I spent the weekend with my family camping in the desert, and we had the best time not really doing much but relaxing. We went for walks, carved pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, and stared into the star filled sky. My five year old was so excited, as this was the first year he got to carve his own pumpkin (with the assistance of my wife) and he did a great job. Watching him with pride, I thought of all the things my parents taught me through the years, and all the classic “My Dad always said”
quotes that helped to shape my parenting skills. The following is the Top 10 List of things my Dad always said, with brief explainations.

1. When you buy the best, you only cry once. Although my father was very thrifty, and always looked for a bargain, on high priced items, it pays to spend a little more and get the best product available.

2. There are only 2 kinds of people who drive in the fast lane - the kind that write tickets, and the kind that get the tickets. I usually got this lecture right before going to court or after telling my dad that I finished my day at traffic school to keep it off my record.

3. You kids today, have champagne taste on a beer pocketbook. I understand the premise, we want the things we can’t really afford. But I never liked champagne, and I never used a pocketbook. Still, I think I heard this quote at least a hundred times before I moved out to realize he was right. I still don’t like champagne though.

4. As long as you are living under my roof, you will follow my rules. Not knowing how effective this rule was as a teen, as an adult I have a greater appreciation for it. I never argued or questioned my father, or his rules. I knew there were consequences for my actions, and I acted accordingly. If I thought my way was better, I could always move out and make my own rules. When I moved out I was ready to do so. This one rule prepared me for life, and for that I am grateful.

5. If you don’t quit crying, I’ll give you something to cry about. This one just doesn’t make any sense to me, because if I was crying, I already had something to cry about. Spanking doesn’t make me want to cry less, I think that would just add to the issue. Still, I think the whole idea of just threatening a spanking was enough to make most children try hard to stop crying. I can’t say that this is one of the things I will use with my own child.

6. If you want something bad enough, you will save for it. My dad wasn’t one to use credit cards. He actually was proud of the fact that he never wrote a bad check, and never paid a finance charge. This is almost unheard of in today’s troubled economy. It did teach me the value of a dollar, and the difference between wants and needs. I also think it taught me to take care of my things, and it is better to want the things I have than to have the things I want.

7. A man is only as good as his word. My dad grew up doing business with a hand shake instead of a written contract. When you told someone you would do something, you did it. No excuses, no backing out, and nothing done half-assed. I believe this to be true, and I have tried to follow in my father’s footsteps in regards to the way I lead my life. I want people to trust me, believe in me, and respect me. More importantly, I have to believe in myself first. Being trustworthy is a great trait.

8. Any job worth doing is a job worth doing well. Take pride in your work, your work ethic, and finish the job you started. I think this one may have had a negative effect on me in the long term. I tend to think that I must keep working on a project longer than I should because I could do better. I am never satisfied with the end result because I run out of time before a deadline. This does encourage me to strive to achieve my goals, and make my work more valuable. Thanks for the push, Dad.

9. Measure twice, cut once. This is more of a construction rule, but the idea is that sometimes we are in a rush to do a job, and we make mistakes. Make your measurement, check it, and then proceed to make the cut. Be efficient, and you get more done. I have found myself using this quote in a number of different situations, from teaching employees to check their work before turning it in, to home projects that I want to finish with fewer trips to Home Depot due to my miscalculations.

10. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The only dumb question is the one that was never asked. I learned this one the hard way. Thinking I would be helping my dad by mowing,edging, and fertilizing the yard one summer, I did all of this while he was out shopping on Saturday morning when I was 15 years old. The mowing and edging was easy, I did it each week. I have seen my dad use the fertilizer spreader many times, but I didn’t know it had different levels on it. I just loaded it up with a whole bag of fertilizer, and off I went. Needless to say, I put about 10 times the amount of fertilizer on the lawn, which would cause the lawn to burn. My dad got home and was furious with me. I got the lecture of a life time on not knowing what I was doing, using the instructions for things I knew nothing about, etc. Then I got the follow up attempt at a mild thank you for my efforts, but you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. All I could muster from behind my curtain of tears was “I know now.”  Lesson learned.

My dad was an elementary school teacher his whole life. He taught his four children well, and prepared us to face the world head on. He had a far more difficult upbringing than what we faced, and I think he wanted us to struggle a little so we would appreciate what we have a little more. He was hard on us, but that made us stronger. We always knew that he loved us and supported us 100%. This I will definitely pass on to my son. I hope you can find the humor and life lessions in this list. Feel free to share them with your family and friends, that would make my dad happy.

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One FUNNY Saturday Night Live Sketch!

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You are Cordially Invited …To the Exchange Club of San Diego’s fifth annual luncheon honoring the San Diego Police Department Volunteer of the Year.
October 29, 2008 • 11am to 2pm
Tom Ham’s Lighthouse Restaurant
2150 Harbor Island Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
Keynote Speaker: Chief William Lansdowne

Dear Business and Community Leader,
I am pleased to announce that the planning is in progress for the annual Volunteer of the Year Luncheon and Charity Fundraiser by the Exchange Club of San Diego. We have all heard about the heroic efforts of our police force. But, do you know about those volunteers who help America’s finest police force? We have a group of dedicated volunteers who perform needed services for our police department and help relieve the overload. While there are many local service groups, which have recognized the outstanding service of our community’s sworn Officers, little has been done outside the San Diego Police Department to recognize volunteers who give so freely of their time and talents.

Since 2004, The Exchange Cub of San Diego has invited the community to join them in recognizing an individual from among the San Diego Police Department Volunteers by hosting an event for the “Volunteer of the Year”. This year’s luncheon will be held at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse, 2159 Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101 on October 29, 2008 from 11am to 2pm. The proceeds from this event help us in our mission to prevent child abuse. For every dollar spent on child abuse prevention, six dollars of expenses are saved in foster care, prosecution, legal services, mental health services, crime and incarceration. The Exchange Club of San Diego would like to invite you to take advantage of this exceptional advertising and promotional opportunity. Expose your business in newspaper and media advertising, reaching across San Diego and its surrounding
communities.

Please review the sponsorship information below. We hope that you will find a level that suits your business needs and support interests. Exchange, America’s Service Club, is a group of men and women working together to make our communities better places to live through programs of service in Americanism, Community Service, Youth Activities, and its national program—The Prevention of Child Abuse. Thank you for your support of the Exchange Club of San Diego. Your contribution will help prevent child abuse in our community.

Please RSVP online at www.xcsd.org or return acceptance card below by October 24,2008.

Mail to Exchange Club of San Diego, PO Box 262266, San Diego, CA 92196-2266
If you have any questions, please contact the Exchange Club’s President-Elect, Tom Derr, at 619-933-1213 or xcsd.voy@gmail.com

Please reserve____ seat(s) for $35 each.
Please reserve____ table(s) of 10 for $300 each.
I’d like to buy____ lunch(es) for a volunteer for $35 each.

Name___________________________
Company________________________
Address_________________________
Telephone_______________________
Email___________________________

Sorry I cannot be with you, but I want to support the event. My check for $_____ is enclosed.
**make checks payable to the CA-HI-NV District XC Charitable Foundation
(CA-HI-NV XC is the National Exchange Club - California, Hawaii, and Nevada District)
_________Please send me information about the Exchange Club of San Diego
_________Please invite me to an Exchange Club of San Diego meeting.

Click here to download a PDF form to attend the luncheon, or click here to download a PDF form for advertising.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Today, I began my morning driving by the little league field on Westmore Drive. There, huddled together in the corner of the dirt parking area were no less than 12 abandoned shopping carts. Some were full of fallen oak leaves, others were filled with discarded newspapers and trash. As I loaded them into the back of my truck to return them to their rightful owners, I wondered who was at fault for this blight on our community. Is it the store owners and managers for not controlling their property? Is it the homeless that use them for transporting their personal belongings from safe place to place? Or is it the uninformed individuals that think it is alright to use the carts to take their groceries to the bus stop and just leave the carts there for some one else to come and pick them up?

It seems to me that a lot of residents are not happy with the misuse of the carts, but no one really has an idea of how to stop it from continuing. The store owners can’t or won’t prosecute violators, since in essence they are their customers. There is actually a group that will come out and pick up the carts when you call their number, but they only retrieve carts that participate in their program which pays them to return the abandoned carts. Not all stores participate. Should there be fines imposed for violators? Who should be held responsible, the stores that provide the carts to their customers or the people who take them off of the store’s property? Sorry about the rant, but this is a major concern, and I for one would like to see something done about this. So the Top 10 list for today will be the ten common courtesies we most often violate.

1. Taking shopping carts away from the store’s property. They are there for you to use while you shop, then to load your car with your purchases. If you don’t have a vehicle, you should provide your own method to get your groceries home. You should also have the common courtesy to return the carts to the nearest cart rack in the parking lot. Don’t block a parking space because you are too lazy to walk 30 feet to put it back.

2. Don’t snack on food that you have not purchased in the grocery store. Especially if there are bulk bins that you fill your own container. If everyone takes a few as a sample, the loss is then passed on to the consumer. Not to mention the sanitary issues.

3. Let someone in when two lanes merge into one. I know you are in a hurry. I am too. We all know that the lanes are going to merge, just follow the example of the car ahead of you and when it is your turn, let the next guy in. It is also nice to acknowledge this act of kindness with the courtesy wave of thanks. Now you both get to continue to sit in traffic, but at least you are in a better mood.

4. Open the door for someone else. If you are going in and you see someone behind you, stop and hold the door open for them. In return, they should let you go ahead of them in line since you were there first. It is customary to hold it for the next person, then they take over for those behind them. There is a difference between being courteous and being taken for granted. Just because you have good manners doesn’t mean you have to be stuck holding the door for everyone in line.

5. Turn off your cell phone while with friends in public places. Have we all lost our minds when it comes to using cell phones in public? No, it is not alright to talk to your friends while in line at the Home Depot. Your time is no more important than mine is to me. If you are out with friends to a restaurant, let the mailbox get your message and return the call after you are finished. Have a little respect for the people you are with. Have a little more for those around you that don’t want to hear about your private life while waiting to pay for their things in line.

6. If you have to chew gum, please keep it in your mouth. No one likes to watch you chew like a cow (ever see Britney Spears talk in public?) and when you are done, don’t discard it onto the ground or under a table. If you have ever worked in a restaurant, and cleaning the bottom of chairs and tables was your side work, you know what I am talking about.

7. Don’t litter. That should be enough said, but I will expand on this just a bit. Anyone who grew up in the 70’s can remember the image of the American Indian sitting on a horse looking at the littered country side with a single tear falling down his cheek. Still, every day people toss candy wrappers, cigarette butts, orange peels, and more out of their car windows and think the wind magically makes them disappear. It doesn’t.

8. Don’t boo the opposing team, and watch your language in public. Most often these two go hand in hand at sporting events. I am all for rooting for your team, but if the other guys make a great play, it won’t hurt you to acknowledge it. High five the fan rooting for the other team. Friendly rivalries are a lot better than the hate fests that turn into brawls. Also, watch the foul language. Most kids hear these words from their parents, that is why they say when the child curses, slap the parent.

9. If you are a smoker, that is your choice. Be considerate of others and try to avoid blowing smoke in the direction of others. Smoke only in designated areas, and use ashtrays or receptacles to get rid of your butts. The ground is not your ashtray.

10. Try to say Please and Thank You every chance you get. Smile, and say hello to one another. I used to teach the 3 foot rule to my employees. If you are within 3 feet of someone, you should smile, make eye contact, and say hello or have a nice day. It doesn’t cost you anything, and the rewards you get are ten-fold.

That is my list, and I hope you agree with some of them. Use it as a quick reminder, or a tool to teach your kids. Respect goes a long way, but first you must respect yourself. I have a simple rule that I live by, and that is this: Every day when you wake up, you can choose to have a great day or not. It is up to you. I’m not saying nothing bad will happen, but you can deal with it. If you put yourself in a positive mindframe, having a great day is easy. Now just go out and do it.

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The October Mira Mesa Chamber of Commerce meeting will be Tuesday, October 21st at 6:00 PM at the San Diego National Bank on Mira Mesa Blvd, next to In-N-Out Burger. The guest speakers will be San Diego Miramar College President Patricia Hsieh, and Chris Robbins from the City of San Diego Water Department.  Food and beverages will be provided by Extreme Pita for a $10 donation at the door. Exact change is greatly appreciated. The Business Spotlight will also be Extreme Pita.

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The following article was passed on to us at MiraMesa.com by our friend Lisa Kyser, the AVP Branch Manager from North Island Credit Union. Thanks for the heads up Lisa! We hope this information keeps you from becoming a victim of identity theft.

FTC, FDIC warn of phishing attacks

Oct. 14, 2008 – The Federal Trade Commission last week warned that phishers are taking advantage of the recent upheavals in the financial services industry to launch attacks on consumers by fraudulently posing as the financial institution that recently acquired their institution or mortgage company.

The warning noted that the e-mails may ask consumers to update, validate or confirm their account or other personal information following the acquisition of their financial institution.

The FTC suggests that consumers avoid replying to e-mail or pop-up messages asking for personal or financial information. Additionally, the agency cautions that some scammers are sending prerecorded telephone messages asking consumers for a return call to update personal information. In these cases, the agency suggests consumers call the number on their financial account statements.

In addition to the FTC warning, the FDIC also told consumers last week of fraudulent e-mails appearing to be from the agency with the subject line, “Funds wired into your account are stolen.”  The e-mail asks recipients to open and review an attached file. That file, the agency says, is actually an executable file that contains malicious code or software.

The FDIC said that recipients of these fraudulent e-mails should not respond or open the attached file. The agency also noted reports that say antivirus software programs have been detecting and removing the malicious attachment before the e-mail is delivered. However, if the attachment is opened, the FDIC recommends updating antivirus software patches and performing a complete scan of the computer and network.

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City Councilman-elect Carl DeMaio is proposing to slash the budget for the City Council political offices.  Coming a day after the Mayor’s announcement of a staggering $43 million mid-year budget deficit, DeMaio’s plan would require the City Council share in the painful but necessary spending reductions to achieve a balanced budget for the city.

“This is about showing leadership by example.  With the severe economic and budgetary challenges our city faces, the City Council political offices should not be exempt from budget cuts,” noted DeMaio.

In addition to cuts in City Council political offices, DeMaio is proposing additional reductions in the so-called non-mayoral departments that would save taxpayers $5,518,200 on an annualized basis.  Read the entire proposal at www.CleanUpCityHall.com

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Halloween is upon us! I just love this time of the year. As a kid, you know how much fun trick-or-treating is, and as a teen you look forward to going to the haunted houses and getting scared as you turn each corner. Then you get a little older, and it is off to the bars and clubs to enter (or watch) the costume contests. After that, if you are fortunate enough to have children, you get to start all over and take your little one out to trick-or-treat and re-live your entire childhood splendor.
This week’s Top 10 list is the things you should do during the month of October.

1. Carve a pumpkin. This is easy to do, and through the years many advances have made this age old tradition even easier to do. I buy the carving kits at Target, Wal-mart, or Michael’s. They have great stencils and precision carving tools to get the job done. My family and friends even have a competition with awards for each style of jack-o-lantern.

2. Decorate the house, inside and out. This really gets you into the spirit. We have window clings that are easy to set up and take down. There are tons of great decorations, and the best deals of the season are the day after Halloween. We get a lot of stuff then, and pack them away for the next year.

3. Take the kids to a kid friendly haunted house. In our area, the Monster Manor runs a Frite Lite Pirates’ Landing which is specially designed not to scare the little ones, but they still get to walk through the maze and look for pirate treasure. This is for toddlers to pre-teens, and fun for the whole family.

4. Go to a local pumpkin farm and pick out your own pumpkin to carve. We go to the one in Lakeside each year, and have a great time walking through the corn maze, petting the animals, jumping on a flatbed truck and having a hayride, and then we pick a huge pumpkin. It is a great family tradition.

5. Have a Halloween party. This could be for the kids or adults, with a costume contest, bobbing for apples, or fun contests to keep everyone entertained. There are tons of Halloween themed CD’s that have all the scary and fun music for your monster bash. Party City has everything you need to pull this off in style.

6. Make a trip to Disneyland / California Adventure if you have little ones, or Knott’s Scary Farm for their annual scream fest. These theme parks go to great lengths to transform their normal rides and activities into must-see entertainment each year. Disneyland is recommended for pre-teens and younger, while your teenagers to young adults will love Knott’s Berry Farm, or Knott’s Scary Farm as it is transformed into each October.

7. Check with your local schools for the Halloween Carnivals and parades that they run. These are great ways to raise much needed money for the schools, and it is fun to see the neighborhood kids having a great time. We know they all need the support.

8. How could I forget Oktoberfest! For those adults that love beer (of which I am definitely qualified) several communities hold Oktoberfest festivals, with great food and beer, entertainment, and parades. Check out the website for a list of events that are near you.

9. Watch the classic movies to get you into the spirit. Personally, It’s the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown is my favorite. There is also something about the classic Halloween that just scares you every time. That is R rated, and not suitable for all ages. Check your local listings the week prior to Halloween for your favorites.

10. Take your kids trick-or-treating. I used to think it was more fun to stay home and hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters, while my wife went with the kids around the neighborhood. Now I love not only watching how much fun my son has, but also meeting my neighbors that I wave to as I drive by but don’t even know their names. Through the years, we all look forward to Halloween, and sharing this time with our kids. Have a safe & fun Halloween!

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There was a Mayor’s Town Hall Forum last night at the Town Council meeting, in which the Mayor and his staff spoke directly to those in attendance about the city’s water supply challenges, and the need for everyone to conserve water now. The city is supporting the 20 gallon challenge, which basically asks us all to conserve 10% of our current usage (20 gallons per day). They outlined many ways that we can conserve, and also explained that if we do not reach our goal of 10% by the end of the year, we may face mandatory water conservation.

As a city, residents have currently conserved 6.3%, while the city (parks, recreation, city buildings, etc.) have conserved 11.5%.  We are close to achieving the goal, but as residents we need to do a better job. They also asked for residents to compare their water bills, as all the information is listed at the bottom of your statements. There are also tips to help you conserve. Mayor Sanders spelled it out simply “Water is the economy, it affects us all.” For more information, click on this link to the 20gallonchallenge or use the Mayor’s website for ways to conserve.

The second half of the double header involved the Principals from each of the schools in Mira Mesa, and President Hseih and her entire administrative board from Miramar College. It was a great opportunity to meet all of the Principals, and for them to tell us their goals for the upcoming school year. All were proud of the community and their support, but with the major budget cutbacks that each school faces they also stressed the importance of volunteers and the need of financial support.

We also heard from the representatives from Assemblyman George Plescia and Senator Christine Kehoe, and they informed us of a new ordinance banning over sized vehicles from parking on all city streets for extended periods of time. Also passed is the law banning text messaging on cell phones while driving which will take effect on January 1. As a quick reminder, October 20 is the last day to register to vote, so don’t delay. The Public Utilities Commission is holding a hearing on October 14 from 6-8 p.m. at the Al Bahr Shrine Center  to gather information regarding the October 2007 San Diego fires. The public is welcome, and the address is 5440 Kearny Mesa Road.

Local resident Jack Barr reached out to the community to support the “Yes on D” initiative, which would make the temporary ban on alcohol at our city beaches permanent. Go to safebeachessandiego.org for more information.

Patrick Hubbard spoke at the meeting about the sign on Reagan Road that vandals destroyed a few weeks ago. He would like community support to replace the damaged sign, and the Town Council Board will address this at a future meeting.

Another hi-lite of the meeting was the donation from Diana Smith from the Womens Club to the Adopt - A - Wall program, supporting the efforts to paint the walls on Mira Mesa Blvd and surrounding areas. Time Warner Cable also donated $1000 to the efforts, and Mike Davis accepted the checks on behalf of HEROES and the Town Council.

For more details, go to the Mira Mesa Town Council website, and mark your calendar for the next meeting which is November 3.

If you want to keep up with what is going on in Mira Mesa make sure to subscribe to our free newsletter. Not only will you get the latest news sent directly to your inbox, you will also get lots of chances to win some great prizes from local merchants.

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This past weekend was a great one. I spent some quality time with my wife and son, and we enjoyed the Miramar Air Show that had our windows rattling and all the car alarms going off in the neighborhood. Although we didn’t make it out to the Air show, the planes were so close I felt we could almost reach out and touch them. Now I am back to work, and I wish I had taken the family out to see the Air Show up close. This gave me the inspiration for today’s Top 10 list. Here are the Top 10 events not to miss in San Diego.

1. The World Famous San Diego Zoo. We have one of the best Zoos in the world. If you go, spend all day. Take the bus tour, enjoy the shows, walk around. Just don’t stand too close to the monkeys, they sometimes fling stuff at you.

2. Sea World. Anheuser Busch runs it now, and they have added several rides and features which make this a definite place to go for the whole family, no matter what ages your kids are. During summertime, the fireworks show and evening shows are awesome. In the early months of the year, buy a passport which gets you in free all year for the one day admission price.

3. Go to Petco Park and watch the Padres. They had a tough season, but as we lifetime San Diego fans say, “There is always next year!”  The ballpark is state of the art, and tickets are affordable. Ride in on the Trolley, and the experience is unbelievable. Go public transit!

4. Go to the Stadium and watch the Chargers. As time is running out on the stadium, this could be the last time you can see the Chargers until a new stadium is built or the team is relocated. Could they become the Chula Vista Chargers?  Anything but the L.A. Chargers. I couldn’t stand that.

5. Take the ferry from the Embarcadero to Coronado. It is only a short ride, but a fun one. Walk around the many shops, restaurants, and enjoy the waterfront walkway for either a fun family day, or a nice romantic stroll. Going all out on date night? I recommend Pehoe’s for dinner. The food and waterfront view is incredible.

6. Volunteer or participate in one of the many outdoor events. San Diego is host to the Susan G. Komen 3-day walk for breast cancer research, the San Diego Rock-N-Roll marathon, Street Scene, and many local community events like our very own Mira Mesa Street Fair. These events are not only entertaining, but many of them raise much needed funds to support their non-profit organizations that help our communities.

7. Lego Land. I have a 5 year old, and this boy loves legos! They have some of the coolest lego displays, fun rides for kids of all ages, and entertaining shows. As with most of the major attractions in San Diego, discount coupons are usually available and season passes are recommended if you just want to go for short visits and avoid the crowds.

8. San Diego Wild Animal Park. Although it is affiliated with the San Diego Zoo, the two experiences are totally different. You can get up close and personal with the wildlife at the Wild Animal Park, with guided tours and interactive shows. The lorikeets exhibit is one thing you must do. You purchase nector that these birds will drink right out of your hand. They fly right to you, and I have had 6 different birds on me at one time. Bring your camera for spectacular pictures.

9. Balboa Park. There is so much to do at Balboa Park. The Space Museum, Natural History Museum, ride the Carousel and much more. As a public service, most Park organizations offer free admission on a rotating basis throughout the month.

10. Miramar Air Show. While most of the Mira Mesa Residents can see most of the Air Show from their back yards or roof tops, there is nothing like seeing these planes up close. Admission is free, but they also have premium packages available with superior viewing and accommodations. If you missed it this year, make plans to see them next year. You won’t be disappointed.

We are very lucky to live in America’s Finest City. There are so many things to do right in our own backyard. Now it is up to you, just get out there and do it!

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