Rose Clime South Orange County CA Real Estate

I remember as a young child growing up in southern California the excitement summer always brought. Going to the beach from "the Valley" (yes, I'm an original Valley Girl) was always a highlight. We'd all pack into mom's Corvair and drive over Topanga Canyon to Santa Monica State Beach . Back in those days, you could actually find a real sand dollar if you looked around. And I vaguely remember going to POP (Pacific Ocean Park, a local amusement park featuring a wooden roller coaster, for the uninitiated) when I was about 4 or 5. A couple of weeks ago, I happened through Santa Monica on my way to visit a friend in Topanga Canyon and the McClure tunnel & pedestrian walkway over PCH to the beach with it's circular stairs is probably what set me off on this trip down memory lane. Somehow those stairs seemed much bigger back then.

Anyway, Mom had a friend that had a telescope and we would go over to Mary's house on warm summer nights and watch the summer sky. We'd lay in the grass on our backs and look into the sky and see the usual things like an occasional shooting star and identify the constellations but nothing brought more excitement than when we'd see the Mercury (or was it the Gemini) space capsule racing across the sky. We'd take turns looking through the telescope and ohhh & ahhh and wonder about the brave man in the tiny capsuel orbiting the Earth. We all got a turn to look through the telescope and because it came around every hour or so, no one missed seeing it. Sometimes we roasted marshmallows and sang songs and we always made an evening of it. The best nights were during August when the Perseids Meteor Shower sent so many shooting stars across the sky we'd get dizzy counting them all. The City lights weren't as bright back then and the show was always a crowd pleaser. These days, I go out in front of my house and squint at the night sky, looking for the elusive shooting star. Last year I saw several in an hours' time, but not like when I was a kid. It's August already and I'll be out there again this year on the 12th looking in the northeast sky for shooting stars. And I just may take a ride up the Ortega to get away from the city lights.

For those of us in South Orange County, California, toll roads are a relatively new thing. Living in Laguna Niguel and selling homes all over Orange County, I often find one or the other of the toll roads handy, especially during rush hour. And having a transponder means I don't have to have the exact change or stop to pay the toll.

Since I got my first transponder right when the first toll road opened in 1996, it was pretty old. I was pleasantly surprised to get a brand new, state-of-the-art transponder in the mail and I didn't even have to ask for it. Without giving it a thought, I put it in the car (I keep it in the console, not stuck to the window) and forgot to take the old one out for a few days. You guessed it, I got charged twice every time I used the toll road for the next couple of days.

I finally put the old unit in the postage paid envelope that was provided and dropped it in the mail back to FasTrak and got charged $9 for a one way trip. I know this because I actually checked my statement for the first time in ages. (Is that Suzy Orman's voice I keep hearing in my head?) Anyway, there they were, all those duplicate charges and the whopping $9 charge posted at 7:30pm on the same day I dropped it in the mail. I figure that charge was when the Post Office used the toll road in their big semi truck to transport my unit back to wherever old transponders go and the charge for a semi to traverse the toll road is much more than my car.

The people at the Toll Roads couldn't have been nicer though. I called and pointed out the duplicate charges and the suspicious $9 charge. The lady didn't even question it, just pleasantly said she'd be happy to credit my account, and that was it. So if you've received a nice shiny new transponder recently, at least check your statement to make sure you didn't get charged a toll for returning the old unit in the postage paid envelope provided, ‘cause the toll is way more than the free return postage.

It’s hard to believe it’s time for America’s Family Pet Expo to come to town again. I’ve participated for 7 or 8 years now, and can tell you first hand, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon. Actually, the afternoons get really crowded (think wall-to-wall people) so if you can make it earlier in the day, you’ll get around a lot easier.

The Expo is a ton of fun. There's shows and demonstrations all day long and you can get up close to your favorite dog & cat breeds. There's reptiles (that’s me with Lucy a 35 year old Rhino Iguana last year – I’m the redhead by the way). bunnies, birds, fish and every kind of pet imaginable. The animal shelters and rescue groups are there with homeless pets, looking for homes. There’s also a petting zoo, pony rides for the kids and lots and lots of vendors selling everything from collars to canine couture. If you have questions about your pet’s food, you can talk directly to the pet food manufacturers. But leave your pet at home; they only allow animals that are being exhibited on the grounds.

The Pet Expo starts tomorrow and runs all weekend. It's at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. I’ll be in the Wheaten Terrier booth with Avalon. Stop by and say hi.

Americans love their dogs and the people of Rancho Santa Margarita are no exception. This Saturday, Feb. 23 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm Rancho Santa Margarita celebrates its 2nd Annual “Dog Day Afternoon”.

If you were there last year, you know what a great event SAMLARC put on and how much fun everyone had. This year’s event looks to be even more exciting with Agility and Grooming Demonstrations, a Doggie Costume Contest, Dog Games, Pet Boutiques selling designer clothes, novelties, artificial turf for your yard, and everything in between. There’ll be Doggie Day Care booths, Pet Sitters, Pet Massage and T-Touch demonstrations. And the RSM Library will have crafts and story telling for the kids.

Don’t have a dog? Not to worry, there’ll be Non-profit Pet Rescue Groups with dogs of all shapes and sizes available for adoption.

Stop by and say hello to Big Dog and all the volunteers at the South County Animal Shelter Coalition booth. They’ll have information about what they’re doing to have a pro-humane shelter established for South Orange County. SCAS will have t-shirts & buttons available for sale and my friend, Carol Bridges of Treasured Moments Photography will be taking pictures of you and your pooch for a small donation.

If you get hungry, the Trabuco Elementary PTA will have Hot Dogs, Chips & Soft Drinks for sale and there’ll be an ice cream bus to satisfy your sweet tooth.

So bring your dogs, your kids and the whole family to Monte Vista Park, 21682 Buena Suerte (Near Avenida de las Flores) this Saturday. The first 200 people will get goodie bags for participating.

In case of rain, the event will take place on March 1. For more info, contact Ashley Archer at 949 448 6252 or go to www.samlarc.org