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Reading
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— SoCal's best hiking/biking trails
San Diego Beer
— Inside San Diego suds
SD on the QT
— Almost factual news
Sheep and Goats
— Places of worship
Special Issues
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Street Style
— San Diego streets have style
Surf Diego
— Real stories from those braving the waves
Theater
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Tin Fork
— Silver spoon alternative
Under the Radar
— Matt Potter's undercover work
Unforgettable
— Long-ago San Diego
Unreal Estate
— San Diego's priciest pads
Your Week
— Daily event picks
Chris Ahrens
Ian Anderson
Thomas K. Arnold
Eric Bartl
Don Bauder
Ed Bedford
Siobhan Braun
Robert Bush
Chad Deal
Joe Deegan
Barbarella Fokos
Leorah Gavidor
Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
Jay Allen Sanford
Julie Stalmer
DJ Stevens
Matthew Suárez
Amanda Tascher
More writers
Former writers
4S Ranch
Allied Gardens
Alpine
Baja
Balboa Park
Bankers Hill
Barrio Logan
Bay Ho
Bay Park
Black Mountain Ranch
Blossom Valley
Bonita
Bonsall
Borrego Springs
Boulevard
Campo
Cardiff-by-the-Sea
Carlsbad
Carmel Mountain
Carmel Valley
Chollas View
Chula Vista
City College
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Clairemont
College Area
Coronado
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Cuyamaca College
Del Cerro
Del Mar
Descanso
Downtown San Diego
Eastlake
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El Cajon
Emerald Hills
Encanto
Encinitas
Escondido
Fallbrook
Fletcher Hills
Golden Hill
Grant Hill
Grantville
Grossmont College
Guatay
Harbor Island
Hillcrest
Imperial Beach
Imperial Valley
Jacumba
Jamacha-Lomita
Jamul
Julian
Kearny Mesa
Kensington
La Jolla
Lakeside
La Mesa
Lemon Grove
Leucadia
Liberty Station
Lincoln Acres
Lincoln Park
Linda Vista
Little Italy
Logan Heights
Mesa College
Midway District
MiraCosta College
Miramar
Miramar College
Mira Mesa
Mission Beach
Mission Hills
Mission Valley
Mountain View
Mount Hope
Mount Laguna
National City
Nestor
Normal Heights
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Ocean Beach
Oceanside
Old Town
Otay Mesa
Pacific Beach
Pala
Palomar College
Palomar Mountain
Paradise Hills
Pauma Valley
Pine Valley
Point Loma
Point Loma Nazarene
Potrero
Poway
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Ramona
Rancho Bernardo
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Rolando
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Shelltown
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Stockton
Talmadge
Temecula
Tierrasanta
Tijuana
UCSD
University City
University Heights
USD
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Valley Center
Vista
Warner Springs
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November 20, 2024
November 13, 2024
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October 30, 2024
October 23, 2024
October 16, 2024
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September 25, 2024
September 18, 2024
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Ruth Newell
Ruth Newell
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Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
Good response! Bravo, you Iraqi storyteller, you. Not that this is necessarily the best forum for private blogging, but if storytelling IS your thing, as I suspected it might be, then do continue posting. And as someone here very wisely recently suggested to me in a very polite/subtle way, maybe sit on your stories a day or two, rereading, editing, trimming, tightening prior to posting. May make all the difference in the world. :) OH--and thanks for enduring our discussion. Must have been quite a shock to you.
— June 5, 2012 7:58 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
I'm hoping he doesn't since he doesn't have to justify himself as a person to the likes of us. (I DO hope he edits his story a bit though--for HIS sake, though, not to mollify our delicate sensitivities.) I'm glad that as males you and Jay reacted to the part you reacted to. Be a nicer world all around if more men did find offense in aggression toward women--no matter what their line of work, if people in general found physical aggression and intimidation of anyone offensive. And whether or not we LIKE the author as he/she portrays themselves, (and I know for a fact that there are some who write under several pseudonyms), or their characters is irrelevant to the point of the blog. It's a contest, this is--the best monthly neighborhood stories--so deemed by the Reader judges--wins. Doesn't matter how much of a prick or a prude someone appears to be...what's it to us? I mean, truly. Schmucks are a dime a dozen. Schmucks in transition to becoming human's like the rest of us, even more so.
— June 5, 2012 7:51 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
Only 4! lol A wiser person and better writer could have said all that in one.
— June 5, 2012 7:39 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
lol--I didn't read it as fiction at all, Nan. Doesn't matter though, does it? Even if its creative non fiction, he still is entitled to his own story as well as to creative license. My personal opinion of him as a person, of of this character is it is fictional is irrelevant. The blog contest is about neighborhood storytelling, no? Shoot--people said the same thing about so many legendary writers--that they were racists, violent sexists, etc. I mean-even if it had been intended to be fictional, the first fictional piece the Reader did select as a monthly winner was highly objectionable to some readers. And then there's Dadler's entire butt story...geesh...where is Steven Tyler when you need him? So much we all write about isn't possibly gonna float everyone's boat.
— June 5, 2012 7:37 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
Only you, Nan, could get away with hey Mister-ing Jay. That's funny stuff.
— June 5, 2012 6:58 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
Strong feelings there, Jay, and I agree with lots of what you are saying. Lots. Gotta say though, it's not like in my year here I haven't seen other postings like this. In fact, there have been much worse. There was one guy who post after post was full of foul mouthed homophobic horrible bitter nastiness. I finally hit that "Suggest Removal" link and haven't seen much of him since. Guessing the Reader staff took attention. You'd know more about how it works down there than I would, but it seems to me that the standards pertaining to topic let alone style or format for posting--let alone for winning--are rather loose. Intentionally, I'm guessing. Guess I prefer to hope that authors posting here are posting for a reason, i.e. they want to write, get feed back on their writing, and possibly even make some money by writing a winning blog post some day. Constructive criticism received may encourage bloggers to be better writers. I know that in my case reader comments about my actually posts have helped me lots. And, I write for a living which I'm certain not all here can claim. Although I regret to disappoint you and jemsd, I --can't speak for Nan--stand by my original comment--that he's got potential as a story teller (if not a monthly winner) regardless of whether the trails of his first night here in SD may seem...comparably...much less dramatic by our life experiences than they felt to him. Just maybe he'll do some editing based on our collective comments--if he's serious enough. Maybe he won't because he's not. Maybe he'll never post again. Maybe he'll begin posting elsewhere and become the next Norman Mailer (yikes--now there's a famed male writer of sexist brutish characters if you ask me)--who knows. I'm a reader, not a contest judge. I've read entire series of related postings whose subject matter I might have personal opinions about. None of that mattered (to me) because the writing--as well as the storytelling-- was top notch. There are other posts--some written by women even--that I just could not bring myself to finish reading, no matter how well written they were--because of subject matter or tone. Some whom you really liked. SO...don't know what else to say other than without stricter content or language standards that the Reader actually monitors it would seem to me that it's the ...nature of the beast, no?
— June 5, 2012 6:53 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
JemSD, thanks for reading my work--I appreciate it. Gotta admit, my eyebrows went up at that part, too. But, I've mentored some good people who've made some bad choices and know it's not my place to judge, (and trust me--I've got lots to say on the socio-economics of prostitution--gay or straight, let alone with male dominance and abuse). No matter who the author is or what his real story in fact is, he has somethings others don't have--a caring responsive family with the financial security to assist him in times of need. There are many people who don't and even if they did would never have made the call he did--for whatever their reasons. It obviously humbled him to do so. Regardless, as the writer noted, "I’m not in Vegas any more, and I’m trying to live a new life." Good enough for me as a reader. And that's all I am and ever will be behind this screen. Not a mother, mentor, teacher or preacher. Just an everyday reader. As such, I try to read postings here as what they are--stories and to support/highlight the good. The part you highlight is really no different than say this one: "A skinny gay homeless guy running up to an escalade and soliciting themselves to the car, and then running after me trying to ask me a question. I had to tell him to piss off or else I’d beat their ass, and they stopped on their track." Again, hints of physical aggression and intimidation that I chose not to take personally. This is HIS story after all, not mine. It was my prerogative to read it and had I not liked it's content, I could have just as easily chosen not to. It wasn't the content or even the technique but his knack for story telling that captured my attention. There are certainly editorial suggestions I would make to the author (upon request only) so that it might qualify as a winner--too, many technical glitches as it currently stands, in my opinion. But, as a story, I do think it's got potential and given the fact that only pieces related to SD's neighborhoods are in the running, I think he's got a good shot should he bother to clean and tighten the piece up a bit.
— June 5, 2012 2:45 p.m.
Leaves from a different tree
DrgonZo--you're back! Loved: "the vast open space where bubbles can float with little impediments"! You've got a well written story right here--a winner. I very much enjoyed reading it. Thanks for posting.
— June 5, 2012 10:17 a.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
AminM--simply excellent story telling!!! Thanks for sharing.
— June 5, 2012 10:09 a.m.
Hipster is as hipster does.
Zman's got a poem about one HIP guy. But, for all we know the man wasn't. Just another limiting label, DPC. I'd add to your BE PASSIONATE, etc. list to not get hung up on other people's hang ups. :) Said by a hippy throwback hipster wanna-be.
— June 4, 2012 4:07 p.m.
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— San Diego streets have style
Surf Diego
— Real stories from those braving the waves
Theater
— On stage in San Diego this week
Tin Fork
— Silver spoon alternative
Under the Radar
— Matt Potter's undercover work
Unforgettable
— Long-ago San Diego
Unreal Estate
— San Diego's priciest pads
Your Week
— Daily event picks
Chris Ahrens
Ian Anderson
Thomas K. Arnold
Eric Bartl
Don Bauder
Ed Bedford
Siobhan Braun
Robert Bush
Chad Deal
Joe Deegan
Barbarella Fokos
Leorah Gavidor
Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
Jay Allen Sanford
Julie Stalmer
DJ Stevens
Matthew Suárez
Amanda Tascher
More writers
Former writers
4S Ranch
Allied Gardens
Alpine
Baja
Balboa Park
Bankers Hill
Barrio Logan
Bay Ho
Bay Park
Black Mountain Ranch
Blossom Valley
Bonita
Bonsall
Borrego Springs
Boulevard
Campo
Cardiff-by-the-Sea
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Carmel Valley
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Descanso
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Imperial Beach
Imperial Valley
Jacumba
Jamacha-Lomita
Jamul
Julian
Kearny Mesa
Kensington
La Jolla
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Leucadia
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Poway
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Rolando
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Shelltown
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This Week’s
Reader
This Week’s
Reader
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
Good response! Bravo, you Iraqi storyteller, you. Not that this is necessarily the best forum for private blogging, but if storytelling IS your thing, as I suspected it might be, then do continue posting. And as someone here very wisely recently suggested to me in a very polite/subtle way, maybe sit on your stories a day or two, rereading, editing, trimming, tightening prior to posting. May make all the difference in the world. :) OH--and thanks for enduring our discussion. Must have been quite a shock to you.— June 5, 2012 7:58 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
I'm hoping he doesn't since he doesn't have to justify himself as a person to the likes of us. (I DO hope he edits his story a bit though--for HIS sake, though, not to mollify our delicate sensitivities.) I'm glad that as males you and Jay reacted to the part you reacted to. Be a nicer world all around if more men did find offense in aggression toward women--no matter what their line of work, if people in general found physical aggression and intimidation of anyone offensive. And whether or not we LIKE the author as he/she portrays themselves, (and I know for a fact that there are some who write under several pseudonyms), or their characters is irrelevant to the point of the blog. It's a contest, this is--the best monthly neighborhood stories--so deemed by the Reader judges--wins. Doesn't matter how much of a prick or a prude someone appears to be...what's it to us? I mean, truly. Schmucks are a dime a dozen. Schmucks in transition to becoming human's like the rest of us, even more so.— June 5, 2012 7:51 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
Only 4! lol A wiser person and better writer could have said all that in one.— June 5, 2012 7:39 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
lol--I didn't read it as fiction at all, Nan. Doesn't matter though, does it? Even if its creative non fiction, he still is entitled to his own story as well as to creative license. My personal opinion of him as a person, of of this character is it is fictional is irrelevant. The blog contest is about neighborhood storytelling, no? Shoot--people said the same thing about so many legendary writers--that they were racists, violent sexists, etc. I mean-even if it had been intended to be fictional, the first fictional piece the Reader did select as a monthly winner was highly objectionable to some readers. And then there's Dadler's entire butt story...geesh...where is Steven Tyler when you need him? So much we all write about isn't possibly gonna float everyone's boat.— June 5, 2012 7:37 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
Only you, Nan, could get away with hey Mister-ing Jay. That's funny stuff.— June 5, 2012 6:58 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
Strong feelings there, Jay, and I agree with lots of what you are saying. Lots. Gotta say though, it's not like in my year here I haven't seen other postings like this. In fact, there have been much worse. There was one guy who post after post was full of foul mouthed homophobic horrible bitter nastiness. I finally hit that "Suggest Removal" link and haven't seen much of him since. Guessing the Reader staff took attention. You'd know more about how it works down there than I would, but it seems to me that the standards pertaining to topic let alone style or format for posting--let alone for winning--are rather loose. Intentionally, I'm guessing. Guess I prefer to hope that authors posting here are posting for a reason, i.e. they want to write, get feed back on their writing, and possibly even make some money by writing a winning blog post some day. Constructive criticism received may encourage bloggers to be better writers. I know that in my case reader comments about my actually posts have helped me lots. And, I write for a living which I'm certain not all here can claim. Although I regret to disappoint you and jemsd, I --can't speak for Nan--stand by my original comment--that he's got potential as a story teller (if not a monthly winner) regardless of whether the trails of his first night here in SD may seem...comparably...much less dramatic by our life experiences than they felt to him. Just maybe he'll do some editing based on our collective comments--if he's serious enough. Maybe he won't because he's not. Maybe he'll never post again. Maybe he'll begin posting elsewhere and become the next Norman Mailer (yikes--now there's a famed male writer of sexist brutish characters if you ask me)--who knows. I'm a reader, not a contest judge. I've read entire series of related postings whose subject matter I might have personal opinions about. None of that mattered (to me) because the writing--as well as the storytelling-- was top notch. There are other posts--some written by women even--that I just could not bring myself to finish reading, no matter how well written they were--because of subject matter or tone. Some whom you really liked. SO...don't know what else to say other than without stricter content or language standards that the Reader actually monitors it would seem to me that it's the ...nature of the beast, no?— June 5, 2012 6:53 p.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
JemSD, thanks for reading my work--I appreciate it. Gotta admit, my eyebrows went up at that part, too. But, I've mentored some good people who've made some bad choices and know it's not my place to judge, (and trust me--I've got lots to say on the socio-economics of prostitution--gay or straight, let alone with male dominance and abuse). No matter who the author is or what his real story in fact is, he has somethings others don't have--a caring responsive family with the financial security to assist him in times of need. There are many people who don't and even if they did would never have made the call he did--for whatever their reasons. It obviously humbled him to do so. Regardless, as the writer noted, "I’m not in Vegas any more, and I’m trying to live a new life." Good enough for me as a reader. And that's all I am and ever will be behind this screen. Not a mother, mentor, teacher or preacher. Just an everyday reader. As such, I try to read postings here as what they are--stories and to support/highlight the good. The part you highlight is really no different than say this one: "A skinny gay homeless guy running up to an escalade and soliciting themselves to the car, and then running after me trying to ask me a question. I had to tell him to piss off or else I’d beat their ass, and they stopped on their track." Again, hints of physical aggression and intimidation that I chose not to take personally. This is HIS story after all, not mine. It was my prerogative to read it and had I not liked it's content, I could have just as easily chosen not to. It wasn't the content or even the technique but his knack for story telling that captured my attention. There are certainly editorial suggestions I would make to the author (upon request only) so that it might qualify as a winner--too, many technical glitches as it currently stands, in my opinion. But, as a story, I do think it's got potential and given the fact that only pieces related to SD's neighborhoods are in the running, I think he's got a good shot should he bother to clean and tighten the piece up a bit.— June 5, 2012 2:45 p.m.
Leaves from a different tree
DrgonZo--you're back! Loved: "the vast open space where bubbles can float with little impediments"! You've got a well written story right here--a winner. I very much enjoyed reading it. Thanks for posting.— June 5, 2012 10:17 a.m.
Tales of an Insomniac: The First Night in San Diego
AminM--simply excellent story telling!!! Thanks for sharing.— June 5, 2012 10:09 a.m.
Hipster is as hipster does.
Zman's got a poem about one HIP guy. But, for all we know the man wasn't. Just another limiting label, DPC. I'd add to your BE PASSIONATE, etc. list to not get hung up on other people's hang ups. :) Said by a hippy throwback hipster wanna-be.— June 4, 2012 4:07 p.m.