We buckled in Colby Jack.
(Monkey also came.
So did Wally the Platypus.)
We saw snow on the mountains.
(But where we were going,
there was no snow.)
It was down there somewhere.
Underneath all the smog.
Finally, we could see something.
Ah, yes, an airport parking lot.
We got our Ford Escape.
Look, the underside of a plane!
We drove our car to our hotel.
(Such a lovely place…such a lovely place.
Such a lovely face…such a lovely face.)
Threw down our bags and hit Muscle Beach.
But instead of showing our biceps,
we hung upside down.
Happy happy.
Spring Break for all!
ybonesy, so great to hear from you in sunny California (though I can see from your plane shot, it’s smoggy California!). I really like the underbelly shot of the plane, too, flying out of the frame.
Looks like you all had a good time. What was the Hotel California like? I’ve missed you this week. Will be happy to have you back at the Ravine! 8)
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Hotel California is very quaint. It has a beautiful terraced courtyard overlooking the ocean, and the rooms are lovely. We didn’t get one of the really great rooms — ours faced Ocean Blvd and was loud, but that’s OK. We slept pretty well.
BTW, this Hotel California was the one in Santa Monica. I think there’s one in San Francisco, too.
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yb, it sounds so great to walk by the ocean. I talked to my mother yesterday and she mentioned that a trip to the ocean sounded really relaxing about now. It made me realize it’s been a while since I’ve been. I miss it.
So how was the beach? Did you get to plant your feet in the sand? And did you make it home?
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YB, Ahhh, sunny Socal…love it! Here’s a limerick to the beach I frequented as a kid. Pacific Coast Highway, one of my favorite roads…from Santa Monica, drive north, make a right turn just past Malibu and head over the mountains home to the San Fernando Valley. Yes, I was a Valley Girl.
for Veronica
I played harmonica in
Santa Monica
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yb,
If you’re still in Santa Monica, check out Bergamot Station for some very cool art galleries and the best Chai tea latte in the land! It’s a local secret of the S.M. folks, well hidden in a tiny little cafe next to a vintage clothing store (great cookies for the girls too). If not, next time!
oliverowl,
PCH is my favorite as well! But I’m from “Behind the Orange Curtain” so the only “Valley” I can speak is “Peel me off the ceiling with a spatula” and of course “totally”. 😉
QM…get to the ocean…soon! You and Liz should take Mom with ya! Head West. I’m in sandals!
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nuvue,
While at Cal, I dated a guy from Orange, “the place where guys have appeal (a peel!)” he told everyone. He was a street car conductor at Disneyland when it first opened…that tells how old I am!!
I would love to be by the ocean again…breathe in some briny breeze!
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heather (anuvue) and oliverowl, though the West Coast sounds lovely (some of my favorite beaches are in Oregon and northern California), we might be headed more to the East. Liz just logged into the HGTV site and she’s trying to win the new HGTV Green home in Hilton Head, South Carolina. It’s right outside of Savannah, so works perfectly for a place to continue research on the memoir. And Liz could set up an East Coast video studio. (Mom and oliverowl can relax, write, draw, paint, whatever they want!)
oliverowl, since you’ve got some Southern roots, too, maybe you, me, Liz, and Mom, should try to win the Hilton Head Green home! I’ll have to come back and add the link!
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Okay, Liz just sent the link to win the HGTV Hilton Head Green home. And I’m adding a Wiki link that’s pretty good on the history of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. SIGN UP! LET’S WIN!
Win the Hilton Head Green Home (LINK)
About Hilton Head Island (LINK)
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Heather, it will need to be next time. We did get some local tips on places to eat — great food and not too expensive. One Italian place on the corner of Colorado and 6th. Mmmm, I’m going to try to make a Pasta Puttanesca that comes somewhat close to tasting like that one did.
QM, we got home with no hitches. I’m glad we have today to recuperate. I’m refreshed enough to pick up with a courtyard cleaning project that I started before we left, but the Dee is still asleep.
oliverowl, I love your limerick and your pun (or, well, the guy’s pun). Southern California is such it’s own place. I hadn’t been there since Dee was about 3 (I took her to Santa Monica then; we stayed at the Loew’s next door to Hotel California). I’m so glad we went.
QM, Hilton Head is supposed to be so gorgeous. Isn’t it a big place for golfers? Your idea of combining memoir research with a trip to the beach sounds great. It would be fun, too, to make it a daughter-mother trip all around.
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p.s., Heather, it was fun wearing sandals 8) .
It’s going to hit the low 70s here today, so I guess I can keep them out now. But yes, walking on the beach, sticking my toes into the sand — not another feeling like it!
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QM,
Thanks for the link, I entered the contest & took the tour. What a super house…love it! I’ll enter every day.
But now, (yawn,) I’m off to bed. to dream about Hilton Head & a dream house.
YB, Glad you had a nice, although brief visit. Would you believe my favorite place to lunch when I’ve driven “over the hill,” is the Farmers’ Market at 6th & Fairfax? Heather, (now that I know your name, if I may be so bold,) have you ever been there? The salads, seafood, Eggplant Parmigiano are favorites, besides the ambiance. When I was last there, in 2000, it hadn’t changed…same rickety green metal tables & chairs outdoors, surrounded by all the vendors, boutiques & delicious smells I remembered from my very much younger days. There was talk then, of a major remodeling, I hope they didn’t change it too drastically.
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Hi, loved reading about your spring break vacation in California. We just got back from San Diego. We stayed at a bungalow at Ocean Beach. We nearly came to Santa Monica, might have run into you there. …I’m ready to move to the beach!
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I love eating in Farmer’s Markets. There’s one in Denver, in the neighborhood my sister lives in (Cherry Creek), and the prepared food is so yummy. In fact, I’m hungry now just thinking about a fresh smoothie and maybe something spicy, like Asian something.
Carolyn, I knew about three NM-based families who were in Southern California last week, you guys being one. Two were in the LA area. It would have been a cool surprise running into any of you. Hope your trip was fun. You guys took the train, right?
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Fantastic images. Have a great trip!
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[…] up walking into the administration office and sheepishly asking for a room. We’ve been to Santa Monica, at the Hotel California, and when we drove into the parking lot from the airport—you […]
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