This morning I got up early so I could take a Saturday morning drive down the coast. I hadn’t driven my car in almost two weeks, and honestly, I just missed it. A Honda Element belongs on the coast, and it’s a shame to just have it sitting in the driveway. Since I was locked in an airplane for most of Friday, a Saturday morning drive by the ocean was heavenly.

I had a muffin and coffee at Swamis, and then I explored the Encinitas hillside that faces the ocean. There were so many cute old neighborhoods tucked in between the hilly streets. I can see why the locals really love that town. The best part is the radio was played the best songs from high school all morning. It was a great morning to be alive.

My last stop before I came back home was a quick drive through the neighborhood across the street to see if my friend Jeff had moved in yet. While making the loop, I saw Olympic gold medalist Shawn White hanging out in front of his house with his posse of friends. Ever since I was little, I’ve had a deep admiration for professional skaters or anyone who rode a board. I never would’ve dreamed that as a grown up I’d end up on TV myself (sometimes riding a skateboard) and end up spending a summer on the same coast as the best snowboarder in the world.

We spent the afternoon down at the beach. Normally I sit under an umbrella and sort out my thoughts of how I’m going to conquer the world. But I’m tired of that, so I just play in the cool ocean waves. John came out with the board later in the afternoon and harassed me until I tried to catch a few waves. I caught one for a few seconds.

In the last two hours of daylight,;the girls wanted to run and the guys wanted to ride bikes. So we ventured inland to explore the hills of Carlsbad. The sun was beating down and there was no breeze. It would’ve been miserable if we didn’t have so much fun chatting back and forth. Every one of Candyce’s brothers and sisters is lively and has interesting things to say–even the little kids. When I first met the clan, most of them were very little. I was;like the young uncle that came over and jumped on the trampolene. But now, everyday is exciting because I watch their personalities blossom.

We rode through some beautiful neighborhoods. I used to look at all of the cool beach houses. But I truly feel blessed to be who I am and where I am. I am at peace.

To finish today, Candyce and I went to a romantic Italian restaurant in Carlsbad. It was dark and sexy inside, and the food was great. Over dinner we talked about our concept for a restaurant that we’d like to open up in one of these San Diego beach towns.

Part of me has always loved dreaming with big ideas loaded with details. But for right now, I’m intimidated by my own ideas. I realize the outrageous amount of time every project really requires. A task as simple and straight-forward as checking my email devours an hour of my day.;I can’t imagine how much work it takes to run a restaurant.

Today was one of those days that I dreamed I could have ever since I first came to the Pacific Ocean when I was 18, just out of high school. Back then I was an intern for a magazine, and I was so poor that I had to skip meals in order to pay for gas to get me to the beach itself. Already I can feel this summer at the coast healing me from a very difficult year at work.