Happy Halloween 2010

"Mommy, when are we going trick or treating?" asks Gio impatiently.

"Soon," I say. "Right after I take a shower."

"That's going to take an hour!" says Gio.

"Actually, it's going to take longer because you keep interrupting me," I say.

Of course, that didn't stop him or his brother from repeatedly asking, "are you ready?" I'm sure they get this from their father.

Walking In Memphis

I love this cover of, "Walking In Memphis," by Sugarland and Little Big Town. It's pure vocal inspiration. I'm getting goose bumps watching this video.

Happy Birthday Mom!

I have an awesome Mom, and if you're lucky enough to know her, you know she's, "quite a character. " And that's putting it mildly.

She is a great Mom. She attended all of my sporting events when I was a kid. And she was a single working mother, y'all. She even came to my out of town games, when she was able to find them.

GPS would have been nice back then, huh Mom.

My Mom did a lot of great things for me growing up, but there's one thing that I will never forget, and I will be forever grateful to her.

When I was 18, after graduating from high school my Mom took me to Hawaii. Guess what I did there for the very first time? That's right! I surfed!

Think about it, what if she had never taken me to Hawaii, and I had never started surfing? I wonder what I would have done with all that free time the last 25 years?

I hope I wasn't the one who was supposed to find the cure for cancer.

I love you Mama. Happy Birthday!

Gobble, Gobble

When I was leaving this morning, around 8:30, I found a surprise. A Pre-Thanksgiving Turkey offensive, of sorts.

"There are eleven turkeys running around on our street," I say to my Mom, who's on the phone. "Oh my gosh, they're flying out of the tree!"

"Yeah, they're birds," she says sarcastically. "Call me later, when you're done taking pictures of the turkeys.


The weird thing is, it's 5:30 p.m. and THEY ARE STILL OUT THERE!.

"Those turkeys are crazy," exclaims Stefan. "They're on the neighbor's roof, huddled around the chimney."

Sunset Strip

Guess where I was tonight at sunset??? That is correct. THE BEACH!

California State Parks Initiative

China Cove, Point Lobos State Park

I went on an amazing tour at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, a California State Park, today. An amazing docent gave me the grand tour. I was so impressed with her knowledge of the area.

Yep, my Mom, aka The Docent, never ceases to amaze me.

And remember, a YES vote on California's Proposition 21, is a vote to save our state parks. Vote YES on Propostion 21 on November 7th. Many of our area's best surf spots are located within California's State Parks.


Pinnacle Point, Point Lobos

Two Brothers 50th Memorial

Today marks the 50th anniversary of my mother's fathers death at sea. She has spent the last month gathering old news paper clippings, talking to people, in order to hold a memorial where the boat he was fishing on, crashed and sunk on the rocks of Point Pinos.

I didn't quite understand what she was doing, until I attended the memorial today. It's important to remember where we come from and today reminded me, I am descended from a fisherman.

Salt water runs through my veins. I find it ironic, that I play and find so much pleasure in the same ocean that wreaked tragedy on my family circle, four days before my Mother's 17th birthday.

It's also a sober reminder, that while I may be playing, the ocean plays for keeps.

Matching My Aura

I'm not really the Soccer Mom Van type. But if I were this sweet little VW Micro Bus would be my ride. Besides, it totally matches my aura. Cha.

Proud Mama

Vinny entered his first swim meet today. I had fun! I felt right at home. Everyone was walking around with wet hair, wearing beanies and warm jackets, just like me. That usually only happens at the beach.

I put Vinny on mini swim team, about a month ago with the idea that he would burn off any excess energy that seemed to be getting him into mischief. He enjoys swim practice so much, he made the jump from two days a week, to FOUR days a week. Serious dedication, Internet, since it isn't exactly swimming weather around here, anymore.

The swim meets are optional. But, when I asked him if he wanted to enter one, he said, "sure!"

And I'm positve, his willingness to give up a Saturday morning in bed with books, and video games, had nothing to do with the promise of "prizes" for all who enter the competition. Though the big expensive prize came from us parents, of course.

We bought him one of those long, fleece lined hundred dollar swim jackets at the meet. Yes, we love him, but that's not why we got him the jacket. It's cold in these parts, to cold to swim in my opinion (surfing is different Internet, it's never too cold to surf) so he deserves a little warmth for his suffering.

I'm really proud of him for making a great effort today at the meet.

Also, I look forward to the day, when he no longer gets caught reading WHILE HIS TEACHER IS LECTURING, and when I stop getting calls from school, that my son has been emailing SWEAR WORDS IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.

Yes, close your eyes and imagine my horror listening to that voice mail from, of all people, the GATE teacher! Ugh. And if I did swear on the blog, today, I would do it in a foreign language.

Oh what the heck, BELZYBOP! I feel better, now. Swear words are healing, and perhaps not all bad.

Sunrise

Today's stunning sunrise.

Story Time

Like

Glee Mountain High

If this video doesn't make you want to watch Glee, maybe this one will.......And in case it isn't clear yet, I HEART GLEE!!!!!!!

Beach Art

One of the things I love most about going to the beach, besides surfing great waves, is I never know what I'm going to find. A bar of surf wax, a bag of weeds, sand toys, a gold doubloon.

"Is there a painting on that log?" I ask.

Driftwood canvas.

"Yes," answers my BFF.

"I have to take a picture of that!" I say.

"I knew you were gonna say that," she says laughing.

"So did someone do the painting after the log beached itself, or before?" I ask.

"Yeah, it's been there for a week, " she says.

"Only a week?" I ask. "Are you sure? Part of the wood, it was painted on, is already missing. "

"Yeah, a week of waves, rain, and PEOPLE, will do it," she says.

Wow, that's so cool! An artist painted a picture for everyone at the beach to enjoy. I love that! It's truly amazing.

Modern Collective

I've been surfing over 20 years, and I'm as amped on surfing as a pre-pubescent teenager. Watching videos like the one above is how I keep my surf stoke grin. Also, the visual aid makes me surf better.

Staycation Do-Over

It's time again.  Time for setting alarms and coffee makers.   Time for packing lunches and setting out tomorrow's clothes.

I'm deeply mourning the loss of our gloriously relaxing week of surfing, frolicking, lounging and not having to be anywhere.

Not.  Having.  To.  Be.  Anywhere.

Goodbye, Staycation until we meet again. 

Xoxo,
Me

Sleep Over

"I'm having a sleep over tonight!" Gio excitedly tells a neighbor kid.

Yeah they were both looking forward to getting away from their nagging parents. And, of course, we are REALLY going to miss them. In a few hours. Maybe.

Sugarland Streaming Live Concert October 18

Sugarland is giving fans a free streaming live concert on you tube Monday October 18, 6p.m. pacific standard time. Apparently, the concert is kicking off opening day of their new cd, The Incredible Machine, which goes on sale October 19th.

Yeah baby girl! The only thing that would be cooler is if I can embed the concert, live on my blog......

Space shuttle

Rocket by Gio. Space Shuttle by Hubby.

"Make sure you get the wings in the picture," instructs Hubby.

"Yep, got 'em," I assure him.

Glee "Grilled Cheesus"

"Grilled Cheesus," where Finn makes a grilled cheese sandwich with Jesus' image, was not my favorite Glee episode. But it begs the age old questions, "Does God exist?" and "What is faith?"

The episode did a great job covering all the view points, from believers to non-believers, and reminded me of my own spirituality.

It's pretty simply really.

God is love.

Can I Get A Chair?

There's no where to sit in our house. Every single chair is being used in the fort. In fact, I'm sitting on a table right now, writing this blog.

Oh and did I mention, there's a perfectly fine fort outside, built just for the boys? A fort they haven't used much. A fort Hubby toiled over for hours building with his own two hands.

Plus the fort is outside. OUTSIDE!

That is all.

Ciao Bella Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato

When I'm in denial of my lactose intolerance issue, I like to hang out with Ciao Bella Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato. The chocolate is rich and creamy, with bits of hazelnuts in every bite.

Why does the good stuff have to be so bad?

Staycation

The boys and Hubby have  an entire week off from school.   We aren't going anywhere,  but when you live in paradise,  it's okay.

Yesterday, we didn't even get out of our PJs.   We veged on books,  video games,  TV,  and Netflix.  

Today,  we went to the beach.   Hubby and I got to surf some fun waves TOGETHER.  

Hooray!

All in all,  it's shaping up to be a great staycation.

ESPN The Body Issue

ESPN's Body Issue 2010 unveils top athletes in the buff, including surfer Kelly Slater. Don't worry it's totally tasteful and HOT. Uh, does anyone have a copy?

Crazy Hat Day

I had a mild panic attack the moment I realized Crazy Hat Day, fell on the same week as the Head Lice Health Alert.

Fort Ord Prescribed Burn

Looks like the prescribed  Fort Ord burn is on,  hopefully the wind will cooperate, by staying calm.

Ellen Degeneres Important Message

Today's technology makes it easy to degrade another person's life, by making their private life public. We must educate kids in online ethics, now.

Field Trip Santa Lucia Preserve

Vinny doing a leaf rubbing.

I got to go on an awesome field trip with Vinny to Santa Lucia Preserve. Field trips are the best, even if I have to ride the bus to get there.

"It's loud on this bus," says Vinny.

"Yeah," I say.

"Can you imagine how loud it would if there were two classes on the bus, instead of just one?"

Here's a few pictures.

The class.

Owl nests.

Giants of the forest, Redwoods.

Pack Your Trash

I collected this small bag of trash in less than five minutes at the beach. Nearly all of the litter, primarily food wrappings, was on the main pathway to the beach. In other words, where there's people, there's trash.

50th Annual Carmel Beach Sand Castle Contest

The little mermaid's all grown up ;) .

Yes, there was an actual castle.

First place in the horse race,
and proud winner of the Golden Shovel.

Ringo Star.

Born to be wild.

Look B! A 1964 Split Window VW Van

"It wasn't a rock. It was a rock lobster."

57 Chevy, Baby.

Make A Wish.

Hey I'm not 50, yet.

Yertle The Turtle.

"I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden in the shade."

Sunset

Just a few pictures from last night's amazing sunset!

Abusive Relationship

I feel like I'm in an abusive relationship. Yesterday, the Ocean tossed me around like a rag doll, right before she beach slapped me. At least no one was on the beach to see.