Vacation

I started taking multiple vacations throughout the year several years ago, when my income allowed it, and I had acquired enough seniority at work to earn the required time off. So as my work project started to wear me out a little, i decided to take a week off, and so it was that I was off from May 31 to June 9. But then the gas prices starting go up and up and up, making a typical drive to Oregon more costly, so much so that taking a few days off and going somewhere closer more appealing.

Although I have been there several times over the last 30 years (wow, i never thought of it that way before) the central California coast, specifically Pacific Grove and Carmel by the Sea seemed a good choice. I made a reservation for several days, and off we went.
The trip started well, although I was really distressed enroute when a place where we usually stop when travelling that part of the coast (our daughter lives in Santa Cruz) to stretch and let the dog out was closed, with police everywhere. Honey saw several men in suits and blurted out "detectives" which i recognize as the case, and as the highway ascended the bluff, we could see a lone police officer on the beach near the surf, a sheet outstretched. I eventually read a small article online:

The family of a 44-year-old Santa Rosa woman whose body was found floating in the surf at a San Mateo County beach shortly after she was seen meditating said Wednesday they had no idea how she died.
Michele Keith's body was retrieved Monday near the shore of a Pescadero State Beach after being spotted by a park worker.
The San Mateo County coroner's office said Wednesday an autopsy had been completed, but lab results are pending and no determination had been made about the cause of death.

Going to the beach lost its appeal for us that afternoon.

Next day
We arose before the sun tahnks to our dog deciding it was time for everyone to get up, a trait I had hoped she would relinquish since I had told her over and over Vacation, va-ca-tion...no need to get up, no work, no worries...apparently she had other ideas. So as i was eating breakfast, she was putting that dog mind melt on me,
pick up
the leash
take me to the beach
It worked..actually, finding the crumby coffee in our room barely tasteful, I longed to explore a coffee cafe I had spied in carmel, so we ventured off that way, got some coffee and went to a empty beach south of town.

Third day

Bored with looking at gray skies, ad wind blowing in from the northwest, maintaining a steady cold damp breeze, we opted to got for a short drive inland, and check out the outlet mall- a shoppers paradise. I went to Coach, Eddie Bauer, Nautica and (who knew) Calphalon..I found some stuff..OK, a new purse, a eyeglass case, some tops and some really nice cookware