Potpourri

Week of Jan 9-15…

Quiet. The Elks Club itself is open daily, with a full (massive) bar and part-time cook. The regulars tend to have a decade or so on us age-wise, but the visiting RVers (7 sites w/ utilities, latecomers dry camp in the spacious parking lot) generally have backgrounds and stories similar to our own (well, somewhat similar – nobody else has 13 kids and 18-22 grandkids, depending on definition).

Broccoli in the hotel garden.

Monday we checked out the Hotel del Coronado, south of San Diego. Built in 1887, it’s on the scale of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan (which was built the same year). Glamorous in its heyday, and still very impressive.

Sand castle and hotel complex.

Greg surveying the sea.

Tuesday we saw Manchester By the Sea. Completely different from Fences, but equally heavy – and more gut wrenching at the end. Casey Affleck did an outstanding job – the Academy Awards folks will (or at least should) have a tough time choosing best actor this year.

Wednesday the blog crashed when I attempted to launch it. Enough said.

Thursday we caught Hidden Figures, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Many of you reading this remember John Glenn’s flight – did we know these women even existed? And how aware were we of the overt middle-class racism of the time? These 3 women are outstanding examples of perseverance.

BlogThoughts… I’m afraid I personally lived in a bubble. I was in a huge high school w/ a somewhat mixed population – Blacks, Hispanics (from Cuba) and lots of Jewish kids. I followed the news and was appropriately outraged at what I saw on TV, but it still never really touched me. My stepdad favored segregation, but he personally treated everyone the same. My mother opposed segregation, but rarely voiced her opinion.

Friday we tried to visit Knox House and bone up on the history of El Cajon (“the box” b/c the canyon is boxed in on 4 sides – cōjon refers to male anatomy). Anyway, the website indicated open 9-3, and we stopped by about 11am. A neon OPEN sign glowed in one window, but the only door was locked tight. We knocked, but to no avail. C’est la vie. 

Friday was also laundry day. This was easy at San Dimas, but the local SuperLaundry uses a prepaid card rather than quarters. I had a couple fives, which got me $10 on the card (no change given, thank you very much). At San Dimas I could wash & dry a load for $1.75 – now I’m paying $3.25 just to wash. Grumble, grumble. I survived.

Saturday. Greg is much more social than me. (He also doesn’t have 17 blog posts to re-create!) Anyway, he’s out chatting with fellow RVers. The guys bond easily cuz they always have maintenance stories to share. He also carries treats in his pocket in case someone has a dog. I know he misses Lady even more than I do.

Worked on this blog most of the morning. Finally got outside for a good, long walk (64° and sunny). I smile and greet everyone I pass – and enjoy the varied responses.  (800 more steps today and I’ll reach the magic 10,000. At home that was an easy goal - on the road I have to make a concerted effort.) Now watching the Hawks and Falcons…  which doesn’t end so well. 

A profusion of citrus.

Perhaps a Verizon tree?