Peppy's Dream Moving Adventure Blog

"San Francisco has only one drawback. 'Tis hard to leave."  So said Rudyard Kipling, and we have to agree!

We knew we had to leave, but we really enjoyed San Francisco so much.  It is where we honeymooned 23 years ago, it reminds us both of New York, it is where our friends live, and it’s a fantastic city!

We left the campground this morning and returned the rental car to ENTERPRISE.  This is the second car we have rented from ENTERPRISE on our trip, and both times we have had a completely positive experience.  They are great!

We went back to NOE VALLEY a third time (we really love that neighborhood – and it turns out that’s where Nancy, Donna and Joshua live!).  Since we were in the RV, we figured it would be easier to park there than in THE CASTRO.  We had lunch at JOE’S 24th STREET CAFÉ.   I had a falafel wrap and Eric had a BLT.

This adorable girl is on the website at AMBIANCESF.COM. 

A store across the street caught my eye immediately.  It is called AMBIANCE and the window was beautiful -- filled with vintage Asian ceramic figurines, a leopard-upholstered seat, a 50s lamp with a leopard shade, and some beautiful clothes.  The other side of the window had some vintage mannequin heads, vintage ceramic dishes and some hand-painted furniture.

When I walked inside, they had crystal chandeliers and more great vintage items, but they weren’t for sale!  They were the display accessories and the items for sale were all new shoes, purses, and clothing.  They were beautiful, but I’m not really into new!

I got my Starbucks for the day and, as we drove down 24th Street, I photographed another transformer box (one of the nicest I've seen) and some beautifully hand-painted murals we had been admiring for days.  Enjoy!

This series of photos are all of one building and depict different periods in history.  I'm sure it has significant meaning, but I really didn't have the time to figure it all out!

After that, we drove about 20 minutes to Burlingame to visit the PEZ MUSEUM.

Gary Doss, owner of the fabulous PEZ MUSEUM!

We got a spot right in front (sweet!) and went inside to find shelves and shelves of PEZ for sale.  They’re all in their original packages, in mint condition, but some are brand new and some are older, and have been discontinued, so if you’re trying to fill in your collection, this is the place to go (or you can visit their website, which is great!).

A lovely woman greeted us (I never got her name) and then Gary Doss, the owner, curator and collector helped us pick out Pez dispensers to buy.  We looked them all over (and there are a LOT, so it took a while).  I got the Yosemite Sam and Eric got the Tazmanian Devil (Taz).  I haven’t had Pez in a long time, and they’re as good as I remembered!

The flag Gary is pointing to is made completely of Pez!

After we made our purchases, we went into the “inner sanctum” – the Pez and Classic Toy Museum.  They have over 550 Pez dispensers – the world’s largest display!  The museum has been featured on CNN, The Discovery Channel and in Ripley’s Believe it or Not, amongst many other places.  They’re even in the Guinness Book of World Records, because they now have the world’s largest Pez dispenser (over 7 feet tall!).

Gary showed us all around the museum, filling us in on the history of Pez.  His collection of Pez dispensers is beautifully displayed and also includes all kinds of ephemera – posters, magazine ads and original advertising. 

He also showed us his collection of classic toys – Mr. Potato Head, TinkerToys, Lincoln Logs and the original Easy Bake Oven!  It was so much fun.  Eric and I reminisced about toys we had as a child (I had the TinkerToys; Eric had the Lincoln Logs).  I also saw the View-Master I had as a child (which I still have) and Colorforms, which I loved.

They even had curtains made from Pez fabric!

It was so much fun – a real blast from the past – and we thoroughly enjoyed it.  It is adventures like this that have made our cross-country trip so memorable.  If you’re ever in the San Francisco area, we highly recommend it!

The collectible Elvis Pez set!

We left Burlingame and headed south to California 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), which was the route we drove down on our honeymoon.  It is so scenic and we had a great ride.  There was a lot of fog at one point, and we could only see about 20 feet in front of us, but when the fog cleared the waves were crashing on the rocks below and it was amazing!

This picture was taken about 3:00pm in the afternoon!

We saw lots of pumpkin patches, fields of strawberries, garlic, artichokes and many vineyards, too!

Lemos Farm, in Half Moon Bay, was absolutely adorable!

We arrived in Gilroy, California, where the GARLIC FESTIVAL is held every year.  We are staying at the GARLIC FARM RV PARK on Garlic Farm Way.  It’s all about garlic here!  Meanwhile, we just stopped stinking from our meal in San Francisco at THE STINKING ROSE, and now we’re in the Garlic Capital of the World!

The campground is really great.  They have a big-screen TV and pool table in the main building, but it closes at 6:00pm.  We visited our site, and then went back out to eat dinner.  We went to TASSO’S OLD HOUSE RESTAURANT, specializing in American, Italian and Greek Cuisine.  We started with the Dungeness crab cocktail (like shrimp cocktail).  I had Salmon Florentine, grilled salmon on a bed of spinach with mushrooms, string beans and cauliflower.  Eric had Chicken Jerusalem – sautéed with artichokes and mushrooms in a white wine sauce, and a baked potato.
We shared a tiny dessert of chocolate mousse, which was really light and delicious and just enough to satisfy our sweet tooth (or should I say sweet teeth?).

We drove back to the campground and relaxed, watched the news, looking for stories about the fires in San Diego and the earthquakes in San Francisco.  We haven’t seen anything about either, so we’re thinking things are getting back to normal.  We sure hope so!

We woke up in Gilroy, California, the Garlic Capital of the World, and I could SWEAR I smelled garlic as I made my way to the shower!  Eric said it was my imagination, and maybe it was.

We had brunch at Scotty’s Restaurant (now serving American, Mexican, Oriental & Hawaiian Food).  They’re in the front of the Gilroy Bowl, a bowling alley, where they also have karaoke.

This menu was the strangest we have ever seen.  They had regular breakfast items, but also had Hawaiian style eggs (with spam or fish) and Japanese or Mexican breakfast choices.  I had grilled cheese with tomato (my favorite) and a bowl of New England Clam chowder.  Eric had a giant spinach salad.  There were lots of great shops on the strip, including two or three antique shops.  Eric promised he would take me there to shop tomorrow.  Wheeee!

After brunch we headed down to MONTEREY to visit the MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM.

A school of anchovies -- yum!

As before (this is our forth visit to an aquarium in 12 weeks!), the sea otters are my favorites. I love them because they always swim and float on their backs.  They groom themselves like cats and play with toys.  They each have different personalities.  They are the cutest things EVER! 

This guy came right up to the glass and gave us a little show!

They are so cute, so full of personality, and so interesting to watch.  Do you know that they are in the water most of the time and have one million hairs per square inch, which keeps them warm in the cold water?  ONE MILLION HAIRS PER SQUARE INCH!  Think about it!  They actually have a piece of sea otter fur on display, so you can feel it.  It’s no wonder they were hunted for their fur.  Nothing could keep you warmer.  I wear vintage fur, but don’t think I could wear an otter fur.  I just love them too much!

A spiny crab -- wouldn't want to have to hold this guy!

We also loved the Giant Octopus.  They are so smart and they taste through their suction cups!  They are hand-fed by trainers and can differentiate which trainer is feeding them by feeling their skin with their suction cups.  Some are shy, but others love attention and affection.  Imagine petting an octopus!

We also got to see a baby white shark, which was saved from a fisherman’s net.  The aquarium was larger than Niagara Falls, but much smaller than Tampa or New Orleans.  They usually have a penguin display (which is also one of my favorites), but that is closed for renovation.

The aquarium also includes a big display showing the history of Cannery Row (made famous by John Steinbeck in his novel of the same name).  There was a huge sardine factory there in the 1930s (Monterey was the Sardine Capital of the World), which flourished until they ran out of sardines in 1945!!!

After 3 hours in the aquarium we walked over to Cannery Row and ate at WILLY’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ AND GRILL for an early dinner.  We decided to share four appetizers (which were REALLY small).  We had:
(1) Two Dungeness crab and Pacific Gulf shrimp cakes on Jicama slaw with lemon aioli,
(2) A “Smoked ‘Choke”, which is a fire-roasted Ocean Mist Farms artichoke stuffed with Gouda cheese and spicy bread crumbs, served with a BBQ mayo,
(3) Crispy Monterey Bay Calamari with Cajun spices and lemon-caper mayo, and
(4) BBQ Black Mussels with applewood-smoked bacon and roasted tomatoes in a BBQ broth.

Everything was really delicious, but the servings were REALLY small.  The two crab cakes were each about the size of a silver dollar.  There were about 10 pieces of calamari, and about 12 mussels.  The only thing that was normal size was the artichoke, because I guess they only come in one size!

We decided to go somewhere else for dessert.  Eric walked a block over to get the RV (because we were afraid our meter would run out), and I walked across the street to a souvenir store to buy postcards.

Right next to the souvenir store was Crepes A-Go-Go, where you can get practically anything in a crepe, along with espressos, sorbets and gelatos.  We got two crepes (to go) – peanut butter and Nutella and banana and Nutella.  I wanted chocolate, but they were out of chocolate.  How can they be out of chocolate?  I didn’t understand it myself!  Nutella is fabulous, too, so it was a great substitution.

We ate them at the table in the RV and they were heavenly.  Hot and gooey and sweet and delicious.  We found out there are eight locations in the U.S. and now Eric wants to open one in San Diego called “Crepes A-Go-Go San Diego.”  You have to admit, it DOES roll off the tongue!

After our crepes, we headed back to Gilroy and stopped at SAFEWAY to pick up some things we needed for the RV.  Safeway has to be the greatest supermarket in the entire world.  Why?  Because they have a STARBUCKS in each one – that’s why!

We got what we needed and headed back to GARLIC FARM RV PARK for the night.  We are watching TV and I’m working on the computer.  I emailed Bonnie, my cousin, Audrey’s friend in San Diego, who is a realtor.  She is going to help us find a house or apartment to rent.  I can’t believe we’re getting close to the end of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.  Eric is determined to go back to San Diego, even though I said we could try to find someplace else to settle, since I felt he wasn’t that happy with the mountain biking situation.  He feels San Diego is a good place for us to live right now, and that he will adjust to the mountain bike terrain there.  He said we can stay there for at least a year and see how we like it.

So, soon we’ll be back in San Diego, but this time we’ll be staying for a while!

THIS is why we moved to California.  It’s November 3rd and I was out all day in a t-shirt – no jacket, no long sleeves, no gloves, no scarf.  It was sunny, glorious and 80 degrees.  Every time I step outside and my entire body doesn’t contract from the cold, I say a prayer of thanks.  I am so grateful that my dream of escaping the cold has finally come true.

Our first stop today was on the strip on Monterey Street, where I saw all the great antique malls.  Eric had about 50 more pages to read in his book, so he was happy to relax in the RV and read while I shopped.

First, I went to COLLECTIVE PAST, which was great.  I spent over an hour going through all the beautiful items they had on display.  They had lots of great costume jewelry, ceramics and other vintage items.  I found an adorable purse, which has a lot of personality.  The price was right and I couldn’t resist!

After checking in with Eric (he was still reading), I went over to GARBO’S ANTIQUE MALL, on the next block, and found lots more to look at.  I could have spent another hour there, but we wanted to grab a fast bite before heading to see our friend Jimmy again (we needed more Jimmy!) in Campbell.  He was staying at his friend Paul’s house (near San Jose).  We had made plans to meet for dinner and see each other one last time, before we head south again.

It was 2:30pm and we were meeting Jimmy and Paul at 5:00pm for dinner, but we only had cereal for breakfast, so we were hungry!  We walked down the block to HAPPY DOG PIZZA CO. and had an “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” salad with romaine, radiccio, toasted walnuts, gorgonzola cheese and a gorgonzola balsamic dressing and a 14” thin crust pizza with mushrooms.  Excellent! 

They had lots of artwork on the walls and every picture had a dog in it somewhere.  It was adorable.  I went to the rest room and there were tons of pictures of dogs in there, too!  The owner must be a real dog lover!

We left Gilroy and headed north to Campbell to meet up with Jimmy and Paul.  It was about an hour’s ride.  I couldn’t go into Paul’s place, because he has two cats, but we got to see the complex where he lives and it was great.  His condo is on the ground floor, in an open area off the street, and he has a permanent parking spot under a carport.  It’s exactly like my cousin, Audrey’s, in Las Vegas, because you don’t have any stairs and you always get a parking spot (and your car isn’t sitting in the sun!).  If Eric and I can find a place like that to buy in San Diego, we’d be very happy!

We left our RV on the street, got into Paul’s car and drove to BLUE SKY CHINESE RESTAURANT.  We had Wanton Soup, dumplings, and a few entrees, including Crab Egg Foo Young, Kung Pao Scallops, and a chicken dish (I don’t eat chicken, so I didn’t pay much attention!).  It was all really good and we had a fun time.

Paul had been forewarned that Eric and I are BIG on desserts (at least until we go on our diets in San Diego), so he then took us on a driving tour of Campbell, showing us the highlights, before taking us to GELATO CLASSICO ("too good to share"), a new place that had just opened a few weeks ago.

I had my usual (chocolate and peanut butter); Jimmy had something with caramel; Eric had lychee gelato and strawberry sorbet; and Paul had Bananas Foster.  The shop has large brown suede couches and chairs, so we made ourselves comfortable while we enjoyed the delicious smoothness of this sweet, intense flavorful treat.  They have a big-screen TV on the wall showing chefs whipping up delectable treats like cheesecake, mousse and truffles.  If the crowd tonight is any indication, this place will be a huge success!

We drove back to Paul’s place and said our goodbyes.  Then we headed back to Gilroy to the campground.  Now, Eric’s asleep and I’m watching SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE as I type this.

Tomorrow we will visit Downtown Monterey.  We are staying one more day and will be leaving on Monday morning for San Luis Obispo, which we also visited on our honeymoon!

We got a REALLY late start this morning.  We woke up at 10:00am but, lucky for us, we had to turn the clocks back, so it was only 9:00am!!!  We turned on the TV and JAWS was on, so you know we had to watch it.  We had missed most of it and it was already up to the part where the three guys are on the boat.  It’s such a classic, and we hadn’t seen it in a long time, so we watched the last hour.  It was everything we remembered.

After showers we headed into town, I got my Starbucks, we filled up on gas, and headed to Monterey.  We drove around Downtown Monterey (not very impressive) and then went to Fisherman’s Wharf and parked the RV. 

It was such a gorgeous day – just perfect.  We looked at all the boats in the marina (there were hundreds), walked along the boardwalk, and then spotted the MARITIME MUSEUM OF MONTEREY.

This museum celebrates the region’s historic ties to the sea.  We saw a film explaining the history of Monterey, which was California’s first capital.  Exhibit displays include scale models of ships, collections made of ivory and abalone, and objects brought up from shipwrecks off the Monterey Coast.

This Caretto, a utilitarian Sicilian cart on display in the lobby of the museum, was brought to the United States in the 1950s and is still used every year in the Fiesta Italia Santa Rosalia.

This First Order Fresnel Lens guided ships along the Central California Coast:

Memorabilia from the Del Monte Hotel:

A collection of Abalone shell items, including a giant abalone shell!

The museum was wonderful (as you can see from the photos).  Everything was so beautifully displayed.  Most of the collection previously belonged to Allen Knight and was donated by his wife after he died with the understanding that a museum would be built.  It took a few years (and a $1 million donation from another benefactor), but the museum opened in its current location in 1992.  We had a great time looking at all the artifacts.

Eric enjoying the model ships:

A sewing box, used for intricate embroidery, made of paper mache and ivory:

We worked up an appetite at the museum, so we headed to the wharf where there is restaurant after restaurant after souvenir shop after souvenir shop.  It’s all food and souvenirs! 

We looked at menu after menu, but decided to eat at OLD FISHERMAN’S GROTTO, because they had a sign stating that they only serve fish caught responsibly.  We learned at the Monterey Bay Aquarium that there are certain fish that are caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways.  We are going to stick to eating those fish.  Dungeness Crab is on the “Best Choices” list and Eric had a hankering for some since we got to San Francisco.  We had Dungeness Crab Cocktail in Gilroy, but he wanted the real thing (where you have to crack it open and get all messy to get the meat).  

He ordered the “Fisherman’s Platter,” which included a crab cake, half a Dungeness Crab, two large scallops, and one shrimp on a bed of rice with broccoli and carrots.   I had the “New Orleans,” which was lemon sole stuffed with crab and shrimp on mashed potatoes with broccoli and carrots.  The food was really good and the views of the water were fabulous. 

There were two people in kayaks getting a lesson and it made me think of my sister, Audrey, who is a kayaking enthusiast.  I wonder if she learned the same way.  The teacher was standing in the water while the people were learning the techniques and he even turned the kayak over, dunking them, so he could teach them how to use the oar to turn themselves upright again.

There were sea gulls at the window, begging for scraps, but no one would feed them.  I wanted to, but Eric said he’s sure they don’t like you to do that.  They were so cute and were very persistent!

After dinner, we walked around some more, but it was getting very chilly, so we stopped at CAROUSEL’S CANDIES on the wharf and bought some fudge and a candy apple before heading back to the RV.  We had to get back to the campground (and the cable TV) by 7:00pm, because Eric wanted to watch THE SIMPSONS.  They were repeating two half-hour episodes at 7:00pm and then at 8:00pm they had the TREEHOUSE OF HORROR Halloween special.  Eric is a big SIMPSONS fan, so he didn’t want to miss it.

Unfortunately, we hit a traffic jam on the way home on 101N, and there was a LOT of fog, too.  We still made it back in time (thank goodness) and Eric was happily watching while I figured out where we’ll stay next (Pismo Beach) and what town we’ll visit (San Luis Obispo).  We will be visiting a lot of great towns on our way down to San Diego, and we’re really looking forward to this last week on the road.

Twenty-three years ago, we drove down Pacific Coast Highway on our honeymoon in a small rental car.  It was a real adventure.  We figured we’d do it again in the RV, so we could reminisce some more about our first trip and see how much it has changed.

We left Gilroy after a fast breakfast at JEFFREY’S.  My allergies have been very bad for the past 2 days, so I took another Drixoral, which makes me drowsy.  I’m pretty good if we’re doing something (like the museum and wharf yesterday), but if I’m in the RV, I’m as good as out.  I fall asleep so easily in a moving vehicle (be it train, car, bus or RV), so I knew I’d be sleeping for a while.

We took the same route to Monterey, then stayed on Pacific Coast Highway.  Also known as PCH, this road is designated as an “All-American Road.”  It is also known as State Route 1, Highway 1, Cabrillo Highway, and Shoreline Highway, depending where you are in California when you are driving on it.

I wasn’t thrilled with the idea, because I knew we were going to be on the outside all the way down, near high cliffs, and even after surviving my recent experiences, I’m still afraid!  Eric insisted, and he was driving, so I figured I’d “go along for the ride.”  It really wasn’t bad for a while, and then we saw a sign that said “Curving Roads next 60 miles.”

It started to get really hairy.  I was so sleepy I fell asleep in my seat.  I woke up and Eric wasn’t enjoying himself quite as much.  It was really hard in the RV and he wasn’t really able to enjoy the views, since he was trying so hard to keep the rig on the road!

We DID find a place where we had breakfast on our honeymoon and pulled in to take a look around.  It has changed so much it was almost unrecognizable, but we saw the same stream running behind the restaurant and remembered the fabulous eggs and rainbow trout we had enjoyed there years ago.

Eric kept pointing out things he remembered, and we also noticed how much towns have grown in the last 20 years.  Where there were just a few small buildings, now stands a STAPLES, and a COSTCO.  It’s kind of depressing, but that’s progress!

Eric woke me to ask if I wanted to see the ELEPHANT SEALS.  I thought he meant that they were swimming in the ocean, or sunning on a distant rock.  We pulled into a parking lot and walked about 20 feet and there they were – down on the beach – with only about 10 feet and a rope separating us.  It was amazing. 

There were thousands of them – up and down the beach, most sleeping or resting in big clumps – almost on top of each other.  Others were waddling across the beach in the awkward, “swimming on the sand” way that they move on land.

Some are almost white; some gray; some brown.  They’re all fat, I can tell you that!  I have learned that this area of the beach is called a “Rookery.”  The seals spend 8-10 months of the year in the open ocean and then migrate thousands of miles, twice a year, to their land based rookery for birthing, breeding, molting and rest.

We felt so lucky to have been there at the right time of year to see these amazing animals.
We got back on the road and I managed to stay up for the rest of the ride to PISMO SANDS RV PARK, which is in Oceano, outside Pismo Beach, just a little south of San Luis Obispo.  By now, Eric had a headache and a neck ache (just like in Las Vegas) and I was still stuffed up and sleepy from the pills.

We pulled into our site and Eric hooked up the electric, water and cable.  I made up the bed.  All we wanted was so lie down and take a nap for a few hours.  I woke up a little after 8:00pm and watched PRISON BREAK for the first time since last season.  I have no idea what’s going on, but I watched anyway and it’s pretty exciting.  After that was over (10:00pm), I turned the channels and found a special about THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW, with lots of people talking about their experiences on the show.  That show was one of my favorites when I was growing up.

Eric was still sleeping, but he woke up to take a few Advils.  I’m feeling better, but unfortunately, Eric is very sick.  His head and neck are really hurting and I feel so helpless when this happens to him, because there’s nothing I can do.  I don’t know why he didn’t have a headache for 10 weeks and now has two in two weeks.  I told him I thought it was the stress of driving along the coast all day, because he had to concentrate so hard and it must have been hard.  He insisted that it wasn’t so bad and he doesn’t know why these neck aches and headaches happen.

I just pray that he feels better when he wakes up.  We were planning on driving down to Santa Barbara tomorrow, but if he’s not feeling well we may just stay here another day, until he’s feeling better.  I could drive, but he’s just as stressed watching me drive as when he’s driving, so it really doesn’t help him much.  I think he likes it better when he’s driving, because he’s in control, rather than watching me and worrying.

Sorry I don’t have a happier ending for this blog entry today.  Some days are just better than others.  Oh, and one more thing – there’s a train right near by (I’m already hearing the sounds).  There was a train nearby in Gilroy, too, but it wasn’t very loud.  This one’s a doozy!

We left PISMO SANDS RV PARK in Oceano at around 1:00pm.  Eric still wasn’t feeling well, but he insisted on driving.  We took 101 South to Buellton, which was only a little over an hour away, and got to our next campground, FLYING FLAGS RV RESORT at around 2:30pm.

This was a world's record (at least for us) for going from one campground to another.  We usually leave campgrounds earlier (around 11:00am) and arrive later (after 6:00pm).  So leaving at 12:30pm and arriving at 2:30pm was pretty darn fast!

Eric immediately took a nap and I did two loads of laundry in the lovely laundry room that was just steps away from our RV.  (I didn't take this picture -- I found it on their website!)

When I was finished, he was still up (and still had a headache), so I figured I’d lie down with him and we both fell asleep for an hour or so.  We woke up at around 5:00pm and I wanted to get something to eat, and thought Eric would do better with some food in his stomach, too.  All we had eaten all day was some cold cereal for breakfast (and I had a Starbucks and some Pez, too!).

Our friend, Jimmy, in San Francisco recommended a place called PEA SOUP ANDERSEN’S (World Famous Split Pea Soup), which is located in Buellton.  We had seen a lot of billboards advertising it, but didn’t give it much thought.   He said it’s really cute and he stops there when he goes south to LA or Palm Springs.  We googled it and it turns out it’s about 4 blocks from our campground on Avenue of the Flags!

The outside of Pea Soup Andersen's:

These two are called "Hap-Pea" and "Pea-Wee."  I thought I'd make a perfect addition to the team as "Pep-Pea!"

I don't know if you can tell, but these guys are splitting peas!

The restaurant was a perfect choice, because this way Eric didn’t have to drive very far.  They’ve been in business since 1924, so there's a lot of history everywhere.  We really enjoyed looking at their gift shop and bakery.  You can buy all kinds of cheese, mixes to make your own pea soup, and lots of other great foods and candies.  They had fudge, but we resisted!!!

Here's another picture of Hap-Pea and Pea-Wee:

I don't know why Pea-Wee has a bandage on his face, but it looks like he just had something removed at the dermatologist.  That can't be good for business! 

We sat down in the restaurant which was really quaint.  They had a very nice menu, but as soon as I saw it I decided to get their “All You Can Eat Pea Soup with two kinds of bread.”  I really love soup, and pea soup is one of my favorites.  Eric got a bowl of pea soup and a chicken Caesar salad.  Both came with a free drink, and you had a choice of coffee, tea, soda or thick shake.  We decided to go for the shake, but it was really just soft serve ice cream in a glass!  I was a little disappointed, but at least we already taken care of dessert!

The pea soup was delicious and I managed to finish two bowls!  I took some pictures of the outside after dinner and then we came back to the campground. 

We’re now relaxing and watching TV.  I know Eric must be feeling better, because he wanted to eat the candy apple we bought on Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey.  It was SO good. 

I'm searching online, trying to find a massage therapist to give us each a massage tomorrow.  Eric had a fabulous massage by our friend, Rosemary, when he had a bad head/neck ache in New York, right before we left.  He also got a massage in New Paltz, the week after we left, but I haven’t been able to convince him to get another one – until now.  He’s finally giving in and will get one to see if it helps his condition.  Keep your fingers crossed!

We awoke at FLYING FLAGS RV RESORT at a little after 9:00am.  Checkout is not until noon, so we weren’t in any big rush.  This place is beautiful and picturesque, and we were so convenient to the laundry and restrooms, but there were some things I wasn’t happy about.  First of all, for some reason, they keep the doors to the men’s and women’s room propped open, and it’s unusually chilly this week, so it was FREEZING in the bathroom.  Even if it’s 65 degrees, that’s still a cold toilet seat!!!!!

I also wash up every night (Eric takes a shower; I just wash up and take my showers in the morning) and the water in the sinks wouldn’t get hot no matter how long I let it run.  I’ve noticed that problem in some campgrounds.  I guess they save money by keeping the thermostat really low on the sinks, and just give you hot water in the showers.  It’s no fun washing your face with cold water, while standing in a cold bathroom, so I wasn’t thrilled.

I found out this morning that the showers were nice, and they have paper towels, which is very important to me, so they get a “thumbs up” in that regard, but I still didn’t want to stay another day.

You may be wondering why I love paper towels in the bathroom so much.  It’s because I like to put them down on the floor when I take a shower, so I don’t step out of the shower onto a dirty floor.  I step on the paper towels, dry off my feet and put my shoes back on.  Also, I like to dry off all my accoutrements (shampoo, conditioner, etc.) before putting them back in my little green plastic basket, so if I have paper towels, I don’t have to use my own bath towel.  Okay, I’m fussy, I admit it!

I feel like after 10,000 miles and 90 days I could write a book called “Campgrounds We have Known,” but I’m sure any RV’er could do the same.  I know we’ve stayed in at least 40 different campgrounds, but I will do a final count when we’re settled in San Diego.  Some campgrounds are fabulous – luxurious and with wonderful amenities; some are nice – clean and friendly; some are okay; some leave a LOT to be desired.  This one was REALLY nice except for the freezing cold bathrooms and lack of hot water in the sinks!

Since I wasn’t thrilled with the amenities at this place and I thought it was a waste of time and gas to go 42 miles to Santa Barbara and then go 42 miles back up to Buellton, just to go 42 miles back down tomorrow (on our way to Los Angeles), I found us another place to stay tonight, which is 46 miles south of Santa Barbara.

When we were in Santa Barbara on our honeymoon, 23 years ago, we had the BEST time.  It was so beautiful, so quaint, so lovely and clean, so luxurious.  We were very curious to see how it would be so many years later.

Eric still had a very bad headache this morning, so I made him an appointment for a massage in Santa Barbara at CAMILLE, the day spa and salon, right on State Street.  That’s the main strip in Santa Barbara and the street where they hold the annual Summer Solstice Parade, which is VERY popular.

When Eric and I arrived here 23 years ago, it was Summer Solstice and we got to see the parade, which is a very big deal here.  It was really fun.  We had perfect timing in so many ways on our Honeymoon.

For instance, the day we left San Francisco, the cable cars were coming back after being renovated for 2 years.  They had a big celebration in Union Square Park, which was right across the street from the St. Francis Hotel, where we were staying.  We got to enjoy the whole celebration, including Tony Bennett singing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco!”

While Eric gets his massage, I’m getting a cut and color.  I’m VERY jealous that I’m not getting a massage, but I don’t need it the way he does, and at least I’m getting something accomplished!  I just hope this helps him, as this is his third day with the headache, and he’s no fun at all when he feels this bad (don’t tell him I said that).

Eric agreed to let me drive to Santa Barbara, since his head was really hurting, and it’s just 42 miles on 101 South, so he relaxed in the back while I drove.  It was really a beautiful drive.  Mountains on the left; ocean on the right – but far enough away that I wasn’t afraid I’d drive off a cliff.  It was smooth sailing, and we arrived by 1:30pm.  I immediately found a Starbucks and then we parked on a side street and Eric rested while I went shopping!  I window shopped at some clothing stores, art galleries, book stores and children’s stores.

Then, just my luck – I found a fabulous vintage shop right on State Street around the corner from where we parked!  VICTORIAN VOGUE & COSTUME is a huge store that not only sells costumes, clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, accessories and wigs, but also rents them!

I spoke to the two young girls running the shop and they told me that they are moving within a few weeks to another location further up on State Street.  I know it will be a HUGE job to move all their merchandise, because this place is packed from floor to ceiling and the store is really big.

You can imagine my shock when I saw they had a giant leopard shoe chair -- just like the one I had in MY shop (see photo, above, of the one I owned)!  I told them about mine and said it was such a great conversation piece.  I sometimes regret that I sold it, but knew it really wasn't the kind of thing I would have shipped to San Diego!

Their store is really organized and everything is beautifully displayed.  There are racks and racks of clothing, and each rack is organized by decade.  I found an adorable dress on the ‘50s rack, which was only $24.  I tried it on and it doesn’t quite fit, but I know it will as soon as I lose a few pounds, so I bought it.  I figured $24 isn’t a big investment, even if I stay fat!!

They had costume jewelry that had me drooling – a really beautiful collection – but I resisted.  I don’t know how I managed to be so strong, but I was!!!  I told them about my shop and gave them my business card.  I don’t know if they’ll check me out, but I’m proud of what I accomplished in PEPPY’S DREAM and love my website (my friend, Katie, does such a wonderful job), so I’m happy to show off!

At 4:00pm we went to CAMILLE.  They started Eric off with a sauna (which he didn’t like) and I got my roots touched up.  Marie, who did my hair, was adorable and we talked about life in New York, Santa Barbara, San Diego and thereabouts.  I told her that Eric and I honeymooned here 23 years ago.  I asked her if "Litte Audrey's" was still on State Street and she laughed, because she remembered it well, but said it closed about 12 years ago and there was an Indian restaurant there now.  I was so disappointed.  I told her we stood in front of that restaurant when we watched the Summer Solstice Parade.  Alas, time marches on.

After his sauna, Eric took a fast shower and then had an hour massage.  After my touch-up I got a trim, and read magazines for a while until he came out.  He felt better, but not much.  I was hoping for a miraculous recovery, like he had when Rosemary gave him a massage in New York.  She’s the only one so far who really had an impact on his condition.

I had found out from Marie that the restaurant we ate at 23 years ago (Chuck’s Waterfront Grill) was still open, so I was hoping Eric would feel well enough to go there for dinner.  Unfortunately, he didn’t and we had a 45 mile drive to Santa Paula to FAR WEST RESORTS, so we just got back in the RV and headed south on 101.

This campground sits on 70 acres and includes tent camping and RVs.  It is one of those campgrounds in the middle of nowhere, which I don’t like at all.  I much prefer the ones in urban settings, some of which are a block off the highway or freeway (even if they’re around the corner from the railroad).

This one was about 6 miles off the highway, on roads that had no lights at all – just reflectors on the ground.  If there weren’t good signs we would have been sunk because, for some reason, Betty told us to go left when the signs pointed right.  Although we usually have all the faith in the world in our GPS system, we ignored her and followed the signs (which, of course, were right).

There was no one in the office when we pulled up, but there was a sign that said to push the red button and speak into the intercom.  Believe it or not, someone spoke back and they soon appeared.  I registered and we drove to our site.  The first thing we did was go to the bathrooms.  It was so dark we EACH had to hold a flashlight.

The building was only about 200 feet away, but you had to climb up about 30 cement steps (no exaggeration) to get to the “clubhouse” where there were two private bathrooms, each with a sink, toilet and shower, and a big room where some old ladies were playing cards.  Thank goodness Eric was with me, because the faucet in the bathroom was the kind that you have to hold down to get water to come out.  It’s almost impossible to wash your face with one hand, while the other is keeping the water going, so he held it down while I washed up, and then I did the same for him.

Oh, I forgot to mention.  I was going to take a shower (I like to take a shower after getting my hair cut, because I feel all “hairy”), but the showers require quarters and, since we didn’t know in advance, we didn’t bring any money with us.  Eric offered to go all the way back to the RV to get some, but I figured I could just wait until morning.  He’s so good, even when he’s in pain!

We walked back to the RV and heated up leftovers for dinner.  My leftovers were from breakfast in Gilroy.  His were from dinner at Pea Soup Anderson’s last night in Buellton.  It’s funny how we sometimes have leftovers from different towns, and even different states!  Knock wood, the fridge has been working lately!

Now, if I just had something for dessert…

We have no cable, so Eric just went straight to sleep.  We’re both hoping and praying that he feels a lot better in the morning.  If he does, we may go back to Santa Barbara to walk around State Street and have lunch or dinner at that restaurant.  If not, we will just head south and I will drive.

If this place was closer to civilization, and it wasn’t so far to the bathrooms, we might have stayed another day, but this is one of those places where you go to “get away from it all,” and that’s not what we’re looking for.

I told Eric I think this place would be a good setting for a horror movie.  He said it was just because it was dark, but it’s more than that.  It’s the fact that you have to go so far just to tinkle!  I could just see some poor girl returning from the bathrooms in the middle of the night, walking down the cement steps, when suddenly she senses someone behind her.  She turns to see a madman rushing at her with a knife (or hatchet or ax or something sharp and menacing).  She starts to run down the steps, but they’re very steep and she’s wearing flip-flops.  She trips and falls.  I haven’t thought beyond that, but you have to admit – it’s scary!

Now, Eric’s sleeping and I’ve creeped myself out.  I have to go lock the back door.  Help me!!

What a difference the light of day makes!  The campground we stayed at last night, which seemed like the creepy setting for a murder mystery, was a tranquil wonderland this morning, complete with views of the mountains, gardens and wild peacocks.  Lots of them!

I had seen in their brochure “Campground Rules and Info” that it said, “Peacocks: Do not chase them.”  I wasn’t sure what that meant until I went up the 30 cement steps to the bathrooms this morning to take my shower.

Imagine my surprise when I saw two female peacocks walking along.  I made a point of NOT chasing them and when I got back and told Eric, he said he had seen them, too.  Then, we saw a male and I went to take pictures.

By the time we left at noon, there were about 20 males and females all around our RV.  They were sitting on picnic tables, on fences, and walking around.  The males were extending their beautiful feathered tails and shaking them at the females, trying to find a mate.  It was so interesting to watch!  I’m a real bird lover, so I was thrilled.

We decided not to go back to Santa Barbara, even though Eric was feeling much better.  His headache was pretty much gone, but he still had a stiff neck.  He wanted to take it easy, so we decided to head south to Los Angeles.  We wanted to see my cousins and we knew Friday night wasn’t good for them, so we figured if we headed down today, we would be able to see them tonight.  My cousin, Ilene, lives with her family in Los Angeles.  Her sister, Karen, lives with her family in Malibu.  I found out that we wouldn’t be able to get together with Karen, but Ilene said they would be able to see us tonight.

It was only about an hour’s drive from Santa Paula to L.A. and we got to the campground, BIRMINGHAM RV PARK on Balboa Boulevard, at about 1:30pm.  I registered and then we left to grab a bite and run some errands.  We ate at BRAMI’S KOSHER PIZZA on Sherman Way.  It was a vegetarian/Kosher restaurant with a great menu of Italian, Mexican and American dishes.  We each had a bowl of vegetable soup and I had a veggie quesadilla and Eric had a tostado salad, which was a lot of great veggies and beans in a tostado bowl.  I love when you can eat the dishes!  The food was really good.

I also wanted to get a manicure/pedicure and had seen a place about a mile or two down on Balboa, so we went by there and they were able to take me without an appointment.  I was lucky, because after I started my pedicure, about 4 women came in and they were too busy to take them, so I had good timing!

We got back to the campground at around 4:15pm.  Eric and I freshened up and changed our clothes and headed out at about 4:45pm.  We told Ilene we’d be at their house by 5:30pm, and we only had to go about 20 miles, so we figured 45 minutes was more than enough time, even with traffic (which Ilene had warned us about).

As it turned out, the traffic was really bad (and Betty didn’t take us on the best route), so it took us over an hour.  We finally got to their house, which is on a beautiful block in a lovely, residential neighborhood that is just a hop, skip and a jump from all the Los Angeles “hot spots” like Melrose Avenue, Sunset Boulevard, and Hollywood Boulevard.  They’re far enough away from it all to lead a “suburban life” but really are in the heart of L.A.

We were so happy to see Ilene, Kyle, Tyler (14), Evan (11) and Elise (4).  We got a tour of their great house, which is almost 100 years old.  You know how I love old things, and this house has so much character.  They’ve recently renovated, adding a master suite (with a fabulous bathroom and a to-die-for walk-in closet) and an additional half bath in another bedroom.

Evan, the soccer player, in his room:

Elise, the adorable cutie-pie, in her room: 

Tyler, the surfer, in his room:

The place is decorated beautifully, with a combination of vintage and new pieces, some in the mission style, which is perfect for the architecture of the house.  They are still working on the landscaping, which will finish off the front and back of the house.

The family, standing in front of the Mercedes that Ilene won in a radio contest!

After the tour, we piled into their minivan and headed to dinner at MAGGIANO’S Little Italy in THE GROVE, which is a gorgeous new outdoor mall not too far from their house.  This is also the location of the original Farmer’s Market, but they built all around it and added tons of stores, a movie theater and outdoor kiosks selling all sorts of items.

The restaurant is beautiful and they have a great menu.  We decided to eat “family style” and got to choose two appetizers (calamari and stuffed mushrooms), two salads (Caesar and chopped with bleu cheese), two pastas (Fettuccini Alfredo and Eggplant Parmigiana (don’t ask, I didn’t understand how eggplant was a pasta choice either)), and two entrees (Chicken Piccata: Chicken breasts sautéed with capers, lemon, white wine and parsley, and Salmon Lemon & Herbs: Filet of salmon sautéed with fresh herbs and spinach; served with a light lemon sauce).  There was so much food and each dish was better than the one before it.  I enjoyed every bite.  We had Tiramisu and Maggiano’s Signature Spumoni (made especially for them – a blend of pistachio, chocolate and cherry ice cream).  Wow!  It was SO delicious.

We left and decided to walk around the outdoor mall a little.  Evan hurt his leg playing soccer, so he stayed behind with Kyle while the rest of us walked around for a few minutes.  They have a lot of great stores in this mall.  I’m not a mall person at ALL (I much prefer flea markets, antique shops and garage sales), but even I was impressed with how beautiful this place was.

Some whimsical art in a gallery at THE GROVE:

Elise goes for a ride, while big brother Tyler stands by:

Me and Eric with our new haircuts (Eric did his himself!):

Tyler, Elise and Ilene in front of the fountain:

After a short tour of the mall, we walked back to the restaurant and got back in the minivan to head back to their house.  When we got inside, Ilene had gifts for us!  Ilene has worked for the Beverly Hills Police Department for the past 13 years and presented us with two white sweatshirts with the Beverly Hills Police emblem in black.  They are so cool!

She also gave us a gift bag with all sorts of goodies.  From reading our blog every day, she knows how much we love chocolate, so there were gourmet chocolates.  She read how we’re always using flashlights at night, so she gave us key chains with a small flashlight at the end.  We got a Beverly Hills Police Department litter bag for the RV, a special key chain that separates, so you can have one part with your car keys and the other part with your house keys (very cool), and “Junior Police Officer, Beverly Hills Police” stickers shaped like badges, which Ilene said they really give to kids when they get a tour of the police department!

Best of all, she gave us fresh brownies she had baked the night before, which of course we tasted as soon as we got back to the campground.  They were delicious – moist and chewy!

It was so much fun to get all those cool souvenirs of our night with our wonderful cousins.  Tyler and Evan have grown into fine young men and it was a pleasure to spend an evening with them.  Elise is a little doll and reminds me SO much of Ilene when she was the same age.  They have the same face and both have such endearing personalities.

After we got all our gifties, we gave them the tour of the RV (which we always refer to as the 3-minute tour).  They enjoyed seeing where we’ve been living for the last 12 weeks.  Kids always love the RV.  It just makes so much sense to them to drive around with your whole house with you, and it’s very cozy.  Evan even said he wants to live in an RV!

This night is one we will always remember.  We’re so happy to be on the West Coast now and know that we will now be closer to the cousins we didn’t get to see for so long, because we were so many miles away.  We are going to see Karen and her family tomorrow, so we’re looking forward to that!

Ilene and Kyle told us a better way to go home – the scenic route, passing through Hollywood to get to 101 North, so we didn’t even need to use Betty!

We stayed in bed until 10:00am this morning.  We took showers and left the campground to find a drug store, because I still hadn’t gotten my prescription refilled.  We found a RITE-AID on Saticoy Street, just a few blocks from BIRMINGHAM RV PARK.  It was in a big shopping center.  When we pulled in, I said to Eric, “If they have a Starbucks here, I’ll be the happiest girl in the whole U.S.A.!”  Eric turned his head to the left and said, “There’s a Starbucks right there!”  I couldn’t believe it!

My cousins, Audrey and Minna, in Las Vegas will remember the song Donna Fargo wrote and sang in 1972, part of which went:

Skip-a-dee-doo-dah
Thank you, Lord, for making him for me
And thank you for letting life turn out
The way that I always thought it could be
There once was a time
When I could not imagine
How it would feel, to say
I'm the happiest girl
In the whole U.S.A.

Minna used to play that record so much that we all knew every word.  I still think it’s a great song.  Recently the song was sung by actress Daveigh Chase, in a 2007 episode of the HBO television series Big Love.

I put in my prescription and they told me it would be ready in an hour, so we decided to go to a restaurant right in the shopping center called ROUND TABLE PIZZA.  We had never seen or heard of it before, so we didn’t realize it was kind of a “fast food” place, but they had a salad bar and a nice turkey club, so we decided to stay.  I had the personal pizza (which is smaller than a 45 record -- 6.5" -- 4 slices) and the “one trip” salad bar.  (Do they arrest you if you go back for seconds, or just humiliate you in front of all the other customers?)  Eric had the turkey club, which came with a bag of Lays potato chips.  Okay, so it wasn’t the best meal we’ve had in 13 weeks, but it was just fine.

After we finished eating, I still hadn’t gotten a call from Rite-Aid that my prescription was ready, so we went into the RV and both read our books for a while.

I spoke to my cousin, Karen, and we made definite plans to meet for dinner tonight.  Then, I spoke to my friend, Joe, and we made plans to meet for lunch tomorrow.  So, our schedule was all set!

Eric said his eyes were closing, so he decided to lie down on the couch for a nap and I continued to read, then walked to Rite-Aid to get my prescription, and then walked over to Starbucks.  I saw that it was a drive-through, and walked all around the building, looking for the entrance.  I saw a door marked “Employees Only”, a window, where you could order while standing outside, and the drive through window, but I didn’t see the main door.

I walked over to the drive-through window and knocked.  A young man came to the window, saw I was standing there, and looked at me strangely.  “Where’s the entrance?” I asked.  He pointed to the other side of the building, so I walked around to the window on the opposite side.  He opened the window and I said, “How do you get inside?”  He said, “You don’t get inside – you just stand here and order, or drive through.”  Well, color me stupid, because in 11,000 miles, and many, many Starbucks (including all the ones in Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island), I had NEVER seen one that was just a walk up or drive through!  They didn’t have cake or cookies or sandwiches or yogurt or anything but COFFEE!  It was mind-boggling to me!  I ordered my latte and walked back to the RV.

Eric and I headed back to the campground.  He took a shower while I relaxed and answered some emails.  I’ve been really bad lately about getting back to people (and if you wrote me and haven’t heard back, I apologize!).  It’s just that by the time we get back into the RV in the evening, I spend an hour or two on the blog and then go to bed!

Anyway, my cousin Karen had kindly offered to pick us up and drive us to dinner since the restaurant we were going to was in Beverly Hills and apparently it’s hard to park around there – especially with an RV!  She picked us up around 7:00pm and drove us to CRUSTACEAN, a fabulous Vietnamese seafood restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard.  Her husband, Mark and their son, Max, were going to meet us there, along with Ilene and Kyle.  So, we were really looking forward to it.

From the moment you walk in, you are entertained.  You can “Walk on Water, because they have a “stream” running through the restaurant, under a glass floor, with big koi swimming around.  It was so cool!

We hung out in the cocktail lounge for a while, listening to a jazz quartet, and then were shown upstairs to our table.  The owners, the An family, consists of three generations of women.  One daughter designed the interior, a recreation of her grandparents’ French Colonial estate in Hanoi.  The restaurant has been the focus of articles in USA Today, InStyle, E, Style Channel, and CNN.  I love Asian décor, so it really appealed to me.

Eric, Karen and Mark started with Yellow Corn Soup with Crab Meat.  Then, we ordered three entrees to share: Roasted Crab – Cracked whole Dungeness crab, AN’s garlic sauce and secret spices; Colossal Royal Tiger Prawns – charbroiled with AN’s Famous Garlic Noodles; and Whole Maine Lobster – charbroiled with AN’s Famous Garlic Noodles.  Karen and Ilene had both spoken about how fantastic the garlic noodles were, so we decided to get two dishes with the noodles, and even got a big bowl of just garlic noodles.  They were THAT good!

Kyle and Eric at Crustacean:

For dessert, we shared a serving of “Special Trio” which was Pink Ginger Ice Cream, Blackberry Cabernet Sorbet (I kept saying it tasted like wine!) and Apple Sorbet; a Tiramisu, and a Chocolate Lava Cake.  Tasty!

As a Pescetarian (someone who doesn’t eat meat or chicken, but eats fish), I was thrilled with the menu and knew – just by the name of the restaurant – that this place would be right up my alley. I was right!  Karen made a great choice and we all enjoyed it.

The Jazz Quartet:

Karen, Max and Mark:

The whole crew:

After dinner, we all parted ways and Karen drove us back to the campground.  We have been so lucky to see so much family lately – Audrey and Minna in Vegas, and now Ilene, Kyle, Tyler, Evan, Elise, and Karen, Mark and Max.  We missed seeing Jason, Karen and Mark’s younger son, as he wasn’t able to come to dinner tonight.  We know we will be seeing more of them all, now that we are all on the same coast (or close to it)!

This is how our day ended.  Read on to find out how this happened. 

We decided to stay over one more day in Los Angeles, so we could see our cousins again tonight.  We woke up at Birmingham RV Resort and just relaxed until it was time to meet our friends, Joe and Miguel, at THE SPORTSMEN’S LODGE on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City.

Miguel and Joe at The Sportsmen's Lodge:

We were a little late (due to traffic – what else?) and Joe and Miguel were already waiting for us on the Patio.  We had a lovely table outside, but there was actually a heater above my head, which kept me toasty warm even though we were in the shade.  I had a salad with grilled salmon.  Eric had a Cajun chicken sandwich.  Joe had an omelet and Miguel had a Baja salad.  The portions were so huge, I kept digging into my salad and felt like I was making headway, but it never seemed to get smaller!

We hung around talking and reminiscing.  Joe and I went to college together and did shows together.  He’s a great actor and has been living in LA for a long time.  He’s done tons of work on TV and some movies, too.  He’s also a playwright and director and Eric and I saw his play, when it was produced in Brooklyn last year.  I always tell Joe I'm his biggest fan.

We could have stayed there all day, talking and laughing.  Eric and Miguel are both mountain bikers, so they talked a lot about trails they’ve ridden and their favorite places to ride.

The area where we sat had pictures of famous cowboys of TV and the silver screen:

After lunch, we decided to go to JERRY’S RESTAURANT & DELI, just a couple of blocks down Ventura Boulevard.  Joe and Miguel piled into the RV with us and we gave them the 3-minute tour and then took them for a little ride a couple of blocks to Jerry’s for dessert.  I had a red velvet cupcake, which was almost as delicious as the piece of red velvet cake I had in Memphis, when we went to Graceland.  Remember – it was Elvis’s favorite dessert!

We then piled back into the RV and took them back to their car at The Sportsmen’s Lodge.  We thought we had parted ways, and Eric and I got on 101 South to go to my cousin, Ilene’s house, when my phone rang.  It was Joe.  He and Miguel were in their truck, right behind us!  I ran to the back window and waved at them, and they waved back.  It was so funny!

We went to Ilene and Kyle’s and they drove us (in the silver Mercedes that Ilene won in a radio contest) to THE STINKING ROSE.  We had been to the one in San Francisco with our friend, Jimmy, and I told Eric I wanted to try to go to the one in Beverly Hills, because it was so delicious.  This place was a little fancier, but we sat in “Dracula’s Grotto” which was a lot of fun.

We didn’t think we’d be hungry, since we were just finishing dessert with Miguel and Joe at 4:00pm, but the food is SO good at THE STINKING ROSE that you just HAVE to eat!  We started with the Bagna Calda, (Garlic soaking in a hot tub): “Garlic cloves, oven-roasted extra virgin olive oil and butter with a hint of anchovy.  A wonderful treat for spreading on our house-baked focaccia bread.  Served at your table in an iron skillet.”   It was just as good as we remembered!

A scary chair in the Ladies' Room.  In case you can't read the sign, it says, "If This Chair is Comfortable -- You're Pregnant!"  I wanted to go back with Ilene, so we could both try it, but we never did!

Then, we ordered a small tureen of garlic-steamed clams and lightly breaded asparagus.  Yum!
For the entrée, I ordered Smoked Salmon-filled Ravioli with lemon butter caper sauce.  I was surprised when it arrived to see that the ravioli was black, but it tasted exactly the same as regular ravioli – FANTASTIC!

This picture hung above our table.  It's a Chagall with a "garlic twist."  They have many famous paintings, like the Mona Lisa, and Botticellis' Birth of Venus, but with garlic added to the portraits.  Very clever!

Eric had a half rack of the Garlic Encrusted Baby Back Ribs.  Ilene had the Garlic Braised Boneless Short Rib.  Kyle had the Forty Clove Garlic Chicken roasted on the bone.  Everyone agreed that the food at this place is just first rate.

We decided to go someplace else for dessert, but first we wanted to visit the Beverly Hills Police Department, where Ilene works.  The building is SO fancy, it looks more like a palace than a place of business!  It’s really gorgeous with blue tile work and other interesting architectural details.

Eric stands by the posters from BEVERLY HILLS COP I, II, and III:

We saw the office where she works, met a lot of her co-workers, and went on a tour of the different floors and different departments. 

Ilene with a life-size photo of a police officer:

Ilene stands beside part of a huge collection of police patches from all over the world.  There are many, many more on display in the station.  

We went to central booking and we got to see where people who are arrested are fingerprinted, get to make their phone call, and the cells where they are detained.

It was all interesting, and a little scary!

Eric sees it's not much fun in a holding cell!

That’s how Eric ended up in a cell and having his mug shot taken (and what a mug!). 

Ilene and her co-worker, Cora: 

After that, we went to IL CONO GELATERIA for some gelato (what else?).  We decided to bring home a bunch of flavors, because Karen and Mark were going to meet us back at Ilene and Kyle’s house.

We got back to their house and Karen and Mark arrived soon after.  We ate the gelato, and Ilene made Oatmeal Cookies (what a girl!).  We hung out for about an hour, and then we parted ways and came back to the campground.  It was so great to see them all over the past 3 days.  I'm so happy to know we will be seeing a lot more of each other.

We are finally leaving L.A. tomorrow, and heading to Murietta, which is not far from San Diego, to meet Robyn and Sal.  They were friends of my niece, Melissa, and her husband, David, back in New York.  They made the same move from New York to California in April, and recommended MAYFLOWER movers, which we used for our move.  We’ve been talking on the phone and emailing for months and will finally meet tomorrow.  I can’t wait!  I just feel sorry for them both, because Eric and I are going to STINK of garlic!!!!

Eric and I left our home in Whitestone on August 11th, so I always counted that as the starting date of our adventure.  Since today is November 11th, that means we’ve been on the road for exactly three months, which turns out to be thirteen weeks, or 94 days.  I know – it’s confusing.  Don’t you always think of three months as 90 days or 12 weeks?  Sometimes it may be -- but sometimes it's not!

We checked out of our campground and ate breakfast at a small diner called HEART’S COFFEE SHOP, on the corner of Saticoy and Balboa in Van Nuys.  It was owned and operated by an Asian family and the food was fantastic.  Eric had eggs with hash browns and pancakes.  I had a grilled tuna melt on rye and asked for tomato on the sandwich.  The tomato doesn’t come with it, I just like it on my grilled cheese or tuna melts.  When we ordered, the waitress asked me if I wanted a side of mashed potatoes, potato salad or a green salad.  I said I’d like potato salad.

When the bill came, there were so many items on it and we couldn’t figure out what was what, so we called the waitress over to the table.  It turns out $1.50 was for the 2 slices of tomato on my grilled tuna melt.  $1.65 was for the potato salad.  I told her I thought it came with it and she said, “No.  Don’t you remember?  I asked you if you wanted a SIDE of mashed potatoes, potato salad or a green salad?”

Now, I’m asking you, if someone took your order for a sandwich, and then asked you if you wanted a “side” of several different items, wouldn’t you think it was included?  Why did she offer it to me?  If I wanted it, wouldn't I just have ordered it?  I really felt like arguing with her, because it seemed SO ridiculous and I felt like I was “tricked” into ordering it, because it’s not like I NEEDED it.  I just thought it came with it (although it WAS really good potato salad!).  Anyone who knows me knows I’m not cheap, and it was just $1.65, but I still resented paying it (although I did), because it was under-handed.

After breakfast, we walked across the street and went into the AMIN THRIFT SHOP.  Eric had a great time going through all the albums, and I bought a beautiful black and silver rhinestone pin for $10!

After that, I got my Starbucks, we filled up on gas, and we finally left L.A.  We had such a good time with our friends and family, and we really like L.A., but we knew we had to leave and go to San Diego eventually!  Luckily, we had a fun diversion this afternoon.  We stopped in Murietta (about 45 minutes north of San Diego) to meet Robyn and Sal, who moved here from New York in April.  They are friends of our niece, Melissa, and her husband, David.

We arrived at their beautiful 4-bedroom house at around 4:00pm.  They live on a cul-de-sac in a lovely neighborhood.  It's so nice, because there's no through traffic and there were a lot of children playing in the street.  It reminded me of our house on Leggett Place, because although it wasn't a cul-de-sac, the way the streets ran, there was also no through traffic.

Their house is only 2 years old.  They have a 2-car garage, a lovely backyard, a big, roomy kitchen, a living room, dining room, master bedroom suite, with a beautiful bathroom, and closets – tons and tons of closets!  They have walk-in closets, double closets, pantries, and regular closets.  I told them I’m really jealous, because I know I’ll be lacking closet space when we get a small apartment and, even with a condo, you don’t get the same closets you get in a house.

Robyn and Sal at The Fish House, Vera Cruz:

We went to a nearby restaurant called THE FISH HOUSE – VERA CRUZ.  It was so much fun.  They have giant fish tanks everywhere with beautiful, colorful fish.  The décor is very nautical and even the handles on the bathroom doors were shaped like fish!  The mirror in the ladies’ room was surrounded with seashells, very much like the one I made, which I sold in my shop (it’s on my website – in case you’re interested -- http://www.peppysdream.com/baseashells.html)

To start, we ordered clams and oysters on the half shell, steamed mussels and fried calamari strips.  I ordered the scallops on a skewer, cooked with bacon (so they tasted delicious!); Robyn had the lobster/king crab combo; Eric had the rainbow trout; and Sal had Thresher shark.  Everything was so delicious.  This is really my kind of place, especially since I only eat seafood!

We didn’t have time for dessert, because tonight we are staying at PECHANGA RV RESORT (which is on an Indian Reservation, with a casino and hotel), and the office closes at 8:00pm.  They said if we came late, it would be no problem staying here, but we wouldn’t be able to get the card keys necessary to open the doors to the bathrooms and showers.  Since we only like to use the bathrooms at the campground and not the one in the RV, that was a big problem.

We left Robyn and Sal at 7:34pm and RACED to the campground, which was only 20 minutes away.  We got here at 8:55pm and the office was still open.  I registered and we drove to our site, which is right near the restrooms.  These are some of the nicest bathrooms I have seen in any campground across the country.  Luxurious!  First of all, we stayed at another campground, in Williams, Arizona, where they had card keys, but they were the kind you had to insert into a slot and they didn’t work very well.  You had to try at least 20 times before they’d open.  Eric HATED the card keys, so I was nervous about that happening again.

Fortunately, these are the kind that you just hold up to a red light and it flashes green and the door unlocks instantly.  I opened the door, the lights automatically came on, and I saw before me a fabulous huge room with cream tiled floors with a turquoise and terra cotta design.  The bathroom and shower stalls were terra cotta colored – clean and looking brand new.  The faucets come on automatically, when you stick your hand under the faucet.  They have paper towels (love that!), the toilet paper was 2 ply, and very soft.  There was soap in the soap dispenser, and the showers were big and pristine.

The other thing we love about this place is that everything is paved with either cement or asphalt.  We hate places that have gravel, dirt or sand, because you track it into the RV every time you come and go.  We’re a little neurotic about dirt, so this is really great!  If this place wasn’t so far from San Diego, I told Eric we’d definitely stay here until we found an apartment.

Eric happily watched THE SIMPSONS, KING OF THE HILL, FAMILY GUY and AMERICAN DAD, while I worked on the computer.  He’ll be asleep soon, and I’ll finish up today’s blog entry (my 94th) and then go to sleep, dreaming about finding the perfect apartment in San Diego.  We have a wonderful realtor, Bonnie, helping us, so I’m sure it won’t be too hard.  I can’t wait to start looking.  It’s all very exciting.  We are finally on to the next phase of our life!

We woke up at PECHANGA RV RESORT in Temecula and wanted to get some laundry done in their Laundromat before leaving, but two of their four machines were out of order, and since I had at least three loads, we decided to leave and do laundry in San Diego.

We stopped nearby and had brunch at THE BARLEY HOUSE WEST, which was in a big shopping center that was still under construction.  It looked like the restaurant had just opened – maybe even last week.  To give you an example of how new the restaurant was, the waitress didn’t know if they had ginger ale.  She knew all the beers (it’s really more of a tavern that serves food), but not the other drinks.  She even mentioned something about them not telling her what sodas they have when she was in training.

Their motto is “Big Beer, Big Food, Big Flavor.”  They serve everything in two sizes: “big” and “small/side.”  Eric ordered a cup (small) of beef barley soup and a small/half veggie burger (portabella mushrooms and roasted red peppers, over a vegetable patty with red pepper tarter on a bulky) and I got a cup of clam chowder with a half/side of salmon Caesar salad (grilled salmon, seasoned croutons, crisp romaine and classic dressing).

The waitress brought us the soups first, and as I was eating it, I felt a piece of clam that was very chewy.  I finally took the piece out of my mouth and looked at it, and it was a piece of white rubber, about ¾” long, but about the thickness of a piece of spaghetti.  I showed it to Eric, and then we called the waitress over, to show it to her.  She offered me another bowl, but I told her I assumed that the next bowl would come from the same pot, so what’s the use?  I told her the rest of the soup was delicious, it’s just that there was a piece of RUBBER in it!  I said, “Maybe you should show it to someone,” meaning her manager.

She brought us the rest of our meal, which was delicious (and we didn’t find anything in it), but she never mentioned the rubber piece again, or apologized for it, or anything, which really bothered me.

When we got the bill, we saw we were charged for both soups.  I have such a big mouth all the time, but I was too shy to demand to see the manager, or make a big fuss, but I told Eric I didn’t want to tip her, because I thought it was her responsibility to make sure the customer was happy (if only to get a good tip).  Eric said to just leave her $2.00, instead of the $5.00 we would have left on a $27 tab (he's a softie).  I did, and wrote on the bill “I wasn’t happy with the piece of rubber in my soup” and circled the soup on the bill.  What would it have meant to them to NOT charge me for a cup of soup?  The soup was $3.99, but what does it cost them?  If I lived in the neighborhood, I would never go to that restaurant again.

I know I just complained yesterday about the "potato salad incident" and today I’m complaining about rubber in my soup, but I hardly ever have a complaint and we’ve eaten out 2 or 3 meals a day for 95 days – YOU do the math!

So, we left Temecula and drove the 60 miles to San Diego.  On the drive down, we saw lots of burned trees, shrubs and land, but no houses.  I’m glad, because that really would have upset me.  It was bad enough seeing all the blackened terrain to the left and right of the highway.  That highway must definitely have been closed during the fires, because they burned so close to either side.  I mentioned to Eric how lucky we were that we went there when we did in October, because we would either have been trapped in San Diego, or unable to get there in the first place.  Our timing was perfect.

We went to a different campground than we stayed at last time.  MISSION BAY RV RESORT is right across the bay from CAMPLAND ON THE BAY (where we stayed last time).  It’s a little less fancy, but it’s all paved and CAMPLAND had dirt and sand everywhere, which we hated, so we’re much happier here.  It’s also $10 cheaper per day!

I registered and we went and checked out our site, then left to go to the Laundromat.  I got my Starbucks and did three big loads of laundry while Eric read in the RV.  Two hours later I was done, and we came back to the campground.  Eric continued to read while I took a nap.

When I woke up we drove to our new favorite sushi restaurant -- HAIKU JAPANESE RESTAURANT  on Garnet Avenue, which is the first place we went to on our last trip to San Diego a few weeks ago, before the fires.  We went there twice in the four days we were here last time.

This time, we had shumai, soft shell crab tempura and three rolls: Philadelphia, Special Shrimp Tempura, and Spicy Tuna.

Everything was SO good.  We love sushi!!! 

After that we walked down Garnet to the RV, which we had parked right in front of a store we had visited previously.  It’s called THE HIGH ROAD Lifestyle Store “2500 feet of the Coolest Sh-t @ the Beach.”  They sell lots of weird stuff, mostly bongs, pipes, and other smoking paraphernalia, along with beach cruiser bicycles, t-shirts, and – POSTCARDS!!!!  I got some San Diego postcards.  Tony, the guy who works there, was so friendly last time we were in town, and he actually remembered us!  He’s adorable.  I got a better look at him this time and noticed that what I thought were rhinestones glued on the outside of his eyes are really body piercings with rhinestones (or diamonds) at the ends.  Last time, Eric didn’t notice, but he did this time.

We told Tony we thought of him when we heard about the fires, because he is the only person we had really talked to when we visited last, and we wondered if he was okay.  He really appreciated that!

When we got back in the RV, I said to Eric, “Tony’s the only friend we have in San Diego!”  It’s been strange traveling across the country and so rarely seeing a familiar face, but it’s a much weirder feeling to “live” someplace and not know anyone.  I have emailed and spoken on the phone to Bonnie, our realtor, who is a very close friend of my cousin, Audrey, but we haven’t met yet!  We’re looking forward to that, because we're anxious to have friends in town!

When we were little, my grandfather used to sing a song to me and my sisters:  "Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you, Getting to like you, Getting to hope you like me..."

The song, from THE KING AND I, always comes to mind when I am in a new situation.  And so it was today, as we drove around San Diego.

We got a very late start today.  When Eric and I go back to work, we are in for a RUDE awakening.  An EARLY awakening, that is!  I have always loved to sleep late, but I was so stressed the last few months in New York that I rarely slept past 6:00am.  The day we started sleeping in the RV, I was so comfy and cozy and started sleeping really well.

Eric, who was always an early riser, rarely slept until 9:00am.  That all changed once we started sleeping in the RV.  We would usually sleep until 9:00am, which was the latest we could stay in bed without really rushing to check out at 11:00am.  Most campgrounds have an 11:00am checkout, but if it’s noon, we’ll usually sleep in until 10:00am.

This morning we both slept until 10:00am.  It’s really not the norm, unless we’re up really late (which we weren’t).  We said that as soon as we get an apartment we’re going to start setting the alarm earlier and earlier, so that we get used to getting up earlier.  I’m sure when I go back to work I’ll have to be up by 6:30am or 7:00am, so I better get used to it!

We called ENTERPRISE this morning (they’ll pick you up!) and they picked us up at 1:00pm.  We got a small silver KIA, which has windows you have to roll down manually and locks you have to open manually.  NOT a luxury automobile, but it’s great on gas and fits into small spots -- perfect for zipping around San Diego.

Amy, the girl who picked us up and handled our paperwork, was adorable and told us about the neighborhoods she liked and where she had lived since she moved here from Colorado six years ago.  She also told us about the cars that ENTERPRISE sells, which are called “BEST BUYS.”  We might check out these cars, because I told Eric that I don’t really care what I use to commute or drive around town.  I just want a reliable set of wheels!  He will probably buy a brand new 2008 Mini Cooper, which is the car he’s wanted for a while.

We got in the car and went to find someplace to have brunch.  We had seen BRUEGGER’S BAGELS a few times and decided to stop in.  It’s kind of like fast food bagels.  You tell them what you want, they make it and you pick out your drink, etc., and put it all on a tray.  I know some delis are like that, too, but this is a chain.

I got a Smoked Salmon bagel, which comes with cream cheese, onion, red pepper and capers.  It was yummy!  Eric got a sesame seed bagel with cream cheese (so very, very plain – even though they had all sorts of fun cream cheeses!).  We also each had a bag of chips – Eric had Jalapeno and I had Lime and Pepper.

Bonnie, our realtor, had sent us an email, before she went on vacation, listing different apartments she thought we would be interested in.  We decided to go visit the buildings (even though we wouldn’t be able to see the exact apartment), so we could check out the neighborhoods.  I had forgotten my notebook with all the addresses and Betty (our GPS system), so we had to go back to the RV. 

We headed out and visited La Jolla (REALLY nice), University City (very nice), and two other neighborhoods (we didn’t know their names), which were just “nice.”  We walked around the buildings where the apartments were and talked to people in the neighborhood, asking them about living in the area.

Eric and I feel that the apartment is more important than the neighborhood, since we’ll only be staying there for about a year.  So, even if the commute isn’t the greatest, or our neighbors aren’t the most considerate, it won’t be forever.  It’s much more important to be fussy about where we buy.

We drove for hours, until it got dark.  Tomorrow, we will be visiting Hillcrest and Mission Beach North, to see what’s available in those neighborhoods.  Eric and I would rather stay closer to “town,” rather than being up in the hills, where it’s definitely more sub-urban.

We worked up an appetite, so we decided to go back to CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, where I had my delicious Veggie Bowl and Eric had his Chicken Burrito.  Their food is SO good – so fresh!  While we were eating, I saw someone I knew (which blew my mind).  It was Amy – from ENTERPRISE!  We called to her and she was surprised to see us, too!  I told her it was such a thrill to see a familiar face, since we really don’t know anybody in town!  She asked us how our day had gone and how we were enjoying the car.  We told her we did a LOT of driving and that everything was going well.

After dinner, we drove around looking for a gelato place (our new favorite dessert), but couldn’t find one, so we ended up at COLD STONE CREAMERY (not a bad alternative).  I got my favorite combination – chocolate and peanut butter.  Eric got cheesecake ice cream with blueberries, strawberries and graham crackers mixed in.  We waited until we got back to the campground to eat our ice cream, but – unfortunately – there was no one at the security gate to let us in and we had left the card key that opens the gate in the RV!  Fortunately, there was a small gate to walk through, and Eric was able to go to the RV and retrieve the card key, so we could get back in!

We settled in for the night, ate our ice cream (yum!) and watched TV.  It’s nice having the rental car, because it just makes getting around town so much easier.  The RV is great, because you always have everything with you, but it’s hard to find big spaces to park, hard to get in and out of parking lots without scraping the bottom of the bike rack on inclines (don’t ask – it drives Eric CRAZY), and it’s a gas guzzler.  Eric said we’ll probably save over $50 a week by driving the KIA around, instead of the RV.

Starting today, we’re renting the RV site and the car week by week.  We’re hoping to rent an apartment and buy a car within the next couple of weeks.  We’re looking forward to going back to Hillcrest tomorrow.  We’ll visit some of our favorite stores, and see what apartments and houses have rentals.  It’s really very exciting!

San Diego is paradise.  It’s mid-November and we’ve not had to put on even a light jacket since we got here.  We were cold all the way down the coast (remember, I had to buy a jacket in Sausalito!), but it’s so warm here we don’t even need to put the heat on at night.  It’s t-shirts all the way.  Paradise, I tell you.  It is supposed to get a little colder next week, but it’s been around 75-80 all week!  THIS is what I moved for.  This is what I live for – winter without cold weather.  It’s inconceivable, but a lot of people who live here take it for granted.

We got another late start this morning (lazy slobs that we are).  We didn’t even leave the campground until 1:00pm.  We decided to go to Hillcrest for lunch at CORVETTE DINER, which we loved when we visited San Diego last month.  This place is SO much fun!  Our server, Scarlett, was the cutest girl with bright red hair and red lipstick.  She had so much personality.  Eric and I just fell in love with her!   The last time we were in, we fell in love with Lulu, our other server.  I think all the waitresses there must audition for the job, rather than interview, because they are such great performers.  Scarlett really is in show business, which came as no surprise!

The first thing they do when you sit down is throw a bunch of straws at you.  It’s really shocking, but then you realize what it is and you just laugh.  They’re all in bowling shirts and Capri pants, or poodle skirts with saddle shoes.  They’re more costumes than uniforms.

I had the Wednesday Special – Vegetable Lasagna.  Eric had the Popeye (spinach) salad.  Both portions were so huge that we brought back enough to have dinner tonight.  We topped it off with the World’s Smallest Brownie Sundae, which was just enough to satisfy our sweet tooth.

After that, we started driving around to look at more rentals that our realtor, Bonnie, had sent me in an email.  We drove to eight places today.  We were in LA JOLLA ("The Jewel"), MISSION HILLS, and PACIFIC BEACH, among others. 

It's so much easier zipping around in our little KIA RIO! 

Some places we looked at were fabulous, some didn’t thrill us at all.  There were a couple that are in a gated community and are very fancy.  The thing is, we won’t use the exercise room, or pool, or club house, or barbecue very much, so it seems like a waste to pay for all that and not even take advantage of it.  We just want a safe place to live, where we will have room to put all 130 boxes we shipped from New York.

My theory is:  We need a place to put the RV.  We need a place to live.  We need a place to store all our stuff, until we move into a condo.  So, if we could find a place where we could park the RV free, that’s big enough to hold all the boxes until we move again (so we don't have to pay for storage), and is in a nice neighborhood, then that would be perfect.  Unfortunately, it’s very hard to find.

Eric says we may as well sell the RV (boo hoo), because we probably won’t have much chance to use it in the next couple of years, at least for more than a long weekend.  He feels that if we sold it, we wouldn’t have to worry about storing it and the money we got would pay for our rent!  That’s all true, but it’s not going to be easy to sell a small RV (at least I don’t think so).

Eric also wishes we could just buy a condo right now, because he hates the thought of settling in and having to move again.  I just don’t want to buy until I really know San Diego, because I want to stay where we buy for a while and I don’t want to regret a “hasty purchase” because it turns out that I work far away, or it’s inconvenient to get there, or the neighborhood isn’t what we thought, etc., etc.  If we rent for a year, we’ll get to know where we really want to live.  It all makes sense to me.  We just have to find a place to rent!

This has become our new job – Eric drives and I plug all the addresses into Betty and navigate us all over town.  It’s not all fun and games.  We were getting on each other’s nerves today.  No cause for alarm.  Nothing we haven’t experienced before.  We’re both a little stressed these days, what with apartments, jobs, and unpacking on our minds.

Yesterday we saw four places; today – eight.  Tomorrow – who knows? 

We got back to the RV around 6:00pm and it was already dark.  Eric decided to go for a ride around the neighborhood.  He hasn’t ridden in about a month (maybe more) and I think it’s driving him crazy.  Maybe he’ll get into a routine of riding every day again, even if it’s not mountain biking.  He got back and was in a much better mood.  He said he explored the area a little, found a great bicycling path and rode about 15 miles, until the light on his handlebars died.  He says he would have stayed out later, if the light had held out!

We had a dinner of leftovers and watched TV.  I’m looking forward to another day out tomorrow, in beautiful San Diego, finding the perfect “love nest” for me and Eric.  I know we will find it, with Bonnie’s help!

Our friend Jimmy in San Francisco is SO funny (which is one reason why we LOVE him so much).  He will send us the funniest pictures of places he’s been and things he’s seen.  Sometimes, he’ll do it just to make us jealous.  Like the picture, below, which he sent in an email tonight with the caption, “Guess where I am?”  It’s the server at GELATERIA NAIA, our favorite gelato spot in San Francisco.  It made me and Eric laugh SO hard.  He knows we would be there every night, if we lived in S.F.

If I'm not mistaken, that's Jimmy's favorite flavor -- pumpkin!

He also sent this picture, asking, “How many more do you need?”  That’s because I insisted on saving the cute plastic cups that the gelato was served in.  I thought you gave the cups back, so they could be washed and re-used, but they just throw them away.  Well, not only am I against that (because I’m into recycling), but they’re so cute and they are the perfect serving of ice cream, sorbet, gelato or pudding, so I washed them and have them in the RV.  Jimmy is slowly building a complete service for me (and I didn't even have to register!), because they come in different sizes and different colors.  So, if you come to visit you can expect to have dessert in a cute little cup like this!

So here’s how our third day of apartment-hunting went:

We started the day with a big brunch at THE BROKEN YOLK CAFÉ (“We’ve Got Huevos!”).  We had wanted to try this place since our last visit, when we first spotted it.  I just loved the name!  It’s a typical diner, which was VERY hard to find in many places across the country.  We’re happy to see they have a great one in San Diego!  This restaurant opened in 1979 and was voted “Best Breakfast.”  I had the tortilla soup and grilled cheese (on rye with tomato) and Eric had the BLT.  Both were really good.  The waitress asked us about New York.  It seems everywhere we go, as soon as we open our mouths, we give ourselves away.  It’s a good thing we’re not on the lam!

So, here’s our day in a nutshell:
1. I plug the address of a prospective apartment/condo/house into Betty;
2. Eric drives us there in our zippy little Kia Rio;
3. We look at the outside of the building/complex/house;
4. I plug the next address into Betty.

We did get to see two apartments on the inside today, since I called to inquire about an apartment and he said he was going over there to show it to someone else and we could come, too.  There were two apartments available in one 8-unit building.  Both were up a long flight of stairs.  The building was in an okay neighborhood on an okay block, but the apartments weren’t that great.  They’re fine for young people, because they were clean and nice, but too small for us, and we really want something a little “fancier.”  If we were 25 and broke, it would be perfect, because the price was right, but I’m happy we can afford something a little better.

We were a little disappointed, because the place we liked best from yesterday’s search was already gone this afternoon.  You have to act fast if you like a place, because the good ones get snatched up really fast.

After five hours out and about, we came back and Eric immediately took a nap while I went on http://sandiego.craigslist.org/ and searched for at least another hour for more apartments we might like.  Since I don’t have a printer in the RV (boo hoo), I have to hand-write all the details of the apartments in my little notebook.  It’s a lot of work reading every ad and writing down the ones that we might like, but it’s worth it -- if we can find a great place to live!

We are ready to take a break (especially Eric), but I really feel like I have to keep searching, so I may go out on my own tomorrow.  I think I can drive the car, program Betty and look at all the places by myself.  If I like the buildings, I can make an appointment to see the apartment and then he’ll go with me.  This part is really pretty boring, since you’re just looking at the outside of the building.  We learned the neighborhoods we like and don’t like, so I’m going to narrow my search dramatically and will only go to the neighborhoods we like best.  Wish me luck!

Today is the 16th.  I will be in my 40s for just one more month.  One month from today I turn 50.  You’d think I was dreading it, but I’m not.  I’m REALLY looking forward to it.  I think 50 is FABULOUS!  I can’t wait to be 50.  I actually started telling people I was 50 months ago.  I always do that.  I’m like 4 year old when it comes to age. 

For instance, I would tell people I’m 45½, which no one over 10 usually does.  Then starting in July (when it was still six months until my next birthday), I’d start saying I was 46.  Who does that?

I always wanted to be older than I was.  I was the youngest of three sisters, so was “the baby.”  I was also always the youngest in my class, since I was born in December, so I was never older than ANYONE.  I also looked so much younger than I was (when I was 18, I looked about 12), so I was anxious to “grow up.”  Well, I’ve finally made it.  As Sally O’Malley says, “I’m 50!”

If you don’t know Sally O’Malley, click here to watch Molly Shannon in a recent SNL skit featuring one of her classic characters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCuYg0PNt2o

When I lived in New York and winter came, I would ALWAYS be miserable.  I would actually cry sometimes, because I hated the cold so much.  I’d go into hibernation.  I didn’t want to do anything, go anywhere.  It was so hard for me to be social in the winter!  About 20 years ago I started talking to Eric about moving.  I used to say to him, “Promise me.  Promise me I will spend my 50th birthday living in San Diego.”  And he did.  And (like all my other dreams), Eric made this one come true.  It doesn’t really matter what else happens – where we live or what job I get – the fact that I live in San Diego and won’t have to freeze on my birthday is SUCH a gift.  It’s the best birthday gift I’ve ever gotten!

So, I haven’t even told you about our day!  Well, we got ANOTHER late start (such a bad routine we’ve gotten into).  We went for brunch to an adorable place called JAVANICAN COFFEE HOUSE in Pacific Beach.  Founded in 1977, it was the first established coffee house in Pacific Beach!  Now, you all know how much I love my STARBUCKS, but Eric and I like to support local businesses and avoid chains at all costs (all chains but Starbucks!).

Eric got a “Works Wrap” with cream cheese, turkey, swiss, cheddar, tomato and sprouts.  I had a “Vegetarian Wrap” with hummus, avocado, cucumber, tomato, sprouts, basil and mixed greens.  They were both SO delicious.  The girl who worked there (and made our wraps) was very interested in our accents and kept trying to achieve the perfect New Yawk accent.  I think she must have been an actress!  Her name is Durae (pronounced like puree).  We told her we were apartment hunting.  We had such a nice conversation and she gave us great advice as to which neighborhoods to look in, and which to avoid.

After brunch, I brought Eric back to the campground, so he could gear up and go for a ride.  I headed out by myself in the KIA RIO with Betty in hand and my notebook at my side.  I looked at about 10 places and even got to see one on the inside (VERY disappointing). 

I really enjoyed driving around town by myself.  Eric and I are really getting to know some of the neighborhoods and I’m loving it!

I finished driving around by late afternoon and headed back to the campground.  What I realized is that Eric and I are too old to “hang” with the kids.  We need a more upscale, sophisticated dwelling and that’s what we’re going to see tomorrow.  I made appointments for us to see four different apartments in three different neighborhoods – Pacific Beach, Hillcrest and Clairemont.

Eric got back about an hour after I did.  He had a nice ride through town, visited BICYCLE WAREHOUSE (which we discovered is VERY close to where we’re staying).  They told him where a trail was, so he rode over there and did a little bit of “off road riding.”  It wasn’t much of a ride for him, but at least he got out two days in a row!  I think he’s feeling good about getting back into a routine.  He’s been pouring over maps trying to figure out which trail he wants to hit next.

I spoke to Bonnie, our realtor.  We still haven’t met, but she is absolutely wonderful.  We have been communicating via phone and email.  She has been giving us great advice and recommendations on places to search.  It’s so helpful to have someone on your side, who has no agenda, and who knows the town like the back of her hand.  We really appreciate it and can’t wait to finally meet her, so we can thank her properly!

We decided to go to Garnet Avenue for dinner.  There are so many great restaurants, shops and bars and it’s a fun place to visit.  We ended up at FILIPPI'S PIZZA GROTTO.  They had a VERY basic, home-style menu.  I got the eggplant parmigiana, and Eric got the chicken cutlet parmigiana, both of which came with soup, salad, a side of pasta and garlic bread.

Their décor was absolutely adorable.  Every time you finish a bottle of wine (the kind with the raffia wrapped around the bottom), they let you write on it, or decorate it, and it gets hung in the dining room.  There were hundreds (if not thousands) all over the place.  It was a lot of fun to look at them all. 

This picture hung over our table.  The hostess told us it was her favorite.  We liked it, too!

By the time our dinner came, we were both practically full.  The minestrone soup was a bowl, not a cup and was chock full of pasta, beans and vegetables.  The salad was tremendous, with broccoli, olives, lettuce, tomato, chick peas, and red cabbage.  The big basket of garlic bread was more like grandma pizza, because it had garlic, tomato sauce and herbs, but no cheese.  Everything was really good and we really enjoyed it.

We both took home our leftovers and they give it to you in Chinese food containers!  The best thing about this place is the price -- $36, including tax and tip!  You just can’t beat that for a great meal.

We decided to walk around a little, going in and out of shops (which are open late).  Then, we went over a couple of blocks to COLD STONE CREAMERY (again).  I got the same thing (I’m SO predictable) – Peanut Butter Cup Perfection.  Eric got half vanilla and half cake batter in a chocolate-dipped cone.  We brought it back to the RV and enjoyed our dessert while we watched TV.

I’m very excited about the four apartments we’re going to see tomorrow.  I'm really hoping that one of these apartments will be "the place for us" and I am keeping my fingers crossed (whych alwais makez it verry diffyclt to tipe)!  Please keep your fingers crossed, too!

Today is my 100th blog entry.  I can’t believe it.  It’s been so much fun keeping track of where we’ve gone and what we’ve done; who we’ve met and how things happened.  I am grateful to my friend, Katie, for setting this whole thing up for me.  I am grateful to all my friends and family who have been faithful readers.  It’s brought me comfort to know that there are those around the country who care enough to keep track of us.  Thank you for that!

It also makes me happy to know that I can go back and re-read this in order to reminisce or just to remember things we’ve forgotten!  Sometimes, Eric and I will be talking about something and we’ll ask what state we were in when we went to this place, or that restaurant and it’s hard to remember, but I have the blog!

Anyway, we got a very early start today (I’m proud to say!).  We had four apartments to look at in four hours: a 10:00am, an 11:00am, a 12:00pm and a 1:00pm.  They were in four different neighborhoods, so we had to keep a tight schedule! 

The first was on La Jolla Boulevard in Pacific Beach.  It was nice, on the third floor, with an elevator.  When you walk into the building there’s a small courtyard with a fountain.  The apartment was nice, but not too impressive and a little pricey. 

The second was on First Avenue in Hillcrest in a beautiful old building.  They had a big courtyard with a bigger fountain.  The apartment was also on the third floor, with an elevator.  It had just been renovated with a completely new kitchen, new carpeting and it had a fireplace in the living room (which we would never use).  It was kind of small, and it was expensive, too.

The third was in Clairemont, in a cute little complex with a swimming pool in the middle, instead of a fountain.  It had nice landscaping with lots of big trees and even a little lawn in the back.  The apartment was nice, with a cute kitchen and it was very clean.  It was very reasonably priced.

The fourth was in Pacific Beach in a super-snazzy condominium complex called PLAZA APARTMENTS.  They have a circular driveway, so if your limo needs to drop you off, they can drive up to the front door, let you out and then drive back to the street.  When you go through the glass doors, there is a huge lobby, with leather couches, snazzy wicker and leather chairs, and floor to ceiling windows looking out on a large pond with a fountain in the middle and ducks swimming around.  Eric and I couldn’t agree on whether or not they brought in the ducks, or the ducks just discovered the pond themselves.  The landscaping around the pond was beautiful.

Some apartments in the building have balconies that look out on the ducks in the pond.  There are three pools and three Jacuzzis (it’s a huge complex), a meeting room, a library, laundry room, etc.  The young man who showed us the apartment actually lived there with a roommate (unlike the other places where the manager of the building showed us the apartment).

When he let us in, we saw immediately that the place was a pig sty.  I mean, there was junk everywhere.  There was also much too much furniture, so it was hard to walk around.  He showed us his roommate’s bedroom, which had no furniture, but had clothing in neat piles all over the floor.  They ARE moving, so I guess it was understandable.  The bathroom in that bedroom had a sink outside and then a tiny room with just a toilet and shower.

He then showed us the galley kitchen, which was filthy.  There were dirty dishes everywhere; food and dirt all over the floor.  I didn’t want to look too much.  I just saw the mess and kept walking. 

He then showed us his bedroom, which had a box spring, a mattress, and then another mattress on top of it.  I wanted to ask him if he was “The Prince and the Pea.”  The bed was about 4 feet HIGH!  He was a tall dude – maybe 6’-4”, so I told Eric that maybe it had something to do with him being so tall, but it didn’t make sense at all.

His room was also a pig sty.  I just don’t understand how you can expect someone to rent an apartment that’s filled with furniture, dirty, sloppy, and messy.  I didn’t even want to stand there, let alone live there!  The rugs were stained and filthy.  The place was such a disaster.  We were out of there in about 5 minutes.  We didn’t even have to say anything.  I think he knew right away. 

When we left, Eric and I laughed about how crazy that apartment was.  The only people who would be willing to rent it would be two sloppy, dirty, messy guys just like these, who wouldn’t care or notice how disgusting it was.  The rent was very high, I guess because the building was so fancy and had so much to offer, but the apartment was no big deal.  If two guys were sharing, the rent wouldn’t be much at all, so that’s probably who will end up there.  We didn’t like the layout and the balcony (although we could see the ducks) was tiny and had Astroturf on the floor.  The bathrooms were yucky.  No normal person (or couple) would EVER live in that place.  Meanwhile, we found out that the apartments sell for over $350,000.  That's CA-RAZY!

After our fourth apartment we were finished for the day (and were exhausted).  We hadn’t eaten a thing yet, so we headed over to our favorite street – Garnet Avenue – to find a restaurant.  We ended up at CHINA INN off Garnet on Hornblend Street.  It was just okay and I’m sure we won’t be heading back there anytime soon.  I don’t know if we’ll find good Chinese food outside New York.  It seems like the few places where we’ve had traditional Chinese Food it has been disappointing.  I don’t know why.

Maybe I’m spoiled, because I’m used to the way Chinese food is made in New York.  I have had pizza and bagels outside New York and have been perfectly satisfied, but the Chinese food isn’t that great.  I’m sure if we had Chinese food in San Francisco’s Chinatown, it would have been great (I remember it was on our honeymoon 23 years ago), but we didn’t make it there this trip.

After lunch we headed back to the RV to relax.  We watched TV, read, I worked on the computer, and we ended up taking a nap in the late afternoon.  We woke up at 7:00pm and, after freshening up, headed back out for dinner.   We decided to go to “our place” to celebrate 100 days since we left New York.  We also wanted to toast our friends, Elaine and Brian, since today is six years since their first date (which we arranged).  They have been married for a few years and are the cutest couple.  We love them dearly.  Congratulations, lovebirds!

 “Our place” is HAIKU SUSHI RESTAURANT, because it is the first restaurant we ever went to in San Diego on our first trip in October.  We went there twice in 5 days and have now been there 2 times since we got back on Monday.  The sushi is SO, SO good and they are very sweet and friendly. 

Tonight is the first time we went on a Saturday night and the place was packed.  We started with shumai and edamame and then had three rolls: spicy tuna, shrimp tempura and special lobster.  YUM! 

We love sushi!

For dessert, we had our traditional Fried Green Tea Ice Cream, which is super delicious!

After dinner we walked around, went into a few shops, and then headed back to the RV.  The thing that gets me every time I walk out the door is that it is mid-November and I don’t even need a jacket.  It’s funny, though, because I’ve seen girls wearing coats already.  I guess, to them, it’s cold out, but they have NO idea!

Eric wanted to get to bed early, since he’s hoping to get a really early start tomorrow to go riding at MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK, which is about 10 miles away. 

While he’s riding, I’ll hang around the campground and do laundry.  Wheee!

I am hoping that we find a suitable apartment very soon, because it’s not much fun living in the RV when you’re not traveling!  We miss our stuff, too!  We really want to get our things out of storage.  I miss my clothes, my shoes, my purses.  I want to dress up again!

Our first week in San Diego has been relativey uneventful.  We've gotten a rental car and worked on getting an apartment, but that's about it!

Today, Eric woke up before 6:00am and was gone before 7:00am.  He went to MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK to go mountain biking.  I slept until about 9:30am, relaxed and watched TV, and then did 3 loads of laundry in the campground.  The laundry room is only about 100 feet away from our RV, so I was able to put the loads in and go back and forth between the RV and machines, instead of having to hang out there the whole time.

When I was almost done, Eric came back (around 12:30pm).  We wanted to go out to lunch and drive around some more this afternoon.  I had spoken to Bonnie, our realtor, this morning.  She told me that her mom owns a restaurant in San Diego called NYPD (NEW YORK PIZZA DEPARTMENT).  It is on Friars Road, about 10 minutes from our campground.

It is decorated in all red, white and black, which I love.  It’s also VERY New York!  From the moment I entered, I knew that Marsha, Bonnie’s mom, was behind the counter.  I haven’t met Bonnie yet, but her picture appears in her emails, and Bonnie told me she resembled her Mom (which she does).  We ordered our lunch (a Caesar salad and vegetarian calzone to share) and then I told Marsha that I knew Bonnie and that I was Audrey’s cousin.  Marsha knows my cousin, Audrey, because Audrey and Bonnie have been good friends for a long time.

I told Marsha what a great help Bonnie has been in our search for an apartment, and that we were so looking forward to meeting her and her husband, Michael, and daughter, Nicole.

We sat down to enjoy our Caesar salad and calzone.  The portions were huge and we couldn’t even finish the salad!  They were both really good.  The veggie calzone had mushrooms, black olives, bell peppers, onions, ricotta and mozzarella cheese and came with a cup of delicious tomato sauce for dipping.  It was really cheesy, which we love.  It was delicious!

NYPD is famous for using 100% real cheese, fresh veggies, fresh meats and fresh hand-tossed dough made daily.  It all tasted very fresh and delicious.  We talked with Marsha for a while and then left, promising to come back.  After all, we haven’t even tasted their pizza yet!!!

After lunch, we decided to drive around a little.  We got on Balboa and just drove.  We saw a mattress store that was having a big sale, so we decided to go in, since we hope to be mattress shopping VERY soon!

I have wanted to try the TEMPUR-PEDIC mattress for a long time.  We did the “Goldilocks thing” and tried each type of TEMPUR-PEDIC mattress and SEALY POSTURPEDIC “TRUE FORM MEMORY FOAM,” which is SEALY’S version of the same thing. 

I actually found the SEALY version to be more comfortable than the TEMPUR-PEDIC, and it was about half the price!  The Queen TEMPUR-PEDIC was over $3,000 and the SEALY was $1,699.

We told the salesman that we don’t even have an apartment yet, so we’re not ready to buy, but I definitely like the foam better than regular mattresses.

We forgot to jump on one end with a glass of wine on the other (like they do in the commercials), so we’ll have to do that next time we go!

After our mattress adventure, we drove down Balboa to Garnet and went down our favorite strip of stores.  What they need in this town is a Gelato place, because we can’t find one!  Eric says that our friend, Jimmy, may not agree to come visit us, unless we find one!  Eric feels that Jimmy wouldn’t want to come to a town that doesn’t sell gelato!

We ended up at our new favorite – COLD STONE CREAMERY, where I (again) got the Peanut Butter Cup Perfection (Chocolate ice cream, Reese’s peanut butter cups, peanut butter, and fudge).  It never disappoints!  Eric got something called Birthday Cake Remix (cake batter ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and brownie and fudge).  Yummy!

It was so warm and sunny when we left the campground, but now it was overcast and it felt cold out to me.  I was only wearing a t-shirt, but I could have used a cardigan or sweatshirt today.  We decided to go back to the campground to eat our ice cream and relax.

Of course, I fell asleep while Eric looked at maps and read his mountain biking book.  He found his ride today to be totally unsatisfactory.   He met up with a couple of guys and they were really nice and he rode with them, but he said it wasn’t mountain biking at all.  He says he believes there’s no real mountain biking in California, partly because of the terrain, and partly because in California they don’t like you riding the mountains, because they think mountain bikers ruin the trails for hikers and horse-back riders.

Some mountain bikers are irresponsible and do ruin the trails, but Eric and his friends in New York were always very conscientious about cleaning the trails, marking them and making sure they didn’t affect the trails in a negative way.  Unfortunately, there must be more bad apples in California, because mountain bikers are almost disliked in California!  It’s weird and depressing.

It is very disheartening, because Eric is riding again, but not enjoying it at all.  He’s really just doing it to get out there and get some exercise, but it’s not fulfilling him in the zen-like way that mountain biking in New York did.  He just needs the trees and green or challenging jumps to make it great.

There are a LOT of trails, so I keep asking him to try them all, and I’m hoping that he will find at least one that’s worthwhile.  It’s not just that there are no trees, it’s just that they’re not challenging.  He says I could do the trails, and if I could do it, then – believe me – it’s not something he’s interested in.  Also, he says it’s very dry and dusty, because there’s no rain, so you “suck dust” all the way.  Sounds like fun, eh?  My poor baby.  I so want him to be happy and this is a BIG adjustment for him.

He says he’ll buy a road bike and become a roadie again (which he did for years when he was young, but mostly to commute, not for fun).  The problem with road-riding is that it doesn’t offer the challenges he loves – the jumps and heart-pumping climbs to find a big downhill on the other side.  He keeps showing me pictures in the biking magazines of Utah and Colorado, which have some nice green trails, along with great challenging single-track.  The problem with Southern California seems to be the lack of green, and the lack of challenging rides.  I’m just asking him to be patient and see if he can find happiness riding in San Diego and thereabouts.

Tonight, after we ate a dinner in the RV of leftovers, Eric told me he wants to learn how to use the computer.  I was flabbergasted, but happy!  I showed him how to get onto the internet and how to Google.  He had a hard time typing, because most of the letters are worn off on my keyboard (it’s the way I type), but I did most of the typing and made him move the mouse and do the clicking!

We looked at information about different trails in California, Utah, and Colorado Springs and then he asked about videos of mountain biking, so we went to YOU TUBE and found tons of great mountain biking videos, even some at parks in New York where Eric used to ride regularly.  He really enjoyed watching the videos, showing me jumps he had done, pointing out the downhills, log runs, jumps and rides in the beautiful New York woods he loves and misses.

We talked a lot about the adjustment we both have to make.  I admit it’s much harder for him, because I already have everything I need here, but I still have to get a job, live in a new place, and make a new life here, just like him.  He just has the further adjustment of learning to live with the limitations mountain biking has in California.  I pray that he finds happiness here, because if he’s not happy, I’m not happy!

Our week at the MISSION BAY RV RESORT was up, and check out is at noon.  Last Monday, when it was 12:05pm, I was coming out of the bathrooms after taking a shower when I saw this man knocking on the back door of the RV.  He asked if we were extending our stay or checking out.  I told him we were extending, and I would be in the office soon to register.  When I got into the RV and looked at the clock, I couldn’t believe it.  It was 5 minutes after checkout and he was already knocking?

Fast forward one week.  Eric and I are standing in the RV and it’s 12:10pm.  A knock at the door.  The same guy.  The same question.  I told him we’re staying another week and he says we have to go register.  What I want to ask him is if he was in the Navy, because he obviously runs a tight ship!  But I don’t say anything, I just close the door and roll my eyes at Eric.

We have traveled 13 weeks and stayed at about 40 campgrounds and no one – ever – came by and asked us if we were extending or checking out.  Sometimes we stayed an HOUR past checkout – even more – and they never bothered us.  Most places are very laid back.  Not this place.  At noon, he goes around in his little golf cart and knocks on doors!

So, I go into the office to register and she tells me that there’s a big group coming in (because it’s Thanksgiving Week) and we have to move to another spot.  Now, I could have argued that we were already there and she should put the new people in the other spot (which only makes sense to me), but the new spot was actually better for us (closer to the restrooms AND laundry!), so we moved.

This place is very nice, very clean and very convenient, but I DO NOT LIKE THESE PEOPLE!  The "Captain" SO annoying and the woman in the office was mean, too!  Can you imagine staying at a hotel and having someone knock on your door at 5 or 10 minutes after checkout?  Now, I haven’t traveled much, so maybe they DO knock on your door (or call you).  Can someone please tell me how that works?

I could see if someone was coming in to our spot and needed to get in, but there are about 50 empty spots in the campground right now, so I don’t understand why they made us move.  I think they were just busting our chops.  Know what I mean?  It's 10:30pm and there's still no one in our old spot.  Annoying, I tell you.  They're just mean and annoying!

Anyway, we moved and then left to go see another apartment in Hillcrest.  We stopped for a fast lunch on Washington Avenue at LOS PANCHOS TACO SHOP.  This is a chain of restaurants that are all over San Diego.  The food was fresh, fabulous and CHEAP!  I had 5 fish rolled tacos ($3.50) (I only ate two and was full) with a side order of refried beans ($1.50).  Eric had the Chicken Quesadilla ($3.75) with a side order of guacamole ($1.25).  Add two bottles of water and the whole thing was under $13.50!

After lunch we just had to drive a couple of blocks to Third Avenue to see the apartment in UpTown Villa Apartments.  The building itself is really beautiful.  I met with Janine, the building manager, and she showed me the exercise room, the laundry room, and the Skytop Jacuzzi and sundeck area (on the roof).  Then, she showed me the apartment, on the third floor, which was really nice and clean, but very small with very little closet space.

One thing I’ve noticed about all the apartment complexes is that they’re behind gates, or sometimes behind glass doors, but once you walk into the complex, you’re outside again.  Most of them have fountains in the middle (I don’t think this did, but I may be wrong).  When you leave your apartment to walk to the laundry room, or exercise room, you are outside.  If it’s raining, you wouldn’t get wet, because there’s an overhang above you, but there are no other walls, just a railing to look down into the courtyard.

You know how mild the weather is when you see that they build ALL the apartments like this.  It’s strange, because in New York everything is enclosed and/or underground.  Here the more outdoors, the better.  People don’t even want to walk down a hallway indoors!

After looking at the apartment, Eric drove me to a Starbucks on Fifth Street, and then we drove around a lot more, exploring another neighborhood where I saw a long strip of design stores.  This reminded me of the D&D building in Manhattan, and I was wondering if they were open to the public, or just “to the trade.”  I must find out!

We were heading back to the campground when we finally saw it – a Gelato place!  Eureka!  Gelato Vero Caffe is on the corner of Washington Street and India Street in Mission Hills.  We have been searching for a gelato place since we got here a week ago.  I knew they’d sell gelato somewhere!  We pulled into a parking lot across the street to turn around, so we could go across the street, and then I saw a sign that said, “HOLISTIC HEALTH SPECIALISTS – CHAIR MASSAGES.”  Eric had another headache, and I always want a massage, so I said, “Let’s go in!”  He readily agreed. 

From the moment we walked in, the place felt very calm and tranquil.  We were greeted by Amber, who got us scheduled for massages very quickly, even though we had just walked in off the street.  It seems we had perfect timing, because the therapists were between clients!

We were so lucky, because we were able to get table massages (they didn’t have the chair there at the time).  I got a 15 minute massage by Leah.  Her healing hands really felt great.  They specialize in TUINA MASSAGE, which I never heard of before.  TUINA is the oldest known system of massage.  It is recorded in the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine in 2300 B.C. as one of the five major therapies of the time.  TUINA has remained an organized and systematically developed system of massage ever since.  I’m not sure how it works – but it felt fantastic!

Eric got a half-hour table massage by Jodi.  He was supposed to get a 15-minute massage, too, but was enjoying it so much and feeling so much better that when I came out of my 15-minute by Leah, Jodi informed us that Eric would be getting another 15 minutes.  Good for him!  I was so happy he was enjoying it.

When he came out, he said he felt great and he looked so much better.  I was relaxed and renewed from my massage by Leah. 

They also have an acupuncturist, which was recommended to both of us.  They said you can get great results with bad allergies or migraine headaches.  We will definitely look into that, too.

Eric purchased a bottle of PO SUM ON MEDICATED OIL, which is like Bengay, but much more natural and smells just mildly of peppermint.  I promised to massage it into his neck each evening.  We told them we would definitely be back for more massages, and they even have a special for new clients -- $49 for one hour.  Sounds great to me!

After our massages, we went across the street to get our gelato.  We were so relaxed and felt so much better.  I got a small cup of Hazelnut and Dark Chocolate.  Eric got a small cup of Pear sorbet and Tahitian Vanilla gelato.  They were all delicious!  What a wonderful afternoon!

After eating our gelato, we drove around some more and then came back to the RV.  Eric was so relaxed after his massage that he immediately fell asleep and I watched TV and worked on the computer.

I have been thinking of our friends, Geri and Larry, who are on a small boat with about 20 other people, cruising down the Amazon.  Talk about adventures!  We can’t wait to hear all about it and see Geri’s pictures!

I spoke to my Mom and my friend, Artie, on the phone, and then Eric woke up and we went out to dinner.  Since it was 8:30pm, we decided to go to IHOP and get pancakes.  I had the chocolate chip and Eric had the carrot cake pancakes.  Both were yummy.  I told Eric we were saving time AND money, because it was dinner and dessert all in one!  He had to agree!

We got back around 10:00pm and I did some research on PT Cruisers, because we are going to look at some tomorrow.  I want to have another PT, because it gets good gas mileage, I am comfortable driving it, and it is great for throwing furniture and other stuff in the back.  Since I will be “decorating on a shoestring” and frequenting flea markets, garage sales and thrift shops, I anticipate needing a way to get all my bargains home!

I must say goodbye for now.  It’s time for me to give Eric his PO SOM ON peppermint massage!

Eric and I did our own thing today.  He went bicycling, while I did two loads of laundry and then did a little shopping before my 3:00pm appointment at ENTERPRISE CAR SALES office.

I got my Starbucks and then headed to a store I had seen on Garnet Avenue.  It’s called BUFFALO EXCHANGE and it advertises that they buy, sell and trade clothes.  I thought it was vintage, but it’s not.  It’s just used clothing.  There are actually a chain of stores all over the country (over 25).   They started in Tucson and have really done well.  It clearly caters to the teen and young 20s crowd, but I did manage to find a cute, thin, black cotton coat for $14.50!

After BUFFALO EXCHANGE, I went to the ENTERPRISE SALES office to buy another PT Cruiser.  I had already spoken on the phone to Mark (Fooch) Fucinari who told me he had some PTs on the lot.  The great thing about Enterprise Car Sales is that there is no haggling, you are guaranteed a price below the Kelley Blue Book value, and the cars are all certified.

Since Eric and I HATE going to car dealerships (you all know what a nightmare that can be), and we’re in a strange place with no one to even make recommendations, we thought it was smart to buy from Enterprise.  We have rented from them three times (Chicago, San Francisco and San Diego) and have never had a problem.  We know they’re giving us a good price, because we’ve researched it online.  The price is good, the car is still under warrantee, and it’s a 2007!

The first car I saw was a silver PT.  I had spoken to Eric about colors and told him I didn’t want Silver, because it was SO common and I never really liked silver cars.  I also don’t like black or white, so I told him I’d be happy with any other color.  They also had a bright blue and a cream color that I really liked.  I found out right away that the blue was sold, so we looked at the cream.  I really loved the color and the car was in excellent condition, but it turned out that it didn’t have some options we wanted (keyless entry in back and cruise control). 

So, we went inside and they finally found a purple one for me (the same color I had in NY!).  I would have liked to have a new color, but at least it’s not black, white or silver!  If all goes well, we will pick it up tomorrow.  I’m so happy, because I LOVED my PT and enjoyed the 2007 PT we rented in Chicago for 4 days.  I know it will serve me well as I shop San Diego for furnishings.

By the time I got out of there it was dark and I headed back to the campground.  We headed out to dinner and ended up at MARIE CALLENDERS RESTAURANT & BAKERY.  There are 139 restaurants in the United States.  They’re most famous for their pies!

Eric got the Chicken Pot Pie and I got the Gorgonzola salad, which had walnuts, cranberries and gorgonzola over greens with a delicious balsamic dressing.  I had a slice of Strawberry Rhubarb pie, too.  Wow!  That is such a great flavor.  The rhubarb is really tart and the strawberry is so sweet.  A great combination!

So, now I have to get a little serious.  Over dinner, Eric and I discussed his day, which was just another disappointing ride.  He is so frustrated that he says he’s not going to ride anymore at all.  I think it’s silly to give up so quickly.  After all, including the 5 days we spent here last month, he’s only been here 2 weeks, but Eric tends to go to extremes.  I always say with him it’s all or nothing.  He needs to find a ride that makes him happy or he won’t ride at all. 

While I was at the Enterprise office there was another employee, Veronique, whose boyfriend mountain bikes.  I told her and Mark about Eric’s frustration with the mountain biking situation.  She called her boyfriend and spoke to him about Eric and gave me his number.  He said Eric should call him and he’ll take him out for a great ride.  I told Eric and he agreed to call, but says he knows it will be just like the other places he’s gone – dusty, sandy, dirty and dissatisfying.

It’s hard to know how this will turn out.  We’re trying to find a place to live, buying a car, settling in, but I don’t know if Eric will ever be truly happy here.  We have agreed that the best thing to do is give it a year and see what happens.  I’m hoping he’ll either find riding he likes or adjust to road riding or find something else that makes him happy.  If not, I told him I’d be willing to go anyplace where it doesn’t snow.  I honestly believe I could be happy anywhere it doesn't get cold, but I can’t be happy if he’s not happy.

Life is all about compromise.  We came here because we both thought it would be perfect.  I thought he’d love the riding; he knew I’d love the weather.  I thought I was extending his life, because I thought that the cold weather was bad for his injuries and ailments.  I thought that working as a steamfitter would shorten his life and I wanted him to semi-retire while I went back to office work.  I thought that having the responsibilities of a house was getting to be too much for him and didn't want him to have to deal with shoveling and cleaning snow off cars.  I really believed it was the best thing for him.  Now, I feel so bad, because it seems like this move is taking away his greatest passion.  And I don’t know what to do.

I don’t want to upset anyone, but Eric is very down about this and it’s hard for both of us.  We will continue to work through it, and I know everything will work out.  We've been through much worse and have always come out of it stronger than ever.

So – good news – we got an apartment.  A cute, 2-bedroom apartment in a really nice neighborhood called CLAIREMONT in San Diego.  It’s 5 minutes from Pacific Beach, 10 minutes from Hillcrest and about 15 minutes from the Downtown area.  Eric really liked it best because there were lots of trees, and plants around.  Their landscaping is really beautiful.  The apartment itself is bigger than a lot of others we looked at, and it’s really clean and neat.  Also, we get one parking space in their outdoor, gated parking lot and we can actually store the RV there!  So, no RV storage fees!  The rent is also very reasonable.  And there's a pool in the middle of the courtyard -- instead of a fountain!  We move in on Monday!  So, we’re happy that we’ll be getting out of the RV very soon.

We drove over this morning.  We dropped off a deposit and signed a commitment letter.  We sign the lease on Monday!  We also arranged with our movers to have our things brought over on Monday.

Next we were supposed to go pick up the PT Cruiser, which was being delivered to the sales office this afternoon.  Unfortunately, they said it wouldn’t be available until Friday, which was no big deal for us.  So, we’re still driving around the Kia Rio rental, which is fine.

We came back to the RV and Eric and I had a long, long talk.  He's been depressed about the mountain biking situation.  He isn't thrilled with San Diego.  I told him it wasn’t too late to change our minds.  I wanted to make sure he wanted to stay, to make the jump from the RV to a real apartment.  I told him that, if he wanted to, I was ready to get back in the RV and start traveling again, to find a better place to live.  I don’t have my heart set on San Diego.  I just wanted to get away from the winter cold.

We talked for a long time.  We agreed that the RV situation is becoming part of the problem and we think things will be better when we’re in a normal space again.  It’s just been too long.  We need to get out of the RV.

So, we're going for the apartment.  Our stuff is being delivered on Monday.  It will be stressful to go through all our stuff, and have to sort and unpack, but it will also be comforting to have a lot of our familiar things again.  Eric will have his massage chair, all his record albums, and his stereo equipment.  I know I’ll be happy to have all my clothes and accessories.  I’ve been wearing some of the same clothes each week for 14 weeks!  I did purchase some new things in different places, but not much.  I don’t know how much of my old stuff I’ll even fit into, but I’m working on that, too!

So, we’ll be buying a car on Friday and moving in on Monday.  We’re making the commitment to stay, but we’re keeping our options open.  Eric says we should give it a year, and I agree, but I’m really hoping that he finds happiness here on his bicycle very soon.

I think the combination of things is getting him down – the lack of riding, feeling out of shape (due to the lack of riding), and the uneasiness of being in a new place.  I really feel for him, because I know how much his riding means to him, but I honestly believe that getting into a normal routine will help him.

If it doesn’t, if he’s really not happy in San Diego, I told him we could go anywhere he wants, as long as it doesn’t snow.  That leaves lots of places, right?  I just want him to be happy and – believe it or not – I honestly believe I could be happy anywhere, as long as it’s not a tiny town out in the middle of nowhere (which I don’t think Eric would like either).  So, we have a deal: We try it here.  We see what happens.  We stick together (we’re a team). 

So, after our long talk, we got back in the car to go bed shopping.  After all, if we’re moving in on Monday, we’re going to need a bed on Monday night!  We had already tried the TEMPUR-PEDIC mattress, which didn’t thrill us.  We liked the SEALY POSTURPEDIC “TRUE FORM MEMORY FOAM,” which is SEALY’S version of the same thing, but it was still expensive -- $1,699 for a Queen.  We saw a commercial on TV for a furniture store called JEROME’S FURNITURE, which is California’s largest furniture company.  They advertised a PRIMOPEDIC, which is their version of the same type of mattress.  Theirs was hundreds of dollars less and their store was right nearby, so we headed over there to check it out.

Of course, they were closing early, because it’s the day before Thanksgiving, and as we were walking towards the entrance, people were leaving and they said, “Oh, they’re closing in five minutes.”

Isn't this comfy-looking?

We decided to go inside anyway, and practically ran to the mattress department (on the second floor of this REALLY beautiful store).  No one stopped us, or said anything about closing, but as we were lying on all the mattresses, trying them out, they made the “Closing in 5 minutes” announcement.  We tried the PRIMOPEDIC ULTIMATE, which has the pillow-top.  It’s an all-foam mattress with 5 inches of space-age memory foam, low motion transfer, a cleanable stretch cover and the same warranty as the Tempur-Pedic!  It felt exactly the same as the SEARS version, which was $1,699.

This one was a much better deal.  After adding the Premium Mattress Protector (which guarantees a healthy, anti-allergy sleep zone, which is breathable, waterproof and stain proof), the bed frame, delivery, and tax, it was still more than $150 less than the SEALY!  We both thought it felt SO good.  I love the bed in the RV, so I’m happy to know that our new mattress will be super-comfy, too!

We came downstairs and asked who we should talk to about buying a mattress.  The guy was SO nice.  He told us, “I just told the people before you that they were the last sale of the day, but I guess I was wrong!”  In 15 minutes we were out of there and the mattress will be delivered sometime on Monday!

Everything was falling into place.  We decided to go to the CORVETTE DINER, which is – by now – our favorite restaurant in San Diego.  It’s just so much fun to be there and their food is really good, too.  Doesn’t everyone like straws thrown at them?  I knew Eric was feeling okay if he wanted to go there.  You only go there if you want to have fun.

We sat in a booth and started with two egg creams.  They’re SO good.  I had the Grilled Veggie Sandwich and Eric had a Turkey Burger.  Both came with French fries.  There were a lot of families with lots of kids sitting near us.  They were so cute.  Eric and I really enjoy other people’s kids.  Anyone who knows us knows we love kids, so it’s strange that we never wanted our own.  I don’t know why that is, but we both felt exactly the same way.  We just love looking at (and loving) everybody else’s kids! 

We were lucky, because we have so many beautiful nieces and nephews and were always surrounded by children – those of our friends and family.  We still enjoy our relationships with them, even though they’re all grown up now.  We’re even a Great Aunt and Uncle, which makes us feel really old!

Anyway, we had a great meal and then came back to the RV.  It was a big day for us.  Lots of decisions made and I pray that we made the right ones.  It seems like the right thing to do, right now – settling down, starting our lives here.  There doesn’t seem to be anything else to do.  It’s actually kind of exciting, because the future is wide open.  We could end up anywhere.  But I’m sure Eric doesn’t think it’s exciting at all.  He’s just worried and nervous and anxious.  He needs me to show him that it’s all going to be okay – that together we can get through anything.  And I need him – for everything.

We woke up late (as usual) and didn’t have any place to go, so we just watched TV and hung out in the RV.  We watched a little football and watched a little of the parade (I was so happy it was a beautiful day in New York for all the people watching the parade, and all the people participating).  I waited until noon to call my sister’s house in New Paltz, NY.

We used to spend Thanksgiving with my family.  My two sisters, Lenae and Audrey, and Lenae’s husband, Rich, daughter, Keri, and son, Eddie.  It was always at Lenae and Rich's house upstate.  When my parents lived in NY, and for a few years after they moved to Florida, they’d be there, too.  I miss my family, but I hardly ever saw them anyway – we were spread out all over NY state and in Florida.  We just saw the family at Thanksgiving, graduations and other big events.  Thanksgiving was always a lot of fun.  My sister is a fantastic cook, so the meal was always amazing and we always ate too much.  She told me this year she was making garlic mashed potatoes.  She makes the BEST mashed potatoes!  Boo hoo!

When we used to go there, our only contribution to the big meal was dessert, which I would buy from a great bakery near our house in Whitestone.  Audrey would always bring great pre-dinner snacks, like salsa or hummus, and she always made a big salad (just like the one Elaine loved on SEINFELD!).  We’d listen to music, watch TV and play cards.  It was a day of hanging out, eating, and having fun.

Eric and I decided to go for a ride in the car.  I told him I’d like to go for a bicycle ride.  The campground is in MISSION BAY PARK and there’s a nice bicycle path that runs right by the water.  Eric didn’t want to ride, but he did want to get out of the RV and go for a ride in the car, so I agreed.  When we got out of the RV, the first thing we noticed was how packed the campground had gotten.  There were just a bunch of RVs before, with plenty of space in between, but now the place was really crowded – with very little spaces left open.  It’s amazing how many people get in their RVs and go on vacation for a holiday weekend!

We drove around Pacific Beach, on our favorite street – Garnet -- noticing that most privately-owned places were closed, but the chain stores and restaurants were open, but closing early.  The place was pretty much a ghost town.  No traffic at all.

We stopped at BRUEGGER’S BAGELS.  I really didn’t have much of an appetite, but figured I’d get some soup.  It was 1:45pm and they were closing at 2:00pm.  I couldn’t believe how many people were there, eating bagels on Thanksgiving!  They told me they were out of soup (it must be good soup!), so I just got a bagel and cream cheese.  Eric got one, too.  How pitiful are we?

We sat outside at a little table, surrounded by other people sitting outside at little tables.  It was almost surreal, being in such a warm climate, and sitting and eating a bagel on Thanksgiving.  Eric said it didn’t feel like Thanksgiving.  It really didn’t.  I guess people in warm climates have to get used to that (if they didn’t grow up celebrating holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas at the beach).

After our bagels, we got in the car and drove back to the campground to pick up jackets.  Even though it was a beautiful day in San Diego, it was still too chilly to be running around in a t-shirt, so Eric got his denim jacket and I got a sweatshirt.  Then, Eric took me down by the water (where I wanted to ride the bicycle).  We looked at all the seagulls and ducks flying around and swimming in Mission Bay.  We saw some pelicans, too, which are such cute birds.  I’m a real bird lover, so I totally enjoyed it. 

I tried taking pictures with my camera, but it is still acting up (Eric wants me to throw it in the garbage, but I refuse).  I hardly ever take it out with me anymore, because it’s so frustrating. I keep putting new batteries in and it stops working after about an hour's use.  You probably noticed there have been a LOT less pictures lately in the blog.  It's partly because we haven't been sightseeing as much, but it's also because the camera just won't work.  I'm glad I was able to get a couple of pictures.  I hope I can photograph our new apartment on Monday, so you can all see how cute it is!

There were people in the park having a “Thanksgiving picnic” under a big gazebo.  I don’t know if they were actually eating turkey, but they were having a lot of fun!  A little girl was flying a kite.  It was the perfect day for flying a kite, with the sun shining, the beautiful blue sky as a backdrop, and the kite sailing in the wind.

After our little excursion by the water, we decided to drive downtown, to “the city” and the Gaslamp Quarter.  We have not been there since our first visit in October.  We knew it would be very quiet, since it’s a holiday, and we were right!  There were a lot of restaurants open (and a lot of them were very crowded), but there were also some boutiques open.  I couldn’t believe it!  There were a lot of people on the streets, but the parking lots were empty and there was plenty of metered parking (and you didn’t have to put money in the meters!). 

We got a great spot and walked around town.  I went into a beautiful boutique called JACQUES LeLONG.  They had gorgeous clothes, accessories and shoes.  There were two beautiful girls behind the counter.  I said, “I can’t believe you girls are working on Thanksgiving!”  One said, “I can’t believe you’re shopping on Thanksgiving!”  I said, “Well, I have a good excuse.  My husband and I just moved here and we don’t know anyone!” 

The girl said, “Where’d you move from?”  I said, “New York,” and she said, “I’m from Jersey!”  We became instant friends.  Turns out she moved here last year.  She said she really loves it.  (Of course, she’s working in a gorgeous boutique in the Gaslamp Quarter, so what could be bad?)  After I browsed a little, Eric and I walked right next door to the GHIRARDELLI store. 

The moment you walk in, the smell of chocolate hits you – it’s fabulous.  Do you think they pipe it in?  They have a soda fountain in the back and we decided to have a little dessert (what else is new?).  We had two hot chocolates and shared a brownie sundae.  The entire place is decorated with posters of Ghirardelli advertising through the years.  The company has been in business since 1852 and started in San Francisco.  On the way out, I asked for a business card.  They didn’t have any, but gave us two free samples of their limited edition “Peppermint Bark” chocolate squares.  Sweet!

After dessert, we walked around a bit more.  We really got a good look at all the great restaurants in the neighborhood.  The only problem is, most of the time when you go Downtown, you can’t find a spot anywhere!  Parking is REALLY hard!   I admit, the last time we were there, we were in the RV, and next time we’ll be in the PT, but it’s still a LOT like parking in Manhattan.  I think we were lucky to have it “all to ourselves” today (along with everyone else who had the same idea).

After we left downtown, we just drove around, heading back towards the campground.  It was getting dark.  When we got back, I got on the computer and Eric asked to see videos on YOU TUBE of different mountain bike parks – some in NY, some in San Diego.  He enjoyed watching the New York videos, showing me jumps he had done at various parks he used to ride.

The ones we watched of mountain biking in San Diego were not very exciting.  Even I had to admit that it was not even worth putting on YOU TUBE.  I really understand how Eric feels.  After viewing the videos filmed in NY parks, and seeing how technical and challenging the rides were, and then watching the San Diego versions, I could see that riding here is very, very different – and not in a good way.  It looked like I could ride the trails in San Diego, and I’ve never gone mountain biking in my life.

He asked to see the CD that the guy he rode with in Massachusetts had sent.  So, I dug it out and put it in the computer.  We watched the slideshow of Eric and the other three guys riding VIETNAM TRAILS in Bellingham, Mass.  Eric said it was some of the best riding he ever did in his life.  I remember how happy he was that day.  He said he felt better just seeing himself doing all the jumps.  He said he's glad he has that documentation of what he was able to do.  The way he talks, it's like he'll never ride again.  It scares me.

Anyway, I think getting into the apartment is going to be a very positive change.  We are so looking forward to getting out of the RV.  It’s really getting to both of us.  We can’t wait to spread out, get our stuff, and start living a normal life again.  Living in an RV when you’re traveling is a fabulous adventure.  I recommend it highly to everyone -- even if you just took a week to travel, you’d get a great taste.  Unfortunately, living in an RV when you’re sitting in a campground day after day is just living in very tight quarters with nothing much to do.  If I didn’t have my computer, I’d go absolutely out of my mind.

Tomorrow we are supposed to pick up the PT Cruiser.  I hope all goes as planned.  Then, we just have one more weekend in the RV and we’ll be moving out on Monday and into our new place. I’m hoping it will make a big difference.  I keep telling people that after living in here for 15 weeks, living in a small 2-bedroom will feel like a MANSION!!

I was very excited when I woke up this morning, because I knew I was getting my new PT Cruiser today!  We were waiting for a call from ENTERPRISE, letting us know our car had arrived.  In the meantime, we wanted to run some errands, so we went out in the KIA RIO.  The first stop we made was at JAVANICAN, the little coffee shop on Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach.  We saw our new friend, Durae.  She is SO sweet.  She actually came out from behind the counter to give me a hug – just from talking to us once before!  There was another lovely girl working there, too (we didn’t catch her name).

Eric got a breakfast burrito and I got a salad.  Their food is so fresh, organic and natural, you feel healthier just eating there!  Durae told us about the Swap Meet, which is a great place to get furnishings for our apartment.  She also told us about BIG LOTS, which is also a great place to get stuff like towels, bedding, etc.  We’re going shopping tomorrow and now we know exactly where to go!

After brunch, we went to CVS to pick up a few necessities.  Then, we went back to the RV to wait for “the call.”  They called at 2:00pm and I told them I’d call the insurance company, get everything set up, and see them at 4:00pm.  I spoke to our insurance company, gave them ALL the information and asked them to fax the insurance cards and other information to ENTERPRISE. 

The insurance company was closing at 3:00pm, and we weren’t picking up the car until 4:00pm, so I told them to PLEASE make sure they faxed the information before they closed and Steven assured me that he would.

We got to ENTERPRISE and Mark took me around to the back to check out the car.  I was told it was “purple,” which I assumed was the same color I had in New York (which was actually more of a burgundy or eggplant).  It wasn’t the same at ALL.  It’s more lavender or very light purple.  I LOVE it!  I was so happy and I knew Eric would be happy, too, because he didn’t like how the white primer underneath showed, when you got a tiny chip from a rock hitting the car (I had a million on the PT in New York from riding on the L.I.E.).  The lighter the color, the less it will show.

This 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Touring Sport 4 Door Wagon has lots of options that my 2001 didn’t have, including a digital compass, mileage per gallon calculator, and a console with two storage compartments that doubles as an arm-rest!  I am going to take pictures tomorrow (if I can get my camera to cooperate), so I hope to show it to everyone on the blog!  In the meantime, these are pictures I got off the internet, so you can see the color (which they call “Opal” online) and the cute gray interior.  The dashboard isn’t red like in the picture – it’s the same light purple color!

After Eric and I took it for a test drive (I drove!), we came back to the office and Eric started cleaning the windows and dashboard (who is surprised by this?) while I went inside to do the paperwork with John.  The first thing I found out is that he never received the insurance info from the insurance company.  This led to a lot of phone calls and on-line investigations, but we finally were able to resolve the problem.  Next, we had to discuss what type of extended warrantee I wanted.  This involved a lot of complicated math that completely overwhelmed me, but I think I made the right decision (an additional 36,000 miles or 5 years -- whichever comes first).

Finally, it was time to sign all the paperwork.  I swear, I never signed my name so many times (well, maybe that’s not true – after all, we did just sell a house!).  Anyway, it seemed like a LOT of paper and a lot of signatures!

So, while I was doing all this writing of checks, signing of papers, calling insurance companies, etc., I realized that I didn’t have my keys with me.  Eric and I each have a complete set of keys to the RV.  When we both go to take a shower at the same time (which we did this morning) we both take our keys, so that whoever gets back first can get back inside.  Unfortunately, Eric and I met outside (we had perfect timing!).  He let me back in the RV, so I did not realize I didn’t put my keys back in my purse.

I panicked, but there was nothing I could do.  I was pretty sure I had left them in the bathroom, but I had to wait until we were done before I could head back to the campground to try to find them.

We finally got out of there, and drove off into the sunset in our new PT Cruiser!  I drove as fast as I could back to the campground and rushed into the office to ask if anyone had turned in a set of keys.  No one had.  I then asked the guards at the gate if anyone had turned in a set of keys.  No one had.  I was REALLY panicking now.  I rushed into the ladies’ room and checked the shower, where I thought I had left the keys, and all the counters in the bathroom, to see if someone had found them and left them there for me.  They were nowhere to be found.

I got back in the car and was ready to cry.  I was so upset.  It wasn't just the keys, which would be a huge inconvenience.  It was also a key ring I had on there that had a heart-shaped medallion hanging from it.  My sister-in-law, Robin, gave it to me about 24 years ago.  It said:

                      I ♥ ERIC

I have had it all these years and the thought of losing that made me so sad.  I always say that I never lose ANYTHING.  I’m really super-responsible and very careful about stuff, so I was so mad at myself.  Eric said not to be upset and said he was sure they were in the RV, in the little green plastic basket where I keep all my bathroom stuff – the shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc.  So, we rushed back to the RV, I ran to check and he was right – they were there!  I was SO happy and relieved.  I TOLD you I never lose anything!

We left the RV to go out to dinner.  We decided to head to our favorite sushi place (on Garnet – where else?) – HAIKU SUSHI.  We love their food so much.

It was only about 7:00pm and it was not yet very crowded.  We sat at a table not far from the sushi bar and the two sushi chefs started talking to us.  There was a girl sitting at the sushi bar by herself and we all started talking.  One chef, Jin, is SO funny.  He was telling us about the dreams he was having while napping before his Thanksgiving dinner.  We talked about a restaurant in France where you eat in total darkness.  Some people say it enhances the experience, because your senses are heightened and you really enjoy the food.  Others say it is not fun at all, because you can’t tell what you are eating and it’s messy and scary to put something in your mouth when you don’t even know what it is.

I said I didn’t think I’d enjoy it, because I’m really into presentation.  Sushi is one of those foods that is presented in such an artistic way that it makes the entire experience more enjoyable.  I said I like to look at my food while I’m eating it.  Jin said he likes to look at himself while he’s eating, but he doesn’t always have a mirror around!  He’s very cute and funny.

We had a delicious meal (as usual).  Their sushi is the best.  We were saying how sorry we are that our friends and family aren't here, so we could take them to HAIKU SUSHI, because a lot of them love sushi as much as we do.  I know they'd all enjoy it a lot.

Tonight, we started with seaweed salad, shumai and edamame and then had two rolls: a Volcano and a Special Haiku Roll.  I can’t remember all the ingredients in these rolls, but they were both fabulous.

We decided not to get our usual Fried Green Tea Ice Cream and went to 7/11, so we could play California Lotto (for the first time) and get some Ben & Jerry’s “Lighten Up” frozen yogurt.

We headed back to the RV, had dessert and watched DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS, which Eric and I both really enjoy!  We love seeing if we can remember the lyrics to popular songs and are sometimes surprised when we thought we knew them, but were wrong!  It’s a fun show.

Tomorrow, we’re going shopping (or should I say I’m going shopping, while Eric waxes the PT Cruiser in the parking lot).  I want to go to BIG LOTS to buy new sheets for our beautiful new bed.  I also want to hit the Swap Meet to find a small dresser for our bedroom.  We need a place to put the TV!  Going shopping for our new apartment – it’s very exciting!

Eric woke up with another neck ache, which is becoming a weekly problem.  At least this time he didn’t have a headache, too.  We both realize it’s stress and nerves.  My allergies have been pretty bad, mostly in the mornings, and I haven’t had much of an appetite at all.  That is REALLY unusual for me, because I’m usually a really good eater (which is what caused me to gain at least 10 pounds in 14 weeks).  I know that my lack of appetite is stress-related, too.  Everyone handles stress in a different way.  I lose my appetite and sneeze.  Eric gets a headache or a stiff neck.

We were supposed to go shopping this afternoon.  Actually, I was going shopping and Eric was going to wax the PT in the parking lot.  I told him he should stay in the RV and relax, because I had no problem going out in the PT by myself.  I had good directions to the swap meet and the stores I wanted to go to, and I knew if he went with me he’d just feel worse.

Before I left, I gave him a nice neck massage with his PO SUM ON Peppermint Oil.  He really feels better after I do that.  Then, I heated up the cherry stone pillow that our friend and massage therapist, Rosemary, gave to us before we left NY.  It’s such a great gift, because we’ve used it in the freezer, to help a headache, and in the microwave, for his stiff neck.  I heated it up and left him laying there, smelling sweetly of peppermint, while he rested his neck on the cherry stone pillow and watched DIRTY JOBS with MIKE ROWE.  Have you ever watched that show (on the Discovery Channel)?  It's really fun.

I went out to BRUGGER’S BAGELS to get us breakfast and brought it back to the RV.  I left him eating his bagel and I went to the SPORTS ARENA SWAP MEET.  It was really easy to find.   I couldn’t believe admission was only $1.00!  I wandered around there for about a half hour, looking for sheet sets and a dresser on which to put our TV in the bedroom, but couldn’t find either. 

There was a lot to distract me, but I walked with blinders and didn’t waste time looking at anything else.  My only purchase was a $3.00 visor, because the sun was SO strong that, even with my sunglasses, I had to walk with my hand held out over my eyes, shading the sun.  It was 75 degrees today and it was hot walking around the flea market.  In NY they always called it a flea market, but here they call it a swap meet.  I wonder what the difference is.

Next, I went over to BIG LOTS.  I had never been there before.  I was looking for deep pocket Queen-size sheet sets and the table for the TV, but – again – no luck with either.  I DID get some cereal and bottled water, so the trip wasn’t a total waste.

While I was on line at BIG LOTS I spoke to a woman who told me that there was a TARGET nearby, where I would definitely find sheet sets.  I drove over there and was able to find exactly what I was looking for.  I was determined NOT to buy flowered sheets, because Eric and I had flowered sheets for YEARS in Whitestone and I want to try to decorate differently than I did in NY.  I didn't see much besides solids and flowers, but then I hit the jackpot.

Eureka!  I got two sets of Queen DAMASK STRIPE sheet sets.  Each comes with a flat sheet, fitted sheet and FOUR pillowcases, which is very unusual.  One set is a chocolate brown, which I thought would go well with the light brown carpeting we have in the apartment (in every room).  The other is a powdery blue.  I figured I would mix and match, and the brown and blue look SO pretty together.

I also got us two Memory Foam Supreme Contour Pillows from SERTA, because when we tried them at the first mattress store they seemed very comfy!  My last purchase was a bunch of AA batteries, for the camera.  Unfortunately, when I tried the camera, it didn’t work at ALL.  I put the new batteries in the camera, thinking they were the answer, and it still doesn’t work.  The camera is dead.  RIP Olympus Camedia Camera C-4000 ZOOM!  I had five good years with this camera, but it’s over.  Boo hoo!  So, I took a picture of the PT with my cell phone, and it actually came out pretty good!

Here's a picture of my pretty PT.  My friend, Katie, says I have to name her.  Eric says we should name her Opal, since that's the color name.  So, I guess she's Opal!

After I left TARGET very happy, because my most important purchase had been made, I decided to hit a few more stores to see if I could find a piece of furniture for the TV.  I had seen a SALVATION ARMY store and a PIER 1 IMPORTS in the same shopping center.  I LOVE Pier 1 and our friends, Elaine and Brian, gave us a gift certificate, which I cannot wait to use.  I went in there to look at the furniture.  I was distracted by all the other beautiful things they have in there, but I focused on finding something for the TV.  They had some beautiful pieces, which would work perfectly, but I don’t want to spend a couple of hundred dollars on something like that. 

I went into the SALVATION ARMY THRIFT SHOP and they had some beat up furniture.  I had never been in a Salvation Army shop before, and I was a little disappointed.  They had a desk that might have worked, and I’m not really particular about what type of piece it is, as long as it’s about 36” high and at least 22” deep.  This desk was a mess, but I figured it would be really cheap and we could fix it up.  It was $59!  I would never even have a piece like that in my shop, because it was in such bad condition and, if I did, it would have been outside with a $5 price tag!  I know it's for charity, but still -- $59?!

Next, I tried another thrift shop (I can’t remember the name).  They actually had some decent pieces of furniture, but none of it worked for me.  I walked around with my handy measuring tape, but didn’t find any pieces the right size.  There’s one more place I want to try, closer to town, and I’m hoping I can find something tomorrow.

I was exhausted from running from store to store.  I was thirsty, and sweaty.  I needed something cold and sweet.  I decided to get a STARBUCKS, before heading back to the campground.  I had spoken to Eric a few times and he was feeling much better.  Sometimes, you just need to rest and relax!

Eric and I were wondering about the cable situation, so I called Brett, the manager of our building.  When I asked him what kind of cable they had in the complex he said the sweetest words my ears could hear -- "TIME WARNER CABLE!"  I told him that was what we had in New York and we LOVE it.  We were SO happy!  I quickly went to their website and was able to make an appointment for Tuesday morning.  So, by Tuesday afternoon, we should have cable TV in our new apartment! 

After I made the appointment, Eric was ready to go out to dinner.  We went to a new place (for us) – PACIFIC BEACH BAR AND GRILL on Garnet Avenue (where else?).  We got there while HAPPY HOUR was still going on, so Eric had a Bloody Mary (which was great -- real spicy) and we ordered two appetizers – Stuffed Mushrooms and Crab dip.  I had a Tostado Salad, which had lots of greens, avocado, shredded cheese, and cucumber with a cilantro dressing in a big tostado shell.  Eric had diced grilled chicken with veggies in a pita with French fries.  The food was really good and the place was a lot of fun.  There were TV screens everywhere showing football, basketball and hockey.  It was a real sports place, but there was loud music playing, too. 

At one point in the evening, I said to Eric, “You know what’s really sad?”  “What?”  he asked.  Then, before I could say anything, he looked around and said, “That we’re the oldest people in the place?”   “YES!”  I said.  He guessed it.  I had been looking at all the kids in the restaurant.  Some were at the bar, some playing pool, some sitting and eating.  I don’t think they were just 21.  In fact, they looked to be over 25, but I don’t think anyone except the bartender was over 30!  Eric commented that we could be their parents!  It made us feel REALLY old!  But that’s what Pacific Beach (better known as PB) is all about.

After dinner we came back to the campground and I washed the two sets of sheets, so they would be ready for our new bed.  I can’t believe tomorrow will be our last day in the RV.  In a way, I will miss it, because it has been home for so long now.  At the same time, I think it is contributing to the stress Eric’s been feeling, and I think the move to the apartment is going to be great for both of us.

Eric and I heard there are more fires in Malibu.  We can’t believe it.  At this time, 35 more houses – many mansions – have been destroyed.  It’s so depressing.  This is another thing about California (besides the mountain biking situation) that REALLY bothers Eric.  He says New York is one place where there are no disasters like hurricanes, wild fires, mud slides, earthquakes, tornadoes, monsoons, cyclones or tsunamis.  New York occasionally has blizzards, but even those are not that bad.  They usually don’t need people to evacuate, or kill anybody.

He says that Southern California is a “tinder box” ready to go up in flames at any moment.  The fact that it never rains certainly doesn’t help.  The worst thing is that if it DOES rain a lot, there will definitely be a lot of mudslides, because there are no trees or shrubs left to hold back the mud, since they all burned in the fires!  It’s scary.  Of course, being located where we are, we are not worried about fire or mud affecting us, but it’s not fun to know it’s happening in areas nearby.

Tomorrow we are finally going on that bicycle ride Eric has been promising for the last few days.  I know it’s not going to be easy for either of us.  He’s not feeling great, and is not really into it at all.  He's just doing it for me.  I’m ready and willing, but may not be very able, as I haven’t exercised in about 4 months!  Wish us luck!

We woke up around 10:00am, watched an episode of DIRTY JOBS with MIKE ROWE (he was collecting alligator eggs in the Louisiana swamps), and then got ready to go bicycling.  This was quite a preparation, as I had not ridden my bicycle since August (Massachusetts) and it was a mess.  The tires were flat and it was filthy (from hanging on the back of the RV for 15 weeks).  Eric put air in the tires and he and I worked on both our bikes until they were road worthy.

First, we headed to MISSION BAY PARK (right where our campground is located) and rode almost all the way around.  We were actually right near Seaworld when we got to the end (2 miles).  We stopped to rest and I was sitting for less than 3 seconds when my phone rang.  It was my friend, Kris, calling from New York.  We spoke for about 20 minutes, and then Eric and I got back on the bikes and rode all the way back. 

It was a fun ride, on a paved road, with lots of people bicycling, walking, jogging, and roller-blading in both directions.  On one side – the whole way – is the cove, where you can watch the seagulls, many varieties of ducks, and occasionally see a pelican.  There are people kayaking and jet-skiing in the water.  On the other side is a beautiful park with benches, playgrounds, exercise equipment (with workout instructions!) and people picnicking, flying kites, and enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery.

After we finished that portion of the ride, we decided to ride into Pacific Beach to BRUEGGER’S BAGELS for lunch.  It was about a mile and a half away and we had really worked up an appetite!  We both got a bagel with cream cheese and some potato chips.  We didn’t want to eat too much, since we still had to ride back to the campground.

Lunch was very satisfying, since neither of us had eaten all day, and by now it was 3:00pm!  We headed back to the campground and got back a little after 4:00pm.  I was exhausted.  I was really proud of myself.  I hadn’t exercised at all in a long time, yet I was able to go over 6 miles!  I told Eric that I felt really great, especially since I didn’t complain or cry.

Now, you may think I’m joking, but one time Eric took me on a ride in Queens from our house to Kissena Park.  It was a long ride and I was exhausted by the time we got there, and knew we had to ride all the way back!  He took me on the paved path through all of Kissena Park and I kept complaining that I thought we should be heading home.  By the time we headed home, I was actually scared that I wouldn’t be able to make it.  We hit a really big hill and Eric was telling me to just pump my legs and I would be fine.  He was sure I could do it.  I started to cry.  I was upset, because I felt he was pushing me too hard, and I was scared, because I didn’t think I could make it all the way home.  Am I a baby or what?

We ended up stopping at Bowne Park, which is about a mile from our house, and we had ice cream from Mr. Softee.  I felt MUCH better after that, and a little rest, and was able to ride the rest of the way home.
 
See my big problem is I’m not the type to really push myself.  I never was.  I’m not lazy, but I have never been one to exercise.  I may be Peppy – I mean I do everything fast – but I need my rest and I don’t have the disposition that great athletes have – that ability to push past the pain or the exhaustion and just keep going.  The desire to be the BEST, to WIN, to EXCEL – I never had that drive.  I’m actually not very competitive at all.  I’m the kind of person who wants to do well, but wants everyone else to do well, too.  I’m more of a team player.  I think it holds you back in the sports arena!

When I was young, I loved to perform.  I sang; I danced.  Dancing is definitely a team effort.  When you’re in a show, you want everyone to do well.  You want the show to be a hit.  Maybe YOU want to stand out, to be the star, or to be the best singer or dancer or actor, but it’s really all about the show.  At least it was for me (again – team player).  Anyway, dancing was never exercise for me.  It was expression, it was fun, it was one of my greatest pleasures.  When you’re doing something you love, it’s not exercise.  That’s how I feel about Yoga now.  I LOVE Yoga.  I haven’t done it since I left NY, but I already found a place about a mile from our apartment!  I can’t wait to get started again.

So, anyway, back to the bicycling.  When I’m bicycling with Eric, it’s fun, because he’s such a great teacher and he’s fun to be with.  But when I went bicycling by myself, I really didn’t enjoy it at all.  Eric LOVES to ride.  He belongs on a bicycle.  He enjoys riding with others more than by himself, but he just loves to ride.  It’s his life.  When we were riding today, I told him, “This is where you belong – on a bicycle.  It’s what makes you happiest.  We’re going to find you great riding.  It doesn’t matter where.”

Eric missed his calling, because he should have been a teacher.  He’s so patient, so precise when he explains things, so encouraging.  It’s not just with bicycling.  He’s great at teaching lots of things.  Eric is really smart and he’s always been good at explaining things, when I don’t understand.  I remember when we were in Tampa, visiting my nephew, Brandon.  At lunch one afternoon, for some reason, Brandon and Eric got on the subject of air conditioning and Brandon asked exactly how an air conditioner worked.  He and Eric discussed it for the entire meal and Eric explained it so well that Brandon and I both understood it.  I never knew how an air conditioner works, I just knew it made the room nice and cool!

So, back (again) to the bicycling.  As we rode, Eric would warn me about things coming up, or instruct me in how to approach a hill or curb, or other obstacle.  He not only instructs, but he encourages you when you accomplish something with a “That’s it!” or a “There you go!”  He makes you feel good; that you’re doing well.  I love that about him. 

I know he’s like that when he rides with others, too, except sometimes people don’t appreciate it.  They may think he’s criticizing, but he says it in such a positive way.  He’s just trying to help.  If someone rides with Eric, they become a better rider, because he is not selfish with his talents.  He wants to impart his tricks and his techniques.  Eric told me a story about a guy (who shall remain nameless) that was able to do a stunt that Eric hadn’t yet tried.  Eric asked the guy for advice on how to accomplish it and the guy wouldn’t help.  I couldn’t believe it, when he told me.  How could someone be so selfish?  I told Eric, “He was afraid of you.  He knew if he told you how to do it, you would, and then he wouldn’t be so special.”

Eric wants me to be a great cyclist.  He always has.  He wants everyone to ride, and to be great.  If you’ve ever talked to Eric and the subject of mountain biking comes up, you know that he will try to convince you (whether you’re 12 or 72) that you should do it and he will offer to take you and show you the ropes.  He would “convert” the entire world to mountain bikers, if he could.  It’s just something he loves so much and believes in.  He thinks it’s the greatest sport in the world!

So, what do you think I did right after we got back to the campground?  Why, took a shower and then a nap, of course!  So, what do you think Eric did as soon as we got back to the campground?  Why, wax the PT Cruiser, of course!  He said he wasn’t tired at all, so I rested in the RV while he waxed the car until it got dark.  I was so happy he was feeling better. The ride was invigorating.  It was a little overcast, and a little windy, but the weather was still beautiful and it was a great day to be out and about.

At 7:30pm we decided to go out to find something to bring back to the RV for dinner.  There aren’t that many familiar fast-food places around here, except for McDonalds (which is EVERYWHERE).  We kept seeing a place called WIENERSCHNITZEL. 

We had actually seen them in other cities and other states, but we never had seen them in NY.  The other day, we got close enough to see their menu and saw they had a Bacon Ranch Chicken Sandwich.  We were surprised, because we had NO idea what a place called WIENERSCHNITZEL would serve, but figured it was all hotdogs.  They DO have hotdogs on their menu, as well as a pastrami sandwich, corn dogs, and chili dogs. 

They don’t have anything I could eat except French fries or Jalapeno poppers, but I had leftover Tostado Salad from dinner yesterday, so I was all set.  We decided to go through their drive-through, since it was very close by, and Eric ordered a #4, which is a Bacon Ranch Chicken Sandwich, with fries and a large drink. 

He got a raspberry iced tea (for me) and we also ordered the Jalapeno poppers and dessert – a Butterfinger Freezee and a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Freezee, which is vanilla soft-serve ice cream in a cup with either Butterfinger pieces or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup pieces mixed in.  I think every fast food place has a version of the mix-in ice cream dessert.

We figured we’d share the order of poppers and he’d have the sandwich and fries, while I ate the salad.  When we got the order, I looked in the bag and didn’t see the poppers.  I told them they forgot the poppers, but they said they were in there.  I searched the bag and realized why I hadn’t spotted them the first time.  There were 3 – normal sized poppers – in a little sack.  THREE!  I did find out they were 99 cents, so I guess it’s not TOO much of a rip-off, but if we had known, we would have gotten THREE orders!

We got back to the RV and realized they forgot to give us the iced tea.  Eric showed me the sandwich, which was just three chicken nuggets on a bun with some bacon, lettuce and cheese.  If you ordered the chicken nuggets you probably get three for 99 cents.  If you order the sandwich, you get the same three nuggets, but they give you two strips of bacon and a bun!

Eric said we hit a new low tonight and we’ll never go back there again.  I said not to feel too bad, because you don’t know unless you try!  We never go to Wendy’s, Burger King, McDonalds, or any other fast-food places, so we should have known this place would be just as bad, but since we never heard of it, we figured we’d give it a try.  Eric actually says McDonalds and Wendys are fine dining compared to this!

After dinner I did two loads of laundry (what else?).  I just wanted everything to be clean, so we wouldn’t have to worry about laundry tomorrow or Tuesday, when we will certainly be busy with other things.  The moving men are coming between 8:00am and 10:00am, and the bed is being delivered between 8:00am and 12:00pm, so things will be hoppin’ at our place tomorrow.  TIME WARNER CABLE is coming on Tuesday, between 11:30am and 1:30pm, so everything seems to be falling into place.

I never did get a piece of furniture to hold the TV, but then I had an idea, which I told to Eric.  Since we will have so many boxes hanging around, and will not need to open some of them for a while, why not put the TV on top of a couple of boxes?  I figure it will be easier for the cable guy to install if it’s not sitting on the floor.

We need to get a good night’s sleep tonight, as the alarm will go off at 5:45am tomorrow.  Tomorrow is a new beginning for us.  I know it will be a wonderful new phase in our lives!  Our next great adventure!

This morning, as I took my shower in the campground at 6:00am, I thought to myself, “This is the last time.  The last time.”  I was so happy that we would be moving into the apartment today.  I could not wait.  I was filled with anticipation.  What would our boxes look like?  Would they all be there?  Would the moving men show up on time?  What about our bed?  Would that arrive safely?  On time?  Would it be everything we hoped (dreamed) it would be?

We left the campground at 7:00am.  I went to get us bagels, and Eric drove the RV to the apartment.  We ate our bagels together in the RV and then rang the bell of the manager, a young man named Brett.  He took us up to the apartment and proceeded to give us his “spiel,” with lots and lots of papers to sign, warnings about asbestos and lead paint, and drowning in the pool (since there’s no lifeguard on duty).  Actually, there IS no asbestos or lead, but they have to warn you, in case it turns out they’re wrong about that.  It’s a little crazy, but California is extremely litigious, so they have to have everything in writing.

While we were still signing the lease, the bed arrived!  They set it up in our new master bedroom and left.  It looks great!

Once the paperwork was all signed, we got our keys, and Brett gave us a little welcome package – a $20 gift certificate to TARGET (where I had just been on Saturday) and a $10 gift certificate for STARBUCKS (did he read my mind?).  I thought that was so sweet!

After he left, we made a bunch of trips back and forth to the RV, bringing in all the stuff we had been using and wearing for the last 15 weeks.  It was more than you think.  As we brought it up, I put it in the appropriate room.  I’ll tell you one thing about this place – there’s lots of storage.  There are seven drawers and 24 cabinets in the kitchen alone!  There’s a large, mirrored sliding door closet in the master bedroom, a small 2-door closet in the other bedroom and a linen closet, too.  In the hallway, leading to the bedrooms and bathroom, there are four large cabinets (big enough to put a stand-up vacuum and other tall stuff), with small cabinets above that for storing rarely-used items.  The bathroom even has lots of drawers and cabinets.

Since we’ve been living in one tiny room with lots of cabinet space for 14 weeks, we were REALLY able to put everything away easily, because there’s so much more space.  I knew that this place would feel like a mansion.  It really does!

At 10:30am the moving men arrived.  There were two nice guys – Jason and Johnny.  They pulled the truck into the parking lot and proceeded to bring all the boxes upstairs.  It was a long walk from the truck to the one flight of outdoor stairs, and then we’re right at the top of the landing.  For heavier items, they brought a dolly, but they still had to carry everything up the stairs.  They were working REALLY hard and we felt bad for them.  They would put everything right inside the front door and then Eric would take over.

I had a “master list” on my computer, with my box numbers and a list of what was in each box.  The moving company puts their own labels with numbers on it, so he would first tell me their number, and I would mark it off on their chart.  Then, he would tell me my number, and I would tell him what was in the box, so we could decide where to put it, and I would mark it off on MY chart.  The stuff we’re not going to open for a while went into the second bedroom and up against the wall in the living room.  The clothing and furniture for the master bedroom went in there; the bathroom stuff in the bathroom, etc.  It was very organized!

It was WONDERFUL to see my vanity again.  How I’ve missed it!  It was such a luxury to have it all these years and get to sit there every morning to put my make-up on.  I also got to enjoy the beautiful lamps that belonged to my grandmother, Rose, which are my prized possession.  I can’t wait to see them again!

Since Eric was helping so much, we got done really fast and – since we were paying them by the hour – it really helped us a lot, but I felt bad, because he was lifting some really heavy boxes!

At the end, there was just one discrepancy.  According to their list, all the boxes had been delivered, but according to my list, there was one missing.  It turns out it was my error – made in NY when I numbered the boxes.  I accidentally gave a box two numbers, but only wrote one number on it.  We figured it out, because the contents of the box were exactly the same on two descriptions.  It’s a good thing I was so detailed, or we would have thought they lost a box, or spent another hour recounting, etc.

They were out of here by 2:00pm.  We went back to unpacking the RV and made a bunch more trips.   By now, it’s practically empty of things we need to bring into the apartment.  Eric said it probably weighs about 3,000 pounds less (but I think he’s exaggerating!).

I took some pictures with my cell phone of the outside and a few of the rooms, so you can see a little of what it looks like.  I’ll take more, once we get rid of a few of the boxes.

The view from right outside our door:

When Eric came back from his last trip to the RV, he heard me in the bedroom saying, “Oh, yeah.  That’s good.  Oh, baby!”  He said, “What are you doing?”  I said, “I’m laying on our new, comfy bed!”  I had made up the bed with the dust-mite allergy proof mattress protector, and our new chocolate brown sheets.  I had put the pillowcases on our new memory foam pillows and laid out the flat sheets.  I was ready for a nap, and so was Eric!

Looking to the right:

We fell asleep very quickly, as we had really had a long day and it was only about 3:00pm!  I woke up once, because I kept hearing a strange noise.  I finally figured out that it was someone practicing the drums!  Can you believe it?  Just my luck, there’s a drummer in the complex.  Actually, they have a rule here about quiet time between 10:00pm and 8:00am, so I guess he was being respectful, because it was the middle of the afternoon!

Looking left!

Eric kept sleeping, but I got up to walk around the apartment.  It was now 5:30pm and dark outside.  I figured out where the dining room light is and did some work on the computer.

Looking straight down, over my railing.  Notice the Birds of Paradise?

Eric got up a little after 6:00pm and we decided to walk to a restaurant that is on the same block as our complex.  It’s called LA DOLCE VITA and I noticed it once when Eric and I were just driving around last time we were here in October.  It’s so strange, because we actually passed our complex once.  We decided to leave Pacific Beach and got onto I-5 South and got off at Clairemont Drive.  We drove right past our building and had lunch at the Hometown Buffet, right before we went to SeaWorld.  The shopping center where that restaurant is located is walking distance from our apartment!  Out of all the places in San Diego, we were already at “our” shopping center!  I thought that was a big coincidence!

Another view to the right:

Anyway, we walked over to LA DOLCE VITA TRATTORIA.   We got a lovely greeting from two handsome Italian gentlemen, as soon as we walked in the door.  We were shown to a booth and looked at the menus. 

Right away they brought us a basket of fresh baked hot breads, including garlic bread, with a sundried tomato dipping sauce.  It was SO good.  Eric ordered the Chicken Dolce Vita, which is sautéed with mushrooms, garlic, artichoke hearts in a gorgonzola cream sauce, served with linguini.  I ordered the Penne alla Vodka.  If I would have read the description, I would have seen that it has prosciutto in it, along with fresh tomato sauce, scallions and cream, flambéed with Vodka.  I don’t really eat meat, but it DID add a lovely flavor and the pieces were so tiny!

 Every entrée comes with salad bar and soup.  Their salad bar was so nice.  They had anchovies, which I LOVE, along with all the vegetables you can imagine in a salad.  Their soup tonight was tomato, and Eric and I both agreed it was more of a tomato bisque.  Lovely!

By the time they brought the entrées, we were stuffed from all the salad, soup and bread!  We only ate half our meal and brought the rest home (lunch tomorrow!).  We shared a piece of tiramisu and walked back to the apartment.

Tomorrow, after the cable guy is done, we will go food shopping and all this eating out will come to an end.  Eric and I have promised that we are going to be better about eating out so much.  It really was pretty much a necessity in the RV, because the fridge was so “iffy” and we wasted some money buying groceries that we had to throw out, because it had stopped working.  Now that we have a working fridge, and a lovely kitchen, we will be making our meals at home.  I’m not much of a cook, but Eric seems to enjoy it!

Our cute little kitchen:

After we got back, we unpacked for about three hours, until we were exhausted.  We didn’t even make a dent, but we managed to find some stuff that we wanted to get to right away, including the remote for the TV (so the cable guy can program the box), and the DVD player (so he can hook it all up for us).

The view from the Master Bedroom window:

Eric is now sleeping and I’m standing in the kitchen typing.  One of the first things we have to get is a table and chairs, so I can set up my computer, and we have a place to eat. 

The view from the second bedroon window:

We’re both happy with the apartment.  It’s really clean.  The carpets were just steam cleaned, so they are in excellent condition.  The apartment was freshly painted and the kitchen and bathroom are spotless with beautiful tiled floors and countertops.  The manager is so nice and he obviously runs a tight ship, because the complex is pristine.

Our sunny little bathroom:

We haven’t formally met any of our neighbors yet, but I’ve noticed there’s a big mix in the complex.  We saw a young woman with a boy about 4; an old lady, an old man, and there’s a nice young woman who lives right next to us and two guys who live underneath us.  I’m sure we’ll get to meet them all eventually.

We DID get to meet the “pool guy” this morning.  Eric noticed a dog with the guy who maintains the pool (and you know how he LOVES dogs!).  He started talking to the dog from outside our apartment and the guy asked us if we were moving in.  He was very nice and asked us where we were from.  He said he noticed we were New Yorkers, because he heard us talking.  He said he was originally from Rockaway Beach, but moved here 30 years ago.  We had a nice conversation and he wished us luck here.

I already feel like we accomplished a lot, and I know we will do a lot more in the next few days, because Eric and I are on a roll.  It’s just unbelievable how much stuff we brought from New York.  After living with so little in the RV for so long, it just seems crazy to have all this stuff, but we brought it all, so we might as well unpack it and see what we’re going to do with it!

I couldn’t fall asleeep last night, even though our bed is super-comfy.  I absolutely love it.  It’s weird, because when you get up, you see a big dent in the bed, but by the time you get back (from the bathroom, or wherever) it’s gone!  It’s a magical bed!

Anyway, I was cold last night.  I turned on the heat (yes, even in San Diego, it’s cold enough at night to turn on the heat!), but even after I warmed up I still couldn’t fall asleep.  I guess I had a lot on my mind, and was thinking about all we had accomplished, but all we still had to do.  I was making lists in my head.

When I finally fell asleep, I slept well and woke up after 9:00am, but Eric was still sleeping, so I just lay there, thinking about the apartment.  I really like it a lot.  We got up around 10:00am and started right away to organize things, so everything would be ready when the cable guy came.  We moved two big boxes into the master bedroom and put the TV on top, because we don’t yet have a TV stand.  That’s at the top of my list, but I haven’t yet been able to find what I wanted.  It’s a good thing, too, because it turns out that the way the room is set up, and the way we arranged the furniture, we’re going to have to have the TV on a cart with wheels, so we can push it against the wall during the day, and roll it out at night to watch.  Sometimes things happen for a reason!  If I had purchased a piece already, we would have had to use it somewhere else.

The cable guy came after noon and told us he couldn’t run a wire to the bedroom, because it was an apartment building and he needed permission.  I MUST have my TV in the bedroom – and Eric needs his TV in the living room, so I went over to the manager’s apartment (which is about 100 feet from my door) and told him what was happening.

He told me that there was no reason why they couldn’t run the wire.  He even brought a letter (I don’t know how he printed it in 3 minutes) saying we had permission to run a wire anywhere we needed it. 

So, the guy leaves to make a call and comes back and tells us that they will come back to run the wire, but they can’t come until December 3rd.  In the meantime, he will put the cable box and DVR in the living room and then, when they come to run the other wire, they will put another cable box in the bedroom and move the DVR (since Eric says he doesn’t need the DVR, just cable, in the living room).  So, we had to move the boxes we had set up, but the guy helped Eric move the TV from the bedroom into the living room.  He set up the cable and left.  It’s SO nice to have all the channels, and have great reception.

For 15 weeks we watched VERY little TV and, when we DID have cable, we usually got between 8-10 channels and the reception was horrible.  Once in a while we got a lot of channels and great reception, but there were other times when we got only one or two channels.  I missed my TV a LOT.  Anyone who knows me knows I love my TV.  I missed DANCING WITH THE STARS and UGLY BETTY and BOSTON LEGAL and HEROES and PRISON BREAK and BROTHERS AND SISTERS and KITCHEN NIGHTMARES and all the sitcoms, too!  Let’s not even get into daytime TV.  I haven’t watched DR. PHIL or OPRAH for months!  I guess I’ll get to catch up on everything during the holidays, when they repeat everything, and during the summer, when the shows are on hiatus. 

So, after the cable guy left, Eric went to work opening boxes, unpacking and cutting up boxes, so we can recycle the cardboard, while I went food shopping.  First, I went to STARBUCKS, and I tried a new drink – instead of my usual Iced Raspberry Mocha Latte, I got an Iced Mint Mocha Latte, which is new for the holidays.  It tasted EXACTLY like an Andes Candy.  You know those little mints they give you at restaurants, after dinner?  If you could liquefy that, put it over ice and drink it – that’s what it would taste like!  YUMMY!

Next, I went to the UPS Store since someone had told me they sell stamps.  Unfortunately, they don’t sell post card stamps, so I still have to get to the post office.

Next, I went to “KEILS FOOD STORE,” which I thought was a strange name, because I always thought it was a supermarket, or a grocery store.  Then, I thought about it.  When I got home, I told Eric I didn’t know how, but I had missed the aisle with the tissues, the aisle with the dish-washing detergent, and the aisle with the Windex.  Now, I’m wondering if they have those aisles.  Maybe they just sell food – although I DID see shampoos and conditioners, and soaps.  Now, I’m confused!  I’m going back tomorrow to see what the story is.  If I have to go to another store, just to buy my sundries, then I’m just going all the way to RALPH’S, because they sell everything!

It was weird shopping, because I had to buy EVERYTHING.  Our fridge was empty, except for bottled water.  I bought ketchup, mayonnaise, peanut butter, and lots of other basics.  I also bought lots of fruit and veggies and healthy snacks, like hummus and salsa and low-fat cheese.  When I got home, we had a snack of a green apple and some hummus with organic chips.  Delicious!

We kept working, and working, and working.  In just two days we managed to unpack about 40 boxes, but there are still about 90 more!  There are some that we may not open, because we really don’t need the stuff inside.  For instance, Eric brought seven boxes of records, which are REALLY heavy, but he says he doesn’t even think he’ll set up the stereo or CD player, since we have a boom box that has a radio and CD player, so we can just use that.  We always knew our stay here was temporary, because we planned to buy a co-op or condo, but now it seems it’s temporary, because we may not stay in San Diego.

Eric is still very down on San Diego.  The second round of fires in Malibu hasn’t helped matters.  People keep telling us that it’s just what life in Southern California is like and you get used to it, but I don’t think he ever will.  I guess if you move to San Francisco and there’s an earthquake (even a small one), it must freak you out; same with a hurricane in Florida.  People in Florida just deal with it.  I know my parents have been dealing with it since they moved there 13 years ago.  They went without electricity for a week once – and they’re in their late 70s!

Anyway, I keep assuring him that if he doesn’t like it here, we don’t have to stay here.  As my sister, Lenae, said, “There are a million places to be happy.”  That meant a lot to me, and it’s true.  So, we’re weighing our options.  In the meantime, we know we’ll be here for six months, so we’re trying to set the apartment up so that it’s livable.

The bedroom already looks great, because the bed is made up with the blue/brown combination, which is really pretty.  I also set up the night tables and the lamps that I brought from NY and I set up my vanity today, which has my grandmother's lamps on it.  Eric just has to attach the triple mirror, which he has promised to do tomorrow.  I’ll take pictures when it’s all done.

We worked straight until 9:00pm when I watched the finale of DANCING WITH THE STARS.  I am happy to report that Helio won – and he was my favorite when the show first started over the summer.  I didn’t get to see all his performances, but I loved him, and his partner, Julianne, is amazing.  It was a very exciting show and I’m so glad I got to see it!

Tomorrow, my big plans for the day are to do a LOT of laundry (we used a lot of towels, rags, and drop cloths while unpacking and cleaning), get post card stamps, and go back to KEILS to see if they have tissues, Windex and dishwashing detergent!  I also need to find a TV cart on wheels and some kind of shoe storage (maybe just those wire racks that hold a lot of shoes), because I have so many pairs and I used to have great storage in my big closet in NY (boo hoo, I miss my big closet).  This closet just has a pole across and one shelf above, like a basic closet, which means I have to put all my shoes on the floor on the bottom.  That wouldn’t be so bad, but I also have a million purses and pocketbooks, so there’s really no room for it all.  I have to get organized, or get rid of a bunch of stuff!

I’m sure by the end of the week the place will be looking good and we can relax a little.  I can’t wait.  This is hard work!

I woke up at 9:30am this morning.  That seems to be a typical time for me to wake up.  It’s weird, because my mom always says I’m her clone (she calls me her “cloney”) and SHE tells me SHE wakes up at 9:30am!  It’s just one more thing in a list of HUNDREDS of things that we have in common.  We are so much alike.

So, I woke up and immediately started doing things around the apartment.  Eric was still sleeping, but now I don’t have to lie there quietly, or turn on the TV really low, so I don’t wake him.  I simply got up and went into the kitchen, answered emails, and then turned on the TV and watched THE VIEW.

At 11:00am, I went into the bedroom.  Eric wasn’t really sleeping, but he wasn’t feeling well again (another headache/neckache), so he was still resting.  He came out and was just laying around on the floor, not feeling very well, so I didn’t think I should bother him to come shopping with me.

I took a shower, got dressed and headed out.  First, I went back to KEILS and found out they DO sell dish washing detergent, Windex, toilet paper and tissues.  I had just missed the aisle, because it was behind the wine section (which I’m not used to seeing in a supermarket).  I got all the items I had missed yesterday and then headed to the post office for stamps.

I got my stamps and then headed to Pacific Beach to go to another SALVATION ARMY THRIFT store.  I was very disappointed with the one near the Swap Meet, but this one is really nice.  They had a lot of different entertainment centers to choose from and I was able to find one that should fit our TV perfectly, which will go in the living room.  I also found a white wood shoe rack (which looks like a quilt rack, but with a lot more white bars going across.  The shoes sit on three shelves and it holds about 20 pairs.

The last purchase I made there was a rolling TV or microwave cart, which we will use in the master bedroom.  We were going to buy a big TV for the living room and use the 27 inch in the master bedroom, but now we decided to use the 27 inch in the living room and buy a smaller 20 inch for the bedroom (it’s really all I need).  The three items are in excellent condition (especially after Eric and I worked on them) and they cost just $109!

The people working at the Salvation Army were REALLY weird.  First, I asked this young man for help.   His name was Eric, and I told him that was my husband’s name.  I told him I wanted to buy one of the entertainment centers, and wanted to know if it could be taken apart, because then I would have been able to fit it in the PT.  He was standing in the middle of an aisle when I spoke to him, and he said he would let me know, by taking a look at it.  He said to me, “You walk that way, and I’ll walk this way,” pointing for me to walk one way down the aisle, and he would walk the other way.  I was SO confused.  Did he not want to walk with me?  Did he think he was taking a short-cut, and would beat me there, or did he want me to get there first, so I could show him which one?  I still don’t know, but I did as he said.

I then asked him to help me with the TVs, as I wanted to make sure that the one I purchased would be "cable ready."  I showed him the TV I was interested in, but some had remotes taped to the top and some didn't.  I said, "Is this cable ready and does this one have a remote, or are they always taped to the top?"  He said, "All I know about this TV is that it was donated by someone and it came into this Salvation Army Thrift Shop located at 4606 Mission Bay Drive, Pacific Beach, California."  I could just stare.  No words would come.  I decided to wait until Eric was with me to buy the TV.

The woman at the register was another winner.  First of all, she had the biggest helmet of hair I have ever seen in my life.  I wish I could have taken a picture with my cell phone, but I guess that would be rude.  Anyway, she had NO idea what she was doing and if there wasn’t another woman showing her what to do, every step of the way, I doubt anything would get done.  I know she wasn’t new there, because she kept calling to people by name as if she knew them all her life, and was barking out orders to guys to pick something up or carry something out, but she was SO slow that there was a line of about 8 people ahead of me – at the Salvation Army!

I finally got out of there and a lovely man who was just shopping there helped me bring the two items I could put in the PT.  I brought back all my purchases and Eric seemed to feel much better after taking an Excedrin Migraine.  He had done a lot more organizing, and the living room was practically empty!

I went back out to go to the 99 cent store (which is about 2 blocks away), but first I called my friend, Susan, who had called while I was out.  We talked for about a half hour.  It was so great to talk to her, and catch up on everything.  I really miss her, and all my friends back in NY.

After our call, I got a trash can for the bedroom and bathroom and an ironing board.  I wanted to buy a kitchen trash can, too, but they didn’t have any.  When I got home, Eric was cutting up more cardboard, after emptying out some more boxes.

He is SO creative, because he decided we were going to make furniture out of the boxes – both empty and full.  First, he used two big empty boxes to make end tables to hold a pair of lamps on either side of the living room.  Then, he lined up a bunch of full boxes, which were all the same size, along the wall in the dining room, which made a buffet.  We also used three boxes (two small and one long, flat one) to make a coffee table.  We covered all these pieces with fabric, so you can’t really tell what’s underneath!

One of the "end tables" Eric and I fashioned from cardboard boxes and fabric.  I still want to hot glue the top piece to the base, so it looks nicer:

He also fashioned a desk for me, in the corner of the living room, using six big heavy boxes that contain his record collection, so they're really sturdy.  He’s not planning on opening them, since he says he can just listen to his CDs.  He put two stacked on either side of where my seat will go, and two in the front to form the shape of a desk. Tomorrow, he’s going to have a board cut to the right size to put on top of the six boxes and I’ll be all set to work at the computer while I’m in the living room with Eric, watching TV or listening to music!

Here's the other side, and you can see a little of Eric's massage chair, which is fully assembled and working hard again.  There's nothing like it, except maybe a REAL massage!

It’s now midnight and we’ve been working since I got home at 6:00pm.  We only stopped so I could make us a light dinner of KRAFT macaroni and cheese, plus a salad for me and a turkey/Swiss wrap for Eric.  We also each had a WEIGHT WATCHERS Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich (2 points).

This picture came out a little blurry (sorry!).  Can you tell there's three boxes underneath that tablecloth?

It was really fun, working together.  Eric cut all the pieces of cardboard, and cut all the boxes down, and then we upholstered the boxes together with big pieces of fabric I had brought from NY (from the shop) and some packing tape.  So, we have two end tables, a coffee table, a desk and a buffet, that cost nothing at all and they look really colorful and cute!  As Eric said, “Who needs furniture?”

Tomorrow, we are going to see if we can get the entertainment center home ourselves (in the RV) or pay someone from the Salvation Army to do it for us.  We’re also going to buy the smaller TV for the master bedroom.  It doesn’t pay to buy a flat-screen TV (which we had planned to do), if we’re not sure whether or not we’re staying.

Another piece of furniture we’ll need is a couch, which I already found and will order tomorrow.  It’s a simple sleeper sofa with no arms that folds down flat to form a full-size bed (for guests!).  It’s a nice brown, which matches our carpet, and it won’t show dirt (I’m so practical!).  The last piece of furniture we will need is a small dining room set or kitchen set, so we can eat at a table.  I promise, when it’s all done, I will put lots of photographs on the blog.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these of the end tables and coffee table we made tonight!

We woke up around 10:30am.  Eric had another headache, and my allergies were bad, so the two of us were a mess.  I took a Drixoral, which always makes me drowsy. 

I was hoping we would be able to get the entertainment center for the living room delivered today, but that’s happening tomorrow morning, so we just did things around the apartment for a couple of hours.  We had some breakfast, cleaned up a little, unpacked a little, I made some phone calls and worked on the computer.   Then we both decided to lie down.

Eric had taken another Excedrin Migraine and I was really drowsy from the Drixoral, so we took a nap.  We woke up a little after 4:00pm.  I had a ton of laundry to do, so we went to the laundry room for the first time.  There are four front-loading washing machines that cost $1.25 each and four dryers that are either $1.00 or $.75 each.  I did three loads and worked around the apartment in-between.

After laundry, I made us a big salad with lots of great stuff in it.  We love salads!  It’s nice to have a big kitchen (bigger than the one in my house!) to work in and lots of counter space, a cutting board that slides out and even a garbage disposal.  I’ve never had a garbage disposal in any apartment or house I ever lived in, so I don’t even really know what they’re for.

First of all, there’s a bulletin board in the laundry room and I saw a notice about abusing the disposal.  They say don’t put “stringy” veggies in there, like celery.  No egg shells.  No tomato skins.  So, I ask you – people out there with a garbage disposal – what are they good for?  What CAN you put in there?  If you’re making a salad and you have to sort out the celery and tomato refuse from the rest of the veggie refuse, is it really convenient?  If it was making compost that you could put in your garden, I could understand it.  But what is it for?

Garbage disposals always scare me, because you always see them in horror movies, where someone puts their hand in there at the wrong time.  Or, it’s a comedy and some old guy’s teeth go down there (SEINFELD), or someone drops an engagement ring down there.  It always seemed to me like it would either chop off your hand, or ruin something you didn’t want disposed of!  So, I’m still asking – why?  Please – someone explain it!

Eric and I didn’t build anymore furniture today, but this morning I moved my computer to my “desk,” even though we didn’t get the board for the top yet.  It’s much more comfortable than standing on the hard tile floor in the kitchen, working on the counter (which I have done since we moved in on Monday!). 

We were busy all evening cleaning up and unpacking some more, since we’re both feeling a little better.  My allergies are definitely at their worst in the morning.

I DID order our couch today.  I went to a cute store in Pacific Beach the other day called UNDERGROUND FURNITURE, and had seen a really cute sleeper sofa, which folds down into a bed (like a futon, instead of opening up – like the Castro Convertibles used to do).  It was over $500, but I knew I could find it cheaper online – and I did!  First, I found it at OVERSTOCK.COM, which had it for $399, plus only $2.95 shipping/handling.  It was a Queen size (which is 3 inches longer and six inches wider than Full).  The problem is, it only came in beige, which I just don’t like.  It’s not practical.  One little thing gets on it, and it looks terrible.  Why can’t they make it in darker colors?

Then, I found SLEEPERSOFA.COM, which had a comparable sleeper sofa for only $379, including tax, shipping and handling!  It’s very simple, but will definitely to the job.  It's a nice brown, which is a great color for us, since we have a light brown rug, and it folds out to a full size bed.  I would have gotten Queen, if they had it, but they didn’t and the OVERSTOCK.COM is just a few inches wider and longer.  I think the only person who will know the difference is our friend, Jimmy, because he’s 6’ 4”, and he’ll be the first to try it out, since he’s visiting us here for my birthday!  His feet may be hanging over the edge, but Eric says he can sleep diagonally!

Eric and I slept comfortably in the RV for 15 weeks and that was only a full-size bed, so I figure most couples would be able to do it, too.  Maybe they’d be a little tighter than usual (especially if they’re used to a King!), but we’ve proven it can be done!  Eric and I actually started married life with a full size bed.  We had it from 1984 to 1991, when we redid the bathroom and master bedroom in the house.  We decided to get a new bed, and decided to upgrade to a Queen!  It was more roomy, but we were always comfy in the full, too!

Now, we just have to keep our fingers crossed that it gets here in time for Jimmy, because they said it could take up to 2 weeks, and he’s coming on the 15th!

The place is definitely shaping up.  There’s still a lot of boxes around (especially in the second bedroom), but we’re opening a few every day and trying to find room to store everything in them.  There’s so much I want to do.  I need to get organized and figure out some stuff we can get rid of.  We definitely have too much stuff.  Living in the RV so simply for so long made us realize that we don’t need a lot of the junk we had.  Better to simplify, to pare down, and to minimize, so our next move will be even easier!

As Albert Hammond wrote in 1972:

Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California, but girl, don't they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours

Here’s a funny story:  We unpacked our alarm clock last night and I went to set it up in the bedroom.  I was doing a lot of unpacking and organizing, so I didn't look too closely, but I noticed right away that the batteries were low, so I replaced them with fresh batteries.  I set it for 8:00am today, because we were supposed to meet John, a moving guy, at The Salvation Army store at 10:00am to help us bring the entertainment center to the apartment.

The alarm went off, and I just pressed “snooze.”  It went off again 10 minutes later and, again, I snoozed.  The third time, I was kind of waking up and I looked around.  It was totally dark.  I was trying to figure out why it would be so dark at 8:20am, and then I realized that I had never changed the time on the clock.  So, when it went off at 8:00am (NY time) it was really 5:00am (California time).  I felt SO stupid!  I fixed the time and then set it for 8:00am again.  When the alarm went off at 8:00am I snoozed it a couple of times again and then my cell phone rang.  It was John, the mover, telling me he was canceling, because it was raining out.

I looked out the window and couldn’t believe my eyes.  It was POURING!  This is the first time it’s rained in SUCH a long time.  I don’t think we’ve really seen rain in months!  So, I told Eric and then we went back to sleep.  I was just happy I hadn’t already gone in the shower before John called!

We woke up at 11:00am.  I know, I can’t believe it myself.  We have gotten SO bad, sleeping later and later.  When we go back to work, we’re in for a rude awakening!

When we got up, we took showers and left the apartment pretty quickly.  We wanted to go to HOME DEPOT to get some wood for the top of my desk, the top of our coffee table and for some shelves.

We decided to go to HOMETOWN BUFFET for lunch (sorry, Jimmy!).  We were there the first time we visited San Diego and just happened upon it while driving around town.  I mentioned what a coincidence it is that it ended up being two blocks away from where we now live!  Anyway, I figured if we were going to have an “all you can eat” meal, it would be best if it was lunch, because we could “work it off” running errands all afternoon.

The place was packed, just like last time.  We tried not to each too much, but wanted to try all the different dishes they have.  We left satisfied, but not stuffed.

Our first stop was HOME DEPOT, where we got the boards cut.  We also bought brackets and screws to make shelves.  Then, we went to TARGET, because our landlord had given us a $20 TARGET gift certificate and I wanted to see if I could get a tall trash can for the kitchen.  I was able to find a nice one, and also got another shelf system for the closet floor, to put more shoes on.  I have an obscene amount of shoes (like 50 pairs) and about the same amount of purses, so they’re EVERYWHERE.

Our last stop was STAPLES, where I was able to find a desk chair for only $20!  I was so happy, because it’s so much more comfortable to use a real desk chair than a regular chair.

It was an exhausting afternoon.  It had been raining on and off all day long, and it's no fun running around in the rain, but when we got back it wasn’t raining at all and we unloaded everything from the car.  Eric started working on the boards, putting together my desk and the coffee table, and I opened the small shelf unit for the closet, to put it together.  Of course, one shelf was missing!  And it wasn’t like the box was opened.  It was completely factory-sealed.  It just didn’t have one of the shelves in there!  I was hoppin’ mad.  I left right away and drove back (about 6 miles) to TARGET and exchanged it for another one.  The whole exchange took less than 5 minutes, but the traffic to and from was bad, mostly because of the weather, but also because it was now 5:00pm.

When I got back, Eric had the desk and coffee table done.  The coffee table was really pretty much finished already, but Eric thought that putting a board on top would stabilize it, and it does look better.  After putting a board on the desk made of six boxes, we upholstered it with fabric, too.  I then put my desk accessories, lap top and printer on it.  I’m ready to work!

Lastly, Eric put together my desk chair and the shelf unit and everything worked out great.  It started pouring again.  Really pouring.  It’s so weird, because the rain was such big news all afternoon.  They said there were more than 200 accidents on the roads, because of the rain.  I know things slow down in NY too, because of the rain, but people so rarely see rain that they don’t know how to drive in it, and it’s really dangerous!

Not only is there big news because of all the car accidents, but the rain is also causing a lot of mud slides and flooding.  It’s horrible, because instead of a little rain 10 days in a row, it’s just one day of complete downpours for hours at a time, so the rain just runs off everything and floods all the streets.  It’s supposed to rain again tomorrow, too, so who knows what else will happen.

Eric was saying what a mess this place is.  First the fires, now the flooding and mud slides.  It does seem like a lot of bad things are happening since we got here, right?  Think we’re bad luck for California?

I made us dinner -- something I hadn't made in a long time -- a dish I used to make for Eric a lot back in NY.  I call it Chicken Gorgonzola, except I didn't have all the ingredients I usually need, so I kind of winged it.  Eric said it still tasted great.  I usually make it with gorgonzola cheese, bread crumbs, garlic and parmesan cheese, but I didn't have bread crumbs (I forgot to buy them).  Since I don't eat chicken, I made another big salad for myself.

Our friends, Geri and Larry, returned home safely from their Amazonian Adventure.  Geri called to let us know and told us a few stories about the many places they explored and the people they met.  What a different world it was than what we are used to.  I can’t wait to see pictures, because Geri’s a fabulous photographer!

Tomorrow we are hoping the rain stops enough so that we can finally get the entertainment center delivered.  We are really in an unpacking mode right now, trying to get the place to look good and feel comfortable.  I’m going to PIER 1 IMPORTS tomorrow to try to use the gift certificate that our friends, Brian and Elaine, gave us.  I want to buy a chair for the living room and they have such beautiful furniture!  More shopping – I can’t wait!