Did anyone else brave the crowds and head to the beach for the Labor Day weekend? We did, but thankfully we were not stuck in the car. We rode our bicycles, but even that was not without issue … the husband broke his chain on the way home. The weather, at the coast, was actually warm and sunny for a change. For those of you that stayed home this is what you avoided.

Labor Day weekend crowds at Doheny State Beach on Saturday

It sure looks like the economic meltdown, that put so many homeowners into foreclosure, has also hit the mariners of Orange County pretty hard. If you’re in the market for a used yacht or  boat – you can learn the difference here - one only has to walk around Dana Point Harbor. There are tons of sea-going vessels with for sale signs attached to the bow, stern, port or starboard of the boat/yacht.

Several of the many boats for sale

As you can see this boat is for sale ...

... it's even staged

How’s that for a combination, eh?

If you don’t already know, the Orange Street Fair is happening at the Circle, and as always, it’s hotter than hell so I refuse to go.  The OC Register has the lowdown on some of the food stands.

I like the idea of the fair a LOT, but my big beef is that there are not enough places to sit.  I am someone who enjoys sitting and noshing on my food, not standing up.   It’s been a few years since I’ve gone, so maybe they’ve addressed that issue, but I doubt it.

As for the ole OC Metblogs, I ask myself, what to do?

I’m sure if you are a subscriber or loyal reader, you’ve noticed a steep and ugly decline in the amount of posts on here lately.  We were going strong there for a while, but it seems that everyone has lost their steam.  I haven’t exactly lost mine, but my ten month old is a hell of a lot of work, and I find myself with little to no time to blog here, as I have other (read:paying) blog obligations elsewhere.  So obviously, the stuff I do for free is going to suffer.

The whole “are we or aren’t we going to even survive” thing doesn’t help either, to be sure.  Try recruiting writers to write for free for a publication that may or may not be around in a few months. For that matter, try mustering up the enthusiasm to write for a publication that may or may not be around in a few months.  It’s a bit hard, to be sure.  The LA Metblogs is going strong, but they’ve always had mucho participation, and I’ve noticed they moved to a different URL so that they can keep going if Metblogs fails.

Not exactly reassuring. Or a vote of confidence.  Commuinication from HQ has been spotty at best, so I’m guessing the end might be nigh.

So, I don’t know exactly what’s happening, but as the captain of this ship, dammit if I’m not going to go down with it.  Despite there not even being a crew to mutiny against me or anything.

Posts will probably be few and far between, but I hope you’ll stick with me as long as it lasts.

I am sad to say I am leaving the OC Metblog.  While it is for a happy reason (I finally got a job as a nurse), I have moved to Long Beach….therefore making me an OC resident no more.  But you best believe I’ll be all over the comment threads just as I was before I became an author.

On this note, if any of you out there would like to be an author for our site, step up and let us know!!  Due to moves out of the area (fejsez, oc maria, myself) our crew is fading fast.  Please speak up and tell us about your OC experiences, tips, whatever!

So with this being my last post for OC Metblogs, I’d like to say thanks for all the memories and can’t wait to read what happens next!

This Saturday August 18, The Honda Center (The Pond) will be hosting the first ever OC Foodie Fest.  There will be 50 (yes!  50!!!) food trucks from all over in attendance!!  Tickets are cheap and selling out fast.  All the trucks will be featuring cheaper-than-normal tasting menus.  If you want to avoid the crowds a bit and get some perks, VIP passes can be purchased for $50.  If this will be anything like the LA Food Fest I attempted to attend last year, it will be bedlam.  They are capping ticket sales at 8,000.  BUT…..it should be tasty.

On a sad/wtf note:  Kogi BBQ and Grilled Cheese Truck will not be in attendance.  Oh well.