The Comic Book Guy

Since Fred Adair opened up his own store four years ago -- Crazy Fred's -- it's been a haven for fans of comic books abd the game "Magic: The Gathering." Here's the profile of "Crazy Fred" for my "A Living in La Mesa" column: http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/fred-adair-is-crazy-about-comics-and-keeping-his-customers-happy-with-rules-and-manners#c

The all-Thanksgiving Team

On ESPN.com's Page 2 blog: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=5849089

"#@^*&! The Writers Write," Part III

More fun with words (spelling/word-choice mistakes I've found recently in the stories I edit for websites):

-- An exercise regiment. (The whole 7th Cavalry was doing push-ups!)
-- Add a little Cheyenne pepper. (Those Indian spices can be hot.)
-- Horizontal Airlines. (I wonder if Horizon Air knows it's gone flat?)
-- The Straight of Magellan. (He just sailed ... well, straight, I guess.)
-- Use course sandpaper. (Of coarse!)
-- This is suburb to cook with ... (Especially outside the city.)

San Diego's Winter Wonderland

Winter in San Diego sometimes is more beautiful than summer. There's no June Gloom and the crowds are down, so locals and visitors often go camping at the state beach parks in Carlsbad and Cardiff. My feature on those winter beach campers in the Union-Tribune: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/nov/21/winter-can-be-hot-time-camping-beach/

Queen of the water

Becky Jackman has swum the English Channel, the Catalina Channel and the 28.5-mile circuit around Manhattan to complete the "triple crown" of open-water ocean swimming. She also runs the La Mesa aquatic program. Her story, which ran as part of the "A Living in La Mesa" series: http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/jackman-turns-aquatic-life-into-calling-especially-at-beckys-pool#c

No hearing? It's no problem for Helix linebacker

J.J. Rogers is a linebacker at Helix High School, one of the San Diego area's traditional powers. He's also a great student, a multisport athlete -- and deaf. http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/talk-about-heart-helix-linebacker-jj-rogers-savors-role-on-cif-bound-team

Calm, cool and collected in the operating room

When I met Liz Mourar  for the first time, she was in cycling gear, wheeling her bike through the main lobby at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. Cycling, cooking, the beach, golf and her animals keep her balanced after stressful days running an operating room all day long. Her story, for my "A Living in La Mesa" column: http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/free-safety-of-the-operating-room-she-organizes-teams-in-the-or#c

Bill Walton on "Billy Walton"

Bill Walton has had an amazing career, first as a basketball player -- perhaps the finest, most dominating college player of all time -- and then as a sports commentator. He very graciously took time to talk with me at his beautiful home near Balboa Park in San Diego, where he described what it was like to grow up in La Mesa in the 1950s and '60s.  http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/bill-walton-recalls-the-most-perfect-childhood-ever

La Mesa's history hidden in park

Collier Park is a little shabby around its edges, a park that's a bit hidden and out of the way for most folks to visit or use. But it's truly at the heart of La Mesa's history. This is another in my "Faces and Places" columns about La Mesa. http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/hope-springs-eternal-for-historic-but-unsung-collier-park

He's the King of the Kitchen

Larry Lewis is a master chef, and the instructor and program director of the San Diego Culinary Institute. I really enjoyed my time speaking with him for this profile for "A Living in La Mesa." http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/well-seasoned-chef-helps-others-master-worlds-oldest-profession