Santa Barbara

I was planning on taking the Coast Starlight train from Anaheim to Salinas for the last leg of my journey. My friend Kate got her first teaching job and I wanted to come see her new digs and go to Monterey and San Francisco too! The thing is, I waited too long to buy my train ticket and it was about the same price to rent a car, so that it precisly what I did. I decided to drive up Hwy 101. My dream is to drive all the way up 101 someday, and this is a partial fulfillment of my dream.

I took the train to LA and then a shuttle to LAX and then I was FINALLY able to pick up my car. A silvery-blue Kia. Not gonna buy one of those, but it was nice to drive a car with windows that roll down!

I stopped in Santa Barbara for lunch and a ahort visit. I parked at the Chamber (all parking costs $$) and walked to Stearns Wharf. While I was trying to figure out where to have lunch, I heard a woman talking about the water taxi. For $4 I could ride to the other side of the harbour. This was the place to eat, she tells me. So I jumped on the next taxi (called Li'l Toot). We passed yachts and boats galore. It was gorgeous! Our cute guide told us about some of the boats and their owners (like the CEO of Pepsi, and the Wrigley heiress). I then had the most delicious seafood chef salad while watching the boats bob in the water.

The water taxi lady told me about the electric shuttle. For 25 cents it would take me right by where I parked. Except that after I told him where I wanted to go, he thought I was gonna pull the signal that I didn't plan on pulling cause I was 1 of 2 people on the shuttle and I had already told him where I was going. So-- I saw more of the waterfront as we made the loop and it cost me another $2 in parking and 20 minutes later on the road. But really it isn't too bad. It was a gorgeous day!

I would really like to go back to Santa Barbara and see more of it. I have heard from a lot of people how great it is. And I really enjoyed my 2 hour layover there :)

One World, One Love, One Mouse

I really do love Disneyland. I may not be a fanatic, but I enjoy being here. I've only met 2 grumpy people in the last 3 days. Everyone is so nice and they really seem genuine.

My favorite ride is the Toy Story ride in California Adventure.




A close second is the Hollywood Tower of Terror.




It's nice to have a bit of time to enjoy the parks, rather than rushing to get everything done in one day. On Monday, David and I joined Allyson, Linda and Elaine. Yesterday we took it easy in the morning then in the afternoon we met up with some of Allyson's cousins.


Splash Mountain was perfect in the 100 degree weather, we might not have made it without the cold water (That and the Dole Pineapple Whip).





There's also Grizzly River Run...



and Astro Blasters...







and trying on hats...




and the jungle cruise...


and Mr. Toad...




and the Mark Twain boat...



and Tarzan's Tree House...




and Autopia...


and The Matterhorn...


and posing with random characters...









All in all... it was a GREAT TIME!!!

Let me see that sushi roll!!!

David and I have a tradition of sushi. Whenever we get together, we have to have a sushi party. So when I knew I was coming to LA, I begged to have one after church on Sunday. Chris Mann and other invited guests couldn't make it, so it was just me and 3 handsome men (sometimes life is so hard!). Jet and Kevin are from Taiwan and Jet had never made sushi before (Kevin's first sushi rolling was at our party last year). This time, David did all the shopping and I put the food and table together. I think I did pretty well…


When I opened the seafood, we had the usual crab, tuna, halibut and salmon. And then I saw the octopus. I didn’t want to mess with it (cause it's nasty), so I garnished with it. Once everyone was there, we had some miso soup and seasoned rice. Then we took turns making delicious sushi rolls. My favorite was crab with cream cheese, lemon and cucumber. Mmmmmmm…… yummy!

We showed Jet the ropes and then let him make one. BUT, we kinda started talking and not paying attention to what Jet was doing. Before we knew it, he had a megaroll going. He ended up cutting it into four pieces. I was the only one that ate it in four bites. The guys all did it in one!








When we’d had our fill, we ate some mochi (Japanese ice cream)and the guys enjoyed some plum wine. Overall, it was a great night for sushi with friends!!