Category Archives: San Diego, California

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Try Layering

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Living in 100 degree weather for 8 years had some effect on me. In Seattle it was fine to wear jeans and a sweater all summer, but here in San Diego you’re on the beach! You want to wear a swim suit! Maybe a sundress! The weather living on the water is very inconsistent. There’s these ocean breezes and hot inland systems and something something something meteorology something so sometimes it can be quite cool and quite warm in the same day. Then if you’re driving inland… well, pack a couple outfits.

I have learned about myself from this. I have the world’s smallest range of comfortable temperature. And I think it’s 80 degrees. Maybe 80.1 to 80.2. One ocean breeze and I need a winter coat over that little sundress. Brr. In Texas I just needed a sweater for the AC certain places would blast. Here you have to position yourself out of the breeze. Those plexi/glass retainer type walls aren’t for decoration – you can’t lay out without them. It might be sunny, but it can feel like the temperature changes in the shade by 30 degrees or something.

I am imagining menopause. Since my body is already insane, it will either have no effect on me at all (sweet!) OR I will be able to make ice cubes for your drink in one hand and light your cigarette with the other.

hot flashes

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Warming Up

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There is apparently nothing like Southern California in the winter, except Southern California in the spring, summer, and fall. It is warming up and is absolutely heavenly. For CH’s last day yesterday we were out in the sun all day, walking the beach, eating at The Green Flash, and laying by the pool until sunset. Today MK and I wasted the day soaking in sun and then drove through Del Mar and shopped their plaza.

I’ve been curious to consider the change in dynamic as the warm weather brings with it the tourists and have become a little apprehensive about how different it will feel. True we’re still just renting, but we already feel like permananet locals.

la jolla shores

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I’m So SoCal

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Took a road trip yesterday, up to Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.  It is beautiful. It was unseasonably warm and a great day for a drive. Newport was by far cooler than I expected, a bigger, funner version of Pacific Beach.

I don’t know what it is about it here. I heard things and assumed I’d just hate California and the life and the people and etc. It’s nothing like that. It’s gorgeous and everyone’s happy and working out and loving life. I feel like it’s such a good fit. I feel more myself than I ever have. Of course, since MK wants his 40 acres, we might not afford some of these places. It’s outrageous as ever here. I’m just going to enjoy it while I’ve got it.

We did discuss 6 months in another beach town here.

so cal coast

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Free Entertainment

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Every typical morning, I get up, have breakfast, and drive to the surf lot. I run the beach from there up to Crystal Pier, take the stairs, and run the boardwalk until it ends at Mission Bay. There’s quite a few things I see almost every morning you might like.

The Pigeon Guy – Some dude and his buddies hang out in the van he presumably lives in parked by the boardwalk. He feeds the pigeons and seagulls in such a manner that they fly into his seat and all over him and the sidewalk and his buddies. It’s completely bizarre.

The Frisbee Guy – On my later in the day trips there’s a regular out in front of Lahaina’s with those earmuff radio type headphones that runs around doing jumps and forward rolls while throwing frisbee’s into the wind, to himself. He’s popular.

Rollerblader – There are usually a few people on skates or rollerblades that are no big deal, but one chick in particular is 7 feet tall, always wearing spandex, and brings her own cones to do tricks. Nice.

Hot Guy Factory –  There’s some kind of surf shop that I think engineers it’s employees – you never see the same guy twice, but there’s always a surfer dude outside having morning coffee and/or cigarette, looking fantastic. Killer.

Sleepy Singer Shirtless Bum – This guy is usually around our neighborhood, but I think since it’s warming up he’s been on the beach lately. He lives out of a shopping cart and is the happiest man ever. He has his own TV that he finds places to plug in. And he’s got a great tan.

Hecklers – There’s usually a renter or two in the beach houses up way too early for how much they drank before, laughing about how much they drank and how they’re on vacation and some people around there are working out.

Builders – There are always places being worked on, but I can’t figure out when it happens, since no matter what time I get there, they are on break. I guess that’s a typical stereotype though.

crystal pier

There’s a lot more, the people drinking their breakfast, the tourists, the lifeguards, the cruiser bikers, the old guy that walks with his ski poles. MK can’t figure out why I love going to run there so much – by the time I’m done people watching I’ve run all morning.

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The Scenery

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MK finally took me on a great tour of where we live.

Here are the pictures.

We went to the La Jolla Beach, drove through more mansions (that’s kind of what they all are here) and up to Mt. Soledad, a really amazing view of the coast from La Jolla to Pacific Beach and back around to the city skyline.

We drove through Old Town, which we’ll have to explore more, and drove over the giant bridge to Coronado, which wasn’t as amazingly ritzy as I had imagined but was still very nice. I wouldn’t say no if you bought me a place there. The beach is incredible, and we could squint and make out pirate ships, which we had to go home and look up immediately. If we ever make any friends down here, we’re throwing a pirate ship party.

I have slightly mentioned to my nomadic husband that I might be perfectly FINE if this is where I end up for a substantial amount of time, we’ll have to see how that goes. The downtown area is super cool. Balboa Park is always crowded but full of things to do. Taking a vacation when we’ve only been here a week put a bump in our exploring, but we’ll see more soon.

NANO TOTAL: 9900 words.
NaBlo Day 20: Check.

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That’s A Wrap

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That’s the trip! It was a blast. We’ve been here about a week now. I’ve enjoyed runs on the beach, settling in to our new place, exploring La Jolla, mansion ogling, spending Halloween downtown in San Diego (as a pirate) and making new friends. The view of crashing waves is remarkably calming and centering. The ability to drive a minute and run as far as I want on the sand hasn’t quite registered with me, everywhere you look there’s amazing beauty. No wonder everyone here is so happy.

I have to completely admit my preconceived notions were a little off, and that’s a good thing. I can’t wait for some (female) visitors so I can explore the tons and tons of shopping. I’ve got my laptop out in the office space, patio doors open, and I’m ready to write. This week is going to fly by.

In other news, I’ve planned a trip to Austin a week from today, and will fly from there to Vegas for the weekend. For your general information, it’s practically free to fly from SD to LV, so if you’re planning an outing anytime, invite me, I’ll say yes. And have some extra gambling (who am I kidding, shopping) money to play with.

What else? We found the Patriots bar for the game Sunday, and they happen to make a great Bloody Mary. I can’t think of what more I need.

sunset.jpg

NANO TOTAL: 3014 words.
NaBlo Day 6: Check.

Unknown's avatar

I Love La Jolla

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The fire situation didn’t really affect us. On the way in we drove near the fire near Castaic, staying away from the coast and LA due to the helpful traffic updates from my family, and only really noticed smoke and the smell of fire in the car near Escondido, but since it was night we didn’t see much more than the haze and smoke. In the headlights the ash looked like snow.

We got into La Jolla pretty late, but were able to check into the hotel right on the water that MK had reserved for us. His office was one block away. Two blocks away were my first beer in forever and the best buffalo chicken wings of all time, both of which were heaven at that point. We were wiped out. We fell asleep right after dinner. The next day MK got up early to check out his new digs while I started calling realtors. He drove me up and down La Jolla Blvd. and to Pacific and Mission Beach. Everything here is so beautiful. And the people are uncommonly nice. Whether or not that’s just compared to Seattle-ites I can’t be sure, but it is a nice change.

Basically, over that weekend, FEMA swooped in and put any furnished rental listings on hold, which meant we weren’t able to get in anywhere. Technically. I found an ad on Craigslist that we were able to go see that day, and we took it. I can’t remember ever living in the first place I’ve seen, it felt strange. We were just happy it all worked out, and even better, we could move in the next day.

MK drove me around some more, we walked around the town, to the water, saw some sights, moved his computers (two and four monitors!) into his office, and took a nap. MK’s buddies invited us out and we went to a neat area in Pacific Beach (PB) and to a really fun bar. I forgot it was the weekend before Halloween, so people were dressed up. We had a great time.

smoky.jpg

NANO TOTAL: 2718 words.
NaBlo Day 5: Check.

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And We Were Gone To Oregon

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It was hard to leave. Literally, difficult. We had to cram all our things in the car (clothes hangers, I miss you, I’m sorry you couldn’t come). We had to clear out of the place and chit chat with the landlord. We had to have our last Seattle clam strips from the best pier with the worst service. Finally, after filling up the gas tank (which read permanently empty due to the weight of the car, hilarious) we got out of Seattle at about 2pm. Less than 2 hours later, I’m taking pictures of the bridge you cross to get into Oregon. The ride was beautiful. Oregon is amazing. Our only goal for the day was to explore Portland, so I could try to make MK love it even though I’d never been.

Every street was lined with trees. It was Seattle’s Pioneer Square, with younger bums and prettier scenery. We drove up and down every street and stopped for dinner near some college park area and sat out in the chill and enjoyed some coffee. Gorgeous.

As a reminder, the fires had already started at this point. To be brief about the issues, MK is also sometimes a realtor and knew well that as soon as insurance checks were written, people would be snatching up fire-free properties. We had planned to make a very, very leisurely trip down the coast, over a week or maybe even two. However, with the uncertainty of the traffic and condition of our destination, we agreed to get down there ASAP. That decision would pay off.

I wish we could have spent more time in Portland, but we were able to get as far as Eugene that night. I, for the first time ever, worked out in a hotel, not willing to skip any days on my Body for Life program. I think I rule. It was negative 1000 degrees in the morning and the car was miserable. So maybe I’m not moving to Oregon after all. Also, the gas is all full service in the entire state, which I think is silly. That’s your random information for the day.

Here are the Oregon pictures.

I’m pretty sure this blog has more crossing state line signs than I ever expected:

img_3493.jpg             img_3545.jpg

Unknown's avatar

Thank You

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We appreciate all your well wishes and concern. Fortunately, MK and I are no where near San Diego yet. We drove through OR yesterday and spent the night in Eugene, taking our time. Today we hope to make it to San Fransisco and then San Diego by Friday. We’re hoping that things are fine by then, and if not, maybe we can be of some help.

road trip driving
www.catawba.k12.nc.us

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One More Time

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Not that it will, by any means, be the last time, but it’s time for another
official announcement!

Our time in Seattle was amazing. KD, RD, LC, RD2, AC, NN, ND, Mom, Dad, MIL, and DW all came to visit us! We explored the city, took trips to Vancouver, the San Juan islands, the Olympics, Mount Rainier…

Six months is too short. There were so many adventures, and still so much we didn’t have time for. But, this is going to wrap it up for now. We’re moving next week again, this time to San Diego!

MK’s visited, and knows people there. I haven’t and don’t. Somehow, I ended up in charge of the trip. So I need some help. Anyone ever driven the entire CA coast? Have any suggestions? So far I know we’re stopping in Portland, and stopping to drive through one of those cut out Redwood trees! That’s all I’ve got, then it gets tricky. There are just so many options!!

We’re getting all packed up, and OF COURSE – I’m resending an open invitation to everyone I’ve ever met (and haven’t) – to come visit us there! I don’t know how long we’ll be on the road, we are looking at it as a little vacation. Hopefully I can find thestandin for you guys, she’s MIA these days…

road trip
www.roadtripusa.com