So I'm sitting here at the Japanese Friendship Garden waiting for the Tea Pavilion to open...

I didn't really understand much about traveling until now. Other than day vs. night, I've pretty much lost all sense of time. I never really know what day let alone date it is...everything is just blending together in a series of experiences. I wake up with the sun (morning person, my body will not sleep very late) get showered and dressed, then I'm off to a coffee shop with wi-fi to figure out what part of the city I want to explore next. I go until I drop, get as much quality sleep as possible despite being in a different spot every couple of days, and repeat the next day.

San Diego is too big to cover in so little time, most of it so far has been in Balboa Park where I find such a peaceful atmosphere that I don't want to get into the main part of the city. I did get to meet the CS crew last night for their weekly Tipsy Tuesday gathering though. For the first time, I was the traveler among a CS group and it was different. I'll most likely get to hang out again later tonight for an outdoor movie night at a local brewery. I know this will make me view travelers to Houston in a different way when I get back.

But before all that, I had breakfast at Pete's Coffee & Tea in downtown and sat next to an older gentelmen who, towards the end of his vist, started singing some foreign song. I couldn't tell what he was singing but it sounded so nice I had to ask. "It's a tragic song... in French, and to sum it up in one line...(long pause as he thinks)... it's not love unless it makes you weep." I just smiled and said yes, that's exactly how you know...the good and the bad make you cry. Remembering the times with that special person makes you cry for joy and losing them makes you cry out of sorrow. I've been there recently and I must take a moment to admit that getting my mind off the issue was one reason for this trip but to no avail...I can't help but wish he was here exploring with me. I do have total freedom doing this trip solo, but I wish he could have seen my face when I saw mountains up close for the first time.

On to other things though...

Right after this really delicious Japanese lunch, I'm going to do some more wandering before meeting my brother for an afternoon hike at Torrey Pines...stay tuned, I hear that is one awesome hike and I should get a really good look at what is to come once I hit the Coastal Highway.