Naturally, yesterday I did go out driving as predicted, and I didn't get much done, also as predicted. I went to Santa Cruz and spent a little time wandering its downtown area, which I hadn't seen before--I've been past it, and in the town north of it, but never in downtown proper. I have to say it's a pretty cool place. It's all very pedestrian-oriented, like Los Gatos, but has more of the funky, college-town feel thanks to the UC campus there. And, it has more of a bright and airy look to it that's more amiable than Berkeley's darker, closed-in look, particularly on Telegraph. (Berkeley's other main drag, Shattuck, is open and prettier, even though the funky shops are mostly on Telegraph.) Tugrik tells me of a friend of his who envisions Santa Cruz as his own personal Shangri-La; while I wouldn't go that far, I can see the attraction. I wandered around for a while and stopped at an Italian deli for a muffaleta.
Then it was a drive back home, sort of. I detoured down past Monterey (and slightly through it), then up the 17-mile drive to Pebble Beach. It's an insanely pretty drive, through what might well be the most exclusive neighborhood on the north half of the Pacific Coast--ending up at the Lodge at Pebble Beach, the place where all the golf tournaments seem to be held. On the drive back from the lodge, I saw eight deer in a group merrily munching away on the golf course, with golfers detouring around them.
Now it's past dallying time, and time to pack up lest I really manage to be late. I haven't heard back from any feelers I've sent out in the past two weeks, which disappoints me slightly--but only slightly. This week, more portfolio work, more thinking about possible book subjects and titles, more thoughts on how I could do some marketing of myself as a print designer.
