FOOD is a four-letter word

Been a little busy since May - so let me shorten up about 4 weeks into one blog post.  Went to spend the weekend with Chris since Rebecca was out of town for a while. Went a little something like this:

We ate lots of junk food. We were gluttons as per our visits. Watched the Solar Eclipse. Brother taught me how to smoke a stogie. Then I went home.  Next weekend that I came down: Ate more junk food which included, but was not limited to: Ribs, Randy's donuts, smores with Reeses cups/symphony bars, and this amazing french toast made with leftover blueberry Kellogs cereal, sourdough bread, and a ton of brown sugar/cinnamon. Then I got to hang out with these guys - they're awesome. Mojo on the left, is a great bed warmer. Toby on the right...well he's "special". They pretty much slept with me every night.

This was most delicious and amazing thing!

Then we headed to Redondo Beach where I simply laid out in the sun while my bro went wake boarding. I can safely say, by the end of the trip, I was a suprising (slight) tanner person than my brother.

Next weekend I hit up the Adams Avenue Art Show and met this awesome guy that created the work below. (I'll insert his info/name here later because I don't have it on me). He's from Hawaii and did work for a guy in Seattle turning all of his basement into a large mural. Kid was totally chill - and he loved working for the guy cuz it was a free place to stay on the mainland and he supplied him with all his food and beer during the time he was doing the artwork.  Also enjoyed a lot of murals on the walls along the 2 miles strip of art.

I also enjoyed the company of my Aussie roommate, Helen, which ended up being a night of us at the clubs, dancing, drinking, me walking her to pizza joint at 3am, walking her to the hostel, getting her up to the room and me playing Beer Pong, crap talking, and hanging with marines I met along the way til 5:30 in the morning. Don't worry, I got up nice and early the next day.  I also had a very coloful conversation with a few of the guys that were hitting on us all night and one I won't repeat here when a man said, "Are you two lesbians? Cuz you're being pretty rude right now." I decided to instigate a more lively conversation. He didn't like that.
After all this wonderfulness - I ended my fun filled time with HOUSING! Yes, I finally secured housing after being in San Diego and staying at a hostel for almost 8 weeks, I don't want to look at my debit card bill and see how much I spent. Sad to leave the group, but happy to have housing, we celebrated. How do you celebrate in America? WITH FOOD!

I made Reese's pb chip fudge brownies, amazing Jackie made little tacos with verde sauce and hommade guacamole, and Alyssa brought the wine.

After a round of beer pong and games, we followed it up the next morning with waffles, Little Italy tours, Farmer's Markets, and shopping at Ross. All these sweets, some are sugar-free, some are vegan friendly, all are gluten-free! My favorite item from shopping was this Irish flag, the Irish girls bought to hang at the hostel: "Irish Drinking Team, Try To Keep Up".

Suns Out, Guns Out

Sunday, last day to explore SD so I decided to go to Coronado, due to it's beauty, repertoire, and to of course scratch it off my list. This is better known as "Rich People Island".  Beach clothes on, burrito in hand, I was ready to go!  After scoring parking, I walked around town to get a sense. You know you have reached military Coronado when you see this on a house:

What better way to get acquainted than to check out the Visitors Center & Museum?  Plus, I had no idea how to get to the beach and I didn't want to look like a tourist.  Interesting stuff in there, I believe to the bottom right you will see the first version of foodstamps (almost a historic Mecca for AmeriCorps VISTAs)

Most of the items in here were from the military during WWII and I talked to an older Gentlemen from Wisconsin who said he remembers a bit of this time period (he was 6 during WWII). We had a good conversation about wars, military, and my job and then parted ways.  I strutted on down to the beach in excitement and upon arriving realized I had no suit on.  I found the bathroomn - ok we are in business.  This bathroom was dirty, but not nearly as bad as the bathrooms at Pacific Beach - with an inch of pee and toilet paper water on the floor, which I then dumped the contents of my clutch wallet into. And left my flip flops in.

Beautiful Coronado Beach - Rest of Island in the distance

Reading about Surfing Mishaps & Sharks

Rules, we don't need no stinking RULES!

Damn, Military Islands are strict, can you see this sign?  No smoking, vehicles prohibited, no alcohol beverages, no glass containers, no dogs, no nudity, no kite flying (REALLY?). Warning Stingrays and Tsunami hazard zone. So basically, no fun and scared as shit.  Good to go.

Here is where I allowed my vain self to get the better half of me and in turn I paid dearly. Laying in the slightly overcast beach I thought, maybe I will get some sun before putting on sunscreen (mistake #1) I mean my arms are actually tan just from getting burned in LA traffic sun, so maybe if I get a short burn out here it will turn into a tan as well (mistake #2).  It was overcast for about 5 minutes and then the massive ball of flame came out. I thought, 'Good, don't have to wait as long before I put on sunscreen'.  Ate my burritto which definitely had sand in it from the wind, along with my towel which was buried, all my clothes on the beach, and all over my body.  I didn't know you could have sand trapped in your scalp, but there it was.  Then - - - I fell asleep. Yes in the California sun with only a bit of sunscreen on my legs.  I woke up to heat.  I didn't notice red yet so I assumed I was in the clear (mistake #3)

Coronado Beach Sand - Glitter on the floor

Can this be my "Every Day"?

The sand near the water on Coranodo Beach looks like glitter and gold!  It legitimately has a gold color all over.   To get a better view I think you need to come see it for yourself (hint hint).

Life's short, make art & let it be seen

Friday they tried to trap me in the office in front of my computer, but I escaped by assisting in a kayaking trip (actually my direct supervisor suggested it) Sorry - gotta cut the kids out of pics, don't think I have permission to use them.

Learning the ways of the paddle

Kayaking to Tidelands Park for lunch - Coronado

San Diego - Coronado Bay Bridge: 2 mile bridge ascends curving 80 degrees toward San Diego

We kayaked out and under the bridge to the Park, ate lunch, paddled back (enjoyed reading the ridiculous things people name their boats) and then soaked up the sun.  I feel a little more prepared for the kayaking adventures with the military youth, although, I am surprised at how people can be confused about how to turn a kayak. If you want to go left, paddle left. If you want to stop or slow down, paddle backward. How is this confusing?  Also learned that my communication with the kids needs to be better - when they can actually understand my thick Midwest accent. It's weird, it's like once I get around a group of Cali kids, my accent gets thicker. "Oh my GAWD" and "Oh YEA?" which was pointed out by Instructor Ben.

First weekend off from work - Get out and see Saint Diago.

I would like to note that gas here can go to hell - now that that's out of the way, I packed up beach clothes and headed to North Park.  North Park is an artsy fartsy neighborhood of San Diego. Downtown North Park contains the Ray Street Arts District, which holds a gallery walk the second Saturday of every month (check it out). Here's some of the street art you will see on Ray: 

Stopped in at Cirello Gallery on Ray Street, which I recommend to anyone who is awesome (if you're not epic, then don't go). Matt there is pretty boss and willing to talk about any artwork and make suggestions. He makes the jewelry and owns the shop and I was drawn right into Sarah Stieber's artwork. Let's be honest, it's because it looks like a mural which in my mind is a more artistic and refined version of graffiti (neo-expressionism, baby!).  She's from, I believe, Philly - of course - and since she's from the East Coast, I already like her, and her artwork is, well, for lack of a better descriptive word, incredible. She's only 22 years old - impressive!

Crazy Dreams

Pace & Love

Pupusas - Better than a Burrito!

Monday was my day off after Surf Training and since I don't know much of San Diego, I decided to start with some tourist attractions.  I checked out a possible housing option - which turned into a No. I refuse to pay $600 for such a small room, although the surf rack above the closet was swaying me towards a yes.

Looking for parking was an adventure in itself as always. I went to Balboa Park and walked the cactus garden and the rose garden, it was planted in 1935. I love desertesque scenes so this was a wonderful way to spend the day.

After this nice little stroll I headed over to the museums and found this cute area for art.

All over were gorgeous, adorable tuny shops with paintings, pottery, jewelry, glass blowing, and even classes to learn how to do these things.  I especially liked the bright colors and small adobe hut-like studios.  I think found a nice sunny spot in the park, ate my lunch, and took a 30 minutes nap.  Sleeping outside not far from the bus stop was probably not the most attractive thing I've ever done, but I felt like a whole new person when I was done!  TOTALLY WORTH IT, didn't get much sun though.

During the week we also took Matt out for his "Congratulations on Graduating and thanks for being an intern" lunch at a little Salvadorian place called El Salvador Pupuseria Y Restaurante and had a delicious and CHEAP meal!  Plantano frito con frijoles y Crema for an appetizer and I chose the vegetarian pupusas which is zuchinni, mushroom, cheese potato, etc and you eat it with pickled cabbage. Don't knock it til you've tried it, the hot sauce is a bit spicy, but necessary (this is coming from a person that eats hot sauce on most everything). I would recommend this to any friends wanting to come out and visit..me...(HINT HINT) it only costs about $2.50 for a pupusas.

The rest of the week I pretty much just house hunted and worked - Today more house hunting, checking out Pacific Beach, searching for the perfect fish taco. Wish me luck!