We found other ways to kill time this weekend though, namely the Chowder Cook-Off on the Santa Cruz boardwalk and the Mystery Spot! What's the Mystery Spot you say? Well check it out:
They say it's some sort of gravitational vortex thingamajig, (yeah, that's the technical term for it) or just a highly effective visual illusion. Though, if you visit the place, I think you'll be surprised at how much it'll influence you.
Our guide Ana demonstrated how this seemingly upwards slanted plank with a groove in it pours water out - uphill? It's all pretty amazing.
She warned us that we might feel dizzy and disoriented and there was a railing we could hold onto if need be. I laughed, what me? need that? no way! uh, yes way. I took maybe five steps and then made my way to the railing to hold on.
This is what we all looked like...
If Ed had wanted he could have placed his right foot on the wall and lean out even more away from the way.
Annnnd I ran (read: stumbled) out of there pretty quick. :)
So after that mind bending experience, we made our way down to the boardwalk for the chowder cook off. We've never been there before and I am pleased to report it did not disappoint. It was massively crowded and I think we might enjoy it a bit more in slightly warmer weather and with slightly fewer people.
The chowder cook off got crazy real quick, so I only snapped one pic of the places we tested. We first tried the Santa Cruz Firefighters as seen below, and then we tried.... "jam out with your clam out" and "rack o'clams" and "Amish Paradise" and "family divers." Our favorite was Jam out's, that had this herbal/bacon-y, briny Boston chowder. We only tried one Manhattan style since I'm not a huge fan of that in general. It tasted like vegetable soup with some clams so... there's that.
It was a great adventure. On the way back we stopped through Saratoga to explore a bit. Found some places I'm excited to take Michelle when she visits. Brian and Ed can always hang out at this Irish cocktail lounge nearby...
I keep meaning to post this below, it's the underside of the overpass of 17 near our house. I love little insertions of color into daily life like this. I don't get to see the lights often, I run here every other day, but always in the daytime.
Other than all of the above it's been quiet here. I've been dieting. I had a doctor's appointment and some bloodwork done that really lit a fire under my butt. I'm not dying, but there are some things that could be serious if ignored for the next 10 years. Adding family planning on top of that, I've always wanted to be as healthy as possible for having kids - namely, not overweight or having high cholesterol or elevated blood sugar - and I'm certainly not there. So I'm dieting. And it has made me SUPREMELY grumpy. I'm still running as well and getting a bit further and faster. But the dieting... blerg. It turns me into a monster. I know there's nothing wrong with being hungry and I know I eat too much. But tell that to me at 10:30 in the morning and 3:30 in the afternoon and I will punch you in the face. I just try to remind myself that high school kept me on a regular diet that really worked. I don't want to bore you with more talk of weight loss, suffice it to say, it's working, and it's hard, and I can't say I like it, but I've got some increased motivation this time around. Thanks doc! So forgive me if you speak to me during my grumpy times, it's not you I swear, it's that I'm desperately trying to remember what your face looks like instead of the talking blueberry muffin my stomach is projecting.
What to look forward to next week? I'm reading The Magicians and I'm in love. Anyone else a fan? Also, next Monday will be the last many of you hear from me for awhile because the brand new SimCity releases next Tuesday! And Sims 3 University Life! So yeah, my schedule is full up :)
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