Epic Waves and the Media Don't Mix

Last Thursday a storm swell from New Zealand rolled into south/southwest facing beaches. That always means beautiful sets breaking in Newport Beach. In particular there is a phenomenon at the end of the Balboa Peninsula called the Wedge. Residents of Newport and the surrounding beach cities are familiar with the Wedge and most Southern Cali surfers, skimmers, and body boarders have been there or heard about the legendary wave break.

When I awoke Friday morning newscasters were at the Wedge.Uh? So I called my dad who was at our families beach house. When he picked up the cell he notified me that he was standing on the beach with at least 1,ooo spectators, 5 news vans, lifeguards, and police officers. The Wedge was kicking 20 foot waves and 10 insane guys lined up in the water to catch a once in 10 year chance to be the one to ride the giants.

Hold on a minute.....I was there last time the Wedge was hit by a large swell and all I remember was standing there watching with 20 people, one ambulance, one lifeguard truck, and 3 to 5 guys in the water. So why, do I dare to ask, are there so many spectators at the Wedge now?

Meanwhile, Tuck and I drove down to Topanga State beach and watched the beautiful waves break from the roadside. We talked about driving to the beach house for a night just to catch a glimpse of the larger than life waves that were breaking at the Wedge. It was 3:30, we loaded the bikes and drove back to the coast. 3 hours later we arrived at Newport Beach Blvd in deadly bumper to bumper gridlock. Apparently everyone and their mom had seen the news and wanted a look see too. It took us 1 hour to get 2 miles to the house. I've never seen anything like it, I was in shock, that this many cars can fit on the three dead end streets that lead to the Wedge. Where are they all going to park? Do they even know where they are going? Are they following like Lemmings to the place the media is? We made it to the house, had to park in the alley in front of the garage, legs stiff and in bad need of a potty break.

Since the streets were like parking lots we rode our bikes down the alley way that is 4 blocks from the Wedge. While riding we realized that the alley way was a swarm of pedestrians and bikes making it look like two lane highway traffic of feet and wheels. As we approached the beach entrance, with the harbor in view, we saw the ZOO, unable to ride our bikes any further because the wall of people coming and going. I can't describe the scene any further because it was truly an indescribable gathering of people just to see a wave brake on the sand. The joke of the weekend quickly became, "Which way is the Wedge?"

The pictures describe the exuberant amounts of people and the epic waves that this swell produced.

This street is normally traffic free. Well, the truth is that this is usually a quiet residential street.

The Wedge at 9:00 on Saturday morning.

The speck you see is a body boarder!

There are more pictures to come (that are on dad's camera).

Alternate titles for this blog post:

Surf's Up Bra!

Gnarly Swell!

The Sound the Surfers Made...

The Washing Machine

Media Madness

Which way to the Wedge?

2,000 Spectators

A Guy Died and Media Reports the Tragedy (Oh, wait, that happens everyday)

I've Been Published!

Well, it's not really me being published. Although, my name is in the very back in small print that states; Ms. Cannon's 2nd grade class, Dixie Canyon Elementary, CA.
This last winter Random House Publishing and Bill Adler called for teachers around the US to have their students write a letter to President Obama on whatever topic they wish. If the students letter was chosen he or she would have their letter published in an editorial book for people of all ages to enjoy. It was perfect timing for my writing lessons because we were learning about writing friendly letters, so it was a sign to me to let the burning minds of my students go to work. After review I was in contact with Bill Alder's people. They notified me that 7 of my students letters would be published in the book. It gets even better....my class had the most letters of any class and any one school published in the US.
My students all received a free copy of the book but their fabulous teacher that got them in there did not. So, I went to Barnes and Noble and wondered around the children's sections, the non-fiction section, the editorial section...umm...no where to be found. I wondered to the front of the store to check out some literature for myself on the new release table, you know, the table right when you walk through the stores' doors. My eyes browsed a few fun titles and as my gaze led to the top of the table there it was "Kids' Letters to President Obama." I grabbed it from the table and had a huge smile on my face, people probably thought I was some sort of crazy smiling at a red white and blue colored book. But the truth was I was like a proud parent for my students.
When I got home Tucker suggested that I should have brought my camping chair from home and started a book signing line at the front of the store. He always has the best ideas.
Please check this book out on Amazon. It is adorably cute, children say funny and heartfelt things to a president that they blindly admire.

Beach Bathing

We spent the last week with the Cannons and the Snows in Newport Beach at my family's beach house. Unfortunately, not everyone could make it out for our vacation but we did get Griff for a day, Haydn for a few nights, Erin in and out (she's lucky enough to be local in HB), and mom, Dayna, Garrett, Cannon, and Roman the whole time. Cole and dad were missing in action and I know they wished they could be there with the fam.

We hit the hot sandy beach everyday, playing in the waves, jumping, running, splashing, digging in the sand, reading tabloids, and laughing.

One of the nights the two full time lovebirds and parents met with some friends and left the boys with us and mom. Dinner at the Shorehouse was entertaining because Uncle Tuck is the best at making games and stories from thin air.

Of course we visited the Fun Zone. Cannon and Ro had a blast on the Merry Go Round, the Ferris Wheel and in the arcade.

Everyone got a chance to go beach cruising on the bikes and cruise down the boardwalk. I never got a chance to shop at my favorite boutiques but I guess that is just part of hosting the family for the week. Maybe we can do it all over again next year.

Chicken Chasing

We were lucky enough to get a visit from the Snow's today. It's amazing how fast children grow up and we decided tonight that we want to be the favorite aunt and uncle (sorry everyone Tucker has found some new bribing techniques).

Cannon has such an amazing intellect that is far beyond his years. He chased the chickens in the coop and caught several of them with his bare hands and strategic thinking.

Roman is so charming with his contagious smile. I think I'm getting closer to the little man's heart bic-a-boo by bic-a-boo and tickle by tickle. He loved Tucker from the day they arrived calling "Cuker, Cuker" around grandma and grandpa's house.

My favorite part of my day today is when we were at CPK for dinner. Cannon and I were in the middle of coloring right before dinner arrived at the table. Cannon stopped and layed down on my lap. I asked, "Are you tired buddy?" And he responds, "No Tara, I just want to cuddle with you a little bit."
My heart melted in my chest and made me realize how excited I am for them to move back home in the near future.

King of the Mountain

Yesterday we hiked to Calabasas Peak. It is a beautiful view from the top. Thanks to Tanya's persistence and patience I made it to the top. The boys were on their own mission and trucked ahead in front of us for most of the hike. Once we were at the top we could see our home in the very far off distance. It truly felt like we were on top of the world.

Birthday Partying

Jon Lyons had a fun birthday this year (I don't know how he felt but from my point of view it was fun). We all went to The Stinking Rose in Beverly Hills, which is one of my and Tucker's favorite restaurants. The birthday boy even took a fancy limo from Vtown. Us ocean people had chauffeur Tucker drive us to our destination. Sometimes getting older doesn't seem like such a bad thing.

They'rrrrrrrrrrre Herrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre

Our nephews that is! We are excited to say that the missing link of our family will be visiting the states for the next 3 weeks. We'll take all the time we can get with them. We haven't seen the Snow family in 14 months (yes, I know it's cruel to make a grandma suffer like that) but it took no time for us to joke, play, and laugh as if they've been here the whole time. I'll post all the fun pictures to come.

4th of July

We ventured to my parents house for our annual 4th of July BBQ and fireworks celebration. We laid in the sun, played Boccie Ball, went swimming, BBQed, and lit off fireworks at the end of the cultisack.

On Sunday, we went to a concert in the park and firework show given by the city of Aguora Hills. Neil and Amber joined us for the picnic and show.

Is That a Zucchini in Your Hand?

The fruits of our hard work and labor in our garden are finally starting to pay off. Well, I should say Tucker's hard work, I don't deserve to take credit (because I'm Italian I'm better at the supervisor role). We are growing tomatoes, squash, zucchini, peppers, green beans, watermelon, basil, dill, parsley, cilantro, and rosemary. Tucker tilled the land, leveled it out, added fresh organic soil, planted the seeds, built a fence (to keep our resident Peter Cottontail out), and has anxiously watered and watched the seeds grow. Tonight for dinner we get to try our very first organically homegrown zucchini. Yum!

Sick as a Kitty

Most are familiar with the saying "sick as a dog," but are new kitten, Luna, has given a whole new catch phase to feeling sick. She was an adorable, lovable, playful kitten for the first two days we had her. Now she has a Cat Flu. Our closest friends and family know how sick cats make our hearts palpitate. The nice local Topanga vet is helpful and knowledgeable and has given us an antibiotic to help her. For now our other cat, Cleo, will continue to just stare at the kitten probably thinking, "what the hell is wrong with you?"