An Irresistible Moment

Cats are full of surprises. As I opened a package of CAT-branded straps purchased at Costo, Cali noodled her way into the activity, eventually settling onto the empty box; May 5, 2025. She used it as a bed for the next four or five days, until she put her attention elsewhere; then I removed the box from the dining table.

The Featured Image displays the unusual photographic opportunity: A living cat sleeping on a CAT box with a stuffed cat behind. I couldn’t have set up the shot any better than what naturally occurred. Vitals: f/6.3, ISO 3200, 1/80 sec, 98mm; 3:22 p.m. PDT.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 28, 20268:57 pm

Blessed Inspirations

One of the more unusual attractions here in the village of University Heights is the Hsi Fang Buddhist temple. The impressive structure, which includes a bookstore and residences, is located in the San Diego community’s main commercial area.

For no other reason than habit, I typically walk on the East side of Park Blvd. But today that way was blocked, and I was directed across the street, where I stopped to see some of the Temple’s inspirational marketing materials and decor. (I should go by more often.)

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 27, 202610:04 pm

Border Bound But Barely Moving

The 805 during Thursday afternoon rush hour is bumper to bumper, and this is light by normally heavy-traffic standards. Drivers are headed South, many of them to Mexico. Most of the folks are Mexican but they are joined by U.S. expatriates who live across the border because cost of living is so much lower.

For example, one of our friends tutors kids from wealthier San Diego families. Locally, a studio apartment could be rented for as low as $1,800 per month but likely considerably more. In Mexico, she pays $500 for a studio about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) from the beach with an ocean view.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 26, 20268:47 pm

Queen for a Lifetime

Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “Queen for a day”. This afternoon, I met a woman known up and down Adams Avenue, where Normal Heights and North Park meet, simply as Queen. She and her husband sold their home, after raising a family there, and rented an apartment in one of the newer buildings erected during the past few years. Children gone away, the house was too roomy.

I made Queen’s acquaintance when walking to the auto shop, where our Honda Fit had been dropped off to repair the strangest problem: Something had dislodged the splash shield under the engine, and it frequently scraped the ground.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 25, 20269:12 pm

What’s Broken Can Be Fixed

Ten years ago, I struggled to see normally. Cataracts clouded my eyes’ natural lenses, and macular edema leaked fluid into both retinas. In July and August 2016, John Bokosky (Eye Care of San Diego) performed the surgery that gave me artificial lenses and partially renewed vision. Fane Robinson (San Diego Retina Associates) treated my retinas to health over a period of six years. Dramatically changing my diet—for starters, reducing carbs and mostly eliminating added sugar—played an important role, too.

Dr. Robinson retired on Aug. 30, 2024. Dr. Bokosky passed away, suddenly, on Oct. 22, 2025. My last appointment with him, for an annual checkup, was two weeks earlier. His death stunned me, and I am not alone. He was highly respected and amazingly competent. The doctor that other doctors see for treatment is a professional’s professional. I saw several of them coming in for appointments during that final visit.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 24, 20269:21 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Warrior

Along Monroe, on March 22, 2026, I saw in the distance a shorthair presumed to be Ash. But upon looking at the Featured Image, at home, on Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra, I could see my mistake. Fur color pattern is different, and this wounded warrior is missing an eye. From another photo, the cat appears to have something of a hump on its upper back that could be from an injury.

Nevertheless, the beastie was spry as it and a chunky black beastie chased one another down the street and into an alley. They were playful rather than combative or territorial. I hadn’t seen either before the day before yesterday, so they are presumably newcomers to the neighborhood and come from the same household.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 23, 20269:22 pm

Susan Says Stop

A basketball hoop hung in a San Diego alley isn’t that an uncommon sight. I have seen several in my neighborhood of University Heights. But this one stands out for adornment: Black-eyed Susan vine. That raises question: Who would want to shoot baskets and ruin the lovely flowers?

The answer could be nobody. I haven’t seen any signs of activity around this hoop recently, which could mean something else: No aspiring basketball players live nearby, and that would easily explain how the vine climbed so high.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 22, 20267:55 pm

In Defense of Reading Books

Another book sale weekend at the local library (University Heights)—as designated by the third Saturday of the month (today is fourth Sunday)—is but memory. Our good friend Kerry, whom we hadn’t seen for more than three years, visited yesterday—so, I missed the better of the two days.

But I hauled my butt the 0.8-kilometer (half-mile) walk and looked for books for the women; I brought back a Moosewood cooking follow-up for my wife and two tomes on herbs for our daughter. I saw little that interested me.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 21, 20269:04 pm

Wedding Bells or Something Else?

While walking home from San Diego Zoo on Sept. 27, 2025, I passed by some kind of gathering or event at the Greek Orthodox Church on Park Blvd in Hillcrest. Being Thursday, I doubted a religious service was underway or ending. But what??

I initially assumed wedding, but on closer consideration funeral appeared to be another reasonable possibility. The people looked cheerer than somber, more befitting a wedding, dedication of child, or something similar.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 20, 20268:50 pm

Near Miss?

Minutes earlier, the kid on the left had been doing wheelies down Monroe in my neighborhood of University Heights. Not being a thru street (right turn only on Texas), traffic tends to be light compared to Madison or Mission on either side. I sometimes see roller skaters on Mississippi either at Monroe or Mission. So, these daredevils weren’t out of place, but the electric bike meant increased speed and risk.

I set up the shot, for their approach. You can see them coming upon Louisiana but turned towards one another rather than looking ahead. Meanwhile, the driver is somewhat blinded by the late-day sun as she turns Westwardly. There is no indication that she sees the distracted bikers.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 19, 20269:21 pm

A Different Kind of Car Rental

The Featured Image is one of those off-chance opportunities—assuming anyone but me gets it. On May 6, 2025, as I walked along Alabama Street in my neighborhood of University Heights, something snagged my attention: An apartment building’s “For Rent” sign visible through a car’s front windows. The fabricated illusion: The owner of the vehicle seeks someone to rent it, to live in.

In San Diego County, such an idea isn’t far-fetched whatsoever. An estimated one in four homeless people live in some kind of vehicle, whether car, RV, truck, or van. Across the county, the number reportedly exceeds as much as 65,000 people.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 18, 20269:57 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Bouncer

I don’t know whether or not Captain Blackbeard is still around, but this is where he lives (or lived). I used Nikon Zf and NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens to capture the Featured Image on May 6, 2025. Vitals: f/6.3, ISO 125, 1/500 sec, 200mm; 9:49 a.m. PDT.

This fine feline earns nickname Bouncer, because of the sign. I have seen the feisty furball on other occasions, but this was the only photographic opportunity to date. I don’t recall the last time I saw the Captain.