Category: Society

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 17, 20259:37 pm

Fighting Fire with Words

The third weekend of the month is the book-sale room at the University Heights Public Library. The place is on the same street as yesterday’s fire and about two blocks walk away. My wife and I had to see the aftermath.

Annie saw the signs first, as my eyes were drawn to charring along the building’s right front section. As you can see from the Featured Image and companions, some neighbors are quite displeased with what, reportedly, is a recent series of incidents occurring on the property—and this most recent fire not the first.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 16, 20256:57 pm

Another University Heights Fire

Sometime after 11:30 a.m. PDT today, my wife spotted black, billowing smoke rising in the near distance; I suspected perhaps along El Cajon Blvd or among the houses between cross-streets Florida and Mississippi. A fire truck turning that way on Florida seemed to confirm my suspicion. But I was mistaken.

Smoke had dissipated by the time I crossed the Boulevard on foot in pursuit. As I approached Polk, smokey smell tickled my nostrils—yuck, from up the very steep hill to Georgia. After confirming with a bicyclist walking down the incline that the fire really was above, I grudgingly trudged away. Sure enough, with burning legs the cost, I had come to the right street.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 14, 202510:12 pm

Red Fox Perishes

The big, unexpected news and social media story this week here in University Heights is the sudden closure of the Red Fox Steakhouse and Piano Bar. According to bloggers, Facebookers, Journalists, Nextdoor posters, and more (oh, the dirt they sling): Management called staff to an all-hands meeting midday Monday (today is Wednesday) and fired everyone. Red Fox was closed immediately.

Except for San Diego Union Tribune wrongly calling the location North Park most of the scuttlebutt appears to be consistent but lacking one thing substantive: Why? Since everything in business is one way or another related to money, speculation and second-hand former employee reports indicate financial hardship. That would make sense, if, say, there was cashflow problems that prevented buying staples—like raw meat and veggies to cook and serve. Who knows.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 1, 20258:50 pm

Winning Time

I do believe one of my neighbors successfully completed some level of marathon race in good time. During Winter (really late Summer in San Diego), we would occasionally see him training running in our neighborhood of University Heights.

B.A.A. refers to Boston Athletic Association. Boston Marathon took place on the 250th Patriots’ Day (a fine New England Holiday that I fondly recall)—April 21, 2025. I shot the Featured Image, using Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, nine days later. Vitals: f1/7, ISO 50, 1/8000 sec, 23mm (film equivalent); 11:10 a.m. PDT. Composed as captured.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 26, 20259:47 pm

Well, it’s Not Dairy Queen

Two weeks ago, my wife and I shopped at the Grocery Outlet on Waring Road, which is sandwiched between San Diego neighborhoods Grantville and Del Cerro. I tend to blitz through the grocery store. Annie is more deliberate, thoughtful, and so she tends to take longer.

So, I had some free time to mill about the strip mall, where is the ever-so non-descript TC’s Rockets comic bookstore. On another Saturday, I ventured into the cavernous space, where—beyond the racks and stacks of goodies for sale—guys (mostly) spread out on long tables and engaged in various role-playing games. Oh, the joy, of seeing real board gaming and imagination, rather than dudes planted in front of the TV, controller in hand.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 20, 202512:12 pm

An Easter Surprise

In the area of San Diego where we live, a look at most any window can reveal signage—most commonly: BLM, rainbow flag, resist (Trump), and occasionally an upside-down American flag, for example. So, surprise me (and perhaps you): The cross seen in the Featured Image, on April 3, 2024, along Park Blvd, a few blocks from the zoo.

Except for the few churches, I can’t recall ever seeing a cross so brazenly displayed in a neighborhood where people demand what they can get rather than what they can give—like the rainbow house of, ah, worship that claims “Love is Love is all You Need”. Ah, no.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 8, 20259:49 pm

You’re Waiting for WHAT?

This morning, my wife and I walked over to Trader Joe’s, after failing to find what we wanted from Smart & Final. Approaching, we observed a long line wrapped down the side of the store around to the back employee/loading entrance.

Is this about eggs? I wondered, thinking that perhaps people were being let in a few customers at a time to avoid crowding and violating fire codes. But, when we arrived at the doors, other folks flowed in and out unimpaired. The line stayed still in place. WTH?

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 22, 202510:05 pm

Medical Office Oasis

I (rightly) complain a lot about the insane amount of residential building going on in San Diego—much of it obliterating charming cottages or Craftsman-like homes and greenery galore. (What’s the use of having a backyard for the kids to play when you can build an Accessory Dwelling Unit and rent it, eh?)

That said, the city also is lush, with well-manicured properties packing yard spaces full of flowers, plants, trees, and other natural paraphernalia that add charm and character. Consider the Featured Image, captured two days ago using Nikon Zf and NIKKOR 40mm f/2 (SE) lens, to be representative.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 19, 20259:48 pm

What Do You Make of This?

Results of routine bloodwork brought me to walk through Hillcrest today. Along Cleveland Ave., I passed the progressive church with the rainbow doors, where the banner in the Featured Image rather riveted my attention. The congregation is studying fascism for Lent? Not scripture? Not Jesus’ life?

You know what rhymes with Lent? Repent. That would be a great place to start and more scriptural. Fascism studies turns the attention of parishioners to the sins of others when they should be digging up their own and offering them with repentance. What did Jesus say about taking the log out of your own eye before the speck in your brother’s eye?

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 10, 202510:02 pm

Mighty Mural

There is something strange about the things you pass by often, maybe every day, to which you are blind. You don’t see them. The Featured Image and companion capture portion of a mural that I walked by dozens and dozens of times—simply ignored, until today.

The artwork spans a cement block wall along the alley-side of a home here in my San Diego neighborhood of University Heights. The motif features kids at play mixed with Eastern religious symbology; pardon my ignorance but perhaps Hindu.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 8, 20256:32 pm

Tell Us What You Really Think

Some people wear their heart on their sleave, as the adage goes. I still see Harris-Walz signs around my San Diego neighborhood of University Heights. I know lots of folks who are downright distraught that Kamala lost the election. Honestly, they should be relieved that she did. The former vice president wasn’t ready, if she ever will be, to become Commander in Chief.

As for Donald Trump, he gets a pass from me through the first 100 days. Peace in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine would be major milestones, if his administration can facilitate such outcomes.

Photo by Joe WilcoxFeb 15, 20258:32 pm

Where the Arrows Lead

While walking with my wife, today, I saw a fairly large group of people overflowing the sidewalk at Florida and Monroe in my neighborhood of University Heights. Initially, I wondered if they gathered to protest, perhaps against Donald Trump or for Palestine—either or both likely given the mood across Liberal San Diego County. Recent group gatherings closed down one or more local highways during rush hour.

But as we approached, I could see no placards and heard loads of laughing. Then my eyes turned to someone bent over marking the street with chalk. He continued until out of sight. As Annie and I resumed, a look over my shoulder revealed the group moving away. Later, when we returned to our street, I continued in the direction they had taken.