Temescal Cafe

Just got the hardest look imaginable from a kid who can't be more than 8 years old. WTF?

Maternal Instincts has a home!

I worked my ass off on this throughout my second year at St. Mary's. I CARED about this story. And it's been rejected. A lot.

No longer. This morning, Tony Dushane over at CherryBleeds said yes.

David Sedaris fibbed? No diggety!

Check out Jon Carroll.

Davis smells like jasmine

And it's 80 degrees out. Yummy.

Am I really getting married? Holy hell, I think I am.

So you want to hire a freelance writer?

Great! First off, congratulations on being smart enough to know that good writing more than pays for itself. Good writing makes a great impression. Good writing sells.

A few tips for landing a good one:

- Know what you want before you go out looking for it. Don't post a vague ad. Don't hem and haw once you've got someone on the phone. Don't go back and forth with a thousand emails. Have a job description and be able to offer it in a succinct, specific way.

- Know how much you're willing to pay. Before looking to hire someone, do research as to current and reasonable rates. If for whatever reason you can't meet those, either (1) wait until you have the money to hire a writer; or (2) have a clear and specific incentive for a writer to take a reduced rate. These might include significant up-front payment, early payment, or other benefits. Don't expect a writer to reduce their rates because you drop phrases like "waiting for funding" or "non-profit project."

- Don't be shy about asking for work samples and references. A confident and professional writer should easily be able to provide you with both.

- Don't ask for an unpaid trial period. Don't ask them to write a "sample" for you without offering to compensate them for their time. A writer's samples should speak for themselves.

- Have assignments at the ready. Don't get to the point of hiring a freelancer and then say: "Uh, I don't have anything for you right now ..." Don't waste your time or theirs.

- Do take professional freelancers seriously. Value their time as you would your own. You'll be rewarded with a great employee and sharp copy.

Come as you are

But you may not be accepted that way.

It goes in both directions. I've learned -- in particular over the last year or so -- that you can't and shouldn't try to change people.

The flip side? Those people may just not be people you want to share a lot of time with.

It's tough. That means you lose a lot of old friends who you've outgrown, or who've outgrown you, or just all-around it ain't working with any more. Then again, maybe it's better that way.

You know you're from San Diego when ...

From my mom.

You know you're from San Diego when. . .

Your high school had a surf team

You can correctly pronounce Tierrasanta, La Jolla, Rancho Penasquitos, San
Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Jamacha, Jamul, Cuyamaca, and El Cajon

There are four distinct seasons: Summer, Not Quite Summer, Almost Summer,
and Oh Hey Look Its Summer Again

Chula-juana is a real town.

Your house is worth more than some small countries

You know what MB, OB, and PB stand for

You see weather forecasts for four different climate zones, all in the San
Diego County, and aren't remotely surprised.

You've gone to Mt. Helix in July and known you still need a jacket

You've tailgated at Qualcomm Stadium, and for bonus points, also tailgated
when it was Jack Murphy Stadium and you know you'll need a jacket or sweater
at night in the summer

You have a favorite- the Wild Animal Park or the Zoo

You've seen an Imax movie at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

You still call it the Del Mar Fair

You say "I'm going to the track" and people know what you mean

You understand what May-Gray and June-Gloom is

A famous skateboarder/surfer lives in your town

There's a North County, a South County, and an East County but no Central
County just "The City"

You know what it means when two guys are walking in Hillcrest

You know what it means when a girl in a short skirt is walking on El Cajon
Blvd

You've gotten stuck in the Horton Plaza parking structure traffic after a
Padres game

You know what "The Merge" is and will plan your entire day around not being
on it during rush hour
You've been to Belmont Park

You've taken the Coaster and laughed at people sitting in traffic on the 5

You know the difference between Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Mira Mesa and
Serra Mesa
You've gone to Sea World on a warm day and sat in the first few rows at the
Shamu Show to get cooled off

You've been delayed at the Border Checkpoints on the 5 and the 15

You know it's San Diegan, not San Diegoan, or San Diegoite

Everyone has their favorite beach

No matter what the weather is, there is always someone walking around in a
t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops
You live on, near or are surrounded by hills

You laugh when tourists are confused because they can't remember which place
they are trying to locate: Escondido, Encinitas or Ensenada . .. . they
just know it's one of those "E" words

You have family and or friends that have moved to Arizona

You used to, and sometimes still ride the carousel at Seaport Village

You know someone who apparently doesn't own a pair of long pants, and have a
neighbor who doesn't seem to own a shirt
You know what Santa Ana's are, and that they have literally nothing to do
with the city of Santa Ana

If the menu doesn't have California burritos on it, forget it, its not real
Mexican food

If you're NOT from San Diego.... That sucks