Saturdays are always the best days, and this one was no exception.  The morning air was warm and still, and because it was the middle day of our three-day vacation, we had hit our CA stride like we had never left and we still had our Sunday buffer before the work week.  And if that wasn’t enough…it was officially Lea’s 30th BIRTHDAY! Hot Momma, we were in for a treat!

We fueled up with what I assume was a traditional English breakfast because I assume everything Kate & Michael do is an English tradition.  Actually, Mike made Lea’s request for his delicious sautéed tomatoes, broiled (i.e. “grilled”) bagels, scrambled eggs and bacon.  Rocket fuel. I especially needed it for the day’s first activity – surfing at Zuma Beach!

I was so excited I even did the albatross on command.  K&M make fun of me because of my long, gangly wing span; likening me to the giant sea bird.  I don’t see it…

The water was less than luke’ and my rented wet suit wasn’t doing much to keep the cold out.  Well, a combination of that and the fact that it’s been about seven months since my wimpy butt has been in the Pacific had us splitting time between the waves and the sand.

We spent the peak hours in the sun, and after a late lunch of Lilly’s Burritos on the beach, it was time to pack it up and say goodbye, for now, to our old faithful Zuma.

But don’t fret my pet, because when one door closes another door opens!  In this case, the new door opened up to cupcakes & birthday bubbles.  I’ll…take it!

And apparently the birthday girl will, too.  In mouthfuls.  Simultaneously.  🙂

It’s exhausting work, but epic birthday celebrations don’t stop there.  As it was only about 5:00 and dinner rezzies weren’t until 8:30, Lea & Kate went to go spend her birthday allowance at Bloomingdales while Mike & I went for a little pedal down the strand on Venice Beach.

 

 

Mike is my cycling muse.  Even for casual rides, he’ll never compromise on his spandex.

After a quick something, shower and shave, K&M treated us to the most delicious dinner of recent memory, at Capo.

Mike started with a Grey Goose Martini, and so as not to be outdone, I ordered one too.  I hadn’t had one of those since Kate’s 30th Birthday in Las Vegas – which will never be blogged about because…it’s Vegas –  except for the many fruity (i.e., “girly”) derivations that I absolutely love.  I’m not ashamed to admit it.  This one, though, despite its lack of fruit, flowers and sugar, was cold, smooth and delicious.  Just warmed up the palette for a bottle of Archery Summit Pinot (K&M’s first Willamette Valley wine) and Beringer PR Cab (which we brought with us :)).

A three hour dinner followed by martinis at the Viceroy and it was time to make for le chateau.  Once we got there, everything started out friendly…

…And then before we knew it, we were embroiled in a battle royale right there in the middle of the kitchen!

 

This has “Lea” written all over it.  Anyone who knows Lea well, knows her brand of crazy antics.  Likely because they’ve been subject to it firsthand…

 

I don’t even know how she got the darn dish towel in my hands, but as soon as she did, we ripped poor Mike to smithereens – with welts on his belly to prove it!

In the end, though, ol’ Mikey’s experience at an all-boys prep school served him well, and we were soon on the defensive.

Now normally these things tend to end in tears, but apparently when you’re 30 you develop enough awareness to know when to call a truce and hug it out before Kate has to call the ambulance.

On the birthday scale, at least in my book, this one was pretty epic.  Especially when we still have one more day of fun in the sun to look forward to!