LA Weekend

So we took it upon ourselves to check out Los Angeles. Saturday morning we loaded up the pooches and headed for downtown. Our destination, the L.A. Farmer's Market. I drove us through the San Fernando Valley, home to the movie Valley Girl and also where I went to PT school, then it was over Cahuenga Pass and into the heart of LA.

It has been a very long time since I've been to Los Angeles. And we were right downtown. It was quiet and we were able to drive around and take it all in. From the central business district, we headed for the farmer's market. Interestingly enough, it's right in the middle of Hollywood. It has been going for 75 plus years and, in true Hollywood, California fashion, sits right beside a HUGE shopping experience called the Grove. But hey, we weren't complaining, because lots of star-sightings occur there...just ask TMZ!

So we hung out, looking for movie stars and ate at a nice taqueria. Then it was off to the Sunset Strip, past the Whiskey a Go-Go and the Roxy. These were some of the clubs that we would go to in our early 20's to check out bands, get a little wild and try not to get arrested. Sunset is one of the most scenic drives anywhere in the Southland. It takes you from Hollywood to Beverly Hills, past Bel Air and into Pacific Palisades, before dropping you off at PCH and the beach. En Route we decided to stop by a park and walk the dogs.

Okay, picture the two of us and our three rowdy dogs walking in a nice park in P.P. Needless to say, I felt a little like the Beverly hillbillies. But they behaved themselves and all was going swell...until we ran into the Paparazzi. Yes, I'm talking the real deal here. Turns out Jennifer Garner was playing with her daughter Violet on the playground while husband, Ben Affleck held the baby. (Please don't read too much into this. Susan gave me the details) Now I would've gotten a nice shot of them, but Susan threatened be with bodily harm if I was going to follow suit with the Paparazzi, so no picture was taken. We did get within about 50 feet of them and it was definitely them. Wow, mission accomplished with my quest to see a movie star!

The afternoon was spent walking around Santa Monica and finally driving back up the coast to Ventura. It was a great day, one for the books. Maybe it was the nostalgia, maybe the holiday weekend, who knows. Only thing I know is that you can take the boy out of California, but can't take California completely out of the boy.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

From our little corner of the world to yours, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Strolling on State St

Friday night, we decided to drive up the coast and bask in the holiday spirit on State St in Santa Barbara. It was lovely night and the town was decorated and festive.

Plus, on the way up, the sun was just sinking into the Pacific. It was like watching a living watercolor as the colors shifted, brightened, muted and swirled.

We wandered along and found the BEST Indian restaurant, All India Cafe. Ok, just typing that made me hungry! It was so good I thought Erik was going to move in and never leave. Afterwards, we strolled along with the other holiday shoppers and checked out the shops. What a perfect way to end the week!

Peeping Tom

This is our neighbor, Tom. Tom is a peculiar sort of fellow and he lives in the tree next to our motorhome.

Unfortunately, Tom has no social skills and doesn't find it at all rude to peer in our windows whenever the mood strikes...and it strikes ALOT.

Since it can be quite disconcerting to have someone peering in at you when you're, say, taking a shower, we did our best to dissuade him from his new hobby......

...to no avail.

Who knew we were so interesting? I guess we should be flattered and, quite frankly, it could be worse. It could be Stan from Poughkeepsie who's living in the fifth wheel two spaces down peering in at us. Yep, when you look at it that way, Tom seems quite alright. Happy peeping, Tom!

Surf's Up

Those huge waves that hit the North Shore of Hawaii a few days ago are starting to reach us here on the California coast...and the surfers are in heaven! They're expecting 12 to 14 foot waves here and up in Santa Barbara they're warning that the waves could get as big as 19 feet!

The atmosphere is reminiscent of a block party with surfers and supporters coming out to watch the action.

Even the dolphins showed up to play. For you surfers out there who can't be here to enjoy it, check out the web album at the top left side of the page.

Cowabunga, dude!

Holiday Magic

This weekend was the Christmas Tree lighting at the San Buenaventura Mission in downtown Ventura so, of course, Erik and I had to go check it out. It was such a beautiful night and the holiday spirit was in the air.

Since we started this little adventure a year ago, we've been so lucky to be part of quite a few community events from Alaska to California but it still gives me goosebumps to be involved in them. I look around at the faces of our temporary community and watch the smiles, excitement, the greetings of neighbors and friends and I wonder what life is like in their corner of the world. The young family with the little children, the older couple holding hands, the teenagers grouped on the corner...are they happy? Do they love their community? Where are they going when they leave this gathering? What will they be doing when the sun comes up tomorrow? Are they desperate to get out or do they consider themselves lucky to be planted exactly where they are?

This night I know I was content to be exactly where we were, holding hands on a cool night in December standing under the warm glow of the streetlights surrounded by a couple hundred people with upturned faces waiting with bated breath for the sparkling lights on the towering pine to be illuminated. And when they were, to be part of the collective gasp, the reverent clapping and to listen to the voices of the children's choir, singing solemn Christmas carols, float softly into the night.

May you and your families have a lovely holiday season!

Ventura, California

So we're back in California, but this time we're doing it right. I landed a nice job in Southern California and we have settled into the Ventura Beach RV Resort.
We LOVE it here.
No more cold, wet, windy weather, endless sunshine and lots to see and do.
Did I say we love it here?

Mission San Buenaventura


Ventura is a cool town. It's a mix of Indy shops and restaurants with
miles of beach loaded with surfers, cyclists and runners.

Strolling on the Ventura Pier


So we are already checking out what this town has to offer.
Tony's Pizza, the taco stand on the corner or the surf shop on Seaward.

Susan is Cruisin'

Paddleboarding anyone?
(something we both want to try)

Susan's Grandmother's old home at the beach

There will be plenty more pictures and stories to come.