Good Intentions

I read an interesting New Year's article where the columnist announced her intentions for 2010. She substituted intentions for resolutions because she's realized she's obviously not that resolute about her goals year after year. So I guess my New Year's resolutions would also have to be classified as intentions since I'm rarely successful!

So what are my intentions for 2010?

Always at the top of the list -- lose weight. I always work on that one for awhile, and then fall off the wagon quickly. This last fall, I was doing quite well until the Isla trip. Then I fell off my lounge chair and landed in the sand after downing that first order of guacamole. Enchilada suizas, Bimbo products to get me through my Ida anxiety, etc.... Then Christmas and the holidays really threw me over the edge! But I'll once again give it a try!

Spend a month on Isla in 2010. I really should put this one in small print because Craig will probably have a cow if he sees it!

Seize the day! After this last year, Craig and I have both realized we shouldn't postpone things we really want to do. Live more in the moment, travel, hike -- do all that stuff while we still can! You never know what life will throw your way, so do it while you can!

Work online from home this next testing season. I think this one has already been derailed. We were given the option of applying for online or onsite work, so I quickly submitted an application for working from home. Unfortunately, I quickly got an automated email response that due to high demand for working from home, my application would be kept on file. In other words, don't get your hopes up! Bummer!

Get back in shape! My workouts got derailed this fall by knee pain, back pain, respiratory flu, etc..., so I'm having to work myself back into the old routine.

And last but certainly not least, win the lottery and buy a little California beach cottage. This one would do! Then I'd still have the money leftover for that home on Isla Mujeres!




I think this last one falls more under the category of pipe dream? : )

Antiques California Style

What the heck! I just took the trash out and it's NOT Thursday, so I had the days totally wrong in this post! HA! I guess I should be relieved, but I think I'm dazed and confused! So, if you already read this post, I am nuts and I'm now editing! I guess I need to look at the date underneath the time on my laptop! But I'm glad to have gained another day in the week! I thought I'd totally neglected my blog! (And ginko biloba obviously doesn't work!)

Monday was spent on Michael. He dropped his Ecco van off to get a new wrap (wraps are the advertising layovers you see on all these vehicles) on it while he's gone to New Hampshire for sales meetings, so he was without transportation. He suddenly realized he needed clothes for his meeting. That blazer from the college years doesn't fit anymore! I was a little exasperated by the last minute rush, but I remember Craig always doing the same thing. So Monday afternoon was spent running him on his quest. He hates shopping and gets really impatient, so thank God for Men's Wearhouse! And he's a lucky guy because he found a new black cashmere blazer on sale that fit perfectly and they had all the shirts and pants that fit.

Tuesday, Michael needed a ride to the airport. I never thought about Tuesday morning being the time when all those Fiesta Bowl people were flying out. Ugh. After that, I spent some time in the dentist's chair.

And here we are at Wednesday. How time flies when you're having fun? Now I'm trying to plan a free day! Woo hoooo! Walk the dog, clean up around here. Maybe a trip to the local antique mall?

Speaking of antiques, while we were in California, I hit a couple of their malls. I didn't buy anything because everything there is quite pricey! But I did take some photos.

A lot of the stuff was really ornate.


I thought this crown would be perfect for a certain friend who sports a tiara in her avatar!

Are those tires antique?

I love old wicker! This is kind of a beachy scene.

I thought about carting this chair home for my living room and recovering the red cushion!


Loved this old cruise ship souvenir made of shells.

And here's the typewriter that got away. I thought about buying it, didn't, wanted to go back, and then we never did. When will I learn that with antiques, you buy it when you see it!

The antique malls in California are heavy on the retro stuff from my 50's/60's childhood. I think they call it mid-century.

I love old suitcases, but where the heck would I put it?

A Little Taste of Mexico

We weren't at our usual beach location, but I felt like I'd made it to the border! I managed to find a little taste of Mexico on our California trip! When the sun turned to clouds, we headed to Old Town in San Diego. (Us and a LOT of Holiday Bowl fans.) After a half hour struggle finding a parking place, we spent several hours strolling the area looking at all the historic sites and Mexican clothing and handicrafts. It was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon!

The Mexican holiday decor was gorgeous!

Colorful serapes and dresses.

Love the kitty cat and the big talavera pot!

Adopt a chihuahua to take home?


Little strings of pots!

This woman almost looked like a mannequin sitting by the fountain in this historic courtyard.

More colorful wares!

Strolling mariachis. They were really good!

More colorful Feliz Navidad decor!

And some wonderful Dia de los Muertos art.

Happy New Year!

Waking up to the first light over the Pacific and listening to the sound of the breaking waves! A long walk down a sandy beach in the early morning. What a great way to start the last day of 2009 -- a year that will go down as annus (or anus) horribilis for us and many of our friends and family. A year of loss, grief, sadness, bad news, betrayal, etc... Yet a year of new discovery, renewal, and new beginnings that ends on a good note with bright hope for better things to come in 2010!

We'll be traveling back home today and spending a quiet evening with our favorite canine friend! I saw this scene in an antique store the other day and thought I'd share it with all of you!

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for Happiness in 2010!

Woo hoooooo!

Somebody Stop Me!

Food, glorious food! We've been eating it like it's going out of style on this trip! Fish and chips, mahi mahi sandwiches, lasagna, taco salads, breakfast sandwiches . . . . Somebody please stop me! Oh well, that's why we all make New Year's resolutions!

Coconut shrimp and onion straws at Joe's Crab Shack.

A little boy was afraid the shark at Joe's was going to eat him!

Lunch in Old Town.

The Burrito Especial at The Coyote Cafe.

My Enchilada Suizas. (Sue's are much better!)

Fish and chips at the Green Flash in Pacific Beach!

My mahi mahi sandwich and fruit at the Green Flash.

Craig and I both had the Cobb sandwich and salad at Pacifica in Del Mar. Turkey, bacon, tomato, onion, avocado, and blue cheese dressing on a wonderful roll!

Sunday lunch at the Dana Point marina!

Craig had the fish and chips! I, of course, had a mahi mahi sandwich that was out of this world! Are you seeing a pattern here with the mahi mahi sandwiches and fish and chips???

We're sitting here watching the Holiday Bowl wondering what to eat for dinner our last night! I vote for a salad! And we have to remember to buy Tums!

The other thing we're wondering is where the heck were we when the earthquake hit San Diego this morning? I think we must have been traveling in the car since we missed it. I remember that phenomena from my earthquake days in Seattle.

Glimpses of Tuesday!

After one last gorgeous sunset from the room in Carlsbad, we checked out of the hotel this morning and headed south to San Diego to spend our last two nights on the ocean in Pacific Beach. First stop on the ride down the coast was Torrey Pines State Beach.

Torrey Pines was one of the beaches noted on one of the seaglass sights, so we decided to make a stop.



Craig and I have really been spoiled by our trips to Isla Mujeres. This was what we picked up during our hour plus hunt down the beach. Fairly pitiful by Isla standards! Seaglass is so scarce around here, I nearly wet my pants when I saw these green pieces in the sand!





We arrived early in Pacific Beach before our hotel room was ready, so we headed down the boardwalk to the Green Flash. I'll show photos of our food in another post. Craig had the fish and chips and I had a mahi mahi sandwich with fruit. Both were wonderful! The room still wasn't ready after lunch, so we decided to head to Ocean Beach to check out some of the antique stores.

The shops were wonderful, and now I'm regretting not buying a couple of items. We may need to go back! Aren't these cool old bottles with shell bottle stoppers beautiful!

Ocean Beach seems to be THE happening young place in San Diego. Here's the O.B. lampposts decorated for Christmas.

This place must have fantastic burgers. The line literally was a half block long!

Back in Pacific Beach, we were able to check into the room. We decided to head out on a walk down the boardwalk. I told Craig we really should deck ourselves out in these getups! I'd go for the tie-dyed peace shirt, but he'd never bite on that Old Guys Rule shirt!

The bait shop on Crystal Pier.

We took a stroll out onto Crystal Pier. This is the view from the end of the pier back to shore.

Look at this beautiful seashell wreath!

These Crystal Pier Cottages are fantastic!

By the time we returned from our walk, the sun was setting. So far, there's been a beautiful sunset every night! I should sleep like a baby to the sound of these waves tonight! : )

A Beachy Christmas!

Christmas has come and gone, but some of the decorations still remain! I've always wanted to spend the holidays at the beach so I could see tropical and Christmas mixed! I'm glad I got to see the beachy Christmas decor in Southern California this year!

This big beach chair's all decked out!

The Christmas tree in the hotel lobby is gorgeous!

The Del Mar Lifeguard Station is all decked out with Surfin' Santa on the roof.

Love this cute balcony decoration in Carlsbad!

This gorgeous tree is at the entrance to Solana Beach Park.

Love this little wagon full of poinsettias.

This Christmas display down the road in Encinitas is my favorite!

Guess it's time for those New Year's resolutions now! Mine is definitely get more beach time in 2010!