Flutterbys and Monster Seals

Usually I am the one that makes the journey home to visit my family, but this past weekend my mom and dad came down to visit me.

While I have made San Luis my home for almost 5 years now, I am no expert on the sights and sensations that are available here.  However I have still managed to see some pretty awesome things during my stay here.  This weekend however, I was lucky enough to encounter two adventures that are opportunities that many never get the chance to experience.

Our first expedition took us to a small beach close to Pismo Beach and at this beach there is a small grove of  eucalyptus trees.  During the month November through February, if you make a trip to this grove, you may think you have stepped into a National Geographic magazine.  When you gaze up into the treetops you see a cluster of what looks to be beehives.  At a closer glance however, you see these hives shaking.  That's when you realize....

It's......ALIIIIIIVE!

Swarms of vicious, man-eating monarch butterflies!  They fly all around your head, and bring smiles to those I thought would never share a toothy grin....I barely escaped with my life!  In all seriousness though they are quite a sight to see.  The masses are at their peak in mid January.  They stop at this grove on their migration to the Great Valley...wait, maybe that was that dinosaur kid....

This year, I was informed that a record number of butterflies graced us with their presence. Twenty eight thousand stopped at this particular spot, that's seven thousand more than last year.  Impressive.  I have gone to see them for the past 4 years now and the sight never gets old.  Plus if you dabble in photography like I do, you couldn't ask for a better photo op!

I have dubbed this display "The Butterhive"

One, two, three, four....no wait I think I counted that one already...

Beware! They're vicious!

The next day of my parents visitation, our travels took us north on Highway one (BEAUTIFUL drive along the ocean side) up past Hearst Castle (also BEAUTIFUL if you ever get the chance to see it).  After passing the zebras on the side of the road and feasting my eyes on the glorious mansion on the hill, we pulled of the road (side note: Mr. Hearst used to have a menagerie of animals at his private zoo and some of the descendants remain on the vast Hearst property today.  That's where the zebras came from.)

One of the first thing noticeable at this location is the....unique.....smell.  It is not overpowering yet it smells similar to a port-a-potty trying to be masked by febreze ocean scented spray.  When you make your way over to the guard rail, at first it looks like an odd rock formation has taken over the beach.  Then this face looks up at you...

Look how happy he is to see you!

Almost 5,000 pounds of blubber making some of the oddest noises and producing fragrances that might make big money in some french perfume shop is gazing back at your face.  Seeing a schnoz like this, it is no wonder this animal was dubbed with the name of elephant seal.  I must say, the shear size of these animals was more than I expected.  The males grow to be anywhere from 2-5 THOUSAND pounds and the females (which are exponentially cuter than the males) grow to be anywhere from 1,500 to 2,500 pounds.

This is one of the females.  She could be Brodies relative....

These two were gossiping..."SHE SAID WHAT?!?!"

The various snorts, gurgles, chirps, roars, chortles, and belches these guys made was another experience to hear.  I couldn't get my video to load but here is one that displays their vocal abilities...

Overall it was a really fun weekend.  I saw things I have seen before but I also got the chance to discover something new with my family.  

Anyways, it's past my bedtime, and it's my birthday so I am going to give myself the gift of sleep.  Sweet dreams bloggers!

Kassidy who?

The Honorary Man Card

By no means am I an alcoholic, but upon occasion I will frequent the bars of SLO for a little social drinking.  Never do I drink to the point of inebriation, but I don't see anything wrong with one or two drinks every so often.  More often than not, I volunteer to be the D.D. just so I have a reason to cut myself off.

On this particular evening however, I hadn't touched a drop of alcohol.

It was the weekend of my roommates 23rd birthday.  He had decided that he wanted to go downtown for a little bit to shoot some pool and have a drink or two at a popular little bar called SLO Brew.  Originally, I declined the invite because I did not want to be the only girl stuck with two guys (our mutual friend came to visit for the weekend) but decided what the hell.  I had nothing better to do anyways.  

As we settled into the routine of patiently waiting for a pool table to become available, the two boys grabbed a beer while I sipped on the ever so deadly dihydrogen monoxide (you might know it better as H2O).  We crowded ourselves in the doorway that went from the pool room to a small corridor that lead to the mens and womens restroom.  We people watched, observing those just beginning their evening of alcohol consumption and those who were well past their limit, stumbling about like weeble wobbles yet managing to stay on their feet.

Being Saturday night I had decided to dress up a little by wearing a shiny electric purple top that I had recently purchased but hadn't had the chance to wear (this is important, I promise).

So I wanted to be a little fancy - sue me.

Now, I am just meandering in the doorway, minding my own, the two boys off to my left lost and lost in their own conversation, when suddenly I feel a somewhat belligerent tap on my shoulder.  Expecting it to be someone who is trying to get by, I grapevine my way out of the doorway.  Then, I look over and to my surprise, a girl around my age (and past her alcoholic boundaries) is looking at me with a wide eyed look of shock and excitement.

"OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD I HAVE TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING!"

My first thought is one of concern, thinking she had a friend that was not doing so well in the nearby lavatory.  Thinking to be sympathetic, I was prepared to help in any fashion I could.

It was then that she lowered her hands to her shirt and slowly started to lift up the hem. 

My second thought was also one of concern, though not for some helpless, sloshed individual, but for my sanity.  No. No, no, no, no.  I'm fairly certain my face showed my shock, and horror (maybe not horror so much as embarrassment) as I realized what was happening.  It is then that I look back to my two male cohorts, who have suddenly given me their complete attention.  

You could almost see them beginning to foam at the mouth, hoping for a peek. 

At this point, I am pretty much aware that it's inevitable.  This girl is going to flash me. Fate accepted.  Finally, she lifted her shirt the rest of the way revealing not bare breasts, but an electric purple black lace-trimmed bra.

"MY BRA MATCHES YOUR SHIRT!  HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!"

This disappointment of my companions was almost tangible as she lowered her shirt back down and walked away without so much as a backward glance.  After the fact, a toast was raised in my honor and those two gentlemen I was tagging along with that night, proceeded to award me with a Honorary Man Card and their approval.  Glasses clinked and high-fives were given.  

Never have I been more excited to be a honorary man.

Cheers!