Last chance in 2006

One last chance to win a San Diego postcard...to go to the first person that correctly guesses what this is a photo of. A hint: it is a part of a San Diego landmark that I've shown before. Good luck!

Ice skating

There are a couple of outdoor ice skating rinks around town during the holidays. This photo was taken at the Hotel Del Coronado and there is another rink downtown near Horton Plaza. I circled and circled the area trying to get a great photo of this ice skating rink and the beautiful beach behind it, but it just didn't work out. Sometimes my grand visions never make it to print. Maybe next year. Thanks to Stu for suggesting this photo-op!

El Cuervo Mexican Restaurant

I've been posting a photo of Mexican food almost every Friday since I started this blog, so I thought I'd end this year where I started - at El Cuervo. I eat there often and it is a casual place where they know my name (kinda like Cheers the old television show). This handmade sign is posted inside the restaurant along side photos and other memorabilia. Here are some previous posts of El Cuervo - a sope, a breakfast burrito, enjoying the World Cup, and as a backdrop to a sweet VW. Good times.

Woody

This morning I went to the Big Bay Balloon Parade which is held in honor of the Holiday Bowl football game (UC Berkeley vs. Texas A&M University - The Cal Bears won the football game 45-10. Go Bears!) and features about 30 helium filled gigantic balloons. The above photo is the character Woody from the movie Toy Story. The crowd yelled out ooohs and ahhhs when the balloons strayed into the crowd or nearly missed a street light. I heard that one got away last year.

Pig

Just a lone pig waiting for her parents to come home.
Thanks to all for stopping by while I was away for Christmas. Hope you all had a peaceful and happy holiday!

Lotus flower

After Christmas, let's relax and unwind from the stress. Here is a lotus flower from the reflecting pond near the Botanical Building at Balboa Park. The lotus is a symbol of purity of body, speech, and mind, floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire.

The Virgin

Today is Christmas and since I didn't have any great photos of the baby (the baby Jesus, that is), I thought I'd show his mom, La Virgen de Guadalupe aka the Virgin Mary, glorified here on two beautiful pillows. Merry Christmas everyone! May there be peace on earth and good will toward all.

Pray for us

This is a statue of Saint Didicus (commonly called San Diego) at the Mission de Alcalá. The translation of the words behind the statue are, "San Diego pray for us". Let us pray for peace this Christmas Eve.

Wizard of Oz gang

I was lucky to inherit this fun bunch of Christmas ornaments from my aunt who was getting rid of "stuff". Do you have a favorite ornament on your tree?

Santa baby

I'm on a holiday blitz this week, so I'll post a Mexican food picture next week. I'm sure y'all won't go hungry. This Santa piñata is ready to be whacked into pieces and to spill his guts with candy. Want to take a hit?

Grinch

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"
"It came without ribbons! It came without tags!"
"It came without packages, boxes, or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come froma a store."
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"
- From How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

Mission Beach boardwalk

I took this photo the other day when we had lots of clouds in the sky. If you are looking for a San Diego keychain or t-shirt, shells, hula skirts, or anything beach related, the area (Mission Beach and Pacific Beach) has lots of touristy shops, restaurants and bars. During the summer this boardwalk is packed full of tourists, sunbathers, walkers, joggers, bikers, skaters, and people just hanging out - it's Spring (and summer) Break central.

In style

I went into Bloomingdale's to do a little shopping. They have comfy lounge areas for those not shopping as well as interesting displays. What do you think of this retro style?

More clouds

Looking to the east toward the Golden Triangle in La Jolla. These spectacular clouds loomed, yet no rain.

Clouds at Junction 52

We had some rain this weekend, but starting tomorrow the temperatures are expected to rise (to the low 60's F) and it is supposed to be sunny all week. Does Mother Nature know that tomorrow is Monday?

Lights

For the last few weeks we've been waiting for one of our neighbors to put up their Christmas lights. Father and son work together in order to cover the house in lights. I think it is a gradual process of adding more and more things each day. The tree pictured here is one of my favorite pieces in their collection. The "circles" that form the tree are made from pie tins. They also have a Santa and a Snoopy that sit on top of their RV.

Machaca con huevos

Who likes to eat breakfast for dinner? Try machaca (beef that has been marinated, cooked, shredded, and dried - like beef jerky but better) mixed with eggs and a side of rice and beans. Yummy and filling! Click on this link to learn how to make your own machaca and a nice recipe for machaca beef enchiadas with chipoltle sauce.

Beam me up

This is a photo of the Geisel Library at UCSD. Here is another view I took during the daytime. Day or night it kind of looks like a space ship to me. Anyone with an unidentified flying object story to share? Happy Birthday to my beloved alien!

Two car garage

A really nice faux finish paint job makes this residental garage at Lewis and Albatross Streets stand out.

El Cajon Boulevard sign

The sign marks one end of El Cajon Boulevard, a major east/west thoroughfare. Underneath the words "the Boulevard" it says "gateway to mid-city". It is one of the longest city streets here, traveling between the University Heights area and the city of El Cajon, about 12 miles.

Hot Monkey Love Cafe

The full name of this all ages alcohol free club on El Cajon Blvd is the Hot Monkey Love Cafe Multi-Cultural Music Hall. Offering Salsa and Tango dance lessons, a comedy night, and rock, punk, jazz, and hip hop music. Being able to go to a dance club, like, when you are under 18 is, like, the most fun ever, right?

Snowman

Another photo from yesterday's "Snow Day" at Petco Park. We came prepared with gloves, hats, scarves, and heavy jackets, but within one hour we were sweating in the above 70 degree F weather. Have you ever made a snowman? I tried once when I was a kid but didn't make more than one big ball.

Snow day

Our baseball park, Petco Park, hosted a "Snow Day" today where they make snow for kids and grown-ups to have some fun since it doesn't snow here. They provided the snow, sleds, face painting, a Christmas ornament craft making station, and photos with the Padres (this is the name of our baseball team) mascot dressed as Santa. There were some snow angels, and lots of snowballs flying around. P.S. Happy Birthday to Julia!

3 enchiladas

Very tasty enchiladas from Ranchos Cucina. Can't decide what kind of enchilada you would like? Just have one of each! From left to right: refried beans & rice, mole sauce, red sauce, and green sauce.

Celebration time, come on!

Are you ready to celebrate? So many holiday parties, what to wear? I'm celebrating my cousin Honie's birthday today - Happy Birthday! Is this too cheesy? Lyrics to the song Celebration by Kool & the Gang:

YAHOO! 2x - (It's a Celebration)
Celebrate good times
Come on ! - Let's celebrate
Celebrate good times
Come on ! - Let's celebrate

There's a party going on right here a celebration
to last troughout the years.
So bring your good times and your laughter too
we're gonna celebrate your party with you
Come on now (Celebration)
Let's all celebrate and have a good time.
(Celebration)
We go celebrate and have a good time.

It's time to come together, it's up to you
What's your pleasure, (Everyone around the world come on!)

YAHOO! 2X
CHORUS (Let's Celebrate) (It's a Celebration)
YAHOO! 2x - (It's a Celebration)
Celebrate good times
Come on ! - Let's celebrate
Celebrate good times
Come on ! - Let's celebrate

Come on and celebrate - tonight
'cause everything's gonna be
alright. Let's celebrate

"Little Thinker" stuffed dolls

For the little thinker on your Christmas list.... These dolls depicting famous people made me smile. A San Diego postcard goes to the first person that can correctly identify the famous person that each doll represents or to the person with the highest number of correct answers in one week. No fair cheating!

Full moon

As it orbits the Earth our Moon goes through phases and "full" is when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. Because it is fully illuminated by the Sun at this time, it looks like a "full" round disk from Earth. These are some of the different names people call the full Moon in December: Cold Moon, Oak Moon, Frost Moon, Long Night's Moon, or Moon Before Yule. Do you believe that the full Moon causes strange behavior among people and animals? Awooooooooo!

Not the Fontana di Trevi...

This is the same area at UCSD where I took the photo of the World AIDS Day red ribbon on December 1st. Every big or small fountain, my son stops and asks for money to throw in. Anyone know where the custom of throwing money in a fountain comes from? This water feature winds up and down a set of stairs and has a fountain at each end. All money from the fountain supports the Child Care Center at UCSD. Read a story about the 3,000 euros collected daily from the Fontana di Trevi to go toward feeding the poor.

Palm fountain

Typical Southern California look, don't you think? I'm sure you've seen more elegant fountains than this palm tree fountain. I didn't find it in someone's front yard, but in front of this restaurant.

First & Upas - Royal Food Mart

An art deco style picture window that looks into the Caffe Carpe Diem. A market and deli are connected to the cafe. Enjoy your weekend and Happy Birthday to Mickael!

World AIDS Day

Today is dedicated to raising awareness of the global AIDS pandemic.
More than 65 million people have been infected with HIV.
More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.
More than 3 million people (approx. 570,000 were children) died of AIDS in 2005.
More than 2.9 million people have died in 2006.
The World Health Organization predicts that in the next 25 years another 117 million people will die, making AIDS the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide.

Visit other Daily Photo bloggers around the world that are participating in our theme day which is to "take a photo of a person from the waist down", a theme that is a tribute to the work of Bob from Barcelona, Spain.
Porto - Greenville - Evry - Queens - Seattle, WA, USA - Stayton , OR, USA - Albuquerque, NM (USA) - Joplin, MO (USA) - Singapore (Raymond) - Guadalajara, Mexico - Santiago, Chile - London (UK) - Jakarta (Indonesia) - Bandung (Indonesia) - Melbourne, Aust (John) - Phoenix, AZ (US) - Twin Cities, MN - Newcastle upon tyne(England) - St. Paul, MN (USA) Carol - Szentes (Hungary) - Tuzla (BiH) - St. Paul Kate - Dubai (U.A.E.) - Nelson (New Zealand) - Sharon, CT USA - Tenerife (Spain) - Auckland (New Zealand) - Budapest (Hungary) - Sydney, Australia (Sally) - Sequim, WA - East Lansing, MI (USA) - Vantaa; Finland - Singapore (Zannnie) - Paris (France) - Kuala Lumpur - Shanghai, China - Sydney Aust (Nathalie) - Hyde (UK) - Akita City, Japan - Tokyo (Japan) - Rotterdam - Manila (Philippines) - Not Strictly Seattle - Stavanger (Norway) - Hong Kong - Chattanooga, Tennessee - Barcelona (Spain) - Trujillo (Peru) - Naples Florida - Delta Colorado - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Cheltenham, England - Saarbrücken, Germany