Finally, (working) Vacation Time

The problem with California is not that there's nothing to blog about. The problem is that there is way too much to blog about and I can't decide on a single thing. I have a ton of pictures but they aren't uploading, so you will have to settle for brilliant prose.

When I got here I was not as excited as I thought I would or should be. There is good public transportation and lots of fuel efficient cars on the road. I thought that would be exciting, but it wasn't. Just different. The big moment came a few days later whe I saw a real live tree sit on campus. I am in California for real now! Very exciting.

Then I went downtown to buy a book and ended up buying the latest BWR. I had nothing to do with the issue but I loved seeing it so far from home in one of the snazziest bookstores I've ever been to. I read it on the beach.

Friday was July 4 so we wandered around a bit. Some girls I work with got sneezed on by a sea lion. One thought it was cool and one had a slight meltdown. Word got around and people are saying the sea lion vomited on them. Don't believe the hype. It was just snot.

Fireworks were outlawed because of the fires so the official town show was cancelled. Instead of a professional show, people just gather on the beach and shoot illegal fireworks all night. It was kind of fun, then terrifyingly fun, then just terrifying. You could see the moment where we were sitting and watching and decided maybe we would be better off in a more mobile position. When it looked like live fireworks were going to fall on us we got moving. I caught one of the little parachutes they are attached to. I can see why so many people die or are disfigured by fireworks. Don't tell my mom about this.

Saturday I went to the biggest baddest yoga class I've ever been to. Even the yoga is big out here. When the class was over people introduced themselves and invited me to tea. Can you believe that? I'm going back on Thursday.

After that I went to a shop where I'd seen some lotus-shaped lamps in the window to find out how much they cost and if I can have them shipped.
Me: I love this place!
Owner: I love you!
Saturday was a big day for kindness from strangers. On Sunday I went downtown and witnessed a parade of girls in wedding dresses, enormous crowns and fake fur capes, which was a mystery. But I learned that it was the feast day of Saint Isabella, Queen of Portugal. She sold all of her jewels, etc., during a famine to feed the citizens, and they attributed the end of the drought to her prayers. So these girls have a ceremony once a year to honor her and take on that role in their communities.

The moral of this post is that in Santa Cruz all I have to do is get on the downtown bus for $1.50, and the magic will find me.

Happy Fourth!

I gave you all a Mariah-themed post on this day last year. Let's make it a tradition:

I will be back soon with news of CA.