Food Trucks

As kids there was nothing like the sound of an ice cream truck. High-pitched music heard from a block away. An advance warning to gather coins and run to the street. The driver-server (usually an unkempt older fellow) would stick his head out for your order and then reach into the treasure trove of a freezer box to pull out an ice cream bar or multi-colored popsicle.

Times have changed.

So have the trucks.

Now they are parked.

And location, times and menus are broadcast from a website and Twitter.

Corner Cupcakes pulls up in in Mira Mesa every Wednesday.

 Today is their 1^st anniversary.

Evident by the fondant decoration and the customer who was belting out the Happy Birthday song when I walked up.

Two gals operate the business. They are super friendly. Greeted the regulars by name.

In August they won Cupcake Wars on the Food Network channel and said the competition is even more intense and crazy than what you see on tv.

This morning mini-champagne cupcakes were passed out to commemorate the special occasion.

Delicious.

Only surpassed by their chocolate cupcake with salty caramel frosting.

It is a mix and match approach to doing business. The truck is filled with a variety of naked cupcakes and an assortment of filled piping bags. The customer decides on the combination.

A made-to-order treat on wheels!

Shopping for a Toddler

Spotted this fuzzy costume at the Hillside Artisans Children's Boutique in Del Mar.

While shopping for a pony.

An inflatable.

Vinyl.

Made in Italy.

Rody Pony.

With lots of personality.

Cremation

Last month I had a big birthday.

Big in the sense that I am now stinkin’ old. It was one of those birthdays. A round number event.

And it wasn’t 30. Which is round and cute.

My grandpa on my father’s side lived to 98 and could have gone longer but he decided to wrap things up and went on a bit of a hunger strike at the end.

So in terms of longevity I am still (in some circles) considered quite young.

Regardless one must think ahead.

So naturally when the family gathered to toast my ‘lost youth’ the conversation turned towards death after a few inappropriate comments about early onset dementia.

Four of us have decided on cremation.

Is it a green thing? Not wanting to waste precious land. A simple thing? Not having to deal with a casket and all the trimmings?

Don’t know.

What was interesting was that we were all very clear on where we wanted to be scattered.

Somebody will have to climb to the top of Mt. Washington to dispose of my athletic spouse when his time comes. While my surfer brother has requested that his smoked remains get tossed while riding one last wave in the Pacific Ocean.

Seems that those left behind, at least in our family circle, better stay in shape and keep their cardio up.

There will be no standing around and crying at a gravesite.

Instead it will be necessary to lace up hiking boots or pull on a wetsuit and get down to business.

Cremation is not for sissies.

Fence Project

We are not the original owners of our house.

But the fence has been around the whole time.

So deterioration has occurred.

Time and weather doing damage until fence posts became partials.

One whole section headed for the street before it was yanked into submission and tied.

Which prompted lots of conversation about replacement options.

And how easy it would be to do it ourselves.

One weekend should do the trick. It was just a matter of digging a few holes and mixing up a bit of cement.

But there was never a whole weekend to get the job done.

So estimates were gathered. Decisions were made. Do-It-Yourself went by the way side.

A father and son team was brought in. Along with materials and tools.

They tore down and hauled away the rickety remains.

And dug and dug and dug and measured and leveled and painted and now we have a bright new shiny black fence that has a lifetime guarantee.

And we never broke a sweat!

Cinepolis

A major renovation has taken place at the Del Mar Highlands Town Center.

The old UltraStar theatre has been replaced by a luxury cinema.

Walk inside to purchase your ticket ($31 for two to see a matinee) and select seats from the monitor chart.

The foyer is similar to a hotel lobby.

Only this is a movie theatre.

With a full bar.

And a menu that ranges from sushi to sliders.

No standing in line to order your gourmet popcorn.

Just relax, adjust your leather recliner and push the call button. A server will take and deliver your order.

The experience is like sitting in first class on an airplane.

Only better.

Cloud Coverage

Puffy.

Cotton Balls.

Pulled and stretched across the sky.

It was a good day for gazing.

Did you look up?

Caroline’s in La Jolla Shores

This is the view from the beach parking lot in La Jolla Shores.

It doesn’t get much better than this.

But now you can head up the beach or the road...

For a bit of shade at a lovely café.

Just south of Scripps pier.

Gorgeous view.

 With soup, salad, sandwiches and drinks.