Ohhhman all that I know how to say is “I speak Spanish– a little” and “are you american?”
I’LL GET THERE
I wrote a big long post explaining my latest mopey streak but then deleted it because… it was really long. Short version:
May is hard because my dad died five years ago on May 26th. It sucked. It still sucks. But things are slowly getting better.
I’m all sorts of worked up about my health because I gained more weight for no apparent reason, and it’s freaking me out even though I know it’s part of the monthly cycle and will be gone in a few days, just like that.
High stress, high paranoia, high ANGER levels. GAB SMASH, then curl up on the couch and cry because she is FOREVER ALONE.
New doctor next week. I’m afraid he’ll be a jerk like other doctor’s I’ve had, but if I can just get him to find me a lymphedema specialist, I’ll be happy. It’d be nice if he gave me more ambien, too.
If not I will fight him. Literally. Or verbally. IDK.
Good things:
I rejoined weight watchers (online) because I can finally afford it again.
I’ve started learning Spanish because it bothers me that I can’t help more people that I meet on the train. It’s fun so far, even if my accent is terrible.
I’m pretty darn excited about San Diego. I have the silly idea of finding a bakery there to make us a (REALLY) tiny wedding cake. There was so much that we wanted to do for our wedding but couldn’t afford to at the time.
I think that’s it.
Detectives of the East for Hazel.
I think I was thinking Bruce Timm while drawing this…
I honestly have no clue at all. o__o I just reached over and drew her while waiting for indesign to export a file at work.
Mopey as all get out today despite all of the good going around. I will be scarce, but I have ordered Chinese so it will be okay. Here is something I drew for the meantime.
Our ten-year wedding anniversary is this fall and though we wanted to do Disneyland, we have come up with an alternate plan that will work. Excited.
What can you guys tell me about San Diego?
OH, you asked for it. SAN DIEGO = my dad’s childhood home and the only big city I would ever consider living in, if it weren’t so expensive. It’s California’s best city!
I’m more familiar with the Point Loma/Mission Beach area, so your mileage may vary. Here are some great places to visit:
Fun and free:
The BEACHES, particularly on Coronado Island. There are also Ocean Beach and Dog Beach on the west side of Point Loma, if you prefer a more hippy, small beach town feel. Very crowded, though. Coronado is much more spacious. If you want to try surfing, go to Tourmaline (Pacific Beach) in the early morning. WEAR A WETSUIT OR YOU WILL WISH YOU WERE DEAD.
Sunset Cliffs State Park (Point Loma) is a lovely place to take a walk in late afternoon, as it faces the sunset. Also, awesome tidepools.
Balboa Park’s arboretum and rose gardens (Downtown)
Old Town State Park, right near the intersection of I-5 and I-8 (also has the Mormon Battalion Visitor’s Center)
Coronado Island also has the historic Hotel Del Coronado, which was in
the movie “Some Like It Hot”. It’s too expensive to stay in, but lovely
to visit and look around. It’s right on the beach!
The San Diego Temple (La Jolla). Truly one of a kind, it sits like a spectacular vision right on I-5. Definitely see it at night! 🙂
Fun but requires $$$:
Balboa Park (Downtown) has a lot of GREAT museums, a replica of the Old Globe Theater, and one of the BEST ZOOS IN AMERICA. Visiting that zoo is a whole day in itself!
Seaport Village (Downtown) is a cute shopping village on the water (fee for parking, they validate if you buy something)
The Maritime Museum (Downtown) has several awesome boats you can tour, including the Star of India (which still sails!!!), a Russian nuclear sub, and the actual ship used in “Master & Commander”. There is also a flipping AIRCRAFT CARRIER down the street, for a separate fee.
Sea World
San Diego Safari Park, further inland in Escondido
There’s something called Belmont Park (Mission Bay, west of Sea World) with an old-fashioned wooden roller coaster, but I’ve never been there myself.
Westfield Horton Plaza in the Downtown area, and Westfield Mission Valley in Mission Hills (eastbound on I-8). LOTS of shopping.
Birch Aquarium (La Jolla): SEAHORSES
Cabrillo National Monument (Point Loma) has a great view of ALL of San
Diego, and the historic Point Loma lighthouse. You have to get on
Catalina Blvd. and drive south forever, right through the military base
until you get to the park entrance. A bit of a drive, and there is a
small park entrance fee, but it is WELL worth it.
Good eats:
POINT LOMA SEAFOOD (FOREVERRRRRR!!!!!!)
A little Mexican restaurant called Nati’s in the Ocean Beach neighborhood (my grandparents’ favorite)
Just about anything in Old Town
Just about anything Mexican or seafood, really.
Tip: Have a REALLY good map and review it before you start. Driving in San Diego is a hazardous experience. There are twisty roads and crazy turnoffs and you could find yourself circling around and around without a clue as to how you get out!
Basically, San Diego is the best and I love it forever and I love you for going there. 😉
Thank you! ! ! ! This is so helpful!
‘Cause I’m a forgetful bunny, here is more, with actual links this time:
It’s Point Loma Seafoods. (Or Seafood’s? Their website uses both.) I’ve been saying it wrong my whole life, apparently?
If you LOVE soup, go eat at Souplantation! It’s the same chain as Sweet Tomatoes (there’s one in Utah??? HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS???). It’s right next door to a stationery shop called Just For The Halibut. LOL
Check out Mission San Diego de Alcalá! For good and bad, the missions were such a big part of California history. And they’re beautiful!
For a fabulous supermarket experience, try Vallarta Supermarket! SO MUCH GOOD FOOD
I can’t offer much info on hotels, since I always stayed with family. But I think the general rule is that things get cheaper the further inland you go.
You can also try a Trolley Tour! I’ve never done it, but I’ve heard it’s fun!
If you REALLY want to go crazy, take the ferry to Catalina! Catalina is PARADISE. I haven’t been there since I was a kid, but OH MY GOSH.
FORGET DISNEYLAND. GO TO SAN DIEGO. DO IT. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.
I did a terrible job of telling you how awesome Old Town is, so I found this video for you:
Our ten-year wedding anniversary is this fall and though we wanted to do Disneyland, we have come up with an alternate plan that will work. Excited.
What can you guys tell me about San Diego?
OH, you asked for it. SAN DIEGO = my dad’s childhood home and the only big city I would ever consider living in, if it weren’t so expensive. It’s California’s best city!
I’m more familiar with the Point Loma/Mission Beach area, so your mileage may vary. Here are some great places to visit:
Fun and free:
The BEACHES, particularly on Coronado Island. There are also Ocean Beach and Dog Beach on the west side of Point Loma, if you prefer a more hippy, small beach town feel. Very crowded, though. Coronado is much more spacious. If you want to try surfing, go to Tourmaline (Pacific Beach) in the early morning. WEAR A WETSUIT OR YOU WILL WISH YOU WERE DEAD.
Sunset Cliffs State Park (Point Loma) is a lovely place to take a walk in late afternoon, as it faces the sunset. Also, awesome tidepools.
Balboa Park’s arboretum and rose gardens (Downtown)
Old Town State Park, right near the intersection of I-5 and I-8 (also has the Mormon Battalion Visitor’s Center)
Coronado Island also has the historic Hotel Del Coronado, which was in
the movie “Some Like It Hot”. It’s too expensive to stay in, but lovely
to visit and look around. It’s right on the beach!
The San Diego Temple (La Jolla). Truly one of a kind, it sits like a spectacular vision right on I-5. Definitely see it at night! 🙂
Fun but requires $$$:
Balboa Park (Downtown) has a lot of GREAT museums, a replica of the Old Globe Theater, and one of the BEST ZOOS IN AMERICA. Visiting that zoo is a whole day in itself!
Seaport Village (Downtown) is a cute shopping village on the water (fee for parking, they validate if you buy something)
The Maritime Museum (Downtown) has several awesome boats you can tour, including the Star of India (which still sails!!!), a Russian nuclear sub, and the actual ship used in “Master & Commander”. There is also a flipping AIRCRAFT CARRIER down the street, for a separate fee.
Sea World
San Diego Safari Park, further inland in Escondido
There’s something called Belmont Park (Mission Bay, west of Sea World) with an old-fashioned wooden roller coaster, but I’ve never been there myself.
Westfield Horton Plaza in the Downtown area, and Westfield Mission Valley in Mission Hills (eastbound on I-8). LOTS of shopping.
Birch Aquarium (La Jolla): SEAHORSES
Cabrillo National Monument (Point Loma) has a great view of ALL of San
Diego, and the historic Point Loma lighthouse. You have to get on
Catalina Blvd. and drive south forever, right through the military base
until you get to the park entrance. A bit of a drive, and there is a
small park entrance fee, but it is WELL worth it.
Good eats:
POINT LOMA SEAFOOD (FOREVERRRRRR!!!!!!)
A little Mexican restaurant called Nati’s in the Ocean Beach neighborhood (my grandparents’ favorite)
Just about anything in Old Town
Just about anything Mexican or seafood, really.
Tip: Have a REALLY good map and review it before you start. Driving in San Diego is a hazardous experience. There are twisty roads and crazy turnoffs and you could find yourself circling around and around without a clue as to how you get out!
Basically, San Diego is the best and I love it forever and I love you for going there. 😉
-You don’t get better at drawing by avoiding drawing until you are better at drawing.
– You don’t have to make a new masterpiece every day it’s okay if all you drew is a doodle of a bug. You are now +1 bug doodle better at doodling bugs.
– Also it’s okay if the thing you drew didn’t turn out very good. Everything you draw makes you one step closer to being able to draw good. You are still +1 step better at drawing whatever you drew no take backsies.
– You are the only person who knows if your art didn’t turn out as good as you wanted it to. You are the only person who can see the things in your art that weren’t what you imagined in your head. No one else will know unless you tell them.
– Comparing yourself to other artists just isn’t fair. You get to see all of your art, the best stuff and the worst stuff. You usually only get to see the best stuff other artists make. You don’t get to see that half drawn badly propotioned face they drew at 2 am and immediately scrapped. So don’t compare your badly drawn 2 am face to their best work.
– Just keep making art. The only way you can really fail is if you give up.
