Catalina Island on Golf Carts, Padre's Game - Catalina Island\San Diego, CA

SO! As you may have remembered-many many moons ago before my computer up and got itself sick- that my best friend, Bethhead, came out to visit me over Memorial Day weekend. I have known Beth since I was 5 years old and have been best friends with Beth since 8th grade, after both our reported best friends at the time up and decided to ditch us for each other so that they could go off and discuss the G.I. Joe cartoon for hours on end. No, we didn’t get it either, neither then or now (though I do happen to know that knowing is half the battle*) (*G.I. Joe reference. G.I. Joe strongly urges you not to play in construction sites. **) (**OK, so you would have really had to have watched the cartoon to get that obscure reference. And I’m really going off topic here.) I have known Beth since she was known as Beth Ann. I have known Beth long enough to give her the Bethhead sigma that she carries to this day (sophomore year Powder Puff game, saw her head poke out above of a bunch of cars in the lot and yelled, “BETHHEAD!”). We have discussed more boyfriends than I care to remember and we have only had one major fight that comes to mind. And I think it was about office supplies. The very best thing about Beth is that we haven’t lived in the same state for the majority of our friendship yet when we see each other again it’s like she’s been living next door all this time.

Bethhead Rocks.

Beth was really excited to join me on the new this weekend event. I think it may be because every time she does come out I usually take her to the same places – the beach, the Harp, the mall, Mother India. A couple of weeks before she got here she already had an idea.

“How about seeing the Padres play down in San Diego?”

“Like baseball?”

“Yeah, the Brewers are playing.”

“Well, San Diego is pretty cool.”

Little did she know that I also had another idea for the weekend, which was to go out to Catalina Island and ride in a golf cart. You may think it’s pretty stupid to pay $60 for a round trip ticket out to a tiny island to ride in a golf cart, but then you probably have never been to Catalina. Catalina in itself is awesome. Catalina in a golf cart (what a great band name) will knock your socks off.

Feeling ambitious with the three day weekend ahead of us, we decided to do both. This will be known hence forth as Why Moe Didn’t Get Any Sleep Memorial Day Weekend.

After a night of cocktails at the Harp (old habits die hard) we woke up early as to go to the bank, get gas, get snacks, and return her rental car all before catching the 11:55 AM Dana Point Catalina Express out to Catalina. We figured we were doing OK on time, that is, before we hit Saturday traffic on I-5 and got a bit lost finding the right dock. By the time it was all said and done, I found myself running like I was being chased by a big surly monster with 4 heads to catch the boat as we had approximately 18 seconds before it left. But we did indeed make it. The Catalina Express is great and will get you to the island in an hour and 15 minutes. We saw a pod of dolphins along the way and even a quick sighting of a whale.

Landing in Avalon

Once we got to Catalina, we went straight to the golf cart rental place. We were immediately saddened by the fact that it cost $70 for three hours of golf cart joy. Not wanted to fork out so much money for a golf cart, we walked away and headed downtown. We weren’t a block in before Beth turned to me,

“How much are you willing to spend for the golf cart?”

“I don’t know, maybe $20?”

“I’ll cover the rest, let’s get a golf cart.”

I think I might have skipped back to the golf cart rental place. Bethhead Rocks.

That's right. Tell Bethhead how much she rocks.

Catalina in a golf cart is AWESOME. I really can’t believe the first time I was there I didn’t get a golf cart. Renting the golf cart made me want to BUY a golf cart even if the only place I could use it back home was to cart to my driveway and back. We drove that cart everywhere. We saw the horse ranch, the old Casino, the burned out areas (Catalina had a major forest fire last month), the big ole bell, and some incredible views. Beth, I’m sure, is telling stories at home about me attempting to parallel park the golf cart; think Austin Powers style when he’s stuck between the two walls.

View from the top

Burnt areas of Catalina

I was really bummed when we had to return the golf cart. Three hours went way too fast. I drowned my sorrows in a Lava Flow at the cantina to feel better. We caught the 7:00 PM boat back to Dana Point with both of us a bit sad to leave. This nerdy kid and the group of drunken Texans trying to smoke on a non-smoking boat eased the pain a bit.

Beth has a better picture of this kid. Freakin' hysterical.

The next day we woke up early to head down to San Diego to see the Padres\Brewers game at 1 PM. While there wasn’t much traffic getting down there, we got completely lost trying to find the stadium. Hey San Diego! Good job putting your gigantic stadium right in the frickin’ middle of downtown! Yeah, we probably could of seen it if it wasn’t for all the tall frickin’ buildings you put in the way. And parking? At the convention center? Are non-San Diegians suppose to know this? And your signs San Diego! Don’t have a sign for Petco Park with an error pointing left when Petco Park is straight ahead. That’s the up arrow just so you know. Pointing UP. Not LEFT. Dumb asses.

I am sorry to say that I did not bring my camera to the game. San Diego won, Brewers lost, beer too expensive, Beth bummed. Also San Diego? That monk looking mascot of yours? Totally creepy. Just saying.

The rest of the weekend was a lot of fun, but not new, so I will leave it at that. I want to thank Bethhead for gracing us with her presence and for being as Bethhead as always. Come back soon!

Sea World - San Diego, CA

Growing up in Wisconsin it was pretty common for a lot of families to go down to Florida over Spring Break. My family was no exception. Every other year we would pack up the minivan with cold sodas, tanning lotion and funny hats and take a two-day car trip down to Tampa, Florida. After a couple of days there we would then drive over to Sanibel Island for the rest of the week. Being as fascinated with palm trees and Miami Vice as I was, I loved our Florida trips more than anything. I didn’t even mind the drive down (and my little brother throwing up all over the place before we realized he has chronic motion sickness). I would sit in the very back row of the van listening to Duran Duran tapes on my boom box (with headphones) while I mouthed the words of ‘Rio’ and ‘Planet Earth’ for 1,273 miles. I honestly only had about 3-4 cassette tapes for the entire trip so it doesn’t phase me at all that I can still sing-along with the entire ‘Notorious’ album.

While we were in Tampa for the couple days at the beginning of the trip, we would always either go to Busch Gardens or Disney World, never Sea World.


"Why don't you ever come and see me?"

On the drive down to Sea World on Sunday, I called up my folks.

“Hey Mom, how come we never went to Sea World?”

“We’ve been to Sea World.”

“I haven’t been to Sea World.”

“Yes you have.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Oh, well, we probably went after you stopped going to Florida with us.”

“Why didn’t we ever go to Sea World though? Busch Gardens bites*.”

(snicker)”Oh yes! You poor unfortunate child who never got to go to Sea World!”

“I know! That’s what I’m saying!”

We got to Sea World San Diego at about 11 AM Sunday morning. By 11:45, we were actually parking. 45 minutes line-standing later, we were actually inside the park. Unfortunately, at that point we were really hungry, so we stood in yet another line for 20 minutes to get a crummy $7 sandwich. We were beginning to wonder if we had made a mistake coming here. This was only intensified after I lost my digital camera after an hour of walking around.

I am pleased to tell you that someone did turn in my camera and that the park got a lot more fun from there. The fun actually started at the dolphin show. We sat in the ‘Soak Zone’ but purchased $6 ponchos. Pretty freakin’ expensive for a piece of plastic but well worth it; the only thing that got wet were our sandals. The ponchos also came in handy for the Shamu show, the Atlantis ride, and as general warmth when it started to get cold later in the day.


Believe it or not...Not the gay-est man at Sea World.

"Weeeee!"

After the dolphin show we saw Shamu. Or the orca who is now claiming to be the original Shamu. We also pet the bat rays, feed the ducks, went through the aquariums, saw the 3-D movie and other amusement park related things. It was a really good time. 15 minutes before the park closed we rode the Atlantis log ride\roller coaster…twice. Does everyone know what a log ride is? My only reference to the log ride is from Six Flags Great America in Chicago. They have the log ride there…. and a boat ride. The only difference is that the one is shaped like a boat and the other a log. I always preferred the log ride to the boat ride. Maybe it was the whole looking like a big piece of crap floating along.

Orca formally known as 'Tim'. You can call him Shamu.

Anyhow, most people have been to Sea World before so I’m hesitant to describe it that much. I will however, mention the Platinum Passport.

On Thursday when I bought the tickets, I debated with myself for awhile whether or not I was going to get the regular $56.00 one day ticket (with free Fun Pass upgrade) or if I would just go balls out and get the Platinum Passport at $164. I ended up getting the Platinum Passport and it was awesome.

Bat Ray

Not only was parking free and the guest pass for Kevin was free, but we got a 20% discount on everything else in the park, including the gift shop and beer. Not only that but anytime there was a line for a ride or show, all we had to do was show the passport and we got to skip everyone in line and walk right in. There is some debate on the ethical nature of paying more to get line-jumping privileges. I believe I have complained about it myself when I wasn’t the one who got to line jump. But now that I’ve experienced it, I’m all for it. Just saying.

Hey, has anyone else realized how many boat\sea\water related things I’ve done for this blog? I need to go inland I think.

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*By the way, I don't actually think Busch Gardens bites. In fact, it's pretty neat. I just said that to be difficult.