Saturday Continues.....

So after my surf session. I cleaned up my friends house and headed to Long Beach.
A group of us planned to attend the 7th Wave Surf Shop opening in Long Beach!

I'm not sure exactly who the owners are... But I believe one of them is this awesome woman named Debi who we met that night.
The surf shop is a cool lil hole in the wall shop.. As Surf shops should be!
So I suggest if your in Long Beach stop in and support a local shop! I wish them lots of success!
The opening was fun with live music... DJ ..Food.. Beer... And a few vendors and a raffle!
As for the Beer I had Primo for the first time and I am hooked!! And now I can't find it anywhere!!!!!! Um I had a few Primos ... On top of a few glasses of wine prior to the opening... So I was feeling good not obnoxious out of control good.. But silly having a fun time happy good...and we will get to that in a minute ;-)

I ended up going to the opening because of Kim Hamrock. My friend Tracy invited us..

I first heard of Kim when I started following her Danger Woman Blog!

She is a pro surfer, artist and plays ukulele and guitar... She performed that evening! She has an interesting back ground.. You should look her up online :-).
It was so awesome to meet her.

Somehow during this event someone said we should get tattoos .. It was Tracy, Laurie and I.. We decided we should all get waves!
We ended up back at Tracy's and started looking up tattoo parlors ... Oh and Kim's daughter Margeux .. who just so happen to be the DJ that night ..recommended Port Tattoo in LB ...
Poor Surf Sista got the phone call from a bit "buzzed" surfing grandma.. Lol I was saying.. Surf Sista has a wave tattoo we should call her!! So I did!!!Lol... Love you Surf Sista and thanks for your patience!! She just laughed and said good luck!

So we head to Port Tattoo at about 9:00sh?? AND THEY WERE CLOSED!!!! What Tattoo parlor closes at 8:00 PM on a Saturday??? Really?????!!!!

We tried to call other Tattoo parlors... But that was a fail:-(

So we decided we needed food went to Denny's ... Sat down looked at menus and all decided nope nothing here we want and ended up at Taco Bell!!
We were reading the taco sauces and could not stop laughing ... Tracy called them mocko sauce ... Because Laurie said they were mocking our failed mission!

So we close down Taco Bell ... They seriously started locking the doors while we were there and we found that hysterically funny too!

We ended up back at Tracy's and yes I spent the night ... So that was our night Living Large in the LBC!!
All that and in bed by 10:00 PM!!

Woke up the next morning to the sound of Parrots !!! Did not know where I was!! Thought I was in Florida at my sisters or somewhere tropical!! Then opened my eyes... Nope it's Long Beach!

Here are just a few pix from that night. I was so Happy Kim took a pix with me!

Time for Rest!

So I have decided... There is such a thing as too much surfing!
I surfed 4 days straight in a row!! Was really considering surfing today.. But my body needs to rest..
I was wondering if it's a good thing and I would get better surfing every day.. But this body of mine is saying other things!

So yesterday I surfed.. And still was weak in my push up position to pop up!
As you recall I had issues with that on Friday:-(

My plan was to get in early between 6:30 and 7:00 since I was right down the street... I got in at 7:30.or 7:45sh!?

I surfed by the pier for about 45 min. By myself.. It was bigger than the day before.. But dumpy.. Bumpy.. And fast..and not much shape if any.. Just close outs..I was not feeling it..

I did see Mike A fellow Blackies Blogger!
He saw me take one or two in!
Which one was prob my ride of the day.. A long fun right! Long by " Blackies standards"..Not like a long ride at Doho.
I got 2 compliments by 2 different Mikes. "by the way.. This was at the beginning of my second session. Excuse my as I jump around this post!"

So after I surfed a bit.. Was feeling a tad exhausted in the body.. Could still paddle.. So I thought I'm ok.

I took a break and went to the parking lot to find my friends.. They were all chatting in the parking lot...my other friend Joann who ended up not surfing.. Kept my meter fed.. BIG THANK YOU to her and her dad Don!

Got Susan rounded up and dragged her off with me.. Irma vanished and surfed by the Jetty.. Apparently Laura was there too.. I did not see her.. And they surfed together.. We surfed by the pier..
I only stayed back out another 30 minutes.. It was not fun to me.. And the drift or rip was pulling me out and North.. It was too much work just trying to stay put!
I got wet.. Was with my friends.. Did get some exercise in.. And it was becoming a beautiful sunny day!
So not a bad day.. Not my best day.. Or the funnest!
My saying of the day.. "Other day i surfed and rocked Doheny.. Came to Blackies and surfed like a Weenie!!"
I have decided.. I like small waves.. No bigger than 4 feet.. I like long easy slow glassy rollers!! I think that's more of what I'm going to focus on surfing. I am happy with this decision!

So brings me to the rest of my day.. Actually that should be part 2! So I will close post.. And start a new!

WOW I been surfing A LOT!!!!

Well I really am suppose to be looking for a job.. I really am! BUT I been given the opportunity to surf quite a bit lately..well for me anyway.. I know there are peeps who surf every day..I WISH!

I am gonna try and recall my surf days... if I can remember and get this salt water out of my ear..LOL..(thats a joke..when I forget something I alway say.. too much salt water ;-)...)

So where did I leave off.. hmm what was the last surf day I posted???.. give me a minute I have to think..maybe research..

OK.so Wed. the 10th was my last report..

I was going to surf Thursday..but did not..because surf report was not good.. I was even all packed and ready with surfboard in tahoe..then the reports started coming in.. DONT WASTE YOUR GAS.. SO I did not.. I did a run/walk workout instead.. I am sort of training my neighbor to run with me.. she gets a bit sad when I surf instead. =-/..but luckily she understands.. so No surf a run with my friend instead.

Friday the 12th YEP surf..and it was ok.. I surfed with Artie..I had 1 wave..and 4 wipouts..one of my wipeouts,I was in what seem to be maybe 3 feet of water at the most, and I wiped out and my surfboard above water went toward shore..with my left leg attached to leash upward pulling my body as my right knee was dragged across the sand bottom.. I kept tumbling..and finally was able to stable myself and pop out of water.. I was under for what seemed a while.. it would have been sad to drown in maybe 2-3 feet of water. geeesh! Then I caught this wave..and popped up in the perfect place..but my leash got all tangled and I could not pop all the way up without getting tangled... the strap loosened during my last wipeout and was up my calf and not by my ankle.. so I totally wiped out and probably looked very stupid too. I hade one more wipout..board smacked me in face..no injuries..but decided ok..I need to get out.
I also went and worked out later that day.. at DSC in Costa Mesa, with Daniel Block.. it is a conditioning/training work out for surfers..a few Wahine Kai's go and I am trying it here and there. I have a lot to work on. I loved his workout..and cant wait till my pop up improves along with my stamina and paddle power. But since I am unemployed... I have the time..but not the money to go as much as I would like.

I rested Saturday.. because after surfing and hanging with Artie during the day then the DSC work out.. also went to a party and did not get home till 1:00 am.. I know party animal!!! So past my bed time.. so this granny had to rest Saturday..that was a LOT for me the day before.

Sunday.. went to surf..This was a solo mission.. SURF SUCKED.. it was windy..small and a bit drizzly actually... so I ran from Newport Pier to Balboa pier..walked to wedge..walked back to Balboa pier and again ran to Newport Pier..during my walk from wedge to pier I saw this awesome sign.. I need it for my fence!!!

Surf did not get better..but I went in for 30 minutes and just paddled..and paddled against the wind and the drift.. I would find a land marker and try to stay there..and paddle back when I drifted..I felt I paddled forever to get back..and I looked and I was at the same fricken spot.. UGH... well I worked my paddling mucsles.. I did catch two lil waves..but nothing eventful.

SO Monday and Tuesday no surf..

BUT WEDNESDAY..Hubs and I went out and our friend Stephanie and Betsy surfed.. Now this is funny..I am not the best surfer. Stephanie is an Awesome surfer..Betsy is newer.. I am gonna copy and paste the FB post from that day..I hope this work.. Just so you see the perspective of all involved.. HUBS was a bit scared to go out it was windy.. choppy and I would say 3-4 with some 5 feet waves..thats my perspective.. Hubs caught a nice long right.. I think I caught 2 maybe.. I dont remember. A year ago.. I probably would not have gone out on a day like this..I kept telling hubs "well going out on days like this makes you a better surfer..and better than not surfing."
This is how the FB post went:(Itook out last names for some privacy)

Laura: How was surf today? Big? Small? Windy?
Wednesday at 1:20pm via mobile · Like

Betsy: Yes. but mostly big and windy. and fast.
Wednesday at 2:06pm · Unlike · 1

Stephanie : medium to small waves, bumpy, jacking up a little...but super fun!!
Wednesday at 2:07pm · Like

Betsy: I guess it depends on your perspective.
Wednesday at 2:08pm · Like · 1

Michelle (Me): I agree with Betsy!!!
Wednesday at 2:18pm via mobile · Like · 1

Michelle (Me): I did not have that much fun surfing.. I has more fun socializing . Lol..
Wednesday at 2:19pm via mobile · Like

Stephanie: i always have fun. It's my escape.
Wednesday at 2:24pm · Unlike · 3

Michelle (Me): And your fun spills over to us.. And like I said.. No bad day.. When your in the water Stephanie.. Your awesome positive energy is contagious!
Wednesday at 5:15pm via mobile · Like


Then there was Thursday..yesterday..went to DOHO..very small..low tide..a bit of wind.. we ended up waiting for tide to fill in a bit..but were worried about it getting more wind.. so paddled out a bit earlier than planned.. GLAD WE DID!

Crew was Tracy,Laurie,Chris and me..I caught a few waves..and I had 2 fun long rides..I also had a short ride and I shared a wave with Tracy..which is always fun..
It was not as cold as I thought the water would be..the sun was out and it was wierd being low tide, you can see all the rocks..and the kelp was everywhere..but not too bad..but I hate when it wraps around your legs.. ugh.. eeeeeerie!

MY last ride was the best..I said to Laurie, "If I get this wave I am done" I did and litterally rode it to shore.. I mean litterally it was a long right.. they were all rights..but this was long and I stopped so close to shore. I took like two steps out and I was on dry land!
Tracy and I were suppose to do the DSC workout again..but as I keep telling people.. her and Laurie kidnapped me took me to a pub and poured beer down my throat and made me late and miss the workout!!!!! ;-).. I LOVE MY FRIENDS.. but seriously next week I WILL work out.

So now that brings me to today.. within this week as of today I had 5 surf sessions!!! That I think is a record.. I am however staying (since yesterday) at my friends beach house.. so I have to surf while here. So I surfed today and will again tomorrow.

SO today..I started surf with Joanne who left to go to work.. she was there all morning though..and totally out surfed me..Then Val and another Laura*(I surf with 2 Lauras now I guess) showed up.. so I was not alone again..
Betsy before I left had the wave of the day..she had this long right alllll the way down the line.. SHE has only been surfing since Oct..and is probably about my age..I am so jealous.. SHE rocks!

I think I am pooped and have no energy left. I surfed for 90 minutes..I caught maybe 2 waves.. there was no inertia..my board was too small. Realized I needed to be inside more to catch anything.. then did this thing where I was playing in the waves on my knees and pushing my hand up towards the nose to see where i needed to put pressure to make my board move WHEN i did get a wave!! Put an X in the wax..
and when I caught a few waves.. I went up closer to the nose and pearled..and pearled again. or I caught the wave..and no power behind it.. stood up and the ride was over..Then When I caught A few nice ones.. well as nice as you can get on a 1 foot wave.. I go to push up and no power in my arms.. I could not push myself up to get to a pop up. I think I surfed too much.. is there such a thing??? My arms failed me! I just looked terrible out there today...but I did have things working against me.

OH!!! Another thing that happen.. I am sitting there and this BIG thing bumps my leg.. moves my foot. and I look down see this light grey figure about the size of my board. I let a little scream out.. IT WAS A SEA LION!!!! About gave me a fricken heart attack..

Well really thats it till tomorrow..I plan on getting up early and get some surf.. So I will end this long post and get some sleep and dream of catching something and have a better surf experience than I have been.. I really am not on my game...hmmm I need to work on that,

I also took adantage of being at the beach and enjoye a sunset walk.. here are some pix.

Till tomorrow!

Wow that was fun!!!

I surfed today!!! First time in over almost two weeks!!
I had family here and been loving it!!
My son and his family left Sunday:-( yes I'm sad!! He will also be leaving for deployment again soon .. Idk when.. But I know I won't see him until he gets back.. So this good bye was just that much harder:-(
The house is quiet now.. Even though my grandson is here every week!
But nothing like having 10 people in one house!! Mind you not every day ...there was 10 ..sometimes 8.. Sometimes 5... One day it was just me and hubs and we were very confused as to what to do.. Lol....
We loved it!!! And as my friend Laura puts it"True Bliss disguised as chaos"

Well anyway.. I really needed to get back in the H2O... And today was the perfect day for that!!! Crowded.."it's still Spring Break?!?!?" I say very confused!

So I posted on FB that i was surfing Blackies and time.. Asked if anyone wanted to join me.. And I had 3 takers!! Although all my Blackies crew/friends were there.. I'm never alone..
But my Wahines.. Irma, Susan and Betsy joined me..
We ended up south side of pier!!
Because of how crowded North side was!! And tons of shoobies showed up as well :-(
It was an eventful day!! We had a coast guard helicopter practically land on a boat right off pier.. Idk why? Than there were sirens and two fire trucks came to lifeguard station... Again don't know why?
Then at end of surfing cops were called from what i understand due to a football or ball toss of some sort where grown ups were running over children... And someone filming... And filming of said children was not authorized??? Idk drama during shoobie season!...

Back to surf!...

We had south side to ourselves ... And we had a blast!
All of us caught so many rides! I had two waves of the day! Although I stop counting waves after 3...
One ...my last, I took all the way to shore and one of the cute fireman commented on what a nice ride that was all the way in!! " I think he was a fireman" but he did have board shorts on.. But he came from the fire truck area.. And looked to have a fireman t shirt and hat on. I said thanks but it still was not my best today;-)

My best was a long right.. Where I'm working on not standing all the way up crouching down to steer the board.. And to have a bit of style... Idk about the style part.. But I'm working on it...and not looking down at my board... I did this today! But one wave was a great ride due to it!!!
Sun was out... Great vibe.. A few dolphins.. One sea lion.. Water seemed colder but doable!
All this equals one fun day of surf!! Think I will do it again tomorrow... And the next day if I can get away with it ;-)

I have some pix of my "grandma" crawl/pop up... I will post next time.. They were taken last week..
I want to do a separate post on what I really need to work on... Like my pop up..One surf session at a time!!

But here is just a lil something from today.. And what south side looks like.. This was an hour after surf however..
Also got a pix of my friend Mikes kid coming in.. Just realized it was Trent.. I hope it's ok to post it.. I really was just trying to get a pix of the wave.. But my phone was too slow to click it:-0

Take a Soldier Surfing

So as most of you know I have 5 children and 2 grandchildren!
My oldest is a Sergeant in the Army.
Last time he was home I took him surfing... So decided to do it again last Thursday.
Surf was small but fun and my club president Cathy was taking a relative of her husbands i am not sure but think he is a relative ??? (from Canada) out surfing for his second time and his Girlfriend.
So she did an event on FB take a Canadian Surfing.. And I thought great time to bring my Son as well.

Cathy's students stayed out and Robert was catching waves he caught 2 really nice rides... His GF.. Didn't catch any... But had fun just the same!

So it was a nice day....Lots of Dolphin's which were right next to us! Branden thought that was cool! Easy surf! My Son caught 3 waves but only one not on his knees but he stayed down with his hands on the board... I know he would have got it and nailed a good ride.. But was not feeling well.
My son lasted an hour.. Water was very cold to him and he was tired... He just flew in with his family on Monday and been going non stop since they got here.

Of course when he was done I asked if I could have like 20 more minutes...
Then I asked for 1 more wave after that.
I had a few more ;-)
I had to take advantage of an easy fun and uncrowded day!!!!

Other than that I been busy enjoying my son and his family and especially my grand daughter ...
I finally have both my Grand babies together !! So I am relishing in every moment!

Also very rare I get all 5 my babies together at the same time... So these moments are PRICELESS!!

And yes my daughter has Blue hair!! And I love it!!!! She is a lot like her mommy!

Enjoy the pix!!!!