Jenny, Mickey Mouse & staunch copyright infringement.

Jenny, about to model her new Mickey head band.

I made it with love for her birthday.

Macaroons made with love for the Matterhorn.

Jenny loved eating Mickey's head. Who wouldn't?

Another awesome pose waiting for Peter Pan.

Not a macaroon, the actual matterhorn.

Jenny & Brandon, not a complete bob sled team.

Me & Ben... now we can slalom.

Santa Monica

Also known as: the place we saw Kevin Spacey! Yup, we did. Monika spotted him on the Santa Monica Pier. The sighting was confirmed by me, Mom, and Ben. That means it's legitimate. You have to admit, that's a decent way to cap a California trip. I believe this was also the night Ben showed Mom his latest music video, the one I kept humming the entire weekend, and the teaser video for the new Beastie Boys album + video. What?! Yeah. Let's talk about: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Jack Black, Ted Danson, Jason Schwartzman, Rainn Wilson, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Steve Buscemi, Elijah Wood, Seth Rogan, Danny McBride, Will Arnett, and Chloë Sevigny? And the Beasties. Future us's are complete idiots.  Fight For Your Right: Revisited. Watch it!

Santa Monica Pier

I think we're all on the same team here, and that's the "no pie, no sledgehammer" team. Have you watched the Beastie Boys video yet? I'm going to watch it again right now.

Ty Warner Sea Center

Here's what I hummed to myself while in California:
Malibu, Tenacious D Please note that we did not visit Malibu, but I hummed nonetheless.
California, Phantom Planet We did drive down the 101. And we saw dolphins.
Lay Down Burden, Brian Wilson And yes, I do realize that both this and California are from the Orange County Soundtrack (or the OC. Don't call it that.).
We Can Do This, The New Miracle (aka Ben) For reals. I think Monika heard me a couple times. I also have a little dance, which I kept well under wraps.
Beverly Hills, Weezer Been there.


Most of the humming took place inside Monika and Ben's place (which might be termed a bungalow?). I find myself humming at the oddest times. It's a comfort thing, I bet. And I sincerely hope that my humming is an entirely voluntary function and not roped up in my subconscious primitive reptilian brain--because I don't want to be the weird girl humming unconsciously. No sir, I do not. 


OK let's talk about the Ty Warner Sea Center! Located on the scenic Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara, the Ty Warner is an extension of the SB Museum of Natural History (which we did not visit).  Admission is $8.00 for adults and believe me, that is money well spent.

Ty Warner Sea Center

We took pictures by this crazy octopus.

It had these suckers. When Monika saw this picture, she scrunched
up her nose. You know what that means: ewwww.



We took pictures of everything.



Baby swell sharks. Yup, we touched some of these. No biggie.

Here's Mom holding an old shark egg.

And Monika crouching beneath the wave pool.

And cetaceans hanging from the ceiling!

Tomorrow: more creatures of the sea...

California Adventure!

The California mini-break is over. I've been back in Washington since Sunday afternoon, and guess what? My seasonal allergies were waiting to welcome me. I was not prepared. BUT let's not talk about that. Instead, we should talk about California and the adventures contained therein. I'm still organizing my thoughts and waiting for Mother to email me a few of her pictures (which means there might be a bonus California post sometime mid-June), so this is just a snack.

Stuff that happened in California in no particular order:
1. Monika made soy chorizo breakfast sandwiches with tomatoes and avocado, and Ben made bruschetta and asparagus/tofu stir fry (not on the same night).
2. Someone gave Mom wine...more than once (It was Monika and Ben!).
3. Mom and I met and instantly loved Jim Simone.
4. We saw Kevin Spacey on the Santa Monica pier.
5. We ate from a Mexican fusion gourmet taco truck in the middle of an L.A. windstorm.
6. Animatronic prehistoric beasts were enjoyed.
7. I let Monika and Ben's dogs, Olive and Lucca, lick me--that's a big deal right there.
8. Succulents were pilfered (by Monika, shhhh).
9. We sat in the living room and read a short story from Alfred Hitchcock presents: Stories NOT for the Nervous (purchased by me at Illiad Bookshop).
10. Mom, Monika, and I touched some sea creatures. We'll get into that tomorrow...

It's oh so quiet...it's oh so still...

Yesterday my beau and I went up to the beautiful Burbank Hills and took a stroll. It was very lovely, and very serene. The path we walked on went from canyon to crest of the hills surrounding the valley. It was a wonderful day in November, 80 degrees and sunny with a nice cooling breeze. Through out our visit we happened on several creatures and treasures. No mammals, but we saw numerous reptile and raptors. Please enjoy a brief and pleasant journey down this lovely little path in the shadows. On our way up we were able to stop and enjoy some beautiful vantage points. If you look in the distance you can see L.A.

We also made a new little flying friend. I noticed this hawk after I heard him screech to his lady hawk and then they flew around like the crows at the end of Rats of Nimh. It was lovely except they should have had some pretty colored yarn to make aerial hearts with. Next time.

I almost stepped on this little friend, but didn't because I thought he was a skittle. He really didn't choose the best shelter as he was lying on top of a small flat rock in the dead center of the path. He really should have seen he was exposed with all of his prominent eyes.

Oh, I had found this before the spider. It's a very special treasure! This is the only one I could reach off of the tree without falling into some brush that was making some rustling noises. No doubt a mammal, though we didn't see any.

It is lovely and has four cavities separated with thin walls. By the look of the prickly spikes on the exterior, the interior must have been something pretty coveted and amazing.

This is the treasure that Ben found, well he found others, I found this one as my gift to him.

Another lovely little hill.

All in all a nice, quiet, warm afternoon in the desert.

fin.