HBD Bob!

and now if this bebe would get the message today would be a great day to be born.

xx Bob.  you've changed my life with your music. 

::1 LOVE::

success!

the weekend went well. we scored a dog @ the pound (pictures to come) and i had a rockin good time at elvis's birthday party at camp volcom.




hung with my homie bill down from sf.....


got my double knife skills on during the carne asada shesh cooked by

the birthday boy's proud croation papa.


and speaking of the birthday boy....
Happy 41st Elvis! that's a lot of candles.

and now it's monday. hopefully the weekend's success rolls into this upcoming week.

happy birthday dad!

my dad had a massive stroke 9 years ago.

the day before his stroke, his father died of a heart attack. my grandpa was about to go into surgery for his heart and didn't make it to the hospital. my dad drove to san francisco to pick up his mother to take her back to humbolt co. where they lived. it was a rough day already to say the least. on the drive north, my dad and my grandma stopped in wilits, ca. to get some gas. when they pulled up to the gas station, my dad was disorientated and couldn't figure out how to open his car door. when he finally did, he fell to the ground and passed out. stroke.

unfortunately wilits hospital is not the most high tech. they did not have a particular drug which stops the bleeding in the brain post stroke. he was in bad shape. when he was stabilized enough, he was medavac'd to fresno where my parents live. his new home was intensive care for about 3 weeks. the bleeding and swelling of his brain continued and they had to drill a hole in his skull to relieve the pressure. we were told more than once he wasn't going to make it. he was in and out of consciousness and hallucinating due to the bleeding and drugs. these were not happy hallucinations. he thought he was being abducted by aliens and was quite scared. seeing such a strong man, my dad....in this condition was unnerving.

the story is deeper and darker for other reasons but the main point is he survived. he came out of the hospital about a month later, unable to walk or go to the bathroom by himself. i moved back home from eugene, oregon to help my mom help my dad. the old bob was was a shell of what was left behind. mourning the loss of that person was the hardest.

fast forward to today and he's living on his own. he also has a boat in sausalito which is his LIFE. he is a man of the ocean and is happiest there. he can't use his left arm and has to walk with a cane but he's walking! if you'd never met him before you'd think his brain was 100%. knowing him well, you'd know he's lost a few things....but ask him about law....ask him about when he was 6 years old, sharp as a whistle.

i get scared knowing he's on the boat by himself. i worry about him falling off or hurting himself but i have to remember that it's the place he loves most. he's lost so much already in his life and i can't take this away from him. he had an accident on his scooter yesterday and fell down a steep hill. he's ok, a bit shaken and his pride is hurt. i just got off the phone with him to wish him a happy 69th. he's decided to take it easy today on the boat. read, enjoy the breeze, listen to some classical music.

this is a man that does not let obstacles get in his way. he has already overcome great barriers and continues to charge forward each day. he has had things happen to him that would crush most people. somehow he looks forward and moves on. i try and capture this spirit in my own life. it's hard.

so today is really his 9th birthday in my eyes... not his 69th. 9 years of survival, nine years of beating the odds. happy birthday dad! i love you and can't wait for what adventures the future will bring us.

♥♥♥

overnight ojai

since i was in the UK early march, i didn't plan on "celebrating" my 32nd birthday at the end of the same month. i figured i had been there, done that and the older i get, i don't care as much about my birthday. luckily the bf slapped me out of that train of thought and insisted we get out of town for the night and stay somewhere cool. OJAI! neither of us had been but both had heard nothing but good. and it was all true....

we left long beach on a sunday around 11 and arrived in ojai around 12:30. i'm notorious for doing yelp research before trips to find local favs for food and cool ideas of what to see and do while i'm there. 90% of the time yelp does me right. this trip was no exception.

first stop: SUSHI lunch! Hakane Sushi was not only fresh (our yellowtail was caught that morning) but laid back and affordable. perfect way to start the day in a new town.

driving around this small city reminded the bf of taos, nm. ojai has a main street (e. ojai ave) which is filled with shops, wine bars, restaurants and hippies old and new. the weather this time of the year is ideal because it's warm but not too hot.


next up: wine tasting! casa barranca tasting room serves organic wines from their estate winery in the ojai hills. the wine was good, not outstanding, but the atmosphere and company was worth coming back for. plus we picked up a healthy buzz.

time to hit the pool and venture over to our hotel- the blue iguana inn. the bf got a great deal for the area and we were upgraded to a suite for an extra $10 after we told them we'd be getting in-room massages. that's right bitches! rub 31 out of my body!

loads of character in this 12 unit inn with the option of room, suite or bungalow rentals. i highly recommend it.


home sweet home- #3

the decor had a cool southwest vibe but not in a tacky way. not only did we have a family room but a full kitchen and a large bedroom with an amazingly comfortable king bed. breakfast was included in the price of the room and was more than filling.

we hit the pool while the sun was still out to tan our winter white bodies. cocktails in hand, we enjoyed being the only ones out, making us feel like it was our own private retreat.

after a mini post-pool nap, we ventured to Osteria Monte Grappa for dinner. lovely outdoor seating area with a super attentive staff. the food was good. a bit under-seasoned for my taste but fresh.

monday, my actual birthday, we had our couple's in-room massages. what a way to start the day...and the year for that matter! a little more poolside action before we checked out and then it was back on the road. hwy 33 which takes you from the 101 to ojai is filled with rolling hills, wildflowers, eclectic architecture and orchards. eye candy.

instead of going home the same way we came, we decided to venture down hwy 1 and have lunch at malibu seafood fresh fish market. YUM and the view....well the view (dolphins included) couldn't have been better.

32 is comin in hot!