Hello! I hope everyone had a good holiday weekend. I spent my Memorial Day in southern California with my sister, relaxing at the beach and catching up with some friends. Chanel didn’t want to leave Menudo at home since she is taking several medications right now and since she’s getting on in years we decided this would be a good chance to take her on a little retirement vacation. We stayed at the Costa Mesa Wyndham. It worked out very well because it was the only pet-friendly hotel I found that didn’t charge a non-refundable pet deposit, and it was only 6 miles from Newport Beach. The hotel was fairly nice and the rooms reasonably priced, but the location wasn’t within walking distance of anything and the hotel restaurant was very expensive. We were limited to driving whenever we wanted food but it we were right off the 405 and the 55 so it wasn’t much of a problem. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone traveling in Orange County with a pet. As I said, they don’t charge any deposits, there are many dog-walk areas and clean-up bag stations, and if you do decide to splurge on the restaurant you can make reservations to enjoy the breakfast buffet on the patio with your dog.
We spent most of the weekend around the Newport Pier. We rented bicycles on Saturday for just $5/hr and rode down the boardwalk to the end of the Balboa Peninsula and back, stopping to enjoy an $18, 36-oz margarita on the way back! Menudo came along for the ride in her Perro Pack and got in some sun and fresh sea air. We managed to take her out on the beach for a good 45 minutes before the beach rent-a-cops kicked her out. She was rather indignant, but wasn’t particularly upset to be away from the water, which was a bit chilly and wet for her taste.
Saturday night we joined our grandparents, who were also at the beach for the weekend, at Duke’s on Huntington Beach. I’ve had their lunches several times and I think they have the best calamari I’ve ever had. I’ve been in love with it since the first time I ate there around 2000. The dinner menu was a lot pricier though and even though I wasn’t paying for it, I still felt guilty and just got a bowl of clam chowder. It was delicious and there were free, endless sourdough bread rolls. My grandparents also had two coupons for Hula pie. The Hula pie is roughly a pound of vanilla ice cream on an Oreo crust, covered in chocolate fudge, whipped cream, and almond slivers. Yeah. I know. The five of us took down 2 slices, and it was glorious. There was some grasping of bellies, groaning, expressing a desire to go to the h
ospital and have our stomachs pumped, and early signs of Type II Diabetes. But it was worth it.
We made a pact to never eat carbs again, which was quickly forgotten the next morning at Newport Beach when we passed Seaside Donuts. We bought 2 croissants, 2 chocolate long johns, a dozen glazed donut holes (for later), and a tall latte for $7. We then enjoyed our delicious pastries on a bench at the end of the pier, staying wary of rogue seagulls who might try and relive us of our donuts.
After breakfast we braved traffic and drove to Los Angeles for a BBQ hosted by Slackmistress and Betheboy. It was lovely to see them again after a year and a half, and to finally meet Daisy Dog. They are both incredible hosts and I don’t think I was without food or a drink in my hand the entire time I was there. I still need to get Slack’s recipe for her awesome corn salad. I was also sent home with a couple of the Hot Blogger calendars, which have now joined a USA Character Project magazine clipping of Lenora Claire adorning the walls of my wee office cubicle.
Monday morning we headed back home after a second round of donuts on the pier. The trip back was fairly uneventful. We considered stopping at the Cabazon outlet mall for some shopping but the place was a zoo. I’d never seen it so crowded before. We had better luck finding parking at the beach. We stopped in Hadley’s date farm instead and I remembered why I didn’t buy anything the last time I was there- it is expensive as hell. So I tried a scoop of date ice cream for $3 and was content with that.
So the weekend was full of delightful weather, tasty carb-overload, and much-needed stress relief. Now it’s back to the desert, work, and the gym. Bleh. But I am very happy to say that I got the promotion at work after 9 months, I have FINALLY been hired on as a real employee, which means that I’m now entitled to a staggering THREE sick days and FIVE vacation days a year! Yeah it still sucks, but it’s the first time I’ve ever had paid time off so I’ll make due. I am open to suggestions about how to use the vacation days and where I should go next. Should you wish to sponsor me on your couch or sofa-bed, you know where to contact me.
Oh shit! Sprinklers!
You win this time, Sprinkers.
