SATURDAY----LIVE FROM TEMECULA

Well we got our boxes all unpacked and all the stuff stashed in various closets, drawers and nitches, of course trying to lay hands on any one thing sometimes puts me into what must appear a catonic state, while the old mind regurgitates the last few days activities to come up with the memory of last seeing the particular object of interest..  As I right this my mind is working on where did I put my digital camera, and also where did I put the charger for it.  I know I promised pictures of the new digs here, but first must find these two items----I have a pretty good idea where the camera is---but drawing a blank on the charger---may actually have to start opening drawers and cabinets and then ultimately I will find both.  I am also looking for the user manual for my HD TV, to brush up on how to make connections to a DVD player, and then I will have to match that up with connecting to the Verizon FIOS system that drives my TV, as well as my broadband computer connection, and my land phone. (Think "old dog"----"new tricks"----time will tell!!)
     Speaking of DVD players, seems my old combo DVD/VCR player has decided to give up the ghost, which having made that discovery last evening, means I have to buy a new one.  Now as the world must know Circuit City has gone belly up, which is to bad as they have had a store not two blocks from me, so my next choice is to find a Best Buy outlet.  Not knowing the town well yet, but fairly certain there must be a best buy store around somewhere, I consulted my Temecula yellow pages phone book, and Voila, yes there is a Best Buy on Temecula Parkway, right here in Temecula.  (old dude jumps up and down with joy).
     So, arising at the leasurely hour of 7:30am, old dude does his morning rituals (I won't bore you with the details), put on clean clothes, and leaps out into Temecula, his first goal, add to my knowledge of good breakfast spots.  Mimi's Cafe we have already found, and enjoy, but wanting variety, the search goes on.  I went to Pauls Place, but, alas and alac it came across as a not so nice hole in the wall, and the prices were totally out of line with the decor. (Hey can't win em all right?).  After driving down this and that byway, my need for coffee won out over my desire to fine a good breakfast spot and I pulled into a Denny's---the place was packed, the food was----like any and all other Denny's forgettable., but having sated my need for coffee, I eagerly went in search of my main objective of the day----The Best Buy store on Temecula Parkway----the waitress at Denny's balance a number of plates passing me in a quick aside steered me down the street in a southernly direction, mumbling you can't miss it.   (Righttttt!!)
     Well I did finally come to Temecula parkway, I had been on that street before, but I had only known it as HWY 79 South (its the road you take to go to the casino you see).  So now feeling I must be getting close to Best Buy, I drove east on Temecula Parkway-----and quickly discovered another good half dozen plaza like malls-----but no sign of a Best Buy-----I also noticed abvout this time that the old truck was almost down to sniffing fumes and a gasoline outlet was of a much higher prioity, and as fate would have it, I just happened to know a gas station  also located near my Winco groceria----so I abandoned the search for Best buy, and went for the gas and groceries.  While checking out my groceries the nice clerk in answer to my question informed me I was within a block of the best buy , when I had headed back homeward.  Its now going on 5pm, and I just may venture forth in the next few minutes and make another run at Best Buy------anyway that pretty much gives you the highlights of todays actions.  OOOH just remembered I put a load of sheets in the washer, hmmm maybe I should go put them in the drier now----(lol)
5:23PM---FLASH UPDATE:  The Camera AND its companion Charger as well as the necessary download cord have been located and the Camera is being charged-------Pics soon guys, be patient with me.

TEMECULA------HOME SWEET HOME

      Hello Temecula---Hello World----HELLO GOOD FRIENDS!!  Its done, the move is over, I am now almost back to feeling like I am in control of things again.  Yesterday the nice computer technician from Verizon came and installed my Optic Cable, giving me HD TV, a land line phone, and Broadband internet, what more could a boy ask for ?? (lol)  (Cold beers are a given).
     The move went smoothly, nothing got broken, which has to be some kind of record, the furniture I kept fits in the apartment just fine, I had planned to have pics for this initial post, but forgot to charge up the old camera, so will have to be later before I put up pics.  If I have any complaint with my new digs is I don't have all the kitchen cabinet space I would like.  I downsized a lot with my kitchen/chinaware, (gave up my collection of 29 champagne flutes (sigh), and passed on a complete set, service for 8, Royal Dalton china to my Niece Gabriel, but even so I still got more dishware than I can  store in my new place---but maybe I can downsize further, like I don't really need three meatloaf casserole dishes, or two sets of cream and sugar sets, nor do I really need three sets of 8 everyday drinking glasses-----anyway over the next few weeks and monthes I will work on that.
     I have been doing some driving around and about here in my new Town, and I am first impressed with how close everything is.  It takes about 5-7 minutes to drive anywhere in town, and I swear half the town is  devoted to malls and plaza's, all ringed by large apartment and garden homes, with a freeway running thorugh it.  I have an Olive Garden, a cosco, and a Lowes all within walking distance, I am about a mile away from a Major Mall, anchored by Sears, JC Penney's and Macy's----and about 150 other smaller speciality stores..  I am 25 minutes away from the Pachanga Indian Casino, (heh, heh, heh),   I have been there three times now and I am pleased to report that I am currently abourt 85 bucks ahead .
     My Nieces Tish drove over this morning from Irvine (an hour from me) and her Sister Melanie, drove down from Redlands  (a 40 minute drive) and we all went out to Lunch at a local bistro called Mimi's).
     They both seemed well pleased with how I have furnished the apartment here (be patient pictures will be forth coming  soon)., but it will be a few monthes before I get everything more to my liking, pictures hung up just so, and the place takes on a "personality" and has that somebody lives here look.
     Today the management put out a bulletin advising they are orgainizing a large garage sale to be held on the 21st of March, and I will definitely find a few things to put into that event., who knows might make enought to finance another visit to the old casion----?.
     Tomorrow I plan on going out and having a sit down talk session with Chuck  (Chuck like in Charles Schwab---investment brokers).  Their local office is next door to where I have my morning Coffee, about 5 minutes drove from the house here.  Where is Temecual you ask, well its about 45 miles northeast of San Diego, and about 45 miles Southwest of Palm Springs.  Its Wine Country, and we have a half dozen or more wineries here, and I intend to hit the public tours of all of me before the summer is out. 
     Not having TV or Internet for the better part of three weeks, I searched out and ound the Local lending library, and got myself the mandatory Library Card.  I am pleased to report Temecula has one excellent library here, sitting on a hill with a million dollar view of the Town below.  and its a new building with all the bells and whistles electronic wise.  Its open 7 days a week, and when I was there it was a sunday afternoon wiht a drizzling rain, and the library was quite full-----the people in this town read it seems----PHEEnomenal!!
     I have out of necessity also found the mandatory state smog testing garage, the Autoclub, and Kaiser Hospeital, a barber shop, a dry cleaners, a major grocery store (I had neer heard of Winco before, but they are huge, and the prices are fantastically cheap compared with those that I had been paying at Ralph's and Von's.
     Guess thats all I have to report for the moment, will post again no doubt a bit later, right now having mentioned the Dry Cleaners, I have laundry to go pick up.---also need to buy some groceries, so will post this piece now and go check out the town  a bit.  Boy is it good to be back on line----(oh joy)

LIVE!!---from Shogo MTN

This quicky post is coming at ya, from the fab Shogo Mtn Home of Pete and Judi's.   My new diggs are but a 30-35 minute drive from here.  Judi was kind enough to invite me over for a sunday lunch of Taco's.  (---and they were good too!)

My computer now sits on the floor of my new digs, waiting for the furniture to be delivered on Sunday, and then hopefully the following weekend that would be the 21st, I can schedule the computer gods to come hook me back up with DSL, phone and HD cable service.  I of course first have to survive acouple more runs up and down the big concrte hwy (its exactly 99.8 miles one-way between the old digs and my new place---put 710 miles on the car last week----(sigh) one more week to go---escrow closes friday afternoon, which will throw me into rush hour traffic to drive the 100 miles home----but it will be a good trip no matter what.----so will soon be back on line from Margarita road-----

DAMN THE TORPEDOES---FULL SPEED AHEAD

Well the fat is in the fire now for sure. I scheduled the big move for the tenth, that's like hello only four days from now----and I still have so much to pack up , clothes, books, all my electronics (computer, printer, display, VCR, and of course all the office documentation, misc phones, odd pieces of brick-a-brack, ---then there is the pantry with all the canned goods,(sigh). I also only have four boxes left to pack everything up---but have rented a car, and plan on driving down early Saturday, and will take about six packed boxes, then once there, will unpack them , and bring them all back for refills Sunday night. That should just about do it. Then the professionals can wrap up the big stuff, the paintings, the sculptures. Tomorrow, Friday they are scheduled to deliver a big dumpster to park at the curb, and in that I will dump all the extraneous left over stuff, that I didn't want, couldn't sell or give away. Anyway sports fans I will officially be living in Margaritaville Tuesday evening. That will give me two days to tidy up the empty rooms, sweep out the garage, and go to the escrow closing on the 13th. Anyway---here are the first pics of my new abode----will have to take new pics once the furniture is in and the empty cartons disposed of:

The complex Clubhouse:
Clubhouse Pool Area
My Living room and Patio
Master Bedroom
2nd Bedroom (my Den/TV room)
Guest Bath

I got the keys---the light ahead is not a train coming at me.

Raced down the big concrete road to Temecula, and am pleased to report I now have keys to the place, including a mail key and my personal key to the fitness center. I toted down the first six boxes to the new place, and my back is starting to protest. Raced back to the old place, and loaded up another half dozen boxes, and will drive back down in the morning. Monday and Tuesday the termite people will be tenting my old place, so will be taking advantage of Pete and Judi's hospitality those nights. and spending the days driving around the Temecula area and getting informed on where things are---like grocery stores, Target, K-mart---hmm and looking for a new barbershop while I am at it. Need to change the area code on my cell phone, need to make arrangements for cable, fast Internet, and a land line for the old puter here. During the next two days in Temecula, will take some pics of my new digs (without the furniture yet), but it will give you some conceptualization of my new surroundings. By the way my new place is on Margarita Rd----(ya GOTTA LOVE THAT!!)