Leaving Long Beach

Our last night in Long Beach was relaxing and romantic! John joined me in the pool around 4:00 after his conference was all done and he could fully embrace vacation mentality. I had been hanging down at the pool all afternoon, mostly in and out of the whirlpool and then into my shady spot to read. There were lots of nice folks down there, including a guy with his two kids that were having a good time paddling around, talking to each of the adults as they floated past. They were cute, very well behaved and entertaining! At one point they asked their dad, "How do you say 'No' in Russian again, Daddy?" and after he told them, they both floated around the pool both chanting quietly, "Nyet, nyet, nyet, nyet, nyet", I thought it was just too cute!

We took off for a nice, long stroll along Shoreline Drive on the pier. There were TONS of different birds including those massive Seagulls, Great Blue Herons, Sand Pipers, and even an Osprey. But we were also excited to see a SEAL who jumped up onto a little landing area where a bunch of Great Blue Herons and gulls were hanging out!! He was small and slippery and very cute!! We also saw a lady feeding a feral cat colony, which I'd never seen before. I've always heard about these colonies but had never actually come across one before. I suppose down by the beach is a good life for a kitty with all the fish and scraps around. They were so cute, but we made sure not to approach any of them, lest they bite us and make us rabid or something. That would be kind of a vacation bummer.

We then went for dinner at a hipster restaurant called the Yard House that was overpriced, but very nummy. They have a buttload of beers on tap, so of course I decided to have a Mojito for 3 dollars more than John's beer, and I ordered the Chicken Rice Bowl (that I finished off this morning for breakfast) and John had a New Belgium Fat Tire beer which was really good, and he ordered the Sliders (mini hamburgers & fries, also his breakfast this morning). Since I rarely drink anymore, the Mojito went straight to my head and I acted goofy all the way home. We went by a number of street freakies, so I was glad to have a little liquid courage to make it to the hotel unscathed! I insisted on another dip down in the hot tub, so we stumbled down there for a spell in the hot, bubbly fun and took off just as a large family was coming down to do the same. I took my third shower of the day before realizing it was time to pass out for the night.

John just finished the laundry and we're watching Beakman's World. The aquarium doesn't open until 9, so we're just hanging out til then. We've got to check out by noon so we don't have too much time, but we'd like to at least take a quick tour of it!! Anyway, I'd better post a few photos and quit my blabbering ;)~
Love to all,
R&J