California Dreamin’

By | January 15, 2023

early airport arrival silliness for the win!

one of the things I’ve missed since 2018* is travel spontaneity. With COVID-19, the planning life cycle was both longer and shorter, if that makes sense. I’d be thinking abut a trip further in advance, but I hesitated to book because I wasn’t sure if the thing I was going for would happen, flights would go, etc.Β  This long weekend? It started out of a text two weeks ago and went final in about a day. I missed that! And why 2018 and not 2019? Marathon training also impacted my spontaneity, it was hard to run away for a long weekend when I also needed to run somewhere between 16-20 miles. Yes, it’s possible to run long and sightsee, but not my usual road trip style, and I really missed my Labor Day getaway in 2019.

two books I read while away

I also missed reading in 2019, and for other reasons in 2022, so glad to get two books read this weekend, plus finish A Temporary European which I’d been reading on the Kindle. All good for different reasons.

Live theatre!

and front row seats!

The reason for the trip, opening night for Home Front at the Victory Theater in Burbank, the story of a couple who met celebrating V-J Day and the aftermath that followed. I haven’t done as much live theatre as I thought I might post COVID shutdown, but there’s just magic about watching actors bring words to life with the playwright in the audience. 99 seat house so it felt like we were all part of the show, and it has been a long tine since a play made me cry. Absolutely beautiful and I look forward to following this play’s journey.

Weekly run down with Kim and Deborah:

  • no run since I’d raced Sunday (recap TK! still bouncing!!) so never miss a Monday had a different flavor: it was cold and I didn’t walk to work, but I did walk to and from dinner for a couple of miles and did strength class so not a loss. While I’ve moved the 3for30 challenge to a rolling average from a daily must since some days it’s just possible, it’s a nice motivator when I want to hop on the bus or train with no good reason for doing so.

I admit, I giggled

  • Tuesday: Half marathon training began with a 20 minute time trial. It wasn’t as fast as I ran Sunday, but that was after a two mile warm up and Tuesday was…rushed. It wasn’t surprising though as I’ve always known I’m not a first mile runner, which is usually when I want to turn around and go home even if the run ends up fine. It also gives me cushion for improvement, so I’m fine with that. We had a work event that evening and the sign outside the venue made me laugh because I’ve run past it probably 20 times and never been inside before. Still 0 for the wine since I was drinking seltzer.
  • Wednesday: California bound. Longass travel day, but so worth it to see one of my closest friends.

a Matt Stack

  • Thursday: Half Marathon training day two was easy to slide into our mischief thanks to my somehow being on east coast time despite not getting to the hotel until midnight California time on Wednesday night. Workout was a warmup with strides and then alternating five minute half marathon pace/easy intervals and a cool down.Β  No better way to celebrate Team Wilpers than with a Matt stack. The Peloton app and my watch still aren’t in a steady relationship so I ignore most of the metrics that the app shows. I can’t believe I’d missed that Bon Jovi class, and Do What You CanΒ is such a great song.
“Although I’ll keep my social distance, what this world needs is a hug. Until we find the vaccination, there’s no substitute for love. So love yourself and love your family, love your neighbor and your friend. Ain’t it time we loved the stranger, they’re just a friend you ain’t met yet.”

boot camp ready!

although the mix of weights was oddly skewed

  • Friday: original plan was to run Saturday like I always do, but the area where we were staying wasn’t conducive to outdoor running (hi smog, six lane road!) and I wasn’t feeling an hour+ on the treadmill so I punted until Sunday. Instead, I took my first ever Peloton boot camp. It was a wonderful challenge and I’m so glad I did it. I’m not sure whether it’s resolutioning, or I really do miss the treadmill and weights. I’ll have access to one for most of the rest of the month, which should give me time to answer that question and maybe rejoin the gym?
  • Saturday: we had vague plans before my redeye flight, but after two gorgeous days the rain came back so we just relaxed and continued the catch up. Sometimes it’s about the little things. As I mentioned on Twitter, a little eerie to be in Northridge around the anniversary of the earthquake, I think it only occurred to me since the earthquake is probably the only reason I know of Northridge if that makes sense?

indirect route home from JFK

a bluebird winter day

and Fred is still after the hat!

  • Sunday: I briefly contemplated changing into run clothes at the airport to avoid one stalling delay when I got home, but didn’t have a cold weather top with me. So I paused at home, charged my phone and headed off to the park. I’m going to relish the 6 mile long run as I’m not sure I’m mentally ready to jump back into the true long run despite running ~ 11 in early December. The run felt good although I struggled to run as easily as prescribed, which is a forever issue.

25 thoughts on “California Dreamin’

  1. Kimberly Hatting

    That was a quick trip to CA! It is nice traveling to the west coast and getting those “bonus” hours upon arrival (until you lose them upon returning back home). Glad you made it back safely πŸ˜‰

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Not losing the hours, or at least feeling it less is pretty much the only reason I take the red eye. I go to sleep in LA and wake up here. Groggy but not a total loss the way the daytime flight is.
      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Kim G

    What a busy week for you! So glad that you were able to visit California. I agree with you that I definitely miss travel the past few years.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I’m glad it’s a mix of play busy, after a LOT of work busy.

      Reply
  3. Coco

    Sounds like you had a great visit to CA.

    I need tips on surviving a redeye. I’m taking my first in decades on my next trip to San Diego in a few weeks. It was that or spend my Saturday flying home.

    Bootcamps are fun β€” glad you enjoyed it.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I’ll be honest, that’s why I went with the redeye. Otherwise you lose an entire day and I was reminded of that when I flew home from Anchorage. A sort of red eye with a midnight from there, but then I had a few hours in Seattle and lost an entire day. With a four day trip it wasn’t worth losing the day. I’ll text you some of my favorite tips.

      I’m hoping to do one or six more next week. I found more country ones πŸ˜€

      Reply
  4. San

    You’re brave coming to California while we’re having downpour after downpour. Sounds like you still have a good visit πŸ˜‰

    Yay for half-marathonh training. Which one are you training for?

    Reply
  5. Wendy

    Wow, how fun to take that trip to Cali! But it’s a long flight for such a short trip. I’m sure it felt great to get away and hopefully, you dodged their storms. I’m looking forward to returning in March. Which reminds me, I need to look for a flight…

    Good luck with your half marathon training!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Thank you!
      Alaska Airlines if they serve Chicago is who I went with this trip. JetBlue is my ride or die and I really don’t like Newark convenience wise, but this was so much cheaper.

      Reply
  6. Susanne

    I understand what you say about only knowing about a place because of an earthquake. It’s an odd feeling. We’ve traveled a lot in Italy pre-Covid (hope to get back there this year) and our favourite region is very prone to earthquakes. One of the bigger cities in the region was hit by a large earthquake in 2009 and we only visited afterwards. it felt very strange. Also, many villages we have visited and loved, have been hit by earthquakes afterwards (there was a series of devastating earthquakes in the region in 2016) and it’s been terribly sad to visit afterwards, knowing what they used to be, and although most of them are trying to move on, and rebuild, it’s very slow going.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      post disaster recovery is so hard. I used to live in Japan and we frequently visited Kobe. It was sobering to see the extant damage some five years later. I only just realized that was almost a year to date from Northridge! The pacific rim is simultaneously frightening and fascinating. Hope the places in Italy and all you know are ultimately OK

      Reply
  7. Deborah Brooks

    That sounds like a quick and fun trip! You know I am also a fan of spontaneous travel! I am glad you are on board for the Wilper’s plan too-will be fun to chat about it. Those hills should be interesting this week! Have a good one

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      YES! Training “together” is always fun, and I’m excited to fully do one of his. Taking December step back likely got me ready for this.
      Way more fun to say yes than no.

      Reply
  8. Darlene Cardillo

    I knew you’d use that title…

    Dreamin’ of being able to take spontaneous trips… some day.

    For me I think it’s spontaneous race sign ups.

    I completely missed Fred in CP so I may need to catch him this week.

    Glad you had fun (I almost went to see Funny Girl but not with $499 per ticket)

    Can’t wait to give you give a hug! See you soon.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      LOL. It or Tim McGraw’s California was going to be my IG caption but never posted anything
      $499? Yikes, but yay demand. They’re in Broadway Week which is this week so hopefully you have some luck.
      We can go find and hug Fred too.

      Reply
  9. Marcia

    How fun to take a trip to CA! I can’t even remember the last play I saw. Covid really did a number on all of us, especially the Arts. Looks like you’re having nice weather in NYC. We are so very grey and I’m over it.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      We haven’t had a proper winter, which I imagine means winter will go into May. Momma N is DRUNK!
      I saw two shows on Broadway last year and one or two off. So so weird.

      Reply
  10. Debbie

    How fun that you got away to California to see your friend! Here’s to a fun and successful half marathon training cycle!

    Reply
  11. Michelle

    What a fun getaway! I definitely realized when I took my vacation back in November just how much I’ve missed travel. And, I haven’t seen a show/play since February 2020 πŸ™ So glad you got this trip in!

    Yay for taking on the Wilpers Challenge – looking forward to training *with* you πŸ™‚

    Reply
  12. Zenaida Arroyo

    I cannot wait to travel again. I will be 3 years in February. That is great that you go to see your friend. Looks like you had a great time in California.

    Reply
  13. Shathiso

    I’m glad we have started our Half Marathon plans at a similar time! I had a 10K run this past Saturday and I was so nervous as I hadn’t run the distance since 10 Dec! But it worked out well and looking forward to this week’s workouts. By the way, New York is on my blog today! Be sure to check it out! πŸ™‚

    Reply

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