Whoosh - Santa Monica Pier

Photo credit to Rafael Panlilio at Canyon News

We were lucky enough to spend some time in Santa Monica this weekend. Of course, we went to the pier. And no visit to the pier is complete without a tour of the aquarium tucked below it.

We love all the ocean life. Jewel got splashed by the antics of the Tiger Sharks. Brenne made a paper-bag fish puppet. My favorite is the octopus. I always remember how she flooded the whole aquarium last year, and I think - now there is a girl with some SPUNK!

Another highlight of the day: Brenne's first and Jewel's second roller coaster ride on The West Coaster. It is a tame, wooden coaster, rattling its way around the pier, and taking in breathstopping views of the shore and city. But roller coasters are so NOT MY THING!

I played the good sport and went along so that both girls would have a ride partner, but gee, nothing about whizzing up and down and around and around appeals to me. It's like sticking your tongue out at Fate for no good reason at all.

The girls loved it, and would have gone again and again, except for the financial limitations we quickly encountered. Still, the up-into-the-sunset-sky part was really awesome!

Storm Gathering

Yesterday one of the fiercest storms we've had here ripped a large branch off a tree in our front yard. Because I was diligently working in a nearby cafe, my car wasn't parked in its normal spot and the branch landed harmlessly on street and sidewalk, only tickling its leaves up against the neighbor's mailbox.

My husband came home soon after I and began the daunting task of cutting it up. Within minutes, our next door neighbor was there with his saw, helping. After that, each time I glanced out the window, another neighbor had shown up with equipment to assist. Five guys with assorted chainsaws, ear protectors, and clippers made short work of that huge mess.

I'm just feeling so grateful for living in a neighborhood where people still gather to help each other, where we know each other by name and circumstance and feel like working together is in our common interest.

I think they actually had a lot of fun, reducing that hefty branch to logs and twigs.

Last night, the girls and I baked homemade chocolate chip cookies and dashed out through a break in the rain to deliver them, still warm, to all our helpers. Our way of saying thank you for a job well done.