Well, after crashing my bike and living to tell about it, I flew out to San Diego to meet Rebecca and attend Nick's (a friend from Cal) wedding. The weather, expected to be delightful, was an un-California-like cold and rainy 55F when we arrived. "El Nino", some say. Ill-equipped in my boardshorts and sandals, we nevertheless went hiking in a nature reserve area near Temecula, where friends Jeff and Kim live. This had the perhaps inevitable result that one of my sandals pulled off in the tacky mud (the kind that cakes on the bottom of your shoes and become progressively higher until it feels like you're wearing platforms) and I had to walk the remaining few miles barefoot with mud between my toes. After completing our adventure, we quickly retired to a local restaurant for some delicious Mexican food. We returned to the house to do work (Rebecca) and chop wood, pick grapefruit and tangerines, and play with dogs (Will). A delicious grilled chicken-lamb dinner awaited us with the falling of the sun. Kim, who has graduated from chef school to motherhood, did her best to convince our tastebuds that it was time to move back to California. A few lbs later, I was ready to agree.
We left the next (Fri) morning to head downtown to San Diego and check things out. We walked around Mission Bay, had lunch in Pacific Beach, and strolled the cliffs at La Jolla - all in (now) very California-like 75F degree weather. If anything could convince Rebecca to move to California, it was a day like that. Let's just say, she didn't say 'no'. After wrapping up the afternoon, we ventured back up to see two other friends, Chris and Jen, who live in Escondido. There, we enjoyed a heated round of darts and croquet, as well as some homemade carne asada. Mmmm.
Saturday we went back into San Diego, picked up friend Sid (who was also going to the wedding) at the airport, checked into the hotel, went to the wedding (ate, toasted, laughed, cried), then called it a night and woke up in time to make our 7am flight back to perdition. I mean DC. Besides being a bumpy landing into Dulles, the flight was notable for Rebecca having convinced the flight attendants to sing happy birthday to me: in fact, they got everyone to close their window shades, turn on their overhead lights, and sing me happy birthday. When I 'blew' out the candles, they turned their lights off. It was really hilarious and really special. Thanks Rebecca and Southwest Airlines flight attendants! Our housemates, Meredith and Adam, picked us up at the airport with party hats and whistles, and cooked another delicious dinner besides, so it really was a special birthday.
The groom and me at the Mission Bay wedding
Sid and I sporting the cool Junior Ranger hats
Sid, Rebecca and me at Point Loma overlooking Coronado
With Chris and Jen at their home near Escondido.
The aforementioned delicious dinner with roommates at home.
At the DC united game with friend Ben. The team lost, but hey, the seats were good.
The view from the Newseum balcony, looking towards the capitol. The Canadian embassy over Rebecca's right shoulder, obscuring an otherwise lovely view.
The other side of the Capitol, during our post dinner walk back towards home.
