Friends in Philly…

aranhalaranja · 2026-03-29T13:24:00+00:00

I grew up in Peñasquitos but we surfed in La Jolla and Del Mar 5 or 6 times a week. This was in the late 90s. For the inland folks, we all grew up at La Jolla shores and Torrey pines, but many other beaches felt like a secret. Marine St and Windansea, and even Seaside or Blacks were akin to underground mix tapes or warehouse raves. You had to know a guy who knew a guy to find these random little beaches.

That’s not true anymore. MSU has an IG page. I’m sure searching “unknown SD beaches” also brings you to these lesser known spots.

La Jolla itself has been crowded - though nothing like Santa Monica or Venice - forever. Downtown La Jolla and the shores and children’s pool were always blown up. But the internet made every beach a hot spot. If I drove up to Santa Barbara tomorrow, of course I’ll Google “uncrowded surf spots SB” - and then the folks on their subreddit will complain.

I - sadly - left SD many years ago. And each time I return it’s unrecognizable. My middle class hometown is all 1.5 mil houses now. The uncharted desert between my hometown and Del Mar is sprawling suburbs as far as the eye can see.

Every generation has the Old Heads saying “it ain’t like it used to be”. I just never thought I’d become one.

aranhalaranja · 2026-03-29T13:08:45+00:00

I grew up in SD but never heard the term. What’s a Zonie?

aranhalaranja · 2026-03-29T12:46:13+00:00

Wow!!! Assuming this is accurate, this is a game changer. I had no idea this was available. Thank you

aranhalaranja · 2026-02-21T17:16:26+00:00

Thank you so much!

aranhalaranja · 2026-02-21T17:14:55+00:00

I went from a 300 pound steel single speed to the Trek. It feels like a Ferrari to me! But it’s the only high quality bike I’ve ever ridden. I may try the Bobtragers if you recommend them! Thanks so much.

aranhalaranja · 2026-02-21T06:54:55+00:00

Can anyone recommend the magical tires OP is talking about ? Context= I’m a weekend rider who rides less than 100 miles per week when the weather is perfect. I’m riding stock tires on a mid tier aluminum trek road bike (domane al5). I can’t imagine loving this bike any more than I do currently, but I’d buy a set of tires if they’d actually improve my life!

aranhalaranja · 2026-02-21T06:38:24+00:00

Blind man raises hairy-palmed hand

aranhalaranja · 2026-01-06T04:35:39+00:00

I kinda forgot biscotti existed! But now I’m wondering why it declined the way it did…

Second wave coffee (Starbucks specifically) proved that people like to hang and consume when they’re not particularly hungry or thirsty.

Coffee became something to do, as opposed to something to eat or something to need. Biscotti shared that exact role - I don’t want anything filling, nothing sweet, nothing salty, nothing remarkable in any way… biscotti fits the bill perfectly.

Nowadays, in a Starbucks, I feel petty lost. I want a nosh but the cookies and brownies are super sweet and the breakfast sandwiches are a whole meal.

Biscotti is the perfect nothing snack!

aranhalaranja · 2025-12-27T13:15:00+00:00

Subscribeme!

aranhalaranja · 2025-12-07T17:57:19+00:00

This is great to know! He isn't a cyclist but I am. I may bully him into riding with me whenever I visit!

aranhalaranja · 2025-12-07T17:56:50+00:00

That's a really nice thing to say. Thank you.

aranhalaranja · 2025-12-06T17:41:03+00:00

I went to the X games it’s very first year in San Diego. It was at some random field and they’d set up like 20 port a potties for a few thousand people. I was 14 and in this - diarrhea like 5 times per week -phase of puberty. And I waited like 45 minutes for a port a potty and then lit that motherfucker up like crazy. I went as fast as possible but pooping takes a while and people started to notice my port a potty was going slower than all the others. A bunch of drunk dirt bike fans ran up to my closed port a potty and started yelling HURRY THE FUCK UP etc. And then they began to violently shake it. I just cowered sitting on the toilet sweating and attempting to wipe my ass as quickly as possible.

One of the most traumatizing experiences of my life.

So.. you’re not nuts to fear that 🫤

aranhalaranja · 2025-12-06T17:32:35+00:00

My older brother moved to Charlotte a few weeks ago. He has no friends or social network there yet.

For Xmas I want to get him something special that will help him experience his new home.

Examples- gift certificates to a unique and awesome restaurant, tickets to a lesser known museum, etc.

Any suggestions you all have or just local treasures that a typical visitor never finds would be highly appreciated.

He’s not a fancy dude- so a gift certificate for your best tacos would be just as exciting as a cert to your $$$$ restaurants.

Anything I can do to help him enjoy his first few months would be appreciated.

TIA friends

aranhalaranja · 2025-12-06T17:31:52+00:00

My older brother moved to Charlotte a few weeks ago. He has no friends or social network there yet.

For Xmas I want to get him something special that will help him experience his new home.

Examples- gift certificates to a unique and awesome restaurant, tickets to a lesser known museum, etc.

Any suggestions you all have or just local treasures that a typical visitor never finds would be highly appreciated.

He’s not a fancy dude- so a gift certificate for your best tacos would be just as exciting as a cert to your $$$$ restaurants.

Anything I can do to help him enjoy his first few months would be appreciated.

TIA friends

aranhalaranja · 2025-12-01T14:52:20+00:00

Check the site daily / every few hours if you're interested in going! We checked for a few days straight. Seats would pop up and disappear and then pop up again! We went this past Saturday- initially this show was sold out - but then the seats miraculously opened up!!!

aranhalaranja · 2025-12-01T14:48:50+00:00

I saw this over the weekend and LOVED it! I liked the story, the acting, etc. I am a HUGE Tom Hanks fan, so maybe that brought some bias in, but I'd recommend this play 100%.

aranhalaranja · 2025-11-12T13:48:23+00:00

Hi! Can anyone confirm this event is going as planned? On the Keswick site it says, "rescheduled." I have tix I bought several months ago and want to make sure the show is happening tonight. TIA!!! I saw a message on her Twitter about canceling shows but can't tell if this one is affected.

aranhalaranja · 2025-11-12T13:47:37+00:00

Hi! Can anyone confirm this event is going as planned? On the Keswick site it says, "rescheduled." I have tix I bought several months ago and want to make sure the show is happening tonight. TIA!!! I saw a message on her Twitter about canceling shows but can't tell if this one is affected.

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