Zoom Zoom

Not long ago in a blog post I lamented how my job schedule (mostly two weeks on and two weeks off) was less than ideal. At the time I was feeling sorry for myself, and saw only the negatives. Today it occurred to me how happy with it I am.

I got out of bed when I woke up, not when the alarm told me to, and smiled at the thought that I had no one to please but myself. Not that I mind pleasing others, per se. If I like you, I want you to be happy. But not "having" to do it is special.

Around lunchtime I saw that New Frontiers in Solvang was featuring Irish Potato soup. Because that sounded yummy, and Solvang is a scenic 30 minute or so drive away, and I have a fabulous new car, I set out to get soup.

I vented my moon roof because that's all that's necessary here on the coast, and worked at maintaining 30 mph through town. It used to be easy in the Saturn, but now I have this strange thing called "good pickup" and I so want to use it -- often. Heading out of town I enjoyed the gold and green hills in the distance and the occasional patch of wildflowers along the road.

Nearing the sleepy 'burb of Buellton, I closed the moon roof and turned on the air conditioning. There was no discernible dip in the car's power which made me giggle for the hundredth time. New cars rock. I also slowed down, as I seem to pass a cop every time I drive into Buellton, and today was no different. I cruised by the gas stations, motels and Pea Soup Andersen's, then sped up again as the countryside opened up in front of me. There is a wonderful stretch (can't remember if it's before the ostrich farm or after), that's lined with coastal pines. They've been pruned over the years so they don't grow into the road, and what's been created is a comforting cocoon of green that isn't claustrophobic in the least.

Solvang is architecturally the Tudor capitol of California, and it has a clock tower and windmills (plural!), so you almost don't mind having to slow to the 25 mph speed limit throughout the town. Perversely, you can't really enjoy the kitschy wonder of it all because you're too busy watching for idiot tourists who step into the street as if cars don't exist and won't crush their bones and squish what little brains they possess. Okay, I'm a little protective of my shiny new paint job. When in a bad mood, I wish all the Solvang tourists could be beamed straight to Manhattan, where they'd last 30 seconds. But my car has me in a good mood. So today I inched along to the far side of town where the very cool grocery store, New Frontiers, is located.

Irish potato soup had beckoned me, and I was prepared to deal with what it'd do to me if I ate it. Lately, while my taste buds still enjoy dairy, the latter part of my digestive system has decided to say no to the cow. So imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered the soup had a broth base, not a creamy one. It was delicious. So was the naan bread with roasted veggies that I got to accompany it. Yum.

The ride home was even more enjoyable. Traveling toward Lompoc literally makes me sigh with appreciation and contentment. The mist hanging over the mountains, the ten degree drop in temperature, and the knowledge that, if I keep going a few miles past my apartment, I will arrive at the ocean, puts a huge smile on my face. Sometimes I do keep going, just to say hi to the waves before I go home. There just happens to be a nice stretch of open road that isn't heavily traveled as you go to the coast, too. Zoom zoom.

Instead of looking at the possible downside of having an odd schedule, I'm looking at all the positives it allows me. Freedom, time to write, time to explore, and time to enjoy the hell out of my wicked fun new car.

Thanks again, boss!