v to the o to the l to the...

Santa Cruz

I rented a car yesterday. I didn’t really register that it was Labor Day weekend until I showed up at the airport rental room at 1pm and saw crazy lines. I was finally driving an Impala toward Santa Cruz at about 2:20pm. I forgot to bring a book - the time passed very slowly.

Behind me in the line was one of the most negative people I have in remembrance. Every word that came out of her mouth was negative. Whining, relf-righteous, putting-down, I wanted to slap some sense into her but she would have probably just made fun of my dissheveled hair and I would have been without a reply - sometimes the attacks are just too moronic. I get in trouble when I laugh at people like that sometimes. It offends them more than any witty comeback. What’s so funny? What are you laughing at? I almost had some guy lunge across a porch at me with a punch at a party that the girls downstairs were having at 12 Curtis in Somerville. The kid was blowing off his friend and was unwilling to give him directions to the party and he had one of the worst Boston accents I’ve ever heard. I started laughing at his blowing off his friend like that and he took serious offense. I left. Later on he and some other kid got into a fight. ‘Tards. I digress…

So I drove down to Santa Cruz where I found the Ultimate tourney. Cool drive through some Redwood forests. Pretty stuff. I pulled up to the fields and walked up to where my sister was playing, we hugged and talked for a while — it was only a few minutes later that I turned around and my jaw dropped at the amazing scenery that was Santa Cruz, nestled on the corner of the Montery Bay - we were up high and had a spectacular view from the fields. One of the coolest places to play frisbee that I’ve been to. Waimanalo Polo Fields on Oahu are up there as well.

I didn’t know what I was doing that night - just kinda drove down, worst case I’d drive back to SF and try for hours to find parking because the rental office was most likely closed at the time I’d be getting back. Luckily I ran into an old teammate who had moved close to Santa Cruz and I suggested that it would be an amazing help if I could crash at his place. Arrangements were made and after a great Italian dinner with my dear sis I headed to Sven’s and got some sleep, Tuzo and Gibson, the cats darting all over the place. What a saving grace to have run into him. I like when things work out like that. Now I just need them to work out with apartment hunting.

In the am I decided to drive up Highway 1, up the coast. A bit of a longer drive but I’m soooo glad I stayed the night and got do to that drive. It was stunningly beautiful. Cliffs descending into the water, the occasional beach, Redwoods just up on the other side. I stopped the car in so many places just to hop out and wander around a bit. Pretty Pretty Pretty stuff, and so close to the city. So many bikes out. So many surfers out. I was impressed.

Later today I went exploring San Fran on my bike on this here Labor Day Sunday. That was after some so-so Ultimate pickup. Got me moving a bit I guess. Exlporing ranged from street musicians to drum and hack circles to shameless commercialism to a guy offering to rent my bike. It was an entertaining night. I sure do love to explore.

Do I have a point, not really. It was good to not be working and have some experiences. That’s all.

Posted by volker at September 6, 2004 12:45 AM