What a lovely week I’m having! I’ve been exploring quite a few things…
…like Pilates. I’ve discovered a form of exercise that tricks me into exercising! Score! In so doing, I’ve also discovered muscles I didn’t know existed. And I finally understand why sporty people bang on about the endorphin high. I have a fabulous teacher, and I look forward to class. Amazing!
…like the interior of my fabulous new hobo from MiMS on Etsy — I fell in love with this bag back in September, and 6 weeks later, I decided to splurge! It’s my first leather bag, and I think it’s worth every penny: the leather is beautiful and soft, the nickel hardware is simple and shiny, the interior pockets are a-plenty, and it’s really comfortable against my upper body. It was made especially for me, so I was able to specify the colour of the leather and the interior material. Eight weeks later, it arrived, and I am delighted.
…like classes at my local community college — I’ve signed up for Photoshop I, which will hopefully lead to a Certificate of Proficiency in Graphic Design / Web Design, which is the direction I’ve decided I want to take my career in. After so many years of not specialising in anything but “knowing a little bit about a lot of things”, I think I may have found my calling. And I’m excited!
…like my new Bamboo Create, a graphic tablet that replaced my mouse a few days ago. I love painting and drawing, and now I can do it on my computer! One of the first things I did was to create a 30-second animation. Wot larx!
…like URGE Gastropub, my new favourite place to grab a burger and a beer in north county. Mr. Fizgig and I joined our friend, Jason, and his friends there one evening: we caught up over gourmet burgers, strangely delicious popcorn (with honey, basil, pancetta, and pinenuts — yum!), and beers. We hadn’t seen Jason since he took me out on his Ducatti motorbike for an exhilarating 90mph ride down the Champs-Elysées in Paris 11 years ago. Fast forward to the present day, Jason was passing through San Diego en route to Costa Rica from Seattle on another motorbike. Good times with friends old and new.
…like the tracks on an album by Finnish rhythm and blues band Jewels and Blues. My step-brother is the lead singer, and I helped write the lyrics to a few of the songs. It’s fun to hear my words set to another person’s music. Rock on!
…and, most importantly, like discovering the San Diego neighbourhood that we are going to do our damndest to live in: South Park. It’s a lovely tree-lined neighbourhood with sweet little cottages and bungalows. From what I can tell, it has a lot of arty / cultural / community-orientated events, not to mention decent-looking watering holes and nosh pits. But there’s also that wonderful Grape Street Dog Park, five acres of off-leash doggie bliss! It reminded us of the long walks we’d take in Prospect Park, because this dog run is part of the lovely Balboa Park, flanked by a ravine, nature preserve, and golf course. Not to mention, I’d really enjoy being able to say “I live in South Park”! We’d really love to find a 2-bedroom cottage in the northern end — our friend who lives in the southern end lives right under the flight path of San Diego International Airport, and it can get a little noisy… So, fingers crossed!
So, guys, what’s the latest with you?
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hooray to hear of these new and good things. I realize I owe you an email—on the way, shortly. Psyched you’ve found a place for you to love in South Park. We probably spend a good third of our time out there. Much to love. You might consider the south end of North Park as well, since it borders South Park, but is sometimes less expensive and certainly less flight pathy than some parts of South Park. But, more on that whenever it is that we finally meet up.