Random Wednesday

Grabbed a salad and some fruit then biked back to lovers point for a picnic dinner on the beach with my nook. I still can't believe how clear the water is. I saw a fog apocalypse on my way in though.

Spring Break Update

Spring Break Goals

x Watch the full version of All.I.Can. (I saw the short at the Banff Mountain Film Festival and I've been itching to watch the full version)

x Grab a sandwich at Pino's

x Read Hunger Games

x Check out the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas

x Go Whale Watching

-Write my eCampus Articles

x Go for a day hike

-Book my flight home

(going to do before I fly home) - Go see Alcatraz in San Francisco (Learn how to spell San Francisco without using Spell Check)

x See 21 Jump Street

x Eat a Giant Artichoke

-Check out the art exhibits in Carmel

x Beach day at Lovers Point Beach

Whale watching!

One of my suitemates and I decided to go whale watching in downtown Monterey for the day. It was a trip I was planning on going alone, but of all the people I were to have gone with, I am glad it was Haruna, an exchange student from Japan. Not only did I learn a bit about harbor seals and whales, I also learned some Japanese. Aside from her getting a bit seasick, today was kanpeki (Japanese for perfect) as we had a beautiful 70 and sunny day, got to see some close-up grey and humpback whales, and had a delicious clam chowder fest afterwards. We had some time to kill in downtown Monterey before our bus left, so I discovered Trader Joe's (I know we have them at home, but I have never been in one.). Let me tell you: I am hooked. I love that place and can't wait to brighten up my June commutes to Ramapo with a stop for some healthy snacks.

When we were on our walk back from the bus stop, we noticed how thick the fog was rolling into campus. It reminds me of snow. Its really cool to walk through though; it reminds me of all those eerie short stories we had to read in high school english.

"I'll do what I want, when I want, how I want"

I remember jokingly saying this to my mom, strutting around my house when I was a little kid. Obviously this is not a code I live my life by, but every once in a while it's nice to do what you want.

A few days ago I was tying to think up things to do for spring break since my camping trip was no longer possible since I was sick. After three days in bed, I'm finally feeling better. Since I still want to take it easy, I planned a low key day.

One of my favorite days in Italy was day tripping around Verona by myself (after a friend bailed out). I decided that since I already paid for the train ticket and I was so excited to revisit Romeo and Juliet's down, I'd go by myself.

Today, I had a few specific things I wanted to do and since there aren't too many people left on campus, I figured I'd just go by myself instead o asking around.

I saw 21 Jump Street, checked out the Steinbeck museum, walked around a bit, then went North to try deep fried artichokes. Castroville is the artichoke capital of the world, so I decided to try it out.

The motto I've always heard growing up was go big or go home. I'll be going home with a few meals worth of artichokes this time around...

Spring Break

So, I've spent the first two days of Spring Break sick in bed watching How I Met Your Mother, The Town, Phonebooth and sleeping. Today is day three of break, and I've finally gotten my energy back, although I still have a nasty cough. Today, I'll be spending the day doing laundry and getting my articles done so I can actually enjoy the days I have off from tomorrow on.

Since I was supposed to be camping in Big Sur, I didn't have too much planned, especially since I did so much of the touristy stuff with Morgan last week. Since there aren't too many people left on campus, I was getting a little disappointed with this spring break, especially since last break I was riding Vespas in Tuscan hills and going to Happy Hour in the local district of Florence with one of my best friends. I realized though that even then, one of my favorite days was the day trip I took by myself to Verona. Traveling alone can be done safely, and it is one of the best experiences. There is no other opinion to consider, no other person to worry about. When you are hungry, grab some street food or duck into a cafe. When you want to take your time and window shop, do it! When you're looking to pack in five attractions in one day, no one says you can't. I've decided to make one of my famous to do lists on my favorite neon post it of things to accomplish this spring break, some to be completed with friends and other things to happily complete alone:

Spring Break Goals

-Watch the full version of All.I.Can. (I saw the short at the Banff Mountain Film Festival and I've been itching to watch the full version)

-Grab a sandwich at Pino's

-Read Hunger Games

-Check out the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas

-Go Whale Watching

-Write my eCampus Articles

-Go for a day hike

-Book my flight home

-Go see Alcatraz in San Francisco (Learn how to spell San Francisco without using Spell Check)

-See 21 Jump Street

-Eat a Giant Artichoke

-Check out the art exhibits in Carmel

I'm so excited to do these things, and I don't care how corny or lame anyone thinks they are. No one says you can only have spring break if you fly somewhere or do something crazy. The whole point is to kick back, relax, and enjoy not being in the library or in class, and I can't wait, as soon as I get rid of this cough.

Happy Spring Break Everyone!

Aquarium day

I am in class uploading these pictures so I won't say much but overall I think we are spoiled on the east coast and would agree that an east coast person's standards are higher than most which can be very progressive but also pretty sad.

Overall Morgan and I had a great day exploring the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Fisherman's Warf, Cannery Row and Garrapata.

Morgan day three

17-Mile Drive

Morgans First Day in Monterey

As Morgan and I are napping on a map (we laid out maps instead of laying in the sand), I thought I'd catch you up.

This morning, I explained to my professor that my friend from jersey is visiting so he let me go after the half way break. I grabbed Morgan and I some Starbucks, and we were off.

No one can go to CSUMB and not check out the Fort Ord Sand Dunes and beach, so that was first on our list. After leaving our names in the sand, we biked down the coast to downtown Monterey, got a healthy lunch at Pino's, and ventured out to Adventure by the Sea for some kayaking. We couldn't have picked a better day. Miguel set us up in some "waterproof" clothing and two single kayaks. We ended up seeing three otters and a harbor seal. After drying our wet butts in the sun and grabbing a quick snack, we biked and buses to Carmel-by-the-Sea. At our grumpiest, we ended up in a whirl wind of bus stops and frantic biking through the streets but we finally got our way home, got a meal in our stomachs, and relaxed after a long day.