An Awesome Day
June 27, 2009
What a perfect day! This morning I slept in, crawled out of bed at a leisurely pace, and then went out to breakfast (although it was after noon by this point, so it was more like lunch) at the St. Tropez Bistro in Encinitas. I had the Vegetarian Sandwich on the whole wheat baguette with a side salad and it was delicious. Norwood had the Prosciutto, pesto, tomato, and cheese sandwich, which he enjoyed very much as well.
I decided to check out the prices on surfboards at the little surf shop next to the bistro, because I have been thinking about buying a longer board to help me surf easier, as my short board is too difficult for a beginner like me. I was going to just price them out, because I thought I wouldn't be able to get one for less than $400, but I was pleasantly surprised that the surf shop was having a sale and they had a "learn to surf" package, where you get a soft top longboard, leash, and a rashguard for $225. I couldn't resist to I ended up leaving with a surfboard!
We couldn't fit Norwood, myself, and the surfboard in the car all at the same time (although I do have a soft car rack, it just wasn't with us at the time of purchase), so I stayed in Encinitas while Norwood brought the surfboard home. I just walked around a bit, and ended up walking back down to the meditation gardens at the Self Realization Temple to check out the beautiful ocean view, as well as the koi ponds and waterfalls there. I stayed for a little while, relaxing on a little bench and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, and then decided to keep walking around. My journey took me north, where I just strolled in and out of shops. I went into the expensive triathlon store and looked at the $10,000 road bikes, I went into a bead store and watched old ladies pick out beads for various arts and crafts they were planning to do, and I searched (in vain) for the really good but impossible to find tea shop I once encountered while I was in Encinitas...or maybe that was just a dream I had, because I have never found it again since.
Norwood arrived back in Encinitas and we went home for a little while to relax. That's what I'm doing right now, but in just a few minutes we're going to go to the beach so I can try out my new surfboard!!!
Later (11:30 pm)
Surfing was awesome, and yet I am reminded of how much I still have yet to learn. No wonder surfers are always in such good shape, as paddling out left me exhausted. I have decided to take surf lessons this summer, as it really is a shame to be living in San Diego, having lived my entire life in Southern California, and still not really know what I'm doing on a surfboard. Shame, shame, shame on me.
...so I'm going to do something about it.
Anyway, I did have a lot of fun out there. Getting into the wetsuit is always an adventure. I get really cold so I have to wear a full suit in the water, but the downside to that is getting the thing on. It fits me very well once it's on, but for some reason getting my feet and hands through and getting the thing pulled all the way up leaves me frustrated and sharp with those around me, namely Norwood...sorry Norwood.
I did manage to get the thing on, however, and set off to the beach to go try out my new board.
I did notice a difference almost immediately in the board, and how much easier it would be (once I stopped struggling with it) to actually stand up and surf on the thing than my short board. Exciting times. Of course, today I did not do any standing up...instead it was more of a frantic flailing, but the important thing is that I was having a good time. No worries, I will eventually get the hang of it.
After "surfing", I took the board in, rode on the boogie board for a little while (just to have a bit of mellow fun that didn't involve struggling for a while), and then sat on the beach for a bit watching both the sun go down and the techniques of the other surfers that were in the water. I watched them intently, trying to unlock the mystery of what makes them able to do it that I am not doing.
After surfing, we went home, showered, changed, and went out for a quick (and really tasty) bite to eat at Noodles and Company, and then spent the rest of the evening hanging out at Barnes and Noble until they kicked us out due to closing.
All in all, a great day.
I decided to check out the prices on surfboards at the little surf shop next to the bistro, because I have been thinking about buying a longer board to help me surf easier, as my short board is too difficult for a beginner like me. I was going to just price them out, because I thought I wouldn't be able to get one for less than $400, but I was pleasantly surprised that the surf shop was having a sale and they had a "learn to surf" package, where you get a soft top longboard, leash, and a rashguard for $225. I couldn't resist to I ended up leaving with a surfboard!
We couldn't fit Norwood, myself, and the surfboard in the car all at the same time (although I do have a soft car rack, it just wasn't with us at the time of purchase), so I stayed in Encinitas while Norwood brought the surfboard home. I just walked around a bit, and ended up walking back down to the meditation gardens at the Self Realization Temple to check out the beautiful ocean view, as well as the koi ponds and waterfalls there. I stayed for a little while, relaxing on a little bench and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, and then decided to keep walking around. My journey took me north, where I just strolled in and out of shops. I went into the expensive triathlon store and looked at the $10,000 road bikes, I went into a bead store and watched old ladies pick out beads for various arts and crafts they were planning to do, and I searched (in vain) for the really good but impossible to find tea shop I once encountered while I was in Encinitas...or maybe that was just a dream I had, because I have never found it again since.
Norwood arrived back in Encinitas and we went home for a little while to relax. That's what I'm doing right now, but in just a few minutes we're going to go to the beach so I can try out my new surfboard!!!
Later (11:30 pm)
Surfing was awesome, and yet I am reminded of how much I still have yet to learn. No wonder surfers are always in such good shape, as paddling out left me exhausted. I have decided to take surf lessons this summer, as it really is a shame to be living in San Diego, having lived my entire life in Southern California, and still not really know what I'm doing on a surfboard. Shame, shame, shame on me.
...so I'm going to do something about it.
Anyway, I did have a lot of fun out there. Getting into the wetsuit is always an adventure. I get really cold so I have to wear a full suit in the water, but the downside to that is getting the thing on. It fits me very well once it's on, but for some reason getting my feet and hands through and getting the thing pulled all the way up leaves me frustrated and sharp with those around me, namely Norwood...sorry Norwood.
I did manage to get the thing on, however, and set off to the beach to go try out my new board.
I did notice a difference almost immediately in the board, and how much easier it would be (once I stopped struggling with it) to actually stand up and surf on the thing than my short board. Exciting times. Of course, today I did not do any standing up...instead it was more of a frantic flailing, but the important thing is that I was having a good time. No worries, I will eventually get the hang of it.
After "surfing", I took the board in, rode on the boogie board for a little while (just to have a bit of mellow fun that didn't involve struggling for a while), and then sat on the beach for a bit watching both the sun go down and the techniques of the other surfers that were in the water. I watched them intently, trying to unlock the mystery of what makes them able to do it that I am not doing.
After surfing, we went home, showered, changed, and went out for a quick (and really tasty) bite to eat at Noodles and Company, and then spent the rest of the evening hanging out at Barnes and Noble until they kicked us out due to closing.
All in all, a great day.
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If you LOVE all different kinds of pasta...
Noodles and Company is an excellent restaurant for several reasons. The first is the price, the second is the taste and variety, and the third is the company's focus on health.
The prices at Noodles and Company are quite reasonable. It is a small establishment in which the customer walks up to the counter and orders, receives a number, goes to their table, and then the food is brought to the table. These types of establishments, in my experience, have always been a little less pricey than your typical sit-down place, but in the case of Noodles and Company, the quality of the food is superior to most sit-down places I have eaten at.
The way the restaurant works is that there are three categories of noodle dishes: Asian, Mediterranean, and American. Asian dishes include favorites such as Pad Thai, Indonesian Peanut Saute, Japanese Pan Fried Noodles, and Thai Curry Soup (among others), all of which I have tried and all of which are delicious.
Mediterranean dishes include favorites such as Penne Rosa (which is excellent), Pasta Fresca, and the ever tasty Tomato Basil Bisque Soup. People who love American pasta dishes will not be disappointed either, as the restaurant boasts favorites such as Wisconsin Mac and Cheese, Mushroom Stroganoff, and House Marinara.
There are side dishes, appetizers, and salads to choose from as well. I recommend the Tomato Cucumber Salad (which also includes onions and a really good dressing).Everything I have ever tried at Noodles and Company has been very tasty. They have never disappointed me.
Being a Vegetarian, one thing I really like about this place is that everything on their menu comes without the meat, as the protein is an add-on that you can choose to add or not to add. They have different types of meat (chicken, beef, shrimp, etc.) that you can add on to any item, and there is also tofu, but I have found that I like the items just fine and it is plenty of food without having to add tofu. Still, it is there for you to customize just to your personal tastes.
My favorite thing, however, about Noodles and Company is their focus on health and nutrition. While not everything at this restaurant is healthy and low calorie, there are many options that are just that, and the best part about it is that the restaurant is dedicated to providing customers who wish to see it with the nutrition information for their food. As somebody who tries to make good choices with the foods that I eat, I am forever grateful to places like Noodles and Company that provide their customers with the nutrition information that they need to make a sound and healthy choice.
If you check out their website, they have nutrition information on most, if not all, of their menu items (go to foods, look up the item you are interested in, and click on the nutrition highlights link). In store, they usually have pamphlets highlighting their lowest calorie options for those who are watching their calories. I usually use this pamphlet to help me make my decision, btu when I went to Noodles and Co. tonight, I was dismayed to see that they did not have the pamphlet on hand. When I inquired about it, the girl working there said they had run out of them. Instead of telling me I was out of luck, she instead promptly pulled out a big laminated piece of paper highlighting every single thing on their menu and all of the nutrition information on it, not just calories, but everything you can imagine wanting to know...sodium, fat, etc....
She told me I could take it with me to my table if I wanted to, so I could look it over as long as I needed. I did, and I ended up programming the info for several items into my iPhone so I would be prepared the next time I came to Noodles.
I ended up ordering the Bangkok Curry, which when ordered in small size, is only a measly 250 calories for what I found to be plenty of food. What it lacked in calories, it certainly didn't lack in taste. It was delicious! I would have licked the plate clean if there hadn't been other people in the restaurant for me to feel embarrassed in front of. Highly recommended. There are locations all over the place, so check out their website and find one near you.
The prices at Noodles and Company are quite reasonable. It is a small establishment in which the customer walks up to the counter and orders, receives a number, goes to their table, and then the food is brought to the table. These types of establishments, in my experience, have always been a little less pricey than your typical sit-down place, but in the case of Noodles and Company, the quality of the food is superior to most sit-down places I have eaten at.
The way the restaurant works is that there are three categories of noodle dishes: Asian, Mediterranean, and American. Asian dishes include favorites such as Pad Thai, Indonesian Peanut Saute, Japanese Pan Fried Noodles, and Thai Curry Soup (among others), all of which I have tried and all of which are delicious.
Mediterranean dishes include favorites such as Penne Rosa (which is excellent), Pasta Fresca, and the ever tasty Tomato Basil Bisque Soup. People who love American pasta dishes will not be disappointed either, as the restaurant boasts favorites such as Wisconsin Mac and Cheese, Mushroom Stroganoff, and House Marinara.
There are side dishes, appetizers, and salads to choose from as well. I recommend the Tomato Cucumber Salad (which also includes onions and a really good dressing).Everything I have ever tried at Noodles and Company has been very tasty. They have never disappointed me.
Being a Vegetarian, one thing I really like about this place is that everything on their menu comes without the meat, as the protein is an add-on that you can choose to add or not to add. They have different types of meat (chicken, beef, shrimp, etc.) that you can add on to any item, and there is also tofu, but I have found that I like the items just fine and it is plenty of food without having to add tofu. Still, it is there for you to customize just to your personal tastes.
My favorite thing, however, about Noodles and Company is their focus on health and nutrition. While not everything at this restaurant is healthy and low calorie, there are many options that are just that, and the best part about it is that the restaurant is dedicated to providing customers who wish to see it with the nutrition information for their food. As somebody who tries to make good choices with the foods that I eat, I am forever grateful to places like Noodles and Company that provide their customers with the nutrition information that they need to make a sound and healthy choice.
If you check out their website, they have nutrition information on most, if not all, of their menu items (go to foods, look up the item you are interested in, and click on the nutrition highlights link). In store, they usually have pamphlets highlighting their lowest calorie options for those who are watching their calories. I usually use this pamphlet to help me make my decision, btu when I went to Noodles and Co. tonight, I was dismayed to see that they did not have the pamphlet on hand. When I inquired about it, the girl working there said they had run out of them. Instead of telling me I was out of luck, she instead promptly pulled out a big laminated piece of paper highlighting every single thing on their menu and all of the nutrition information on it, not just calories, but everything you can imagine wanting to know...sodium, fat, etc....
She told me I could take it with me to my table if I wanted to, so I could look it over as long as I needed. I did, and I ended up programming the info for several items into my iPhone so I would be prepared the next time I came to Noodles.
I ended up ordering the Bangkok Curry, which when ordered in small size, is only a measly 250 calories for what I found to be plenty of food. What it lacked in calories, it certainly didn't lack in taste. It was delicious! I would have licked the plate clean if there hadn't been other people in the restaurant for me to feel embarrassed in front of. Highly recommended. There are locations all over the place, so check out their website and find one near you.
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