Movies

Last night I went to the movies with a friend.  We saw Black Swan.  Whoa.  Intense and dark.  But I liked it and Natalie Portman was amazing.

Menu

Is it just me or does it seem strange to post your menu on your dumpster gate?  Sure, it may get viewed by a lot of foot traffic but I dunno...seems like it is sending some sort of message.

Pay phone

Wow.  I have not seen a pay phone for a long time. I wonder if it even works.  The last time I had to use one it was out of order and left me feeling like I needed a shower.  I did not touch this one but good to know just in case I am ever stranded next to the liquor store in downtown Carlsbad.

Santa's note

Christmas Eve

Excited

We are getting really excited for Christmas around here.

Birds on the window

What can you do on a rainy day in Southern California? The beach is no good.  The malls are outdoors.  Bowling...movies?  Too crowded.  Window art!  We were inspired by the blog colormekatie.

Rain, rain go away

Wow.  We are going on three days of rain here.  I know most of the world knows how to deal with weather but here in Southern California...we get lost on days like these.  Where did our hot December days go?

Fun is...

Playing with remote control cars in the rain with your kids.

Lights

Lego Christmas Tree

I had to go to Legoland yesterday.  Not for fun, for shopping.  I was hoping that Legoland, being Legoland, would have the biggest selection of Legos.  Not so much. I paid $12 to park.  I waited in the Customer Service line to get a 1 cent shopper's pass for one hour.  (They let you shop in the park for one hour without paying admission or parking...but you have to spend at least $20 in the gift shop.)  I searched the stores in the park but they did not carry the Lego City Airport Kit I was looking for.  So, back in the customer service line I go to let them know I couldn't spend $20 and to request that I still get my parking refunded.  Too bad that don't have a phone number to the actual stores in the park, I could have called and saved myself a trip.  But!  It wasn't a total loss,  I did snap a picture of the Lego Christmas Tree.

H2O Polo

Old VW

Birthday Party

Southern California  style...

It is mid December and today reached 80 degrees.  Perfect day for an outdoor birthday party.  This party was a joint venture for three kids turning 5.  Bouncy Houses, giant slides, snow cones, popcorn, BBQ, face painting and a DJ.  Over the top for sure.

Running on the Beach

Coffee Talk

Bird at Starbucks

Walking

Home sick

I have kids with fevers so I haven't been able to get out to take any pictures.  But we do have our Christmas tree and sitting around a tree in pajamas all day is not so bad.

Green pond

This is a picture I took exactly two years ago.  November 30th, 2008 in San Dieguito Park.  

Planting

These guys are planting ranunculus.  These flower fields will be bursting with color in a few months.

A boy

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...

Dog

Dolphin

Dinner

Sitting down with friends and family for our Thanksgiving feast.

Turkey Trot

We started our Thanksgiving day by participating in an early morning 5K.  The Oceanside Turkey Trot.  The course ended by the pier where we saw dolphin, pelicans, and seagulls starting their own feast. 

 A beautiful start to a Thankful day.

Prepping for Thanksgiving

A picture of the best turkey I have ever had.  This was at a friend's house a few years ago.  It was brined with a Williams-Sonoma turkey brine.  I am hoping I can recreate the experience this year.  Let the brining begin!

Cloudy day beach

Beach view from the parking lot near Carlsbad Village Drive.

First Grade Thanksgiving Feast

First Graders - about to recite thankful poems and sing Thanksgiving songs for all the moms and dads.

Road Bikes

Biking is a popular sport here in Carlsbad.  Both mountain bikers and those who prefer the streets can be spotted on any given day.  This street has a speed limit of 55 miles an hour so I am always cautious around these groups.  They make me nervous.  People drive fast in Southern California.  I noticed it when we first moved here but I think I have adjusted.  Now when we visit our friends in the North...it feels like everyone is driving through molasses.

A wall downtown

Carlsbad Airport

"There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?"
Elaine Dickinson - Airplane! (1980)

We have an airport in Carlsbad and this is the new terminal.  I had the pleasure of flying out of here once in the old terminal that was basically a double-wide...o.k., maybe a little bit bigger than that.  Flying out of a tiny airport is so fun.  The person who checks you in is the same person who runs the security line who is the same person who lets you on the plane and is the same person who is your flight attendant!  I love it...it makes it feel like we are all in this together. 

 I hope with this fancy permanent terminal, the process hasn't changed too much.

Batiquitos Lagoon

A pretty place to walk.  

Batiquitos Lagoon Trail.

Carlsbad Sunset

Can't get enough of these sunsets.

The Belly Up

The Belly Up is a music venue in Solana Beach.  It is about 15 minutes from our part of Carlsbad.  The Belly Up is a fantastic place to see live music - usually up and coming artists or blast from the past type shows.    Last night we saw The English Beat - they had hits in the 80's like Mirror in the Bathroom and Save it for Later.   This is the best picture I could get with my handy iphone.

Fire Hydrant

Another fire hydrant from downtown.  I am on my way out to a show at the belly up tonight and I just remembered I needed to post a photo.

a boy and a frog

Wild Animal Park

Because today is Veteran's day and the schools are closed, we celebrated by adventuring out to the Wild Animal Park.  Actually I think they just changed the name to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.  It is the sister park to the San Diego Zoo.  I think this park started out as the location the zoo used to breed their animals.  It is not your traditional zoo as many of the animals pretty much roam in the open space.  Of course they keep the lions away from the general population but they let the lions have a view of the animals they would normally hunt.  You can take a tram through the plains to get a closer look.  If you are willing to shell out the big bucks you can ride on a truck and get right up close.  

The Forum

A great little shopping area here in Carlsbad.  One of my favorite stores, Anthropologie is in this little outdoor mall. There is a mix of well known chain stores, like Apple and Victoria's Secret, as well as, some local boutique shops like Mabel's. There are a few sandwich options, a good burger chain (The Counter), Mexican Food, Italian Food and a high end Natural Foods store.

Neighborhoods

I thought I should show some of the neighborhoods in Carlsbad.  Carlsbad is pretty hilly so there are many neighborhoods with amazing views.  Here is a glimpse of one.

Taking pictures

Another Carlsbad resident taking pictures in the morning.  I might have lens envy.

Adorable

A cute little red headed girl at  Stagecoach park.

Better Days

I think this guy has had it.

Cougars

We have a lot  of Cougars in California.  This is what you might find them wearing.  Impressive at age 50 but somewhat disturbing.  Reminds me of the real housewives series on the Bravo network.

Those shows are my guilty pleasure.

 

Tomatoes in November

I really don't mean to brag...well, I guess I do.  Sorry.  But it is November and the tomatoes in our backyard are still going strong.  This hot week is helping with that.  A homegrown tomato, in my opinion, may very well be, the best thing to eat on this planet.  Yum.
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early girls...a very sweet tomato.

November Sunset

Another warm, beautiful day here in Carlsbad!

Election

It is gorgeous today.  The sky is beyond blue, the air is warm and still.  

I walked in the sunshine to my neighbor's garage to submit my ballot.  

In California, the biggest news will be the announcement of the new Governor...Meg Whitman or Jerry Brown?  (I had a Jerry Brown sighting when I was twenty-something and he was running the city of Oakland. He was in a bar in the Mission District of San Francisco, standing next to me, drink in hand, partying with the young people. Random.) 

In Carlsbad, we are electing a new Mayor for the first time in 24 years.  

Big shoes to fill as I have read reports that Carlsbad is considered one of the state's best managed cities.  I myself, am very happy to live here and think it is a very well-planned community.  

November Theme Day

The City Daily Photo world has a theme day the first of each month.  This is my first theme day!  Today the subject is Public Transportation.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Happy Halloween

Saw this guy on a walk yesterday.  He is furry and creepy...perfect for Halloween!

La Costa Resort and Spa