Author: Judi Curry

For the past few weeks, I have had an interesting situation at my house. At least once a night, maybe even twice, I hear a “phantom flush” in one of two bathrooms in the house. (I sometimes have wondered if my deceased husband has come to visit me!) It doesn’t freak me out, but it does wake me up, and since I have enough trouble sleeping as it is, the flushing of an “unmanned” toilet keeps me awake for the rest of the night.

I happened to mention the problem to a neighbor and he said I needed a new “flapper valve.” When I looked at him blankly he told me not to worry, he would take care of it for me, and sure enough the next day he was at my door with a pretty blue flapper valve. Within a few moments he had it installed and I looked forward to a quiet night sleep. The first night was wonderful. No phantom flush. The second night was just as great – no phantom flush.

Eddy Ayub, Physical Therapy
3145 Rosecrans, San Diego, 92110
619-223-7175

It’s Not Just Leno I Will Be Missing

As many of you know, my husband passed away 3 ½ years ago from lung cancer. His death has virtually nothing to do with this article, except for the following: He was confined to a wheel chair his last few months, and even though he had lost a great deal of weight from chemo, he was still a big man.

He was just about 6 feet tall, and weighed about 170 pounds. In lifting him in and out of the wheel chair, I managed to tear both rotator cuffs, and that, in turn, was instrumental in creating a painful condition called “trigger fingers.”

The Joint
4902 Newport Ave
Ocean Beach, CA 92107
(619) 222-8272

It is wonderful having guests from out of town staying with me. I am trying restaurants that I would not go to on my own for a variety of reasons. Last night, however, my guests from Massachusetts wanted to have sushi and I have wanted to try “The Joint” so on an evening I thought would not be busy – Taco Tuesday – we entered the establishment about 7:00 pm only to find it absolutely packed.

There was a wait, but not a long one and we were seated at the first table near the door. All night long we watched people go in and out of the restaurant without any slowdown. To say I was surprised puts in mildly, but after having a meal there I can understand the enthusiasm of the diners.

By Judi Curry

“Far, far away.”

During my trip to Carlsbad last weekend with members of my support group, we stopped in at a delightful shoe shop, “Coolest Shoes in California” and had an interesting discussion with Christine Davis, the owner of the store. Somehow we started talking about the Carlsbad Strawberry Fields and making jam, and she commented to me “better hurry. They won’t be here long.”

By Judi Curry

I was stunned to find out that there is a potential building change going to be asked for that will totally destroy the Sunset Cliffs area.

Let me tell you what I know – and let me stress I do not know how much truth there is to this, but people are talking, just like we heard the “talking about the VFW building.”

“The Inn at Sunset Cliffs” – corner of Pt. Loma Avenue and Sunset Cliffs – is seeking permanent and private ownership of the coastal area just west of the hotel.

The Ocean Beach Planning Board hearing is scheduled for this Wednesday, May 1, at 6:00pm at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center.

By Judi Curry

For the past few months members of my support group have talked about taking a ride on the ‘Coaster’ to North County. Only one of the members had been on the Coaster; the others of us had it on our ‘bucket’ list.

The first time we were to go it rained; the second time we were to go someone was sick; the third time it was raining again. This time we decided we would go regardless if it rained, or regardless if someone became ill. It was a “go” no matter what. And, wouldn’t you know, the weather forecast WAS for rain, but we decided unless a hurricane was in the offing we would still go. And then one of the people that was going to go with us became ill, but she encouraged us to go anyway, and we did. We are so glad that we did.

We met at the Old Town Trolley Station at 9:30am on Friday. Parking was horrendous.

Ocean Spa Nails
4914 Voltaire St.
Ocean Beach, CA 92107
619-224-0498

I try to have a manicure and/or pedicure at least once a month but sometimes I find that something interferes with the timing and I may go longer without having one. Today my daughter Michele called me and told me she was going to have a pedicure and manicure at a new shop and wondered if I wanted to join her. Although I had a pedicure last week, I didn’t have a manicure and jumped at the chance of going with her for several reasons.

I have been trying different shops in the Ocean Beach and Point Loma area for several years. I have not found one that I have been real happy with, but have gone back to different shops more than once because they were better than some of the other places I have tried. Michele told me that “Ocean Spa Nails” had several very good reviews and we were anxious to try it.

By Judi Curry

As my subscriptions to five online dating sites comes to a close, I look back at some of the situations I have found myself in and can’t help but laugh hysterically. On the other hand, some of the time I found myself sad and depressed because things did not turn out the way I had hoped they would. Sounds like I might be bordering on bipolarism.

Some of the people that I have met have been wonderful and I consider them friends. Of course, I wasn’t looking for friends when I joined the sites; I was – and still am – looking for a companion, a lover, a best friend. I am thrilled that Joe, a man I frequently went out with has found a potential companion for life. I will always think of him as a friend and have also “friended” his new squeeze. Jim, I know I can always count on you if I need help; you have been there each and every time I have asked for some thing.

I have been amazed at the number of men that are married and are looking for a one-nighter.

“Te Mana Café”
4956 Voltaire
Ocean Beach, CA 92107
619-255-9233

There are so many new restaurants opening in Ocean Beach it is difficult to get around to all of them in a few weeks. Today my friend Candy and I decided to have lunch at “Te Mana Café” on Voltaire. The physical restaurant is a restored 1924 Craftsman house. The Cruz family lived in it for years and as they remodeled it into the restaurant it is today, they continued living in all of the rooms – although they no longer live there now. It is beautiful; well furnished, and very warming to its clientele.

Newport Avenue Yacht Club Restaurant
5060 Newport Ave.
Ocean Beach, CA 92107

Watch out, South Beach. You have serious competition – and right across the street! Monica – my live-in student – and I decided to try out the new restaurant because so many people have already told me about it. And the surprising thing is that it has only been in operation ten days! It didn’t take long for the word to spread about how good this restaurant is, and it can only get better. [We helped spread the word.]

Granted, at the present time the owner, John Rudolph, does not have a beer and/or wine license, but he welcomes his diners to bring in their own – no corkage fee – to enjoy while eating his succulent offerings. (He said it may take 6-9 months before a license is granted!)

Mitch’s Seafood
1403 Scott St.
San Diego, CA 92106
619-222-8787

After posting my review of Point Loma Seafood’s last week, several of my readers wrote in and told me that I should try “Mitch’s Seafood”, because it was as good, if not better than the subject of my original review.

I could hardly wait to try it, and when Monica, my foreign language student came home early from school on Tuesday I decided it was a perfect time to “test the waters.” After all, Tuesday in San Diego means “taco Tuesday” and with tacos at $2 and $3 it was well worth it. We arrived early – 4:15 pm, because one of the readers said that it is almost impossible to be served after 5:00pm on Tuesday.

Point Loma Seafood
2805 Emerson
San Diego, CA 92106
619-223-1109

Point Loma Seafood’s is famous all over, not just in San Diego. Thirty years ago I was a principal in Mohave Valley, Arizona and had two delightful, single teachers that taught for me – Bill and Cher. They subsequently married, and in the past 30 years I have seen them twice, until yesterday.

When they were here 15 years ago, I introduced them to Point Loma Seafood’s, and they have been back many times. They live in Prescott, so it is not just a hop, skip and a jump away. I was surprised when they called me yesterday and asked if I would join them for lunch at their favorite seafood restaurant. Naturally I said “yes” because it is also one of my favorite places. Not only do I like to go there for a meal now that my husband is no longer with us and catching fish, I buy my fresh fish there also. (And let me put in a plug for the half-baked bread. It is offered in rounds or loafs, and you finish the baking when you get it home. Yummy!)