Peppy's Dream Moving Adventure Blog

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!