We started the day by driving around Isla Vista, and of course I had to stop at Espresso Roma and get a latte. After all, I did help open the kitchen when they first started serving food back in 1992! While standing there a man approached us asking about biodiesel. We must smell like grease because I don’t know how he connected me with our truck across the street! And then off to my next place of former employment: the UCSB Associated Students Bike Shop, where I used to teach bicycle repair and safety.

The shop was closed, but we found Sean there. Sean is an Isla Vista icon; an artist, surfer, bicyclist and all around great guy. I actually used to live in a house ont the same property as him so it was fun to say hello to an old neighbor. Next we headed over for a breakfast of yogurt and granola on the beach at Goleta Point where my old dorm is. It was fun for me to walk down memory lane and realize all the places I’ve been since college.

We continued our tour through UCSB and went to De La Guerra Dining Commons where I basically started my food career. And we found it was a construction site! So much for scoring oil! So we drove to Ortega Dining Commons and amazingly I see a woman walk out that I recognize.. well, except for the braids in her hair! Pam Orr had just got back from Jamaica, and had helped run DLG when I was a student. She also recognized me, and connected us with Jason, one of the employees for getting grease. Jason, it turns out is heading to Belize for vacation soon and was all excited about the truck. We made a plan to get oil the next day.

I was so excited to be at the College of Creative Studies, where I got my Degree that I locked the keys in the truck! Well, none of my old teachers or advisors were there anyway, and AAA rescued us in 30 minutes. Of course we had spares, but hadn’t put them in our wallets or bags yet! First thing we did when the doors opened was get out those keys!

One more stop at Carillo Dining Commons to meet another former co-worker, then it was off to lunch.
We meet Alice and Sam at Bucatini’s Restaurant on State St. Alice is my dance teacher who I travelled to Italy and Prague to perform for the 7th International Dance Festival. Sam was my roomate and co-conspiritor in dance and art. We had a wonderful lunch and Alice keeps trying to get me to stay. Alice has a magical and appreciative quality about her that is so refreshing. Suddenly the world become 10 times more beautiful and even the simplest things become radiant from her attention. After lunch we went to the bank and the post office, then off to my former Bike Shop Boss John Mooy’s house.

John & Liz in Santa Barbara.

John was like a friend and a father to me in college, as well as my boss. He always respectful and encouraging, despite being under great stress at the time. It was great to see him and reconnect, and I also learned that in some was I was as much a support for him as he was for me during those crazy days at the bike shop. He has a tent set up in the back yard of a wonderful little house on the grounds of the Natural History Museum, right next to the Santa Barbara Mission, which became our room for the next few nights. But suddenly for us, we were surrounded by green things and a chance to catch up on some sleep. Which we did!

John's backyard and guest quarters.