Day 850 -Pismo Beach Day 2

On my walk to Starbucks this morning (yes, my hotel is walking distance, as God intended), I walked past a shopping center and saw this blast from my past:

It was the height of the materialistic 80’s, I was in high school and Guess jeans were all the rage-for some reason. And I bought into it and got a few pairs. It was a total status symbol. If you wore Guess jeans, it meant you weren’t poor.

I don’t remember how long the magic er um, illusion, lasted, but I don’t think I was wearing them anymore when I was graduated high school. Trends change so fast. And then the 90’s came and all of a sudden it was cool to shop at secondhand stores and kids were buying clothes at the Salvation Army. The pendulum had swung completely the other way. I remember around that time my friend said, “Parents have it made right now!”

After grabbing my coffee, I headed back to my hotel and notice the “work out center” right by my room. It’s very small, but there are free weights in there, so I snagged a couple of light dumbbells for my morning routine. Nothing fancy, just some brief reps. I had contemplated taking my own weights with me on this trip. Glad I didn’t.

Today was my first day in the SLO office and we spent time getting caught up on how they do things differently than our Oakland office. I was pretty tired from my drive yesterday, but I think we had a productive day. It was very warm in San Luis Obispo, but once I headed back to Pismo where my hotel is:

Cozy

I love the fog. Apparently, the Bay Area isn’t the only place in California that has microclimates. It went from 81 degrees in SLO to 60 degrees at the beach within 15 minutes. I love that we can have a choice weather wise.

I also searched for a geocache or two:

In the Dunes

They grow them big out in these parts!

And then I grabbed a bite at the local joint. I was digging the vibe. And the cover band played on..

I noticed some RVs in the parking lot. I wonder if they just crash at the beach. I totally get it.

I feel very relaxed now.

Monday, July 11, 2022:

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Day 849 – Pismo Beach, Day 1

This morning I woke up to a new geocache alert:

Woo hoo! Walking distance and everything – perfect! I grabbed my iced coffee at Starbucks and headed over to the lake. Whenever a new geocache is posted, the hunt is on for the FTF (First To Find). I have only had one FTF since I started doing this a year ago. Would this be my second FTF?

YES

I got my steps in and an FTF. It was a good morning.

I ate breakfast, took a shower, cleaned up my apartment, and was out the door to Pismo Beach by 1pm. But I still had another stop over at the office to pick up the company car – the Nissan Juke.

I got to work and moved my luggage over to the Juke and away I went!

Sort of.

The car was revving really high and I thought, “that doesn’t seem right,” so I pulled over at an “In and Out Burger” and called my co-worker. Turns out, even though the car is an automatic, there are still different gears, and I was driving in the wrong one. In my Toyota, the gears are numbered, but not on the Juke. My co-worker talked me through it and I was so relieved there wasn’t anything wrong with the car – just me!

I was able to relax for most of the ride but then my back, buns and right foot started to feel tired. I don’t know how truckers do it. Sitting for that long – UGH. I would have stopped a few more times, but so much of the drive was desolate. I am going to definitely make more scheduled stops on the drive back. I just can’t sit for that long. Getting older sucks. I am supposed to return back here in a few weeks, but I think I might take the train instead. It’s a longer trip, but it might be worth it.

I finally arrived at my hotel and checked in. It’s nothing fancy, but for the price you can’t beat it. I was starving when I arrived and the only restaurant that was walking distance……

Desperate Times

I was too tired to be picky. Also, it’s open 24 hours, which could prove to be dangerous this week. I hope I don’t get the midnight munchies!

After shoving food in my mouth, I got in my car to find the nearest beach. I just drove around until I found parking. And ended up at the Pismo Pier.

This place is super touristy! It’s pretty much Pier 39 and was a little too busy for my taste but I got some sunset shots and that’s all I really care about.

Okay, I have to be up early tomorrow – this is a work trip. Good night.

Sunday, July 10, 2022:

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Day 848 – Before I Head Out

Meanwhile in Covid news….

Nooooooo!! I can’t get sick! I have three shows lined up in the next couple of months. Well, that settles it- I am definitely not going back to the gym yet.

Today I got up and cleaned. Okay not exactly. I got up, walked to Starbucks, found a geocache by the lake, went by the farmer’s market, did some writing for my solo performance class, and then, I cleaned. I leave tomorrow for SLO (San Luis Obispo) so I don’t want to leave this place too much of a mess.

After all the cleaning I set back out to the trails again to find the last remaining geocache to this puzzle I am working on.

FOUND IT at East Ridge Trail

This last geocache had a code on it that I needed to figure out the coordinates of the “finale” location. But when I punched in the numbers at the validation website it told me I had the wrong answer.

I googled the coordinates I had come up with and yup, it put me right in the middle of the elusive town of “Canyon” and not at all in Reinhardt Regional Park, where the final location should have been.

Well, I suck at math, and I didn’t know what I did wrong. I really wanted to finish this puzzle today, but the sun was beating down on this over exposed trail and I started to feel faint. The grand finale would have to wait until next weekend when I am back in town.

I got home and played around with my faulty coordinates, and then I found my mistake and -bingo! The new coordinates were validated and now I know where the final cache is. Too bad I’m leaving town tomorrow. Or maybe I could get up early and get my morning walk in at the park before I head out – hmmmmmm……

I’m a little nervous about driving the company car on my work trip. It’s a Nissan Juke. New cars make me nervous.

Anyone speak Italian?

Alright, back to Downton.

Saturday, July 9, 2022:

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Day 847 – Let’s Roll

Today after work, I was back at it:

West Ridge, Orchard & Bridle Trails

FOUND IT

The geocache on the left was rusted shut. I could NOT get it open to save my life. It’s been sitting in these woods for years.

Okay, now I just have one puzzle cache left that I have to find and then I will have the “codes” to solve the “coordinates” to the final cache location. I know I blog about this a lot, but I swear I do have other things going on in my life. It’s just that this blog is simply a stream of consciousness type deal- and I write whatever comes to my mind first. I don’t plan what I am going to write, I just write. Speaking of writing, I haven’t worked on my new story for solo performance class all week. I got a case of the lazies, plus class isn’t meeting tomorrow so I am a slacker.

Tomorrow I must clean and get all my ducks in a row before leaving for SLO on Sunday.

What is it about going out of town, that we must clean and organize our home space before we go? So that we can come home to calm I am guessing, and not dirty dishes.

Friday, July 8, 2022:

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Day 846 -Suspicious Charges

Today was my last day in the office before I head down to SLO next week for work. I tried to get as much done as possible, prioritizing tasks that are easier to complete in my ergonomic cubicle workspace, (versus working from home with a laptop while sitting on my bed without a printer).

After work, I went down to the parking garage to take a look at the company vehicle I will be driving next week- you know, just to get acclimated to it. I have never driven a Nissan Juke before and can I just say, for me, it’s pretty fancy with its key fob and keyless start button, say whaaaaa?? I took it for a spin around the parking garage just to get a feel. Driving someone else’s car = a bit of a learning curve. I checked all the documents in the glove box-, the registration, the proof of insurance, and the instructions “in case of an accident” etc., I am a very cautious person at my core and rarely fly by the seat of my pants.

Towards the end of the workday, I was checking one of my bank balances online, and something didn’t seem right to me. There were some charges on my account I don’t remember making and I slightly started to panic. “Starbucks withdrawl in Utah? I was never in Utah! Aw man, I am going to have to cancel this card!” I was all ready to call my credit union when I realized I didn’t have my ATM card with me, it was in my “other” wallet, and I had no idea what the card number was. It would have to wait until I got home. I was livid. It wasn’t a lot of money in charges, but still, that someone figured out my card number and was shopping online…..

As soon as I got home, I found my card and was just about to call the bank when I looked at the transactions again. Wait a minute – withdrawl of $25 at Starbucks? “Withdrawl,” not “fee”, not “purchase”, wait — could it be?

I opened my Starbucks app and clicked on “add funds” and there it was. My credit union ATM card number. I had completely forgotten that I had added it onto my Starbucks account! IT WAS ME who withdrew funds from my credit union bank account to add more funds to the Starbucks app! I was the culprit! I normally don’t use this card for much for anything and it had slipped my mind. I was so relieved that I wouldn’t have to exert energy into disputing charges with the bank tomorrow. Hallelujah!

But maybe I better lighten up on the Starbucks.

Thursday, July 7, 2022:

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Day 845 – Tres Sendas Trail

I received an email from my gym today notifying me that more indoor classes are being offered now, although they are still not back to their full hours yet. But am I really ready to sweat indoors with a group of people without masks on? I have been doing so well, health-wise.

So, I continue to get my exercise outside…….

Tres Sendas Trail

I hit this trail after work. I found two more “puzzle geocaches” plus one regular cache that I had “DNF”d before (Did Not Find). I know – I’m a geek.

Earlier today I heard back from someone who is going to promote one of my upcoming shows of “Born Again in Berkeley” in the Santa Rosa area. I am so grateful for opportunities to perform because it’s easy for me to get lazy if I don’t have anything lined up.

Next week I am going to the San Luis Obispo area for a work thing. I never get to travel for a “work thing”. I am grateful for the change of scenery; I just wish I didn’t have to drive for four hours straight. I would rather hop on a plane instead. Driving makes my back hurt after a while.

Okay- another episode of “Only Murders” just dropped, so….

Wednesday, July 6, 2022:

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Day 844 – Redwood Peak Trail

As I sat on my friend’s front porch yesterday while sipping a drink and relaxing under the redwoods, I saw the newsflash on my phone about the Highland Park shooting – and I kept it to myself. We were on vacation, and my friend is not one for social media, and I knew she would find out soon enough anyway. So, I quietly prayed for the victims and went about my day.

Today’s News

What can we say that hasn’t already been said? Not everyone should be able to buy guns. Would this kid have found a gun illegally eventually? Maybe. But let’s not make it easy for them.

Also yesterday on my phone, I saw a new “geocache series” show up in my inbox. It’s a “7-part mystery puzzle cache” located in the Oakland hills. What this really means is I have to find all 7 caches that have a code on them and then figure out the coordinates from the codes for the final cache location and I know I sound like such a geek, but….

FOUND 2 SO FAR!

And that one on the left was my 400th find since I started geocaching last year.

The one on the right was located off of one of my favorite trails ever.

Redwood Peak Trail

So relaxing – it makes me want to become a park ranger. But not really, because then I would have to deal with “search and rescues” and “insect damage control” (according to the State Park Ranger job description).

Okay, back to Downton….

Tuesday, July 5, 2022:

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Day 842/843- Small Town Fourth

Yesterday I headed north to meet up with some friends for a short weekend getaway.

Bodega Bay

We started in Bodega Bay, and I have to say, this is the first time I have been there when it was actually sunny! It was perfect weather. Until yesterday, I did not understand what the big deal was about this place, but now I get it.

After soaking up the sun for a while, we went back to my friend’s home in the small town of “Villa Grande” right off the Russian River.

Same Energy:

I made my friends watch the movie “Doc Hollywood” last night. It’s a movie about a small-town by the lake. Villa Grande even had a parade today like they did in the movie:

I mean it was no “Squash Festival”, but still…

Villa Grande is also a town with many signs and wonders….

And my personal favorite:

I’d write more, but I am exhausted- so enjoy my slide show….

Monday, July 4, 2022:

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Day 841 – Tourist?

I had my solo performance class today and aye- the writing process is soooooo messy! I am still fumbling around, trying to piece together memories to make some sort of cohesive story. I continue to vomit on paper, so to speak.

During the height of shelter-in-place, I started going through family photo albums and reading letters written from my great grandmother and grandmother on my father’s side of the family and I was inspired. You see, a few years ago, before the pandemic, my sister and I were at Union Square in San Francisco during the busy holiday season when a guy on bike practically ran me over and then yelled, “tourist!”

TOURIST?

My family has been in the Bay Area since the 1800’s and boy- did I get triggered. And then I started reading all those old family letters in 2020, and thought, I must get a story out of this.

Bay Area Natives

In other news, I’m heading north tomorrow to visit a friend for the rest of the holiday weekend. Maybe I will see a firework or two – who knows. I definitely won’t be seeing any in my neck of the woods with all the cloud cover we’ve been having lately, (but I will hear them, that’s for sure).

Alright, back to Downton Abbey.

Saturday, July 2, 2022:

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Day 840 – East Ridge Trail

It’s July y’all! And you know what that means in the San Francisco Bay Area don’t you?

Summer Gloom!

I actually love this picture and this weather. It just sucks for 4th of July because we can never see the fireworks. That is, if you live west of the Caldecott Tunnel. On the east side of the tunnel is hot weather and blue skies. Welcome to the Bay Area, where not only do we have micro-cultures, but we have micro-climates. There can easily be a 30 degree change between San Francisco and Martinez, where I grew up. And with no traffic, you can enjoy a different climate in just 45 minutes.

I remember when I worked on the movie “Scream” in 1996. We filmed night shoots in May in Tomales Bay and it was FREEZING. Then we would wrap at 6am and I would have a parka on. But as I drove east, back to my parent’s place, and the weather got warmer, I would start stripping in the car, removing my jacket, then my sweatshirt and an hour later when I pulled into their driveway, I would be in a tank top with a pile of clothes on the passenger’s side seat.

Today after work, I decided to take advantage of our cooler weather and headed back over to the East Ridge Trail in the Oakland Hills. This trail has little tree cover and can get really hot on sunny days, so I tend to avoid it. But today was a perfect cloudy day for such a trail that also has, say, some geocaches hidden there.

FOUND IT

All the caches were supposed to have “critters” attached to them, but only the racoon on the left, has survived through the years. Speaking of critters….

Here Bunny Bunny!

What a cutie-right by the front gate. I want one!

The fog rolled in around 7:30pm, and I took that as my cue to head home. I didn’t get a sunset picture tonight, but this trail was just what I needed.

Friday, July 1, 2022:

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