It was a nice first day down here in San Diego. A fairly good nights sleep, with only those interruptions typical of sleeping in a new place. Then, breakfast at Janet's Montana Cafe in Alpine, CA.
From there, we went up to Balboa Park and walked the area, including the Botanical Gardens. I've got a bunch of great pictures from the gardens that I will share a little later. From there, we met Toby for lunch at the Chicken Pie Shop, and then swung over to Town & Country Resort to pick up our badges for the convention.
There was a bit of a line, but in comparison to other lines we're destined to stand in over the weekend, it was nothing - maybe fifteen minutes, all total. From there, a stop at Target to grab some odds and ends, then back to the hotel for a nap, a great conversation with T.R., then out for a simple dinner of chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.
Finally, back to the hotel and settling in for a simple and quiet evening. I am planning on getting a good nights sleep and looking forward to a full convention day tomorrow.
Lately, T.R. and I have been talking about being authentic (in the Buddhist sense). So, that is when my contemplation is turned of late. Questioning whether or not I am an authentic person, questioning what it is I am missing and why. It is an interesting internal question. I don't have any answers tonight, but I am comfortable living in that question.
Showing posts with label Janet's Montana Cafe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Janet's Montana Cafe. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
A Day in Pictures
The day went well - I've two picture sets for you viewing pleasure.
Official San Diego Comic Con 2011 Publications
These are six pictures of one of the official bags (there are several variations) and the official program and souvenir book. I spent part of the evening browsing through both of them, then had an excellent conversation with T.R., while dining on mushroom soup and hot wings.
Incidental Pictures from Wednesday in San Diego
This second set of pictures includes Janet's Montana Cafe in Alpine, some more pictures of the Town & Country resort, and a pair of pictures from the line to get our badges for the convention. Tony went down to the preview night but I skipped it - I was tuckered from standing in line and wanted to make sure I moved on a smooth pace through the weekend and didn't burn out on the first couple of days.
So, tonight, I am going to get a good night sleep - and tomorrow will be the first official day of San Diego Comic Con 2011 for me.
Official San Diego Comic Con 2011 Publications
These are six pictures of one of the official bags (there are several variations) and the official program and souvenir book. I spent part of the evening browsing through both of them, then had an excellent conversation with T.R., while dining on mushroom soup and hot wings.
Incidental Pictures from Wednesday in San Diego
This second set of pictures includes Janet's Montana Cafe in Alpine, some more pictures of the Town & Country resort, and a pair of pictures from the line to get our badges for the convention. Tony went down to the preview night but I skipped it - I was tuckered from standing in line and wanted to make sure I moved on a smooth pace through the weekend and didn't burn out on the first couple of days.
So, tonight, I am going to get a good night sleep - and tomorrow will be the first official day of San Diego Comic Con 2011 for me.
Strange Sleep
The first night sleeping in a strange place is always a bit of a challenge. You have to adjust to a new bed, a new pillow, the feel of new sheets and the incidental sounds of both the building and the life that swirls around the building. For a first night, last night was a not a bad night for sleeping in strange places. As always, with a new bed, there is a degree of shifting about to find that comfortable position, that intimate balance shared between your body and your old bed. If you're lucky, you find it quick enough - if not, you may toss and turn until dawn comes. Fortunately, I found that spot fairly quickly.
I am an early riser, so I was awake at 5:00 AM or so and just sort of forced myself to linger in bed, waiting for the day to open up. Around me, outside of the hotel room, I was surprised to hear other people waking and moving about, starting their day. With San Diego being the tourist destination that it is, I am sure some of them were headed out to get an early start on some summer sports for the day - the beach perhaps, or a walk in the mountains, or morning on some unknown vista.
I finally rolled out of the bed, took a nice hot shower (excellent water pressure and temperature by the way - few things can ruin a hotel stay like miserable water pressure and uneven temperatures), shaved, dressed, and made a cup of coffee. At this moment, I am sitting on the red-brick patio in front of the hotel room, drinking my coffee, listening to the morning sounds of San Diego waking up, and watching the hotel staff move about as they prepare to start their days. It is kind of peaceful, if only because the highway sounds like the tumbling of some distant river.
(If you look in the previous entry, you'll see a link to some pictures from the resort - the one with the red brick patio and the white wrought iron furniture is where I am sitting at this very moment.)
The plan today is breakfast at Janet's Montana Cafe in Alpine, about thirty miles to the east. I also mentioned it in yesterdays entry - I am definitely looking forward to it - the times we've been there before the food has been excellent. Then lunch with Tony's friends at one of the local Indian casino's (I think the Barona, unless they plan on driving farther than I think). During the afternoon they've got the satellite badge pick up here at the Town & Country Resort, so we can get our passes to San Diego Comic Con ahead of the maddening crowd. Then, we may or may not go downtown tonight for Preview Night. Right now, we are inclined to, but it will most likely depend on how the day goes.
So, with that quick summary, I am off to start the day - wish me luck!
I am an early riser, so I was awake at 5:00 AM or so and just sort of forced myself to linger in bed, waiting for the day to open up. Around me, outside of the hotel room, I was surprised to hear other people waking and moving about, starting their day. With San Diego being the tourist destination that it is, I am sure some of them were headed out to get an early start on some summer sports for the day - the beach perhaps, or a walk in the mountains, or morning on some unknown vista.
I finally rolled out of the bed, took a nice hot shower (excellent water pressure and temperature by the way - few things can ruin a hotel stay like miserable water pressure and uneven temperatures), shaved, dressed, and made a cup of coffee. At this moment, I am sitting on the red-brick patio in front of the hotel room, drinking my coffee, listening to the morning sounds of San Diego waking up, and watching the hotel staff move about as they prepare to start their days. It is kind of peaceful, if only because the highway sounds like the tumbling of some distant river.
(If you look in the previous entry, you'll see a link to some pictures from the resort - the one with the red brick patio and the white wrought iron furniture is where I am sitting at this very moment.)
The plan today is breakfast at Janet's Montana Cafe in Alpine, about thirty miles to the east. I also mentioned it in yesterdays entry - I am definitely looking forward to it - the times we've been there before the food has been excellent. Then lunch with Tony's friends at one of the local Indian casino's (I think the Barona, unless they plan on driving farther than I think). During the afternoon they've got the satellite badge pick up here at the Town & Country Resort, so we can get our passes to San Diego Comic Con ahead of the maddening crowd. Then, we may or may not go downtown tonight for Preview Night. Right now, we are inclined to, but it will most likely depend on how the day goes.
So, with that quick summary, I am off to start the day - wish me luck!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Tuesday in San Diego
Tuesday in San Diego
Today was a traveling day. We flew down from San Jose about mid-day for a lazy afternoon and evening here in San Diego. It definitely feels like it is vacation now. Part of it is the traveling, part of it is the destination and part of it is just...being. I shot the above incidental photos today, most of them here at the Town & Country Resort. I consider it sort of a warm-up run for the long convention weekend.
Our plan for tomorrow is to head up to Janet's Montana Cafe in Alpine, California for breakfast. It has become a sort of San Diego tradition for us, since we first discovered the place a few years ago. I had read an article that said it was the best breakfast in San Diego country and while that might be a pretty high standard, I can quite honestly state that the food there is excellent. Their Spanish Omelet is simply outstanding. Then, following breakfast, we're going to circle back into San Diego and join two friends of Tony's for lunch.
Later in the afternoon we can pick up our tickets for the weekend and we will, most likely, head down to preview night - though, I might pass on preview night. Preview night is mostly about touring the vendor floor and getting a jump on the acquisition of goodies. It can be fun, but I have not really been in a goody acquisition phase for a while. (In keeping with the whole movement toward minimalism, my goodies are headed in the opposite direction.) Plus that, there are going to be plenty of opportunities to stock up on stuff over the next couple of days.
Tomorrow will be a nice and easy day and then the four days of fun will start from there! (My excitement will gradually increase as each day approaches.)
Today was a traveling day. We flew down from San Jose about mid-day for a lazy afternoon and evening here in San Diego. It definitely feels like it is vacation now. Part of it is the traveling, part of it is the destination and part of it is just...being. I shot the above incidental photos today, most of them here at the Town & Country Resort. I consider it sort of a warm-up run for the long convention weekend.
Our plan for tomorrow is to head up to Janet's Montana Cafe in Alpine, California for breakfast. It has become a sort of San Diego tradition for us, since we first discovered the place a few years ago. I had read an article that said it was the best breakfast in San Diego country and while that might be a pretty high standard, I can quite honestly state that the food there is excellent. Their Spanish Omelet is simply outstanding. Then, following breakfast, we're going to circle back into San Diego and join two friends of Tony's for lunch.
Later in the afternoon we can pick up our tickets for the weekend and we will, most likely, head down to preview night - though, I might pass on preview night. Preview night is mostly about touring the vendor floor and getting a jump on the acquisition of goodies. It can be fun, but I have not really been in a goody acquisition phase for a while. (In keeping with the whole movement toward minimalism, my goodies are headed in the opposite direction.) Plus that, there are going to be plenty of opportunities to stock up on stuff over the next couple of days.
Tomorrow will be a nice and easy day and then the four days of fun will start from there! (My excitement will gradually increase as each day approaches.)
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