The new year has begun, and like a lot of people I have set a few goals that I intend on completing. I want to add a few new columns to our website, such as a Families section with events, information, and ideas for those of us with children in Mira Mesa. I also want a new look for the website, so Doug and I are working hard on updating our look and content. Now is the time to let us know what you would like to see on MiraMesa.Com.

We try to bring you the latest news and events happening around Mira Mesa, and we are involved with the Town Council, Chamber of Commerce, and several other community groups, but we can only do so much. Do you know of an event or newsworthy story that should be posted on our website? Do you like my quote of the day, or my top 10 lists? I enjoy doing them, but I don’t get much feedback on them. We do have a faithful following on the website, and for that I would like to thank you all. Let us know how we are doing, and what you would like to see improved or changed in 2009. I will post the results of your feedback next week. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to a great year ahead.

Sincerely, Mark & Doug

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New Years Eve is right around the corner which for most of us means trying to stay up until midnight to have our annual champagne toast, and ringing in the new year with a select group of family and friends. I usually try to stay away from making new year’s resolutions, since I rarely accomplish any of them. This year, I will try a different approach. Set easily obtainable goals, and feel the sense of accomplishment. Here are my top 10 goals or resolutions for 2009:

1. Try to wake up each day before noon. I would like to say I will rise with the sun, and head off to the gym to workout. Let’s be serious with ourselves, at best that will last a week or two. I will try anyway, and keep you all up to date with my progress.

2. Try to switch my over-consumption of soft drinks to water. They say you should drink 8 glasses of water each day for good health. I have more than that amount of Dr.Pepper, Snapple, Iced Teas, and other soft drinks on a daily basis. Empty calories, cut them out. Sorry 7-11 and AM/PM, you will have to find another sucker to increase your sales.

3. Limit fast food trips to twice a week. I spend a lot of time and money eating out, and my midsection is paying the price. By eating at home more often, I will eat better and save money in the process. I must still allow myself a few treats now and then, so two trips to Extreme Pita will keep me happy each week.

4. Spend more time volunteering, and less time complaining. Action speaks louder than words, and I know that when you give back to your community you feel a whole lot better than just complaining about what is wrong with it. If you need ideas, go to the Mira Mesa HEROES website to lend a hand.

5. Be a better person. Yes, this is very vague and hard to measure. I will try to be a little more understanding, patient, polite, and helpful to others. I have a 5 year old son, and I want to be a good example for him to follow. Being a better Father, Husband, and Friend is a great goal to have. You may have to ask my Son, Wife, and Friends in December if I have reached this one.

6. Try not to swear as much. I wouldn’t say I have a potty mouth, but it can easily slip from time to time. Now that my son knows the good words from the bad ones, I would rather not have him repeat the bad ones from me. One of my favorite sayings is “When the child curses, slap the parents”.

7. Set a budget and keep to it. I can’t blame anyone else for my economic situation. I was raised on the principle of if you want something bad enough, you will save for it. There is a difference between wants and needs. I have a whole garage full of wants, and now I need them to go to someone else’s house. If only I had used the K.I.S.S. method - Keep It Simple Stupid.

8. Make someone smile or laugh every day. I feel like I was put on Earth to make other people happy, and when I make someone smile it makes me happy. When you smile, it becomes contageous.

9. Read more and watch T.V. less. I have a bad habit of plopping down in front of the T.V. and not getting up until I am too tired to do anything else. There are so many better things to do with my time, and I still want to keep my mind sharp as I get older.

10. Actually go into the gym and work out. I have had a couple of times when I drove to the gym, then talked myself out of working out and went for breakfast instead. I pay monthly to keep in shape, and I convince myself daily that fat people are jolly and it is a better way to be. If you see me at 24 hour fitness in January, say Hi and give me encouragement to keep coming back.

I wouldn’t recommend 10 resolutions to anyone, but since this is my favorite thing to do each week
writing my Top 10 lists, I feel I should give it a go. Peace be with you all, and Happy New Year Mira Mesa!

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The Open House at Fire Station 41 was a blast! The Firefighters at our local fire station opened their freshly painted doors to Mira Mesa Residents Saturday afternoon. We were treated to pizza from New York Giant Pizza, and tasty Indian Cuisine from Ashoka The Great, compliments of Mike Davis and the wonderful volunteers from Mira Mesa HEROES. The fire trucks were open for all to see, and we even got to tour the station, which was a hit with the kids.

As the event was just getting started, there was a call to action and our hosts had to leave to put out a car fire. They quickly returned and the party resumed. It was an unexpected treat for my son and I to see the Firefighters in action. A fun time was had by all, and many thank-yous were exchanged on both sides - we were greatful for their hard work keeping our community safe, and they were thankful that HEROES sponsored the painting of their fire station. It is a great feeling of giving back to our community. I would recommend volunteering as much as you can.

To volunteer for future events, go to the Mira Mesa HEROES website or look for details here at Mira Mesa.Com.

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The Vietnamese Federation of San Diego proudly presents Tet Festival 2009, Year of the Ox, at the Mira Mesa Community Park and Library on January 17&18, 2009. The Vietnamese Federation of San Diego (VFSD) since 1985 has successfully hosted the Tet Festival, the Lunar New Year Celebration in San Diego, which is the single most-celebrated event in which people welcome the new year with jubilee, prayers, once-a-year cultural shows, entertainment, and special foods. This year, Tet Festival will be held at Mira Mesa Community Park for the first time, in the heart of the most vibrant and prosperous Asian Pacific community in San Diego County that is home to Vietnamese, Filipinos, Chinese and Koreans.

The Tet Festival will feature a variety of live entertainment such as Asian-themed dancers and drummers, traditional and contemporary musicians, martial artists, magicians, sport tournaments, Chinese chess tournament, Vietnamese traditional dress (áo dài) fashion show, art and floral exhibits, dancing contest, Asian-Pacific dance troupes, and delicious Vietnamese and Asian cuisine.  Magnificent lion and dragon dance performances, by various organizations, will take place at the beginning and end and throughout the festival.

Event Date and Times:
Saturday January 17    10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday   January 18    10 a.m. -   6 p.m.

For more information, to be a volunteer, or to become a sponsor, visit the San Diego Tet Festival 2009 website.

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The Mira Mesa Chamber of Commerce Holiday Mixer will be Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008 at Ashoka The Great Restaurant from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. All members are welcome to attend this casual end of year event, and try some of Mira Mesa’s finest Indian Cuisine and network with other Chamber members as we share the Holiday spirit and look forward to a new year. There will not be any speakers or presentations at this mixer.

We will change the format of our meetings to meet the requests from our members to have fewer speakers and more networking. As always, this is your chamber and the board members need your feedback to help us grow into a desirable yet necessary tool to help promote Mira Mesa Businesses. Spread the word, and feel free to invite your fellow business members to this and future Chamber events.

One of our Chamber members, Ashoka The Great,  will offer their dinner buffet to our group at a special rate of $15 per person including beverage and gratuity, so please plan on dining with us. Beer and wine also available for those in attendance not participating in the buffet. Ashoka The Great is located at 9474 Black Mountain Road, near Miramar Road. I hope to see you all there.

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The neighborhoods are mostly full of holiday lights, large inflatable characters, and those cool looking 5 foot tall snow globes in the front yard. Time to invite your friends over for a night of mirth and merriment (whatever that means) and plop the kids in front of the television to watch the classic holiday shows. Here are my top 10 favorite holiday shows with explanations:

1.A Christmas Story (1983) - “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”  Peter Billingsley as Ralphie made this my all time favorite movie. Although it is rated PG, it is perfect for your teens and older. Laughs all throughout the movie.

2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) - This is the most beloved of all the Bass - Rankin holiday movies.  This came out the year before I was born, but the Abominable Snow Man still scares me every time I watch it. It has been edited since the original airing, but the DVD version has all the original material in it’s entirety. How many of you remember the line from Hermy “I want to be a dentist.” That voice stays with you all year long.

3. Santa Claus is Coming To Town (1970) - The story of Kris Kringle shows the beginnings of Santa Claus and how he had to battle with the Burgermeister Meisterburger, and the evil  Winter Warlock.

4. The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974) - I loved this one mainly for the two step brothers Mr. Snow Miser and Mr. Heat Miser. They are so good, this year there is a Miser Brothers special on the ABC Family channel. I will let you know how that one turns out.

5. Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 original, 2000 with Jim Carey) - The Jim Carey version was not one of my favorites when it first came out, but with time it has grown on me. Still, the original cartoon version is most definitely a classic. You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch is also one of my favorite songs of the season.

6. Polar Express (2004) - Although this movie has not been around for very long, it has a great message and is very family friendly. Tom Hanks does a great job as an animated character, and the Hot Chocolate scene is one of my family favorites. This year Polar Express 3-D came out, and we were very excited to see it. We bought the DVD, and were greatly disappointed. Save your money. It doesn’t have the same effect as in a theater.

7. Miracle on 34th Street (1947 original black & white, 1994 color remake) - Many loved the original version which tells the story of the legal troubles of a Kriss Kringle fighting to have people believe that he is Santa Claus. I prefer the 1994 remake, which stays close to the original with a few modern changes. John Hughes version cast Sir Richard Attenborough as Kriss Kringle, and he was exceptional, but it was Mara Wilson as the little girl Sarah that stole the show.

8. Elf (2003) - Will Farrell, Bob Newhart, and others take us on a trip which will have you laughing eggnog right out of your nose. Will Farrell plays the part of the 6 foot elf with such innocence, you can not help but wish for a happy ending. He gets into so much trouble, but his sweetness prevails. If you skipped this one in previous years, rent it and laugh through the whole show.

9. Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) - This one you have to watch more than once. With most of Tim Burton’s movies, you either love them or you hate them. Drawing a connection between Halloween and Christmas is a risky move, but it has a great message and very endearing characters. If your kids are prone to visits to Disneyland, then you simply must watch this one. The  Haunted Mansion is converted every year to include characters from the movie.

10. Shrek The Halls (2007) - I know most people would have had the Charlie Brown Christmas or It’s A Wonderful Life in the top 10, but I think that they did a good job with this obvious marketing ploy to sell more Shrek movies on DVD (like they need the money). Nothing says Christmas like the Scottish voice of Shrek the Ogre yelling at the Donkey (played by Eddie Murphy) as a holiday delight. Throw in the vocal talents of Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderes and you have an instant hit.

Those are my favorites, I hope you enjoy them. Happy holidays to you, your friends, and your families…Because I said so!

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