Being a Local Tourist

I played local tourist this past week and checked out two spots worth sharing. One is familiar and the other is brand new. The familiar spot is the San Diego Botanical Gardens in Encinitas. Those of us who’ve lived for decades in North County San Diego still call it Quail Botanical Gardens. Since my last visit, they have moved the entrance.... read more

Angels and Other Creatures: Mount Auburn Cemetery

During a recent visit to New Hampshire to help my sister move, I passed by many cemeteries. As historic as they were, I never saw an angel statue. As my trip ended, I realized I couldn’t possibly leave New England without seeing at least one angel. I did some research, found Mount Auburn Cemetery, and allotted myself an hour to tour it prior to... read more

Thoughts for the Day

My Random Thoughts   I used to think charging $22 for an entrée of roasted cauliflower was outrageous. Now it only slightly bothers me. Some days all I need to be happy is a clean windshield and The Black Keys playing on the radio. The first time you meet a surgeon, don’t be intimidated. Ask, “What are my other... read more

Val’s Road Photo Contest Winners

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos this year.  The water theme offered some great shots. So after a very enjoyable time reviewing all the entries, I’ve picked the winners of this year’s contest. Congratulations! The WinnersFirst Place PhotoGina J – Photo taken in Iceland Runner Up Photos Deb E – Photo taken in... read more

Joy at a Stop Light

Close to my house is an intersection for the local high school. Before the pandemic, about two thousand students attended the school.  If you hit that red light when classes let out, you’d be stuck waiting there for several minutes. For the first time in over a year, I came up on that intersection and saw hundreds of students leaving the... read more