The Cake is a Lie

Blog No. 123: Santa Cruz Day THREE

Piper and I woke up to a game of Portal for Xbox. It was very interesting, it reminded me of that movie series, Cube, only not as creepy. That's where the line "The cake is a lie" comes from. We played it through the second to last chamber, where we gave up and started from the beginning again with the game programmer voice over commentary. XP

Then, after we got ready and after Terry cooked us some bacon strips, we headed downtown, all packed to go home. 

I had to hit the Lulu Carpenter's coffee shop because I desperately needed caffeine. I got an almond cappuccino, which was not half bad at all. :P

Then, Terry, Kaylah, Piper, and I re-hit the Erik's Cafe, where I bought the same sandwich and a side of that amazing tomato bisk soup. Piper also ended up taking a quart of that soup to go. Erik's Cafe has now become my frequent eating place in Santa Cruz, which is good because I needed one. XP

Then we quickly went souvenir shopping, again, only I had some goals in mind. I already had gotten gifts for Dustin, Phillip, and Lennox, but I needed to get some more, including a Mother's Day gift for mom. We went to Kaylah's favorite store, the large one with wall to wall cooking supplies. It was at that store where I bought Taka's gift, (Sorry Taka, not telling! XP), as well as a smaller version of Taka's gift for myself, each with its own unique design. It was also where Piper got her collapsable chopsticks. Piper has really been searching to the ends of the earth for those, apparently. XP

So in the end, I did get a Mother's Day gift. But I did not get a souvenir for Parkarr, KT, or Susan Surrandon, which was sad. I was really holding out until I found something perfect for everyone, but time got in the way of everyting. I just got a gift for Taka, Fishie, and myself. XD

I got really frustrated at the Amtrak people. I read Kaylah's bus schedule and it said "3:10" that the highway 17 bus would arrive. Well it did, but it didn't take any passengers (DX). Not only that, but I also asked the bus driver when the next one is expected to arrive, and he said "3:45" but he wasn't sure. So I called the 1-800 Amtrak number and asked the same question. I got "4:35". TWICE. Which meant that trying to catch an earlier bus to take an earlier train was never meant to be. Instead of trying to go home at 8 PM, we ended up home at 9 PM. I blamed Amtrak for world hunger, which was quite interesting. XP

Who ended up being right? The bus driver. Not the two receptionist ladies I called, but the unsure bus driver who didn't take us to the earlier train...

I still blame Amtrak for world hunger...

The cake is a lie...

During the bus ride back, we played Anberlin, Death Cab, and Twilight songs on my speakers. Then on the train, I watched most of the Fruits Basket and Piper took some more nature photos. And my mom drove Piper and I home.

During the trip home, Piper said, "Wow, I did not realize how much Kaylah and I are alike!"

I told her, "Duh! I only hang out with the crazy, zany people in my life! XD"

To which Piper replied, "Thanks by the way, for letting me go with you."

To which I replied, "Well I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. It's been a pleasure having you along."

[Insert a heartfelt sigh here. :P]

Of course I remember this moment. It was Piper's use of the words "letting me" that got me thinking. I took this as a mirrored image of a similar moment with Kaylah, where I realized that there was absolutely no way I could escape from the clutches of the Blonde any longer, (as if I ever tried in the first place! XP). But it wasn't that I allowed Piper to go with me on the trip, I wanted her to take the trip with me. As she napped on my shoulder to the sounds of Paramore, I reflected back on this dialogue and realized, too, that there's a very strong connection here that's not going away anytime soon. XP

Like I've said, it's the small moments that matter! :D

Thus concludes The Santa Cruz Trip (w/Piper) ADVENTURE!