tandem bike riding- two much fun

YAY !!! I had another visitor!!! 

Jordan MacPherson, a friend from college came to visit me for a quick overnight trip! 

I was very blessed with her visit because it allowed me to scratch some more things of my San Diego "to do" list!

First things first we rented a tandem bicycle so that we could transport ourselves from beach to beach and place to place, shopping, lunch, ect without having to worry about parking the car, driving- blah blah blah.. 

Luckily, our tandem bike was crimson and grey... (well.. more like rust and unfinished metal... but as recent WSU grads, we called it crimson and grey) .. so we quickly referred to it as the Couagrmobile. 

Im not even going to start on what a disaster the first 15 minutes of riding the bike was.. I was the driver- so let your mind go to the worst case scenario, its probably accurate. Our first trip was from Pacific Beach to Mission Beach, so we could go to Belmont Park. 

Once we went to Belmont Park, a little amusement park in Mission Beach so we could ride The Giant Dipper- a cute little oceanfront roller coster built in the 1920s.  We got our ticket for the one ride and scored the back seats. They only had lap bars, so our arms were free to take pictures of the great views we were about to see! Or so we thought..

Allow me to paint a picture of what really happened. 

We started the slow raise to the top of the first hill, the clanking of the chains pulling us up reminded me of the wooden roller coasters at a themepark near my home town called Silverwood.  We're snapping pictures on the way of up the bridge and of each other, ready for our cute little ride.  We start down the first hill, and Jordan and I are screaming like we are at Six Flags. I mean really screaming.  The little 10 year old kid in front of us kept turning around and giving us dirty looks...  Literally terrifying. Super Rude. 

The first take off (not smooth.. the basket fell off)

Proudly parking the limo

A basket to hold all our goodies (cotton candy)

this is me pretending the roller coaster was fun

tandem biking on the beach!

Jordan taking pictures before we knew it was going to get scary

la jolla

Happy 4th of July!!  Im afraid it has kind of lost it's luster for me here... Seeing as Sea World has fire works every night  just down the water from my house... and the holiday traffic this weekend has been impossible where I live..PB sounds like WSU greek row (on a monday) every night this weekend.. not a good time to live by the beach :-)


I am growing pretty fond of La Jolla, the town I work in, and I am pretty sure it is because of the sea lions.  On memorial day, I walked around the beach where they hang out, literally feet away from people swimming.. it was pretty fun.  At the same time, I was thinking, you couldn't pay me enough money to swim in that nasty sea lion polluted water... 

So of course, two days ago, I took a little dip in the nasty sea lion polluted water, and like everyone else, I survived.  I also wore a wet suit (picture the episode of friends where Ross wears the leather pants- thats me with this wet suit) and had a go at snorkeling.. which pretty much consisted of me kinda swimming around, more concerned about just staying alive than looking at fish and other water things.  Of course there was absolutely nothing harmful about the events- I was just kinda freaked. 

We snorkeled into some caves which was really neat (really really neat).. and we could climb around the rocks and stuff.. well as much climbing as I could do with flippers.. so I sort of scooted/crab walked up.. it happens.  Our flippers were hurting our feet, so instead of swimming back, we hopped out at some rocks and walked back. 

It was at this moment that I realized I am not outdoorsey, or daring, at all.  The people I was with, my friend and his sister- were like Simba and Nala prancing along these rocks to get out. 

Picture a potato scaling some rocks. That was me. 

Just like on the paddle boarding day, when I was done I had this feeling of "aw I don't want to leave" and then I remember I'm not on vacation.. and living here is amazing. 

day off #2

I have the entire day off today- so it's pretty exciting, its the first one since Memorial Day!! This morning I went paddle boarding (google image it... I had to also) which was amazing.  I didn't fall in the water- really surprising.. but I had the beginner board, which is like the training wheels bike, so I imagine tipping it would have been pretty impressive.   My favorite part was when we paddled by dolphins!!!!  Im still in awe.. they were so cute, diving around each other, probably 20 feet from our boards!!!  It might have been one of the coolest things  I have ever seen. Whenever anybody comes and visits me (hint hint, someone please come play down here with me) Paddle boarding is an absolute must.  Too much fun.  Maybe if I go again I wont accidentally spin around in circles trying to back up.. and exceed .000025 mph.  


Also, another cool development I have discovered, is that they are filming the Real World down here, a few houses down from where I was house sitting in La Jolla.. which in hindsight, explains all the cameras. duh.  But we saw them out on a big yacht type boat today... they waved, I waved.. and then continued to spin around in circles on my board.. Im really crossing my fingers for a cameo.  Wish me luck (sike).  But I guess they are always out at the bars around PB, the area I live in... so maybe another day :-).  


I also learned today that Torrey Pines just isn't a golf course. News to me. And went hiking there today... there were lots of Torrey Pine trees. also news to me.  But it was right by the ocean, and pretty cool.  I think my cardio work outs might be paying off because the the thought that I might die only crossed my mind twice, and one was because I saw a sign to look out for rattle snakes. yikes!!!  Anyways, after the little hike trail, there are really cool stairs (that took me no less than 45 minutes to walk down) the pop right out at the beach!! the following pictures are of that part of my outdoorsey adventure day.  I think I need a nap. 

the cool little stair case to the beach, you can see the water in the background!

I think tomorrow after work I'm doing a little evening snorkel in the caves around La Jolla... Things you can't do in Eastern Washington.


xoxo
Katie. 

as you could have guessed

for those avid readers (yes, all 3 of you) who read my last entry.. you probably could have predicted the following statement.  Kickboxing, along with growing a beard and underwater breathing... is not up my alley.  Between my absolute lack of hand-eye coordination, and fear that the punching bag was going to punch me back.. I think its safe to say that today was my first and last.. of that. 


With all my grueling workouts (hardly) I noticed that my shoes were really starting to hurt my feet when I was running.. So I decided I needed new kicks!!  I went to fashion valley mall- wearing my old shoes, and indeed they were about a size too small.. not surprising seeing as I think I got them in 2007..  I walked into Lady Footlocker, and was greeted by a girl my age wearing her footlocker/ref jersey with leggings, fake eyelashes, and at least 45 bumpits in her hair.  at least.  Perfect. 
"hi... Im looking for shoes that I can wear at the gym, and running outside" 
she snapped her gum, blew a bubble. "over here" I followed her to the wall of shoes.. a real magellan she was.. how would I ever have found the wall of shoes without her assistance. 
"these ones are really popular.. they're green.. they come in orange, but I dont think they are as cute" super, shes an artist too. 
"yah, I can see that"  I pretty much have my bachelors degree in colors lady.. tell me something I dont know. 
She spent about another 45 minutes telling me all the colors of shoes.. She did pretty good.. until she called a salmon pink "coral" but.. you win some you lose some. 


I went to Nike and picked out these beauties, they're pink. and charcoal. 

I've also started running along the bay by my house.. My trainer suggested going down to the beach and running in the damp sand because it wont kill your shins and its good resistance for your muscles.. and that setting a timer on my phone for 12 minutes and sprinting as fast as I can for 30-45 seconds, and then walk for the same amount of time.. apparently this is as good of a work out as "jogging around" and medium pace for an hour. Sounds good to me.  So I did this with my new shoes.. 


Thats a lie. I sprinted for 10 minutes.. and looked for seashells for the other two.
fine.. I sprinted for about 8.. looked for seashells for two and played with a puppy whose owner was super cute for 2.  Tomorrow I'll be better. The area is really neat!! There is a place where the sail boats can dock.. so there is always a bunch of sail boats in the water too.. It looks like lots of fun!!

read this if you're bored.

I finally got all settled in... unpacked (aka hung up my clothes in a closet) and got shelving, drawers and such for my room... All I need is some stuff to cover the walls.. and I think I will be good to go!


Of course, as soon as that was done, it was time for my house/dog sitting adventure to begin.  For two weeks I'm staying at Jennifer's house in La Jolla- the Bird Rock neighborhood.. its right by the beach and her house is beautiful! She has two very friendly- but always excited dogs.. I only remember the name of one of them- Rodeo- so when Im communicating with them- they are both referred to as Rodeo... a group name... You win some you lose some I guess.


I also got a gym membership- and even a personal trainer- so I'm committed to going at least once a week (but I've been going much more.. because I have nothing else to do) Im pretty sure my personal trainer hates me.. he laughed at me when I told him I was 95% sure I was having a heart attack. Rude. Next week were having a kickboxing session.. Do I need a mouth guard? Maybe I'll bring one just in case. 


All in all, everything is going great :)
Until next time. 


Katie

calling all visitors!

All moved into the house in Pacific Beach where I will be living until at least October, if I like it (and I think I will) I might resign the lease when the existing one is up if we find one more roommate, because one of the girls is moving to San Francisco. I've snapped some pics so you can check out my new digs- and the view 2 blocks from my house at the end of the street! 

the little things

After my first "real" week down here, I have noticed that I find the biggest change in the little things... 


When I wake up in the morning, I watch/listen to the local news, I think I'm finally used to the "surf report" but I don't think I'll get used to what weather I need to pay attention to on what I call the weather grid.  Because of the location, the San Diego weather (on this particular station) is presented in a grid.  the normal "high, low, precip, humidity, ect" is across the top like normal, but there is four of them stacked on each other presenting the "coastal, inland, mountain, desert" So I have to be quick to listen and read, otherwise ill be prepared for the 95 degree desert weather, when really, I needed to be listening for the 65 degree costal weather. 
drama.


Im ALMOST able to drive to and from work without using my GPS. but its definitely limited TO and FROM work, and only when I'm starting and ending at Pats house (see the cast of characters).  and even though I drive the same 2 routes everyday, I cant get over the names of the exits I take.. "Sea World Blvd." is probably my favorite, and even though I take the "Los Angeles" exit going home from work- I would rather take the one that leads you to the beach.. called "Beaches"- it never fails to amuse me. 


I've kept nice and busy- not really by choice, but I'm very very very glad to be working. Since I got back last week (Monday) I've worked every day between the two jobs.  I scored next monday (memorial day) off, and am going to a pool party with Zach and Alex (see the c.o.c) really excited! it will make the 13 days of no days off worth it! 


I'm OBSESSED with the big project happening at Maudlin right now, its a farm to plate eatery opening in Del Mar this summer- were doing all the fixtures for it.. heres the web site so you can check what its all about (  www.urbanplates.com  )


I move into the townhouse in Pacific Beach with two roommates who already live there on the 1st, so I'm anxiously looking forward to that.. but will miss Pats delicious baking!! I can smell homemade banana bread in the oven now.. yummmmm!  The lease for that place is up in October, in that time I will either not want to leave its awesome awesome awesome location (I could't afford to live in the area without a roommate- or two. not to mention its an AWESOME place, everything is new new new) and find two roommates to fill the other spots- OR (and most likely) I'll find a new place to move into on my own. 


hopefully more exciting things will happen so I have more to update you on!! 


xoxo