Esco Walk #2

I posted before about the first Escondido historical walk I went on.  There are five different Escondido walks - how impressive is that.  Especially enjoy them since they are free and burn calories.  I will freely admit that I am the only one ever with a camera on the tours but that is fine with me.  So recently I went on my second walk.  I did not like it as much as the first one as this one focused on the location of things that are no longer there.  The old high school, the old hospital, the old hotel, the old city hall, etc.  It was still a nice night for a walk and Carla went with me which I totally thought was completely indulgent of her, especially considering she was born and raised here.  Since nothing talked about on this tour was still there, this picture was the highlight of my photo shot.  I took it from atop of the hill where the high school used to be.  It is looking eastward and I just thought, "Wow, my city is so pretty".  How could anyone look at this picture and not think, "How scenic.".  I enjoyed myself and cannot wait for the rest of the tours to come!  Plus did I tell you there are free?  My favorite point was when some others on the tour asked a question about the Trenton Bldg and the docent did not know the answer but I did so I filled in the details for everyone.  I am such a freak.

Biker Bar

When I went to Palomar Mountain with Carla last Sunday I told her that I would buy lunch cause she did all the driving.  I told her to pick and that anywhere she picked was fine with me.  Well she took me to a biker bar on the mountain that was literally in the middle of nowhere.  I am not sure why she choose it.  I am not a biker.  She is not a biker.  They did not have great food and she looked nervous the whole time.  All that being said... I fucking loved and it had the best time ever!

As we sat down for a late lunch there was a cover band singing Credence Clearwater Revival songs AND they were not bad at all!  We got to catch them do Born on the Bayou mashed up with Suzie Q.  Usually a mash up is two very different songs but a mash up of two CCR songs - genius!  CCR is not a southern band they are actually a Californian band so these guys were singing pride.  The kicker of it all was that each member of this impressive trio had OUTSTANDING 80's hair!  I am not sure why they had 80's hair but again, it was outstanding.  I truly think that Carla was a bit more terrified of me than the biker bar at this point.

While totally enjoying my time at the biker bar I was texting to people about the awesome experience that I was having and words were just not doing it justice.  So although a bit scared to do so, I took this surreptitious picture of some of the biker folk enjoying their grub.   They were all actually super nice.  I dropped my napkin on the ground  and at the same exact time the guy with the glasses was walking by and he picked up my napkin and returned to it me - true story!  How gallant!  Who says that chivalry is dead???

I am sad that this picture did not come out better as this seat was beautiful!  I honestly tried to not make a scene but the big, hefty gay guy taking a picture of the shiny chair was hard to miss.  Anyway all I can tell you folks is that you all have the number now and know exactly who to call if you just can't think of where to get me a gift certificate from come Christmastime.

Kiss and Tell

08.30.2012 was my parent's 49th anniversary and I did not call my mother.  August stresses me out so much!  Yes it is my birthday is in August but so is everyone else's, I swear, plus getting ready for the summer to end and my parent's anniversary.  It is seriously hard to keep up.  But I did speak with my mother today and told her that I hope she had a wonderful anniversary and that I intentionally did not contact her so that she could enjoy some private time with my dad.  Trust me she did not buy it for a second but I thought I would give it a shot, and I think I am humorous.  Well she then proceeds to tell me that when she woke up my father gave her a kiss and said, "I think today is our anniversary."  OMG I died when she told me this.  She one up'd me for sure as I was laughing so hard.  My dad is not forgetful, it is just that he is not very mushy so that is about as mushy as you are gonna get, especially after 49 years!  Even my mother was laughing over the story.

I took these pictures when I was in MA back in June.  A bunch of us went out to dinner and I started taking pictures - of course.  And I told my father to kiss my mother because I was being evil and I know how painful it is for him.  He is not mushy and does not like attention (yes I am my mother's son) - that is why my mother is laughing so hard in the picture.  That plus she knows he know just does whatever he is told.  When I am there my siblings are like how do you get him to do stuff and I am like "I just tell him to do it?!?".  Anyway he did kiss her in the restaurant and I took the picture to prove it.  

You know "for better or worse" is so true and with all the ups and downs in 49 years they do love each other and make it work.  I don't judge, I just annoy LOL.

Palomar Mountain Observatory

Today I went up to the Palomar Mountain Observatory with my friend Carla that I met at school.  The observatory about a 40 minute drive east and I have been dying to go there since I got here.  It is part of Caltech and the construction was started in the late 30's so in addition to still being one of the most prestigious and used astronomical observatories in the US - it also is beautiful with a subtle art deco look.  It is located in the Cleveland National Forest and so the drive up there was so scenic but then when we got there - the observatory was more beautiful in person than I imagined.  The last guided tour was at 1:30pm so we missed it but that is ok as it gives me a great reason to return!

How beautiful is this???  The dome rotates and the slit opens so that the telescope with a 200" Pyrex Corning Glass lens can observe the stars.

This was on the side of a workman's truck and I thought it super cool.

I received a lot of comments about this orange tee shirt of mine so it has become my new favorite shirt.  How great is this picture.  It was so awesome up there and guess what - it snows up there - real snow!  The had pictures of the place covered in snow which happens at least once a winter.  Snow pictures that looked as if it was New England.  I could not believe it.

This sign made me a tad nervous so I tried not to focus on it to much and just enjoy how amazing the observatory was.  Eeeeek!

This was the back side of the obserevatory.  You cannot tell by the perspective but that is a huge garage door that you could drive a mack truck through.  Just after I snapped this pic it opened up and a truck exited.  I was so excited I ran up to the door to see what was inside.  I wanted to see perhaps aliens but instead I just saw some staff members asking if I needed help.

This is my friend Carla who I met during my last Spanish class.  She has turned out to be very nice and is very funny too.  She drove me up to the observatory and then we stopped at this biker bar called the Hideout for lunch and some laughs.

Visitor #2

Matt arrived as my nephew was winding down his San Diego/TJ getaway.  We met up with him down along the water and really enjoyed some catching up as well as loving the cool ocean air as man was it humid.  I love when Matt visits.  I will say that we were a bit off, just not fully in sync, but perhaps because we both had quiet a year and I was still glad for his company.  He took me to Ocean Beach and I actually swam in the ocean for the first time in years!  Although he was a bit shocked we he left me unattended for a few moments and I wandered over to someone else's beach blanket that wanted to chat me up and share her covert shots with me.  It was a vodka and juice in a reusable water bottle that was, as my newly made friend said "a bit lubey" from sunscreen - eeew I know.  Honestly I was just chatting with her because I thought her friend was cute but he moved on and so I thought  the vodka would improve the situation somehow.  This picture of us at the beach is the only picture I took of him during his visit - that is his thumb.

In addition Matt and I went and got Spam at the Yummy Hawaiian grill that opened up here - Spam is huge in Hawaii.  It is called Spam Musubi and it a piece of fried spam on a bed of basmati rice, wrapped in seaweed and given a dash of teriyaki sauce.  I know just the word spam elicits moans and groans from most but trust me it is, as advertised,  YUMMY and how awesome to have someone actually indulge with me in having some spam.  Thank you Matt.

While here were also ended up at the Eagle with my straight friend Loren.  The Eagle is a very raunchy, gay leather bar.  It was not planned.  Lots of leather, harnesses, dog chains, and very little light.  We just kinda ended up there but Loren was intrigued by the adventure.  I have no pictures and although I have a bad memory, I won't forget that night too soon.  Loren's line of "this place smells musty" and his scrunched up face were priceless.  But I do have this picture of the a little display of goods and presents that Matt left behind for me.  He paid for dinner a couple of times and then gifts on top of it was sweet.

PS the note reads:  Scott - left you a few things until my next visit - you can hit the beach - go out smelling great & the gold medal you should wear everyday - because you are an Olympic winner as a friend.

Thanks Matt and ditto!

  

   

Honey Boo Boo

I love the latest TLC guilty pleasure Honey Boo Boo.  It is silly mindless tv and I sit and watch it and laugh and laugh.  It is not mean spirited and a lot of people are in uproar over Honey Boo Boo's family but for me they all look happy so who am I to judge.  So I found this video and again it just makes me laugh.  Sometimes it is wonderful in life just to laugh.

Visitor #1

It has been a little crazy for me lately.  My nephew that graduated high school this year came to visit me before he heads off to college.  It is a good kid or young man I should say.  He has always been a little on the sensitive side, which is not a bad thing, it just makes for a strange juxtaposition with the fact that he is such a jock bro type.  I was a little worried about finding stuff that would entertain an 18 year old but he was so low key it was nice.  I had to work a couple days so I he went off to the beach no problem on his own and enjoyed.  We had sushi which he likes but rarely has back east.  We went to the mall, the movies, the beach with Matt and hung out with my friend Juan Carlos.  All was great but what I think he will really remember is getting a tattoo and partying in TJ, where the legal drinking age is 18.  I am not going into the TJ story in detail but let's just say we saw somethings that even my Mexican friends from TJ said that they have never seen!  LOL.  My nephew just kept saying that his friends were never going to believe any of it!  Here are some pictures.

I am not sure why all the kids want a tattoo as a souvenir from the visit with uncle, they do have tattoo parlors back east, but we went and got Johnny's.  It was ALL good as I did not mind one bit hanging out at the tattoo parlor since how cute was the apprentice that was watching the whole time?!?  OMG

I think the final product came out good although I thought it a bit large.  It was exactly as Johnny wanted so that is the most important thing.  Plus he has the body to work the size and location since he definitely does not have my genes.  In case you are wondering it says IV because he is the fourth with his name so it is actually a good tattoo since it is not a topic that is subject to change.

We went to Ocean Beach with Matt who was also visiting.  Ocean Beach is very bohemian and 60's hippie throwback beach so Johnny's "homegrown" tank top fit right in all though was seen in a different light that what it truly means.  It is the shirt from lacrosse team that he and joined for fun and not any type of statement on a some "herbal" smoking items. 

I like this picture of Johnny.  The lifeguard hut is so very SoCal and then the OB pier in the back ground.  This was a fun day and one in which I will remember for a while - although I am thinking the night out in TJ will stick longer in Johnny's mind LOL.

Birthday 45

Yay - today is my birthday and since I am 45, I thought this picture of one of my favorite 45's would be perfect.  Sorry I have been MIA but work has been a little nutty lately, then my nephew came for a visit and now Matt is here for a visit.  It has been great just a little busy.  I am not sure what I will do on my birthday, I do have to work but am sure I will have stuff to report.  In the meantime my friend Kym sent me the best fridge magnet ever on it says:

"Whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as is should...."  

How awesome is that?  I love it and we gain a lot for seeing it each day.  

Hope you all have a great day on my birthday!

Some More Laughs

So many problems going on.  I could go on for days about my woes but ah what is the point.  I am more eager to talk about a new British show I have been watching called the Inbetweeners.  It is not new per se but I can finally stream it and am so excited to, which makes it new for me.  I caught a couple episodes while I was visiting MA but now I get to watch them all and it is so funny!  It is this set of incredibly awkward British lads in high school just being boys.  It is so silly and raunchy that I just laugh and laugh.  This is a picture of the main character named Will.  Will is bookish but not at all boring or anti social.  On the show he is always in a prep school uniform and so when I came across this picture it weirded me out a bit to see him so out of character - no to mention a definite so enjoyable to look at (which he is not really in the show) - I am intrigued.  I am trying my best not to speed through the episodes as I want to enjoy the laughs as long as I can but I really just wanna sit and watch them all back to back and die in a laughing fit.  Speaking of which, the British slang KILLS me!  They say things like, "Oh Charlotte she is so fit."  "Do you really think so?  Do you fancy her?  Do you?"  "Brilliant!"  - oh it just slays me.  

On The Lighter Side

Well good news is that I should have my car back by the end of the week.  It was a lot of work and wrangling but I saved $1,000.  It is a long story and took a long time but I made it work so am happy.  The real point of my post is that while at the doctor's recently I was reading a paper they had in the waiting room.  It had this super funny article called, "Text Code for Seniors".  Knowing how much I love texting and how close I am getting to being an old man I was truly in the office LOL.  Plus it is good to laugh, very good.

Here are the codes they listed:

ATD:  At the Doctor's

BFF:  Best Friend Fell

BTW:  Bring the wheelchair

BYOT:  Bring your own teeth

FWIW:  Forgot where I was

GHA:  Got heartburn again

IMHO:  Is my hearing aid on?

LMDO:  Laughing my dentures out.

TTYL:  Talk to you louder