http://ourcitysd.com/thisIssue en author@cypressmagazines.com Copyright 2010 2010-02-16T22:43:19+00:00 http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/vancouver_winter_olympics_with_a_big-city_flavor/ http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/vancouver_winter_olympics_with_a_big-city_flavor/#When:22:43:19Z Distance: 1,640 miles Travel time: 3 hours (direct flight) by air If you’ve ever thought about taking a winter vacation trip to scenic Vancouver, this is the year. From Feb. 12-28, Canada’s largest West Coast city will host the 2010 Winter Olympics. More than 350,000 people from all over the world will descend on British Columbia, with participants from over 80 countries competing. It’s a great opportunity to see the globe’s most talented winter sports athletes and to enjoy your own winter activities at the same time.  Even if the thought of trekking up and down the slopes isn’t your thing, you can watch plenty of Olympics action without ever leaving downtown Vancouver. Most of the rink events – including hockey, ice skating, speed skating, curling and others – are taking place in walking distance or a short transit ride from the city core. Other events are a short commute away. The freestyle skiing and snowboarding events will take place at Cypress Mountain, about a half-hour drive from downtown. The alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and bobsledding events will be held in Whistler. It’s about a two-hour drive along the Sea-to-Ski Highway north of the city, close enough to experience in a day trip. To avoid traffic, however, consider taking one of the many transit shuttles available. While many of the main downtown hotels were booked a long time in advance, there are still lots of vacation home and apartment rentals in the area and hundreds of bed and breakfast inns. Norwegian Cruise Lines also will dock one of its ships in the harbor, offering meals, transfers, entertainment and more. Prices start at $350 per night per person. Less expensive accommodations are available in surrounding cities such as Richmond, Coquitlam and Squamish. Even if tickets to the Olympic event you want to see are sold out, don’t worry, you can watch it on one of the numerous giant screens that will be set up in the downtown area. Olympic organizers also have scheduled concerts and free outdoor parties during the games. Several of the nations hosting future Olympics will offer special exhibits and all the Canadian provinces will sponsor pavilions. Visitor information kiosks will be located around the city with details about events. Running concurrently is a “Cultural Olympiad,” which will include 600 tickets events from January to March and include dance, theater, music and other forms of art. If you’d like to get away from the Games for a couple of days, take the ferry to Vancouver Island and tour the provincial capital, Victoria. It’s loaded with historic architecture, including the Parliament building and interesting museums, along with plenty of great restaurants that focus on organic, sustainable foods. And if you’d rather spend your time participating in rather than just watching winter sports, take a couple of days to travel to the Whistler Blackcomb resort. There are dozens of ski and snowboard lifts (which handle more than 2 million visitors a year) as well as backcountry activities that include glacier skiing, ice climbing and heli-skiing. More than 90 percent of Whistler’s facilities will be open to the public during the Olympics. — Keith Carter OurEscapes 2010-02-16T22:43:19+00:00 http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/do_farmers_markets_offer_value/ http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/do_farmers_markets_offer_value/#When:00:09:38Z By Christina Harrison Find peace of mind when it comes to your produce - at your local farmers market.  At the rustic Rancho Bernardo farmers market on Friday mornings, Brian Schneider keeps up friendly conversations with his customers. While hand-sorting brilliant red and yellow cherries, he offers potential customers a sample with a smile.  A walk through this or one of San Diego’s 38 other farmers markets can be a whirl of vivid colors and friendly faces — a great way to lift your spirits and find beautiful, fresh produce.  It can also give you peace of mind when it comes to food for your table. The produce has the increasingly rare and intriguing quality of being grown the old-fashioned way — on nearby farms and orchards, with sustainable, pesticide-free, organic or hydroponic methods, and a guaranteed infusion of California sunshine.  As some local farmers would say, “naturally.” But will shopping at farmers markets bust your budget? Weighing In: Price and Value Each farmers market differs slightly in available produce, and since foods are grown seasonally, you may not see some items you would see at the grocery store. But you can find a variety of vendors with similar produce to choose from, and you will always find fabulous-tasting fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. How reasonable? We’ve done some research on common fruits and veggies and compared local farmers’ prices to major-name grocery stores. On average, produce at farmers markets costs 41 percent more than the lowest-cost alternatives at large commercial grocery stores. But farmers markets are only 4 percent more than organic produce at the same brick-and-mortar stores. Three items in our comparison — potatoes, carrots and celery —  were disproportionately more expensive than the other 11 items. When not used in the comparison, farmers markets were only 21 percent more expensive than the lowest-cost commercial alternatives at grocery stores, and actually less expensive than some organic produce. Smart shoppers, then, can save a little money on some items, and get great value and peace of mind at farmers markets. “You have to think about what you’re getting,” said Lynne Johnson, of Valley Center's Behneman Family Farms. She and other growers shared several key points:  The produce is the freshest you’ll find — picked that morning, or the day before market. Your food has only been shipped from as far as the local farm. You get to speak face-to-face with the person who grew it and picked it. Growers use earth-friendly and people-friendly methods, and are certified twice yearly by the California Federation of Certified Farmers’ Markets. When you buy local, you are also supporting your neighbors and San Diego’s economy.   San Diego’s 39 certified farmers markets continue to bring simplicity and quality. But don’t expect to always find per pound pricing. “[Carrots are] just in bunches, we don’t do it per pound,” said one busy Escondido vendor. “You know, we just do what seems good – we’re just farmers in the field, making bunches!” So if you feel like fresh strawberries today, or basil or zucchini picked this morning, with no pesticides, no herbicides, "no nothing!" as the farmers say, we suggest you take a look. Or, rather, have a taste.  Step off the curb and under the white canopies.  Features 2010-01-06T00:09:38+00:00 http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/the_best_in_san_diego_golf/ http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/the_best_in_san_diego_golf/#When:15:44:39Z Whether you are an experienced golfer with a handicap or a beginner who is a handicap, Senior Editor Jim Dunlap offers his recommendations for where to have the most fun with an iron and little white ball San Diego County boasts more than 90 golf courses, which makes it either the sixth most golf-crazy or the sixth most golf course developer-crazy county in America. If a golfer can’t find a course that suits their game, then they’re not trying. For the purposes of this column, we (OK, I) thought it might be fun to share some of my picks in a variety of categories related to the county’s cornucopia of courses. I confess that I haven’t played all 90-plus in my 30 years of residence, although not for lack of trying. I’ve focused on the approximately 65 of those facilities that allow public play. Not that I haven’t occasionally been allowed onto some of the many fine private courses in the county – in my other role as the senior editor of Golf Inc. magazine, some of the county’s private venues have opened their gates to me. Although, come to think of it, I’m not sure it’s ever happened twice at the same club – probably a coincidence or an oversight on their part. I can only conclude that the course superintendent overruled the beverage cart operator. In any case, here are my picks for some of the best, worst, hardest, prettiest courses, individual holes and course amenities in the county, and some of the best places to buy equipment with which to torment yourself on them. Feel free to agree or disagree – I’m sure Keith Carter, our managing editor, would be happy to hear from you. Prettiest course overall Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad – resort gorgeous. Torrey Pines and Coronado Golf Club get major points for scenic views – that does NOT count a hazardous peak over the cliffs of Torrey down onto Black’s Beach, but it does count the sunbathers on passing yachts on Glorietta Bay at Coronado.   Hardest course Tough call, but has to be Torrey Pines South, with Maderas Country Club in Poway a close second, for totally different reasons. Torrey because it’s rugged long, the rough is brutal, the sand is everywhere and the greens are unreadable for anyone not named Tiger. Maderas because there is no rough, only jail for wayward shots, and designer Johnny Miller obviously had an aversion to straight golf holes. If you’re a “player,” you’ll love both tracks though, because they’re great golf courses.   Easiest course Another tough choice, because it depends on your game. Mine is long and (usually) right, so Encinitas Ranch gets my vote, since most of the trouble is on the left and the course can be overpowered if you can deal with the big greens. Like most, Eastlake in Chula Vista is not overly challenging if you keep it in the fairway; same with Bonita, either course at Cottonwood (although the new Lakes design on the former Monte Vista course has added some interesting challenges). The Marines’ Miramar course is not overly difficult if the wind cooperates, and the South Course at the Navy’s Admiral Baker facility is short-ish and manageable.   Toughest driving hole Again, depends on your game. In my case, a “controlled draw” is only a rumor, so my vote goes to the 11th hole at Castle Creek in Escondido, where the uphill 453-yard par 5 sounds easy enough … until you realize the opening between the tree lines on both sides of the fairway off the tee is about 12 yards wide. Close seconds are the second hole at Castle Creek, any one of several at Meadow Lake in Escondido, and the second hole at Twin Oaks in San Marcos, which looks simple enough until you find out that almost anything that doesn’t clear or land in the gaping sand trap on the left side of the fairway rolls straight right into the woods. Shockingly enough, as I think about this category, many others come to mind – the signature 4th hole at Sycuan Resort’s (formerly Singing Hills’) Willow Glen, for instance, where Sycuan golf sales manager Lawrence Heraty says he can almost hear the presence of the former Indian inhabitants who used to grind corn there. Personally, I hear my inner caddie saying “OK, hacker boy, do we have a club we can hit from the elevated tee that will land our ball somewhere between the hillside and the huge pond in front of the green?” Or there is the 14th at Carmel Mountain Ranch where anything less than a perfect tee shot will leave you either OB right or left or with a blind downhill shot to a diabolical green on the other side of a creek. Number 10 at The Crossings of Carlsbad is no picnic either.   Goofiest hole Again, lots of contenders. Here’s a vote for number 13 at Oceanside Municipal. How weird could a 115-yard par-3 be? Plenty, when the tee box is about 100 yards above the green, most of which can’t be seen from the tee marker. It may be the only hole on a full-size course in the county where you have a better chance of getting the ball close by throwing it than hitting it. Carmel Mountain Ranch, the poster child for bad marriages between golf and golf course community developers, has a handful of them, including number 3, as does Eagle’s Crest in Escondido, another course that a developer’s greed for golf course frontage lots ruined. And Mt. Woodson in Ramona has its share too, but it’s so pretty, you can forgive it, as long as you don’t pull your driver out of the bag, in which case it probably won’t forgive you.   Best clubhouse/19th hole If you combine view, ambience and munchies, The Crossings at Carlsbad wins in a runaway. It’s a posh private club view of the Pacific at what is actually a municipal course, albeit a pricey one, and the California Coastal Commission wasn’t able to block its construction, unlike the first 20 or 30 of the golf course designs. Other courses offer good and filling post-round vittles – Cottonwood is a strong entry for their burgers and fries alone, not to mention their breakfasts for those who are not on a liquid pre-round diet.   Best practice facility Stadium Golf, just off I-15 South a mile or so north of Qualcomm Stadium, offers a double-decked driving range, a full staff of instructors, a pro shop and an excellent short game practice area. If the kids would rather hit baseballs or softballs than golf balls, there are batting cages too. Other good options include the Del Mar Golf Center between the Fairgrounds and I-5 and the Hodges Golf Learning Center in Escondido just off I-15.   Best golf retailer The Golf Mart has five locations in the county, in Encinitas, San Marcos, at the Del Mar Golf Center, in Mission Valley and the former Polar Golf location on Pacific Highway by the airport. All are well stocked, carry a full range of equipment from all the top manufacturers, apparel and accessories. All the locations I have visited provide attentive and helpful service, including a generous return policy, and several offer equipment repair as well. Other multiple-location stores include Pro Golf Discount and Golfsmith. For a fully stocked on-course pro shop, Torrey Pines is hard to beat, and nobody else in San Diego carries U.S. Open logo-ed gear with the course name on it.   Best courses for beginners   Oaks North 12602 Oaks North Dr. 858-487-3021 This well-conditioned executive course in Rancho Bernardo has three nines, each consisting of six par-3 holes and three par-4 holes.   Pine Glen 3007 Dehesa Road, El Cajon 619-442-3425 The third course at Sycuan Resort is well-maintained and offers a wide variety of 18 scenic and challenging par-3 holes.   Lomas Santa Fe Executive 1505 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach 858-755-1547 Another nice executive layout, with a mix of par-3 and par-4 holes that will allow the beginner to use all the clubs in the bag.   Mission Bay Golf Course 2702 N. Mission Bay Dr. 858-490-3370 Located in Pacific Beach, city-owned Mission Bay deserves a special mention because it is lighted for night play. It doesn’t have the same manicured look as the other three, but offers a more casual ambience.     Most underrated courses   Woods Valley 14616 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center 760-751-3007 Relatively new and tucked away in North County, Woods Valley requires some control off the tee and has some gorgeous holes on the back nine in particular.   Fallbrook Golf Course 2757 Gird Road, Fallbrook 760-728-8334 Not the place for you if you demand flawless course conditions, concrete cart paths or if you’re freaked out by hitting your first tee shot directly over a busy highway. Still, this quaint course offers some truly challenging holes, particularly off the tee, is reasonably priced and generally has tee times available on the weekend with not too much advance notice.   Ivanhoe Course at Cottonwood 3121 Willow Glen Dr., El Cajon 619-442-9891 Not as manicured and without the same amenities as neighbors Steel Canyon and Sycuan, Ivanhoe offers variety and some very challenging holes, particularly in the rainy season when the creeks meandering through the course are full.           Issue Highlights 2009-10-01T15:44:39+00:00 http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/32_ways_to_make_san_diego_green/ http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/32_ways_to_make_san_diego_green/#When:20:43:09Z By Merideth Kimble Marty Benson whizzes down 32nd Street and swings around the corner on his bike. He jumps off, parks and runs inside. The environmental advocate had just completed a 30-mile trip from Encinitas to South Park, a ride that served as his daily exercise as well as the way he traveled to a meeting. He acknowledged that it’s not practical for everyone to ride 30 miles on a Thursday to get to an interview. “But maybe they could just ride to the market,” he said. Thousands of San Diegans like Benson have made the decision to live a greener lifestyle. They’re concerned about the impact of their consumption of natural resources on the earth’s environment and are making choices daily aimed at reducing their use of those resources. And advocates say that everyone has the ability to contribute, even in small ways, to promoting a sustainable lifestyle. OurCity Recommends There are a million ways to cut back on carbon emissions and cut our use and reliance on fossil fuels. We have narrowed it down to 32 recommendations that we feel make the most sense for a greener San Diego. We cover travel, home and food. On the Road: 1. Ride your bike or walk to the corner store when all you need is one or two items. Reducing the number of miles you drive by 10 miles per week will eliminate 332 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) per year from the atmosphere. 2. Carpool to work, or take public transportation. To find out more about carpooling and public transit options in San Diego, go to http://www.ridelink.org. 3. Increase your gas mileage by keeping your car engine tuned and the proper inflation on your tires. By turning off the air conditioning and opening your windows you can also improve mpg. For more tips on going further on a gallon of gasoline, go to http://www.iwantbettergasmileage.com/ 4. When it’s time to purchase a new car, think hybrid or electric vehicle. If you aren’t in the market for something new, keep your current model in tip-top condition so it is the most efficient. To find out which cars have the best gas mileage, go to http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/gasmileage/ To reduce traffic hazards and to maintain effective drainage on San Diego County highways, join the county’s Adopt-a-Road program designed to remove litter and trash from roadsides. http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/dpw/roads/adopt.html or call 858-874-4040. At Home: 6. Adjust the thermostat to maximize energy savings. If you turn your air conditioner 1 degree warmer, you will reduce the amount of CO2  you produce by 88 pounds a year. 7. Turn off the lights and appliances when not in use. For example, if you enable the “sleep” option on your computer and monitor instead of just leaving it on, you will reduce your annual CO2 output by 86 pounds. 8. Washing clothes in cold water instead of hot, saves 98 pounds of CO2 a year. And using a clothes rack instead of a clothes dryer for just half of your laundry cuts carbon dioxide production by 330 pounds a year. 9. If you recycle newspaper, glass, plastic, metal and magazines you could eliminate 894 pounds of CO2 a year. 10. Purchase locally produced products, and those with less packaging. 11. Take your own, reusable grocery bags to the store. You can buy them at most local markets, including Henry’s, Whole Foods, Vons, Albertson’s and Ralphs or online at http://www.reusablebags.com/ 12. Recycle plastic and aluminum at home, first: Wash containers for leftovers; use plastic packaging in lieu of new trash bags. 13. Recycle your clear water with a no-cost option using a container to catch clean running water as your shower heats up. Pour saved water into an outdoor bucket and use it for watering house plants, gardens and lawns, washing cars or windows. 14. Recycle up to 50 percent of your home’s water by using a water recycling system that captures, filters and reuses shower, tub, bathroom sink, laundry and other water for lawns and gardens. That can save up to 46,000 gallons every year. 15. Choose bamboo when you next replace your hardwood flooring as it acts as a natural insulator. It’s also stronger than most woods and less expensive. It can be purchased for nailed down, stapled down, glued down or floated installation. Appliances and Gadgets: 17. Update to Energy Star-rated appliances and donate the older models. If you replace your old refrigerator with an Energy Star model, you could save 421 pounds of CO2 a year. For details about Energy Star ratings, go to  http://www.energystar.gov/. San Diego consumers can get information about recycling old appliances by going to http://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/appliances.shtml 18. Replace your furnace with an Energy Star model and save 3,011 pounds of CO2 a year. For additional information on efficient heating and cooling, see http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac 19. Installing single-pane windows with dual-pane Energy Star models will reduce CO2  output by 2,952 pounds a year. 20. Install solar panels. For information on San Diego programs designed to promote use of solar panels, go to http://www.gstriatum.com/solarenergy/2009/05/solar-power-san-diego/ 21. Plug kitchen appliances and electronics into a power strip. Switch everything off before leaving the house. “Go Low” with dual flush toilets. The American Standard’s H2Option Siphonic Dual Flush Toilet allows you to flush small (1.0 gal) or flush standard (1.6 gal). Replacing a 1.6 gal/flush toilet with H2Option saves 1,400 gallons of water per year. For more information, go to www.Faucet.com. On the Menu: Meat, seafood & dairy 23. Look for free-range, grass-fed beef and organic dairy products. For ideas on where to buy these products in San Diego, see the Food Lovers Guide on Page 52.  24. Substitute chicken or seafood in your diet instead of beef to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 25. Purchase seafood that has been sustainably harvested from the ocean. For a guide for seafood available in San Diego that has been sustainably harvested:  http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/content/media/MBA_SeafoodWatch_WestCoastGuide.pdf 26. Grow your own herbs or vegetables (start with containers) and experience products fresh-picked from your garden. Shopping 27. Avoid buying processed foods. For information about what processed foods to stay away from, see http://nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/processedfoods.htm 28. Look for seasonal organic foods. San Diego grocery stores that offer organic on more than 50 percent of their items include Whole Foods and Jimbo’s. Henry’s, Barons, Trader Joe’s and Vons also offer selections of organic foods. For more information about selecting and buying organic foods, go to http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/organic/ 29. Shop local farmers markets. For a list of San Diego County markets, go to http://sdfarmbureau.org/BuyLocal/Farmers-Markets.php Eating Out 30. Choose local restaurants, which are more likely to operate sustainably, over chains. 31. Try restaurants that use local ingredients and offer seasonal menus of products. For a list of San Diego restaurants that offer such ingredients on their menus, see the Slow Food story above. 32. Instead of asking for a doggie bag for leftovers, bring your own reusable take-out containers from home. Read more of OurCity: San Diego's green feature in the Fall issue by subscribing or picking up a copy at a location near you. Features 2009-09-10T20:43:09+00:00 http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/memories_of_sean/ http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/memories_of_sean/#When:20:33:05Z By L.R. Wright Sean Robins had been diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, after a routine checkup while he was a 15-year-old sophomore at Francis Parker High School. The diagnosis was grim. Most patients only live five years. But Sean was determined to not let the challenge get the best of him. He maintained a positive outlook and strong belief that he would survive. His parents, Mitch and Amy, also believed that their son would beat the overwhelming odds. Sean’s initial treatments sent the disease into remission and he was able to graduate from high school on time, despite painful chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He was accepted into Northwestern University and enrolled twice. But the cancer kept attacking his body, keeping him from ever moving to Illinois for classes. For seven years, Mitch and Amy Robins watched as their son courageously faced and battled cancer. Read more about Sean and his parents' fight to keep his memory alive by subscribing or picking up a copy of the Fall issue of OurCity: San Diego at a store near you. OurPeople 2009-09-10T20:33:05+00:00 http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/the_best_of_ourcity/ http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/the_best_of_ourcity/#When:19:30:20Z Sparkling beaches, relaxing spas, hiking trails, natural wonders, family picnic spots and the best of everything in our city. Welcome to the city of wonder.  San Diego has always served up pristine beaches, breathtaking views and close proximity to both mountains and desert. And it has long been a tourist destination thanks to its history. With so many offerings across the growing county, we felt it was time to recognize the very best of our city — from restaurants to beaches, from shopping to hiking trails. We surveyed long-time residents across the county to get their recommendations on the best ways to spend time with family or friends.  We have organized our best of the city by relationship — things you would do by yourself, as a couple, with your friends or as a family. Whether you go it alone, with your significant other or a group of your closest friends, we want you to enjoy the best that San Diego has to offer.  Each week, we'll release one of our picks in these categories so be sure to check back!   Features 2009-06-19T19:30:20+00:00 http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/water_rationing_how_much_can_you_save/ http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/water_rationing_how_much_can_you_save/#When:22:24:32Z By Christina Harrison With simple, small changes, every San Diegan can reduce their water use by the required 8 percent. By being more aggressive, you can save as much as 50 percent. In this month’s issue of OurCity San Diego, our feature article “Water: How Much Can We Save?” gives a backdrop to the current water-rationing dilemma in San Diego County – we are losing a major water source for our area while drought conditions have caught us unawares.   And according to the American Water Works Association the average American household uses 127,400 gallons a year. Fortunately, a water-conservation movement in your own home can help lighten San Diego’s water-load, as well as help you save financially in current economic conditions. Check out our indoor and outdoor tips and tricks below to help you save, including links to experts, where to find items, and average costs to install.  Features 2009-05-29T22:24:32+00:00 http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/1_in_3_million/ http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/1_in_3_million/#When:18:54:32Z Joyce Slaughter Stockton of Pacific Beach talks about some of the pivotal moments in her life. Untitled from Michelle Weyenberg on Vimeo. OurPeople 2009-05-29T18:54:32+00:00 http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/how_to_choose_an_attorney/ http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/how_to_choose_an_attorney/#When:18:31:37Z Hiring an attorney doesn’t have to be as complicated as it seems. Find out the OurCity Recommended Attorneys for the areas of family, personal injury, criminal, estate planning and consumer and small business finance.  Avvo, Inc., a Seattle company that rates and profiles attorneys nationwide, teamed up with OurCity San Diego magazine to present these lists of top lawyers in San Diego. Attorneys are ranked based on their professional backgrounds according to Avvo’s proprietary algorithms. The Avvo Rating is a score on a 10-point scale distilled from the raw rankings generated by Avvo. The ratings and rankings were calculated April 13, 2009. For a detailed look at each OurCity Recommended Attorney, click on the attorney name.  Features 2009-05-29T18:31:37+00:00 http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/santa_barbara_vacation_the_american_riviera/ http://www.ourcitysd.com/index.php/site/santa_barbara_vacation_the_american_riviera/#When:18:20:57Z by Leslie A. Westbrook Most people’s faces light up whenever I tell them I’m from Santa Barbara. Those who know the Mediterranean-style beachside community agree that the place I call home is enviable. Showing off my easily navigable town that is situated on a South-facing bay is a pleasure. This is a good thing, since I have many friends from around the globe who, as you might imagine, enjoy visiting.  OurEscapes 2009-05-29T18:20:57+00:00