The GGA Project -- Day #92 "Solitude"

Today I had nothing to do in terms of obligation aside from working on a writing project, so I decided it was a good day for a visit to the coast.  Thankfully, given the sheets of rain coming down, the chosen destination is only about a 35-minute drive from my front door.


Today's New Activity: Sola Trip to Half Moon Bay


I was in the mood to explore mind-clearing thoughts, so I set aside the NPR in favor of my Pandora app.  I've had R.E.M. on the brain since hearing their new album last week (Collapse Into Now--click the link and take a listen to the samples--it's excellent), so I set up a new "R.E.M. Radio" station and settled in with my thoughts, accompanied by streaming audio that also included U2, Coldplay, Radiohead, The Cranberries, Nirvana, and The Smashing Pumpkins, to name a few.  This high school & college years soundtrack was a nice complement to the foggy, rainy drive.


I ended up at Venice Beach and had it pretty much to myself for a good part of the time I was there.  That probably had to do with the fact that this was the chilly, overcast scene there:

Which I find beautiful, if not a bit haunting, but which it seems is not for everybody.  I'll never complain about having an entire beach to myself though; I was pretty thankful for today's solitude and the chance to do some reflecting on where I'm at, 90-some days into this project.

Walking the shoreline, I was reminded of another time in my life when I headed to the beach to think.  Deep in the throes of a depression at age 19, I'd ventured south from my then-home near L.A., ending up in Carlsbad--where I rented a room for the night just to get away from my usual scene and routine.  That afternoon and again the next day, I'd walked down to a nearly deserted beach (perhaps it was private...I didn't notice and wouldn't likely have cared much back then), where I sat and read Walter Kaufmann's Existentialism from Dostoevksy to Sartre.  Oh, the spectacular angst!  The drama!

It was interesting to find myself, today, dealing with much more serious life issues (divorce and custody matters with a son as young as he is) but having a calmer and, I suppose, more measured and less tragic outlook.  A sense of peace has washed over me having nothing to do with visiting the beach (pft...that would just be so obvious).  I was content to simply take in the reality of my circumstances as they are and enjoy the profundity of the mundane: a few dogs splashing in a large body of water that had pooled onshore, and the strange, provocative beauty of seaweed:

After a frozen-nosed spell by the water, I headed for warmer parts.  In this case it was Starbucks, where I worked on my project for a solid few hours and heard (on their in-store station) a number of songs from Adele--inspiring another new Pandora station for the drive back inland.


By the time I picked up Monkey from his dad's place this evening, I was feeling mellow in the most satisfied of ways.  More trips to the beach are definitely in order!

The GGA Project -- Day #59 "February at the Beach"

Who knew there was a little beach just up the freeway?  My parents mentioned having found this spot a few weeks ago, and I finally managed to drag Nicole and the girls up here today for an outing:


Today's New Activity: Visiting the Shoreline in Alameda


But first we hung out at home a little bit.

Hahaha...awww, she looks just short of disgusted   :P


Then, the drive.  I love seeing those two in the backseat together.  They are so mellow back there, just hanging out and gazing out the windows.  It made me wish I still lived down the street from Nicole and we could go everywhere together.  

Not only does the monkey love to play with Sureya, but her older sister Maya is a wonderful mentor, helper, and playmate--the baby just loves being with both of them.


It was yet another insanely gorgeous and unseasonably warm day in the Bay Area. The only seasonable aspect of it was a pretty intense wind, which was nice though, because it cleared out all hint of the smog that was hanging around yesterday.  We got a bit of a late start, so we didn't stay too long, but even late in the afternoon it was still warm enough to let the munchkins take their shoes and socks off and get their toes wet.

This was only the second time Chupi's been to the beach.  The first time he was just barely beginning to stand, though he couldn't yet do it on his own, and it was freezing cold that time so he didn't get to go in the water at all.


This time he was enthusiastically and yet cautiously stepping into the water and mostly keeping his balance as the tiny waves came and went.  Sureya was much more courageous, running headlong into the waves with no fear at all.

I know it looks like child neglect to have them out there like this in the middle of winter, but trust me it was very warm outside and the water wasn't even ridiculously cold.  Anyway they didn't care.  You couldn't keep them away from the water.  Though Nicole's efforts were most valiant:

We really didn't know what to expect from this park, plus we got a late start, so Nicole and I were both a little ill-prepared in terms of clothing and all the bring-along stuff Moms plan for when they know better.  In the end, after getting unexpectedly soaked, Sureya needed an extra shirt.  And she ended up wearing Chupi's.  Tee hee.  Just like a real girlfriend, borrowing her man's clothes!

Again, this was a day meant for appreciating the wonders in my own backyard.  I can't wait to revisit this site in the summertime...what a treat, just 1/2 hour away!