jane dong

Santa Cruz - June 2017

What a treat for Mark and I to spend so much time at the beach in Santa Cruz.

We LOVED IT!

Best Birthdays Ever!

Standing looking at the wharf was really nostalgic, looking across the water at the old boardwalk. Our parents had brought us there almost every summer as we grew up. We told Mark all about what use to be there…the old wooden slide where you climbed to the top and slid down on gunny sacks! Best thing ever! Not there anymore, but the Merry-Go-Round and the old wooden roller coaster, happily, are still there.

Most important, my sister got a little puppy recently, and this was the first time I would meet her. Her name is LIZZIE.

I fell for her right away! She’s adorable!!!!

I found the puppy a toy when we went shopping - a little blue bear. I think she liked it!

Joanna climbed up the scary (illegal) steps with no railings (with the puppy) and I walked back the long way all alone.

The scary steps! Awk! With no railings - actually rocks!!!!!!

Joanna made ravioli for dinner!!!!! Yay! (I made the salad).

I’m allergic to the sun - especially sunburns - so I cover up completely in the sun and look like a nut, but…oh well.

Andrea gave me her chair to sit in and towel to cover up - and took my picture twice on the beach - that’s her dog SPOT in front of me.

BUT……. WE WERE HIT by a HUGE WAVE the next day, when I was trying to film the puppy, and didn’t see it coming! I yanked her up and, at least, got her head out of the water; but, she and I ended up drenched in water and sand - and we had to walk all the way home like that!

She came out fine, as you can see, with another cute collar to wear - much better than my shoes! I had to throw away the socks!

Joanna never saw her drenched or dirty - so I lucked out. She took me out to dinner for my Birthday at the end of the week.

On the last day, Mark returned to spend a day at the seashore! It was so nice. Just fabulous! We took the puppy with us.

Our last day at the beach!

Thank you Joanna!

We LOVED every minute of it!

What a Life!

WHAT A BIRTHDAY PRESENT! Mark and I were invited to stay at my sister Joanna's house in Santa Cruz for our Birthdays - happily they are one week apart! Mark brought me over to Joanna’s on HIS birthday and left the next day for work and I got to stay for a week, until he returned after MY birthday to pick me up. It was FABULOUS!

Joanna and I went shopping, got a manicure and pedicure, made dinners, watched movies and walked the puppy! See for yourself … she even took me out to the world famous Shadowbrook restaurant for MY BIRTHDAY DINNER!

I loved it, ALL!

Dinner with my sister on the Wharf for Mark’s Birthday

We ate dinner at Riva's right across from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk

This is the new puppy - LIZZIE!

Taking LIZZIE for a walk on the beach

The beach in front of Joanna’s condo

My FIRST manicure and pedicure - present from Joanna

Nice, isn’t it?

Capitola

Our Dinner at Paradise Beach Grill - FABULOUS FOOD!

Joanna and I taking the puppy for a walk

The beach in front of Joanna’s condo - Yellow condos on the hill - Joanna’s is the third one back from Ocean Front.

I took LIZZIE for a walk on the beach every day!

Joanna’s friend Andrea and her friend were there and invited me to join them...

LIZZIE was just starting to trust me...

LIZZIE is almost caught by a WAVE!

We WERE HIT by a HUGE WAVE the next day!

First thing I did was give her a bath in the sink and wash out all the sand out of her cute pink collar.

World Famous Shadowbrook Restaurant

“Happy Birthday to Me…"

FABULOUS! Filet Mignon, Potatoes Au Gratin & Spinach Salad!

LAST DAY - I had a close call..but the puppy was safe in my arms!

A wonderful day at the beach and a WONDERFUL WEEK!

© jane dong 2012