10 minute read
Give Us This Day our Daily
This week, a compendium of wit, wisdom and neat stuff you can tell at parties. Enjoy!
In a recent Travel Smart column, Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman reminisced about some of the silliest travel questions they’d ever heard. Here are some of our favorites.
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When I worked for Yosemite reservations, these questions stopped me in my tracks: “What time do they let the deer out?” and “Can I see Yosemite and Yellowstone in one day?” and “When do they turn the waterfalls on?’
Carolyn Sherry, Santa Maria
A friend’s mother worked at the Visitors center in the Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction. She was once asked, “At what altitude do the deer turn into elk?”
Bruce Wilcox, Oxnard ing and personally writing words on beautiful cards she, herself, designed; beautiful cards expressing words of sincere encouragement, hope, love, caring, and she planned on mailing them to complete strangers – informing them that someone still cares for them in this wretched world of ours.
Her Cards First Went Out To Her Frontline Heroes
Her personally-designed cards first went to various frontline workers, hospital staff, doctors, nurses, and other various frontline workers from law enforcement, emergency crews, first responders, and everyone whom she thought needed encouragement.
And her cards surprised everyone. And brought tears of joy to their disbelieving eyes.
When opened, there they were . . . her handwritten words to her reallife heroes.
They were emotional and inspiring words from a young girl, expressing her unwavering love and support, and how deeply grateful she is for their daily sacrifice in keeping us alive, healthy, and safe, and how much they are appreciated –and needed -- in our daily lives.
In the same way that parents and grandparents value special hand- drawn cards from their children and grandchildren far more than professional Hallmark cards, so also did young Jessica’s card resonate with an ‘adult world’ – the very recipients of her precious cards
They were extra special in that way.
And she didn’t “preach at them” from any religious standpoint, which could be deeply offensive, insensitive, and exclude people of different faiths or conflicting beliefs. Little Jessica just accepted them.
SHE CREATES A NON-PROFIT ‘CARD CAMPAIGN MESSAGE OF LOVE’ & CALLS IT “CARDS4KINDNESS.”
In a very short time, Jessica creates a non-profit ‘card campaign message of love’ and gives it a cute name: Cards4Kindness.
And the fact that it came from an anonymous 14-year-girl . . . well, it meant that much more to her frontline heroes who read them, often through tearful eyes.
Her cards connected and resonated deeply within them.
After all, they had sons and daughter her age.
But, for Jessica, all of her efforts were still not enough to her.
Jessica wanted to expand her dreams.
Jessica Expands Her Dream To Include San Diego Seniors Who May
BE ALONE & FORGOTTEN IN LIFE
Her thoughts now turned to the plight of anonymous senior citizens.
Seniors are often forgotten during the holidays, or even in everyday life.
In retirement homes, research abounds that many seniors ache from loneliness, loss of their spouse, depression, feelings of non-worth, low self-esteem, and that they are a “family burden,” often left alone during the holidays and forgotten in life.
From her home, she began sending out random Cards4Kindness to total strangers who were senior citizens in homes, retirement dwellings, elder care living facilities, etc.
Receiving a card from an anonymous 14-year-old girl, expressing to them how much they are truly loved, thought about, valued, and never forgotten – were all lifechanging for those aged people
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I heard this one from a park ranger: Standing on the rim outside the Bryce Canyon Visitors Center in Utah, a tourist unfurled a Grand Canyon map an asked the park ranger: “Can you tell me where I am on this map?”
Judy Berg, Fullerton
My son and I signed up for a sunrise bike ride down Haleakala on Maui. On the long drive up the mountain, a fellow rider asked, “How many sunrise bike rides do you do each day?”
Larry Mayer, Lucerne Valley
“Would you please direct us to the Local antique factory?”
Myke Muller, Sunland
A cruise director told us this one: A passenger was looking in the photo gallery for pictures the ship photographer had taken of her. She asked, “How do I know which photo is mine?”
Melinda Bernhardt, Whittier
I was touring a replica of Columbus’ ship Nina in Corpus Christi, Texas, and in the storage area at the bottom of the boat there was a makeshift floor with planks laid out for us to walk on. The guide told us that the real Nina didn’t have a floor down here like this. A woman in my group asked. “Well, then, was it just open to the sea?”
Marilyn Desbrow, La
Puente
When I worked at Disney1and in the 1970s, I got these questions: “What time is the 2 o’clock parade?’ “
“Did Mickey and Minnie get married in a church or here at Disney1and?” and “Is Disneyland part of the U.S.A. or is it like the Vatican?”
Dennis Weaver, Nipomo
While standing in front of the elevator on a cruise ship a 1ady asked me, “Do the elevators only go up and down?” I asked her where she wanted to go, and she replied. “The front of the ship.” I told her that she would have to walk there.
Frances DeRuyter, Covina
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In the Jello®-sponsored beauty contest, she was named, Miss Congealiality.
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It’s too dark under here. I can’t see if the tree has water or not. Can you hand me that candle?
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You guys, why does the chimney smell like burning hair and screaming?
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The bottle is half drunk and so am I.
As much as I love it, I must be honest. Corned beef hash is basically Alpo for people.
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Avoid reader confusion about whether Africa is a country or a continent by never writing about it.
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My fake plants all died because I did not pretend to water them.
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Son, the wind isn’t actually broken, I just… wait, never mind. It’s definitely not working right.
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I find your lack of manners adorable and my tone of voice sarcastic.
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It’s really hard to say some things with a straight face. For instance, “honey, I’m having a stroke.”
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This Pretty World
I have developed a new technique for meeting people.
It seems to work well and, so far, I have not gotten punched in the nose.
Message
from page 2 who held, clutched, and hugged her cards with great emotion.
Little Jessica’s cards carried all those long-forgotten words; those very words of love and encouragement and endearment which many seniors had longed to hear, as many were widowed and rarely visited –if visited at all.
In one incident, she designed a special card for another San Diego senior man whom she had never met – and mailed it.
Jessica’s card arrived at the hands of a San Diego senior by the name of Cedric. The senior man responded by sending a photo of himself on Jessica’s Instagram page for all to see.
He is pictured smiling widely and proudly holding her card, clutched in his hands with the large words: “Thank You!”
More than just a beautifully-designed card, the words within it deeply touched Cedric. It tugged deeply at his heartstrings, primarily because it came from a complete stranger . . . who just cared enough to let him know that someone cared and was thinking about him.
It meant the world to him.
And Cedric just had to respond on her Instagram page, complete with his photo, to tell the whole world.
The response was life-changing for both of them.
Such positive feedback inspired her onward.
Jessica was now on fire!
She took to Instagram and showcased her new Cards4Kindness design for all to see!
With young girlish excitement, she enthused on her Instagram page: “Hey everyone! We’re so excited to debut Cards4Kindness! Feel free to dm if you like to join.”
Along with the photo of her Cards4Kindness campaign, she stated its purpose was to express love, caring, and support for those in need. Included on her website were:
A. Hospital Workers
B. Seniors
C. Patients
D. First Responders, etc.
Then she ended her Instagram page with enthusiasm: “We love feedback so be sure to comment or dm for suggestions.”
She received 163 likes. And 2,862 followers.
But that was just the beginning. PEOPLE BEGAN RESPONDING TO JESSICA’S “MESSAGE OF LOVE” CARD CAMPAIGN ON THE INTERNET
Her Instagram messages soon galvanised people who read them and word began to spread like a wild prairie fire!
Yes, there were still random acts of violence in the news – but now, there were also “random acts of kindness!”
Jessica was pushing back against a dark world.
Her internet messages also fired the imagination of Instagram readers to, once again, dare to believe that goodness still exists in the world . . . and readers soon began to reclaim their erstwhile, oncediscarded dreams.
And like Jessica, they also began to push back against a bleak and foreboding existence that saddened much of the planet’s inhabitants.
As with Jessica, readers everywhere, boldly began to truly believe in something ‘positive’ again.
And they began to share in Jessica Ong’s dream to make a better place in the world.
They responded to her clarion, trumpeting resilience and they joined her ranks in increasing numbers!
Jessica’s heart seemed to tell her: “There were REAL people out there, and she was making a resounding connection!”
Her cards continued to be sent, and they continued to be proudly displayed by proud recipients everywhere!
In one card to frontline heroes, she wrote:
“Thank you to the healthcare workers for everything you’ve done, we recognize how hard you worked and we wish that we could be there with you, but we want you to know that we support you and we’re here for you and that even though you can’t see us, we want you to know we’re behind you.”
JESSICA’S “CARDS4KINDNESS” GOES VIRAL, SPREADS ACROSS U. S. & WORLD & TV NEWS TEAMS STAMPEDE IN HER DIRECTION!
Jessica Ong’s campaign of love soon went viral on the global internet!
Free Classical Music Performance
February 4th • 1:00 pm
The Oceanside Public Library and the Friends of the Oceanside Public Library are pleased to offer a classical music performance at the Oceanside Public Library on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. This free performance will be held in the Civic Center Library Community Rooms located at 330 N. Coast Highway, situated in the heart of Oceanside’s California Cultural District. Free parking is available in the Civic Center parking garage.
Enjoy listening to classical and contemporary pieces, from Joseph Hayden to Guillermo Mauricio. Local musicians will showcase a diverse range of instruments to guide the audience through this musical journey.
Doors open at 12:30 p.m., with the free performance starting promptly at 1:00 p.m. Seating is limited and open, and will be done on a firstcome, first-served basis.
The Oceanside Public Library aims to empower the community by promoting literacy, information access, civic engagement, cultural inclusiveness, and openness to new ideas. For more information on Library programs and services, please call (760) 435-5600 during regular business hours, or visit www.oceansidepubliclibrary.org.
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Escondido Woman’s Club Meeting
February 6th • 10:30 am
The next meeting of the Woman’s Club of Escondido will be held on Monday, February 6th, starting at 10:30am. Their clubhouse is located at 751 No. Rose Street (corner of Mission Avenue), Escondido. Hear about some of the projects the Woman’s Club is involved with, including HOBY (Hugh OBrian Youth Leadership Scholarship program) and the Bakeless Bake Sale. Past Presidents of the Woman’s Club will be Honored. The program will be given by a speaker from Interfaith Community Services; one of the organizations that the Woman’s Club supports. The speaker will share what Interfaith is and what they do for the community. Lunch will be served after the program. Cost is $15/person. Reservations needed by Saturday, February 4th. Guests and potential members are always welcome. Please call the Woman’s Clubhouse at 760.743.9178 and leave a message with your name and phone number and someone will call you. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!
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Escondido Chamber’s Business After 5 Mixer
Meet Your Elected Officials
February 9th • 5:00 pm
The Greater Escondido Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the first Business After 5 Mixer of the year will be a “Meet YOUR Elected Officials” networking event!
Holiday Wine Cellar
302 W. Mission Avenue
Escondido, CA 92025 Fees/Admission
Members Free Non-Members $20.00
Meet the various local, regional, and state representatives who won and get to know them. Joining us will be the City of Escondido’s new Mayor, Dane White, and Councilmembers Joe Garcia, Mike Morasco, and Conseulo Martinez. From the County of San Diego we’ll be joined by Supervisor Jim Desmond, and from the state of CA Senator Brian Jones. In attendance will also be Representatives for Congressman Darrell Issa.
Other officials representing the Escondido region such as returning Police Chief, Ed Varso, Deputy Director of Economic Development, Jennifer Schoeneck and Deputy City Manager, Chris McKinney will be there as well.
Sponsored by Palomar Health, ALIVE Solar, and Westfield North County.
Register at https://escondido. chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/8173
Arrest of Organized Retail Theft Suspect
CARLSBAD-Calif. – On January 4, 2023, officers from the Carlsbad Police Department were dispatched to the Rite Aid store located at 955 Tamarack Avenue, for a theft that had occurred. During the initial investigation, officers were able to determine that two suspects responsible for the thefts had stolen from the same location earlier in the day. A suspect vehicle description and license plate were obtained through surveillance video and the vehicle was placed in the License Plate Reader system. The total loss for the two thefts was over $9,400.
During a follow-up investigation, Carlsbad Police investigators identified and located the involved suspect vehicle and suspect in San Bernardino after determining that she was involved in a large-scale organized retail crime (ORC) operation.
On January 23, 2023, Carlsbad Police officers arrested a 28-yearold female identified as Christian Dashawn Kay Ragland, a resident of San Bernardino. Ragland was arrested in San Bernardino for the following charges: 490.4(a)(3) PC, Organized Retail Theft, and 490.4(a)(1) PC, Organized Retail Theft of Merchandise with Intent to Sell, and 182(a)(1) PC, Conspiracy.
Officers recovered approximately $11,000 dollars’ worth of over-thecounter medications belonging to
