Solstice Recap, Coincidence, and Other Ruminations

Saturday's Summer Solstice parade was a total riot and shed an entirely new light on what Santa Barbara's all about. The hippies came out of the hills, quite literally, donning their most creative interpretations of this year's theme, "stars." There was Whirlin Merlin, Mr. & Mrs. Big Head, Capoiera dance-fighters (see photos), and an overdose of glitter, hula hoops, stilts, and roller skates. One man, dressed in a wizard costume in stilts, stopped in front of us and, upon realizing that he was being watched by everyone, proceeded to make up a bizarre song "we are so luuuuckkkyyyyy, we are so blesssseeeedddddd." Nick and I were reeling with laughter.
The parade ended at local Alameda park where all the parade-goers and the kooky folks of the parade themselves gathered for an afternoon of celebrating summer. The top picture of the last post is of Nick and I enjoying some hippie tunes in the beer garden. Other highlights included: the world's best guacamole, organic peppermint and eucalyptus soap, "synergy jewelry," and an all-out hula hooping party that lasted the full 4 hours we were there. We had a blast and loved the total eccentricity of the Santa Barbara scene, but we couldn't help thinking it would be better if we had some friends... We contemplated how a couple can go out and try to "pick up" friends at a bar but concluded that all options were excessively awkward.

Later that evening, as I sat on the deck reading Deepak Chopras new-age cult favorite, "The Book of Secrets," I overheard some chatter on our neighbor's deck next door. This caught my attention for two reasons: first, they were speaking English; second, they sounded fairly young. After peering through the bushes, I determined that they in fact were probably only a couple years older than Nick and I. I proceeded to call out a greeting to them and blindly introduce myself. Nick and I went over for a beer and got friendly. Turns out the two had moved in only two days before us, a young married couple ages 27 and 29, who went to UC Boulder. Andrew grew up in Santa Barbara and the two had lived here for a couple of years before moving to San Fran, and they just moved back. They are incredibly nice and so knowledgeable about the town. I secretly cant wait to go on double dates with them.

While I was talking to Valerie out on her deck, I glanced inside where a box sat open on a table with some yet-to-be-unpacked belongings strewn around it. Lo-and-behold, I see that Valerie has the EXACT SAME TOWEL as me! What are the odds? My recent new-age reading has told me that all coincidences are signs of some deeper meaning. Then, later that night, as I was making dinner, listening to a good song called "Jerusalem," by Matisyahu, I turn over the bowl in my hand and lo-and-behold - it says JERUSALEM on it in capital letters. Two coincidences in one night... I decided that this means that Valerie and I will become very good friends (option b: I need to buy new towels), and I need to go to Jerusalem.
Having determined that there was major energy in the air, I put on another tight tank top and hit the Santa Barbara bars in the hopes that a bar owner would see me and miraculously offer me a job. That part was unsuccessful.

In other news, it turns out that in addition to all of the booze and food Lisa left behind for us, she also left an estimated $500 in brand new gourmet cooking supplies. This included a top-of-the-line Cuisinart food processor, 12-piece non-stick cookware set, and a gourmet pasta making set. In that spirit, Nick and I have been cooking up a storm - most recently seared ahi tuna pizzas with wasabi mayo, and chicken curry w/ cashews from scratch.

Other funny observations and experiences include:
- Tuesday afternoon farmer's market: organic fruits, veggies, flowers, and wheatgrass shots galore
- Hybrid Taxis
- My hippie yoga teacher wearing a Cartier watch
- Neighborhood skunk aka "Pepe"

More to come...