Santa Barbara, Day 2

Friday, we followed our newly adopted morning routine: oatmeal, hardboiled eggs, cantaloupe, bagels and croissants at the motel, then over to Coffee Bean across the street for some real caffeination. For the purpose of getting O to nap, we drove from Arroyo Burro -- a northerly beach -- down to Butterfly Beach at the south end and back to Arroyo Burro. We set up on the beach, played in the waves, E and I jogged from one end to the other, and we ate some lunch from the snack bar.

Back at the motel for O's nap, E and I swam in the pool, then it was time for dinner. Actually, we got over to State Street an hour ahead of our reservations at Palazzio, so we stopped in Chicken Little, a children's clothing and toy shop, and K bought a birthday present for a friend. Next door to Chicken Little was a nicely stocked Copeland's boardshop, and E had been encouraging me to get my birthday skateboard while we were in Santa Barbara... so I wheeled O and his stroller in and picked out an Almost deck, Independent trucks, and some wheels and bearings and the guy behind the counter had me hooked up in no time.

The skate-posing began immediately upon arrival at the restaurant, where I asked the hostess to stash my skate. I hate to but have to admit that I actually felt slightly cool. Heh.