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Yesterday Brad and I had an awesome adventure.  For Christmas I had purchased a 2 hour ride for him in a 1940 Studebaker.  This is something he had wanted to do for a long time as his father had once owned one just like it.  We first stopped in Santa Barbara and did some sight-seeing.  We toured the mission but as we got out the camera to take a few pics we realized the battery was dead--sound familiar?  Thus I had to rely on my trusty cell phone for these pics.  Then we drove on to Solvang--founded in 1911 by a group of Danish educators. The city is home to some bakeries, restaurants, and merchants offering a taste of Denmark in California.  Mission Santa Ines is also in Solvang.  Then we drove into Buellton and ate split pea soup at the Anderson Pea Soup Restaurant.  We then met up with Craig who took us for the most gorgeous 2 hour drive through the Santa Inez Valley in the 40 Studebaker--Brad driving all the way.  The rolling countryside was lush and green due to the recent rains.  We saw ostrich, buffalo, long-horn steers, little black lambs, etc.  This car has no seat belts so it felt very awkward at first.  Craig said many famous people live out there as it is very private and remote.  We passed many cycling teams on the country roads.  He said Lance Armstrong trains on these roads.  He said his son helped David Crosby--Crosby, Steels & Nash--at the airport one day when his plane landed and his car wouldn't start.  I guess he also sang with the Byrds.  Oprah also has a house out there.  But one of the best things that happened to Craig was he was coming out of the store the other day in this little town, the Dalai Lama came out at the same time and they spoke briefly.  Remember he had just been visiting Obama which upset China?  Then he mentioned that Neverland was just up the road and I really wanted to go see it so we drove up there.  As you can see they have taken the NEVERLAND sign off the gate.  Craig's son's future mother-in-law worked for MJ and she said he was a very nice person.  Well my little gift to Brad turned out to be a lot bigger gift as he decided to not only ride in the car but to BUY it.  Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, etc for the next few years.