Endless Summer

Back from a week of sand and surf. It was, in a word, Heavenly.* As promised, I'm working on a slide show. Thanks to D for the new lenses. And thanks to all surfers who participated. Especially Cole. You're my fave. For like ever.

Oh, California

Thought I’d never reach the water

Had to cross the desert and the great divide
Drinking only golden promises
With white lines in my eyes

Oh, California
It’s the one big love that you cannot end
Oh, California
It’s not like before but we can still pretend

Oh, California
I can see you now from the top of that hill
Oh, California
Though many have gone I have the memories still
Oh, California
I can hear the sound of the mission bell
Oh, California
We’re one stone’s throw from heaven

|lyrics by Colin Hay, photo by me|

*Holla to an injured wave rider. May your wounds heal soon. Thanks for teaching me in the wise ways of the Surfer Dude.

Swallowed Whole

Remember that time we stood here and watched the glowing orange sun, so big and round, get swallowed in the sea? Then I thought of this song:

And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well, that's where I belong
And you belong with me

The streets you're walking on
A thousand houses long
Well, that's where I belong
And you belong with me

You belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea
Yeah, you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea.

i was here.

Around this time two weeks ago tonight, I sat in California, my hair pulled up in a loose French twist, soaking in a hot tub. I drank root beer straight from the cooler, and hollered at Mason to bring "more chocolate donut cookies, please!" Just as my mouth spread wide to make the -ease! of please, a plate of chocolate donut cookies appeared out of nowhere, napkins included, as not to cloud the hot tub with powder sugar fingers. No, Mason is not my butler, and no, he is not for hire. He's just a sweet kid who was ordered around all weekend. He loved it. Who wouldn't love to wait on three hot babes, hand and foot? We should have paid him!

The moon was full, the water 98 degrees, and the air smelled of orange juice. Blossoming vines ventured off, creating symmetry in espallier. A fire crackled and whooshed in the outdoor fireplace, drying wet hands and hair as we lounged on the patio after night swimming. As M and I fell asleep in the guest bedroom, hair still damp and legs pleasurably sore from a morning jaunt in the mist of the California hills, I couldn't help but think, To heck with it all! I'm moving next week.

This week popcorn popped on apricot trees as heavy flakes of snow blanketed spring grass. I arrived home that night to find a note scribbled across the chalkboard. California: May 16-18. Mason, fetch me my slippers.

Ready Setty Getty.

Taking cue from Anteaters and Titans, here's a post to butter up any Getty-lovers. I love The Getty, LA and was recently talking to a friend about The Getty Villa in Malibu, which I've never been to. Jen, Moof, Kellie, are you ready for a reunion trip? I think we need to hit up Malibu! What do you say? I've done a little browsing on the website (thanks to Meka's post) and I'm in. Any takers? Say, in February, perhaps? Here's a picture (above) from our Los Angeles trip four years ago. Check out the link for The Getty Villa. A little taste of Pompeii, right in Kellie's back yard!