eleven

I've been in a wonderfully blissful state the last eleven days... no work, no work emails, little online activity or thinking at all. Just enjoying California and Mr. S's company, celebrating my brother's wedding with my entire family, eating good food, taking lots of photos, lounging in the sun and waking up without an alarm. It was everything I dreamed it would be. Sigh. But now it's back to reality. Back to 263 emails, back to alarm clocks and schedules, back to spreadsheets and using my brain. But I suppose without all of that, an eleven-day vacation wouldn't be as sweet...

Photos yet to come, but for now, highlights for each day I was gone:

Day 1: Running around Lake Merritt. Family dinner with my and my brother's (now) wife's immediate families -- the first time we'd all met. Eating Korean BBQ together as one big family.

Day 2: Enormous burritos. Seeing my mom's cousins for the first time in 15 years. Lots and lots of laughing.

Day 3: My brother's wedding. Chinese tea ceremony, rose garden commitment ceremony, rockin' 10-course dinner followed by lots of dancing. So much happiness. Too little time.

Day 4: Wandering through the hilly neighborhoods of San Francisco. Clam chowder, sea lions, boutiques, wine. Rehashing the wedding with my parents over dinner.

Day 5: Big Sur. Oh Big Sur, you stole my heart immediately. What a beautiful drive down the coast, what a great training run along the cliffs, what a cozy dinner in a little restaurant in the redwoods on a cold, clear night. What a treat to fall asleep to crashing waves, snuggled in our tiny tent.

Day 6: A slow breakfast, a windy beach, a peaceful run. Drinks overlooking the coast at sunset. Dinner in a lodge. A campfire, s'mores, a cozy tent. Waking at midnight to drive back down the coast and sit in hot springs overlooking the ocean lit by the full moon. Crawling back into our sleeping bags under the redwoods, warmed to our cores.

Day 7: The most beautiful beach. Jumping photos in the surf. Another sunset, delicious burritos, again falling asleep to the sound of waves.

Day 8: Running in Golden Gate Park. Walking through Berkeley. Dinner with good friends.

Day 9: More walking through Berkeley. Lots more. Greek food, coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice. Used book stores, record shops, reading in the sun on the grassy campus. Thai food. Band of Horses at the Greek Theater. Frozen yogurt. Beer. So much happiness.

Day 10: Coffee and crepes. A farmers market -- oh the produce! Saying goodbye to California. Sadly, oh so sadly, packing our bags and traveling home.

Day 11: Sleeping until noon, back in our own bed. Cereal for breakfast. A run around the track on a crisp fall afternoon. Four episodes of Breaking Bad. Velveeta Shells and Cheese and root beer floats. Staying up late just to hold on to the last sweet moments of One Of Our Best Trips Ever.