My day began at appx 5am in the morning. Knowing on what Amanda and I decided on celebrating Lizzie's birthday party a few days early, I knew this would be a long...fun...day, lol.
My mom joined us for this extremely long road trip, which was nice. we all hopped in the car and left around 8:45am. As we went down the road, I asked if Amanda had her iPhone? She said, "No." We turned around and drove back to the house, just to find out it was in my pocket all along. Back off, I'm already tired damn it, lol.
As I drove towards highway 1, Amanda went online to buy tickets for the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz. Low and behold, families were all ready purchasing tickets in the morning (our plan to get back early). So, we were able to buy tickets for 1:45pm.
So, plans were changed. Now, We needed to do something up until we have to go to the Mystery Spot. The decision was made to hang out at The Santa Cruz Board Walk. "The Plan" was to go on some rides at 10am for an hour or so, before we head over to the Mystery Spot in order to kill time. As we arrived, ides were not open until 11am. The family was unaware that the Boardwalk had a family tent sleep night. Rolling our eyes (Why us?), we had to entertain Lizzie, and make this day frigging memorable, even though, it seemed like A National Lampoon's Griswold's vacation to Wally World deal (look up the movie for you younger generations and watch it). The arcade saved us. As we checked out the games, I saw a claw machine where you "COULD" win a stuffed animal. Well, I walked passed one with dinosaurs. Can you believe it...Lizzie at 4 is seriously into dinosaurs, seriously! So, I had my mom and Amanda keep Lizzie occupied with games, so I can surprise her with this giant Dinosaur. There I was. Left alone. Me and this cheating machine. I swiped the card and played. I moved and angled that damn claw over the dinosaur. I hit the damn red button to descend the claw, and it picked up the dinosaur. As the claw pulled up the dinosaur about half way into the air, the claw flinched slightly open, dropping the helpless dinosaur back to the stuffie depths of hell with the other prisoners of war. This was a repeat of my 3rd attempt to win the damn thing for my daughter. My luck took a turn for the worse as Lizzie stops in the middle of the blinking lights taking her attention away from all the games to say, "Where's Daddy?" She runs over to me and says, "Oh! Dinosaurs. I love dinosaurs!" Lizzie smiles up at me, squeezes her face to the glass, wanting that dinosaur. I'm thinking to myself, "I need that. Damn. Dinosaur..." So, I:
-Swipe the card on the 4th attempt.
-Grab the joystick.
-Move the joystick over the dinosaur.
-Moved three times closer to the hole.
-Hit the red button to descend the claw.
-Hop, like a Black Widow, the claw goes down for the kill.
-Saw the claw grab and pick up that dinosaur.
-The claw "MID-WAY" jerks to drop the dinosaur AND FAILS.
-The dinosaur is "STUCK" in the claw.
-The claw is forced to bring my daughters dinosaur to the "Exit" hatch!
-The dinosaurs is dropped into the hole, but is now stuck from dropping.
-"DAD" (me) punches the damn glass arena, and rattles the dinosaur to drop through he exit.
-Lizzie jumps up and down in excitement fist bumping in the air for her dinosaur.
-"DAD" (me) aggressively shoves arm into the hole:
a) Grabs the dinosaur
b) Gives dinosaur to Lizzie
c) Takes that damn trophy (picture above) to remember the damn experience, lol!
It was time for ice cream! Lizzie agreed to be, "All hands on deck." So we all packed up and went to
Mariannes Ice Cream. They are the Willy Wonka with 105 flavors. Check out the link I provided! My mom, she got Blackberry ice cream, Amanda got white mint, Lizzie got Watermelon, and I got sugar-free green mint ice cream (picture above). Of course, Lizzie had to sample everyone else's flavors, and we were happy to help. I take it upon myself to snap off another (picture above) photo of Lizzie and Amanda making ridiculous faces for the viewer. Next, Lizzie just wanted mom to feed her the ice cream? I get it. Before we left, we had Lizzie use the bathroom, before heading out to The Mystery Spot. I know my kid hits the bathroom every 60 minutes or so. Finally, Lizzie stops in front of a mother and older daughter and says this in a lisp, "Hello!" She waves and then finishes with, "My name is Lizzie, and I am four years old!" Lizzie then holds up four fingers to the mom. The mom laughs and says, "Hi Lizzie. I'm (so and so)!" Lizzie then replies, "Okay! Bye," and leaves the ice cream shop with us.
As I fast forward, the family magically arrive at "THE MYSTERY SPOT." as I do my research. It is not a mystery. The original location was in fact in Prunedale, California in the mid 1970's. They say the location is mysterious due to the gravitational pull of the land, and they prove that with a tilted house built at an angle. They have some interesting points to prove this fact like: rolling a ball at an angle for it to fall, but rolls upward as if it launches into space. As an end result, because everything is built at an angle, it throws off ones perception and makes it believable (Similar as working at a job and how everyone curbs their office dialect to talk and manipulate one another). It was fun for the kid, and that is what counts, right? My mom got nauseated from the steep walk, and tilted architecture. Amanda was already kind of sick, and had to step out. Lizzie had a blast, so this made me smile that she had a great time (pic above).
From here we headed home. Around 5pm, we met up with Amanda's mom, and headed over to Sapporo. It is equivalent to Benihana, just way better! The did the choo-choo train with the onion and did, "FIRE," and, "EXPLOSIONS!" Lizzie had a blast! The chef even played basketball using pieces of chicken to shoot into our mouths. The chef bricked pieces of chicken off my face three times. The chef then tossed a piece perfectly into Lizzie's mouth, and she ended up choking a little bit (She's perfectly okay).
At the end of the meal, the Sapporo's crew sang happy birthday to Lizzie and gave her a pineapple boat of fruit. So, ya, in my 16.5 hour day, I believe Lizzie had a great time. Her dad (me) won her a big dinosaur that she now sleeps/ protects her from the monsters bumping around at night. The Mystery Spot gave her super human powers that allowed her to walk on walls. She got to see "FIRE" & "EXPLOSIONS" in a far away country who was nice enough to sing her a farewell birthday song. To a four year old, it was an adventure. To her, she did the daring adventure some kids won't get to have. For Lizzie, she knew without her parents, this would never have happened. When Lizzie reads this blog as she becomes an adult, she will probably cry, hug me when I'm old, and say "Thank you" for these great times.
Happy 4th birthday my love. I wish you more smiles to come!
~D
16.5 hours spent awake!
