Thursday, August 30, 2012

FALL 2012

TODAY IS MY YOUNGEST SON JOHN'S 46TH BIRTHDAY. SINCE MY LAST POST MANY MONTHS AGO, HE HAS FOUND A GOOD JOB AND HIS LIFE IS ON A POSITIVE TRACK. HE STILL LIVES IN ST. LOUIS. MY SON CHARLIE IS STILL IN FULLERTON CA AND HIS LIFE CONTINUES ON A POSITIVE TRACK ALSO. 

I HAVE A PART TIME JOB AT COSTCO AS A 'DEMO' PERSON TO FINANCE MY TRAVEL PLANS AND HOPES FOR FUTURE TRAVEL. I WILL LEAVE ON SEPTEMBER 11 FOR A SMALL TOWN IN CONNECTICUT  I WILL VISIT A FRIEND I MET ON MY TRIP TO CUBA A COUPLE OF  YEARS AGO. WE WILL TAKE A TRAIN INTO NYC TO VISIT THE 9/11 MEMORIAL, WE WILL TAKE A FERRY OVER TO BLOCK ISLAND AND ALSO VISIT MYSTIC HARBOR. THESE ARE ALL NEW TO ME. OF COURSE I WILL RECIPROCATE HER HOSPITALITY BY INVITING HER TO SAN DIEGO WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLD IN NEW ENGLAND.

'BUCKET' LIST PLANS FOR FUTURE TRAVEL INCLUDE GRAND CANYON, BRICE CANYON, ZION CANYON, YELLOWSTONE, AND DAY TRIPS TO LA ON THE TRAIN. 

HAVE A GOOD DAY 

JUDYK

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Hello again.

A lot has happened since I last posted over one year ago. When my son John was laid off, my job in life was helping him keep his head above water and to be the person who wanted to know how things were going for him. He was collecting unemployment so with close watch over his expenses, he could make it work but sometimes it took a little extra so I added his name to a credit card so he could at least fill his car with gas and get groceries. I also paid off his car so that brought down one more payment on his list. He had no credit card debt so that helped a lot. But my outstanding debt needs to be paid off before I make too many plans to travel.

Job search became his full time job. He learned how to present a resume with a cover letter. He learned where to find the web sites with available jobs and he learned that there were pit falls along the way.

The good news, he found a good job. His first paycheck will be on April 6. There is what seems like an eternity between his unemployment ending and that first paycheck.  I sent him a little money to keep things going until life as an employed person begins. As soon as that happens, I'm packing my bags to travel again. My 75th birthday is on April 18th. My life time is ticking and there are still some places I want to see and old friends I want to visit.On the list for 2012 will be Georgia to see Carolyn and Joni classmates in my 1957 Braniff class, Ct. to see Jay a new friend and fellow traveler when I went to Cuba, plus various trips for Southwest Culture Committee, on that list is Phoenix and Denver, then Grand Canyon. You can see there will be lots to 'blog' about.

I thought about changing my blog  name but my life is full of miracles; amazing events I am so thankful for such as John's success of finding employment when it was beginning to look so bleak.

---and so my friends I'm back, JudyK

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Fidel steps down from communist party

I wonder if Fidel is watching the events in the middle east and wondering if the day of the dictator are truly over. Would it be better for him to give the citizens of Cuba the respect they deserve by stepping down by choice or should he wait to be thrown out by people who want the freedom to choose their own government.

THESE ARE THE FACES OF CUBAN CITIZENS
















Friday, March 18, 2011

Return to Cuba

Mom's rhubarb pie in Julien


Art in the desert






I will be returning to Cuba in October. This time my trip will begin in Santiago. I will post more about Cuba in the coming days but for now I will attach some photos from a trip I took to the desert yesterday with a stop in Julien for their famous apple pie.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

BALBOA PARK IN SAN DIEGO

THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN IN THE SAN DIEGO ZOO AND THE BOTANICAL GARDEN IN BALBOA PARK. THE MUSIC FROM THE SAX PLAYER DRIFTED THROUGH THE PARK ON A PEACEFUL SUNNY DAY. 




FLAMINGOS RUNNING BACK AND FORTH

NOISE FROM WORKMEN IN AREA HAD THEM RUNNING WILD










SORRY FOR THE DUPLICATION BUT I WAS AFRAID TO DELETE THINKING THE WHOLE GROUP WOULD BE DELETED. JUST IMAGINE COOL JAZZ FROM SAX DRIFTING THROUGH THE PARK
 

One comment about Cuba before moving on

AS I WATCH THE EVENTS UNFOLD IN CAIRO I WONDER IF FIDEL IS WATCHING AND THINKING IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER TO ALLOW FREE ELECTIONS AND ESTABLISH DEMOCRACY INSTEAD OF WAITING TO BE THROWN OUT BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TIRED OF BEING TOLD THEY CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. THEY CAN, FIDEL, AND YOU SHOULD GIVE THEM THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE.

 

Friday, February 11, 2011

Exploring San Diego

Nine years ago I left the mid west and settled down for a whole new life in San Diego, CA. I had a job but no friends. I didn't bring any furniture so I slept on the floor for six months. Little by little I established a new life here in Southern California. My 74th birthday will be in April. I retired when I was 70 and now live in a senior building with affordable rent and neighbors who are all over 62 so we have the same issues. In an effort to hang on to the savings I built up while working, I try to live on my fix income from Social Security. How? I gave up my car. No repair costs, no insurance, no fuel costs, and I never have to look for a place to park. My senior bus pass is $18 a month and I can get just about anywhere I want to go on the bus and trolley. I stay busy with volunteer work and since I still like to travel, I am interviewing today for a part time job so I can save some money to explore more of the U.S. as well as maybe Spain or Italy. As some of you know who have followed my blog, I am a photographer. My new posts will be my adventures in and around San Diego. I hope you enjoy it. 

Let the adventure begin with downtown San Diego:

DOWNTOWN


DOWNTOWN

BANKER'S HILL

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SAN DIEGO TROLLEY