May 12, 2008
Mikey is Homeward Bound
Mikey's been making such great strides over the last few days that the doctors have said he's going home tomorrow.
Woo hoo!
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:11 PM | Comments (1)
May 10, 2008
Soldiers' Angels and Little Dude
Today was the first day of Gator by the Bay for us. We were supposed to man two booths -- the blues society and Soldiers' Angels. We had a couple folks out sick for the blues booth so I stayed there and Little Dude made the decision to stay with Soldiers' Angels. Since Susan, the woman running the booth for SA, said it was okay with her, it was okay with me.
Turns out it was a great decision all the way around.
Little Dude was happy to be helping out a good cause and he turned out to be a fantastic salesman. They were selling beads and he would wander the crowd, gathering money like it was growing on trees. He even ended up selling to a friend of mine who doesn't spend money on these things. Ever. Yep, the eskimo bought ice from LD.
He also ended up having a head shot done by a group who were looking to cast kids in two new shows locally. Little Mr. Reluctant finally gave in and something tells me he could have a chance.
Lots of photos to upload.
Lots of rest needed. Especially if LD's going to charm everyone again.
Posted by Da Goddess at 08:07 PM | Comments (0)
May 05, 2008
San Diego Happenings
Tonight is a benefit for Candye Kane down at Humphrey's Backstage Lounge. She's been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is without insurance. She's already had her surgery and it went quite well, but there are major bills to be paid and a fairly intense recovery period when she can't be touring and earning a living. Starts at 6:30pm and goes until...
Friday -- all day -- begins the weekend-long grand opening of the new Borders store in National City. There'll be music and book signings and all sorts of prizes handed out. Meet Oliver North and Ingrid Croce and a host of others. I think I might go Friday just to get some free candy and to see Little Dude's eyes pop out of his head as he gets a load of the size of the place. Book stores are like toy stores for the brain, you know?
Saturday and Sunday are our big days around this house. Gator By The Bay! Big time fun with great music and good people. Oh, and there's food, too. LD and I are doing double duty, working with the blues society and Soldiers' Angels. And we have to squeeze in time for photos and music enjoyment. It'll be a long weekend, but I'm packing my pain pills and planning plenty of breaks to save my back.
So now that you know where to find me, are you gonna stalk me? If so, bring presents. Or at least buy me a drink or a nosh.
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:18 PM | Comments (0)
May 04, 2008
Photos From Last Night
Taken in a dark nightclub with a 35-135mm lens, flash at low burst. Joe is a local musician who is genuinely nice and quite interesting. He kindly posed for me.
Same setup as before with flash and lens. Now, if you're wondering why the side by side or why even go with a different version, I love color, but there's a certain something about B&W that makes me happy. Of course, I didn't do the standard B&W conversion here because that would so...normal. I'm anything but.
Both of the B&W images were altered to look as though I'd used a platinum process. I like this version of B&W imaging because it's a bit warmer in tone and because it definitely has a certain "age" appeal. It also brings shadows and light into a whole different level of play. I find it fascinating. To see what a photographer who uses this process for real (as opposed to using editing software to cheaply replicate pretend results), check out Tom Millea.
Not convinced about the difference in the B&W options? I thought as much. Okay, here's what I mean. You pick the one you think has more depth and warmth. Or go with whichever one you like best.
On the left is the platinum process version of the image and on the right is a standard black and white conversion of the same color image.
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:17 PM | Comments (2)
April 30, 2008
Spotted Roadside
As I headed over to the school to pick Little Dude up this afternoon, I saw a gathering over at the sign for Ner Tamid Synagogue. I figured there was some sort of dedication happening or something, but really I was focused on getting to school.
Once I had LD in the car, we headed back down the road and saw several news trucks and the reason for the gathering: graffiti. Apparently it's been there since Saturday night/Sunday morning. I've driven past this sign how many times since then? I hadn't noticed.
But since my attention had been directed to it, there was no mistaking what was scrawled on the sign. 14/88 was there amongst the rest of the scrawlings. This isn't all that uncommon, unfortunately, in this area. We've had Aryan groups here for 20+ years, thanks to the Metzger clan up in Fallbrook. It seemed like things had settled down a bit, but obviously whatever these groups were doing was much subtler over the last few years rather than not occurring at all.
This is being considered a hate crime and there is a reward offered for information leading to an arrest.
As LD said in his very concerned voice, "there's just no sense in any of this. There's no reason to act hateful toward others just because they believe in a different God. I wish we could go scrub that sign clean."
Me too, buddy.
I think what bothers me most is how little progress we've made when it comes to learning to live with each other and our differences. You know what? We're all different, yet we're all the same. Deep down, we're made of the same proteins and other amino acids. We all bleed the same color. When we die, we all end up pretty much in the same place -- in the ground, in the water, or in the air (soon to settle on ground or in water). It just doesn't make sense. And to prove how little sense this makes, check out the comment (currently only one comment is there, click "more" below to read the comment just in case it disappears) on the local NBC site linked above. Hate just breeds more hate, people. There's nothing to be gained from this.
Currently the lone comment on the vandalism article:
Norm Leven San Diego, CA Reply #1 2 hrs ago It was probably a Rabbi trying to drum up some extra money. This happens all the time. We live in a slave world controlled by Zionists that have made merely thinking against them a specific crime they dub 'hate.' Wake up America, the blood of Palestine is on your hands.
I don't think so. Hateful, hateful, hateful. There's no gain from any of this. Norm, get real, dude. This stuff's gonna eat you up inside and make you sick. And for those who vandalized the sign in the first place, grow up and get a life.
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:23 PM | Comments (4)
April 12, 2008
Pleasant Surprise
The last couple of days have been hazy at best. Pain has forced me into a rather inert state, as well as to bow out of a meeting for Soldiers' Angels and a couple of concerts. I'd been looking forward to it all, but this is just the way it goes sometimes.
What I didn't expect, though, was a surprise concert practically on my front porch.
Turns out my neighbors are part of a mariachi band and they'd gone around to all the apartments asking if it was okay if they rehearsed this evening. The roommate answered the door and said it was cool with him. He relayed a garbled message to me about what was happening, but I was too sleepy to understand at the time.
When the music started, I wasn't quite sure if what I was hearing was just a loud stereo or what. Much to my delight, it was live. The horns and guitars are echoing pleasantly down our little pathway between buildings. Sweet notes hang in the air, quickly followed by more and then more. The guitar provides a gentle rhythmic beat that plays softly under the melodic voices that carry a sense warm comfort.
Even as I grimaced with pain, I hobbled to the doorway and watched one of the trumpet players -- in full traje de charro -- stroll from the stairway from the parking lot to my neighbor's door. Part of me wanted to pick up the camera and capture it all, but my back said otherwise. Instead, I've curled up in a slightly more comfortable position on the couch and let the music wash over me.
What's really kind of surreal about the whole thing is that earlier today I'd watched The Milagro Beanfield War and felt a keen yearning of sorts for mariachi bands, dancers swaying, and gold and pink sunsets. Like magic, part of it came to life right in front of me.
I may not be where I planned to be tonight, but I've been given a pleasant surprise that's helped to dull the hard, rough edges of my pain into something a little more bearable.
Music does wonders for the soul...and the body.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:18 PM | Comments (0)
March 25, 2008
Springtime Field Trip
Obviously most of these are self-explanatory, but I'll give you a quick run through anyway.
Many more photos from the trip are on Flickr, including the dead mouse I found on the side of the road. I almost stepped on it, but at the last minute looked down to see it. I'd already walked past it twice. Go figure. The first part of the trip, I'd resolved to shoot whatever I saw only once. Ha! Didn't last for long. What I did do, though, was shoot minimally. At least until I got into the desert. In the harsher light, I played with exposure settings (thanks to Audra and Patty's help) and made adjustments as necessary. If not for these two ladies, I don't think I'd have discovered the quickest way to adjust what I needed. They've made me much braver with the camera and I'm progressing faster than I anticipated.
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:11 AM | Comments (2)
March 24, 2008
Easter, Greetings, and the Whole Kit 'n' Caboodle
What a week that was! Highs, lows, and in-betweens abounded. All worth it, though. From doctors' appointments to the desert and lots of stops in between, it's been an adventure.
I look like a raccoon. I'm covered in bug bites. The really itchy sort. And about 900+ photos. Yeah, I was busy with the camera this week. Got good stuff, got some clunkers, and have lots of editing.
Spent yesterday with the family. Went to my sister and brother-in-law's for supper and had a wonderful time. My folks, my daughter's best friend and her grandparents, my sister's best friend, and Little Dude were there.
My sister had a great meal all prepared. Ham, scalloped potatoes, sweet potatoes, lots of crudites, the works. Cheesecake and brownies. And Easter baskets. More than a few peeps were beheaded, let me tell you.
Brother-in-law noticed the camera and actually was very kind and helpful with it. Can you say "wow!" with me? Much nicer reaction than expected. In the past, he's not been so keen on the idea of me out shooting and possibly making money with it. But yesterday? Different attitude. Probably because there was a glint of recognition that I'm not going after his "market". Regardless, it was nice to have his input and the positive feedback.
Took the kids out to photograph them in various combinations and got shots of them with my folks, too. Haven't done that in a while.
After we finished eating, Little Dude and I had been invited to a friend of some friends' house. There was a band jamming, kids running around (little boys for LD to play with; he was thrilled), dogs, a cat, pigs. I had a nice long laugh when my friend introduced me to the singer, "she's our photographer." His eyes were fixed on my cleavage, his arm snaked around my shoulders, and in a silky smooth voice, he asked, "Have I seen any of your work?" He looked up briefly and then back down, "great boobs!" Now that's what I call a greeting! A girl needs validation like that every now and again. Especially after feeling like a Sasquatch much of the week.
Met many new people and discovered the hostess of the party is also a low back injury gal. And loves photography. The universe speaks again.
Backing up to Saturday, spent the day at the harp fest. Shot so many talented artists, I lost count. Had two very amazing conversations. One was with a harmonica legend. What a gracious man! Then there was a gentleman whose music you've all heard, whether you know it or not. Chances are if you've ever watched TV, especially Nick @ Nite, you've heard him. He was also gracious and more than a little flirty. You can't beat that! Was given a nice stack of CDs to listen to, some to send to the troops, and experienced eight hours of kick ass music. Little Dude was supposed to come with me, but his uncle (on his dad's side) wanted to take him hiking so I said he should go for it. He was a little mad to be missing out on a day of music, but he doesn't see his uncle that often and I thought it was important. This is how I got LD for Easter. I missed having him with me for the fest, but I know he had a great time hiking and we still got to share music yesterday. It worked out just fine in the end.
Earlier in the week, I shot a duo at a dark, little venue. Got to play around with my flash settings and became rather brave about it. One of my new photographer friends was shooting with me and she makes me brave. Her encouragement has done a lot for my confidence and willingness to try shooting more in situations that normally make me quite nervous. Found a new artist that night, which was a wonderful little bonus.
Even earlier in the week, I went with the friend mentioned above and another photographer to the desert for a shoot. I think that was the day that really pushed me, both physically and photographically. The physical side -- let's just say I did a lot of walking and it was a good thing. While the ladies went out further on a trail, I wisely decided I'd reached my limit and remained behind. Regrettably, I missed that part of the shoot, but I was able to find other things to photograph and felt good about the amount of walking/hiking I did. It was more than I thought I was capable of doing, probably more than I should have done, but it felt good while I was doing it and that was a major accomplishment in my book. Photographically, my other friend had shown me how to adjust the most important setting on the camera and once I had that, I was a happy camper.
In a short period of time, I've come to embrace the huge learning curve on the camera, learned a million things, and have found a confidence with it that I thought would take much longer. I don't feel like such a fumble-fingers anymore. Yes, there are more features to Charlie that I will eventually get to understand, but I really feel like I have a good handle on things and am happy. Tired, sore, itchy, and happy.
And now I have to go finish two articles and a calendar.
Photos will be posted at some point this week.
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:10 AM | Comments (0)
March 13, 2008
Angering the BTs
I think the MRI pissed off the old BTs yesterday. They've been screaming and fighting for control of my body ever since. In fact, THEY are responsible for my foul mood and any outward displays of surliness.
This would be such a great excuse if I believed in body thetans, wouldn't it?
Scientology absolves one of all personal responsibility blame. I totally understand why some celebs love it so much.
I'm not being religiously intolerant. Not in the least. I don't consider scientology anything more than a very successful marketing ploy, now with more brainwashing!
If I had fewer body aches and nothing more important to do, I might actually have fun joining Anonymous on Saturday. Not that I don't consider this important, but I have other things I MUST do if I'm up and walking. Still, the idea of capturing all activity (check out the pics from San Diego in Feb.) is tempting...
I'm all for religious freedom, but Co$ ain't it. I won't try to speak for all the harm done by those in power at Co$, I leave that to one of my very capable friends. The thing is, this organization is nothing more than a sham, created by a man who wrote sci-fi books and saw the chance to make some serious money. He made plenty. Then he died. But his scams live on. And the crazy mob mentality amongst the leaders has led to some horrifying consequences for too many people. Lives ruined, lives lost. All for what? Money? Power?
It's not just gullible adults seeking belonging who are drawn to this idiocy. Their children are dragged along for the ride. Some escape, some don't.
It's one thing to have FAITH, it's another thing to have to pay for it, to have it ruin lives, to kill.
What started off as a silly throwaway post has morphed into something else. Take away what you will from it. Learn the truth and don't take any wooden nickels.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:44 AM | Comments (1)
March 08, 2008
The Outing
The learning curve is definitely steeper than I thought. Especially regarding exposure settings and a few other functions. Still, the first official outing is under my belt and I can move forward.
Met a lot of very nice people today on our photography meetup excursion. It was just up the street from the apartment, which was a huge plus. And Little Dude had the other camera in hand the entire time, shooting away. He impressed a few people with his interest and dedication to getting good shots. Plus, he was very into "lighting". It was wonderful to watch him go after various shots.
All in all, a great day. I wish I had felt up to going to the second meetup function tonight. Spencer Davis was supposed to be there. Unfortunately, I hit my limit early on in the day. I know better than to push myself. I will be spending part of the day tomorrow with one of my new photography friends, helping her with a little project.
I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed myself and the people I met. Big bonus: two live very close to me, two more live not much further away. Sounds like trouble, if you ask me.
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:58 PM | Comments (5)
February 16, 2008
Walk This Way
Silly me. I got my days all mixed up.
I thought I was taking Little Dude on a special adventure today, but it turned out I was so very wrong. I was hoping to introduce him to one of my favorite local bands (featuring "Chachi"). Obviously that didn't happen. The "big event" isn't until tomorrow.
However, we did manage to catch a gospel choir, hear the sound check for DMC (of Run DMC), and meet the guys of Diablo Dimes. Very diverse groups there and not a horrible way to spend a couple hours. Tomorrow, I get two of my bands and that makes me happy. Just wish LD could come with. Le sigh.
Diablo Dimes is adorable in person. Sweet as can be. Think of him as a cross between Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and an old bluesman. Good stuff.
During the sound check for DMC, we got a little of "Walk This Way", which was one of my favorite videos from back in the day. Honestly, what better way is there to honor the original inspiration and bring new life to a classic rock tune? Whatev. I loved it. The drama from Tyler. The taunting from Run and the guys. The final collaboration. It was fun! C'mon now, admit it -- you liked it, too.
Funny how the past comes back to haunt you sometimes. Ain't never really gone, is it?
Music in the car was also something to behold. But that's a different story altogether.
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:08 PM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2008
ROC Fire Relief Benefit Postponed
Dear Friends,I would like to thank all the amazing people who have jumped on board
contributing their time, expertise and know-how, support and help in so many different ways making this event possible. It is quite a thing to witness the outpouring of brotherly love as I recently have.We have had some phenomenal and outstanding interest shown in our
event. Our original plan was to raise as much money as possible for The San Diego Foundation's "After The Fires Fund" and because of some new players who have jumped on board who are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve this goal we have come to a mutual agreement that it is in our best interest to postpone the concert date for a few months.We are currently negotiating with several different entities that
promise to make this 2-day Music Festival Extravaganza one that you
will not want to miss and will never forget. I have received positive
feed back from the artists and they are still committed to performing
at ROC with a future date to be announced by the end of February.I appreciate your patience and understanding. I would not consider this move if I didn't feel it was in the best interest to the original goal.
Please visit us here at www.myspace.com/rocforfirerelief to stay
updated and informed on the latest news. I will send out an official
announcement no later than February 29th.Thank you for your continued support.
From the heart,
Randy Seol
The Strawberry Alarm Clock
I'm kind of curious about the "other artists" who have jumped on board. Makes me wonder if the rumors I heard earlier are true. No, I'm not saying who, but just know if it is true...oh baby!
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:31 AM | Comments (0)
February 11, 2008
Super Special Events Part Deux
Tis the season for super special things for Little Dude, I guess. Tonight, he will meet a genuine GRAMMY WINNER. Yes, indeedy, folks. David Honeyboy Edwards, 92 ("and a 1/2, Mom!"), is performing here this evening and LD and I are heading down to the venue early to set up a table for the blues society.
A couple weeks ago my mom wondered if this was something LD really wanted to do. He replied, "YES YES YES YES YES YES! This guy's a LEGEND! He's the best!" I looked at my mom and said, as dryly as possible, "I think this is something he might enjoy."
Hopefully we'll have better luck getting LD's mini interview questions answered this time. We're still awaiting Tab's responses via email. Oh, and to anyone concerned about this being a school night, don't be. LD's teacher is coming with us.
Now, what to wear?
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2008
ROC for Fire Relief
Okay, here's the dealio...
Reunited Overture Concert will be happening February 23 and 24 sometime in the future at Qualcomm Stadium.
From Randy Seol:
Dear Friend,Magic is created when old friends come together. Many old friends are hoping this magic will be transformed into substantial aid for the thousands of Southern California fire victims by helping them restore their lives. And we need your support to help us fulfill the victims’ hopes and honor the heroic fire fighters and others who came to our rescue.
My name is Randy Seol. With help from my band, The Strawberry Alarm Clock, elected San Diego officials, Qualcomm Stadium and H.M. Artist Foundation, I am organizing the “ROC” (Reunited Overture Concert). Proceeds will be donated to the San Diego Foundation’s After the Fires Fund to aid in rebuilding San Diego Communities and help the fire victims.
The event will be a two-day Music Festival Extravaganza February 23 and 24, 2008 at Qualcomm Stadium!
Join us in the company of your “old friends” and a broad arrangement of musical talent such as The Strawberry Alarm Clock, Electric Prunes, Buddy Miles, Vince Martell of Vanilla Fudge, The Ravers, Sky Saxon with The Seeds, Rose Garden, Indian Classical featuring Shri Arup Chattopadhyay (Tabla) and Shri Suman Laha (Veena), Jimmy Kunes, Jim McCarty of Cactus and Stephen Bishop as well as popular local bands.
“ROC” (Reunited Overture Concert) will bring thousands of San Diegans together to help us thank the firefighters who courageously risked their lives to put the fires out, the media who diligently kept us informed with up-to-the-minute information and the city and state officials for their quick response to our cries for help.
Only with your participation can we make this a successful and special reunion by personally thanking these individuals as we bring them on stage between acts so they can feel thousands of us cheer and applaud them for their acts of heroism and success!
Your generous charitable support will be instrumental in making this event a success. All contributions are tax deductible under H.M. Artist Foundation’s non-profit 501c3 classification. A form is enclosed with specific details. We encourage interested sponsors to sign up as soon as possible.
We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at “ROC.” Please feel free to contact us for any additional information.
Sincerely,
Randy Seol
Daniel Hendrick
Check out Reunited Overture Concert or H.M. Artist Foundation for further info.
Posted by Da Goddess at 08:56 PM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2008
Harpy Boy
Some guys are harpier than others, don't ya think?
Another local musician with oodles of talent. Makes ya wonder what's in the water when you consider how many great musicians we have here. Sadly, the water hasn't worked any wonders for me.
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:16 AM | Comments (2)
Not Scott
One of our local guitarists, who happens to be incredibly talented, looks a lot like Scott Baio. This means I can't stand anywhere near him for long because someone will inevitably comment, "Oh, it's true! Joanie really does loves Chachi." Yes, they're adults, but the temptation is apparently too great for them to pass up.
Anyhow, here's a photo from my archives.
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:06 AM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2008
Living History
From Memorial Weekend 2007: This gentleman (Luke) is a living history volunteer at the Old Pt. Loma lighthouse. He served as both docent and engaging entertainment. Little Dude loved the stories as well as being able to hold the gun, try on articles of clothing, and dig through the satchel.
Just another cool San Diego "secret".
By the way, the reason the lighthouse is called the "old" lighthouse is due to the fact that after it was built the fog and low clouds often obscured the powerful light it gave off. If you read the extended entry you can get the full scoop.
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse is a reminder of simpler times - of sailing ships and oil lamps and the men and women whom day after day faithfully tended the coastal lights that guided mariners. In 1851, a year after California entered the Union, the U.S. Coastal Survey selected the heights of Point Loma for the location of a navigational aid. The crest seemed like the right location: it stood 422 feet above sea level, overlooking the bay and the ocean, and a lighthouse there could serve as both a harbor light and a coastal beacon.Construction began three years later. Workers carved sandstone from the hillside for walls and salvaged floor tiles from the ruins of an old Spanish fort. A rolled tin roof, a brick tower, and an iron and brass housing for the light topped the squat, thick-walled building. By late summer 1854, the work was done. More than a year passed before the lighting apparatus - a five foot tall 3rd order Fresnel lens, the best available technology - arrived from France and was installed. At dusk on November 15, 1855, the keeper climbed the winding stairs and lit the oil lamp for the first time. In clear weather its light was visible at sea for 25 miles. For the next 36 years, except on foggy nights, it welcomed sailors to San Diego harbor.
The light had only a short life because the seemingly good location concealed a serious flaw: fog and low clouds often obscured the beam. On March 23, 1891, the keeper extinguished the lamp for the last time. Boarding up the lighthouse, he moved his family and belongings into a new light station at the bottom of the hill. Today you can see the "New" Point Loma Lighthouse from the Whale Overlook, 100 yards south of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse.
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:19 AM | Comments (0)
January 06, 2008
And So It Begins
They said it would be windy. They said there'd be lots of rain. For the last couple days, none of the predictions had proven correct. Locals kept hoping we'd miss out on the worst of the worst, at least until after the Chargers won their game.
Well, the Bolts won and a few hours later, it's here.
The wind blew my front door open. It's become gradually cooler. And the rain is coming in a little more steadily with each passing moment.
Rancho Bernardo, where I used to live, and one of the communities hit hardest by the October fires had 1.51 inches of rain from today's storm. Most places got around an inch, with lots more expected overnight.
I think tomorrow should prove very interesting. If there's power (yep, it's flickering already), I'll attempt some photos or something.
Posted by Da Goddess at 10:52 PM | Comments (0)
December 30, 2007
Memory Lane: The Old Vet & Da Goddess
One of my favorite posts from, uh, a while back, I wanted to give it another shot at daylight because I've been thinking about Murray a lot lately. Just before I moved, I went looking for him and couldn't find him anywhere. I feared the worst, prayed for the best, and found out (through one of his many local merchant pals) he'd been in the hospital for a while. His trips around the neighborhood are less frequent, but he's still going. Yay, Murray!
As this year comes to an end, I wanted to remind myself why every year -- good or bad -- matters in the long run.
There's an older gentleman that I see almost every time I head out during the day. His name is Murray. And he's quite a character.
Murray is "86 years young this year," he says. "I'm a Marine. Retired, of course. Still a Marine. I'll be one til the day I die. Next to marrying my lovely Jeanne, it was the best decision I ever made in my life."
We've spoken on many occasions. I see him in restaurants and grocery stores. He always stops to say hello. He knows everyone in every shop in the three strip malls that run together in our neck of the woods. He walks from store to store, greeting each employee, every single day. He catches a couple shifts on his rounds. You see, he starts right after breakfast and continues on past dinner.
"These folks are like family. I know who's happy or sad. I know what who'll give me the first smile most days. This is what I do. I'm a people person. It's what keeps me from getting old. Well, that and knowing that at least one of my neighbors will need something from the store."
I asked him once about his wife.
He smiles and chuckles a bit. "She has her activities. She doesn't mind me being out and about as long as I don't bring another lady home with me."
I know about his children and his grandchildren. He's so proud of them all. Murray's pride and joy, though, is his son - a Marine Corps chaplain.
We sat and talked about his son's service in the Marine Corps. I asked him if he worried about his son being deployed and possibly injured or killed.
Looking me straight in the eye, he said, "I'm proud of that boy! He didn't have to become a Marine. Hell, he didn't have to become a chaplain either. He was called to it. He told me that. I believe it was his decision and I respect that. There's no finer calling than serving your fellow man, whether it be in the fight for Freedom or against the evils that man does. Sometimes those two things are one, sometimes they're not. Either way, I know my boy is out there helping those in need of guidance or comfort. He knows the risks and prays that his Lord might need him to help someone. He has faith that God will lead him where he's needed most. I can't argue with that. It's his calling."
Watching Murray speak, I could see his eyes light up. I asked if he missed the Corps.
"It's in my heart, young lady. It always will be." He smiled broadly and nodded his head. "I was part of history, you know. Just like our men and women who are out there today. We fought with the hope that we could make the world safer for our loved ones back at home. Keep the evil off our front porch. That's what those kids are doing now. The difference is, with all this new-fangled technology, danger creeps closer to our doors without us even knowing it. It happens while we sleep. It happens even though we're vigilant.
"Another thing that's different is that we used to think that getting rid of Hitler would keep evil away forever. I guess we didn't so much think that as much as we hoped that would be the case. Nowadays we know that there will always be people who don't play by our rules. You know, the rules of respecting other people even if they're different.
"My oldest daughter, she's one of those different ones. That's sort of another story though."
I asked him what he meant.
"She's gay," he replied. "In some countries that's a serious crime. She could be killed because of it. It's not what I would have chosen for her, but that's what was in the cards for her. Some people here don't like that. I don't pay them much attention. I just say a prayer each morning and every night that folks let her be. She's happy. She has a family. She has someone who loves her. Someone she loves right back. They've been together longer than my other daughter and son have been with their spouses. My other girl, well, she's been married three times. It's not what I would have chosen for her either. It's not my choice though. All my kids have the right to live as they choose. I fought for that, you know."
He sat there quietly for a few minutes, looking like he was about to say something else. Finally he sighed and shrugged. "That's how it is."
"I know what you mean," I replied.
Murray looked up at me and said, "you know what gets me? They're trying to ban flag burning again. That's silly. I fought for people to be able to do that, as crazy as it seems that anyone would want to do it. It's their right. I think it's horrible, but I know we can handle some charred scraps of cloth. We're strong! We can survive. As a country we can withstand the ashes. What we can't survive is buildings crumbling to the ground because of some crazy men halfway around the world thinking our way of life is wrong. We can't survive with all those people dying in burning buildings."
"What about the people who say that we're sending our children off to die in other countries in battles we have no business fighting?" I asked.
"Pure rubbish!" He practically yelled. "We've lost fewer people in this war than in any other. Some of these damn folks who yell and carry on about all the dead don't seem to get it. They don't understand that people will die no matter what we do. It's better to fight and die than to sit around twiddling our thumbs while the world goes to hell all around us.
"Look at those people in Afghanistan or Iraqistan who go out to greet our military folks with tears of joy and flowers and hugs! Those are people who understand that freedom is better than waiting for death to show up on their doorsteps. They know! They know. They know better than anyone sitting here in their comfortable houses with their air conditioning and refrigerated food. We pay more for food and vet bills for our pets than some of those folks overseas ever see in a year. They're the ones who get it. Not these people who have king size beds, the ones who shop at Ikea and Sears. Anyone who says otherwise just doesn't know."
I offer to buy Murray a cup of coffee and he declines. "These people around here make sure I never go thirsty. I told you, they're like family."
I had to laugh. You can't argue with that.
We sat and talked a bit longer about his children and his life in the service, but he was getting fidgety.
He reached out for my hand and gave it a squeeze. "I enjoyed talking with you today, but I have to finish my rounds now before the next shift comes in. I'll see you again real soon, you know."
I know, Murray. I know. I look forward to it.
"Keep that little man of yours busy, okay?" he called as he walked off. "Tell him I said 'Semper Fi!'"
Of course, I will.
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:56 PM | Comments (2)
The Big "O"s Are Another Reason
I don't much go on about my football viewing. In fact, I don't believe I've mentioned it more than once or twice at all in the 5+ years I've been blogging. Still, I do love me some Chargers.
I could go on and on about LT, but I'd only sound like I was parroting all the other fans out there. Instead, let me say how much I dig AntoniO Cromartie and AntoniO Gates. Every game they give and give and give to fans and take and take and take away from their opponents. It's a thing of beauty. And they're another reason to enjoy this (football) season.
Actually, the entire team has really done a fantastic job of proving how much the game means to them. They started the year with a new head coach, which meant there was a world of possibilities open to them. Would a change in leadership bring out the best or the worst, we wondered. The answer has been more than a little obvious in their 10-5 11-5 record.
Big O Gates has continued to be a force. Everywhere you look, there he is. Big O Cromartie (Cromartie Man...who says Cro Magnons had a lock on physical strength and tenacity?) blew everyone out of the water with his 109 yard return and just kept going. And going and going. That seems to be a theme for all the Bolts this year. Apparently being down never meant being out for anyone on the team.
Even Philip Rivers has shown his mettle after bouncing back from injuries that would have kept most others out of the game. Nope. "He's a fiesty one", as we've heard ad nauseum during today's game.
Sadly, Shawne Merriman didn't have the same luck. Prior to his injuries, he was having a great freakin' year. Here's hoping he's back in the game sooner rather than later.
We also have one of the best names in all the NFL playing for us: Brandon Manumaleuna. Say that one real fast 5 times. And many people can, not just San Diegans.
Oh to list each and every player and all their yummy stats. That'd be silly, though. I'm no sports writer. Hell, this entire post is rank amateur. But I don't care. I only wanted to share my love for the Big Os and their teammates.
A girl can only write about bras and children so much. Thus there's the sum of my thought on sports for the next 5 years. (maybe)
Go Bolts!
Now it's time for me to go back to my Deadliest Catch marathon.
Posted by Da Goddess at 03:46 PM | Comments (0)
October 29, 2007
San Diego County Wildfire Stats
- Witch Fire – 197,990 acres – 95% contained - $13 million - 39 firefighters injured and two civilian fatalities
- Harris Fire – 90,440 acres – 75% contained - $11.9 million - 21 civilian and 34 firefighter injuries, and five deaths
- Poomacha Fire – 49,540 acres – 65% contained - $7.2 million - 20 firefighter injured
- Rice Fire – 9,472 acres – 100% contained - $4.9 million - Five firefighters injured
- Horno/Ammo Fire – 21,084 acres – 100% contained - six firefighters injured
- Wilcox Fire – 100 acres – 100% contained - Cajon Fire – 250 acres – 100% contained
- McCoy Fire – 300 acres – 100% contained
- Coronado Hills Fire – 250 acres – 100% contained
Most people are being allowed to return to their homes. Those who lost homes, in many cases, are beginning the recovery process. Some areas do remain evacuated, such as in Rancho Bernardo, where residents of La Terraza apartments still cannot return to survey the damage. Sadly, there's not a comprehensive list of current evacuated sites, not even from CalFire. News sites haven't updated evacuation info for days. Go figure. Apparently it's only news fit for broadcast.
After the glut of non-stop news the first couple of days, we've been reduced to dribs and drabs of information during the day. We used to have one or two local 24-hour news stations (essentially, re-broadcasts of earlier news programs) here, but they've gone the way of the dinosaur. It's at times like these that we need at least one station to provide current news at any given time. With up-to-date information, of course. Hell, even if it's not "at times like these", it would be nice. Guess there's no money in it for the stations.
Okay, enough from me. There you have it. Current stats. I'll go return to What Not To Wear and my iced tea.
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:10 PM | Comments (0)
October 28, 2007
I Was Talkin' With A Friend Of Mine
My friend called last night to check in with me. I'd called the other day to find out how she was doing since her boyfriend is a fire fighter and I figured he had been out battling the blazes. Turns out, they'd been in Mexico when all hell broke loose here.
It was the first time he hadn't been on the front line in ages. I was relieved. I mean, I hate thinking of the danger he faces every time he answers the alarm, y'know? And I know his girlfriend worries more. So I called. And all was well.
While there's great relief that loved ones are safe and sound. Still, it's not really over for everyone.
340+ students in our district lost their homes, ten of them from my son's school. I feel for them.
School starts back tomorrow. Despite the week off from school, nobody really feels rested. Crews have been working to clean up the soot and debris. Families have been picking up the pieces. Kids are desperately trying to come to grips with how much their lives have changed.
The fires may be mostly under control, but we'll be feeling this for a long time to come. The current monetary damage total is estimated at $36 million thus far.
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:05 AM | Comments (0)
October 25, 2007
Qualcomm To Cease Sheltering Evacuees Tomorrow
During this afternoon's briefing, Mayor Jerry Sanders announced that Qualcomm Stadium will shut its doors to fire evacuees starting tomorrow. The Red Cross will take the reins and shelter any displaced individuals, although no details were given as to exactly where they will be placed. Newscasters, however, had mentioned earlier in the day that many people are being relocated to the Del Mar Fairgrounds today.
It was reported that less than 1,000 people were still at Qualcomm, but I haven't found any articles online to corroborate this.
Most areas in San Diego county have been reopened to those who were evacuated over the last few days. Fires are still burning, but the majority are burning undeveloped land at last report.
Posted by Da Goddess at 04:09 PM | Comments (0)
Two Bodies Found Burned In Poway Home
The death toll from fires is rising.
Fire crews found two bodies inside a home in Poway, one of the communities hit hardest by the fires, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said. (I can't emphasize enough how important it is to evacuate when you're told it's time to leave. These deaths shouldn't have happened.)They are only the second and third bodies found in a burned home so far -- the first was a Navy civilian engineer who died at his home in Tecate Sunday.
Seven other deaths are labeled fire-related: Three people died during evacuations, and four others died after being evacuated. Seventy-eight people, including at least 36 firefighters, have been injured.
Other sources list the fire-related deaths to be at 8 and fire fighters injured as at least 39.
Other numbers:
San Diego County:
Witch Fire – 197,990 acres – 20% contained
Harris Fire – 81,100 acres – 10% contained
Poomacha Fire – 35,000 acres – 20% contained
Rice Fire – 9,000 acres – 30% contained
Horno/Ammo Fire – 10,000 acres – 40-50% contained
Wilcox Fire – 100 acres – 100% contained
Cajon Fire – 250 acres – 100% contained
McCoy Fire – 300 acres – 100% contained
Coronado Hills Fire – 300 acres – 100% contained
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)
A Peek At Rancho Bernardo
Driving up the 15 freeway on an urgent errand, we passed by the backside of the development where I used to live. This is just a little hint of the devastation in Rancho Bernardo. In fact, I'd call this the least of the damage.
We watched helicopters making their water drops and saw one land out at Kit Carson Park. Huge dust cloud from the landing was actually rather fascinating. Later, on the way back, more helicopters were diving in and out of smoke and dumping water on the other side of the freeway.
The crews out fighting the fires are nothing short of heroes. God bless them all.
Posted by Da Goddess at 08:11 AM | Comments (0)
Humor Not A Victim Of Fires
Even fire can't burn out a sense of humor. The Hamburger Factory (just up the street from me) had this sign propped in the middle of the driveway to the restaurant.
Posted by Da Goddess at 08:06 AM | Comments (0)
October 24, 2007
County Takes Steps to Ease Financial Burdens on Those Who Need To Rebuild
Found this in my email inbox:
County Waives Permit Fees Related to Rebuilding Legal Structures in the Unincorporated Area Damaged by the Wildfires
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today approved a recommendation by District 2 Supervisor Dianne Jacob and District 5 Supervisor Bill Horn to waive permit fees for rebuilding structures damaged or destroyed by the Harris, Witch, and Rice Canyon Fires.“We know from past experience that victims face a long and arduous rebuilding process,” said Supervisor Jacob. “Waiving fees and expediting the process are ways the County intends to make recovery as smooth as possible.”
Supervisor Horn said, “It’s our desire to do everything we can to relieve the stress and financial burden on fire victims, and this action allows people to put their lives back together a little faster.”
The fee waivers would apply only to legally built structures in the unincorporated area which have been damaged or destroyed by fire and are located within the boundaries of the geographic areas declared by resolution of the Board of Supervisors to be eligible for the fee waivers.
The action provides critical relief to victims and expedites the permitting process.
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:36 PM | Comments (0)
Song of the Siren
Not sure why we just heard a bunch of sirens. In fact, they're the first I've heard in all of this. Things outside actually look okay, but you never know.
We have occasional clouds of ash fall on us, but mostly we're good.
The local Walmart is open again. I consider this a good sign. We also had mail delivery for the first time since last week.
I feel almost guilty having some normalcy in my life when so many others don't.
Little Dude continues to remain out of the area, which is a good thing. I'm dropping his Gameboy off with his dad who is back at work today. Figure it'll come in handy when the idea of playing board games [mostly] alone wears thin for LD.
Everyone in my family is accounted for today. Little sister talked with my dad this morning and I feel better knowing she's been in touch with someone.
Possible rolling blackouts for much of our area have been predicted. We turned our AC off early yesterday when the air cleared. I hate adding strain to the system if we can go without and it really isn't all that hot here at the moment. Even if it does get much warmer, I'll stick with a fan, thankyouverymuch.
More of my immediate neighbors are returning to their apartments. We've watched them trickle back. It's sort of comforting to see them.
Gonna go through all my clothes and such today and start getting boxes of stuff together for those who have lost things in the fire or who can't get back to their homes. The way I see it, if it hasn't been on my back in more than three months it should go to someone else who can really use it. And I know LD has plenty of clothes he's outgrown that will benefit others. I recommend everyone in San Diego county dig through their closets right now and do the very same thing. Too many of our neighbors have nothing.
I can't think much beyond this. It's time to go back sorting and organizing.
1 PM Update: More sirens again and still no clue what's going on. Guess we better be prepared for anything at this point.
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:43 PM | Comments (4)
October 23, 2007
Tuesday Night's Alright For...Updating
Most folks know I give few details on "exactly" where I live, but to give perspective on the fires and my situation, I'm offering up a little info. Looking at the above image, you see that little camera at the bottom? That's pretty much right between where my dad is and where I am. You can see where the fire has burned and see why we were evacuated.
I am back home now. Cable, electricity, cell service continues to be intermittent, but that's okay with me. The air is fairly clear at the moment and I'm grateful to all who have helped fight these fires.
Others aren't so lucky. Please keep all the evacuees and the countless fire/rescue workers who continue their efforts in your thoughts and prayers.
Rough numbers related to the San Diego county fires: over 500,000 people evacuated. "Four major fires ripping across San Diego County have burned nearly 300,000 acres and destroyed or damaged 1,250 homes and 100 businesses since Sunday." It appears that all schools in SD County will remain closed for the week.
From the San Diego County Emergency website:
10-23-07 8:54 p.m. Boil water order issued. Although Ramona is under mandatory evacuation orders, those residents remaining in the city are being advised to boil tap water or use bottled water for drinking and cooking until further notice. Tap water pressure should be restored around 1 a.m.10-23-07, 7:38 p.m. According to CAL FIRE,
The Harris Fire is 72,000 acres and 10% contained, full containment is expected October 31st. The cost to date to fight the fire is $2,100,000. One additional civilian suffered burns and was treated and transported to a local hospital. A total of 21 civilians have been injured and one killed by this fire. There are 4500 people are or have been threatened and evacuated. Additional evacuations are being ordered. An estimated 200 to 500 homes have been destroyed or damaged. There are 1500 homes are or have been threatened. An additional 452 people are being assigned to the incident and are either in route or were with the initial attack and have not been released from the line to check in. The total personnel count is 1211.
The Witch Fire is 196,420 acres and 1 percent contained. Twelve firefighters have been injured on this fire and currently there are 1,492 firefighters assigned to this incident. The fire will continue to move west and southwest, threatening the communities of San Diego, Poway, Ramona, Escondido, Lakeside, Valley Center, San Marcos, Julian, Pine Hills and Rancho Santa Fe.
The Rice fire is 7,500 acres and 10% contained with full containment expected on October 28th, with full control expected Nov. 5th. One firefighter has been injured.
The Poomacha Fire is 20,000 acres and 0% contained, there have been 10 injuries to firefighers, 218 firefighters are assigned to this incident.
Other personal notes: Little Dude remains at his great uncle's house with his dad and grandmother. He's having breathing issues so he'll stay clear of Poway for the time being. My mom, sister, brother-in-law, and daughter also remain away from home due to my mom's emphysema and the need just to be safe. My dad is home and we've continued to check in with one another throughout the day. I was finally able to leave messages for my little sis, but haven't heard back from her yet. I can only presume she's off helping with animals somewhere, knowing her. That's her thing. Many of my blog buddies have been updating their sites whenever possible. I can't begin to list them all, but start with Doc in the Box and FBL and work from there. I'm afraid to go out looking more than that because power's so flaky right now. Just follow their links, okay?
Regarding the issue of military assistance in fighting the wildfires, the delay of their aid was due to some silly requirement by CalFire to have their spotters in Navy/Marine aircraft. I'm not alone in thinking this was asinine. Duncan Hunter said as much himself. I think it's safe to say this requirement will not be an issue in future fire fighting efforts. The military pilots have more than proven themselves (in war and now in the war on fires). I pray this sort of delay never happens again.
"Help" info:
San Diego Red Cross
Fire Blog from the San Diego Union-Tribune
11 PM Update: For some reason, the smoke seems to have made a bit of a comeback. I'm hacking up a storm and getting another headache. Guess it was to be expected that the wind might kick the smoke around again. Ain't it always the way? It's moments like these I wish the Fat Guy would declare it Peanut Butter Jelly Time.
2 AM Update: One of the better articles I've read from Newsday. It's long, but a very good recap of many of the struggles fire fighters are facing.
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:08 PM | Comments (2)
One of Many Fire Victims
This is Kenny, an old family friend I ran into at Walmart yesterday. He lives up in Ramona and had been moving his horses out since Sunday night. Several trips later, he couldn't evacuate them all.
Kenny's just one of thousands who is faced with a logistical nightmare. Fortunately, my evacuation went a bit smoother.
Little Dude is with his dad and his grandmother at his great uncle's house. I spent the night in Lakeside/El Cajon. My daughter, my sister, brother-in-law, and my mom are down near Qualcomm stadium. My dad spent the night in his own home after spending the afternoon at a friend's house. (Yes, I yelled at him about that!) My little sister is back at home now, although I can't get ahold of her. Phone service, electricity, cable...it's all spotty. Since I only have a cell phone (no land line for me anymore), I hate to even use it.
It's been heartbreaking to see the devastation. We watched a local newscaster stand before his burning home yesterday. Again, he was one of many. And that's what we all are -- one of many. A week ago, I was worried about what I was going to do when my comp PDA checks stopped in a month. Compared to those who don't have homes anymore, I feel lucky.
Go to the San Diego Red Cross website to find out what you can do. Please. There are so many people who need your help.
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:20 AM | Comments (2)
More Poway Shots
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:15 AM | Comments (0)
Fire Updates
View of Poway fires here in Southern California (San Diego County). It's smoky, it's warm, the whole thing is surreal. My entire family (five different homes scattered across the county) has been evacuated.
I just moved into Poway a few months ago from Rancho Bernardo. I'm glad I did. My old condo was 100 yrds from where a church burned. I don't know the situation of the condo now, but as of yesterday morning, I was never so glad to be out of there.
Apartments across from where I went to elementary school burned, too. And my son's school is very close to current fires.
While in the process of evacuating our area, we stopped at Walmart. I ran into an old family friend who was, like so many others, trying to figure out where he could take his horses and mules. The parking lot was packed with RVs and folks just not sure where to go.
When this all started on Sunday, I knew it was going to be bad. I just didn't know how bad. Rescue workers are doing everything they can to keep people safe, try to get a little control over the fires, anything and everything to minimize the devastation. Yesterday (Monday afternoon), they finally had a few military helicopters up to help the effort. The military's been ready to work since the first flames were reported. Unfortunately, for all the efforts of legislators to reduce the red tape, there was still way too much and the military should have been assisting from the first day. I'm certain there will be another new system in place the next time we face this sort of emergency. There is no acceptable reason for the fires to have spread as far and as fast as they did when we have resources available...people willing and able to do what needs to be done.
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:10 AM | Comments (0)
October 22, 2007
Five Minutes Ago
The car is loaded up with a few select items, ready to go at a moment's notice. Technically, this part of town is supposed to be evacuated, but there's really nowhere for us to go with the main exit roads that are now parking lots. In the meantime, we're staying put.
Posted by Da Goddess at 10:43 AM | Comments (6)
What it Looked Like Yesterday
Posted by Da Goddess at 10:36 AM | Comments (2)
Raining Ash, Smoke-filled Lungs
Oddly enough, the last place I lived is in greater danger than where I'm at now. Not that this place is in all that great a shape at the moment...it's just NOT burning like where I used to live a couple months ago. Go figure.
My dad's called several times already this morning. He's less than a mile from me and is poised for evacuation at any moment.
The winds continue to push the fire(s), in some cases, causing them to merge.
A recorded message was just sent to my cell phone from the school district to remind us to keep our kids home, that there's no school today, probably tomorrow, and God only knows how much longer.
It's gonna be a long freakin' day.
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:47 AM | Comments (0)
Shakin' My Ash
When I woke up yesterday, the little bit of sky I could see through my window looked alternately cerulean and sickly. The blue was glorious. The deadish yellow...not so much. In the midwest, that sort of sick would often mean tornado. Here, it's all about fire. At the time though, I didn't smell smoke or hear sirens, so I thought nothing of it.
I thought about it a hell of a lot more later as I left the house to join up with Mad Mikey and his wife, friends, and family for his birthday celebration. Within seconds of walking outside, I was brushing ash out of my eyes and mouth. I had no idea where the fire (or fires) were, but saw no flames.
One thing I did notice as I drove down the main drag here, however, was the amount of traffic and the seemingly nervous drivers. I hadn't seen so many people craning their necks while attempting to drive in my life. Not even during air show weekends. With one exception...the fires of four years ago.
In just a few minutes, the smoke had grown much thicker and rolled in as if a sleeping bag were suddenly unfurled over the area. I kept thinking things would be better the closer I got to the coast, where everyone was waiting. Not at all, it turned out. By the end of dinner, I was starting to feel wheezy. By the middle of our comedy outing, I was coughing quite a bit. All I could think was, "damn, I have to drive back to where the smoke's gonna be even worse!" The drive was almost unbearable due to high winds, but the smoke didn't seem all that bad -- until I rolled the window down.
So, here it is, almost 3:30 a.m. and I'm agitated by the smoke, the winds, the flickering lights. My head hurts, my lungs are screaming for fresh air, and it's not looking like things will improve anytime soon. I've heard glass shattering outside, hopefully just from potted plants being blown off patios, etc. On the other hand, I'm grateful everyone I know is safe for the time being. And I'm praying like hell the fire crews and those living in the areas in immediate danger are kept from harm.
CLOSURES TODAY DUE TO FIRE SCHOOL CLOSURES:Poway Unified School District schools
Ramona Unified School District schools
Jamul-Dulzura Union School District
Dehesa School District
Calvary Christian Academy in Chula Vista
Barona Indian Charter School
Saint Pius X School in Chula Vista
Steele Canyon High School; all other Grossmont Union district schools remain open
San Diego Unified School District's Palomar Mountain campus. No sixth-grade camp. The district also canceled all field trips and is limiting sports activities.
ROAD CLOSURES:
State Route 94 between Harris Ranch Road and state Route 188. State Routes 78 and 79 from Julian to Ramona
State Route 79 from Ramona to Sutherland Dam Road
State Route 67 limited to southbound traffic
OTHER CLOSURES:
San Diego County courts
Tecate border crossing
Say a prayer, folks. It looks like things are gonna stay nasty for quite a while. And, if you live in ANY of the areas being evacuated -- DO IT! Don't risk the life of your rescuers because you're too stubborn to think straight.
Resource links and numbers:
SD County emergency
Red Cross Evacuation Sites
211 San Diego
Residents are asked to call 211 for all non-emergency calls related to this fire. If the call is initiated from a cell phone, 211 can be reached at 858-300-1211.
Air Quality (this number has an up-to-date recording): 858-586-2800
County Animal Services 24 hour: 619-236-2341
Posted by Da Goddess at 03:08 AM | Comments (0)
January 27, 2007
Only In San Diego
Blame Mrs. Smash for sending this to me! (My comments are in the parentheses, of course.)
Only in San Diego...
Your high school had a surf team. (My high school yearbook included a photo of actual underwater basketweaving, too.)
You can correctly pronounce Tierrasanta, La Jolla, Rancho Penasquitos, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Jamacha, Jamul, Cuyamaca, and El Cajon.
There are four distinct seasons: Summer, Not Quite Summer, Almost Summer, and Oh Hey Look Its Summer Again.
Chula-juana is a real town.
Your house is worth more than some small countries. (Or one month's rent is equal to a year's worth of house payments anywhere else.)
You know what MB, OB, and PB stand for. (Not to mention IB.)
Every street name is either in Spanish or Spanish related, and you're surprised when other areas don't have this. (Except for new developments, where they insist on cutesy names like Fox something or other.)
You can determine the accuracy of someone's "I'm ghetto" claim by knowing their high school. For example, El Camino High School or Crawford High School.
You see weather forecasts for four different climate zones in the same county, and aren't remotely surprised. The Micro Climate Weather (a common phrase for local "meteorologists", and a true necessity when you consider San Diego county -- which is the approximate size of Connecticut -- has something like 13 of the 17 world climates).
You've gone to Mt. Helix in July and known you still need a jacket. (Same can be said for Mt. Soledad quite often, especially if you aren't walking around. And don't even get me started on how hot it gets up in the MOUNTAIN mountains. It's inversion layers and other such stuff.)
You've tailgated at Qualcomm Stadium, and for bonus points, also tailgated when it was Jack Murphy Stadium. (I have more experience with Jack Murphy days than the Q, but I still get the points.)
You have a favorite -- the WAP or the Zoo. (Or you claim a bit of each because they're both so unique.)
You've been on a field trip to see an Imax movie at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. (I get bonus points because I've been going there since it was the "Space" center.)
You still call it the Del Mar Fair. (Yep, just like I still call Costco "Price Club".)
You say "I'm going to the track" and people know what you mean. (Or you say "I'm going to Del Mar" and people also know what you mean.)
You understand what May Gray and June Gloom are. (And then there's July Fry with a dash of pepper. Don't ask. Just nod and pretend you get the joke.)
A famous skateboarder/surfer lives in your town. (Or you know local musicians who also dabble in skate/surf, or who have achieved world fame and yet you sit around drinking beer with them because they're just living the life of a San Diegan.)
There's a North County, a South County, and an East County but no Central County. (And you know it doesn't matter because "central" San Diego is so...)
"Mossy Nissan! Mossy Nissan! Mossy Nissan Moves You!" (As much as that sticks in your head, all you really want to do is punch Forbes Riley in the nose because she's so obnoxious in those Mor commercials.)
You know what it means when two guys are walking in Hillcrest. (And you don't really care. It's the guy with the ginormous lobe expanders and the spike through the nose that makes you look. But only on occasion.)
You know what it means when a girl in a short skirt is walking on El Cajon Blvd. (And you don't really care. Unless she's your sister/mom/best friend.)
You've been stuck in the Horton Plaza parking structure traffic after a Padres game. (Or Hazard Center, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, or just about anywhere remotely near Petco Park or Qualcomm Stadium.)
You know what "The Merge" is, and will plan your entire day around not being on it during rush hour. (That goes double for "The Split". Or you know all the ever-changing backroads between your house and wherever you need to get to avoid the traffic...or worse still, you leave extra early and hang out wherever you're going just so you won't be stuck in traffic.)
You've been to Belmont Park. (Bonus points if you remember Jeff and Jer's Whirl til You Hurl contest on the Big Dipper. Nobody expected it to last as long as it did.)
You've taken the Coaster and laughed at people sitting in traffic on the 5. (I admit to never having done this. It's shameful. Truly shameful. But in my defense, I don't live on the coast and the Coaster doesn't go where I need to go anyway.)
You know the difference between Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, and Mira Mesa -- and maybe you remember Serra Mesa, too! (I have friends who live there.)
You've gone to Sea World on a warm day and sat in the first few rows at the Shamu Show to get cooled off. (And then spent the next hour freezing because a strong breeze suddenly whipped up.)
You've been delayed at the Border Checkpoints on the 5 and the 15. (Or half your patients complain about the wait.)
There are more bands than people. (And it's hard to get people out to see the great local talent, thereby making it harder for the musicians to make money or get booked.)
Your house doesn't have air conditioning. (Or it does and you rarely run it because it costs too much or causes a rolling "gray" out.)
You know it's San Diegan, not San Diegoan, or San Diegoite. (And some of the worst of us offenders will call each other "Sand Dogs".)
Everyone has their favorite beach. (And it will differ depending on whether or not you have kids with you.)
No matter what the weather is, there is always someone walking around in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops. (Don't forget the baseball cap.)
You live on, near or are surrounded by hills. (Yep.)
You hate tourists and their bad driving. GET OFF THE ROAD NORTH DAKOTA, NOBODY WANTS YOU HERE. SERIOUSLY. GO HOME. (Well...not North Dakota. It's that bimbo in the Lexus SUV who bugs the shit outta me.)
You have family and or friends who have moved to Arizona. (And it's like they moved to a different country.)
You used to, and sometimes still do ride the carousel at Seaport Village. (Whaddya looking at? You gotta problem with that?)
You know someone who doesn't own pants, and have a neighbor who doesn't seem to own a shirt. (And then there are the guys!)
You know what Santa Anas are, and that they have literally nothing to do with the city of Santa Ana. (You hate Santa Anas with a passion because they make everyone cranky.)
If the menu doesn't have California burritos on it, forget it, it's not real Mexican food. (And you don't blink twice when you see fish tacos listed either.)
If you're NOT from San Diego...That sucks. (Not really, but we are pretty damn lucky.)
Posted by Da Goddess at 04:50 PM | Comments (2)
January 13, 2007
Flurries
We had flurries this morning. Snow flurries.
Yeah, that's what I said, too.
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:28 PM | Comments (4)
November 29, 2006
The Answer Is NOT Blowing In The Wind
Hey, Dylan! Unless the answer is "allergy and sinus irritation", all that's blowing in the wind is a bunch of leaves and dirt and mold.
The wind has been blowing something fierce today. It's dry. Drier than you can imagine. And the yesterday? Rain!
I felt the change in the weather as it was happening. My sinuses started throbbing and I couldn't seem to clear the magically expanding secretions to achieve any sort of relief.
But back to the "dry." My skin is shriveling, scaling, and itching as I type.
Did I mention we're under a red flag warning for most of the state?
It's also really freakin' cold, my pilot light won't light, and the water heater (which broke on Friday and the landlord hasn't bothered to fix yet) is dead, so a nice warm shower is out of the question. In fact, running any sort of water causes it to pour out of some pipe near the water heater (even though it's supposedly off).
God, I love California! I totally get why everyone wants to move here.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:52 PM | Comments (0)
August 14, 2006
Da Roof, Da Roof, Da Roof is on Fire
It was like a scene from Monty Python -- the chain saw buzzing and the pounding from a few houses down went on for quite a while.
Shortly after I fell asleep, the sirens and activity outside had me wide awake.
Thankfully, no one was injured.
Sometime tomorrow, I'll explore a bit more and check out the damage.
Funny, I thought Vegas was supposed to be exciting.
Posted by Da Goddess at 04:02 AM | Comments (1)
July 23, 2006
Long Distance Calls and Other Stuff
Doc in the Box called the other day. I was rather surprised to hear from him since he's in Iraq and all, but once I figured out who it was (the number was different), I was quite excited.
Sean's doing well and rarely gets to check blogs. Only three months left. Yay! I'm sure his wife is happier about this than the rest of us are, but we friends are still pretty damn happy.
Other news? It's hot in San Diego. Super duper hot. So much so, we've resorted to air conditioning. In the two and a half years I've lived in this place, I've only had the AC on once before. An out of town guest was staying with me and even he thought it was pretty freakin' hot at the time.
The AC was on today but only worked for a short time before the circuit went. It's back on now, thankfully. Sure, it's heading into the evening, but at least I can cool down for a bit before I turn it off. Maybe I'll sleep a little better.
What else? I got to meet FBL! Yes, yes, yes! She of the fantastic Project Valour-IT fundraising abilities. She is as sweet and lovely as one imagines and I'm very glad we had the chance to get together. Mrs. Smash, Gracie, Mikey, Mikey's youngster, Little Dude, FBL and I got together for a nice lunch at Souplantation. All you can eat in sumptuous air conditioned comfort. We dined, we chatted, we laughed, and then we passed around the phone to talk with Smash. (Like Doc in the Box, he'll be home in a few months, too.) And, dagnabbit, that $16 and coin for LD and I to eat in comfort for a change was more than worth it. We don't eat out often, but when we do, it's a great treat for us. The $20 I just spent on a haircut? Also a treat and also worth it. (My hair was getting too long and too hot.)
Best part of it all, FBL will be able to join our crazy group in some of our many activities. Plus, we get to join her in some of the Soldiers' Angels activities. All good things. Very good things.
That's about it for an update. I'm off to read more of Kevin Smith's blog.
Oh, and just in case anyone cares, I think the entire purpose of the TV show Lost is to take a huge, meaty-pawed swipe at Scientology. Yep. That's my theory. And if you look at all the Dharma Initiative stuff, the odd things happening, the creepy appearance of William Mapother, and the fact J.J. Abrams left Scientology, it all seems possible.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:37 PM | Comments (7)
May 11, 2006
Map Schmap - San Diego
I just received word that nine of my photos have been included in the San Diego version of Schmap. Add to that the photos they used of Las Vegas and I'm feeling a wee bit giddy.
Can I get a small round of applause, please? Thank you, thank you very much.
I don't care if they don't pay for this. The inclusion is one of those things that can go on the old resume someday.
If you haven't checked out Schmap yet, you should. It's fantastic! No need for an online connection once you download it; no need for confusing maps. Instead, you have an interactive map on your computer with photos of current landmarks. Makes life so much easier!
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:48 AM | Comments (5)
April 19, 2006
Koza No More
Last November, the Wild Animal Park had exciting news for Zoological Society members: a lion cub was welcomed into the world. Not just any cub - an African lion cub born in captivity. African lions are considered vulnerable and aren't really able to live outside of preserves or parks in Africa.
Fewer than 100 African lions live in an aging population of zoo animals throughout the nation. Koza, one of only 15 born in a United States zoo or animal park this past year...
Little Koza's birth in November signaled a milestone for lions. And he became a familiar face as folks watched him grow.
On Monday, Koza was mauled by one of the adult female lions. The lioness, Mina, was not Koza's mother.
There were three significant injuries sustained by the cub, at least one of which damaged Koza's spinal cord. After hours of post-injury treatment, the decision was made to euthanize the young lion.
Human error was reported as the reason the cub and the lioness made contact.
RIP, Koza. You will be missed.
Posted by Da Goddess at 10:51 PM | Comments (1)
April 03, 2006
Life is Stranger Than You Think - Reflections on Life and Death
Saturday was a really nice day. Despite my back hurting (and basically flattening me for two weeks), I was very excited about what was a fantastic afternoon and evening.
CalTech Girl and her husband showed up around 1 p.m. and took me out to lunch. What an awesome couple! So enjoyable, so funny, so smart, and just...well, everything I'd imagined them to be and more. I had no idea just how down-to-earth they were.
After lunch, we had to take care of a little shopping. From Target to Best Buy, we got what we needed and headed off to a "We're So Glad You're Not Dead" party for Mikey. That wasn't the official title, but that's what it really was. That, and a "Lucky Duck" extravaganza. (Pics to follow at some point, if I can manage it.)
The evening was fantastic. From Mikey's reaction to the duck theme (ICU psychosis/hallucinations) to the many friends and family who showed up, from the gifts to the laughter, it was truly heartwarming. As many know, my friend has made a remarkable comeback following his coma. He's still dealing with rehab and such, but he's working hard and making wonderful progress.
Following the party, CTG and hub dropped me off at home and I tried to get a little sleep. The Vicodin had kicked in at this point and I dozed off for a few hours. Around 4 a.m., I woke up feeling very strange. Not sick, just strange.
I was supposed to see Mrs. Smash's play yesterday afternoon and take some photos for her, but we rescheduled since the cast had other things happening. That worked out just fine for everyone.
By 2 p.m., I was weepy and feeling completely out of sorts for some reason. Something still wasn't right and I didn't know what it was. I finally went to bed. Upon awakening, I found out via email that one of the local musicians (one with whom I had much wonderful correspondence and occasional contact) had died. Time of death? 2:38 p.m.
Call it a coincidence or whatever you want, that's how it went down.
I've written his obit, made many phone calls, and have shed a tear or two. Mostly, I spent the evening and this morning thinking of the many ways he touched my life.
I began to compare his fate with that of Mikey. For a moment I felt guilty that I'd been celebrating Mikey's recovery while this other dear man was hours from death. But there's no way I could have known. And there's no exchange of life in God's book that I've ever heard tell of. The one thing that I know for certain is that we cannot spend our lives waiting for the other shoe to drop. In doing so, we lose sight of all that brings meaning to our lives. Unable to enjoy the music and the poetry and the breathtaking beauty of all that surrounds us, we fail to fulfill our potential as humans.
I'm grateful that Mikey is alive. And, I'm grateful for my friends and family. I'm saddened by Buddy's death. But, I'm also really grateful for a year of laughter and insight from a man who had thought me worthy of his time. Trust me when I say he didn't expend that sort of energy on everyone. But I was fortunate enough to benefit from my "sort of" mentor. I'll miss him much and I will remember him as I go about the business of living.
Mikey and Buddy - two different medical outcomes - each influencing my life in many ways.
Thank you, guys!
Full obit on Buddy is available here.
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:54 AM | Comments (1)
March 31, 2006
Rain Without..
We've had a lot of rain lately and, from my limited excursions outside during all of this I noticed something really weird. Really, really weird.
There haven't been any snails or worms out on the sidewalk like there normally would be.
Makes me wonder what's going on.
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:04 AM | Comments (2)
November 29, 2005
Winners
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:34 AM | Comments (4)
September 19, 2005
Thunder Only Happens When It's Raining
A loud unexpected thunderclap woke me from my reverie earlier. I thought I'd heard rumblings off in the distance an hour or so before, but I dismissed the sounds as little more than trucks and jets.
The pavement is now wet with fat drops of rain. Coming in from the south, the water is slightly cool and immensely refreshing.
I like the way the warm sidewalks, driveways, lawns, and gardens smell as they are dampened by these odd showers. I don't mind having to walk out to the car and close the windows, or walking upstairs to do the same. I leave a couple windows open. The screen door remains ajar as well. I like the way the aroma of fresh rain wafts in.
I can hear more rumbling again. From somewhere far away, moving closer. I hear it and I love it. It's comforting and welcome, as are the gray skies.
If we get enough rain here, I may go splash about in a puddle, barefoot. I can be whimsical that way.
Posted by Da Goddess at 04:41 PM | Comments (1)
September 02, 2005
Trembling
Just felt a very nice little tremor.
I'll update when info is avaiable.
Update: Located 12 miles East of San Ysidro, CA Mag: 3.9
Fifteen minutes later, another small tremor occurs a little closer to home.
For the last week or so, we've been experiencing what's called a "swarm" of earthquakes. Most of us don't feel them. Most of them are relatively small, or too far away to be felt. When you live in California, this is just something you live with.
There are times when you notice a quake. You can't help it. In the more than 30 years that I've called California home, only a few quakes have truly rattled me.
Back in 1987, the Whittier quake scared the hell out of me. I was living in Long Beach, CA., in a brand new apartment building. I was taking a shower when I felt a rolling sensation, quickly followed by a sharp sidelong shift. The glass doors on the shower were bowing and I struggled to stay on my feet. It seemed to go on forever. Once it stopped, I finished rinsing my hair, got out of the shower, slipped into my robe and went to check for damage. My roommate was coming out of his room at the same time and we stood there for a moment just looking at each other.
We'd narrowly missed the TV being smashed to pieces by my roommate's enormous bottle he'd placed on top of the entertainment center. It was just barely hanging in there. We took it down. We checked everything else we could think of; gas connections, water, etc. The entire time we were doing this, the TV was on. An L.A. anchorman took some flak for diving under his desk on the newsroom set. I always thought he did the right thing. That's what we're trained to do in California schools. Duck and cover. Or find a doorway. That's all the anchorman did, and he was criticized for his sensible actions.
Tremors continued as we tried to get ready for work. I'd never experienced anything like these tremors. In San Diego, you're on solid rock more often than not. In Long Beach, it's sand, shifty sand. Between the shifting and rolling and the new building, when my roommate and I attempted to open our door, we found it wouldn't budge. Looking at the door frame, it was easy to see why. It was crooked. It hadn't been that way when I went to bed the night before.
The roommate and I looked at each other and then over at the living room windows. Yep, we pried the screen off and exited from our apartment the only way we could.
At work, we had a few broken televisions, VCRs, and Commodore 64s to clean up. The rest of the day was spent with folks coming in to replace broken items and people standing in doorways. Aftershocks were frequent.
By the end of my shift, I was reluctant to return home. I was unsure of what I'd find there. Would anything be left? I waited until my roommate and my former boyfriend were ready to leave. Together, we headed back to the apartment. Everything was intact and, by some fluke, our door worked. It was a little difficult to open at first, but it worked. No more window climbing for us.
I don't get too worried about earthquakes these days. I figure if I could make it through that, I can make it through anything. Still, any tremor reminds me that a large earthquake could happen at any time. I think back on what it was like in Long Beach in 1987 and thank my lucky stars that I'd chosen to live there and not further north. Others weren't so lucky. Eight people died as a direct result of the Whittier quake, and $350 million dollars was the official total in damage. We weren't so lucky a couple years ago with the fires, but we still fared better than what the U.S. south faces in the months to come.
Along the U.S. Gulf Coast, damage is much worse. More lives have been lost. It will take more money than one can imagine to help those who have lost everything. If you haven't donated yet, please do so now.
You can log your donations over at TTLB and check running totals from around the Blogosphere.
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:54 PM | Comments (3)
August 12, 2005
USS Halsey (DDG 97) Commissioning
All photos taken on July 30th, my first real outing after surgery. Little Dude, our friend Gracie, and I attended the commissioning ceremony of the USS Halsey.
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:34 AM | Comments (3)
August 10, 2005
Salute to America's Heroes and Their Spouses on Saturday
When: 10am - 10 p.m. Saturday, August 13, 2005
Where: 'C' Avenue in downtown Coronado just off the main avenue
What: Stars in Stripes Block Party - A salute to America's Heroes and their Surviving Spouses. Come help us honor their sacrifice!
From the website:
Day gives way to night on C Ave The live music takes a break for about an hour as two new bands prepare to take the stage. During the recess, the UWSF along with the mayor of Coronado pay a special tribute to the men in women serving in combat and the recognize the women whose husbands won't be coming home. This years tribute will begin with over 50 Harley Davidson cyclist rolling in from Northern California as they end their Campaign across the state. Then all engines are hushed, and the lone sound of a bag piper starts up from down the street and as he draws near the main stage he is followed up by the rest of the drum and fife corp. The pipers march in and the National Anthem is sung by soloist and surviving spouse Katrina Bryson whose husband died while serving as a Marine in Afghanistan.Don't just say you support the troops and their families, show them. If you live in San Diego, head to Coronado and be there for these amazing people.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:28 PM | Comments (1)
July 29, 2005
Willie Nelson & Jessica Simpson in Town, Twins Due
Willie Nelson and Jessica Simpson appear at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar for a special screening of the new "Dukes of Hazzard" movie for the troops.
I wonder how they'll do with the 25 mph speed limit on base. I guess it won't matter much since the General Lee won't be driven by one of those wild Duke boys. No, the stars will likely be arriving in a limo. Maybe a hummer limo? Who knows.
In other San Diego news, Bai Yun is pregnant with twins.
Aren't y'all glad it's the panda that's pregnant and not Jessica Simpson? And, no...Willie Nelson's not the father of the pandas either.
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:21 AM | Comments (0)
June 30, 2005
The Old Vet and Da Goddess
There's an older gentleman that I see almost every time I head out during the day. His name is Murray. And he's quite a character.
Murray is "86 years young this year," he says. "I'm a Marine. Retired, of course. Still a Marine. I'll be one til the day I die. Next to marrying my lovely Jeanne, it was the best decision I ever made in my life."
We've spoken on many occasions. I see him in restaurants and grocery stores. He always stops to say hello. He knows everyone in every shop in the three strip malls that run together in our neck of the woods. He walks from store to store, greeting each employee, every single day. He catches a couple shifts on his rounds. You see, he starts right after breakfast and continues on past dinner.
"These folks are like family. I know who's happy or sad. I know what who'll give me the first smile most days. This is what I do. I'm a people person. It's what keeps me from getting old. Well, that and knowing that at least one of my neighbors will need something from the store."
I asked him once about his wife.
He smiles and chuckles a bit. "She has her activities. She doesn't mind me being out and about as long as I don't bring another lady home with me."
I know about his children and his grandchildren. He's so proud of them all. Murray's pride and joy, though, is his son - a Marine Corps chaplain.
We sat and talked about his son's service in the Marine Corps. I asked him if he worried about his son being deployed and possibly injured or killed.
Looking me straight in the eye, he said, "I'm proud of that boy! He didn't have to become a Marine. Hell, he didn't have to become a chaplain either. He was called to it. He told me that. I believe it was his decision and I respect that. There's no finer calling than serving your fellow man, whether it be in the fight for Freedom or against the evils that man does. Sometimes those two things are one, sometimes they're not. Either way, I know my boy is out there helping those in need of guidance or comfort. He knows the risks and prays that his Lord might need him to help someone. He has faith that God will lead him where he's needed most. I can't argue with that. It's his calling."
Watching Murray speak, I could see his eyes light up. I asked if he missed the Corps.
"It's in my heart, young lady. It always will be." He smiled broadly and nodded his head. "I was part of history, you know. Just like our men and women who are out there today. We fought with the hope that we could make the world safer for our loved ones back at home. Keep the evil off our front porch. That's what those kids are doing now. The difference is, with all this new-fangled technology, danger creeps closer to our doors without us even knowing it. It happens while we sleep. It happens even though we're vigilant.
"Another thing that's different is that we used to think that getting rid of Hitler would keep evil away forever. I guess we didn't so much think that as much as we hoped that would be the case. Nowadays we know that there will always be people who don't play by our rules. You know, the rules of respecting other people even if they're different.
"My oldest daughter, she's one of those different ones. That's sort of another story though."
I asked him what he meant.
"She's gay," he replied. "In some countries that's a serious crime. She could be killed because of it. It's not what I would have chosen for her, but that's what was in the cards for her. Some people here don't like that. I don't pay them much attention. I just say a prayer each morning and every night that folks let her be. She's happy. She has a family. She has someone who loves her. Someone she loves right back. They've been together longer than my other daughter and son have been with their spouses. My other girl, well, she's been married three times. It's not what I would have chosen for her either. It's not my choice though. All my kids have the right to live as they choose. I fought for that, you know."
He sat there quietly for a few minutes, looking like he was about to say something else. Finally he sighed and shrugged. "That's how it is."
"I know what you mean," I replied.
Murray looked up at me and said, "you know what gets me? They're trying to ban flag burning again. That's silly. I fought for people to be able to do that, as crazy as it seems that anyone would want to do it. It's their right. I think it's horrible, but I know we can handle some charred scraps of cloth. We're strong! We can survive. As a country we can withstand the ashes. What we can't survive is buildings crumbling to the ground because of some crazy men halfway around the world thinking our way of life is wrong. We can't survive with all those people dying in burning buildings."
"What about the people who say that we're sending our children off to die in other countries in battles we have no business fighting?" I asked.
"Pure rubbish!" He practically yelled. "We've lost fewer people in this war than in any other. Some of these damn folks who yell and carry on about all the dead don't seem to get it. They don't understand that people will die no matter what we do. It's better to fight and die than to sit around twiddling our thumbs while the world goes to hell all around us.
"Look at those people in Afghanistan or Iraqistan who go out to greet our military folks with tears of joy and flowers and hugs! Those are people who understand that freedom is better than waiting for death to show up on their doorsteps. They know! They know. They know better than anyone sitting here in their comfortable houses with their air conditioning and refrigerated food. We pay more for food and vet bills for our pets than some of those folks overseas ever see in a year. They're the ones who get it. Not these people who have king size beds, the ones who shop at Ikea and Sears. Anyone who says otherwise just doesn't know."
I offer to buy Murray a cup of coffee and he declines. "These people around here make sure I never go thirsty. I told you, they're like family."
I had to laugh. You can't argue with that.
We sat and talked a bit longer about his children and his life in the service, but he was getting fidgety.
He reached out for my hand and gave it a squeeze. "I enjoyed talking with you today, but I have to finish my rounds now before the next shift comes in. I'll see you again real soon, you know."
I know, Murray. I know. I look forward to it.
"Keep that little man of yours busy, okay?" he called as he walked off. "Tell him I said 'Semper Fi!'"
Of course, I will.
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:10 AM | Comments (10)
May 02, 2005
Decision '05
Well, the City Council decided, 8-0, that a special election should be held to replace the mayor of San Diego.
I couldn't agree with them more.
Donna Frye announced that she will run for mayor again. Dede Alpert won't. Nor will Brian Maienschein. To be honest, I don't believe any City Council members should run. They are as much a part of the problem as the Mayor when it comes to San Diego's image in the public eye. I'd like to see some other candidates step up to the plate. People with proven track records of truly serving the community and capable of strong leadership.
People tend to forget that the Mayor has no more power than those on the City Council. As well, City Council members and the City Attorney have failed to consider that all their shenanigans of late only serve to project a poor image of San Diego to the citizens of the city, the state, and the nation at large. The potential for lost tourism revenue, as well as the loss of our ability to attract and retain businesses, in our city is at stake.
Dick Murphy was the first person to take a step in the right direction. His resignation indicated that he hoped to give San Diego a chance to regain its reputation as America's Finest City - on all fronts. The City Council's vote today should indicate that they, too, are ready to restore the City's reputation of excellence.
I can only hope that the citizens of San Diego are given a few strong and competent candidates from which to choose. We need a clean slate. We need people who are ready, and able, to lead us into a more prosperous future.
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:05 PM | Comments (6)
April 29, 2005
Reflecting
Believe it or not, that brilliant reflection of a Cross on the dome of the Church is not the result of a filter or any trick added in after the shot. The symbol of the Cross is always present. The gold tiles upon the dome were not arranged in any manner to cause the light to reflect in that way. The tiles themselves are the same as the tiles used on similar churches around the world. Only a few churches are lucky enough to have this Cross appear. Ours is one of them.
To be surrounded by beauty and gentle hearts all morning, to read of the suffering of Christ on the Cross made my complaints seem so petty. It's always good to put things into perspective every once in a while. Today was ideal for that.
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:00 PM | Comments (7)
April 28, 2005
Operation Thank You
Today we took to the streets once again to thank our brave men and women for their service. Our merry band, Smash, LD, KM, and myself, met at the North Gate at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, signs in hand.
Much to our delight, we had several new faces amongst us. It was a real pleasure to meet the author of Carpe Bonum, one of the younger Carpe Bonums, and the author of Neptunus Lex. It's so much fun to meet new people, even more fun to meet those who share your pride and gratitude toward the military. Bonus points when they turn out to be such good folks. Extra bonus points when they bring along someone Little Dude's age like CB Jr. Super extra mega points for showing up after a very rainy start to the day.
As always, we had many people honking, waving, thanking us, and some even yelling "you're welcome!"
There's really no way to explain the feeling you get as someone thanks you for standing around with a sign, warriors turning to look at you with broad grins and waving hands mean so much. Families who have spent many months without their loved ones telling you that your hour and a half or two hours of holding a flag and some cardboard means something special to them touches you in a way that goes beyond description.
No matter what the rest of your day or week has in store for you, for a few moments, you've made someone else feel good. And you're doing it with a good group of people.
I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to participate in Operation Thank You. I hope you'll join us next time (or start your own in your neck of the woods.)
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:38 PM | Comments (5)
April 12, 2005
Shake, Rattle, and Roll
We just had a nice little....er...medium-sized trembler. I happened to be up. Even if I hadn't been, this would have awakened me.
How do you know it's a real quake? When your heart sits in your throat and won't come back down.
Two minutes later and half the neighborhood is active.
Posted by Da Goddess at 04:07 AM | Comments (12)
March 29, 2005
Desert Trip
Smash has the details of the trip and some photos. Mrs. Smash tooks some glorious pictures - follow the links on their site to see them. More of my photos can be found here.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:42 PM | Comments (4)
March 24, 2005
Lawn Bowling
Posted by Da Goddess at 03:06 AM | Comments (9)
March 21, 2005
More Photos From March 19th
