Three fifths of the Traveling Anderzoo packed up much smaller carry-on bags bound for America’s Finest City, San Diego, and the Cal State Games, a junior Olympics of sorts, to play a weekend of softball! Tessa has been playing all summer and her and her team’s hard work and NorCal dominance qualified them for this end of season tournament featuring the best of the best from the rest of not just California, but the country.

Our hotel is nestled in Little Italy and the kids have enjoyed some local gelato, to which Wyatt has turned his nose down at, I’ve had a few Aperol Spritz’s for old time’s sake, and we’ve politely avoided Italian food. Best to savor the flavors of the real deal in our minds than to spoil them with what surely will not match up. Instead, we’ve eaten Raising Cane’s chicken tenders and had a delicious dinner at Queenstown Public House, a New Zealand joint.

We took a hard loss in Game 1 but enjoyed trading pins and attending the Opening Ceremonies dressed as Wonder Women and marching into the arena as part of the parade of athletes. Loving being in the San Diego sun and feeling the breeze of Mission Bay. On to Game 2 and to more fun in the sun!