Hooked on Mall Tycoon 2 Deluxe

Lately, I haven't been very good at making the most of my time while on vacation. But I have made myself more addicted to video games. I've been playing a computer game called, "Mall Tycoon 2 Deluxe". It can be found at Bestbuy, Target, or Wal-Mart for $20 and it comes with a 10 dollar rebate. This simulator allows for you to create your own shopping mall. Although, this game is highly addictive, this game can be an education tool for business majors. After several hours of play, I strive to make my mall look perfect and rent out spaces to my favorite types of stores. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at charging the right amount of rent or percentage profit cuts because my malls keep losing money. I think the game runs too fast and that months and years pass at a blink of an eye. I learn that shoplifters wreck havoc on my tenants who in turn have to raise prices to stay in business. It's real life. The way the game is engineered isn't perfect, but it is fun and educational. I have resorted to cheating and cheating can be very fun and save me lots of time. I think the game could've been made better, but the fun factor and addictability is a plus. I give it a 7/10.

San Diego Aerospace Museum

San Diego Aerospace Museum


Apollo 9


WWII Planes


Wright Brothers Plane

Here are some pictures of the San Diego Aerospace Museum during my visit on the 3rd Free Tuesday. I also went to the Automotive Museum and the Sports Hall of Champions. The Aerospace Museum is a really cool place to visit. I left with the fasination of airplanes. The history of flight is fairly new and its pretty awesome to see the apex of human achievement. I believe this is the best museum in Balboa Park. You get to see The Apollo 9 and an Army Cobra Helicopter! It was nice to marvel at their size and brilliant construction. And also you get to see giant sized NASA photos of Mars and the Mars probe. Expect to spend 2 or 3 hours looking at the exhibits. It was a magnificant museum to visit. When I left, I felt awful for not paying admission.

http://www.aerospacemusuem.org

Quail Botanical Gardens, Carlsbad CA

Quail Botanical Gardens, Carlsbad CA


Waterfall

Quail Botanical Gardens is a little oasis of nature in Southern California. Admission is 8 dollars a person. It is a worth while trip and you get to see plants and trees from around the world. Expect to spend an hour or two there. And don't forget to get a handmade pretzel, they're good.

When will the Bad Luck End?

Ever since my vacation started at the end of October, I've been having some pretty bad luck.

First off, I came home to my parent's house in Arkansas. They own a few restaurant buildings and a couple of them called my parent's asking them to fix the leaky roofs. I tried calling some roofers and they won't reply. How troublesome is that? They need to be fixed soon, because it rains a lot in Arkansas. If the problem doesn't get fixed, then the problems will increase tenfold.

Second, my favorite politician, Democratic Senator John Kerry lost the election for Presidency. What are the odds of that? I guess I should've voted for Bush. An angry Bush lover pegged my car with an egg and left a beautiful mark next to my John Kerry bumper sticker. That bastard.

Third, on my flight to San Diego from Little Rock, I missed my connecting flight at Houston due to stormy weather. It delayed me about 4 1/2 hours. That sucked because I arrived so late at night and my wife had school the next day. My baggage ended up arriving in San Diego before I did.

Fourth, when I dropped off my wife from school, I drove back to the hotel. I fell asleep and woke up about four hours later with the sounds of a leaf blower outside my freak'in hotel door. All crusty eyed, I opened up the curtens and saw our car being towed! I didn't even receive a phone call or a courtesy knock before the stupid hotel started towing cars in their own parking lot. The stupid tow'er left a huge dent on the front driver's side fender. That bastard.

Fifth, after the towing incident, I was on a mission to receive a package that I had mailed out to myself from Texas. I went to the post office. After waiting in line for 20 minutes, I handed over the package slip and the attendant walked to the back and started chatting with his buddies for 15 minutes. When he finally came back, he told me that it wasn't there and that I should call a "phone number". I went home and called that number. The number ended up being a postal office warehouse which doesn't have my package...

Sixth, I received a call from my dad. He told me that they received a parking ticket that I have to pay for. What the heck? The ticket was ticketed to the person who bought my first car about four years ago. But, they decided to place the blame on me. I fixed the records years ago with the DMV. Due to incompentence, the stupid city is trying to bill me for a stupid ticket which has collected interest over the years!

Seventh, I got sick and I have a stuffy nose.

Eighth, I went to my wife's school. Her career counselor told me that the detailer lost my paperwork and that I have to submit my co-location stuff over again. It was the 4th time our paperwork has been lost.

Nineth, I went to Fontana, to my in-law's house. The next day, my wife's father received a notice from a court asking for payment of several thousand dollars of rent from a random apartment complex. Is the bad luck following me? I don't know.

Old Town, San Diego

Old Town San Diego


Old Town

This place is called the "Birthplace of California"

It is a nice place to go. It is "FREE", so it won't cost you a dime. It has a lot of free little museums of historic San Diego. It is pretty interesting and there are a lot of little shops, restaurants, and sightseeing. It is located right along the I-5 and it is a good place to stop by if you are ever in the area.

Balboa Park, San Diego

Balboa Park, San Diego


Spanish Statue


Nature Trail


Old Outdoor Theatre


Arts Village


Museum of Man

Balboa Park is always full of activities. It is filled with many museums, walking trails, bridges, art, gardens, stores and restaurants. Everyone should go there at least once in their life. It is the largest and most scenic park I've ever been to. It has free parking and is located next to the World Famous, San Diego Zoo.

The Monthly Free Tuesdays Schedule goes as follows:

1st Tuesday: Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Model Railroad Museum, Natural History Museum, Centro Cultural de la Raza

2nd Tuesday: Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego History Museum, Veterans Museum and Memorial Center

3rd Tuesday: Japanese Friendship Garden, Mingei International Museum, San Diego Art Institute, Museum of Man, Museum of Art

4th Tuesday: Aerospace Museum, Automotive Museum, International Cottages, Hall of Champions

5th Tuesday: Regular Admission

4020 Texas Street, San Diego California

4020 Texas Street, San Diego California


Roof tops in San Diego


Residental Parking

I flew to San Diego last Tuesday. Here are some pictures of Texas Street. I forgot how great the weather is over here. I went running yesterday and I felt refreshed! When I was in Texas, the heat, dust, wind and humidity took a toll on my running ability. It always felt like the wrong time to run over there. I love San Diego! I just have to get used to the road manners here. People are very impatient and there is always something to do here. Californians are a lot different from the rest of the U.S. Life here is fast and furious. Going out is the norm. What is considered rude everywhere else, is laughed at here. Although you don't get that small town, small talk stuff from people here like you do in the southern states, people here generally mind their own business.

When I walk by people on the sidewalk, nobody looked at me or said a friendly "hi" or a "how are you doing?" You pretty much get ignored and it is assumed that you exist. Plus, it would be exhausting to greet every single person you meet. There's lots of people here. Everywhere you go, involves lines. You can't do anything without waiting in line. The economy here is better than most places I've been. It is possible that a business here can shut down even though they are busy and have many customers. It happens all the time. Everything here is expensive compared to the national average. Fuel is usually about 75 cents to a dollar greater per gallon than the national average.

Driving here is fast. San Diegans are a bit impatient with visitors and slow drivers. I noticed that freeway traffic is always fast no matter how many cars there are on the road. Jams on the freeway don't last a long time here. The only thing holding up traffic are traffic lights at the exits. Other than that, the roads here are wide and traffic flow is efficient. But parking is a bitch.

I saw a guy digging through the dumpster here yesterday and he found a paycheck addressed to one of the residences here. He was kind enough to put up the check so that maybe the person who threw it away would find it. Every once in a while, you see kindness.

View down Texas Street, San Diego


Lincoln Street, San Diego

Gà Sé Fai

Gà Sé Fai

This is a Vietnamese Dish. Also known as Vietnamese Shreaded Chicken Salad. It is sour and delicious! Ingredients are:

2 lbs of Cabbage
1/2 Yellow Onion
1/2 cup of Vinegar
1/2 tablespoon of Salt
5 tablespoons of Sugar
Dash of Pepper
Boiled Chicken
Mint Leaves

Add any of these ingredients to adjust to your liking.