Frustration

I am writing a Father's day article about a local San Diegan who might be one of the most amazing men I have ever met. The only problem is that I am having one hell of time writing his story.

Capturing his spirit in the piece without making it too sappy is proving to be challenging. Also, I feel a tremendous amount of pressure to make it spectacular. His family is super excited about the article. His daughter is even flying home father's day weekend so they can be together when the article comes out. Lastly, this article is breaking my heart. The guy I am writing the story about reminds me of my father in so many ways that it makes me incredibly sad. He even smells like saw dust.

My deadline is Friday and I have about 200 words. Sigh.

Retail Therapy

Aaron has been out of town a lot lately. Sometimes it's nice to get a break. I always appreciate him so much more when he gets back from a trip. These last couple of weeks with him gone so much I have been super lonely. I miss my family and my friends in Chicago. No matter how many years I have been in San Diego I always miss home. My high school friends did a mini reunion this weekend back in Illinois. I am bummed I missed it. I am thankful that they didn't plaster pictures all over Facebook.

Today, to pick up my spirits, I did a little shopping.

Here is my favorite score:


Anthropologie dress -- a little pricey but I sold two stories this month so I kind of deserve it. Also, it is super cute on. This photo does not do it justice.

Gross

Two people have googled elderly nudist in order to find my blog. Hilarious!

PB, San Diego

Holy Rollers

I wrote this week's SD Reader cover story about a group of Christian card counters. Check it out: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2012/apr/11/cover-christian-card-counters/

Belmont Park

I have lived in San Diego for over 12 years and had never rode the big dipper in Mission Beach until today. 

The kids and I took our piggy bank to the coinstar this morning so we could buy unlimited ride arm bands at Belmont Park.  We had a blast.  Amelia and I rode the tilt-a-wheel a dozen times. 

Today was a great one!

Brotherly Love

Jake's resemblance to a middle-aged man in these photos is a little frightening.

The Local Celeb Hang-Out

I am ashamed to admit that I spend far too much time at the Kensington Starbucks.  I love Kensington.  It’s urban with a hint of the Midwest.  Starbucks is its only coffee shop.  As a result I spend $3 a day at a chain.

One of the teachers at the kid's school has hired me to grade his papers.  Mon-Thurs I spend a large chunk of my day at bucks grading and writing. I now recognize the regulars. There is a catholic preist that hangs out there every moring. Some days he wears a wifebeater and no shoes. This alarms me. There is another guy that I always see. He sits near the bathrooms and always wears a winter jacket and gloves.  

It has proved to be a local celeb hang-out. So far I have seen Jerry Sanders, Jeff Bushell (not really a celebrity but a guy I interviewed about his Vaudeville in North Park), Ken Kramer, and the love of my life--Gregory Page. 

I almost died when I saw Gregory Page. I off course was too star-struck to say anything to him. Instead I starred at him from across the yuppie-filled coffee shop. I told Aaron and he called me an idiot.

"You could have written a story about him or asked for tickets to see him play at the Vaudeville with John C Reilly."

This is all true. I could've, would've, should've but I was paralyzed with a weird star-struckness that crippled me.

In other news. I managed to shave a bald patch in Aaron's head while cutting his hair this weekend. He was not pleased. I would post pictures but he would kill me. I am officially fired as the Braun family hairdresser. The good news is that my family will stop looking like cast members of Children of the Corn now.

Mexico

We went to Mexico on Saturday to meet Aaron's baby sister. It trips me out that I have a 3-month old sister-in-law.

Instagram for the droid

I am so excited that there  is now a droid app for instagram.  Here are a few of my pics:

Today

It was beautiful out today.  I stayed in all day working on a 1000 word article.  It is terrible despite hours of work. 

I watched Walk the Line and oddly felt inspired.  I think I will be able to pull of finishing my article.  Who knew all I needed was a little John and June to help me along.