Dickens Lives

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us... You get the idea. A typical roller coaster day for me.


The Worst of Times

Today the house on Goldenrod (my sole source of income as I wait on someone to take a chance on an over-the-hill, overweight, depressed middle-aged discarded broad and give her a job - go figure) The day started out extremely emotionally (this is an adverb, right?). I loved my life in that house. I was happy there. It represents a monumental fail so deep I usually cannot even look at it. But today it was time to look.

I had decided to go to the courthouse to watch the sale for two reasons. One, to see if it was delayed again and two, to see who bought it or if it went back to the bank. I wanted to be able to tell the tenants what to expect. It had been delayed so many times I was hoping against hope.



Auctions do actually take place on the courthouse steps. Except this time, the auctioneer had received a request to move it to the street in front of the courthouse. So he did. About 300 houses were up for grabs - and that was just today, and it has slowed down some. Of those, a small percentage are bid on. There were about 18 bidders who attended.

The Goldenrod house came up around noon and no one bid - the asking price was 380k and the house is worth about 150 to 170k. The pros who bid knew that. Another reason I came was that I figured if I never left the house I would never meet anyone and would never find any serendipitous paths to employment or anything else for that matter.

No bid means that the house reverts to the beneficiary (the bank).

When I arrived there were some protesters in front of the courthouse. I thought it might be a Occupy Wall Street extension, but it was a gay marriage group. The OWS people are probably occupying Mission Beach.

A group of bidders bidding on a property. This must be a tougher job in the colder states.


While watching the auction, the new building going up across the street kept making sounds like that crane was going to topple any minute.

The Best of Times

And hey, since I was already there...

I HEART San Diego

I had not been to San Diego in awhile. And I missed it. I love this city. It has grown up into a beautiful place, as cities go. Holding onto its charm while maturing. The area around the courthouse used to be a real dive - typical sailor fare. But no more. It is thriving and gorgeous and it is still possible to get beautiful views of the bay without having to trip over it (like in Miami - of course Miami is flat but still, the views are for the super rich only) Downtown SD has become very livable.

See what I mean

SD is so compact and cheery it reminds me of a toy city. The Santa Fe RR Station and the ubiquitous planes that land practically downtown give it that PBS claymation play city feel.

The El Cortez used to be the tallest building as you approached the city. No more.

On The Waterfront

In the short time I have 'been away' the waterfront has gotten even better. Below is a small sampling.

This view does not do justice to the huge buildings
that these cruise ships are.

The Star of India - having some sail issues

Public Art

I love public art. It says optimism to me. Since I had been there last, there was a whole new display along the waterfront on Harbor Blvd.

Love it

Art and Cruise Ship

What's not fun about that?

World War II Revisited

The Midway Museum has been there for awhile now but I did not realize how the entire area had changed to accommodate it - or enhance it perhaps. The park across the water now houses some WWII nostalgic-themed displays.

More Midway

And still more Midway

A bronze Bob Hope with a bronze audience. Oddly, that moved me more than the ship. I almost left there crying (no huge feat - I am easily moved to tears these days - especially today)

What a great display. The iconic VJ day Times Square kiss.
VE day, by the way was May 8th, 1945
VJ Day was August 14, 1945
For the young (like there are young reading this!):
VJ = Victory in Japan and VE = Victory in Europe

Funny story. The park was overrun by Japanese tourists - with really great cameras (yes, quite a turnaround from the days of WWII when SD was truly a sleepy navy town and people left this port to fight the 'Japs' (or Nips)). A Japanese man was taking a picture of his wife in front of the statue. I offered to take a picture of both of them. Then I suggested they pose like the statue, which they did. Pretty good for no common language. They then offered to take a picture of me and it seemed petty not to take them up on it.

This gives a better perspective on how HUGE this thing is.

Favorite Cities:
USA
San Diego
Boston
New York
San Francisco
Philadelphia
LA (took awhile)
New Orleans
Dallas and Miami were fun when I was there, but no hay ambiente.
Don't even get me started about St. Louis and Detroit

Canada
Montreal - loved it.
Halifax
Never been to Quebec but I hear it is gorgeous. Very old world.

Europe
Paris
Venice
Amsterdam
Bern
Did not care for London so much, but spent too much
time in the underground and not enough walking around

Mexico
Cuernavaca
Tapazlan
Taxco

What are yours?


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And what gets me from sunup to sun down it the ability to look into the mess below and just see a beautiful red and green Swiss chard that has the pluck to grow and thrive despite her current challenges. It is that very deep level of denial that has kept me going!

Denial: Don't Wake Up Without It