Pretty Flowers

I don't know if we have anything like this in New York, but I think it's really gorgeous. 

“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you may become.” -- Reinhold Neibuhr

This is a really cool mural on the side of a building in Carlsbad. It was only just finished in May of this year by a local artist and was inspired by the quote which is the title of this post.

Tonight I went to my friend Raul's house for dinner. We had carne asada and super delicious guacamole. We then went out to a few local bars. These are a couple of pictures I took on my walk to his house:

Gatsby

I went and saw The Great Gatsby with my friend Kevin tonight. We went to CPK (no, it's not just called "Pizza Kitchen" here) and then went to the movie. I enjoyed the film very much, but felt that the characters did not really convey the same personalities and attitudes that I had envisioned when reading the book (particularly Toby Maguire's character). This film was directed by Baz Luhrmann, who is known for such films as Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet. So, I knew what to expect, and I did like it -- just not as much as I had hoped to. But I definitely do recommend it (and the book, too)!

Oceanside

Today, I decided to take a walk from Carlsbad to the Oceanside Pier because it didn't look too far, but it kind of was. 

You can see the pier in the distance. There is a building on the end of it.

 \

Weird big seaweed thing

I have arrived

There's a Ruby's Diner at the end of the pier. I don't really like the idea of a chain restaurant being there, but whatever...not my pier.

I like the mountains in the distance...it's so different from what I'm used to seeing on the beaches back home.

He seems annoyed.

The names carved into the rails are of people who donated $25 to get "a piece of the pier", when it was rebuilt in 1987. The pier was originally built in 1888 at another location but was destroyed, and since then, five more have been built over the years in this current location (they keep getting destroyed by storms -- but not since 1987!).

I have to walk all the way back to Carlsbad now :(

That's an amphitheater to the left, and there's a few restaurants and things like that here as well. It was a cool place but the beach was really crowded.

The walk back was pretty exhausting and felt a whole lot longer than the walk to the pier (which also felt long). I'm glad the beach near Nikkie's house doesn't get as crazy crowded as the beach near the Oceanside Pier.

S2S (again!)

Maybe I'm crazy or something. Last night, around 6:30, me, Chris, Joe and Udi started that 30+ mile hike up from Snow Creek Village to the summit of San Jacinto (I did this about two weeks ago as well). This time, it was much harder for me. Perhaps I partied a bit too hard Friday night? I also think it had something to do with the fact that we started in the evening (as opposed to something like midnight), so, around midnight, my body was ready for bed because we'd already been hiking for six hours. But that wasn't an option. Thankfully, Chris stuck by my side and helped me to pull through. Also, thankfully: Red Bull. And coffee. And sunrise. This was seriously probably the hardest time I've had hiking yet.

L to R: Joe, Jess, Chris

The PCT is the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Mexico up to Canada. We obviously only hiked a portion of it. As a matter of fact, I've been on a lot of portions of the PCT since moving out here. Much of the S2S hike is on the PCT.

Sun is starting to set

They keep getting tinier and tinier!

The moonrise! 

Last night was a special night in that it was the night of the "most super" "super moon" this year. A super moon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to us as it orbits around the earth, resulting in the moon appearing larger and brighter than usual. What made this particular super moon so super is that it is the closest the moon will be to the earth until next August. The night landscape was lit beautifully.

With nightfall came really, really unexpectedly cold weather that no one was prepared for. I was MISERABLE. My body was so exhausted that it couldn't keep itself warm. The only thing I could do to stay warm was keep on moving. And every time we stopped moving, it killed me a little bit inside.

Palm Springs down below

Pre-sunrise horizon

Jess, Joe, Chris, Udi

That's the moon

And lots of clouds below!

It's really too beautiful. I'm sorry -- I just couldn't decide which I liked best of all of these dawn/moon pictures. Honestly, they look almost otherworldly.

Finallllyyyy

Chris and I made it to the top and waited for everyone else for a while. I actually drifted off and fell asleep at the peak for a minute or so! I'm really bad at napping, so this is a testament to my exhaustion. 

About to head down to the tram

Back at the cars after a burger at Denny's. So happy (and exhausted)!

Carlsbad Village Walk

I've had quite a few job interviews this past week and nothing seems to be working out (sad face). Looking for a job is a job in and of itself. Anyway, today, I had another interview and then went to the beach in the afternoon. 

Then, I got together with Nikkie and her daughter, Gabby, and we went to grab something for dinner and then to the "Carlsbad Village Walk", which was an event featuring 44 musical performances all over town, and you just walk around and listen to music. Pretty cool.

"Mattson2". It was pretty much just like...noodly surf guitar. Not exactly my thing, but it was fun anyway.

I think it's sort of weird and unfortunate that they were set up in front of restrooms. Also, we were sitting on astroturf. 

The weather is perfect here -- why wouldn't you just grow real grass?

Then Nikkie and I met up with some of her friends at a place called Señor Grubby's for some beers.

L to R: Jess, Marsha, Joe, Therry and Jim.

We headed over to The Village Pub, which was pretty cool. Whenever a train passes (the station is very close and you can hear it), you can get certain beers (mostly your standard domestics -- Coors, Bud, etc.) for cheaper than usual -- they're called "Train Beers". I think this is an awesome idea.

Then the rest of the group went home, and I met up with a friend and went to a party. It was a good night :)

Belly Up!

Today, Nikkie invited me to join her and her friends to go see Big Country at Belly Up, which apparently is somewhere that one must go when visiting coastal southern California. It's down in Solana Beach and was about a half hour drive from Carlsbad.

If you think you don't know who Big Country is, you will be like, "Ooooh, I guess I DO know them!" when you hear this:

Anyway, it was super fun and I got to try my first Sculpin IPA, made by Ballast Point Brewing Company, which is located in San Diego. Super delicious -- and super dangerous!

Jess and Nikkie.

Opening act, "Stripes and Lines".

Mike Peters has replaced the band's original lead singer, Stuart Adamson, who committed suicide in 2001.

Ah! This picture is so bad! But he's so close!