I wish I could be a California girl...

Mission Beach, San Diego - don't be deceived by the sun.
It was cold sitting on the beach, and we only lasted about an hour.

Around the 3rd week of February my friend Brad and I took off to California to visit my friends Veda and Denise, and for a much needed getaway from Utah. This was our second visit. The last time we had been was during the summer over Pioneer Day. We left Friday night and stayed in Hurricane w/my parents.  Saturday we left around noon and after stopping for a couple hours to shop at the Primm outlets we got to San Diego around 9:30 pm.  Veda had made her famous specialty fish tacos, which were ready just as we arrived.  Her fish tacos are always among our favorite meals when we visit. 

While we were in California we visited Santa Barbara.  Veda and Denise have family there, and one of the families lives in a community with a private beach.  I talked Denise into letting me halo-braid her hair.

Denise had brought a pair of yellow sunglasses, and Brad came up with the idea of taking photos through the sunglasses.  It made for a really cool effect.

Denise, Brad, and I (top).  Cubbie cutting her brothers hair, and Cubbie and I (bottom).
I adore Cubbie Mann.  She is a hilarious free-spirit.

The token Brad torturing Aileen photo (top right). 

(Top left to bottom right) Brad teaching himself to skateboard;
Veda, Denise, and I before we ran 4 miles on the beach (Brad, taking the pictures, also ran);
eating monster burritos from Freebirds after our run;
and a beautiful Santa Barbara sunset from Veda's parents back deck.

Hiking Cowl's Mountain w/Veda's roommate Meredith.

Balboa Park - one of the museums.  They had a chalkboard wall that said "Draw A Skull".  Brad drew the one in the photo and then Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas next to it.
I took a picture w/the Titanic exhibit for Jayna--but we didn't go in.

Torrey Pines - one of the most beautiful hikes I've ever done.

Our Torrey Pines hiking crew: (left to right) uh... I forget, Maelyn, Marcilyn, Grant, Veda, me, Brad.

Marcilyn, Grant, and Veda are Mann cousins.

Other highlights of the trip were riding bikes on the beach boardwalk and eating at The Habit in Santa Barbara.  Watching Beauty and the Beast on VHS (we never even had to push the tracking button!).  Going for a walk while eating an orange off the tree in Veda's backyard.  Talking out on the hammock.  Eating the best toffee chocolate chip cookies I've ever had.  There's more, but it's making me nostalgic and then I might start crying at my desk.  Kidding, but not really.  Maybe I'll move there and then you can all come visit and see for yourself how great Southern California is--and then you'll want to be a California girl or boy as well.