Ponies & Femmes

This weekend we bet on some ponies up in Del Mar (we lost more than we won, but that's the price of entertainment) and saw the Violent Femmes (boy, those guys are old – I remember listening to them in Jr. High). Dave tried surfing for the first time (he swallowed a fair share of sea water and his back is now lobster-red) and I took a group of students to explore the La Jolla tide pools (lots of stars and limpets, but no cucumbers or slugs).

And, on a sad note, we had to say goodbye to Emily, our first (new) San Diego friend. She's off to med school in NYC.

Kyle - you should watch this movie.

Hot Hot Summertime

It was 23 degrees above average in San Diego on Saturday. But it was still 7 degrees cooler than it was in Tucson.

I’m glad I don’t believe in these kind of things

The other night I was sitting on the front porch & our neighbor, let’s call her CC, stopped by for a chat. CC has lived in her house for over 35 years. She told me about the how things were back in the day.

Then CC said, “You know, your house is haunted”

I said, “CC, please don’t tell me this”

CC: “Oh, yes. Her name is Jean. Jean's parents owned this house a long time ago and left it to her when they died. Then Jean lived here for many years after that. One evening she made lemon meringue pie and told me she was going to let it cool and have a piece for breakfast.”

Unfortunately, she had a stroke and died before she could have her breakfast pie.

CC: “Do you want to see a picture of her?”

Me: “No, CC, I’d rather not.”

CC goes to her house & brings back the picture. When she shows me the picture, Rocky (who had been quietly resting on the porch) starts barking like crazy. CC tells me that Rocky already know what Jean looks like, because animals can sense the spirits. Great.

The house was built in 1927, and houses that are 80 years old have quirks. The light in the living room will, on occasion, turn on or, if the light is already on, the dimmer will turn all the way to high. This morning the light in the study was on. And a few times a week the doorbell will ring when there is no one at the door.

So it is a good thing I don’t believe in ghosts and spirits. But you can be sure that when I make lemon meringue pie I’m going to leave a piece on the counter for Jean. And we should call the landlord about the faulty electrical wiring soon.

New World vs. Old World

Our old hamburger place in Tucson was The Red Garter. Smoky, dark, windowless, lots of pool tables, good burgers and cheap pitchers. Those same guys were always belly-up to the bar. When you left you had to immediately wash the clothing you were wearing because it was so smoky. A lot of good Monday night football was watched there. All in all, a great place. Perhaps, it was even a home away from home.

But now we have a new hamburger place. The burgers are great, which is hard to find in SoCal because some places won’t cook them anything less than medium, due to some health standard or something. And it is walking distance from our house, which is awfully nice.

But Hamburger Mary’s does differ from The Garter in just a few small details. The décor is over-the-top pink flamingos. In all the nights we spent at The Garter I don’t think I saw even a single transvestite there. At HM last night there were three (strapless dresses seem to work much better on those who have broad shoulders).

HM does impose some rules, which are posted on the wall, to ensure nothing gets too out of hand:
1. No crying or fighting
2. Tricks are for kids
3. No puking
4. No showing tatas or wonkers
But last night on the patio (and mind you, this is a Monday at 7:30 pm) at least two of the above rules were broken by the table next to us.

Won't you be my friend

Seeking soul mate who loves long runs on the beach, sniffing peoples' butts and chewing on pig ears.

Seeking partner in crime who would enjoy plotting the demise of the dog and planning my escape from this prison. I also enjoy catnip and chin rubs.

I Totally Hate My Job

So today I had to spend my whole morning at the Scripps Birch Aquarium, going through the exhibits, making up questions for an Oceanography Lab. Now I have to sit in my (bright, sunny, and huge) office and make color coded binder inserts. Boy, I hate organizing things - especially color coding!!

And don't even get me started about the monotony of sunny 78 degree days with a light ocean breeze.

Oh, wait. That is totally awesome*. I love my job and this town. I almost died and went to heaven when I saw the office cabinet full of various colored paper. Goldenrod! Orchid! Lime! But I better go finish my work because my co-workers are watching "Swingers" (the second Vince Vaughn movie this week - on Tues we watched "Old School") in the other room and I don’t want to miss that.

* Prolific use of term "totally awesome" is permissible, given my geographic locale.

Dave's Delusions

Disturbing IM conversation I had with Dave this morning. We just got through his astronaut phase - now this.

David: I just found out I have to be here most Wednesday at 6:30 am for an M&M…..great

Me: M&M? Peanut?

David: Morbidity and Mortality Conference

Me: Hum
You aren’t that kind of doctor
Take off the stethoscope
And stop going around telling people to “open up wide”
It is getting kinda creepy

Rocky's First Birthday

Today Rocky turned 1 year old (extrapolated 6.5 weeks back from his Finding Day). First we went to the Grape Street Dog Park. Then we took him out for dinner at Terra. He had....



a bullystick yappetizer,









a sushi main course (with rawhide chopsticks),









and a liver filled doggie doughnut for dessert.





The people crab cakes with corn salsa were also delicious.

Summer Reading List

Read anything good lately?

I just finished Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America. It's about the 1893 Chicago World Fair - lots of names, dates, facts and details. I like dates, but the rest I could have done without.

I just started The Sex Lives of Cannibals : Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific about a young man who, to avoid seeking gainful employment, packs up & moves to a tiny atoll in the middle of the Pacific. I'm only on Chapter 2 - in which the Author reveals the Fruit of his Research into the Strange Island Nation he has declared his new Home (which leaves much unknown), compensates for his Ignorance with his Lively Imagination (which is inadequate) and Packs (inappropriately) – and already I love it!

Mussels and Pig's Ears!

I may have a new favorite restaurant here. While the farmers market is still my favorite thing in SD, last night K and I tried Terra Restaurant and loved it. First of all, Terra is the closest restaurant to our house, being directly across the footbridge. As K pointed out, we live closer than some people park. Anyway, they have a happy hour daily which includes a big bowl of local mussels for $4.50!! Not to mention their daily specials such as $1 fish tacos Mondays, BBQ and Blues Thursdays and brunch on the patio on Saturdays. So this place was very cool and since we were sitting at the bar we got talking to the bartender. I was kidding around and suggested we could bring the monster (shown here with girlfriend Gaffney). The bartender must have overheard me and said they absolutely accept dogs on the patio and even have a dog menu with such items as burgers and fries (the fries are chicken) and custom cakes! Since Rocky's 1st birthday is this Monday, we might just have to give it a shot, but don't tell him, it's a surprise.

Fourth of July

We watched fireworks in our neighborhood from the edge of the canyon that overlooks SeaWorld/Mission Bay. But we are lucky enough to get to see fireworks a couple times a week - if we walk the dog around the edge of the canyon at 10 pm we can see the SeaWorld fireworks (and the SeaWorld SkyTower decorated for the 4th of July).