Winter Break in Socal

What the heck, I'll post a blog from the USA! These past two weeks have been filled with fun, family, friends, and food! I've been lacking in the photo department while my camera has been in the repair shop. But here are a few pics!

(Westside!)

Above are my awesome students who showed up at Dollar Tacos to share a meal and chat. They each have so many passions and great things ahead of them. (Yes, I decided to put you guys on my blog after all!)

Basically, my winter vacation goes something like this: family, friends, food, friends & food, family & food, friends & family, friends, food, food, food, family & friends & food, fun, fun, fun, fun & food, ... and buying as much long underwear as possible. Life goes on in Los Angeles, and everyone seems to be having a good time!

Here are some sights away from the city. My friend Snow and I decided to take a road trip 2.5 hours away to the desert and the ocean. The first stop was Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (in San Diego county), the largest state park in California. The funny thing is, no one has ever heard of it. We hadn't!

(Borrego Springs, CA)

(This desert was originally a river bed of the CO River.)

After hiking for a while in the desert terrain, we came upon the oasis!!! There was a cluster of native palm trees growing up from the mysterious source of water. It was pretty cool! And like in the movies!

(oasis in the desert, cluster of trees just above the gray rock)

Can you tell what these are? Here are some patterns:


Next, we headed to the Cabrillo State Park in San Diego, where we visited the tide pool and the Point Loma Lighthouse. Here are some mollusks:

(barnacles -- above and below)

(not sure if hermit crabs - above)

(hermit crabs -- above and below)

Here is us. What kind of grammar is that?

(Snow and Jeanne)

Now I have one week left for more hanging out with family & friends, and eating! Yay!!! If you would like to see more nature pictures from the desert and the ocean, CLICK HERE, for the Winter Break 2007-8 photo set.