Strawberry picking, sunny nap, burned thighs, tamales

When was the last time you got to fall asleep naturally, an afternoon nap unexpected but delightful, all the more because you're outside on a comfortable chaise lounge, a great book in hand, the sun shining down on your bare legs, a soft breeze blowing, and the clouds slowly swirling above as if you're looking through a giant kaleidoscope? It's been a long damn time for me, and though I now have sunburned thighs and a scarlet neck plus the attendant silly "tan" lines, it was unbelievably, completely worth it. You see, it'd really been quite a big day beforehand.

I awoke this morning from a very dark, macabre dream about the parents association I'm involved in at the boys school. Nothing could be further from the truth, but it was totally strange to watch many exceedingly lovely people I know acting in decidedly evil ways. Also I thought the palm tree scratching at my window screen was Oliver sneaking in along the floor to try and scare the pants off me. Clearly I was in a seriously somnolent state.

The forecast suggested afternoon rain so we decided to head right out and into the U-Pick strawberry fields just around the corner from our rental. It was totally expensive but honestly a ton of fun, and the berries are terrific. It wasn't long after picking that we made biscuits and whipped cream for some shortcake. But that was after a saunter through Encinitas where Ol saw a barber pole and finally agreed to a trim, and we happened across what looked like an incredible promising taco stand called Haggo's (terrible name).

Ol sat regally on the barber's throne and emerged shorn and proud. He then tried to convince us to buy him a large shark tooth necklace but we put our foot down there. At Haggo's, Jack ordered the chicken tacos and definitely chose most wisely. His were quite good but we were disappointed; the carne asada tacos were totally overpowered by a good but very strong blue cheese, not at all what I would ever expect and definitely not quite right in a corn tortilla. As well, the fish tacos needed a zip; we added salt, lime and avocado fairly liberally but those were only short-term fixes. We'd forgotten about lunch before we even left the parking lot. Poo.

We did encounter some spectacular flowers, succulents and generally striking foliage all around. Aren't these gorgeous?

 Now, lest you get the idea that the trip has been completely perfect, please disabuse yourself of that idea. I say that only because so many people get so stressed out about the seeming perfection of "everyone else's life" as they appear on Facebook or the like. I cannot tell you how many times I've both heard and read about the stress in comparison many people suffer when they see nothing but smiling faces, perfect poses, happiest-ever updates.

People, that is so NOT true for most everyone out there. And so you should know that J very nearly talked my head into spontaneous combustion before 1p today, Ol has developed a new tic (his second though the first was closely related) which is a fake cough every 2.5 seconds AND when we woke him from a nap just before 3, he undressed, would not redress and cried, naked, for a good half hour or 45 minutes because he did not want to go to the beach but also did not know what he wanted to do.

I finally force-dressed him and dragged him to a farmers market back in Encinitas while T and J went to the beach. Being that I was sunburned by this point and looked like Medusa because my hair doesn't do beach-sexy like I wish it did, I donned an enormous sunhat and sunglasses and didn't take them off once until we got home; then I immediately took a shower, futilely blow-dried and then flat-ironed my hair and slathered so much Solarcaine on myself that you'd have thought I'd OD. Alas, there is not as much Lidocaine in there as one might wish.

He recovered while at the market, asked for a baguette which he really tore into and ate 75% of, and I was off my head when I happened across a tamale stand that, I hope, will not disappoint when we chow down on them at dinner tonight- these gals and their tamales and salsas looked authentic, and I am psyched. I LOVE good tamales, LOVE them.

It is spectacularly gorgeous here, and I am so grateful to be outta DC. It's still well below freezing, and my pals there are sick of the snow that continues to fall. Y'all have my every sympathy. Hopefully we'll bring some of this California spring back with us! Off to steam tamales!

Carlsbad: outlets, more beach, Amy

We made our way to Carlsbad by way of the outlet mall; hey, we couldn't check in until 3 and if you've ever read Em-i-lis, you know how I love my fashion even though I spend 90% of my time in PJs or clothes like them. If I were of insane wealth I would shop and dress all the time. The fabrics, the cuts, the classics, the edgy. Gah!!!  And today did I score today or what!?!?!??!? Oh my god people. I was in a full-on, hardcore, otherworldly, crack-type reverie for a good half hour over a pair of Isabel Marant heels and a Barney's skirt I snapped up for absurdly good prices. T thinks the shoes are ludicrous and verging on ugly, but I know the truth and that is that they rock. ROCK!! Then to Target where oddly enough, J, O and I all had gift cards. I bought Wild by Cheryl Strayed, J purchased Battleship, and Ol became so overwhelmed in the Star Wars section that he dissolved into tears and decided he had to wait until another time to spend his credit. Poor darling, he was positively flummoxed as to whether an Anakin to Darth figure with a color-change light saber and sound effects was worth the entirety of his card. It took every parenting skill T and I had to successfully leave the store with an intact Ol. Fortunately we've heard no mention of the toy since. We have played Battleship about 85 times!

Amy brought her daughter and the baby up to visit us, and I nearly cried because I remember when Emma was born, nearly seven years ago, and I've longed to meet her since. She is beautiful and cool, and she and Jack were thick as thieves in the ocean before she and Ol bonded in a bubble bath afterwards. Amy and I just kept looking at each other like, "Oh isn't this WONderful? And how amazing would it be if we could all spend more time together!" I hereby declare San Diego as our annual Spring Break spot as an idea!

Look at this hole I dug, and look at these happy kids!

California dreaming

The kids awoke at some ungodly hour (east coast time) but happily agreed to play Minion Rush until T and I had a decent amount of additional slumber. They also made breakfast for themselves and drew some fabulous works- awesome, boys! I love how artistic they are. Have I ever told you that I took art for many years when I was younger? Drawing, painting, charcoal, photography...I loved it all as long as I didn't have to draw faces. Egads am I terrible at faces; the noses I attempt always look like a terrifying combination of pig snout and butt. Alas.

Once we were up and at 'em, we drove into La Jolla village for coffee and goodies at Pannikin, a favorably Yelped joint on Girard. Jack was overjoyed to discover an enormous chess set in the back corner. We immediately set up camp there and played a few rounds while sucking down excellent coffee. If you're in the area, I definitely recommend this place. It's got a great vibe -very hippie SoCal in the best way- and is obviously very popular with locals. I have to say that we were underwhelmed with all of the baked goods we tried, but the egg dishes looked great and we plan to try a few of those next time.

One of the best perks of this trip is that Amy, one of my very best college friends, lives just 45 minutes north of where we're based. Since graduation, it's been hard to see each other frequently because she returned to CA and I've flitted along the East Coast. This week we'll have four lengthy visits, the first of which was five hours today. Bliss! We always settle back in as if the past years were a mere blip. Friendships like this are rare and inordinately special.

She brought her youngest, a delicious twenty month old, over today, and we all spent time on the beach (glorious), at a taco stand (fabulous), a playground and an ice cream truck. As we sat on a park bench watching our kids play together - age difference largely immaterial- the sun bathing our bare arms and legs with a constant stream of warmth, talking about everything in our lives from the most challenging to the very happiest, I dare say we felt an utter contentment and peace that, as with the sort of friendship ours is, isn't so common either. I only wish we'd gotten a photo of us today.

The Pacific is spectacular, more beautiful than I remembered. I love the moonscape shores, the stone cliffs, the succulents clinging and thriving in every nook and crag; their lushly hued green foliage and outrageously colored flowers enliven the gray bases off which they grow.