "it's none of my business what other people think of me."

I highly recommend it. It's fun being me. I'm more in tune with my intuition, my own feelings, subconscious thought patterns, and what other people are thinking and feeling.

This allows me to be more compassionate with myself, as well as everyone else. And right about now, the world could use more compassion.

You Can't Always Get What You Want Glee

You Can't Always Get What You Want starts at 3:00.

Have I mentioned how much I love Glee? Oh yes, here, here and here.

And I love Glee more and more, every time I watch it.

"Yeah, what's so great about Glee?" asks somenoe who has never watched it.

Well, at the end of every episode I'm left in tears of inspiration, and I'm smiling from ear to ear. And that Internet is a good thing. Which reminds me of this song, that has nothing to do with Glee.

Pink Glove Dance

Pure inspiration raising awareness for breast cancer.

Surfing Santa

Wow, I have no words for this Surfing Santa, however I'm fairly certain it was designed by a very naughty surfer. Or, maybe, Tiger Woods. Does Tiger surf?

Snow in the Park 09

I admit snow is fun. But one day, of snow in the park, a year is good enough for me.

Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride

One of my favorite songs ever, from the Lilo and Stitch sountrack. Give it a listen and you'll understand.

Briar Kitty

"It looks cold out there," says Briar Kitty to his person. "How long are you going to surf?"




"Oh well, I guess I'll find something to do," says Briar Kitty as he trots off into the sand dunes.

Old Salinas River

How To Make Love Like A Pr0n Star

Several weeks ago I had birthday party duty. I call it duty because this is where I exist in a world where Mommy is NOT Goddess. In other words, my kid totally ignores me.

Fortunately, I had gone surfing and the waves were really good. Surfing makes everything better, just like crack.

Anyways, the party started looking up, when I realized we wouldn't be eating Pizza for lunch. On the menu; tri tip, fresh baked warm rolls, spinach salad with dairy free dressing!

I know it was awesome, don't hate.

Amazingly, the Mom wasn't even stressin' over her party of perfection. She was carrying on normal conversations. In fact, she was funny. Then she dropped a book club bomb on me.

We were discussing our book clubs, when she says, "we read How To Make Love Like A Porn Star."

"I'm in the wrong book club!" I exclaim. "Can I please join yours. We're currently reading Anna Ka-effing-boring-Rina."

"Sure," she offers kindly.

I had to resist kissing her on the mouth, because well, I knew if I did, I'd be univited to the Pr0n book club.

I was ready to defect. I'd been writing my defection email over and over in my mind, when suddenly Rock Star Hubby, yes he amazes daily, comes home with Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy on CD from the library.

Sadly, I will not be defecting to the bookclub that read Jenna Jameson's How To Make Love Like A Porn Star.

Though I must say defection is tempting. I mean, what devoted wife doesn't want to know how to make love like a porn star?

I suppose there's always hope of convincing my book club to read Jenna's book. However, when I suggested we read The Sex Lives Of Cannibals they gave me a funny look.

Sunset for my Tweeps

Live Pipeline Masters

Ca-Ca-Ca-Cold

Sure it's pretty, but, I CAN NOT BELIEVE HOW COLD IT IS.

Weather

If I ever forget how cold it is, which I most certainly won't, Mount Toro will be there to remind me, I'm sure.

Oh yes, I know, I'm at sea level and the snow capped mountain's peak elevation is around 3500 feet. But if there's snow up there, it can only mean one thing, it's cold down here.

Ice Cream Induced Flashback

Red and Green

Red and green may be the colors of Christmas, but they are also the colors of our beloved sand dunes.

Today's color provided courtesy of ice plant, non-native invasive vegetation. Oh well, it's still pretty.

Sunset for My Tweeps

Head In The Clouds

I'm happy to report, my head, is permanently affixed to the clouds.

Surfing Santa

New Moon

Internet, I took this picture on Friday night, while on a date with Rock Star Hubby. A date! It was so fun.

We went out for delicious Thai food.

Then, we went for some dessert and a walk with the dog.

Finally, we went to see New Moon, the second installment of the Twilight saga. I loved the movie, though I did have several moments of, "could we please skip all of Bella's love sick depression, and get on to the werewolves' abs, I mean, fangs."

The werewolves run on the hot side, 108 degrees. Therefore, they MUST gallivant around town, protecting the people, in nothing but their gym shorts.

Even better, we watched New Moon with a fun Pro-Edward audience, that laughed at all the right times, namely, all the melodramatic, corny scenes.

As for Team Edward (Vampire) vs Team Jacob (Werewolf) I found both of them worthy, if um, one is into monsters, that is. Though, I must say Jacob is the better communicator, and he has a hotter body, than Eddie. But, I suppose that is all negated by Jake's lack of anger management skills.

And as long as Bella doesn't cut herself, she's better off with the vampires. Or if she has it her way, she may be better off becoming a vampire, since she seems to have some choice in the matter.

Either way, by blood or by moon, I'm Team Bella all the way. If anyone needs rooting for, it's New Moon's heroine. After all she doesn't exactly keep good company, does she?