Go outside and get the stink blowed off ya

Alternate title:
Dear Universe,
Please stop coughing on me.
Love,
Jacquie

I posted something on facebook last week about being sick of sick people. And I meant it. But then karma descended swiftly in the form of a cough emanating from the depths of  a certain very cute girl of mine. This cough of hers was relentless, the kind of cough that transcends the distinction between loving mother and evil shrew at breakneck speed: arck arck arck arck arck arck "poor baby".......arck arck arck arck...........is there anything I can get you to make that stop?.......arck arck arck arck arck arck arckarckarck.............."oh my god shut UP"

She missed two days of school, which is like missing two years if you are my girl, just think of all the learning socializing that went on without her! It was nice to be home with her, she's kind of awesome, and it's a rare treat to just sit together without rushing anywhere. I accomplished some tasks around the house that are too boring for your standard weekend list, and she coughed and she coughed and she coughed and then she coughed.

The first day was rainy and bleak, a perfect sick day. The second day was, in a word, stunning. We don't question the weather gods here in San Diego, because doing so will promise torrential downpours upon all your visitors. But still, 80 degrees in January? That's spectacular. We must have done something really good to deserve this. So by the end half of the second day, we were done with the inside view of this pacaloo stand.

We picked up our boy after school, and then we went out into the D. A. Y. Just a few westward miles and parked on the end of the street here:

Recognize this spot from up high?

There's a bench right here. I dare you to find a better bench than this.

The bench sits atop a big set of steps, the steps take you right down to our beloved secret beach

See our little friendly pier over there? love.

The stairs take you to the cliffs, you're on your own getting to the sand

uncertain

Certain

When I told someone at work that I had the kids down at the beach for some fresh air, she told me that her mother would say "Go outside and get the stink blowed off ya!"

requisite mangy dog interlude

Here my boy is shoring up and fluffing the sand for a softer landing surface. He found the work tedious.

If only he had a slave.

Arck arck arck arck arck. Nothing to see here, folks!

You totally can't tell that I missed the shot and made them reenact it, right?

The slave found her own jumping place. She kept jumping into the same set of her own footprints.

No it is NOT your turn, slavedriver!

I'll just block your access....

Oh, dear.

Thanks for not giving me any brothers, mom.

It was a nice interlude. We're so fortunate to have this utopia right around the corner. The sun and the ocean are nothing but good for you, no matter how puny you feel on a beautiful Wednesday in January.

Feel better, baby girl.