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July 31, 2009 (Friday)
Post-session
Did M's alone. Inconsistent, windy, and sloppy.
No doubt bigger, but the new energy is faint and isn't hitting fully yet. There was one big set late this afternoon just before I went in, so there's surely something out there.
Posted at 8:00 PM
July 30, 2009 (Thursday)
Post-session
Again I thought it was slightly bigger, but everyone else thought not. For sure it was windy and sloppy and frequently barely ride-able. New swell tonight?
Afterward one of the regulars and I were walking back to our cars from the beach, and he mentioned this in passing: Irukandji jellyfish. I had never heard of it. We had been talking about getting bitten in the water; you know, those irritating little bites you get that almost border on an itch. We've all experienced them some time or other while surfing (in Hawaii--I don't know about other locales). And then I said they were water fleas, which is a term I've heard bandied about by others as the perpetrators in such situations. What are they, anyway? If you read the descriptions of the water flea it doesn't seem to fit.
Posted at 7:14 PM
July 29, 2009 (Wednesday)
Post-session
Just like yesterday but slightly smaller. Same conditions/form. Started slow and dismally inconsistent. Then at around 4:00ish (I'm guessing because I didn't have my watch) there was a surge of sets. Just like yesterday. Did I already say that?
Have you guys been going to the dermatologist at all? I've gone twice this year. He sliced off a mole from my chest and ran a test. Negative. But now I have a nice dime-sized scar. Just noticed that a small, raised, smooth thingy on my calf is "suddenly" bigger. Makes me really worried.
Posted at 8:12 PM
July 28, 2009 (Tuesday)
Post-session
Did M's. As I paddled out, there were some decent sets. Several people were sitting on the inside surfing the back-bowl. I waited at the main peak and got skunked. It wasn't until I was ready to give up and call it a day (after about an hour and a half) that I got my best rides. Then the biggest waves of the session came in, which surprised me because there were some big ones. By then, though, the form and conditions had deteriorated significantly, and my interest faded quickly like the Shangri-La sets.
Posted at 8:21 PM
July 27, 2009 (Monday)
Post-session
The morning was sloppy, about chest- to head-high and empty. Afternoon was over-head and inconsistent/windy but fun and not crowded.
Posted at 8:12 PM
July 26, 2009 (Sunday)
Post-session
I thought it was bigger but most I spoke with didn't see it. The morning was chunky and the rip was strong; this afternoon was mellower and more doable but windier and inconsistent.
Posted at 11:30 PM
July 25, 2009 (Saturday)
Caution
This is interesting. Beachgoers beware: "'Extreme' UV exposure forecast for tomorrow."
Posted at 11:21 PM
Post-session
Smaller but still some sets. Possible new energy showing.
Did M's with one other then alone. Like yesterday, I wasn't doing well initially. Seems the stiffness in my hip, especially, needs to get worked out before I can feel comfortable. But i felt better after a few rides and scored some good ones. My last, in particular, was sweet.
Posted at 2:56 PM
July 24, 2009 (Friday)
Post-session
Couldn't surf Wednesday/Thursday. Heard Thursday was "epic." It's interesting because I've asked many people, and all of them said the same thing about the size that day: 3-5 with 6-foot "bombs." Apparently, my regular spot was near-perfect with big sets that were lined up and very ride-able (not closing). So I missed out.
Today, everyone I saw made pretty much the same remark: "Oh, it's so small--it really dropped." One guy said, "Ew, it's so small, yeah?" Uh, yeah? Small? This awesome summer has spoiled us all.
Needless to say, there's still some waves to be had, and I had some fun ones once I got settled in and relaxed and warmed up. I was struggling, though, early on. But I eventually had some frickin' good rides.
Did M's. The deep, back-bowl was barreling top to bottom. But most were running away and sectioning, so you rarely could you make it beyond the first bowl. That's why I sat at the wider peak and waited for the ones that swung out. It didn't take long before everyone went in, and I had it to my lonesome. No stress, my friends, just the way I like it.
So Sunday's bringing yet another swell? That's the word.
Posted at 7:19 PM
July 21, 2009 (Tuesday)
Post-session
Didn't go out yesterday or Monday. Today's messy and sloppy but there's waves. About chest- to head-high.
Posted at 5:23 PM
July 19, 2009 (Sunday)
Post-session
There's something. And some fun ones can be had for the lucky. Windy and high tide. Sloppy.
Posted at 10:32 PM
Soap Box
And now some political commentary. Café Kaila sucks.
Been there probably four times. From the very first instant I was not impressed, and even disappointed. But I persisted and gave them the benefit of doubt. Heck, given all the positive press and word-of-mouth hype they must be good, right? Alas, after this morning's painful experience I've written them off.
The food is mediocre--it's highly overrated. Relative to that, the prices are so-so. But what strikes me about the place is the poor service.
It's obvious that the front-of-house staff has no training in the basics of customer service. I'm talking simple stuff like smiling, saying hi, saying thank you, being attentive, being polite, anticipating needs. And there's no doubt that the workers I've interacted with have no formal food service experience.
But skills can be taught. Attitude not so. And what you get here is indifference and cockiness bordering on rudeness. I think this stems from the unjustified popularity of the joint. First, let's admit it. Many locals (including myself) aren't very discerning and wouldn't know good quality if it bit them...you know. Next, really there aren't many options in this category (sit-down, local-style breakfast eatery) in the area. (The college kids and the Yuppies are in need of a hip place to park their butts for the morning before they hoist their longboards onto the Mini Cooper.)
So it's busy and packed, and if you want a table you'll need to sign the waitlist. Hey, we're good: look around, suckahs, can't you see? We don't need your stinkin' patronage. And we don't have to be nice. Don't like our tude? Leave.
They don't care about the customer, their guest. Cash only. What???!!! Are you serious?
There used to be a small coffee shop downstairs in my apartment building. Very low-volume with five smallish booths and several tables. Running an A/C (they didn't have one) would've surely decimated their razor-thin margin. Processing credit cards? It would be lunacy from a business standpoint.
But what about Kaila? What's their excuse? Lack of concern? Lack of caring? Why should we provide such a service to the fools who come in here? We don't give a rip about them; the only people we like are ourselves. That's what they must tell each other every day when they count the deposit at closing time.
Ah, but there's the rub. Anyone who knows the restaurant industry in this town knows that today's "star" is tomorrow's cruft. All it takes is someone to do it better for a fairer price. And often it doesn't take even that. Just novelty or newness. Then you'll learn the fickleness of loyalty. Then the fatness of your margin will be the least of your worries. Then you'll know the truth of the maxim that one should always strive to exceed the expectations of your customer.
Posted at 9:43 AM
July 18, 2009 (Saturday)
Post-session
Seems like new stuff pushing in but sloppy from the wind and high tide. Actually very rippable on the inside, with the dribblers breaking all the way almost to the beach. Not crowded. Did a double session (surprise!).
Posted at 7:45 PM
July 17, 2009 (Friday)
Post-session
Windy and sloppy (high tide). Some over-headers but inconsistent and overall crappy. Slightly crowded.
Posted at 5:57 PM
July 16, 2009 (Thursday)
Post-session
Still some sets. Thought it was bigger but others said yesterday had more size. Windy. Fun. Empty at first then crowded.
Posted at 7:35 PM
July 15, 2009 (Wednesday)
Post-session
New swell. Quite consistent, over-head sets. Moderate trades. Slightly crowded.
Posted at 7:47 PM
July 14, 2009 (Tuesday)
Post-session
Slightly bigger but still quite bad. The trades were flip-flopping weak to moderate and intermittently changing the form but overall the conditions were pretty good. A bit crowded but acceptable given the recent lack of swell and everyone's resulting jones.
Posted at 8:09 PM
July 13, 2009 (Monday)
Post-session
Another bad one. Doable but small and sloppy.
Posted at 10:35 PM
July 12, 2009 (Sunday)
Post-session
About the same. Boring but the water was nice.
Posted at 5:05 PM
July 11, 2009 (Saturday)
Post-session
Empty at first then attack of the kook-drones-on-longboards. Chest-high at the biggest. Moderate trades.
Posted at 7:41 PM
July 10, 2009 (Friday)
Post-session
Crappy days are here again. Actually, I had much more fun than the previous several days. Lots of kooks--more laughs than watching the Comedy Channel. Maneuver of the day: face-plant immediately after takeoff.
Posted at 8:12 PM
July 9, 2009 (Thursday)
Post-session
It's been quite bad. Smallish wind-slop. No session on Tuesday.
Posted at 9:24 PM
July 6, 2009 (Monday)
Post-session
Quick one this morning. It was crappy. Windy and empty. Surprised, though, that there's still some stuff. The swell is fading/declining very slowly. East-y energy.
Posted at 6:48 PM
July 5, 2009 (Sunday)
Post-session
Sucked. Slightly smaller but still some sets. Just didn't have a good time.
Posted at 9:58 PM
July 4, 2009 (Saturday)
So Special
Hey, is today a holiday? Someone told me it's a birthday, or something.
Heard also that after the current swell, there's nothing new until Thursday? Thursday???!!! Are you guys nuts? I can't wait that long. That's torture.
Happy Fourth. Go watch some fireworks.
Posted at 7:18 PM
Post-session
Still some fun ones. About the same size. Windy and sloppy. Slightly crowded.
Posted at 4:45 PM
July 3, 2009 (Friday)
Post-session
Smaller. Inconsistent. Moderate trades. Not too crowded.
Guess I'm spoiled because I was out there grumbling and muttering under my breath that it was "junk." But it was more than adequate with lots of fun, chest-high mushburgers.
Posted at 4:57 PM
July 2, 2009 (Thursday)
Post-session
Need I say it? All right, then.
Slightly smaller, but you can feel new energy coming in. Moderate trades. Not crowded.
Oh, and fun. Very fun.
Posted at 5:56 PM
July 1, 2009 (Wednesday)
Post-session
Again! Frickin' fun, my friends. Slightly bigger.
Posted at 5:34 PM