
Big morning surf…Gracefully skimming the wave, the slim blonde surfer held steady, back and forth, then through the big wave, again and again to much applause. The next surfer wobbled…and dunked, end-over-end. And another…UP, then down. A tenuous rider lasted half a wave, then disappeared in the froth. All this as we enjoyed the Sunday brunch buffet at the Wave House restaurant in Belmont Park, 40 feet from the giant wave machine. That first surfer was the instructor; her students were beginning their Sunday ride-all-day lessons for $60. (For details, call (858) 228-9300 or visit www.wavehouseathleticclub.com.) Sunday brunch, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (including the highly entertaining water show) is $24.99 at 3115 Oceanfront Walk. Life’s a Beach…Parking’s tough in Mission Beach and at 10:15 a.m., we grabbed one of the last spaces at Belmont’s end. Lots of families down there, zillions of strollers. Same thing the day before on my walk along PB–little kids by the water, families with picnic coolers and tons of teenagers and twenty somethings on the sand. Perfect weather, perfect crowds. Small world…I finally got to see PB Day at the Fair, where Karl Jadke organizes local businesses for the PB Town Council. First, our grandson Bryce won a hat donated by Star Surfing’s Glen Paculba. Later in Exhibit Hall we bought him a LaDainian Tomlinson Chargers shirt for his birthday. The label: The Sports Palace, 4434 Ingraham. Waterwise…Capt. Shelley Zimmerman of SDPD’s northern division was a bit shocked to hear that 1,500 revelers at Kate Sessions Park on July 4th had created a Slip ’n‘ Slide down the hill. Her solution: We have water restrictions. “We told ‘em the park’s on the odd side and they had to turn off the water. They did.” Shelley received high praise at July’s PB Town Council meeting. “It was the quietest July 4th in years,” said Nicole Larson. “I watched your officers. They had a very nice touch, judiciously and gently approaching people.” Said Shelley, “We were out on July 1 and July 2, visiting the most problematic houses,” those that were CAPPED or frequently reported, she explained. “It really helped.” There were 1.2 million beach visitors that holiday, “but it was closer to 2 million if you included Mission Bay, the entertainment district and house parties.” She concluded, “Last weekend (July11-12) we had 600,000. We are able to manage that with the officers we have.” Said Don Mullen, “I know the alcohol (ban) made a difference for you to do your job–but I think it has a lot to do with you.”