Letters

NO BULL

Interesting profile of the “other Aguirre” [“The Devil and Gary Aguirre” by s.d. liddick] in your August issue. Not only has Gary Aguirre had three careers so far, he moved to Spain, married a beautiful young woman and sired twins in his ’60s. He also took on the SEC, blew the whistle on insider trading and very nearly won. And now, according to your article, he’s come back to San Diego to start a new law practice and write a book.

But wait! What’s this about big brother Gary Aguirre deciding on yet another career path? Joining little brother Mike Aguirre in the San Diego city attorney’s office——as an intern, no less? Certainly, our city attorney’s office could use a calm and respected legal mind. But which brother will prevail?

If I were Gary Aguirre, I’d have stayed in Spain and fought bulls. Cleaner work.

BARRY RAUSCH
SCRIPPS RANCH

TREE TREATS

Thank you for using a photograph of my Urban Tree, Not Seen, Not Heard, But Felt, illustrating the Best Public Art in your “Best of San Diego” issue [August]. This program has been very successful for the artists who have been chosen to grace the Embarcadero.

This was my third tree in the program. My first, Tree Frozen in Time, will be on display at 150 Camino Robles in Pasadena. My second tree, Tree Beneath the Sea, will be on display at Quail Botanical Gardens. And Not Seen, Not Heard is moving to Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific.

Another of my trees was purchased by Esther Burnham and bequeathed to the San Diego Museum of Natural History.

JAMES STONE
STONE AND GLASS
RANCHO BERNARDO

IN A NAME

When did Santaluz become “the exclusive Rancho Santa Fe property” [“Footloose,” Seen, September]? We have a Rancho Bernardo ZIP code, and we’re our own entity. We are not in Rancho Santa Fe and actually are two developments away. Do you think that saying Santaluz is in RSF gives us some panache? We are just fine being Santaluz.

I, of course, recognize our club ambassador, Rolf Benirschke [in photographs of the Santaluz Club’s Summer Music Festival]. I don’t recognize the other guests whose photos represent the event. I hope they are my neighbors, and I just haven’t met them. Having a picture of David Kovach, along with mentioning him, would have been very appropriate, since he is the one who developed Santaluz.

DIANE HODGES
SANTALUZ

INSPIRATIONAL

Two weeks ago, after my yearly physical, my doctor referred me to a dietician to help me with meal organization in my on-going battle to lose weight. I need to shed 75-80 pounds, and it has been one of the most frustrating endeavors of my life.

The dietician wanted to start my program on August 3, which I truly did not think would be good, since I was leaving that day for my first visit to San Diego for a global business conference. I was sure the evening activities would include numerous opportunities to consume high-calorie and high-fat meals, washed down with large quantities of alcoholic beverages. Was I ever wrong; I should have assumed unlimited quantities of each.

So there I was, sitting in my 27th-floor hotel room, looking out over the San Diego Bay, trying to decide how to handle the upcoming festivities of the evening. I grabbed the August 2008 issue of San Diego Magazine, and while flipping through the pages, I came to the Morgan Thomas story [Etc. by Valerie Jennison, Front Pages]. In all honesty, it was Thomas’ stunning picture in the top right-hand corner that caught my eye (as it would any man with a pulse) and led me to read her story and view the transformation that took place.

I did venture out to the evening’s activities, which included a three-hour boat ride around the bay with a full open bar and endless buffet. But all evening that weight-loss success kept coming back to me, so it was one trip to the buffet (with only small portions of green vegetables and a small serving of lean beef), one gin and tonic (followed by ice water) and the cool San Diego evening the rest of the night.

Why am I telling you this? I don’t know. Maybe just to let you know that in her own and perhaps unknowing way, Thomas has truly inspired me.

I will likely be returning to San Diego next year for the conference, and I want to be physically worthy to hang my before-and-after photos next to Thomas’.

RAYMOND W. JOHNSON
HOUSTON, TX

SCHOOL COLORS

The Bishop’s School and all of us are so honored to have been featured in the September issue of San Diego Magazine [“Bravo, Bishop’s” by Marcia Manna].

Your writer skillfully wove together facts, accomplishments and the story of the Wornham family, and created a piece with emotion and feeling. Thank you for helping to tell the Bishop’s story to the San Diego community.

SUZANNE WEINER
LA JOLLA

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