A New Month

Greetings from the most miserable city in the country. It's the first day of August and there are 147 days until Christmas. Schools are starting up again. The Fall Equinox is 53 day away. (day when night and day are of equal length) Fall Equinox falls on September 22nd. this year. I love the colors, weather, and smells of Autumn. I've always been more creative during this time of the year. I enjoy decorating the house and shopping for fabric. Fabric colors in autumn are rich and vibrant. Our various family celebrations are behind me and now I can focus on my WW again. I have to stop at the grocery store after church tomorrow and stock up on all the right foods and spend time meal planning. I guess you can say I'm jazzed today. This is a link to a really cool blog about dieting and food. It's fun and informative and I think it's part of the reason for my inspiration. http://www.thechubbyartist.blogspot.com/

For a couple of years Stockton had the highest foreclosure rates in the nation, #1, and we learned this week we are now # 5 in foreclosures. Today's Record is reporting the closure of the Lexington Hotel and the upcoming auction. This hotel started out in August, 2005 as the Sheraton. It was a luxurious hotel in the middle of a not so luxurious downtown. It boasted seven floors, 179 room and 42 big ticket condominiums for sale. It was very nice but out of place in Stockton. It was the dream child of a few of the good old boys here in the most miserable city. The hotel was built on waterfront property the city sold for $1. Yes, you read it right, ONE DOLLAR. The city government subsidized $500,000 of the tax payers money for the project. Sad to say, it was a bust from the beginning. The bank foreclosed on it in July of 08 and has been in receivership since. In November of 08 it became the Lexington Hotel and now it's going to be sold at public auction. The amazing part of all this, the Mayor is quoted in the Record as saying, Ï think everyone is in shock that this would happen at this juncture." I have to ask, are all our elected government official out of touch with reality? Who did she think was going to stay at this hotel? Ít's not like we have big business or manufacturing here. It's an agriculture community. This city has great potential with an inland port, airport, and rail access but in 59 years that I've been here, these golden treasures have always been underutilized. So, if you want to buy a large hotel you know where to come. Someday I'll tell you about the city's use of public funds to subsidize a Sacramento restaurant owner. It was as successful as the Sheraton.

Enough of the negative. I'm off to plan, clean, organize, and quilt, not necessarily in that order. Have a blessed day.