It's a girl! 

Funny thought...

It's been a while since I've been to the Hook, and there were a few guys I noticed that are normally out there. We don't really talk, but if I notice them, they might have noticed me. I guess it's not as apparent that I'm pregnant when I'm in a wet suit vs. maternity clothes. YES - I AM pregnant! ;)

My Weekend Report

Went out both Saturday and Sunday, which lately, is an accomplishment in itself. Saturday, I was at the far left end of the Hook (my typical spot) about 10:30-11am and the lines were actually coming in pretty consistently. Typical Hook-style waves. But the shoulders weren't hitting too much, which is what you hope for when you are on that side. I guess I thought it would have been flatter. It still takes me a while to "warm up", but I caught a couple waves (and one nice purl..no wonder no one was on it!) before it went completely flat. I guess I got in just when the high tide was pushing, and then it turned into "lake high tide". Funny, when I got that last wave in, everyone else was doing the same thing. There was practically a freeway back-up getting off the beach!

Sunday, went to Manresa with the family and some friends who popped into town to escape the heat from Sacto. It had been 2 years since John (from Sacto) had been in the water, and he used to live at the beach in San Diego. His 3 year old son doesn't know what a surf board is. (But at least knows the skate board.) Damn, that must hurt! At least, they are planning on moving here when he grads from Sacto State... There were some really small one's there, but luckily my flat-nosed board can take it best out of everyone's. Unfortunately, it takes so much longer to rally up the group and get b-fast (great bfast burrito place in Rio del Mar BTW...), rather than getting up and going by yourself that by the time I got there, had a whole 30 minutes in the water before turning around for a 1pm appointment I scheduled before I knew we had plans. And, the lady didn't even show up! (Still have a duplex for rent in SV, if anyone's intersted...) At least caught a good couple of waves to make the trip worth it! (...and got a few more errands done later that day too.) I heard it picked up after I left, but not for a few more hours and not for very long. The hubby came home with a nice sand-burn mark on the left half of his forehead - piledriver! His neck and back was seriously hurting that night, and brain was a bit foggy. Or, was that the Don Julio he had for the pain?!?!

All in all, I was dreading the growing belly was the big factor hindering my surfing, and I know it will eventually. But at least, now that work has calmed down a bit, I notice it's not as bad as I thought. At least I'm catching waves again (even though no improvements to speak of) and I have fun. I should know known - this work project happens the same time every year and every year my surfing ability gets crappier right around that time. I guess I have a bit more brain-power to concentrate on the fun things again...at least until the belly gets bigger! :)

Food Allergies - How I Deal

I just had to work at my company's trade show in San Francisco, so had to live at a hotel for a week. The night before, I had a bad reaction to garlic, which a Mexican restaurant I've been to before decided to add to their beans. I'm also pregnant. So was very cautious when leaving home!

I requested a fridge in the room, spotted out the nearest Whole Foods and stocked up on what I'm used to eating at home - organic fruits, juice, snacks, condiments, and whatever I could eat without having cooking facilities like sushi to-go and PB/Jelly/Bread....and a sandwich for dinner that night. (I could have brought condiments and snacks from home, but didn't have time to plan and the company will reimburse me.) I felt a little nervous when valet parking watched me bring-in grocery bags, but hey it's worth it. I didn't do this, but it might also help offering the front desk your food allergy list when you check in, so they can pass along to room service.

I also went to the concierge, and asked for recommendations to places I usually frequent. For instance, I'm allergic to milk and vanilla but have to have my soy latte's in the morning. Starbucks only uses vanilla soy milk. So, had to seek out Peet's. Also, found the nearest Jamba Juice, so I could have my daily wheatgrass and smoothie.

Unfortunately, I did get sick the one night I ordered room service for dinner, even though I was very specific and don't think it was from an allergen sneaking-in. I think the meat was just bad quality and the fact my body was still suffering from the beans w/garlic. (I must be getting used to only good-quality, organic, fresh meats.) Went out to a nicer restaurant one night and couldn't tell what's "safe" on their menu. So, gave them a laminated card listing my 22 allergies, and asked that the chef recommend something. Still they gave me a side dish that contained egg yolk. Good thing I asked them what was in it before I bit into it! I'm sure, from the chef's perspective, that it's hard when there are 22 very common items to avoid. And, the food was excellent when they got it right.

I also notice that the only buffets work well for me are salad bars, because you can pick and choose "whole" ingredients to put on your plate vs. prepared food that always has an ingredient I'm allergic to. I always "sneak" my vegan butter and sour cream (for baked potatoes) into Fresh Choice when we eat there. I've also recently discovered Mongolian BBQ, because of the same thing. Depending on how sensitive you are, you might have to watch out, since they cook everyone's food on the same grill. But, at least, you're putting your own ingredients/seasonings into your bowl/plate. Besides that, I'd prefer to go to a sit-down restaurant, where you can ask that your food be prepared a certain way.

I guess I was lucky to be traveling not too far from home so I knew what "chains" to look for, and was in such a diverse city with many options. I just realize I have to be diligent and insistent with my eating. I say "I have very complicated food allergies" to the staff. Then, I ask that they tell me exactly what's in a dish, and ask again specifically if an allergen (such as black pepper) is put into it, and ask that it be excluded. If it shows up, I send the dish back. It's me (and the baby) that will suffer!

My Allergy List

Foods I’m Allergic to:

- Level 4 –
Egg Yolk
Onion
Garlic
Cashew
Cauliflower

- Level 3 –
Milk (Casein)
Chicken
Crab
Shrimp
Pepper
Ginger
Gum (Mix)
Mustard
Olive
Lemon
Pea, Green
Cabbage

- Level 2 -
Cinnamon
Vanilla
Mushroom
Pineapple
Apricot

(Untested but also reacted to Artichoke, which is in the Thistle family.)

(On the positive side...) Foods I'm Not Allergic to:
Egg white
Orange
Tomato
Cocoa Bean (Chocolate)
Peanut
Soybean
Banana
Wheat
Rice
Beef
Pork
Lamb
Tuna
Lobster
Salmon
Halibut
Flounder
Perch
Bass (Black)
Oyster
Clam
Coconut
Coffee
Tea
Grapefruit
Apple
Pear
Grape
Peach
Cherry
Plum
Strawberry
Cantaloupe
Avocado
Almond
Walnut (English)
Pecan
Navy Bean
String Bean, Green
Potato, White
Sweet Potato
Carrot
Celery
Lettuce
Squash, summer
Cucumber
Broccoli
Spinach
Sesame Seed
Asparagus
Rye
Corn
Oat
Barley, whole ground
Buckwheat

Trees I’m Allergic to:

- Level 4 –
Cedar
Juniper
Ash. Arizona
Cottonwood
Olive Pollen
Privet

- Level 3 –
Redwood
Pine (Mix)
Acacia (Mix)
Birch, White
Oak (Valley) (Alba)
Sycamore
Walnut (English)
Walnut (Black)
Pepper Tree
Eucalyptus

- Level 2 –
Mulberry
Liquidambar
Elm

Trees I’m Not Allergic to:
Alder
Willow
Oak (Live)
Hickory/Pecan
Maple
Box Elder
Date Palm

Grasses I’m Allergic to:

- Level 4 –
June (Kentucky)
Brome
Meadow Fescue
Orchard
Perennial Rye
Red Top
Salt Grass
Timothy

- Level 3 –
Bermuda
Johnson

- Level 2 –
Bahia

Grasses I’m Not Allergic to:
None

Weeds I’m Allergic to:

- Level 4 –
Russian Thistle
Scale (Mix)

- Level 3 –
Kochia (Burning Bush)
Nettle
Mugwort
Marshelder
Lamb’s Quarters

- Level 2 –
Cocklebur
Curly Dock
English Plantain

Weeds I’m Not Allergic to:
Sage (Coast)
Western Ragweed
False Ragweed
Pigweed
Palmer’s Amaranth
Sheep Sorrel
Mustard Grass

Perennial Inhalants I’m Allergic to:

- Level 4 –
Cat Pelt (ALK)
Cat Hair (ALK)
Histimine

- Level 3 –
House Dust (AIIM)

- Level 2 –
House Dust
Dust Mite (F)
Dust Mite (P)
Jute
Tobacco

Perennial Inhalants I’m Not Allergic to:
Dog (Bayer)
Dog (BCA)
Hog
Horse
Cow
Rabbit
Guinea Pig
Hamster
Feather (Parakeet)
Feather (Goose)
Feather (Mix)
Control
Cottonseed
Cockroach
Kapok

Molds I’m Allergic to:

- Level 4 –
Chaetomium

- Level 3 –
None

- Level 2 –
Monilia
Candida Albicans
Paecilomyces

Molds I’m Not Allergic to:
Dematiaceae
Alternaria
Cladosporium
Helminthospirium
Aspergillus
Penicillium Mold
Botrytis
Trichophyton
Fusarium
Grass Smut Mix (BJ)
Rhizopus
Mycogene

Manresa on Sunday

The hubby decided that he'd only compete in the HMB Classic longboarding, and we don't own one. So, he went to Manresa that morning instead. He came back reporting one of the best sessions he's had in a while.

After being sick in bed all day Friday and Saturday (food allergy symptoms w/o eating any culprits), I finally got out for a 5am DP on Sunday morning. We headed straight back to Manresa. I've been a bit hesitent to do beach breaks lately, with the belly growing bigger every day, but it didn't seem that harsh at all. (Did I mention we found out it's a girl? Dad was hoping for a boy, but she might have less competition going pro than if it was a boy! ;) ) How come when you first drive up, you see some great rolling shoulders. And when you go out, there are none to be seen for miles?!?! The best I could do was catch two or three waves, and I'd barely consider myself "riding" them... We gave up after that.

OK on the positive side, at least I got out in the water after the past couple weeks of grueling hours of work mixed with on-and-off illness. It was super glassy rather than gnarly and closing out. There were several schools of dolphins passing by to say hi to us. (As a matter of fact, sometimes so close it can be a little nerving!)

Here's to hoping the summer will pick up... ;)

All or nothing weekend...

On Saturday, we cruised over to the HMB coast, thinking that with the south swell fading, that area would have more waves than Santa Cruz. I guess "shoulda" went out at Waddell, but the waves didn't look as good as I expected with the NW swell, and the baby was calling for food. So, we ended up at Duarte's instead. After eating everything on the menu, we went to the HMB Golf Links to see a friend who works there, who incidentally must have taken the only Saturday off he's ever taken since he's worked there. I was thinking the Jetty would be fun, but nada. By then, it was getting too late to go back to Waddell. Boy, was I not hitting it that day!

So Sunday, dropped the kid off at SFO to visit Grandma (Tutu) in Kona (with jealousy!) and headed up to Linda Mar. I guess I was STILL on a mission that North would be better than South! Though I've had a taco or two there, never went with the intention to surf. After hearing everyone talk about riding there, thought I'd give it a try. I couldn't tell if one area would be better than another, so ended up just to the left of Taco Bell (if you're looking at the ocean). I took my time getting out, only far enough to the reforms but without getting punished too bad. But, when I got out there, it just seemed like I was inside a washing machine. Sad to say, but I ended up with a one-wave weekend. I guess I coulda tried a little harder, but didn't seem worth it. Just curious what anyone else's impression is of Linda Mar on Sunday - Is it always like that???

This week's mission - to make up for such a dismal weekend...