Well...I've never been much of a gambler, but I rolled the dice a bit when I entered escrow a few weeks back. I knew that I could get locked in at 4% at the time, but I also knew that a lot of the signs showed that things could change during my escrow. I knew that historically 4% is rediculously low on it's own, but I had heard of the "Quantitative Easing" that would begin after the Fed meeting this month and the possibility of it allowing me to lock in at under 4%, which is pretty much unheard of.
I'm not about to change my ways and become a gambler. If you see me in Vegas I'll probably be enjoying a show or a concert as opposed to a game of poker or blackjack, but I sure do feel great about my decision to hold off on locking my rate.
And I'll probably feel good about that decision for the next 30 years!!! Not to mention the fact that I'm going to tell everyone I know that if they are on the fence and would like a once in a lifetime rate...now is the time. Sure values may go up or down depending on a number of things, but I'm not as concerned with that because I am buying this home to live in and I'm loving it.
I'm going to be able to ride my bike to the beach in Encinitas for a long time to come without having to stress about being able to make my monthly payment.
Today is a great day!
Josh
Barracuda Fresh Grill & Wine Bar - Downtown Encinitas
On Friday evening, Josh and I double-dated with a good friend... We went to Barracuda Fresh Grill & Wine Bar in Downtown Encinitas. We arrived around 7:30pm and the place was surprisingly quiet for a Friday night- maybe the early birds had already caught the worm? I called Barracuda about 45 minutes before we headed there to see if we needed a reservation (this was Friday night date night after all in Downtown Encinitas). The hostess said that we looked good at the moment, but would put my name down for four just in case. Off to a good review; nice front desk- check. By the way, I can't tell you how important it is to have a good Hostess. Bad greetings will strike the wrong mood for the rest of the night.
The interior has a dark, romantic feel and doesn't seem fitting for a boy's night out, but it was great for our double date. The big paintings on the walls give the place a very rustic Italian-Spanish feel.
We were sat at a four-top (table for four in restaurant speak) and had a look at the wine list, and the menu. And then the wine list, then the menu, then the wine list... again. I started to realize that we had been there a good 15 or 20 minutes (I am not an exaggerator by any means) without being acknowledged by the waitstaff or asked what we would like to drink. I was REALLY ready for a glass of wine BEFORE I got here.
I got up and politely explained to the hostess that we hadn't seen anyone yet, and slipped in a "I've never been here and I am writing a small review for our Real Estate blog about our [potential] favorite restaurants in Encinitas" and if she saw me walking around with a camera, this is why... She said she'd get someone for us. Thank you gracious hostess, I was pretty parched at this moment.
[A little side note, the tone of my voice was very polite; I have worked in restaurants and therefore treat people the way I liked to be treated. I promise.]
What I thought was our waitress came over (right away) to ask what we wanted to drink. La Crema Pinot Noir please! Our real waitress brought it out about 30 seconds later. This girl was an absolute delight!
The menu at Barracuda Fresh Grill & Wine Bar in Downtown Encinitas is nice and simple. Salads and Starters, then Entrees; all on the same page. It makes it so much easier for my ADD brain to decide what I want when I don't have to go through 6 pages of your menu. Not to mention Josh doesn't have to wait forever for me to decide what I actually want! I decided to go with the Penne with Smoked Duck, eggplant, red pepper, and goat cheese in a light tomato cream sauce. I usually cannot finish a whole pasta dish (unless I'm at Le Papagayo where the portions are tiny), so I figured this was a 'take half home meal'. When it arrived, it was the perfect amount of food. It was excellent and I consumed the entire dish in a blissful mood. The company was great as well!
As far as the price goes, Yelp gave Barracuda Fresh Grill & Wine Bar $$$ out of $$$$.
I can't tell you exactly what everyone's whole dish tasted like, but I can tell you I enjoyed every sample I had and the other three were happy with their plate choices at Barracuda Fresh Grill & Wine Bar in Downtown Encinitas. We were also pleased with the service we received from our waitress, Jen. She was very attentive all night, down to the last heavenly glass of wine. If you go to Barracuda Fresh Grill & Wine Bar in Downtown Encinitas for dinner, I hope you are lucky enough to have Jen is your waitress. (I asked her if I had permission to print her name and in the same sentence told her how pleased we were with her so as to avoid getting a wrong alias).
If you're looking for a special date-night spot for your special someone (or group of couples!) I would highly recommend Barracuda Fresh Grill & Wine Bar - Downtown Encinitas. SALUD!
Barracuda Fresh Grill & Wine Bar
641 South Coast Highway 101 (Just south of E St. on the east side of 101)
Encinitas, CA 92024-3540
(760) 230-1464
Where in Encinitas am I?
Can you guess where this picture was taken? Yes, this is in Encinitas!
Any guesses? I'll reveal the answer shortly.... Good luck!
I love Encinitas!
Thats right...I said the world. I really do think I am fortunate to live in such an amazing area. I do love traveling and have lived in Australia as well as been to Bali, Costa Rica, Europe, all the Hawaiian islands, etc. I must say that Encinitas is my favorite. Maybe I'll change my mind one day, but thus far Encinitas is the best. I enjoy all of North county San Diego, but Encinitas a bit more than the rest.
I was actually talking to a neighbor the other day that just completed a nice custom home in Bali and he said that he loves it there, but is always glad to get back to Encinitas. I sometimes wonder if I'm the only one, but then I'll be walking down the street one day or watching the sunset over the pacific and someone else that I just met 15 seconds ago will tell me that they feel the same way.
There is an old lady that I often say hello to before I head off the office and I think she feels the same way. She walks down the street every morning. Theres also an old dude I see often when I'm doing my morning surf check and if you ask him how he's doing his answer will be something to the tune of " getting better every day". I love that. Julie and I will often go on a little walk and end up at a neighbors house for a bar-b-que and end up getting home from our "10 minute" walk around 10 o'clock with a full belly and having enjoyed some great conversation with new and old friends in the neighborhood.
It's the kind of community I always wanted to have. I'm glad I found it in Seaside Gardens, Encinitas.
I love Encinitas!
Josh
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