Up early this morning to meet our  Catalina Island Conservancy guide and naturalist Cesar for a three-hour jeep exploration.

As warm as yesterday was, today there is a chill in the air from a front that is expected to bring rain tomorrow. Whew! Leaving Avalon we head up the switchbacked mountainside stopping for a photo op of Avalon and Hamilton Cove. Making our way towards Toyon Junction, we are told the Haypress Reservoir has not been so low — almost nonexistent — in many years. Our next stop are overlooks down towards Hen Rock and Moonstone Beach. When we reach the airport, we take a fortification break for hot chocolate and a large oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. Next we head SW past Rancho Escondido, the new winery being planted by Santa Ynez Valley residents who own Rusack Vineyards — she is a granddaughter of the Wrigley family. Soon afterwards we are afforded views of beautiful Little Harbor, a place I'd love to come back to and camp. Leaving the main track we four-wheel drive up a draw in search of wildlife, but only see hawks soaring overhead. We pass an old stagecoach stop and view an bald eagle recovery project before heading back towards Avalon. The island is gorgeous and this quick glimpse makes me yearn for more!

Up early this morning. Following breakfast at the Promenade Cafe, Liv and I embark on a self-guided tour of the Queen Mary. Beginning on the "D" Deck, we wind our way throughout the bowels of the ship. The turbines, engines, pressure gauges, and miles of piping are all fascinating and eerie in what once might have been a dark, dank and noisy environment — far removed from the once opulent areas of the ship. Of particular note is the one propeller that has been left in place — striking in the blue water against the black hull of the ship. Next, we head to the upper decks to see the bridge, smoke stacks, captain's quarters, life boats, and Tea Room. We stroll each deck and climb the stairs to peer into the Sir Winston's Restaurant, which is lovely . . . perhaps even worth another a visit!

At 1 PM we are off to find the landing for the Catalina Express and the trimaran that will take us to Santa Catalina Island in just over 1 hour. The sea is generally calm with a bit of chop as we near the island. Settling back in the Commodore Lounge we toast over Bloody Marys this next portion of our adventure. Since neither of us have been here before, we are enchanted with our first views. 

The Pavilion Hotel is situated right on Crescent Street across from the water. It is lovely with an outside patio and nicely landscape green areas for lounging. After settling in, we head off to the Catalina Island Conservancy office to arrange for a several hour jeep tour the following day. Then we explore the restaurants that have been recommended: Steve's Steakhouse, Bluewater Seafood Restaurant, The Lobster Shack, and the Avalon Grille. The latter restaurant is owned by the same folks who own our hotel and The Casino. While mulling over our choices, we walk along Crescent Street to the Casino to check on tour times. Then, back to the Avalon Grille for a complementary glass of champagne and rich crab and artichoke dip appetizer. The decor and ambiance are perfect as we leisurely watch the dusk turn to darkness. So relaxed, we opt to linger longer over a shared meal of perfectly grilled filet mignon with mushroom bordelaise & seasonal vegetables, followed by a rich, warm flourless chocolate cake with Cabernet-soaked berries  . . . yummy!

A bit of window shopping before we head back to the hotel since we have an early morning rendezvous with our Conservancy naturalist.

My faux cousin Liv has been visiting for a few days. A cousin of a cousin through marriage, we have gotten to know each other quite well since 2000. Last year we travelled together for the first time to Cuba.

Since her arrival, we attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Outstanding Performance of the Year Award event honoring Cate Blanchett, visited niece Taylor at the Beckman Winery, and a Super Bowl party (briefly). Later in the week we will attend another Film Festival tribute . . . Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award. 

But today we're off to Yorba Linda to visit the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum — a "good cousin" gesture on my part as this was a "least favorite thing ever" to do! Honestly, I came away with no better feeling for our 37th president than expected, but also with a lingering question . . . how did someone who grew up Quaker become such a S.O.B. with no regard for honesty and integrity, and who would willingly throw a family member under the bus as a friend or an associate? The Library/Museum leaves this question unanswered, at least for me. Instead, it presents a man who grew up in humble beginnings and who rose through the ranks through the grace of good timing and some luck, who had a strong resolve and achieved much success . . . until Watergate. However, few of our lives are that simple and straightforward, and generally the seeds that express themselves later on in future behaviors/actions (e.g. mean-spiritedness, dishonesty, unwillingness to take responsibility for actions) lie dormant or are slowly nurtured just below the surface from an early age.

Afterwards, in the fading light of day, we make our way to Long Beach for a night's stay aboard the Queen Mary. Our room is on the "B" deck — 421 — shabby chic would be kind. It is comfortable and spacious enough for us two. Being a Monday, the Sir Winston's Restaurant is closed. Instead, we head to the Chelsea Chowder House & Bar where we are met with a refreshing herb infused vodka martini and lobster bisque and a large bowl steamed mussels. Yum. . . Dinner over, we stroll the Promenade Deck and begin our exploration of the ship — the shops, Observation Bar, and back to the Chelsea Bar for a night cap and chat with the bartender.

My trip to Morocco is nearing . . . 11-weeks away! While there I will turn 60, in Fez. During that time, too, the 8th Annual Sufi Cultural Festival will be taking place — music, trance dancing (Dhamal), poetry reading, and more. 

In preparation, I pull off my bookshelves poems by Jalaleddin Mohammed Balkhi (Rumi). A scholar and an artist, I first became acquainted with him in my 20s. Then later in my 50s, his love poems were brought to my attention. Their boundless images and precise articulation speaks directly to my heart. . .

It was a cold morning when we headed off to Disneyland for a day of good, wholesome fun amidst the holiday decorations. My friend Cheryl's daughter, who works at Disneyland, secured free passes for us. Yahoo-ee! ! ! 

Competitively, like the "kids" we are, MJ and I followed the navigation system in her car while the others followed theirs in another car. We won — and with enough time to park and go up and down the parking garage elevator three times to retrieve bits and bobs of things we'd left behind.  

We began with Soarin' Over California in the California Adventure Park. Then off to see Ariel's Underwater Adventure. Trying to step out of my fearful of roller coaster self, Cheryl, Caiti and I took on California Screamin' where I lost my voice! Next we meandered over to Tower of Terror, where Caiti works, to check out the lobby. None of us wanted to be herded into an elevator to experience the 40' free-fall fall and re-experience breakfast. . . Instead, we opted for Monsters Inc. and a really wonderful lunch at the Carthay Circle Restaurant whose decor reflects the romance and glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age. It was at its namesake L.A. theatre, built in 1926, that Walt Disney premiered his first feature-length film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. 

Afterwards, we headed for the Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, and my favorite . . . the Mad Tea Party. Confession time: I'd always wanted to go on this ride! Unfortunately the Indiana Jones Adventure, Splash Mountain and Space Mountain were all closed for repairs or major renovations. As the sun set, we headed to Main Street for the holiday parade . . . A fun-packed day, so much so that it was hours after returning home that I could settled enough to fall asleep around 1 AM.