29 june 07

today was a typical day for me in santa barbara. woke up, indulged in some coffee in bed and snuggled with my sister's DVR recording of yesterday's "days of our lives". i went to the new nail place on state st. that she recommended...they were very, very nice. and impressed with my tip! it was the standard one that i give for a mani + pedi, but they seemed very pleased with it. had lunch at a cafe downtown. managed to pick up everything on my list at the drugstore and did a walk-through at paseo nuevo http://www.santabarbaramall.com the infamous flip-flop store is closed! (a little background for those unfamiliar with the flip-flop store) last year, when i was here, i was on a mission to get a pair of havianas flip-flops. my sister had two nice pairs and told me that she got them at this tiny store in the mall. the tiny store that only sells flip-flops and is seemingly only open for one hour per week. personally, i think the (now former) employees of said store had the coolest job, ever. flip-flops aren't really a hard sell around here, and with the easy work schedule, lots of beach time! i guess i'll have to go to montecito tomorrow to get my flip-flop shopping on.

but i digress.;.

i drove around for a bit, found another HUGE beach and took a few pictures from the cliff that i happened to be driving up. after that, i plugged in the directions to the four seasons biltmore (GPS in rental cars, i love you) and headed to butterfly beach. i didn't really spend much time on the beach, as i didn't have my sunscreen with me. laugh if you must, but i managed to burn the upper part of my left arm yesterday on the drive north from LA. i am HYPER senstive to the sun! i just wandered around for a few minutes and then made an executive decision to have a cocktail (at 3:30 pm, gasp!) on the patio at the biltmore. i love the mix of posh and cahz there. i wasn't out of place one bit in my t-shirt, linen skirt and flip flops. lots of interesting people watching. and my server was the most adorable 20 yr old boy ever :) i could have stayed there for many more hours having cocktail after cocktail, but it is a bit pricey. i had a pinot grigio, but was tempted to try the "vesper" which is the "casnio royale" drink that 007 comes up with on the spot during the casino scene. i sort of regret not getting it, because who knows when i'll be in some place that actually has the components and the skill to mix that very drink. i really wanted to chat up the waiter...i wanted to tell him while it must suck sometimes to serve overpriced cocktails to rich assholes, he gets to do it across the street from the ocean!

did i mention that the weather is absoluteludly amazing here? no humidity, not a cloud in the sky. exotic and beautiful vegetation everywhere. i picked three tiny tomatos from the wild tomato plant that is growing on the patio outside of my sister's apartment. she also has an orange tree, with oranges the size of grapefruits. she said that the oranges themselves weren't that great, but it's nice to look at. i live on one of the shadiest streets in chicago, but when you have 70ft palm trees outside your window, it's a difficult competition.

ok, i'll admit that i'm a little tipsy and babbling. i should get ready for dinner now, anyway. i just made reservations at some seafood place for this evening. baby hasn't been there yet, but it's supposedly good. i think that she is going to take me to some show after that.

p.s. the mix that i made for my time between here and the tour is awesome. thanks richard, for helping me w/my ipod!!!

28 june 07

the pretty in pink roll @arigato sushi in santa barbara this is heauen on earth! to finish the night off at my fav bar in sb-the press room

27 june 07

just returned from my obligatory before trip nars counter run. i felt guilty going to macy's, like i am cheating on my saks girls...but saks isn't two blocks from the office and it's blazing hot out today. the semi-creepy girl helped me. she always remembers me(maybe she doesn't get very many customers?) which is nice, but she's strange. it could have something to do with the fact that the first time she rang me up, i was making an exchange and she asked if my boyfriend had bought the makeup for me as a gift. i said, "no, it was a present from my friend's husband." she gave me a very strange look. anyway, i was there to get more black eyeliner(i am going to a lot of goth clubs on this tour, heh), but they were out of stock, so i bought this black powder with a greenish shimmer to it. i hope it works well!

packing, packing and more packing. today will mark three days of packing. i don't recall how long it took me to pack the last time i spent 2 weeks in CA. not this long, i hope. i was almost on the road as much as i will be now...i've got to put an end to it tonight. i've got plans to meet the posse for sushi + drinks. let's see if i can stay on good behavior and come home at a reasonable hour w/out having had __ shots of jameson. i haven't been on a flight before 10am in about four years and tomorrow i will need to be on my way to the airport before the time i usually get up. it will be worth it to get into santa barbara before 4pm(at least that is what i will be telling myself when i am up before dawn).

good-bye unbearable humid weather(at least for the weekend), good-bye worthless #56 bus that never comes when it supposed to, good-bye division street bars, and last but not least, good-bye dear chicago friends! i'll see y'all in a couple of weeks. hopefully sans souther'n accent(i'll try, but i can't promise anything. everytime i go west of the mississippi, it hits me).

butterfly beach, arigato sushi w/my sister, and LA friends...see you very, very soon!