Spring break

About a week ago, Mandi asked me if I'd like to take a road trip to Santa Barbara with her. Really? A chance to spend 5 hours in the car on the way there and 5 hours on the way back in the car talking and enjoying my daughter's company? Absolutely! Of course, I wanted to go...so we did and here we are. She needed a break from the stress of PT school and her classes at UCSF and I am just thrilled that she wanted to spend the time with me!

I can't begin to count the number of hours Ron and I spent driving to and from Santa Barbara during the 6 years that JB, Mandi and Beckie went to school at UCSB. The other day we were reminiscing about just this and I mentioned to Mandi that I missed going to Santa Barbara...It's been 2 years since Ron and I drove down here to move Mandi back to the Bay Area just before she moved to NYC. It really is a lovely place to visit. I imagine that it's ridiculously expensive to live here...Oprah and Barbra Streisand have homes in Montecito which is very near here.

We are having a such a good time. It's fun to watch Mandi reminisce about her time here. We have been going to her favorite restaurants and other places she has wanted to see. Last night it was nachos at FreeBirds in Isla Vista. Today we had beautiful salads at Natural Cafe on State Street. This evening we had dinner at Aldo's - delicious. Our day today started with an intense yoga class that was supposed to be for beginners - HA! Later, I had fun shopping at the Sunday Art Fair on the beach. Great shopping, lovely sightseeing, good food, wonderful company and conversation. I wish that I could have time like this with each one of my girls on a regular basis...

We will be heading back home tomorrow after Mandi visits her old co-workers at Elite Performance and Rehabilitation Center. I might even try to find a yarn store in this neck of the woods. It's been a quick trip but we've had a great time!