I waited until my late 30s and early 40s to have children. I had already done my partying and career moves. When it was time for the oldest to start pre-school and elementary school, I wanted to participate in the school experience with them.

A fabulous alternative school has been in the city for 25 plus years and we were fortunate to be chosen in the lottery for a space in the kindergarten class of 1996. The public alternative school is squeezed into the back row of classrooms in a junior high school, so it stays with an attendance of about 200 students.

As parents, we always wondered if our children would do well as a "small fish in a big pond" after such an ideal situation as a "big fish in a small pond" was provided at the alternative school. So far my oldest son has had no problem adjusting and has enjoyed the experience the "regular school" can provide by way of financing classes such as jazz band which could not be done before in the small school. Two of the most cherished memories from the small school were the work experience week for 6th through 8th graders and the "core group" which helped in socialization, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. I'm convinced if "core group" were provided for all students world-wide, there would never be any reason for another war on this planet.

Today I had an interesting conversation with my oldest son while we were in the car. I asked him what the two biggest "surprises" or shocks were upon entering "regular" school. I was the one who was surprised once I heard the answers.

Number one was the availability of drugs.



That should not be too surprising. I think my generation paved the way in the late '60s and we have the fatalities to show because of it.

The second thing was racism.



The particular racism he speaks of is the hatred of "whites" by a certain other racial what-used-to-be-a-minority. "They hate us because we have money."

That's pretty sad. It is something that has been building in this city for years, as well as other states along the border of US - Mexico. There is terrible animosity between some of the various residents and workers.

I see my wisdom reaffirmed in choosing the small alternative school that is so emphatically multi-cultural. It has been very good for my children. I only wish that a school experience like that were available for all young people, as I said before.

Last month, I posted photos of an old hospital in Santa Barbara. I mentioned how Cottage Hospital bought it with plans to demolish the old building to, according to PR, make way for condos at affordable rates for employees.

I am jubilant to report that a citizens homeowner group has filed suit against Cottage, et al., alleging that the demolition and future condos would be illegal according to zoning laws.


Above is the St. Francis Hospital viewed from my home.

I think it would make an excellent veteran's treatment facility, elder care home, or a shelter for homeless.

Although there is a homeless shelter, Salvation Army, Rescue Mission, and some churches are available, the number of people living on the streets seems to continue to rise. There are cars parked a couple of blocks from my apartment that are used as "homes". I took an early morning walk a few days ago and couldn't miss the occupants beginning their day. One morning I went to my laundry room only to find the door locked from the inside. I pushed against it until I heard a man's voice saying, "Oh, wait! I'll be out in a couple of minutes. I'm sorry." I came back up to my apartment for 20 minutes. Upon returning to the laundry room, I found a Cheetos package, a chocolate milk container, and a warm dryer - the person had washed their clothes while they got some sleep under a roof.



Above, the door to the apartments' laundry room.

Once the property managers learned of the overnight stay, we were given keys to keep the door locked. I do know that people still come around though, because I found a cigarette lighter between the front of my car and the carport corner where I park the car. Another day, there was another suspicious Cheeto bag.

So I go through my day happy to see an untouched old empty hospital building on the Riviera (S.B.'s), reassured that my laundry room is safe, and wondering how many registered sex offenders live nearby, within close proximity to a high school and a children's park, and my family!

Blessings, Lulublue

If you will, please go to my history and read my post, "Every Day, for Jake". The story is the reason I began to blog here. I wanted to bring attention to the horrible drivers I see around Santa Barbara. I'm not sure why, but drivers are much worse now than they were 10 years ago.



I was slowing to a stop at a 4-way stop sign. (Apartment houses on 2 corners and parks on the other 2 corners, Kid's World being one of the parks) I had my left blinker on to turn. Some idiot slowed behind me, then apparently thinking I was only going to turn and there was no need to stop, passed me on my right as s/he sped up and went straight through the stop! Thank goodness no one was crossing the street!

The boy whose death inspired my blog was riding his bicycle to school, his first week of junior high school, along the bike path. Someone was heading for work along the same road and slammed into the back of the boy. The photo in the newspaper showed a backpack embedded into the grill of the SUV. Needless to say, the youth never knew what hit him and would never see his family again. The driver claimed the sun was in his eyes and he had no idea there was a bicyclist there. After the road tests by the highway patrol, it was determined the guy was going 45 MPH. If I had the sun in my eyes and I was about a quarter block from a stop light, I doubt I'd be going 45. I can't help but mention that the sun is in the eyes of drivers at that exact spot just about every morning (with exception of fog) and bicyclists seem to survive.

I was thinking of a blog called S.B.'s worst drivers or something along those lines. I wonder if I'd get sued if I posted images of drivers?

Drive safely, B'stream friends. Lulublue