June was an interesting month in this household. It was the third month since Jim passed away, and since I moved in with Calvin. I was doing the best I can to settle in. I started my YouTube Channel and got my own domain name for the blog, around June/July. It was hot as heck and I was too heavy for the middle of summer in LA. I found the scale while unpacking the very last of my stuff from my old place. I mustered the courage to get on it. Oh my goodness! I was the heaviest I had ever been in my entire life! There goes my chance of being in the Weight loss Clinical Study! Now what?
Moving to America, the road to American Citizenship, Green Card, Dating, travel and marriage to an American amongst others; are what this blog is about. Living abroad - Georgia, Eastern Europe, near Russia, teaching English Second Language and other adventure filled experiences. Please, take a moment and indulge, if not live vicariously!
Showing posts with label ocean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ocean. Show all posts
Monday, January 30, 2017
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
La Jolla
I had decided to have my phone off during our vacation. Like most people nowadays; I am on my phone A LOT! Especially social Media and chatting with family on Whatsapp.
After a nice rest in our tent, we got up, hunted around for showers. The showers were on the other side of the camping grounds. They used quarters for warm water.
Our nice neighbor had told us that so we went prepared with some quarters. We took showers and headed back to the site for breakfast. Cal and his new friend talked about the previous night. Cal offered the guy breakfast, he was making Spam. The guy didn't want to impose but Cal coerced him into having some. He succumbed and liked the Jalapeno flavored spam. Turned out, he had never had that kind before.
I enjoyed breakfast. I always enjoy Calvin's cooking! We tidied up our site and headed out. Calvin suggested we go to La Jolla, San Diego. I've lived in San Diego but had never been to LA Jolla; which is one of the most expensive neighborhoods if not the most expensive, in San Diego. I was looking forward to checking it out. This was going to be my first time back in San Diego since I left. I was looking forward to making some nice memories as those from the time I lived there were kinda meh.
We found the Indian/Nepal restaurant, well, not really but another one that served the same stuff as the one Calvin wanted to take me to. Service was crap, the servers looked like we were bothering them. The food was ok, some items were to die for but most were meh! The Mango Lassi was absolutely divine! Plus, it was my first time. I love mangoes! Calvin has a Filipino Mango tree, did I tell you?
After a nice rest in our tent, we got up, hunted around for showers. The showers were on the other side of the camping grounds. They used quarters for warm water.
Just after the shower! Nice and clean! |
Our nice neighbor had told us that so we went prepared with some quarters. We took showers and headed back to the site for breakfast. Cal and his new friend talked about the previous night. Cal offered the guy breakfast, he was making Spam. The guy didn't want to impose but Cal coerced him into having some. He succumbed and liked the Jalapeno flavored spam. Turned out, he had never had that kind before.
Spam for breakfast |
My car and our lovely neighbor's tent. |
I drove. It was a little more than an hour's drive. The weather was nice. We got lucky and found parking by the beach. Calvin went Skimboarding. I took the most amazing video of him skimboarding ever! I am so proud of how it came out. Even he was impressed seeing it! He looks like such a pro! I walked along the beach and in the water, just to feel it on my skin. It was cold and windy over there!
La Jolla Beach, San Diego |
How Blue is that water? Amazing! They had these cave like situations in the rocks along the beach front, we went in there and goofed around. It was a nice time!
After our fun in the water, we had worked up an appetite, we went for lunch. Calvin told me that there's a Nepalese restaurant that he had eaten in before that he wanted to take me to. I was down.
That's me in Calvin's fedora |
We found the Indian/Nepal restaurant, well, not really but another one that served the same stuff as the one Calvin wanted to take me to. Service was crap, the servers looked like we were bothering them. The food was ok, some items were to die for but most were meh! The Mango Lassi was absolutely divine! Plus, it was my first time. I love mangoes! Calvin has a Filipino Mango tree, did I tell you?
After lunch, we went for a walk down the block just browsing. I didn't find anything I wanted. I'm also not the kind of person that needs to shop. If I find something I have been looking for, sure, other than that, vacation or not, I'm ok going back home with nothing but great memories. We came across this ice cream spot that apparently has the best ice cream. I ordered the smallest cup and just sampled because I was so full. Cal had the rest.
Back to the car, back to LA!
I loved how we drove all the way to San Diego for lunch.
There was a bit of traffic on our way back. Thank goodness for Carpool lane! I am usually alone in the car, so I never get to use it, so when I have someone in the car, I am the first one on the carpool lane. Let's go!
We made it back to LA, showered, maybe watched a movie, maybe passed out while watching, who knows?
By the way, for those of you who may not know, La Jolla is pronounced La Hoya.
Did I tell you that because my Air BnB guest had kinda stopped paying for his stay, I locked hiss ass out on my way to vacation? He couldn't get hold of me because my phone was off. Sorry, vacation time! Oops! You should've paid your rent!
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Happy Camper
Calvin had a week off work where he decided to take me on vacation. It was going to be our first trip together. I was so excited! I loved the direction our relationship was going. Wouldn't you?
I packed a carry on luggage full of stuff for the week and a small overnight back. I washed my car and headed on out to my Calvin's. I was so excited, I always have been whenever I was going to meet him; which had been every weekend since we met for the first time. Nice record. I have dated people in the past who were never available on weekends.
Brian, my airbnb guest was still staying at my house but was becoming more of a nuisance. The vacation couldn't have come at a better time, quite honestly. Not that there's ever poor timing for vacation. I didn't tell Brian I was going out of town. It was none of his business. Also, you never know what people might get up to, knowing you were going to be away for a week.
Calvin planned that we would go camping by the beach on San Clemente. I had never been there before and hadn't camped in forever! Being n arborist, he had a bunch of wood from the trees he had been trimming, we took that with us, he also has very warm and thick sleeping bags and a tent. He is pretty outdoorsy, so it's only second nature that he would have that kind of stuff handy. I took my sleeping bag along as well. You can never be too prepared, right?
I arrived with my silver spinner suitcase, Calvin had his silver suitcase packed. I was surprised at how we both had similar suitcase. Poor coincidence!
We loaded my SUV, I posed for a few selfies and hit the road, Jack!
We both loaded the truck together, I pride myself in being good at packing. Having moved as many times as I have, it comes with the territory. Calvin thought of everything. He put water in the cooler for us and of course brought his skimboard. We were going to the beach after all. There it is in green below.
We started at the gas station by Calvin's house. He bought a few snacks. We did have lunch before we headed out. He prepared something for both of us. I ate as soon as I got there, within an hour, we were on our way. Right on schedule! We were both psyched!
I was jumping up and down for joy with how everything was falling into place. As soon as our camping spot was booked, we set up our tent, which was much simpler than I thought it would be.
After setting up the tent, we went out for pizza down the street at a pizza joint where they also brew their own beer.
The pizza was really good. I asked for one with as much meat variety as possible while Calvin was ordering exotic beer.
It wasn't a lot of food but I was full. Probably, mainly from excitement! Calvin bought himself a Pizza Port beer mug. From Pizzaring, we headed out to the beach. We did so much that day, I can't believe we only had 24 hours! Calvin skimboarded. I took pictures and videos, you know the drill, haha. Soon, I will know how to do all these things and be cool too, you wait! I stepped into the water, because you have to! I love water, I just can't swim. I had shorts and flip flops on, so I was ready to go.
When we got home, we walked around the are to see what else was going on. There were a lot of campers,. I must say! Families, some people had two trucks, bikes, bicycles, it seemed like they lived there.
We stood outside our tench and took it all in. It was a moment, for sure! Neighbor invited us over to watch the sunset from his 'yard'.
Neighbor had a lot of interesting things over there. He had a wooden statue from Indonesia, he refers to it as his wife. That was on the table and a lot of interesting things from his travels all over the world. He's a very nice guy, we were lucky to be posted next door to him.
We had brought a camping type stove but the neighbor offered his, so Calvin used that instead.
The burgers were delicious, we all loved them. Calvin is such a gem, I'd be lost without him. He comes in handy in all kinds of environments.
After dinner, they drank some exotic drinks. We all sat and chatted the night away. It was a really good day and night.
As you can see, a great time was head by all!
The thing didn't care how much noise we made or anything, it was focusing on what it was doing; licking those avocado peels. Calvin threw rocks near it to scare it away, hoping it wouldn't spray him with its smelliness. Did it move an inch? Nope! Only when it was done, did it walk away! Bye Felicia!
I packed a carry on luggage full of stuff for the week and a small overnight back. I washed my car and headed on out to my Calvin's. I was so excited, I always have been whenever I was going to meet him; which had been every weekend since we met for the first time. Nice record. I have dated people in the past who were never available on weekends.
Brian, my airbnb guest was still staying at my house but was becoming more of a nuisance. The vacation couldn't have come at a better time, quite honestly. Not that there's ever poor timing for vacation. I didn't tell Brian I was going out of town. It was none of his business. Also, you never know what people might get up to, knowing you were going to be away for a week.
Calvin planned that we would go camping by the beach on San Clemente. I had never been there before and hadn't camped in forever! Being n arborist, he had a bunch of wood from the trees he had been trimming, we took that with us, he also has very warm and thick sleeping bags and a tent. He is pretty outdoorsy, so it's only second nature that he would have that kind of stuff handy. I took my sleeping bag along as well. You can never be too prepared, right?
I arrived with my silver spinner suitcase, Calvin had his silver suitcase packed. I was surprised at how we both had similar suitcase. Poor coincidence!
We loaded my SUV, I posed for a few selfies and hit the road, Jack!
Notice our silver suitcases in the bottom |
Let's go! |
It was a nice two or so hour drive to San Clemente, Orange County. We drove to the campground, booked a spot, the one we wanted was already taken or something, so the lady was nice enough to move us to one with an awesome view of the ocean. Man! So cool!
View of the ocean from campground |
Cute tent for two |
Ready for pizza! |
The pizza was really good. I asked for one with as much meat variety as possible while Calvin was ordering exotic beer.
Deliciousness! |
We also had chicken wings with our pizza. So good! |
It wasn't a lot of food but I was full. Probably, mainly from excitement! Calvin bought himself a Pizza Port beer mug. From Pizzaring, we headed out to the beach. We did so much that day, I can't believe we only had 24 hours! Calvin skimboarded. I took pictures and videos, you know the drill, haha. Soon, I will know how to do all these things and be cool too, you wait! I stepped into the water, because you have to! I love water, I just can't swim. I had shorts and flip flops on, so I was ready to go.
View from the parking lot |
After all that, we went to the supermarket to get ourselves a few necessities; ice, juice, stuff to eat while staying there, red velvet cake for moi, etc ;)
Because I had to |
San Clemente beach behind me |
When we got home, we walked around the are to see what else was going on. There were a lot of campers,. I must say! Families, some people had two trucks, bikes, bicycles, it seemed like they lived there.
We went in the tent and chilled there for a second, when someone close by started playing nice music. This is not Beverly Hills, you can't be mad that someone's music is loud. We're on vacation, we're open minded. We had our own speaker, I had the iPod, but we turned ours on and enjoyed the neighbors music. He had a caravan/Trailer right next to us. Calvin went out for some reason and ended up talking to our neighbor. The neighbor asked if his music is too loud, we told him we love it.
Around sunset, Cal called me to watch the sunset.
So amazingly beautiful! |
Beautiful San Clemente Sunset |
The neighbor's wife! |
Calvin made dinner, he had brought ground beef/minced meat from home, he made burgers out of that for all of us, including the neighbor.
Burgers for dinner |
Dinner time! |
The burgers were delicious, we all loved them. Calvin is such a gem, I'd be lost without him. He comes in handy in all kinds of environments.
Neighbor offered some stuff from his own kitchen, pickles, etc to go with out burgers.
You know, the messier food looks, the better it tastes! |
After dinner, they drank some exotic drinks. We all sat and chatted the night away. It was a really good day and night.
I got tired and went to bed, Calvin made fire for us to keep us warm through the night.
I may have got up to quickly enjoy the fire |
Eventually, I went to sleep. Calvin sat outside by the fire and enjoyed the still of the night. Eventually, he woke me up. There was a skunk by our trash, he didn't want me to miss out. What? I've never seen a skunk in person. If I did, I must have been very young in the farm.
The skunk going through our trash |
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