Big day. Second in a row. Wow.
Emily coughed ALL night so I did not really sleep. Not well, at least. She has a cold. It’s fun.
We have three guests tonight, the kids and girlfriend. So this morning is a little crowded. Breakfast in shifts, mostly because that’s how everyone got up. Still smells like bacon.
Emily ran off to the store. We are leaving for Santa Cruz when she returns. Marika and I are packed, don’t know about everyone else. I’m ready to leave.
Our drive to Saint Cruz was quick and completely uneventful. Only took a couple hours. No issues. The in laws driving from Bodega had miserable traffic all the way on the coast road and took 4 and 1/2 hours on a little shorter trip. Too bad for them.
We checked into the hotel. At about this time Marika realized she forgot her dressy shoes. So she and the other two kids headed out to the store to buy her some shoes. Rest of us sat in the hotel. About a quarter to five I ordered an Uber. Then I called everyone and told them to get here. It works. We need the Uber cuz we gonna drink tonight and no one wants to get a DUI.
Unfortunately Uber only hold six. There are seven of us. Sadly, I had to drive Hank my father in law in his car. He is the absolute king of horrible drivers and he is 81 and gets worse every year. Tonight I found out where my wife gets her back seat driver abilities. He is fucking miserable. He would not shut up about other drivers, mu spped, my lane position, where I’m going. I finally had to tell him to shut the hell up. God it was misery.
We finally got to the big dinner at Shadowbrook to celebrate Marikas college graduation. Shadowbrook is a one of a kind restaurant in in Santa Cruz. We first ran across the place back when Michael was in college at UC Santa Cruz (duh). During his four years in Santa Cruz we had dinner at Shadowbrook several times. Well, it’s been six years since we have been there so tonight is about time.
The place is unique for its layout alone. It’s built into a hillside to begin with and there are several large and small buildings built over many years to add to the Winchester Mystery House feel. And, they have an inclinator!!!? Yes, I know you don’t understand. But, imagine the cable cars in Hong Kong that are pulled up Victoria Peak by cable. That’s Shadowbrook. They also have an extensive garden and waterfall if you care to use the stairs and not the cable car. The place is crazy. They have one building big enough only for one table. I’ve never sat in it.
Now I am aware it’s a restaurant and the building is not so important as the food and drink. Well, we had enough cocktails before dinner to be sure they were ok. The menu, though not huge, is plenty big enough and all choices are excellent. Desserts were great too, and I ordered one despite being quite full.
We sat around full and groaning another 30 minutes and headed back to the hotel. It’s bedtime for all. Clark, nephew, took off to Sacramento. The rest of us went to bed.