We spent everyday of the first week at the beach and ate out occasionally. We found a local pizza place that we enjoyed, a local Chinese place (a staple for sure), and for me a local brewery and wine bar. It was not as if I would sneak out on the kids for an evening cocktail; however, when I needed to unwind from thoughts of Brady, I retreated to either my local brewery or wine bar. The Gas Light District in San Diego also had plenty to offer, and we would frequent it often throughout the summer.
In the second week, Isabella decided that she wanted to visit the San Diego Zoo. This was amenable to Liam and I, so we went on Tuesday. It seemed like a good day to meander slowly and catch the best of what the zoo had to offer, as most people besides mother's without jobs would be at work. No summer vacations/breaks for the weary. I can remember distinctly how hard it was to get Brady to even take a week off from his job. He enjoyed it, and it provided for a wonderful living for me and the kids.
The zoo lived up to expectations. As they always said in the movies, "Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my"! We even had a decent meal there and it took us from opening until 6:00 PM that evening to catch all the attractions, brief seminars and the animals, of course.
We decided to go out to eat to the Cheesecake Factory that evening; one of my household's favourites. We have a system that may seem uncanny, but now that I have let out the secret, I feel sure that others will be doing it. At the Cheesecake Factory, you eat your desired dessert first. This way, if you have leftovers from your meal, there is plenty of ways to reheat the item(s) to your satisfaction. Cheesecake in the fridge overnite; however, just does not have that same, fresh taste, the next day.
Retreating to the patio once again, we would spend just about every nite there in the evenings at what I called "Casa Amor", or "House of Love". It would become my Italian Villa of Love for the summer, and perhaps many more to come.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
I was able to score a beach rental for the summer at a costly, but not unfair price. I had paid for three months, and because of the length of my stay, the owner cut me a break. I had shared with him a little about my story and why I needed a beach rental, and he felt sympathy for me; cutting the price by thirty-three percent since I would pay in advance for the entire summer.
We arrive at the home on the corner of I Avenue and 7th Street early the next morning to meet the owner. Silvio was raised near the Tuscan Region of Italy and had immigrated to the United States at eighteen. Not unlike many, he came with ten dollar in his pocket, started a business and became an American homegrown millionaire. If you have ever read the book, "The Millionaire Next Door", this was Silvio. He owned a butcher shop, he explained; and had expanded to seven locations in thirty years in the business. His wife, Maria, had been an interior designer after raising their three children and did well herself. Along the way, they had bought several homes at deep discounts with cash in the several downturns in the real estate market near Coronado Beach, and hence; did well in their investments and there business.
After touring the home with Maria and having had her give a brief history of the home and its amenities, it was time to move our things in for the summer. Liam was the first to be unpacked and fully ready with a bathing suit on. He stood in the kitchen drinking a water, impatiently waiting on the "ladies" to unpack. After about another fifteen minutes, Isabella and I donned our suits and gathered a few items to eat and the necessary items like sunscreen and we ban walking toward Coronado Beach.
Typically rated one of the top beaches in America, it is not as heavily commercialized as one might think. The price of the real estate for the summer, and hence the affluence of the people who frequent keep the "riff-raff" out. Over time, the beach population has gained in numbers of course, as the rating has increased, but the normal crowd still flocks in each year expecting things to be mainly unchanged.
We stayed the afternoon at the beach until 5:00 PM the first day; not wanting ti wear ourselves out, and then retreated to our Italian Villa for some dinner. Liam had stated it was his nite to cook. A short trip to the store was in order, and then it would be London Broil, asparagus, cous cous, and red-skinned potatoes cut into steak fries for dinner. A long winter's nap, or summer's nap I guess, and some discussion beforehand on the patio before bed was in order.
We arrive at the home on the corner of I Avenue and 7th Street early the next morning to meet the owner. Silvio was raised near the Tuscan Region of Italy and had immigrated to the United States at eighteen. Not unlike many, he came with ten dollar in his pocket, started a business and became an American homegrown millionaire. If you have ever read the book, "The Millionaire Next Door", this was Silvio. He owned a butcher shop, he explained; and had expanded to seven locations in thirty years in the business. His wife, Maria, had been an interior designer after raising their three children and did well herself. Along the way, they had bought several homes at deep discounts with cash in the several downturns in the real estate market near Coronado Beach, and hence; did well in their investments and there business.
After touring the home with Maria and having had her give a brief history of the home and its amenities, it was time to move our things in for the summer. Liam was the first to be unpacked and fully ready with a bathing suit on. He stood in the kitchen drinking a water, impatiently waiting on the "ladies" to unpack. After about another fifteen minutes, Isabella and I donned our suits and gathered a few items to eat and the necessary items like sunscreen and we ban walking toward Coronado Beach.
Typically rated one of the top beaches in America, it is not as heavily commercialized as one might think. The price of the real estate for the summer, and hence the affluence of the people who frequent keep the "riff-raff" out. Over time, the beach population has gained in numbers of course, as the rating has increased, but the normal crowd still flocks in each year expecting things to be mainly unchanged.
We stayed the afternoon at the beach until 5:00 PM the first day; not wanting ti wear ourselves out, and then retreated to our Italian Villa for some dinner. Liam had stated it was his nite to cook. A short trip to the store was in order, and then it would be London Broil, asparagus, cous cous, and red-skinned potatoes cut into steak fries for dinner. A long winter's nap, or summer's nap I guess, and some discussion beforehand on the patio before bed was in order.
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