Booth Please

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

A booth at Mix Bowl Cafe, a Thai fast food restaurant in Pomona, California

Family weekends in Santa Barbara are not much for sightseeing. The extent of choices ranges from booth or table, Costco or Vons, walking the dog in the park, or taking a nap. Usually, this also is the opportunity to cook for family; this weekend, I made a huge pot of chicken corn chowder for my uncle Woody. At some point, my aunt Ann makes a phone call to Buffalo, New York, and we all chat with my aunt Lillian. We gossip – a lot. Caroline has a glass of wine with Aunt Ann, her drinking buddy, and then we’re off for another bite to eat. Would you folks like a booth or table?

Pirate Beach

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

The Pacific Ocean as seen from the 101 freeway near Ventura, California

Aaarrrrgh, there be pirates on that thar beach. This visit to Santa Barbara is for spending time with family, leaving no time for frolicking in the surf. Speeding by, looking out the window is the closest we would come to the Pacific on this trip to California. It’s a good thing we enjoy the company of my great aunt Ann and uncle Woody, along with my cousin Nancy, her two children Theresa and Daniel, and my great aunt Jean, who is also Nancy’s mom. We talk, eat, talk some more, barbecue, reminisce, sleep, and start it all over again the next day.