Summer in Southern California is awesome! It's nice to live in a mild climate for the Winter, but, ah, Summertime is everything you might imagine! The sunshine, the blue sky, the Pacific Ocean, surfers, palm trees, kids playing at the beach, well, you get the idea!
It's why we're here!
We are getting a nice, unusually, VERY HOT week! 103.9 -- in the shade! Now that's hot! We go in the pool a couple of times a day, and tonight, went for a warm evening swim! It was 84 at 9pm (air AND water temp). Then a cigar for Rick... what a beautiful night!
It's why we're here!
We are getting a nice, unusually, VERY HOT week! 103.9 -- in the shade! Now that's hot! We go in the pool a couple of times a day, and tonight, went for a warm evening swim! It was 84 at 9pm (air AND water temp). Then a cigar for Rick... what a beautiful night!
Where we lived last year, Carlsbad -- just 10 miles closer to the coast -- the temperatures range from 74 to 84 degrees, and doesn't get this hot. Vista is nice; we are enjoying the "normal" 90 degrees. This 100 stuff is a bit hot; just means less work in the yard, and more pool time! Couldn't do it with out the swimming pool! ...or the ocean breezes! Go another 10 to 20 miles inland and, well, no way! Too hot!
This week Julian is back at Michigan State University already, starting his Senior year. He had a good summer working at INTUIT and is back into the swing of parties, old friends, and competing with the MSU Cycling Club. Oh yeah, and classes too! I miss going to buy him brand new crayons and colored pencils! Even though we didn't see him much this summer, it was nice having him in the same state. Prospects look good for another summer internship next year, and hopefully, a full time position with Intuit when he's done with school. Expected date of graduation: December 2008.
(Do we REALLY have to go to Michigan in DECEMBER!?!?!?!)
We did get him here for a week in between the job and school. It was a beautiful California summer week, with temps out here in Vista in the 90's. We all used the pool! As you can see, it's great to jump into after working in the yard, taking a walk, or when getting back from a long bike ride! oh yeah, or when your "boy" is in the pool with a delicious bagel!
Goldie is mostly outside napping through these "Dog Days of Summer", but as you can see, she loves the pool too! She also like to "stalk" the neighbors across the street (a trick she learned from Kodi Sweeney???) She has Eric and Suzanne trained well: just about every day they stop over to pet her, rub her belly, and are quite generous with the doggy treats too! She loves to run up the steep driveway at our next door neighbor's, Wayne & Gunde, and yesterday she went "begging" at the back door or the other Michigan/Ford family across the street! Yep, she's making herself at home here!
(Just gotta' keep her away from the rattlesnakes and black widow spiders!)
We've been busy ourselves, checking out different local beaches, visiting the Malnar's up in Claremont, going to the Del Mar Racetrack TWICE!! and, hanging out in our pool a bunch!
Meanwhile, I'm finally getting back into the swing of gardening and yard care . . . it took a while after my vacation, and the hot weather.
Today I planted some giant Birds of Paradise from our neighbors. Tomorrow we plan to buy some King Palms at COSTCO! My cactus seem to be surviving, and our oranges are continuing to grow larger! We still don't know how long it will take for them to get ripe! Good thing the neighbors' crops already are!
Other "big" news this week, we got rain! woo hoo! (Hey, it was the headline story on the TV news!) The first in over 110 days (April). Escondido actually got 2 inches... we barely got .05 inches... but it wet the ground. Seriously, it helped. We have only had about 3" in a year, it's been a drought for 2 years. The only reason we got any at all this week was that it was remnants of Hurricane Dean!
Clouds! These are unusual storm clouds coming over the foothills behind us. Most the rain stops before it gets to us. We actually ENJOY clouds now!
Update: September 3rd, 2007
Temp hit 110 degrees!
Water hit 90! We went for an early morning swim instead of our walk!
We are enjoying the excuse to not to any yard work!
We actually broke down and turned on the AC -- but I gotta' tell you, it's mostly for Goldie!
Update: September 5, 2007
It's cooled down now, and dang, 80 degrees feels too cool to jump in the pool!
We also went back to Vista's "Moonlight Theater".
It's an outdoor amphitheater, like a little "Pine Knob" (for you Michigan folks). It's only about 3 miles away which makes it fun and easy to go to! We went again with our neighbor Wayne & Gunde, and this time we brought a picnic basket with wine and cheese and shrimp cocktails.... and saw:
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