Letters

I will be a subscriber to San Diego Magazinefor life, which, because of your “Best Doctors” issue, should last for many years to come.

A LIFESAVER

I enjoy your magazine immensely and wouldn’t want to miss an issue. In fact, I credit your “Best Doctors” issue [October 2003] with saving my life.

I had been visiting numerous doctors for more than a year in an attempt to diagnose a bizarre combination of symptoms. None of these “professionals” was able to properly diagnose my condition, which, as it turned out, was a life-threatening disease. Fed up with being hastily handed antibiotics that yielded no results by inept doctors, I luckily received your “Best Doctors” issue in the mail and found Richard E. Fitzpatrick, M.D., of Dermatology Associates, listed in the issue.

He promptly biopsied a sample of skin and determined I had an advanced case of sarcoidosis, a disease which, within a year, would have scarred my lung tissue to the point of death. None of my past doctors had even bothered to biopsy the oddly discolored bumps on my skin, even though I had asked one of them, point blank, to do so. One of those doctors actually had the nerve to suggest I was “vain” for asking him to perform a biopsy of my skin. Dr. Fitzpatrick, along with Dr. William Wayne Hooper (the finest pulmonologist San Diego has to offer), treated my condition with the seriousness, professionalism and compassion it warranted. If not for those two dedicated physicians and San Diego Magazine, I wouldn’t be alive today. Unfortunately, there is an appallingly wide spectrum in the quality of doctors out there—and if you choose the wrong one, you may have unknowingly ended your life prematurely. Thanks to you, I was able to locate a competent, caring doctor before it was too late. I will be a subscriber to San Diego Magazine for life, which, because of your “Best Doctors” issue, should last for many years to come.

ANDREW A. CROSS, ESQ.
CARMEL VALLEY

GREAT TASTE

I am a two-year resident of the San Diego area who moved from the San Francisco East Bay, where decadent dining was moments from our doorstep. My husband, two children and I are now living in North County (Fallbrook). We have seen a population and development explosion in the past two years. Our home doubled in value (yes, there is something sick and wrong about that). With everyone moving to the area from Orange County, Northern California and other urban sites, you would think fine dining would abound in this area. Sadly, those delights have only been available to those of us willing to do the all-night-babysitter thing. But just recently we have discovered the completely refurbished AquaTerra, at the Pala Mesa Golf Resort, and a littleknown cottage of a restaurant called En Pico in the downtown Fallbrook area. I am so excited about the quality of the food and dining experience that I wanted to call your attention to these places and to encourage the “Best of North County” to be included at some point in your “Best of . . .” series. Fallbrook is already at 45,000 people and counting, but the small-village charm is still intact, even with million-dollar homes dotting the hilltops. We hope fine restaurateurs will soon find us! Thanks for your “Best of . . .” series. It really helps us newcomers find our way!

PAULETTE BRITTON
FALLBROOK

BAD TASTE

Have you guys lost your minds? I went to Aunt Emma’s based on your review [“Best Breakfasts” by Pat Launer and David Nelson, May] and was not impressed! Yes, the pancakes were good, but the use of imitation maple syrup from Smart & Final shows what kind of place this is. Also, the bathroom was dirty, and I waited more than five minutes before anyone even walked up to seat me when I walked in (sign says please wait to be seated). When I ordered my eggs “over hard,” well, let’s just say they arrived still swimming. To say that this restaurant is one of the best is a shame and a sham. I will take the fresh apple pancakes and homemade syrup at the Original Pancake House any day. Aunt Emma’s is no better than Denny’s.

BERNARD L. RUSSELL
SAN DIEGO

SEXIEST MALE?

Nice try [“Best of San Diego,” June]. Chopper reporter Jason Austell is very attractive, but former Charger Aaron Taylor is the sexiest, most gorgeous man in San Diego.

MICHELE PAYTON
CARLSBAD

Austell was the top choice in our readers’ poll. Perhaps there’ll be a groundswell for Taylor next year?—Editor

POWER SHORTAGE

Thanks for providing a local magazine that represents our city. [But] as I was reading through your June issue and found the feature article on “Women of Power” [by Amber Cyphers], I couldn’t help but notice there were no Hispanic women featured. Latinos make up more than 25 percent of the population of San Diego. I’m sure you could have found one powerful Latino woman to feature in your magazine. What about Olivia Puentes-Reynolds, chair of the Higher Education Committee of the San Diego Latino Coalition for Education, or the WB’s Adriana Alcarez, who was named Latina of the Year by the San Diego Latino Peace Officers Association? And how about Elsa Sevilla, president of Sevilla Productions, or Laura Castaneda, who has served as president of the San Diego Latino Journalists Association?

VIC CABALLERO
MAGIC 92.5 RADIO

DOGGONE GOOD

Oh, thank you for mentioning FOCAS [Friends of County Animal Shelters] in your charming article about companion animals [“Going Goofy for Our Pets” by Margie Farnsworth, July]. We love our FOCAS dog so much, I only wish we could have more, and save more of them from the shelter. I learned a few new things about taking care of kitties, and will save the daycare idea for future reference. You’ll probably gets lots of glowing responses to this piece, but I just had to tell you how great it is to see promotion of our shelter animals. You’re terrific!

NANCY HARRISON, M.D.
POINT LOMA

AND OTHER CREATURES

In the June issue [“The Ultimate Summer Guide”] you refer to La Jolla’s Brockton Villa as Brockton “Village” and the seals at Children’s Pool as “sea lions.” The former will not divert anyone from visiting that lovely restaurant on the cliff face, but the latter will confuse some about what is really lying on the beach. While there were four California sea lions in the breakwater a few days ago, the more than 100 other animals were harbor seals. The sea lions get bad press for lolling all over the docks in San Francisco. They can do this because they are much more agile and can walk, and even run, on their four legs. Harbor seals cannot raise themselves on their legs and so must inch along more slowly and, to us, more clumsily. None of this detracts from the joy children of all ages get from watching the harbor seals scratch, squabble, give birth, swim and just sunbathe. Indeed, it is one of the major tourist attractions along the coast and . . . it is free. What a bargain. South of Morro Bay there are only six colonies of harbor seals, and four of those are on private property. The only other colony that can be viewed by the public is in Carpinteria, and there you must watch from a hundred-foot cliff, not the intimate views in La Jolla. I hope your magazine will appreciate the importance of this colony to all of our residents and visitors alike and help to retain the seals’ safety.

ART COOLEY
LA JOLLA

SOUR NOTE

I had to take a second look when I saw your June issue on the newsstand. Unfortunately, the guitar on the cover was not a Carvin guitar. But it did look like one. I would have thought the magazine would have at least considered using a guitar that was made in San Diego for its cover. Carvin has been in business since 1946, and has been in San Diego County since the early ’70s.

RICHARD CRUZ JR.
CARVIN CORPORATION
POWAY

Letters Welcome San Diego Magazine invites letters from its readers. Send comments to Letters to the Editor, San Diego Magazine, P.O. Box 85409, San Diego, CA 92186-5409 or to tblair@sandiegomag.com (e-mail) or 619-230-0490 (fax). Letters must be signed to be considered for publication. Please type or print your name, as well, and include a daytime phone number. E-mail should include the writer’s full name and city. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and to excerpt them.

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