Plein Air South OC San Clemente: Paint San Clemente

June 16-24th 2012 Art Competition
Quick Draw starts it off 10am-noon on June 16th and more Plein Air June 23-24th.
The San Clemente Art Association has a Gallery where you can purchase gorgeous works of art from local artists. Become a member and you can also sell your art there too.
More information

San Clemente Art Gallery Info. Open to the public.

Black Outs Might Happen this Summer in California?

Sunny California might be in the dark... again (remember last Sept. 2011 So Cal?). This time from a "sidelined" San Onofre nuclear power plant -which is located on the coast near Camp Pendleton and in between Orange County and San Diego County, CA.

The investigators will be checking the tubing that holds/carries the water that is radioactive. During the Summer heat if the twin-reactor plant is offline than rotating blackouts might occur. Utility companies are trying to find back up power.

Read more...

Phosphorus on Beach Rocks Burnt OC Woman

Recently, an Orange County, CA Woman collected some rocks from San Onofre State Beach (located in San Diego County near Orange County). She put some rocks into her pocket. Later after going home, the rocks ignited on fire in her pockets. The rocks caused I believe 2nd and 3rd degree burns, requiring surgery. I heard through a neighbor (that knew someone that worked at the hospital where the woman went for treatment) that someone with her tried to help her and also got burnt from them.
This beach is near the Marine base, Camp Pendleton.This is also near Power Plants.
I caution people to be careful in this area. It is important to know about these things, and it is unfortunate what happened to this woman. I too collect rocks and would not have suspected a rock to catch fire!

Read more: Beach rocks that sparked fire had high level of phosphorus | abc7.com

 

 

Related available products:

 

"GeoSafari Igneous Rock" 

"Garden Pearls Stone Deco Rock"

Quick Post Southern California to Las Vegas Trip deals with free Extras!

When I spot the Vegas deals I share them. Here are some quick Las Vegas vacation deals with 50% off hotel rates and more if you book flights: Free bonus deals like complimentary buffet, show tickets or club passes. Get ready for Summer. Are you getting married this Summer? Want an inexpensive vacation? Las Vegas is a close popular destination.
I like the idea of Vegas fun but Vegas gets a bad rap... Keep the sin city sinless and enjoy your vacation happily and not regretfully :)
Go here to book your vacation and more information on deals and prices!

Redbox DVDs Rent 2 save $0.50 Code expires 5-13-12 night Mother's Day picks

Happy Mother's Day... Sunday May 13!

Save 50 cents when you rent 2 at a time at a Redbox movie rental vending machine near you! For Mother's Day!

Expires 5-13-2012 before 10pm on the west coast PST, or 11:59pm CST, Not sure of EST possibly still around midnight time.

May 2012 Redbox Coupon Code: 2G22QM3

Go to Redbox online to reserve a movie near you!

For Mother's Day movie picks from Redbox: http://www.redbox.com/mothersday2012

Have You Ever Seen a Cockroach Fly?

Yesterday, my friend thought this was note worthy enough as Good Stuff news to share, ok, not really good stuff news, but news none the less. While at work with clients all scurrying to a corner of the room, my friend battled a cockroach with a broom as it crawled up the wall. Figuring she could knock it to the ground and, grossly sad, stump on the poor grotesque creature with her shoe, to kill it and ease the clients (and her) mind. Fortunately for the cockroach, she did not stump on it and squash the life from it, rather after a swipe of the broom the cockroach flew out the front door of the shop. Whoa... she never saw that coming, nor had she seen a cockroach fly!

Apparently, cockroaches do fly. There are flying cockroaches, even though they can, we don't see it often with the American Cockroach. The American Cockroach usually scurries along quickly, they can fly or glide usually from higher places, in this case from a wall to avoid a quick sweep of a broom.

Days later.. Another Earthquake 3.8 mag San Bernardino County, CA

April 28, 2012

An earthquake of 3.8 magnitude occurred at 8:07 a.m. near San Bernardino County, California.

A similar earthquake scenario as last weeks earthquake in South Orange County, CA.

  http://www.data.scec.org/recent/recenteqs/Quakes/ci15141521.html

Last post about the previous So. OC earthquake news on 4-23-2012 and Christian perspective click here:

http://alysagoodstuffoc.blogspot.com/2012/04/south-orange-county-ca-earthquake-4-23.html

In this photo from USGS the known fault lines are brown. Looking at the fault lines you can see the last earthquake was near other fault lines. Apparently, it did not occur on the actually fault lines, or so I read from another source.

I have concern about the fault lines that run through the ocean, at a high enough magnitude, that is the tsunami potential that I see. Little earthquakes are not a big deal and fairly common occurrence. I wonder when the next noticeable (feel-able) earthquake will occur in So. Cal.

Nice Areas of OC are also Not So Nice -Orange County CA Review

There are many known cities or areas that are nice and not so nice, even within the city. The other day in Garden Grove it seemed to need a little helping hand as far as cosmetics go. It was interesting to see Vietnamese-American shops etc. but nothing too special. The area of the city I saw was not kept up that well and did not seem like a very good neighborhood. The neighboring city, Anaheim, CA. one might think that this "Disneyland city", or the famous past name of the Anaheim Angels (which is now for publicity reasons I think, the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" or something like that) must be a beauty, well it's not, at least not at every turn. There are nice parts of Anaheim, today I saw a very nice neighborhood with nice cozy homes, and outside the homes on the main streets only some gang related spray paint signs. But even the cities with good reviews have their share of gangs and riffraff. Illegal drug use, thefts and other crimes still happen even in posh neighborhoods, though most trouble occurs in the poorer, lower rent areas. That said, just because someone or a family for that matter is low income, does not mean they are probably a crime family. I have known many low income, hard working families that are trying legitimately to climb their way out of a struggling economy. California is in debt, and the expensive Orange County has it's own troubles, school budgets are tight, public bus system has also made cut backs in transportation, and health insurance for the poor is limited and little to no dental and mental health coverage for low income adults.

 If the states budget would help those helping themselves more, maybe they could get a step ahead and there could be less crime and less poverty. But the system designed to help through the social service system rarely rewards dilligent hard workers receiving cash or food assistance, for the earned income they make hardly gets them ahead of the low income game. It is not a game at all, but a struggle. Cash and food assistance gets depleated or stopped all together, so there is no getting ahead, but staying at a poverty level. Something to think about.


In the beauty of So Cal. there is also hardships, crime, and poverty.

Fireball in Flames Meteor Exploded over California

Meteor came to California on April 25, 2012...

Just heard from a friend about a mini-van sized meteor that came to my home state, over California! A meteor flaming through the earth's atmosphere over California exploded dropping meteorites in Northern California. The meteor was the size of a mini-van they say. NASA did not know it was coming due to it's overall small size, outer space speaking. I'd love to find a meteorite, but I won't be one of those who are searching. They say they are billions of years old I am guessing based on distance and type. Not sure how this age is figured, if it is figured by the big bang theory or just distance of light years etc. I'd still have to say it was probably very old though. So interesting to think of these coming actually down on to earth, which apparently happens more then we know, NASA and other researchers know. Lucky we do not here of tragedies from the outer space invasion! So much creation so far away...brought here. Any comments?

South Orange County, CA Earthquake 4-23-2012 local news

Monday, April 23, 2012

Did you feel the earthquake today? I didn't but my daughter did at school, saying it felt like a bang. A jolt type of earthquake. This small earthquake occurred this morning at 10:37am. a 3.9 mag about a mile away from Laguna Niguel, CA. It was a pretty minor quake. I am upset I didn't get to feel it, I was in north Orange County today and felt nothing. Oddly, this sort of news is exciting in an unexpected, sometimes tragic though, sort of way. Earthquakes are intriguing to me as they truly are from the foundation on which we stand and live. If our foundation crumbles, it is a new start that's needed or possibly an end.

I still believe a much bigger one awaits soon... when, I won't try to guess, I tried that and was wrong. So, I don't need to guess. Like a dream I once had though, there was an earthquake and it stopped at the entryway of my home and I heard God's voice say to be prepared. There was a real earthquake days or so later after the dream similar to my dream, it stopped as I stood in the entryway! Was this dream about an earthquake, or was it about life in general and living for God? I wonder many times about dreams, though many other times dreams seem pointless and strange.

Well, about the earthquake today... not too bad and no major damage or disaster. Most people around here are still waiting for the "Big One" thinking we are due for a large magnitude earthquake, especially with so many earthquakes occurring south of OC in the Mexico area.

There are many fault lines in Southern California that it could create damage along the fault areas and a tidal wave at some point should a larger scale earthquake occur. This would cause some serious damage (which is why in south OC there are many Tsunami evacuation arrow signs now put up recently over the past 6-7 years or so). We are in God's hands, and it is his timing if it happens or not. Natural disasters happen for whatever reason, we do not always understand, God knows.
I noticed in the following scripture in Matthew 24:7 the book and verse numbers, suddenly this reminded me, how we say the phrase, 24/7: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Like a store that is available 24/7, God too is available 24/7. Especially in these days, we should be prepared. We should live in joy but with the knowledge that God is with us always, at all times and live our lives keeping God first in all things.
 
Matthew 24:7 NKJ
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
 Mark 13:8 NKJ
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

 Be prepared for earthquakes, for famines, and natural disasters, be prepared for future tribulations.

Be prepared, and don't fret.

Listen to scriptures: More scripture for end times prophecy... the earthquake after the "Witnesses". You can listen to the audio, click here Revelation 11 (plays continuous)

More Christian based earthquake news:
Japan: Hope in Jesus and help for recovery from the Large earthquake and Tsunami in Japan 2011

Click on blog post labels (keywords) below for more Alysa Good Stuff earthquake blog posts.

Rainy Cali Coast Orange County, CA Weather Update

Weather report: 4-13-2012 

When in rains in southern California, Californians are rarely prepared and it's big news around here. So drive safe, and bring your umbrella and coat.


Rare strong winds struck on the shores of the south OC. Just a mile south of the city San Clemente created a waterspout off the shore. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=weather&id=8620376 
Currently in South Orange county the rain has stopped for the most part, and the wind has calmed.


Here's more news on the storm:


Rain storm in photos: 4-13-12

View this amazing photo of 8 lightening bolts striking the San Fransisco Bay Bridge! 4-12-12



Related Alysa Good Stuff OC blog post:

4-12-2012 Local Orange County Weather News Does it rain in OC, California?
 

Local Orange County Weather News Does it rain in OC, California?

It's not always sunshine in Southern California!

Although this last year has primarily been a drought for southern California with still mostly brown hills and a lot less of my favorite wild mustard flowers... if you wonder if it rains in California... yes. Though So Cal. rain is not often and usually occurs as short lived rain storms or mild sprinkle rain with occasional mild thunder and lightening. It is actually welcomed by some as a change in the sunny weather pattern we usually have. Rained today and rain coming up again Friday April 13, 2012.

For current local Orange County, CA weather click here.

Driving in the rain 2011

Gloomy sky in south OC with the bright sun shining through. 2012

Gloomy but still gorgeous south OC beach 2011

Blessed in OC.. Free Whale Watching Trips given to Elementary Students

Boat field trips are offered free to a local elementary school in Southern Orange County fully funded for education by a foundation for the California Gulf. What a great opportunity. To bad my kids are too young for such a trip though, unless I were going along. Some parents are going as chaperones though as well.

Makes me thankful and remember that this is such a beautiful opportune place to live.

There are whale watching tours available also for families to discover whales and other sea life outside school field trips.
In southern California: http://alysagoodstuff.blogspot.com/2010/04/afford-vacation-on-budget-in-orange.html

Whale stories from my blog:

Alysa Good Stuff Local Wower News: http://alysagoodstuff.blogspot.com/2010/05/60-year-old-gray-whale-100-pounds-of.html

Alysa Good Stuff Local Wower News blog: http://alysagoodstuff.blogspot.com/2010/06/pod-of-killer-whales-kill-seal-lion-off.html

Albertson's Wish Big Win Big or Win Small?

Are you one of many collecting Albertson's grocery store Wish Big Win Big stamps? I have a lunch size paper bag full of unneeded yet, collected stamps... up for grabs!

So far I have played along with the game since it's start, the more "grocery product" stamps I earned the more I wanted to shop, wishing to win big! I won $2.00 and didn't cash in. I won $2.00 - 2 more times. I gave one of my $2.00 gifts away to a friend needing a missing stamp. She said I was lucky when I won my first $2.00! It's something right?

There are a few that won bigger prizes, and one wished and won big. The family in need in Anaheim, CA. Got the nice $50,000.00 cash prize. That OC family needed the extra income and I couldn't be happier for them! Yet, I am still hoping it will be me!? Probably not.

My gambling, I hope in this case, Lord forgive me I try to win for goodness sake though. I know I play scratchers sometimes even praying for a win, and the Mega or Super Lotto... so far nothing, and if the California Lotto gives to schools, I haven't noticed it. Well, I have won occassionally with scratchers, not much though and usually a free ticket. I get Albertson's instant win tickets too, even an instant win can of vegetables... I had to laugh about this one.. I'm thinking, I'll pick artichokes if it's available. Albertson's has a good gimmick going, ha that's funny to say. I'm guessing the winning tickets could easily have gotten lost though too, like in a gutter somewhere... that $250,000.00 ticket could just be sitting there, accidentally dropped by an unaware shopper. I hope to find it!

What would I do with the money?
#1 Help my family, #2 Buy a home, #3 Invest, #4 Do something good for the homeless, including animals.

Before you spend like crazy to feed a gambling addiction, shop carefully, Albertson's prices are sometimes higher priced then other retailers. I suggest, a careful shop with coupons and sales.

Alysa Good Stuff Shopping to WIN Tips:

I got Albertson's ice cream with an instant coupon, and a Wish Big Win Big Coupon, plus the ice cream is (currently) on sale so it was a great deal. I also bought some favorite candy bars on sale with the Bonus ticket mark, at a dollar a piece and tripled tickets (tripled tickets until Jan.17th) this doesn't hurt the bank. My guess is the better tickets are after this date (Jan. 17) though. As far as trying to win, shop at different nearby Albertson's stores- that's what I'm doing. Save money, don't spend all your instant win tickets at once, but different times, when new tickets come in, my guess is maybe weekly.

Have fun, but don't be bummed if you don't win. :)

Homeless in North Orange County, CA Murdered

I recently learned of murders of 3 homeless people in Orange County, CA. Serial killer murders. This is sad to hear. Any murder is wrong and it is difficult to accept that this occurs, that life is not regarded as the gift that it is, and to take it from someone is not acceptable. It saddens me and reminds me that this is not our final home. Earth in all it's beauty has much sadness, destruction, and turmoil.

God bless the families affected by such indecent and hurtful acts, god bless all of humanity poor, ill, or hurting. God forgive and help those compelled to act out in crimes such as this to save all lives and remind us all of the beauty in your love, that in hard times, one day we will have the opportunity to live eternally with you. In Christ. Amen.

A good article from the president of the OC Rescue Mission Shelter: http://letters.ocregister.com/2012/01/07/homeless-homicides-bring-needs-to-light/