hey thanks for getting back to me about the meetup on friday. i was going to suggest we try that new place downtown but honestly the parking situation over there has been a nightmare every time i've driven past. maybe we could just do the usual spot near the park instead. i know the weather has been a little iffy lately but the forecast says it should clear up by the afternoon so we could grab a table outside if you're up for it. i already checked and they have that cold brew you like so no worries there. let me know if you want to push the time back a bit because i have a call that might run long. otherwise i will see you there around six. also i finished that book you lent me and i think you were right about the ending being a bit rushed but overall it was still a solid read. we can talk more about it when we catch up. anyway just wanted to confirm before the day gets away from me. hope your week is going okay so far. talk soon.

oh and one more thing i finally updated my phone and the new interface is taking some getting used to but the battery life seems better already. not sure if you noticed the same thing when you upgraded.

i was thinking about what you said regarding the road trip route and i think you might be right about taking the coastal highway instead of the inland one. the drive will be longer but the views are supposed to be incredible this time of year and we could stop at that little diner you mentioned. i checked the map and there is a state park about halfway that has some short trails which could be a nice break from sitting in the car. i have been wanting to test out the new cooler i got so this would be a good excuse to pack some food and make a proper stop of it. let me know if you want to split the driving or if you prefer to handle it yourself. i am fine either way. also i need to remember to bring my camera because the cliffs along that stretch are supposed to be really dramatic at sunset. i looked up the weather for next week and it looks like it will be mostly clear with a slight chance of drizzle on tuesday but nothing that would ruin the trip. we should probably book the campsite soon though because i checked and there were only a few spots left for that weekend. anyway let me know what you think about the route change and we can finalize the plan. i am looking forward to getting out of town for a bit.

also i finally tried that hot sauce you recommended and it is surprisingly good without being too overpowering. i put it on tacos last night and it worked really well.