San Diego Zoo

This morning, we finally decided to venture out of the house and do something fun. As it is Labor Day weekend, we knew we wouldn't be able to go to the beach because it was also a really warm day. We decided to buy a dual membership pass to The San Diego Zoo. It was only $89, last a year, and includes 2 free guest passes. What a deal! It's also tax deductible, for any of you who itemize:) Here are just a few pictures and videos from our day. Enjoy!

After about 5-10 minutes after starting with a blank canvas...

We ate dinner in this beautiful cafe at the zoo:)

Coronado Beach and Midnight Sea-Shelling

We haven't really done much yet since we've been here. We've basically just gone shopping, gone out to eat, and lain around the house. Last night, we finished watching License to Wed at 930 then decided that we wanted to go to take a walk at the beach. It took us about an hour to get ready, leave, find our way out there, and then actually get onto the beach. On the way, we passed the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum (which I hope to go to soon!), the Padres stadium (called PETCO Stadium ... pretty sad), and drove over the Coronado bridge. Coronado Island is beautiful! Unfortunately it was too dark to take many pictures but I'm sure we will visit again soon.

Anyway, once on the beach, we walked maybe a quarter mile then sat and listened... I took the video below:)

I also wrote in the sand ... :)

Then we decided to do some midnight sea-shelling. I was sooo excited when I found a WHOLE sand dollar!!! Then we found several other ones, though some of them had pieces missing from the middle so we didn't keep those. We found one that was super tiny - probably half an inch diameter, but we lost it somehow on the way home :( We also found a live sand dollar. We saw this little scrape in the sand and it was moving a bit, so Paul dug it up and we washed it off. Poor little guy was scared and stopped moving until after we put him back in the sand. We decided to let him stay at the beach :)

These are the shells we came home with ... once we figure out what we want to do with them, I'll take more pictures, but for now, they're soaking in a baking soda bath to rid them of the smell:D

Some unopened ones paul insisted we bring home. Im worried about what may come out.

We're planning on going to Balboa Park, maybe the Zoo OR Disneyland and a few other places next week. For now, we're still enjoying resting and recuperating:o) Here are just a few other pictures from the last couple days.

So Far...

Yay! I got the pictures to upload. I had some problems earlier getting them on to the computer, but finally worked my way around the technical issues ... here are a few pictures of our house pre- all decorations (which we still haven't gotten up) and ... excuse some boxes/trash here and there:) Otherwise .... here is the photo story of our life in SD .... SO FAR ....

View from just inside the front door

Just inside the front door, to the left

Just past the stairs, looking into the living room

Standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking into the living room

Standing in the corner by the dining table

Sitting in the corner of the couch

Sitting in the corner of the couch

My huge kitchen :)

Tiny stove + refrigerator but LOTS of counterspace

View from kitchen window

Looking out from kitchen

The vanity area outside the bathroom... to the left is the bathroom

Standing by the outer vanity area looking into the bathroom

Bathroom vanity

The original toilet seat ... why anyone would want a clear top on their toilet seat with aquarium style, I do NOT know....

... so we bought a toilet seat cover and we think it looks much better.

View out the bathroom window

Sitting on the toilet... LOL

The bathroom (and kitchen) flooring! Love it!!

Opposite side of room from bathroom, looking into bedroom.... basically standing immediately above where you'd come in the front door (forgot to take picture of bedroom coming from stairs. oh well guess everyone will just have to visit to see it for themselves?!!!)

Not a good picture, but this is the new dresser we bought at Ikea yesterday, or the day before, I can't keep these things straight .... what day is it?

Here you can see that I have white sheer behind the blue silk curtains:) ... It's prettier in person.

Our upstairs balcony where I am excited to sit all the time.

Sitting in the chair - view

Looking west in the balcony

Looking east in the balcony

Coming in from the balcony

"Storage" closet .... it's actually another door to the upstairs hallway, but we're allowed to just block off the door with our junk and make it look however we want :) Our landlord actually gave us the idea.

Yep. The SECOND thing I ate here in SD was Pho Noodle Soup.... (The FIRST thing was Filippi's Pizza ... but that only means anything to you if you're related to me on the Clark side.)

Nice Pho restaurant.

YUMMMMMMYYYYY in my TUMMMMMYYYYYY!

Pho Viet in Modesto is actually better but I think with time I'll get used to it. It's like leaving your mom's home cooked meals, but eventually you find a new taste bud in there somewheres;)

So, there ya have it ... so far. More to be added later:) Let me know if there is any other thing I should take a picture of!