Unexpected delights.

Places i never thought i'd go: Legoland, and the exercise/weight room in this building. Turns out they're both pretty fun, at least when you go with a bunch of friends (Penny, Mark, their 15-year-old, Dimitri, and the 6-year-old Solomon).

The weight room came first, the first night our friends were visiting. We'd had a pretty long day already: Nat and i took them out to Crystal Pier, then we lost Solomon for a few minutes on the beachfront. That was scary as hell. He's a wily one. We all headed up to see the seals at the Children's Pool in La Jolla. A low, strange late afternoon fog/mist had rolled right on in, and everything was hazy and bright. We each picked which seal we'd be, then when we could stand the smell no longer, headed down the steps nearby to a small cove for some swimming/wading.
Feet thoroughly exfoliated an hour or so later, we drove home for showers and then decided to eat some Thai food at the place Nat and i frequently visit. The restaurant is definitely decent: not great, and a wee bit expensive, but better than anything else nearby that we've found so far. Not to mention they are the nicest folks you could ask for. It is often empty, which fills me with fear because if that place packs up, we'll never eat out again.
During appetizers, a giant roach suddenly appeared on our table. It fell from the sky. Apparently i was sitting under a sprinkler head, and let's just say that next time i won't be sitting at that particular table. Our hostess handled the situation neatly, and it was all pretty hilarious considering that Mark had told us a rather horrid tale earlier in the day about a giant cockroach somewhere in Mexico. Life has its consistencies, you ever notice?
After dinner, Solomon decided he needed to see the exercise room, so we all swarmed in and took over the stairmasters, weight-lifting machines, and treadmills. I had been fearful of this room, but we had an absolute blast. I never realized before how difficult it was to burn calories; a seven-minute struggle on a stairmaster and all i burned were twelve. Hm! Rather interesting, actually. Perhaps now i'll think twice about all the gods-damn snacks i ingest nightly.

Day two was Legoland. Up early, drive half an hour to Carlsbad (near the lovely Flower Fields), listen to the 15-year-old's awesome CD (made using the Garage Band program for the Mac), meet Mark's "Uncle Paul" at the entrance, pay the $50 to get in, and the rest was basically a joy. Even though we're "adults", there was plenty to do, provided you're not above it all. If you have a childlike sense of wonder remaining anywhere inside of you, you will have fun. Lego Taj Mahal viewed while on a boat ride? Check. Roller coasters? Check. Lego dinosaurs hidden among the greenery? And how. Thrilling water-park area filled with shenanigans to be had? Oh, yes. It was pretty great. And Nat got to have his picture taken while "fighting" Lego Darth Vader with a light saber. I mean, awesomeness!

(Oh, and a bitchin' sunburn on yours truly.)

San Diego is truly emptier now that they are gone. And the wind plays unabashedly in the trees.