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Published: September 30th 2008
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Jessica Monster!
Ocean Beach Shopping Down Time Welcome
My Arrival and First Day Los Angeles to San Diego may possibly be the longest two-hour drive I have ever made! I made it, nonetheless, to Jessica's homestead where I was warmly welcomed and allowed to sleep to my body's content. And that I did. An excellent nights sleep and slow-start had me rejuivinated and ready to tour Ocean Beach, San Diego with Jessica Jean and her boyfriend, Roel. We tooled around the area checking out the beachy shops and vendors as well as enjoying the finest foods offered. After recounting to them what my trip thus far had contained, Jessica was baffled by my staying in hostels after having seen only the first half of the movie (she could stomach the soft-core porn part, it was the toe-cutting that did her in, I suppose). I told her I had never seen the movie and she told me I should. So I made a deal: If she'll walk into the local Ocean Beach Hostel with me to look around, then I'll watch the movie. It took a little prodding, but with her white knight (Roel) by her side, she entered. Although it
Rasta Roel
Ocean Beach Shopping was completely lacking the Slovakian look of the movie and certain characters, she was still unsettled that I would stay in such a place. I held to my end of the deal. She and I were able to watch the movie in it's entirety (skipping some unnecessary parts) with only an eight hour intermission. This partly due to her insistence that I tell her who/what Bloody Mary is, other than the drink she was familiar with. I definately enjoyed telling her about it...I get that from my mom....and she is such a Suarez!
Wednesday: Cabrillo National Monument Today Jessica and I dedicated to explore the wonder that is Cabrillo NM and Point Loma. We checked the tide charts and headed down to the intertidal pools, moseying around looking at all the small crustaceans and anemones. I searched desperately hoping to spot an octopus or some sea stars, but it was to no avail. Leaving the little pools behind we checked out the historical parts of the monument. Located on the southern-most tip of Point Loma, we could see Coranado military base, harbors, sailboats, open ocean and the city, all from the one point. We enjoyed
an educational video about Gray Whales and their migratory and mating habits. After this we ascended the lighthouse and scoped out the history of the keepers there. After seeing all we could see, we headed back to the homestead, stopping on the way for an obligatory dog at Wienerschnitzel. Classic.
Thursday: Two Left Feet This was a laid-back kinda day. Jessica and I sat around watching dvds like Deathproof (the second half DID redeem it!) and Friends. The day flew, but wasn't wasted in my opinion. We got ourselves together and headed to the Hilton for a free Salsa dancing lesson followed by, you guessed it, Salsa dancing. Jessica and I were perfectly content watching, but a persistant and partner-less gentlemen couldn't be persuaded and Jessica, so kindly, pushed me to the floor. I explained I had never Salsa danced before and, that aside, have two left feet. My partner, Raoul, was undeterred. I imagine dancing with me was much like dancing with a corpse. Reminiscent of the video "Last Dance With Mary Jane" by Tom Petty. I was barely able to keep up with the steps let alone move my hips in a half-crazed fashion.
Cabrillo Nat'l Monument
The stairs in the lighthouse...they would'nt let us on the roof Despite all this ridiculousity (yeah, I said it) I had a LOT of fun! Once the dancing actually started, unsuspecting men kept requesting I dance, and Jessica continued pimping me out. Eventually I stopped fighting. By the end of the night I could no longer feel my throbbing feet and could think of nothing but getting out into the cool night air.
I survived. And so did everyone else, I think. I'm toying with the thought of giving it another go, but after you see the video, you may want to dissuade me. I won't blame you a bit.
Friday: LaZy DaY As if I hadn't spent enough time just lazing around yesterday morning, today I was far more committed. I have no recollection of seeing sunshine, but I don't necessarily regret that. An entire day spent on the couch was a day well spent as far as I am concerned. Just shot the breeze with Jessica, her roommate and boyfriend and watched one of my fave tv series, Arrested Development. Stephanie joined us via the telephone later in the evening to catch up on some "Lost" time. Jessica is letting me borrow the series so
Jessica and Roel
Salsa Dancers Extrodinaire! we can continue our international t.v. nights. It had just been too long since we got our last dose.
Saturday Night's Alright Adams Avenue Street Fair was today so Roel, Jess and I went down to check out their musical neighbor, Rob Deez at LeStat's Ale House. The music was, um, interesting. Not my style, but it was mildly entertaining. We checked out all the fair had to offer and I tried a Pupusa for the first time. No, this isn't a Native American child in a backpack...har har. It was reccommended by my ethnic friend (: and wasn't half bad. Later, Jessica and I joined her friend Inna (Spelling?) for some frozen yogurt and Indian food, in that order. Stuffed and tired we headed home for the night.
Sunday: Last Day in Diego? I think not. I joined Jess and Roel in the morning and we checked out the farmers market then attended their church in National City. It's always interesting seeing how other churches are doin' it, and everyone was very warm to me. The message itself was difficult to hear, but getting past all that, I was happy to
get a different perspective from what I have grown so familiar with. Jessica and I had lunch, loaded up the car and I was off. Getting only three blocks away, I realized I wanted to check the oil before I forgot. I pulled over, checked it, added a little, and hopped back it. Click. That's all I hear when I try to start the engine. Again, click. Oh, this isn't good. I try to look around but nothing is popping out at me to be in error state. It's the starter. I just know it. Being Sunday, I know I won't find a nearby mechanic. And I recall the feeling I had earlier in the morning that I shouldn't leave today. Realizing now, that it wasn't shouldn't, but couldn't. Back to Jessica's, we hung out, gave Steph a call and watched some more Lost.
Monday: Cheers to USAA Starting early, I called USAA and had them tow my vehicle to a nearby mechanic who, after thorough inspection, decided my starter had gone out. I played the money game and he agreed to check the prices for the part at NAPA (whom I also called) and knocked off another fiddy bucks. I am hopeful to go to Big Bear Mountain Lake in Joshua Tree National Forest, but now have a nagging insecurity about my car. What can you do, though? Gotta trust and embrace the adventure, right? Well, here goes nothin. I'll let ya know how it turns out.
~Angie
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Amanda
non-member comment
Told ya so!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like San Diego has been a heck of a time! And you're much too modest when it comes to your dancing capabilities...I seem to remember some little freshman boogying the night away with upperclassmen at the first mixer of the year! Two left feet be damned! We got rythym, yo! And I'm so glad (thank you Jessica!) that you went ahead and finished Deathproof! Did we not tell you that the second half would totally change the movie? (Now watching Hostel...definitely goes against MY better judgement!) And it's California! Not backwoods Estonia! (It's that Suarez flair for the dramatic that we all love!) Love you! Uckas!