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Our next play reading will be Saturday, July 3rd, at 4:30 PM. It's free, and everyone is invited. We'll be serving a light dinner, and there will be fireworks at 9:00 PM. William's play N.I.C.E. will be read, and Elizabeth will be back from her deployment and visiting. Book your room now for a fun evening.
We received a very nice write up in East County Magazine. See the full article by clicking the link below.
Craig finished the installation of the solar hot water system, and the low voltage pumps that we'll be using for the solar heating fo the spas. I'm now working on getting the pumps hooked up properly with solar panels.
Marianne, Bill, and Tina were in NYC between May 4th and May 15th getting the rehearsals kicked off for his plays that are opening out there in June. So Rosalba and Armando held down the fort in our absence.
Happy anniversary to Bernie and Kate; and Dominick and Emily. Sherry and Mike visited from Fullerton, and there were some "staycations" by locals Ryan and Elise; and Amber and Lauren. Romeo and Rachel returned to celebrate a birthday.
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Read the full article about Jamul Haven
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Marianne has surgery scheduled for later this month her carpal tunnel syndrome. The cooking was getting too easy for her, so I dared her to cook the meals with only one hand. I guess this is the result.
Regina leaves on the 21st of May for NYC, where she'll be helping to choreograph William's musical Eliot.
Here's the latest update from Liz over on deployment:
"This last month has been very busy with various detachments, events and of course, lots of flying. I was extremely fortunate to get to fly a P-3 out to Sigonella, Italy a couple weeks ago. The operations officer coined it "the good deal det" because we got a whole day off in Sigonella. Our crew took advantage and rented 2 cars and drove up to the picturesque town of Taormina to shop, eat and sight see all day long. I ate all the Italian food you would expect of someone who only has one day in Italy and I had the tight pants to prove it the next day.
My less-than-good-deal det was to Bahrain. The base we have set up out there is incredibly ill-equipped right now and the living conditions are actually more Spartan than Iraq. We all slept in tents, on cots and pretty much hiked to the bathrooms. The morale tent, which has some gym equipment and extremely slow wi-fi was left over from the first gulf war. And the food was the biggest disappointment of all. The dining facility was a trailer with short hours. If we landed late, we missed dinner. The first time I was out there we had 2 nights off where we snuck into town to go out to dinner (and party our asses off). The exchange rate is not in our favor out there, but just the opportunity to wear civilian clothes and eat non-galley food was priceless.
The other thing I got to experience in Bahrain was a remake of the sandstorm in the movie The Mummy. We took off out of Bahrain for some pilot training action (you know us P-3 guys, just can't get enough training!) and the tower called to tell us about windshear. Meanwhile some haze had been developing and we were commenting on the degrading weather. Just then, at the departure end of the runway, we entered windshear. We lost 400 feet immediately. We added max power, pitched the nose up and maintained altitude as the plane started shaking due to the windshear. Eventually we came out the other side and decided to land immediately. That's when we saw the WALL of dust. Literally. A WALL. I can't say it any more clearly. It was working it's way down the runway toward our landing threshold. We touched down as we entered the WALL and lost all visibility. We were able to taxi back to our line following the taxiway markings, but we couldn't even see the lineman 20 feet in front of us guiding our plane in. Our poor lineman was being sandblasted right in front of us and eventually he gave up and ran inside. It was the craziest weather phenomenon I've ever seen. No one could walk outside for 2 hours because it was impossible to breathe or see - we all just sat around listening to the winds throwing sand against the tents.
Lastly, I've been able to go out into the town of Doha, Qatar a couple times this month. This was actually the biggest culture shock of all the traveling I've done. The local woman almost all wear solid black hijab and albayas and the men wear solid white thobes, with red and white checkered Ghutras held in place by black Ogaals. (Don't worry, I had to look those names up too, you're not the only one). I'll try to catch some good pictures for the next email but you aren't allowed to take pictures of the women, so it's a little difficult.
In the Istanbul, Turkey airport bathroom on my way back to Qatar from Sig, I got the dirtiest looks from an older woman dressed in her black albaya and hijab. I have never felt so uncomfortable in my life! Her eyes just burned into my western self as she telepathically screamed, "dirty slutty western girl - Allah will destroy you!" I teetered between saying in a really cheery voice, "hi! how are you, beautiful day today!" and just walking out. In the end, I decided I didn't want to start an international incident and I walked out. I get that same look from many Qatari men and women as I wonder about town, even with my male escort (required).
With such old traditions, it is really shocking to see all the brand-new and quite stellar architecture downtown Qatar. I think they are getting ready for the Olympics in like 2099 or something, but they have BEAUTIFUL buildings downtown. Huge dynamic and unique sky-scrapers and hotels. The food is to die for as well. I've eaten at three restaurants downtown and they were great each time. The last time I ate Iraqi food with my friends Leah and Caleb (he was our escort that night). We had this amazing fresh baked flat bread straight out of the oven, with the most savory hummus every made. Then, after I was stuffed with hummus, they brought out my lamb kabob and pita bread. And to drink I had fresh squeezed strawberry juice (no alcohol is served or sold out in town either).
I feel really lucky that I've got to experience so many different places on this deployment. I'm really glad I got the time in Iraq because I felt like I was closer to the action and doing something really important. I'm also really glad I got to experience Qatar, Bahrain, Italy, and a couple other countries we stopped in for diverts or fuel. I'm definitely starting my countdown as we should be heading home soon: 2-3 weeks I'm hoping. I'll make sure I let you all know when I'm home safe."
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Selected fun San Diego events that are worth a trip.
05/22/2010
Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition
Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa
Location: Coronado
Price: Free to attend. $50 or $55 to compete.
Description: See Spot surf during the “Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition,” the nation’s original surfing competition for man’s best friend. Named one of the hottest events in the world, this year’s event is expected to draw more than 60 competitors and thousands of spectators from across the U.S.
06/18/2010 - 06/20/2010
Julian Gold Rush Days
Julian Merchants Association
Location: East County
Description: Julian Gold Rush Days, which takes place the weekend of June 18-20, celebrates the discovery of gold in this mountain community with three days of events including gold panning, living history demonstrations, gold mine tours, book signings,, children’s crafts, gold nugget scavenger hunt, face painting, old fashioned games, historic skits, and more activities for the entire family.
06/19/2010
Fairy Festival
San Diego Botanic Garden
Location: Encinitas
Price: Free with admission or membership.
Description: Fairies! Come celebrate summer at the Hamilton Children’s Garden.
For information about any of these events, email us!
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Hints from "The Everyday Cook-Book," (c) 1889 and found in the Jamul Haven Angel House.
To stop bleeding: A handful of flour bound on the cut.
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Recipes from "The Everyday Cook-Book," (c) 1889 and found in the Jamul Haven Angel House.
Pigeon Pie: Clean and truss four pigeons (or other small birds), rub the outside and in with a mixture of pepper and salt; rub the inside with a bit of butter, and fill it with a bread-and-butter stuffing, or mashed potatoes; sew up the slit, butter the sides of a tin basin or pudding-dish, and line (the sides only) with pie baste, rolled to quarter of an inch thickness; lay the birds in; for three large tame pigeons, cut quarter of a pound of sweet butter and put it over them, strew over a large teaspoonful of salt, and a small teaspoonful of pepper, with a bunch of finely-cut parsley, if liked; dredge a large tablespoonful of wheat flour over; put in water to nearly fill the pie; lay skewers across the top, cover with a puff paste crust; cut a slit int he middle, ornament the edge with leaves, braids, or shells of paste, and put it in a moderately hot or quick oven, for one hour; when nearly done, brush the top over with the yolk of an egg beaten with a little milk, and finish.
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In This Issue
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Visit our site
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Jamul Haven offers pampering in a fully restored 1890 luxury Victorian mansion.
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Jamul Haven Specials
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We are running a "Recession Buster" discount of 10% off our room rates for on-line reservations.
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In The News
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For links to articles and reviews, visit http://www.jamulhaven.com/links.html.
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