Well hey there!  It’s been a while!  I nearly forgot my password to log-in to update this thing… I have an overall update post in mind, but I’m dying to tell you about Saturday morning – an experience we won’t soon forget.

It started a couple weeks ago when Lea and I met some new friends at a “married couples” event at school.  Michael and Kate Kirkland hail from England where they do basically the same things we do here, but with different, more refined terms for describing them.  Our vocabulary is sure to improve, and my inner monologue already sounds like a daft prat and making progress toward becoming a cheeky twit.  Anyway, Kate and Michael are fully embracing the warm coastal waters and have invited Lea and me out for a few surfing sessions.  Three of us made it out Wednesday (Lea was stuck at work :(), and I got a little more banged up than normal.  But that’s OK, it makes me feel manly when I can show off my owies.   Oh, and to answer a few questions from Facebook – reef attack and, no, I didn’t pee on it.

Finally, on Saturday morning the four of us headed up to Zuma Beach.  Bear in mind, Lea hasn’t been in her wet suit for over three years.  The only reason she agreed to it was because together the three of us were able to strong-arm her into it.  So be it!

Before…

And after…

Here’s Kate…

The boys…

Michael from far away…

Michael up close…

Michael going up…

Michael going down…

And the girls take five to chitty chat on the beach…

The morning started out a little cloudy, but by around 12:30, the clouds cleared and the sun came shining through the crystal clear water, illuminating it in a bright turquoise normally reserved for places like the Caribbean.

The experience was sublime.  The surf conditions were absolutely fantastic – gradual waste to shoulder-high waves, with only us to enjoy them – the Malibu hills were alight, I had three brand new surfing buddies (I count Lea as “new” because, like I said, it’s been more than three years since the last time we went out together), and then the dolphins came.  We estimated that it must’ve been a pod of about 10 bottlenose dolphins; and we’re guessing it’s mating season.  Just trust us on that and I won’t go into the details, but they came right up to us. Nearly within arms reach!  It was absolutely fantastic.  We were in the water for about three hours, a new record for me, and everyone got up.  Here’s to new friends!

Cheers!