Derelict campaign signs are an eyesore. But they turned into a sore arm for one local candidate.
Rose Urdahl, 53, a county school board candidate from Alpine, went out to remove her old campaign signs the other day. On a steep hillside in East County, Urdahl tugged one sign a bit too hard and fell down – breaking her left arm in three places. She will be in a cast for five weeks.
Luckily, the broken arm isn't the one she shakes hands with, because she made it to the run-off election. In November, she probably will ask her husband, Larry, a Grossmont Union High School District trustee, to remove those hard-to-reach signs.
Soul mates no more . . .
People cultivate some strange hobbies. The collections of odd stuff on display at the San Diego County Fair are sterling examples.
Last year, the collections exhibit included items one pet owner's cat dragged into the house. This year's “Most Unusual Collection” winner displayed items, including travel mugs and cell phones, found near city bus stops. Others lined up gravy boats, egg beaters from around the world, polar bear figurines, antenna balls, travel alarm clocks, chess figures, things that are yellow and, my favorite, socks that have lost their mates.
These single socks came in all sizes and colors, from infant to adult, solid to striped. The collector laments that, if she dares throw one away, its partner inevitably turns up somewhere in the house. The exhibit ends with a single glove – a possible start on next year's collection.
Can't see? Try TV
Tiger Woods wasn't the only U.S. Open winner. Spectators who checked out one of 1,500 hand-held mini TVs gave some positive reviews.
Roy Lessard, an investment banker representing WiseDV, local makers of the TVs, said the 4.3-inch screens will be offered again at the PGA Championship in August and the Ryder Cup in September. They were tested at the Buick Invitational golf tournament in January at Torrey Pines and at a Chargers game in December.
I happened to stand behind a couple with one on the 18th hole. As other teams finished their rounds, the couple's TV stayed tuned to leaders Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods on other holes. Bystanders pestered them for news, and the couple became impromptu announcers, relaying shot-by-shot updates. They could switch between any of the ESPN/NBC cameras, including the blimp, that were covering.
Chargers executive Jim Steeg said the team is considering making the TVs available, although there are some reception dead spots in Qualcomm Stadium that need to be addressed. The TVs, which are limited to live broadcasts of the sporting event, eventually will sell for about $300. The couple I met said they definitely would buy one.
Destination San Diego
It's no secret that presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain will be courting the Latino vote at the National Council of La Raza convention July 12-15 in downtown San Diego. But McCain also will attend a fundraiser at The Grand Del Mar golf resort July 9. It's being organized by his San Diego finance director Karolyn Dorsee.
Small world
Talk about six degrees of separation. Mesa College Information Officer Lina Heil was writing a story that included alumnus Sean Withall, a debate champion who now attends Johns Hopkins University.
Thinking Withall was in Baltimore, Heil spent most of Monday waiting to hear from him, only to later learn that Withall was in San Diego. He had spent the day seated next to Heil's husband, Michael, in Superior Court. Both had reported for jury duty. By day's end, Withall was excused, but Michael was assigned to a weeklong trial.
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