We got up this morning to a bustling household. Dan was off to work, Cody to school and Ann and Eden were going to take Eden to the doctor for her cough.
Colette and I walked a mile or so to a Seattle’s Best coffee shop and had coffee and enjoyed the California sunlight. After coffee, I got the notion that I wanted to read a copy of The Orange County Register newspaper. Years ago, when I lived in Orange County for an extended period, I’d read this paper frequently.
We went into the major supermarket (Ralph’s) in the Walnut and Culver strip mall where we were and asked. “Nope, when the market was refurbished last year, they removed all the newspaper kiosks.” This person doubted if a copy could be found anywhere in the strip mall. In spite of that, we took a walk all around and eventually found a group of newspaper kiosk boxes and I bought a paper for $.75.
This reminded me of the discussion I’d had last night with Dan when I asked him where I might find a music store in the area where I could buy a CD for a friend in New Zealand. He said that video and music stores had mostly disappeared since so much is available digitally on-line. I’ve been hearing the story of the demise of physical newspapers for some time as well.
The newspaper I got and read was unlike what I remembered from previous years. A smaller format, more fluff in the articles. Entire pages of nothing but ads. No help wanted. Interesting changes are upon us.
After a brief return home to Dan’s, we were off again for a last wandering romp. Looked in at The Tustin Legacy Mall’s Barnes & Noble as they usually have Music sections. What a huge mall. I mean you seriously need a car to get from one section of the mall to the other. But it was a wasted visit in the end. The Barnes & Noble here didn’t have a music section. They did say, however, that the Barnes & Noble at Irvine Spectrum had a music section.
From here, we went down to the Mall at Mission Viejo for a look around. I’d hoped they might have a Barnes & Noble but, apparently, no one there reads books. So, after a walk through the mall, we went back down to Irvine Spectrum.
At the Spectrum, we found the B & N and got Tony’s CD and then found a place that makes crepes where we could sit outside. Then we walked down to a fountain where the water squirts up at irregular intervals and sat for a bit reading and people watching. Really a nice place to just hang out.
We came back to Dan and Ann’s and stayed for a bit and then went out to find s Sushi for supper and some beer to contribute to the general festivities. When we got back, Lare-dog had arrived and then we all sat around and visited for many hours. Lots of laughter, memories and fun then. Family and good friends are a sweet thing indeed.
Coming down to the wire now for departure. Tomorrow, we’re going to pack up and head for the LAX area where we’re going to check into a nice hotel where we can do our final reorganization and pack up.
dennis
Safe travels home. Hopefully we’ll see you next week before we take off for Kiwiburn.