2012 March/April From The Front Porch

S@N DIEGO COUNTY’S

from th_

FRONT PORCH Journ[l

THE RULE OF C.O.D.E. C.O.D.E.--THE SERIES

HOW TO C@TEGORIZE

TR@VEL S@N DIEGO

WY@TT E@RP IN S@N DIEGO?

NITTY GRITTY

GET YOUR RETIREMENT ST@RTED TOD@Y!

rosebud’s garden

delish

padre schedule

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Greg’s Sharpening and Cutlery Service

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Greg and Vickie O’Neil Owners Tues-Friday 9-6, Sat. 9-4

We sharpen anything with an edge. If it’s dull, it’s dangerous.

www.lamesachristianbookstore.com

4691 Date Avenue La Mesa, CA 91941 Email: dullenuff@cox.net

Ph: 619-469-0919 Fax: 619-303-7166 www.gregssharpening.com

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We will not share your email or mailing address with anyone!

8356 Allison Ave. La Mesa, CA 91942 619-741-6230 Miguel@LaTorta.com www.LaTorta.com

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4695 Palm Avenue · La Mesa · CA · 91942

contents

m[r]h/[pril

5

7

14 16 From the Front Porch Journal Compliments of:

Follow our blogs at: LivinInLaMesa.com or LivinInSD.com Like us on Facebook at: Facebook.com/LivinInECSD Rosemary Joles Realtor, CA DRE # 01095314 619·405·7673 Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com www.InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com 8295 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa, CA 91942

^_p[rtm_nts 4 the real estate brief a note from rosemary take the mystery out of credit 5 home the rule of code - the series 6/7 lifestyle experience sd theatre oenophile travel san diego san diego adventure 8 family corner bargain hunter out of the mouths front porch wisdom 9 et cetera where’s rosemary delish 10 eye candy downtown luxury 12 minutia useless knowledge bravo and mia bites rosebud’s garden 13 best deals riverside drive 14 bits and pieces books or blogs podsibilities ponderings appaholics ingenious 15 sd outdoors sd sports park exploration 16 nitty gritty investing 17 sd concerts front porch pickin 18 domiciles from east county to coast

the real estate brief

taking the mystery out of credit Credit Scores play an important role in today’s lending environment, yet how they are applied is often a mystery to the consumer. It is important to learn about and manage your personal credit.

a note from rosemary Spring has officially arrived in San Diego - not that I’m any expert on the subject. Ever since I was a child pouring over seed catalogs waiting for the icy Wisconsin winters to end, I have always looked to nature to tell me that it is spring.

In Wisconsin, it was the first crocus peeking through the frozen depths of the earth and crusty snow that told me Spring was close.

Looking back, I remember how delighted I was that I would soon be planting a garden with my grandmother.

Here in La Mesa, the wisteria pergola at the Historic McKinley House on Pine Street has begun it’s yearly display of scented purple, that tells me spring has officially arrived.

Yesterday I drove down the 52 and saw California Poppies bursting out in their vibrant orange and yellows, waving softly to me as if to say “Hey girl!” along the freeways edge, encouraging me to stop rushing and smell-the-poppies. Spring has come reminding us of our New Year’s resolutions. Take some time to notice the new green coming up from the ground, or the once bare branches of fruit trees now filled with flowers - promising tasty fruit in the months ahead.

San Diego Market Conditions It’s feeling like a seller’s market again. Not that we are seeing huge increases in prices, but inventory has dropped significantly and buyers are having to compete on the homes that are in premium condition and in great locations. The back country has squeaked below the 6 month mark for an absorption rate, where as the majority of the county is looking at just under 2 to 4 months of inventory. South coastal, Coronado, is still a buyers market with an absorption rate of 7.3 months. Prices are staying pretty level, but the inventory for single family homes under $300K is getting smaller and smaller. The amount of bank owned properties has dropped to less than 24% of closed sales and short sales has dropped to 16% while traditional sales have gone up to 60% of the closed market. What does that all mean? If this trend continues, buyers should be getting off the fence and onto a home purchase. I hate to sound like a broken record, but this market is not going to last forever. I would hate for buyers to miss out on today’s good rates and still very low prices.

Until next month, many blessings...

What is a credit score? A credit score is the result of a mathematical equation that evaluates many types of information that are on your credit report. Lenders with whom you have applied will usually review your credit report and credit score, along with other factors, such as your ability and likelihood to repay debt. Credit scores are also often called FICO scores because most credit scores are produced from the software based on a model developed by Fair Isaac and Company (FICO). For more information about FICO scores, visit www.myfico.com.

What makes up a credit score? The FICO score usually ranges from 380 to 850. A higher score indicates a lower credit risk.

FICO scores are calculated from many sources of information in your credit report. Here are the five basic categories:   

Payment history: were payments made on time Amounts owed: is the balance close to the limit Length of credit history: how long have your accounts been opened  New credit: how many new accounts have been opened  Types of credit used: how many revolving accounts, how many installment accounts What can affect your score? 

Late payments. Pay your bills on time. If you have missed a payment, bring it current.  Credit history. When you pay off a debt or collection account, or close your account, the credit reference remains on your report for a minimum of 7 years.  High balance. Keep outstanding balances low on credit cards and other revolving accounts.  New credit. If you have been managing credit for a short time, don’t open a lot of new accounts.

Here are some basic tips to help improve your credit score: 

Make sure the information on your credit report is correct.

Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to obtain a free credit report.  Pay down high credit card and revolving account balances, but DO NOT close the account.

Don’t apply for credit you don’t need. New accounts can negatively impact your score.

Carolyn Plummer is a mortgage professional with Prospect Mortgage.

She has been in the mortgage industry for 25 years. Carolyn can be contacted at 858-550-2541 or Carolyn.plummer@prospectmtg.com Equal Housing Lender. Prospect Mortgage, LLC, NMLS #3296. I am a licensed mortgage originator, NMLS# 300310, and am licensed to originate mortgage loans in the following state(s): California. To learn more, visit my Prospect Mortgage website at: myprospectmortgage.com/cplummer.

the rule of code...the series

home

Rita Mailheau, Simplify Staging and Redesign, Inc.

How to Categorize Within the next four issues, Judy and I will discuss each one of the four aspects of The Rule of Code. CODE is an organizing acronym. “C” stands for Categorize; “O” stands for Order; “D” stands for Distance; and “E” for Ease of Use. To Categorize means to sort into a particular class or group. Other useful words that describe this process are: arrange, order, classify, group, rate, rank, designate, catalog, list, and index. I suppose you could look in a Dictionary but seeing some of these words might jog some ideas in your thinking.

Developing a System I knew a man who worked in the plumbing field. In an effort to sort his spec sheets, he put each sheet into its own folder. As a result his files were baffling to say the least.

Things were too detailed, hard to find, and took up way too much space.

Later, he regrouped things under broader more general headings, such as: clients, pipes, joints, materials, adhesives, vendors, and so on. Afterward, when he wanted to find a particular pipe, he would go to the folder on pipes and be reminded of part numbers, contact info of the suppler, costs, and sizes. His files became more usable and time was saved.

Photo Courtesy of Houzz.com

G

etting your home files in shape is one of the ways to utilize the C in CODE.

Another Example Think of a calendar. Time can be organized into hours, days, weeks, months and years. Depending on your particular goal, such as navigating appointments in a week, you decide on the level of detail that works for your application. Then you file or log each activity as it comes up. Furthermore, some appointments or activities are a higher priority than others. One example of a top priority could be picking up your children from school at 3 pm on weekdays. It has to get done no matter what. A lesser priority could be refolding towels in the linen closet – it could be done anytime.

You can organize your files, both paper and electronic, in the same way. Put the things you need most frequently into the easiest position. Add files as you discover your needs over a time. If you will commit to faithfully and consistently sorting things into files, adding new categories where necessary, in a short time you will have streamlined your files and freed up your time with very little added effort.

Photo Courtesy of CaliforniaCloset.com

Judy Sullivan has over twenty-five years of experience decorating many different types of homes. She recently completed a feature film working as

set decorator and property manager. What I bring to my clients is a common sense approach to decorating and staging homes for everyday living.

You can contact Judy at 619-315-5771.

Rita Mailheau has worked in both the home and as an administrative professional in the Tech and Hospitality Industries. I have worked as a housekeeper, and know how rewarding it is to have a home staged for simple cleanup. We can help you Simplify your life, so that you're spending your time where it counts the most.. You can contact Rita at 858-775-4137.

lifestyle experience sd theatre Lamb’s Players Theater

The Coronado Playhouse

lambsplayers.org

coronadoplayhouse.com

Mixtape Extended to March 31st

The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 March 30-May 6

Guys and Dolls February 3-April 1st

The Old Globe

Brownie Points April 13-May 27

theoldglobe.org A Room With A View March 2-April 8 Anna Christie March 10-April 15 The Scottsboro Boys April 29-June 10

Broadway San Diego Broadwaysd.com Rock of Ages March 27-April 1

Wednesday and Friday Theme Nights at San Pasqual Tasting Room

L

ooking for an inexpensive evening out during the week? Got a competitive edge? Come try “Game Night” at San Pasqual Tasting Room in downtown La Mesa. Every Wednesday, Brenda breaks out the board games – Monopoly, Scattergories, Scrabble – all the classics - and Mike brings in a pizza or two. “We set up a few tables in the back room and put out pizza and salad …. and let the games begin. For $3 slice it’s hard to beat. Groups are welcome or come in and team up.”

On Fridays, sip a little bubbly while enjoying some great throwback tunes from the golden years of crooning as San Pasqual does “Fridays with Frank” – Sinatra that is.

Every Friday the tasting room offers $5 specials on all bubbly drinks, including their Sparkling Brut and famous “Passion Flutes”. Customers are welcome to bring in a bite to eat from one of La Mesa’s great restaurants, or order up a cheese plate to snack on.

Chicago May 8-13 The Adams Family May 29-June 3

San Diego Repertory Theatre sdrep.org In the Wake February 11-March 4 Tortilla curtain March 17-April 8

oenophile “We’re also talking to some folks about a comedy night and maybe doing some poetry readings – fun stuff like Poe. We’re always looking for something different to offer our customers.” Have an idea for a theme night? Stop by and chat with Brenda at the tasting room or send an email to: brenda@sanpasqualwinery.com. Cheers!

Visit San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room & Gallery “In the heart of the Village” 8364 La Mesa Blvd La Mesa, CA 91941 (619) 462-1797 www.sanpasqualwinery.com San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room & Gallery is located at 8364 La Mesa Blvd. in the Village of La Mesa and is open for wine tasting, wine by the glass, and retail sales seven days a week.

travel san diego Wyatt Earp in San Diego?

A

few years after the infamous shootout at the OK Corral, frontier lawman Wyatt Earp and his third wife Josephine (Josie), who had met in a saloon in Tombstone, made their way to San Diego in 1885.

Attracted by the land boom of the mid-1880s, Wyatt owned or leased four saloons and gambling halls in the Stingaree District of downtown San Diego, in what is now the Gaslamp Quarter. The Stingaree District was a hotbed of gambling parlors, saloons, prostitutes, and gunmen.

The most famous saloon and gambling hall where Wyatt dealt faro, a popular card game at the time, was the Oyster Bar, located on the first floor of the Louis Bank of Commerce building at 835 Fifth Avenue. A four-story structure, it was built in 1888 by Clement & Stannard Architects and was the first granite building constructed in San Diego. It is a prime example of Baroque Revival architecture. The upper floors center around a four-story loft, crowned with a skylight, which has since been covered. It is on these floors where Madam Cora ran a brothel called “The Golden Poppy.” Each room had a different pastel-colored wallpaper that matched the dress of its occupant.

When a customer paid for time with one of the ladies, he was given a colored marble to give to the woman he desired.

Today, George’s on Fifth, a restaurant, occupies the first floor.

April

La Jolla Classic Car Tour www.lajollamotorcarclassic.com 3/31-4/1 9:00 pm - 3:00 pm Opening Day Block Party www.eastvillagesandiego.com 4/5 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Spring Egg Hunt Celebrations Check your communities website.

4/7 Various times CityBeat Festival of Beers www.sandiegomusicfoundation.org 4/7 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm Gran Fondo Colnago San Diego www.granfondosandiego.com 4/15 7:15 am - 6:00 pm Dalai Lama to Visit San Diego dalailamasandiego.org 4/18 - UCSD, USD, 4/19 SDSU Linda Vista Cultural Fair & Parade www.lindavistafair.org 4/21 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

39th Annual Roots Fest www.adamsavenuebusiness.com 4/21-4/2210:00 am - 7:00 pm Earth Fair 2012 www.earthdayweb.org 4/22 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sea Days www.aquarium.ucsd.edu 4/21 11:00 am – 3:00 pm 28thAnnual Art Walk www.artwalksandiego.org 4/22-4/23 10:00 am - 5:00 pm The Point Loma Garden Walk www.pointlomagardenwalk.com 4/28 10:00 am Encinitas Street Faire www.kennedyfaires.com/encinitas 4/28-4/29 9:00 am - 5:00 pm La Jolla Shores 5K & 1/2 Marathon www.lajollahalfmarathon.com 4/29 7:30 am - 9:30 am

As you walk in, a long bar, sheathed in copper and framed with solid oak pillars, is to the left. Beer taps on the back of the bar no longer work, but harken back to a previous era. A large dining room behind the bar features the original brick wall of the building, along with murals of local celebrities, including Charles Lindbergh, Ted Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, Dr. Jonas Salk, and former Padre Tony Gwynn. Opposite the bar, a doorway enters into a foyer and the Wyatt Earp room—reserved for private dining. Against the back wall, replicas of U.S. Marshall badges and guns from the 1880s are encased in glass. Above it, large portraits of Wyatt and Josie overlook diners. On the other side of the foyer a wooden staircase leads to the upper floors, which have been converted to office space.

So if you’re downtown in the Gaslamp, stop by George’s on Fifth and check out where Wyatt Earp used to deal cards. Have dinner in the dining room or reserve the Wyatt Earp room for a large group. And if you happen to stop in on March 19, sit at the bar and drink a toast to Wyatt on his birthday.

Barbara Allen is a freelance writer. She has written educational materials for the past 15 years and currently writes reading assessment items for an e-learning company in Virginia. Barbara loves to travel, explore new places, and write about them. Check out her blog www.bicoastalbarb.wordpress.com/ about her cross-country travels.

May

Spring Sprint Triathlon & Duathlon www.kozenterprises.com 5/6 5:00 am – 10:30 am Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com 5/5-5/6 Sat:11:00 am - 10:00 pm, Sun: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Fiesta de los Penasquitos www.fiestapq.com.

5/6 11:00 am - 5:00 pm SDHS & SPCA Walk For Animals www.sdhumane.org 5/5 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Art in the Pines Festival www.torreypines.org 5/5-5/6 Sat: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sun: 10:00 am –4:00 pm Family Days at Maritime Museum www.sdmaritime.org/family-days 5/6 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Carlsbad Village Faire www.carlsbad.org 5/6 8:00 am – 5:00 pm OMBAC Coming Out Party www.ombac.org 5/12 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm San Diego Botanic Garden Chocolate Festival www.sdbgarden.org 5/12 10:00 am – 4:00 pm 26thAnnual Navy's Original Bay Bridge Run/Walk www.mwrtoday.com 5/20 7:30 am - 11:00 am Bike To Work Day www.icommutesd.com.

5/18 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

Need more information?

Email Elle: info@ensmd.com

Events provided by Elle Schaeffer - ENS Marketing Directions. Elle is a freelance Graphic designer and Marketing Consultant, specializing in small businesses. When not sitting at her computer, you can find Elle out Mt. Biking with her husband K.C. You can see more samples and get more information about these or any other events at www.ensmd.com. Contact her at info@ensmd.com or (619) 278-8635. Ask about having a monthly calendar of events created for your business!

family corner bargain hunter bar·gain [bagr-guhn] -noun 1. an advantageous purchase, esp. one acquired at less than the usual cost: The sale offered bargains galore.

money saving… yet far from ground breaking tips Buy in bulk. Not everyone needs a 55-gallon drum of mustard, but there are a lot of things that make tons (pun intended) of sense to buy in bulk. Toilet paper never spoils. Pasta lasts quite a while as well.

Where is your money already going? At least once a year evaluate your insurances, utilities, services, and memberships and look around for a better deal. Make sure you are using what you are paying for.

Instead of paying someone, do it yourself. Wash your own car.

Mow your own lawn. Not for the faint of heart, cut each other’s hair. My wife has cut my hair for nine years now. Clean your own pool. Wait, you have a pool? We will be over this summer.

Don’t be afraid of clearance. My wife bought her wedding dress off the clearance rack for $200! It was a perfect dress, just from a previous season. And my personal favorite is the clearance shelf of the meat department. This one is not my wife’s favorite.

Make friends that own boats, spas, pools, jet skis, and quads.

So who wants to be our friend?

Josh and Liane Wilson live in Escondido with their three growing (AKA: expensive) children. Josh is Pastor of Ministry Production at New Venture Christian Fellowship and Liane is a stay at home mom and has started a cupcake business! Ruby Cupcakes is open for business--cupcakes for baby showers, birthdays, special events, rainy days-- lianejwilson@yahoo.com or (619)840-6415.

Do not be afraid of second hand. Thrift stores, yard sales and Craigslist are great places to hunt down things you need. You will pay a fraction of the price on what can be better quality items a majority of the time. There are great deals to be had for the treasure hunter.

Wait

for a sale. Almost everything goes on sale at some point. Have patience, grasshopper.

Those crazy coupon people on TV have it right. It is worth some time with your nose in a newspaper clipping away or finding coupons online. Don’t forget this at birthday time. A lot of restaurants have great birthday deals if you ask or look on their websites.

Find out when an item will go on sale. When chicken is on sale, we usually fill the freezer!

We have said before that everything is negotiable. OK, maybe not everything, but it is always worth trying.

Furniture, vehicles, cable, ‘Mom and Pop’ type stores are on that list. Don’t forget that cash talks!

Retailers compete for your business. You think? So, take advantage and find the best prices. That same item might be 20% cheaper a mile down the road. The internet, bar code scanning apps, and sites like Amazon are useful. Like Mama said, you better shop around… and do some research!

out of the mouths

My

young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him "I am 62." My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"

front porch wisdom I’m an old-fashioned guy...I want to be an old man with a beer belly sitting on a porch, looking at a lake or something.

-Johnny Depp

Come Sit for a Spell

where’s rosemary?

I love exploring this beautiful county that we live in. In every issue of From the Front Porch you’ll find a photo of different places that I’ve been in San Diego County. Your goal is to figure out where I took the photo. Submit your guess as fast as you can (You have competition!!!) and the first correct answer will win a $25 gift card to the restaurant of their choice! You can email them to: Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com or call them into 619-405-7673. Thanks for playing!

et cetera

Pineapple-Mango Salsa

delish

Ingredients

where was rosemary?

• 1 whole Pineapple, Peeled And Diced • 1 whole Mango, Diced • ½ whole Medium Red Onion, Finely Diced • 1 whole Jalapeno, Seeded And Diced • Fresh Cilantro, Chopped • 1 whole Lime, Juiced • Dash Kosher Salt Preparation Instructions

Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside We have a winner!

Fran Carroll of Santee received a $25.00 gift card to Olive Garden

Recipe Credit: The Pioneer Woman

Combine diced pineapple, mango, red onion, jalapeno, and cilantro. Squeeze in lime juice and add salt if needed.

Stir to combine. Serve within an hour with tortilla chips or on top of chicken or fish.

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a Jolla’s Montoro

8578 Ruette Monte Carlo St.· La Jolla· CA· 92037 $6,000,000.00

Resting high above the expanse of the Pacific Ocean in the gated community of Montoro, this beautifully designed home is for those with the most discriminating taste. From the solid mahogany doors and baseboards, granite counters, travertine floors to the four fireplaces, the finest craftsmanship, warmth, and elegance can be found. For the epicurean of the family spending time in the gourmet kitchen is no longer a chore. No detail was left untouched, from the finely crafted custom cherry cabinetry to the large island with vegetable sink for ease of food preparation. Clean up will be a breeze with the two Monogram Series dishwashers.

Grohe fixtures, and custom granite countertops are the pièce de résistance of this exquisite room. The icing on the cake is the large pantry plus a butlers pantry, and wine cellar. The opulent master bedroom suite includes his and her baths and professionally designed custom cabinetry closets. The master suite features not one but two fireplaces. One being in the master bedroom and the second sits perfectly at the end of the "hers" roman bath tub with a magnificent ocean view. The master bathroom showers feature dual shower heads and Grohe thermostatic shower valves for even water temperatures. The custom built-ins on either side of the third marble fireplace in the family room make a wonderful library. The bonus room could easily be a billiard, game room, and/or home theatre. Outdoor living is enhanced by the fourth marble fireplace with custom built-ins on either side.

Rosemary Joles In Harmony With Your Dreams

Residential Sales · Short Sales · Leasing 619· 405· 7673 Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com

minutia In the late 1970’s, the Coca-Cola company refused to advertise on the T.V. show Saturday Night Live in protest against John Belusi’s reoccurring skit portraying a Greek restaurant owner who when customers ordered Coke he would yell “No Coke, Pepsi!”

Todd Joles, known as Todd the “Toolman”, is a handyman by day, a passionate luthier by night, mandolin/bluegrass aficionado by choice, and a purveyor of this useless knowledge.

His wife Rosemary threatens it’s going to get him into Jeopardy training one day. In the meantime if you are in need of handyman services you can contact Todd at 619-985-5017.

bravo and mia bites

Photo compliments of: Rebecca Johnson

useless knowledge

Bravo and Mia Say: “When you feel dog tired at night, it may be because you’ve growled all day long.”

The newest addition to the Rebecca and Shayne Johnson household is a puggle named Mia. Diva Mia is the one with the pink collar to the left. We finally got Bravo and Mia to sit still long enough to take a photo. Of course the only way we could do that is by catching them sleeping! Bravo still spends most days working at getting peanut butter out of his Kong and is definitely terrorized daily by Mia. He is truly the innocent one of the two, as Mia has taken over the role of the family terrorist! Mia and Bravo are the grand puppies of Rosemary and Todd Joles.

botanical name: Pyrus kawakamii common name: evergreen pear Likes: Full Sun Hates: Overwatering Blooms: White Negatives: None Bonus: Attracts bees, butterflies and or birds.

I appreciate the misunderstanding I have had with Nature over my perennial border.

I think it is a flower garden; she thinks it is a meadow lacking grass, and tries to correct the error.

-Sara Stein Photo compliments of: Rosemary Joles

rosebud’s garden Rosemary Joles is passionate about low-water gardening in San Diego. She loves creating gardens that look like lush water thirsty gardens, yet need very little moisture to maintain them. Her other passions include real estate, lattes spending time with family and friends, reading, music and laughter!

best deals

Rosemary Joles 619-405-7673



$99,000.00



Beautiful cabinetry and granite style counters



2010 Skyline-Sunset Ridge 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath



Loads of storage



1380 Square Foot



More Information: riversidedrive.info

CA DRE #01095314

books or blogs

Photo Courtesy of Houzz.com

appaholics Whenever I need some home design inspiration or I just want to see how the other half lives, I head over to houzz.com. With over 290,000 photos to peruse you will never find lack of ideas there. Choose the design style and the space you want to redo, then save to your very own idea book on the site, you can also find designers to contractors on the site along with where to find many of the products used.

You can also ask questions about what you see in the photos from the paint colors/brand to what type of flooring was used.

Check it out at www.houzz.com.

podsibilities Virtually unknown to all but musicians, Django’s story is one of the most inspiring. After the loss of his wife and the use of two fingers on his left hand when his Gypsy caravan caught on fire, he spent a year in seclusion retraining himself to play the guitar.

Listening you would never know he had any disability.

His style of barre chords and use of triads is what the modern electric guitar style is patterned after. His music has numerous film credits including “Chocolat.” In the movie “Hugo,” not only do you hear his music, Johnny Depp makes a cameo appearance as Django. Hear Django’s magic at: www.youtu.be/mN8fw8M18U8

W

hat do you get when you cross pinterest, Facebook and the iPhone app shoebox? You get a new way to organize your treasured family/friend photos on 1000memories.com. An incredible website that will keep all of the cherished photos past, present and future out of the real shoeboxes and photo albums of your life and put them safely online.

Photos can be dated and tagged with names. You can add stories, audio, video and memorable quotes too. 1000memories will arrange it all in a stunning layout for each family member, so you can chain together your family history and everyone can upload their own personal collections. Go to: www.1000memories.com to sign up for free!

Have you done anything lately worth remembering?

bits and pieces From Marcandangel.com

ingenious

W

arehouse your shoes in a empty wine bottle carton wrapped in pretty paper.

Source: Real Simple Photo: Antonis Achilleos

ponderings

Wine Box Brilliance

SD Sports sd outdoors park

exploration

Balboa Park.

1549 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101 balboapark.org

nitty gritty lifetime retirement planning is easy! getting started is the hardest part!

Investing

for retirement is on the minds of most of us and for many of us that is where it stays - on our minds. Getting started is easier than you think! Think IRA!

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and employer sponsored retirement plans, will be an important source of income in retirement for many of us.

Having a solid strategy in place now can make a significant difference in ones retirement lifestyle later. Working with a Financial Advisor to create a plan tailored to your goals, can make getting started easy and will help ensure that you stay on track to have a successful, happy and carefree retirement.

Here are some quick and easy strategies you may want to consider to help make the most of your IRA saving and investing opportunities.

Consider a Roth Conversion - converting asset from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA allows you to pay taxes now on your retirement savings to get access to the tax-free growth benefits of a Roth IRA. If you believe taxes will rise in the future, and wish to avoid required minimum distributions (RMDs), or wish to leave tax-free assets to your heirs, a Roth conversion may be a good strategy for your situation.

Be sure to discuss this idea with your tax advisor before making the decision to convert.

Make the most of your beneficiary options - It is important that you work with your Financial Advisor, Attorney and CPA when naming beneficiaries. IRS rules for distributions to a trust or to an estate as beneficiary are less favorable than for an individual.

Take the time to educate your beneficiaries as to what distribution choices are available to them. There are options available to beneficiaries that can assist with income needs and manage the tax consequences involved when inheriting an IRA. Tax season is always a good time to start an IRA! There is still time to contribute for 2011! I can help!

Fully Fund your IRA - The power of tax-advantaged compounding in an IRA enables your money to grow more quickly than in a taxable account. If you are eligible, you may want to consider a Roth IRA as a complement to your existing 401k or if you have already accumulated a large traditional IRA. Traditional IRA contributions can be made up to age 70½ as long as you have earned income. You can continue to fund a Roth IRA to any age as long as you have earned income. An additional benefit that a Roth can provide is there are no RMD requirement at age 70½. If you choose to take income, that tax-free income can help to keep taxes to a minimum in retirement, and provide you with more flexibility and choice, when structuring your income stream needs.

Make your contribution early - Making your annual contribution in the beginning of the year puts your money to work right away and allows it to work hard for you for the entire year. In 2012, the maximum contribution per individual is $5,000 and if you are over age 50 you have a special catch up provision that allows you to contribute an additional $1,000. If you are not able to make a lump sum contribution, consider setting up a monthly systematic contribution instead. Simply divide by 12 or adjust the amount to what your budget can afford. A systematic investing strategy can help you take advantage of market fluctuation and can help minimize volatility in a portfolio.

Annette Young is a Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors. She has been in the Financial Services Industry for 25 years, and has been helping people as a licensed Financial Advisor since 1995. Annette is registered with FINRA as a Series 7 Securities licensed professional, Series 65 Advisory, Series 24 Principal, and Series 53 Municipal Principal.

She is also Life, Health and Annuity licensed.

Annette can be contacted at 619-435-4276 or by email at Annette.l.young@wellsfargoadvisors.com.

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5/5 It’s a Beautiful Day Location: Normal Heights Price: $25/$52 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

4/1 Faure’s Requiem Location: Downtown Price: $20-$96 Time: 2:00 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

5/7 Camera Lucida #8 Location: Downtown Price: $25 Time: 7:30 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

4/2 Camera Lucida #7 Location: Downtown Price: $25 Time: 7:30 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

5/12 David Finckel, cello, Wu Han, piano Location: La Jolla Price: $25-$75 Time: 8:00 pm Info: ljms.org

4/10 Wu Man Performs Location: Downtown Price: $30 Time: 7:30 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

5/11 - 5/13 Tchaikovsky’s Pathetique Location: Downtown Price: $20/$96 Time: 8:00 pm, 2:00 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

4/13 - 14 Tribute to Ray Charles Location: Downtown Price: $20-$85 Time: 8:00 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

5/15 New York Philharmonic Location: Downtown Price: $25/$95 Time: 8:00 pm Info: ljms.org

4/21 Tiempo Libre Location: North Park Price: $35-$65 Time: 8:00 pm Info: ljms.org

5/19 Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band Location: North Park Price: $35/$65 Time: 8:00 pm Info: ljms.org

4/26 - 4/28 Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Location: Downtown Price: $20-$96 Time: 7:30 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

5/25 - 5/27 Rachmaninoff Location: Downtown Price: $20/$96 Time: 8:00 pm, 2:00 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

4/28 Mark Morris Dance Group Location: North Park Price: $35-$65 Time: 2:00 pm, 8:00 pm Info: ljms.org 5/1 Brahams Horn Trio Location: Downtown Price: $30 Time: 7:30 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org 5/4 - 5/6 Rhapsody In Blue Location: Downtown Price: $20/$96 Time: 8:00 pm, 2:00 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org 5/5 MOMIX Location: North Park Price: $30-$65 Time: 2:00 pm, 8:00 pm Info: ljms.org

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