{"id":3058,"date":"2023-02-21T07:35:30","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T15:35:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shirscribe.com\/?p=3058"},"modified":"2023-02-23T22:07:47","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T06:07:47","slug":"getting-out-the-house-ojai-day-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shirscribe.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/21\/getting-out-the-house-ojai-day-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Out the House: Ojai Day Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I was upset with this picture when I first saw it. I’m barely visible, unrecognizable. About after taking several second looks, it grew on me. I love the way the photo almost looks black and white, save for few shades of color daring to shine through. I love how the street is in the foreground and from this angle looks wide, though it was kinda narrow. I love how the photo is framed by the parked cars and then the trees about that, with the blaze of the sun’s rays causing some haze on the upper lefthand corner. This picture, at first sight, was so disappointing to me, and now for some reason, I want to frame it. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A couple of months ago was the first time in a long time I\u2019d heard or seen anything about Ojai, California. It was photos of an Instagramer\/YouTuber at Bart\u2019s Book Store, an outdoor bookstore there. I saw the pics and on that alone knew, someday soon, I\u2019d have to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like I do before I go anywhere new, I researched the town. I watched any and every YouTube video I could find where people shared their Ojai experience. From what I could gather, pretty much what you do in Ojai is eat, relax and shop, which is fine. I like to do all three\u2026well, not so much shopping. But I like souvenir shopping which is what I would be doing in Ojai, so this was great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, I was planning on doing an overnight trip. I would stay in Ventura, because the Ojai hotels were crazy expensive, then I would basically eat my way through the town. I\u2019d try their ice cream shop, maybe a cupcake. I like to try ice cream and cupcakes everywhere I go. Believe it or not, it\u2019s hard to come across a good cupcake. But that plan was adding up fast so I just decided to make it into a day trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were several places that I wanted to hit up for sure \u2013 Bart\u2019s Bookstore, The Farmer\u2019s Market, and somewhere to eat. Bookstores have kinda been my thing lately. Now when I travel somewhere new, I want to stop by an independent bookstore. Though when I\u2019ve gone, I\u2019ve yet to buy books. So far, I\u2019ve purchased chapstick (San Diego) and a tote bag (Columbus, OH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I have no idea what I’m looking at, but I really like this picture. What do you think that expression on my face is saying?<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I left home too late to make it to the Farmer\u2019s Market on time. I arrived at 1:00pm and it closed at one. They were packing up as I rolled by. Next I was going to go to Bart\u2019s Bookstore, but had to first stop and see how to get there, only to pull up to a restaurant called The Nest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I\u2019d planned on going to Ojai Rotie to eat, but was hungry and the food smelled really good so we \u2013 me and my Mom \u2013 decided to eat there. This restaurant was a small, unassuming place, tucked in the corner of a neighborhood shopping center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seating was all outdoors and packed. The line was long and moved slowly. The menu was pretty compact \u2013 no Cheesecake Factory here. Oh, and the prices were high\u2014at least to me\u2014so I was surprised when I got closer in line to see that you\u2019re just ordering from a window. You order at a window, pick up from a window, find your own place to sit and they have the nerve to ask for a tip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I blame Starbucks \u2013 Starbucks and perhaps Coldstone Creamery are the culprits for this.  Now everywhere you go people are asking for tips at the register and they didn\u2019t even do anything except ring up your order. Then they stand there and look at you while you decide if you want to give them 10%, 15%, 20% or my favorite nothing- though I wonder what are they going to do to my food if I don\u2019t tip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a reason it\u2019s called gratuity \u2013 it\u2019s for people who go above and beyond, not just simply for doing your job. Money you get for doing your job is called a wage, and your employer is responsible for giving it to you, not me the customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I will gladly tip someone when I think they\u2019ve done an exceptional job, but I don\u2019t like this expectation to tip just because you took my order and prepared my food \u2013 um hello, that\u2019s your job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, I tipped $5 because this dude was nice, and who knows what they\u2019re doing back there with my food. That\u2019s the end of my little rant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n