Hatching season

For Labor Day, my whole, huge, extended family would get together for a family reunion every year. I always remember playing in the sand at Pacific Beach, playing with sand crabs that were as big around as nickels. I didn't know how they got there, or anything else about them.

Sometime in April, we went to the beach and were walking in the sand. This is what we noticed.

They hatch in the spring, and are carried by current south. That's why they were so big at the end of August!
It's unbelievable how many there were. Thousands. Hundreds of thousands. They looked like rice, just floating around, totally manipulated by the water. It was crazy feeling them squirm under our feet and between our toes!

Here are some more pictures of that day.

My lovely goof ball.

There's a little one burrowing into Conrad's fingers.

If you look closely, you can see all the tiny sand crabs.

The most ridiculous shirt

One of many projects

Remember this patio set? I bought it, never used it, then tried to sell it, couldn't, so I just hung on to it and  and watched it get dirty and gather spiderwebs. Conrad always kind of hated it, so I had to figure out something, or he would make me get rid of it.

I decided to paint it. The white was too shabby chic, and it really showed how dirty it could get. So I bought a couple cans of spray paint, and fixed it up.

 Here's what you need: 2 cans of spray paint (they cost about $5 each), a pair of gloves (the paint is really hard to get off of skin and clothes), and cardboard or newspaper to lay on the ground.

Let me state the obvious. This should never be done inside. The fumes are really strong, and sometimes the paint sprays farther than you mean for it to. You could ruin a lot of stuff really quickly.

Just spray until its covered, allow to dry, and go over it lightly one more time for any spots you missed.

 There's the finished product! I think it looks way newer and cleaner. The paint takes a few hours to dry enough to handle, but I wouldn't sit on it for at least a whole day, just in case the little crevices have wet paint.

Gracie and Kevin Bitnoff

A lot of stuff happened while I was being a blog-slacker. One of which is Gracie and Kevin's wedding! We are so excited for them. I always love going to temple weddings, because I get to be reminded of the covenant I made with my own husband two wonderful years ago. Here is all of us at their reception. Can't wait for the four of us to be in the same city! These guys are awesome.

Our largest purchase

Has it really been over 2 weeks? I guess you really can survive without the internet if you have lots to do! Our escrow closed, which means we are homeowners! We are all moved in, and almost totally unpacked. I wish I had taken pictures of all the stuff still packed. It was a total danger-zone.

This is our old house while we were packing. It got worse than this, like a hoarder's house. With little pathways and dead animals and everything. Ok, so there weren't that many dead animals...

Here's the new place! Seems a little empty without couches...

We have a pantry. And a lot more storage.

 I love the open shelves.

 The wet bar, buried in stuff that doesn't have a place yet.

Guest bathroom. Behind the door is a shower.

 Entry-way closet.

Hall closet - walk in. about 5 times the size of the little closet.

Our teensy backyard, overlooking the pool. My dad and brothers set up the BBQ that Conrad's parents gave us.

Half of the master bedroom. Filled with stuff that doesn't go there. I seriously don't know what to do with a room this big.

The bed is facing the black dresser.

Probably my favorite part about the whole condo: laundry.

 Master bath: sink and vanity.

Master bath continued: toilet, other sink, step-down tub and shower.

The closet. But wait, there's more!

The other half.

I'm so excited. I've already made a HUGE list of repairs and eventual renovations, so stay tuned!

Yosemite Packing List - Thinking Ahead

I'm extremely list-oriented, as I've said many times before. It may be a mild case of OCD or something, because I get seriously jittery if I don't write stuff down. I think my condition is worsening because I began making a list of things to bring on our trip to Yosemite - in August. At first I thought about how ridiculous I was being, then I decided to share for all you non-list-makers, so you won't be underpacked for your summer trips.

So here is a list of reasonable items to bring on a week-long summer trip, particularly a camping or outdoorsy one.

Clothing

          3-4 pairs comfy hiking shorts/pants

¾     7 comfortable shirts (or more if you are a sweaty child)

¾     1 sweatshirt for nighttime

¾     2 pairs tennis shoes (one will get wet)

¾     7-10 pairs socks (definitely bring plenty of socks. You can get fungus if you wear wet socks for too long. I know. I work in a podiatrist's office)

¾     Bathing suit

¾     7 pairs underwear

¾     Rubber sandals for showers and lake

¾     Hat (nobody likes a sunburned part)

Toiletries

¾     Shampoo/conditioner

¾     Toothbrush/toothpaste

¾     Deodorant

¾     Lotion

¾     Bugspray*

¾     Sunscreen (30 or higher. You'll slow everyone down if you get burned on the first day)

¾     Contacts/glasses and plenty of saline. Camping can get dusty.

¾     Epipen (this one is for myself, or anyone allergic to bees)

¾     Aloe (remember that thing about slowing everyone down?)

¾     First aid kit/medicine

¾     Hand sanitizer

Bedding

¾     Sleeping bag

¾     Small pillow

¾     Towel (shower and swimming)

Fun items

¾     Bikes

¾     Camel pack

¾     Fanny pack, water sling

Snacks (If you have a real campsite, bring food for the week. If not, just bring snacks for hiking)

¾     Cuties

¾     Crackers or granola or trail mix

¾     Water or Gatorade

¾     *A note about Bugspray: If you put a Bounce dryer sheet in your pocket or bra (ladies, you all know you store stuff in there, don't leave me hangin), mosquitos hate it. I wouldn't recommend using a special, flowery scent, just their regular one would be trusty. Those flowery scents might attract bugs, so I wouldn't risk it.

Peanut scare

Tonight was another peanut scare. We went to Golden Spoon after dinner, and I ordered Vanilla with cookie dough, and was given peanut butter with cookie dough. They were both white (why in the world would PB fro-yo be white?), so just by looking, I had no idea. I took a small bite, and noticed it tasted evil. I thought it was the cookie dough, so I asked the girl behind the counter, "Is there peanut butter in this?"

"In what?"

"In the cookie dough."

She looked at me like I was stupid. "No...why would there be peanut butter in the cookie dough?"

"I don't know. I just have to be careful. I'm really allergic."

Even after saying this, she didn't tell me that she gave me peanut butter yogurt. I walked out again and took a second bite. 

Immediately I feel my throat itch. My lips and tip of my tongue tingle. I fill with rage towards the bimbo who mistook the word "vanilla" for the words "peanut butter" and storm back in and say, "Is this peanut butter yogurt?" 

"oh my gosh, yeah!"

There we go, dummy. It understands.

Anyway, I rinsed my mouth, drank a bunch of water, and scratched my throat almost to the point of bleeding, but we made it home in one piece. My lips are back to their original size, but my eyes have swollen a bit. My skin is pretty itchy and I'm a little nauseous (from only 2 bites!), but I think I'll survive the night. 

I won't be returning to Golden Spoon. Hard-of-hearing employees just don't cut it for me. 

Eventful Weekend

We've had awesome weather this week, and I think it's going to be really sunny for the rest of the week. On Saturday, I came home from tutoring at noon, and Conrad and I went to the Hideaway Cafe in Solana Beach. It's this tiny (seriously, the whole place is probably 15x20) little restaurant with slow service and awesome food. The first time I went there, I got the Parmesan burger. They serve it on sourdough with thousand island and home fries. Conrad got that, and I got a BLTA.

After we ate, we drove to the San Elijo beach. There's a famous statue of a man on a surfboard, affectionately known as the "Cardiff Kook," which people dress up according to current events. When we visited him on Saturday, he was all dressed up for the Royal Wedding.


Conrad surfed for a little, and then we both basked until it started to cool down, at which point I realized I failed to slather SPF on my back. I have been cringing since. The worst of the pain is behind me, but now I can look forward to peeling on the largest surface of my body, coincidentally the surface I can't reach to exfoliate. While Conrad was packing up the truck, I ran across the street and got two maple glazed donuts from VG bakery - the best donuts I've ever had.

I've never been a donut girl. And I've never been a maple girl. Somehow, VG has combined 2 things I never particularly cared for, and made a spectacular dessert. We've just learned to only ask what's fresh, and buy that. That's always the best stuff, no matter what it is.

We got home and I checked my application status for UCSD. Didn't get in. Darn those 40-year-olds who got laid off! They're all going back to school and taking the spots of people who haven't had their turn yet [me].

If you know me, then you could safely assume that most of the following day (Sunday) was spent in bed, sulking and crying. You would be right. I'm back on my feet, finishing the current semester, and trying to figure out what's next. I will openly take advice, unless, of course, it's terrible.