Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

El Cajoots

Alas, El Cajon, I have hardly gotten the chance to know you.

It was only a couple months ago that I showed up, with a trunk full of luggage, to make this character-clad environment my home, and now it seems I will be out in the world once more, seeing as our lease is up a month sooner than planned.

But it has been a fun ride! The sounds of sirens in the distance, the arguing downstairs, the mad scramble for decent parking...this is what home is made of. I remember leaning up against my bed when I moved into our palace (also known as our lovely apartment), chatting with my roommate about...neccesities.

She was fiddling with something when she finally caught my eye. "So Jess, do you have...I dunno...I car club?"

I sat up a little straighter. "Uh, no, but I was thinking of getting one." A pause. "Should I?"

Light laughter. "Yes."

One of other roommates as had her car joyrided--twice--but thankfully, that little club stopped her car from wandering off in the middle of the night! Somehow though, various belongings, such as CDs, occaisionally leave the safety of the vehicle...

So I got me a Master Club, or whatever the heck that thing is called, and I swear, when I take in my hands to lock it down, I'm afraid someone will think it's a machine gun and mow me down. Okay, a little paranoid.

My favorite parking spot, however, happens to have smatterings of broken glass scattered around it. I don't take that as particularly good sign. Thankfully, the whole parking situation gives me a great excuse to stay in for the night. Nothing sounds more sure than, "No, I can't go with you: I finally got close to the complex and I'm not surrendering that spot!" Solid defense.

But really, cars are just big hunks of metal on wheels! The people really make the neighborhood...into what, I'm not sure, because truthfully, I've only spoken to a handfull of them. I do know the ones I met seem very nice. Extremely. Rather friendly...

My roommate shuffled in just as I was plopping down in the living room to take a break from unpacking. "Hey, do you want some of this? It's bear claw, I think."

Unpacking=hunger, so I dug in. "Cool, thanks! Whose is it?"

And she laughed. "It's from one of our neighbors. She used to stop me and my cousin all the time and just give us food! We try to say no, but..." And I ended up facing her myself.

She is a sweet, elderly lady, and I felt more than guilty for taking her food. Of course, she seemed to grow momentarily deaf whenever I'd politely decline, so I guess it worked out. I got invited up for some jell-o salad (made of vegetables, by the way), but was told it had to set, but "not to worry, because it would be over before the evening!"

Sure enough, the next day I walk in, and one of my roommates shows me the salad, as green and...fresh...as ever, asking if I met with our generous neighbor yet.

The only other person I've spoken at any length two was a kind gentlemen down the way who wanted to know if there was room for one more girl in our full-up place. He was nice to me, and extremely friendly towards my roommate, who walks eyes-to-the-ground whenever they cross paths.

So far, my car remains happy, I haven't had to buy mace, and there have been no awkward meetings at the laundary mat. All is well in my happenin' hood, and I'll definately be sorry to leave, mainly because I know there's lots I haven't seen yet. I still have at least 20 families to meet! Heck, I've barely seen the managers, and last week, my sister got a flood in her apartment: how am I supposed to top that in 20 days? And, more importantly, I haven't reached the point of becoming the annoying neighbor. Guess I better rev up that Rockband and start pounding! I have a story to inspire.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all

Previous article

Didja know I did the first American feature on Jimi Hendrix?

Richard Meltzer goes through the Germs, Blue Oyster Cult, Ray Charles, Elvis, Lavender Hill Mob
Next Article

Seals hook up with Beaver

Salty’s Escape is a Mexican-Style cerveza brewed with corn and puffed Jasmine rice

Alas, El Cajon, I have hardly gotten the chance to know you.

It was only a couple months ago that I showed up, with a trunk full of luggage, to make this character-clad environment my home, and now it seems I will be out in the world once more, seeing as our lease is up a month sooner than planned.

But it has been a fun ride! The sounds of sirens in the distance, the arguing downstairs, the mad scramble for decent parking...this is what home is made of. I remember leaning up against my bed when I moved into our palace (also known as our lovely apartment), chatting with my roommate about...neccesities.

She was fiddling with something when she finally caught my eye. "So Jess, do you have...I dunno...I car club?"

I sat up a little straighter. "Uh, no, but I was thinking of getting one." A pause. "Should I?"

Light laughter. "Yes."

One of other roommates as had her car joyrided--twice--but thankfully, that little club stopped her car from wandering off in the middle of the night! Somehow though, various belongings, such as CDs, occaisionally leave the safety of the vehicle...

So I got me a Master Club, or whatever the heck that thing is called, and I swear, when I take in my hands to lock it down, I'm afraid someone will think it's a machine gun and mow me down. Okay, a little paranoid.

My favorite parking spot, however, happens to have smatterings of broken glass scattered around it. I don't take that as particularly good sign. Thankfully, the whole parking situation gives me a great excuse to stay in for the night. Nothing sounds more sure than, "No, I can't go with you: I finally got close to the complex and I'm not surrendering that spot!" Solid defense.

But really, cars are just big hunks of metal on wheels! The people really make the neighborhood...into what, I'm not sure, because truthfully, I've only spoken to a handfull of them. I do know the ones I met seem very nice. Extremely. Rather friendly...

My roommate shuffled in just as I was plopping down in the living room to take a break from unpacking. "Hey, do you want some of this? It's bear claw, I think."

Unpacking=hunger, so I dug in. "Cool, thanks! Whose is it?"

And she laughed. "It's from one of our neighbors. She used to stop me and my cousin all the time and just give us food! We try to say no, but..." And I ended up facing her myself.

She is a sweet, elderly lady, and I felt more than guilty for taking her food. Of course, she seemed to grow momentarily deaf whenever I'd politely decline, so I guess it worked out. I got invited up for some jell-o salad (made of vegetables, by the way), but was told it had to set, but "not to worry, because it would be over before the evening!"

Sure enough, the next day I walk in, and one of my roommates shows me the salad, as green and...fresh...as ever, asking if I met with our generous neighbor yet.

The only other person I've spoken at any length two was a kind gentlemen down the way who wanted to know if there was room for one more girl in our full-up place. He was nice to me, and extremely friendly towards my roommate, who walks eyes-to-the-ground whenever they cross paths.

So far, my car remains happy, I haven't had to buy mace, and there have been no awkward meetings at the laundary mat. All is well in my happenin' hood, and I'll definately be sorry to leave, mainly because I know there's lots I haven't seen yet. I still have at least 20 families to meet! Heck, I've barely seen the managers, and last week, my sister got a flood in her apartment: how am I supposed to top that in 20 days? And, more importantly, I haven't reached the point of becoming the annoying neighbor. Guess I better rev up that Rockband and start pounding! I have a story to inspire.

Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.