Team Shredder

because:
a) yesterday we had a killer day of surfing, more or less. Crucially to Sea Monkey, the water temp was a couple degrees higher, so our hands didn't hurt and we didn't get the brain freeze when going under. We realized that 2 degrees makes a big difference, and thus the lil' monkey didn't have to shiver! Though when we first went out, it was a bit breezy and choppy, and I secretly had my doubts. But the Team, they made their way, and found several excellent take-off spots for the faster-than-lately, midsize & really fun waves. There was much chaos out there, waves were breaking unpredictably all over the place, every which way but loose. Waves that looked like they were doing one thing would suddenly switch up in the middle and do something else. Sea Monkey brilliantly played it to her advantage, however, and once again showed us why she is king of the varsity team. Lil' Monkee caught what started out as a nice left, but as she travelled along, the section in front of her closed out. When this happens to surfers at our level, usually they will then either a) get knocked over like a bowling pin by the oncoming whitewater, or b) "pull out," i.e. turn the board up over the top of the wave and avoid the collision, something I've only recently figured out how to do, or c) more advanced surfers who can turn their giant longboards better will change directions and go right, if there is anywhere to go to the right that hasn't crumbled too much. Or like if the wave keeps reforming and stuff. But it's not an easy task. AND THIS IS WHAT SEA MONKEY DID, REPEATEDLY!! She turned that big ol' Snow Pony right and continued along backside (her back to the wave, also not an easy task,) and then when another section in front of her started to crumble, she turned AGAIN and went back to the left. Mere words cannot express the pride that The Capt'n feels for the Sea Monkee. I'ma tell you what. This is a major accomplishment at this juncture. And The Capt'n made out pretty well, too, luckily finding her way into the pocket of a long and fast left which during the course of the ride the wave started to rear up steeper and form a tiny CURL up at the lip....so The Capt'n crouched down low to get under it, since the wave was only between waist and chest high, but dang! it never quite formed a barrel. But if it did, it would have been the first tuberide for Team Shredder! But it didn't. But it was a mad ride anyway.
Good times!
b) Before all of this could happen, however, the Team had to make a stop at their new, fave surf shop, Select Surf, to get more sunscreen, because as vain senior citizens with internalized misogyny we are paranoid of becoming leatherfaced hags. And good thing we did, because we had a nice chat with Phil, the sweet little shopkeeper who is really open and friendly and supportive of the female surfers. He showed us pictures of his new baby girl and said, "she owns me." He then told us that his dad had originally opened the shop in '59, and years later his aunt sold it, and it took him a really long time to get it back, but that everything he'd ever done in life, both good and bad, was all a lead-up for him having the shop. Sea Monkey got a single tear, almost.
c) After surfing we got tacos and quesedillas and rented 3 movies and went straight home to the couch. The Team started with a preview of part of the surf movie Endless Summer Revisited, though it soon got too choady, and then after the tasty bites we did clay masques while watching What the Bleep Do We Know. All I could keep saying was "we're living the dream."

Meanwhile, the other third of the Team, Mrs. The Capt'n, is making her way through the mean streets of New York. While it's tragic for the Team to ever to be split up, for short times or long, we here in the west are certain that the Mrs. will triumph. She's in good hands with Gree C. Hair & co., her many other pals passing thru, plus possibly the NY blogger stars, and my beloved queeny uncle Ed the classical pianist and aunt Natasha the mezzo soprano. She's having a voice coaching with Natasha, and today, brunch with Ed. I'm dying, it's so cute. They all love eachother and get to talk shop and giggle. The Mrs., just by being her elegant graceful self, is scoring big points for me by proxy with the family, without even trying.
Go Team!