![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjnCw87L0WNGUOTqfb6M2H8-4NnCHuT9vkvHOw7tcUFP4rx-tpluqlJT9cND5Sjw-n6WXKvMwZHKcFyQhlpyoZrkio2w_s0SJ77zzsYwx6NTSyKvqfr8rMZ449LvpXSmV2OmmC5KPbYm-/s400/saul+bell+finalist.jpg)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
suprise from Rio Grande
I got this framed certificate from Rio Grande in the mail today. I wasn't expecting anything more about the 2011 Saul Bell Award since I was only a finalist.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjnCw87L0WNGUOTqfb6M2H8-4NnCHuT9vkvHOw7tcUFP4rx-tpluqlJT9cND5Sjw-n6WXKvMwZHKcFyQhlpyoZrkio2w_s0SJ77zzsYwx6NTSyKvqfr8rMZ449LvpXSmV2OmmC5KPbYm-/s400/saul+bell+finalist.jpg)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
trip to California
I visited San Diego May 18 - 25. I lived in Oceanside (45 min. north of San Diego) from Nov. 1999 - Dec. 2004. I went out there to go to GIA, then worked there a few more years. I left to go to grad school at the U of Iowa, with the intention of returning to the San Diego area as soon as I finished. I finished grad school at the end of 2006, and have been putting off returning to California since then. Currently I am putting it off till I spend at least one more year in Korea, but who knows what will happen after Korea.
Anyway, I haven't been back since I left in 2004, and I have missed it and I really wanted to visit when I got back from Korea. Actually visiting California was one of the only things I was looking forward to doing this summer.
I didn't do much during my trip. I drove around a lot. I like to drive and I like driving in Southern California much more than in the Chicago area. Much nicer scenery. I spent about $200 on gas during the trip. I went to places I used to go to, ate at restaurants I used to eat at, and met a couple friends.
View from outside my old apartment building:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCjw2KPRSUA6BS6hHxYRmP9FqmFj2TomHVHmvZyu7Cn9NApTL0wbB3UegEYbJJeWAC2THf-veLz_5Uw3VkCtEi3CLKamDoEwpR3NL3jnBy3GLwdcF0dnl9DFcySJQR7vCBQjBUeRk4g9d/s400/DSC_6863.JPG)
Oceanside:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4cmOfU6GPSsoSVV6ugH0izIt15oT6XPkHIix1oISiPogbRbwI85QZPgyrKOYcT-ZAqbpaJeMC6v94LYYt7iMjdJ2grNQ6MAYjWvMWGHMhQUrwHvwrspHCzQy939Cx7oUdgWe-Lc9MsuU/s400/DSC_5379.JPG)
One of the best things I did during my trip was run one of my old running routes near my apt in Oceanside. I am not in as good of shape as I was when I lived in CA, so all I could do was run a three mile route that used to be the minimum I would run. Southern California is a great place to run because of the weather, and my neighborhood was especially good. On the west side of I-5 the area was all flat, if I wanted to run hills, there were some really steep ones on the east side if I-5. I wish I could start running again, but I have never enjoyed it much anywhere but in California. This video is the 3 mile route I used to run a lot:
South Carlsbad:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYZwfiWO3_Ngbwl3xjz4wk8O05PiB6wy77SgmKO3Tg7e_Rgrgy0YlN4nPXt6oqjrmdDwtjmUHciCQ-ZrMBH7gNi_x_70-CfqyxWlYVBr_dHNxXSohO3M-_A4V5FTege6Yw53v2r7ji58Z/s400/DSC_5059.JPG)
Approaching Laguna Beach, I think:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqa-h9s3DsCB6CknEE-gXiW_TLWh6-rdg5D1B543wE1gY02aiDPxdpSuQQ5cWtYq5GqeLh6R6hY7k9LnCJXibETm8K7xHx3-NjhEzC5QXWnrHY7XzH72LFkb54fwclLjhqLYrO8H_AgBgf/s400/IMG_9284.JPG)
Laguna Beach:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfFdHeMIt5v4nuCsjbRtqgiuhj_ckC0jM5neJPLau-ciwtttfQC_uDrxwtEO3fa2vNUGTZsIKx0-Ci4bBIvUZSvFVTsnpAKGk831K6s6zc1K2WP84DWHbTZP-EQ5va_aTyAqy9XTf5HYg/s400/DSC_6814.JPG)
Someplace that brings back memories in Laguna Beach:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VJgS_pgmR5D6bjEms1AQ2AGV5R0R_7G59ZaYBdmJem1zeBIryAF_Hz66BDVBoLq6-c6GdLErCZpucoXh2hfwtqAKgX85_hozAiiTeE_sAFzScMqPSfEoot7Zvv6XQLBaT9aeC5BCh2JX/s400/DSC_6745.JPG)
While I was going to meet a friend I happened to find the Palos Verdes Art Center. I was in an exhibition there called Wearable Expressions in 2008:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgby7LqHQcLb3L20Ss_HwRMMu3U23YSR_CN7y4Cl4gtvAMHf3-EI8GuY9JW47vSt97C8AX1i4hqowXNq-3ntMSIMKNWZxYcRYOQjN2Qh-UoWNGJxTD6u38IpjgNVP2CBoOROzN0ci_tnUqX/s400/IMG_8850.JPG)
The Getty Center in LA:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAktrQowFeHDd9iXKsIns1tOtuDW4kjslN8n6CehMtCjRApQArupqMHiFpgp8KmlEqM_B6vp_ZDvG8WURTlP91zPzdT0CBQR08y3eeoslyWk_xJeaJqc0IRy4unoZeSbz9Ku52PVFYenx_/s400/DSC_5768.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DgEMc-t1qtG7RzqLzCpuXsOLP9cp9-_k5ZBGnmVObx7QuRNNbZYwAWZLNED1ENVQbSJdtkQtFBvvJg3G_KcbCpy6UmohAVdXlk2FBe5pQ5W33tekLOI4EBp4-YAyZ4r_5zwyQjb6tRLj/s400/DSC_5862.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtCkd1GfWA9pXC7Ta1-49c5ELYYaEN5IHaNMRXvIR9bSgmllI9tYn6t9GTKhIALwIw8HpTaR0LtJLjh-u0KbrDXbENnOPz6M_O2Y_A5sh5hqUtZbSsAXXVJoL0YDVg1C-etgWHTDwSQ05/s400/DSC_5928.JPG)
View of LA from the Getty Center:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7TiyOX69ElGNLV7QU-W0BDTK4pM1dA-o2P6A4kK0YwLz6H__U3FyUTsXv9s29asI5-qnM24IeIQGF3y0FW4f1YTF6zwGKd3US9d-1e1-Zg1g0yoQ2sgu2MfNCVt4chIeIAvi6ZlC7mXs/s400/DSC_5925.JPG)
Furaibo used to be one of my favorite restaurants. I was happy to go there again. It's on Sawtelle Blvd, a Japanese area in LA.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugJdG9biAKirLtV3xpEclETdcIj8QkBp8vwSgX5grLFx0PNxWdpGTlVwFWBrE8hNNjXJVqToSRdxVX6U-2pBNvorqYjf9cHg8VmWrVJPwr_gE71PwfH1Lc4AkCwsrpKknuRy-X8jy766B/s400/IMG_8855.JPG)
This is the corner of Sawtelle and Olympic Blvds. I always liked this neon aquatic scene.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YxTRu9EZaIOWJW7QVgp53qRIVFnluEEi0ka3d0yN98wqGIQiWqMypNqhwB3l6CLV4OAF_HA1AE_3UWuj95kDN6HXDk-Gaeg-lPQWElljik5XixuyXFmsJMANPK6XHVbNLTrbOfs-rChh/s400/IMG_8866.JPG)
Random San Diego picture (Mission Beach):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPnRsOpfkM93VsHr7SfSvh5BcgZxlny0J1Kny2-Kd9-PRg6hTXjasqvuy7vstobhhe0hsuH6TcOyIlOyByu9sv_o20oxwqMiY4I2ALdCCgyXFvpR9XhAMmItfq04Le9r5N6NyveBa8i37/s400/DSC_5617.JPG)
I went to the San Diego zoo. I had never been there before, I couldn't believe it cost $40 to get in!
Below: Cavendish's dik dik
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OHQqCzj9Q4NetdvQ4F7L8aancKNJwHQdkyNxHyZ8XJaTEGn9SnaPC48GaiOnztMEmNd2186l2-fZ1qcakoj-wVQSZiUJBIDFDpijLlwM5ueN6tXTZE51VU_qb0-gqQQrwGk2eOB5VEXt/s400/DSC_6226.JPG)
I don't know what happened but three ducks, two males and one female flipped out on some female duck and attacked her. Eventually she was able to fly away.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfCSIXwofg-DQZyVjlyzCqBWi1YEtsxMHHujNdg4syiLkTE4fzDEIznyEbkgE9oLU-MJ7ZO5sEu-8Cs-sql62F3PpyeRl3sfwQoUBeQ6e-NaPg5NllOZ6wDsS6oGH1c6j7Hlw5rn4iOqp/s400/DSC_6612.JPG)
Secretary bird
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ01BCY2Yw1dfRoYvZqbqt29FUU3UhGeOGiYI1N43SDwsp1tCXmf4LDxTdNKRNTAUiMTHacqQDPUeAXv5q3KB1ZKZcw0EwO6yiCYNNKOHP0WZ3n2JXAmt3X2XBM3P4wvLKCs4ymhJMVqtI/s400/DSC_6442+crop.jpg)
Los Angeles
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_eApKOKfrNX8PCa1maX-4iUWLHYFnqQ_o5CvlkGSe1Zzs2PsA4lGAc-OH9y9Tt0OPHK8_gxSXSqeLjMwx465B4XTTlpyT2qkpJRaRmo2y1d3Xsx9VeqY13Ka5cgjrrLlwMUAQMehLjoP/s400/DSC_6711.JPG)
So my trip was really good. Not much had changed since I had left. After my trip I was wanting to move back there even more. So I'll try to do that someday after I settle down a bit. I have trouble staying in the same place very long, even California. I don't know what I'll do after at least one more year in Korea. There's a couple other things I am considering.
Anyway, I haven't been back since I left in 2004, and I have missed it and I really wanted to visit when I got back from Korea. Actually visiting California was one of the only things I was looking forward to doing this summer.
I didn't do much during my trip. I drove around a lot. I like to drive and I like driving in Southern California much more than in the Chicago area. Much nicer scenery. I spent about $200 on gas during the trip. I went to places I used to go to, ate at restaurants I used to eat at, and met a couple friends.
View from outside my old apartment building:
Oceanside:
One of the best things I did during my trip was run one of my old running routes near my apt in Oceanside. I am not in as good of shape as I was when I lived in CA, so all I could do was run a three mile route that used to be the minimum I would run. Southern California is a great place to run because of the weather, and my neighborhood was especially good. On the west side of I-5 the area was all flat, if I wanted to run hills, there were some really steep ones on the east side if I-5. I wish I could start running again, but I have never enjoyed it much anywhere but in California. This video is the 3 mile route I used to run a lot:
South Carlsbad:
Approaching Laguna Beach, I think:
Laguna Beach:
Someplace that brings back memories in Laguna Beach:
While I was going to meet a friend I happened to find the Palos Verdes Art Center. I was in an exhibition there called Wearable Expressions in 2008:
The Getty Center in LA:
View of LA from the Getty Center:
Furaibo used to be one of my favorite restaurants. I was happy to go there again. It's on Sawtelle Blvd, a Japanese area in LA.
This is the corner of Sawtelle and Olympic Blvds. I always liked this neon aquatic scene.
Random San Diego picture (Mission Beach):
I went to the San Diego zoo. I had never been there before, I couldn't believe it cost $40 to get in!
Below: Cavendish's dik dik
I don't know what happened but three ducks, two males and one female flipped out on some female duck and attacked her. Eventually she was able to fly away.
Secretary bird
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ01BCY2Yw1dfRoYvZqbqt29FUU3UhGeOGiYI1N43SDwsp1tCXmf4LDxTdNKRNTAUiMTHacqQDPUeAXv5q3KB1ZKZcw0EwO6yiCYNNKOHP0WZ3n2JXAmt3X2XBM3P4wvLKCs4ymhJMVqtI/s400/DSC_6442+crop.jpg)
Los Angeles
So my trip was really good. Not much had changed since I had left. After my trip I was wanting to move back there even more. So I'll try to do that someday after I settle down a bit. I have trouble staying in the same place very long, even California. I don't know what I'll do after at least one more year in Korea. There's a couple other things I am considering.
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