The life-changing Monterey Adventure !

hey guys,

I told myself I’d be blogging way more as my April(?) resolution. So here goes nothing..

This week I drove up to Monterey, CA which is a good 6 hour drive to fight a traffic ticket I received back in October. Mind you, the cop gave me a ticket for a bogus “illegal U-turn” the weekend of my birthday back on October 28th. He clearly saw on my license that I was A.) from out of town and B.) turning 23 in literally two days ….and still felt like being a dick and ruining my evening.

Upon walking into the courthouse in Monterey—which FYI—is the COOLEST courthouse building I have ever been in/around. HANDS DOWN. It was seriously uncrowded, air conditioned, clean, and not to mention an architect’s dream of assymetrical use of of dark wood. Figures. Monterey is so classy.

Anyways, upon walking in, the officer spotted me from across the room and made a bee line towards me, as if he was going to write me up for looking nervous and confused as well as overwhelmingly fascinated by the craftsmanship of the walls…

Instead, he goes:

“JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, MISS SKARULIS, IT IS YOUR LEGAL RIGHT TO KNOW THAT I HAVE VIDEO EVIDENCE OF YOU IN VIOLATION OF A 3 POINT TURN BEFORE TRIAL BEGINS.”

Ok. you got me. It wasn’t exactly a U-turn. But that’s what I attempted. My turning radius is horrrendous in my car…like borderline embarassing. I can’t help it if songwriting hasn’t hit off to the point where I can go buy a brand new 2012  BMW and not feel horribly guilty about tossing the old faithful 2001 Honda (that is a matter of fact, completely paid off!)

Anyways, long and the short of it is, I walked in and proved to the judge that it was completely legal to do a U-turn at that intersection (or atleast attempt one) while managing to publicly embarass the officer for being such a complete ass.

I know right? I WON AT TRAFFIC COURT! THIS NEVER HAPPENS.

To celebrate, I of course hit up the Monterey Bay Aquarium. If you remember, we got to see this place last year on the West Coast Tour… and WOW. This time it really grounded me. I wasn’t expecting it to be so lifechanging, especially since I knew the in’s and the out’s of the place from last year. Still, it hit me: how every so often I forget how much I find the ocean to be home; to be the life-source of my creativity—it’s crazy. I honestly felt like I was in AVATAR.

Living up in the hustle and bustle in LA sure is motivating, but to be truthful, I felt the most at home in that aquarium I have felt ever since I moved out to California..like almost more than Windansea status. In those few hours with my fingers up against the glass, I just stared at wildlife simply coexisting in the ocean: the inhale and exhale of life (and in warm water for once), a peacefulness unable to be interrupted,  and on top of it all  the breathtaking beauty that was perfect just as is. It reminded me of where I’m from and of what is really important to me. Both Florida and Hawaii are such a part of how I was raised…but at the same time, so is all this music/acting jazz. I’ve always been able to take the ocean for granted. Anyway, the aquarium demanded that I slow down and check in with myself—to make sure I’m paying attention to what really matters to me in my life………….weird right?

HEY. I’m a beach girl, what can I say?

xoxoxoxo

The life-changing Monterey Adventure !