Metal mouth

Wednesday was my first day off the mountain since my arrival. Chiara, Morgan, Dan and I went to Santa Cruz in Pam's car to do some laundry, wander about, etc. One of my goals was to make it to Starbucks to retrieve my markout, assuming my numbers still worked. But they didn't. Waaaaah. No more free coffee for me...
We all went to the boardwalk and took the cable lift ride above the beach... got a good view of the Pacific and of Santa Cruz in general, which is a cute town, but wasn't really my thing.











Dan and Morgan went to go see a movie while Chiara and I threw in some laundry and wandered to a tattoo parlor/piercing shop. Yes, I had a hole punched in my lip. And I think I like it. I have to drink from a straw, but other than that it doesn't bother me much. I must say, it's really nice to be in an atmosphere where body adornment isn't frowned upon.

The last two days have been super hot and super clear. I'm actually able to see Monterey Bay from the mountain without having to guess where the water was beneath the clouds. Dan and I hiked further up the hill last night and just sat and looked at the city lights below. The moon reflected on the water, and it was so peaceful. I just can't stop staring at the sky while I'm here, day or night. At night time there are stars beyond stars beyond stars, except for on nights when the moon it so bright it drowns them out (last night being one of those nights.) During the day it's different color than the sky in Maine, I guess because of the elevation, and the blueness of it fascinates me. It's a shade or two darker and hardly ever has any clouds marring the perfect smooth.



I've been playing the piano here quite a bit and really enjoying that.

I worked in the garden this morning doing some weeding and stepping up some seedlings. SO HOT... I kept getting lightheaded from standing to put the weeds in the wheelbarrow. But thank goodness it's dry here... if Maine were ever this hot I think I'd drown in the air because I know the humidity would kill me!

I'm working in the kitchen all afternoon (just on a break at the moment) and then I have a dish shift I picked up for some cash afterwards. And then I believe a group of us are going off the mountain to go bowling! Ha!

That's all for now... life is good and I am happy.

I wish the same for all of you.

Namaste.