Conejo Valley Guide Social Media Followers Highlight Something Fun They Did Over the Weekend

What did I do this weekend? Spent some time the Channel Islands Harbor, enjoyed Silverstrand Beach and the CI Harbor Farmers’ Market, spent some time in Downtown Ventura, Shopped at The Oaks and the Camarillo Premium Outlets, spent some time on local trails, had a boba, ate some sushi, did errands around the house, replaced the battery in my watch….the list goes on!

We asked Conejo Valley Guide social media followers in Facebook and Instagram to tell us something they did that was fun this past warm June weekend, as part of a drawing for tickets to the 66th Annual Conejo Valley Days coming up June 16 to 26. The response was great and we thought it would be fun to share some of the responses here.

• Attended “Summer is Here” parties

• Baby shower

• Baseball team party

• Birthday parties

• Went to a free concert in the park

• Baby’s first trip to the beach

• Baseball tournament

• Beach walk and lunch at the Ventura Harbor

• Universal Studios

• Estate sale shopping

• Graduation parties

• Pool parties

• Watched a movie (Jurassic World, Top Gun: Maverick)

• Went on a hike

• Dodger game

• Got a kitten, got a puppy

• Indulged in ice cream

• Romantic dinner

• Went to the park

• Went to a splash pad

• Day in Santa Barbara

• Swimming and pool time (probably the most mentioned activity)

• Family time

• Went camping

• Underwood Family Farms

• Hung out with friends at a local taproom

• America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College

• Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm

• Stagecoach Inn in Newbury Park

• Mountain biking

• Relaxed at home

• Went to a farmers’ market

• Lots of graduation parties

• Annual kids and adults kickball game

• Trip to San Diego

• Cornell Winery

• Went on a run in a local park or trail

• Did some gardening

• Bike ride with the kids

• Water gun fun with the kids

• Backyard movie night

• Reagan Presidential Library

• Went to a local beach

Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark

Comparing In-N-Out Burger to Whataburger

Whataburger location that I visited in Birmingham, Alabama.

I was born and raised in Southern California and thus I am very familiar with the allure of an In-N-Out Burger. In-N-Out Burger originated in Baldwin Park, California in 1948 and has grown to over 350 locations in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Oregon, and Colorado, In-N-Out Burger is known for its fresh, delicious ingredients and simple menu. I grew up with In-N-Out Burger.

Whataburger was founded in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1950 and was family-owned until 2019, when a majority stake in the company was purchased by a private equity firm. There are currently (as of spring 2022) over 880 Whataburger locations, including over 700 in Texas. But there are no Whataburgers in California at the current time.*

On a recent trip to Birmingham, Alabama, there was a Whataburger directly across the street from my hotel. I've seen Whataburger from time to time in my travels, but never dined at one - nor did I know anything about Whataburger.

The topic of Whataburger came up with some folks I was hanging out with. They noted they were hungry the previous night, late at night, and that their hunger was resolved by a meal from Whataburger. Grandparents Bob and Gloria noted the deliciousness of their Whataburger late night snack. And thus, I decided it was time for me to try a Whataburger for the first time.

The layout of the Whataburger I ate at was very similar to the layout of an In-N-Out Burger. There multiple busy drive-through lines but there was also a large indoor dining area. The clean, bright, fairly spartan layout reminded me of the layout of In-N-Out Burger.

Simplicity of the In-N-Out Burger menu, circa Fall 2020..

Whataburger's menu is much more extensive than the simplistic In-N-Out Burger which I’ve always loved and appreciated. Whataburger’s menu was not overwhelming in size, but includes items such a chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, onion rings, breakfast items and more.

Staff was very friendly and attentive as soon as walked in. The manager was walking by and greeted me. The order taker was prompt. I decided to go with a simple Whataburger combo meal that came with fries and a drink. The burger comes with a 5" bun and beef patty, tomato, lettuce, diced onions and mustard. I also ordered some onion rings just to taste them. Oh, and I went with the sweet tea - which was very good.

I ate right there at Whataburger. They gave me a number to put on the table, and after a 5 minute wait, they brought my meal to me. Along with my meal, the employee gave me an assortment of condiments to choose from - ketchup, spicy ketchup and a few others. I went with the spicy ketchup (which was good, though not particularly spicy).

My first look at a Whataburger after opening up the package. Looked, smelled and tasted good.

The burger was delicious. Everything was hot and fresh - the burger patty was substantial, the tomato, lettuce and onions were very fresh, and the bun was toasted and tasted great.

The only big difference between a regular In-N-Out Burger and a regular Whataburger is the sauce. The Whataburger is made with mustard, while the In-N-Out Burger as we know is made with that delicious, addictive, special spread. Thinking about the taste of an In-N-Out Burger as I type this is really making me hungry.

From my vantage point, the Whataburger and In-N-Out Burger are equally delicious. If you don't like the taste of mustard, you can order the Whataburger with mayo, ketchup, honey BBQ or creamy pepper. If you prefer grilled onions to raw onions, that is also an option at both places. But if the In-N-Out Burger signature sauce is what you have a hankering for, you will be best served with an In-N-Out Burger.

Whataburger fries, with a cameo appearance by onion rings.

I'm ok with In-N-Out Burger fries, though I know some folks that are not fans of them. The Whataburger fries were very good. Cooked nice and crispy and more substantial in size than In-N-Out Burger fries, they also tasted very fresh. I'd have to give a slight nod overall to Whataburger in the fries department. The onion rings were ok to me but were not a standout.

Would I be happy to have a Whataburger in the Conejo Valley? Absolutely! As much as I enjoy In-N-Out Burger along with everyone else, I think Whataburger offers a fresh, delicious product that would do well here in Southern California.

Are there plans for Whataburger to expand to Ventura County, California? Not that I am aware of. But I would certainly welcome, now that I have tried it! Will I continue to be an In-N-Out Burger fan? Is the sky blue?

*Back in the 1970s until the mid 1980s, there were a number of Whatburgers in California, including locations in Thousand Oaks (400 Thousand Oaks Blvd - where Cho Cho San resides today), Oxnard (155 S. Oxnard Blvd - where A-Burger is today), 2250 East Main Street, Ventura (now Taco Bell), 1579 East Los Angeles Ave, Simi Valley (now Jack in the Box) and 1650 E. Daily Drive, Camarillo (now Jack in the Box).

Sunset View From Tarantula Hill on a Cold February Evening, 2-22-22

Yes, today is 2-22-22, a day that kind of reminds me of 11-11-11. It was a cold, cloudy day and while we did not see rain, we anticipate some showers tonight. In any case, enjoy these photos of tonight’s cloudy sunset from Tarantula Hill in Thousand Oaks.

When I Pass Away Will My Social Media Presence Be Here to Stay?

Social media is still in its infancy. Facebook became available to everyone 13 and older on September 26, 2006. Twitter was launched for public use on July 15, 2006. LinkedIn was launched on May 5, 2003. But as the years pass, we will all eventually be faced with the question of what to do with our social media presence after our time is up.

Final Farewell and Facebook

Do you want to stay on Facebook after you die? No? Well, perhaps the easiest solution is to give someone you trust your login information and have them permanently delete your account when you die. This can be done by clicking the account menu at the top of your Facebook page, pick Account Settings, click Security in the left-hand column, then click "Deactivate your account." Or perhaps more officially, make this request in your will.

The current Security Settings screen in Facebook as of December 2013

If you haven't planned for your afterlife Facebook page, your immediate family members or executor can still submit a special request to remove your account. Facebook will require a death certificate or other proof to do so.

Or you can also simply do nothing and continue having your presence be shown in Facebook. A good friend of mine passed in 2013 and his page is still up and running. In fact, many of his friends posted happy birthday messages on his page later in the year.

Lastly, your family, friends, even co-workers may make a Memorialization Request by submitting the deceased's email address and proof of death. The requestor reports the information under penalty of perjury. Facebook will not provide login information for the deceased's account.

When an account is memorialized, Facebook keeps the account information static. Friends can still post to the deceased's page (subject to the account's privacy settings). When a Facebook Timeline is memorialized, it does not show up in others' pages as a friend suggestion and birthday reminders do not appear for the account.

Facebook indicates that a new Timeline may not be created to memorialize a deceased person, though others can create a Page or a Group for that purpose.

Six Feet Under Instagram

Instagram is owned by Facebook and thus their policies regarding deceased users is similar. You can request that a deceased Instagrammer’s account be memorialized if they passed away. But if you are an immediate family member of the person, you can request that the account be removed. Instagram will require proof of death for the former, such as a link to an obituary or news article. You’ll need additional information such as a birth/death certificate to remove the account. Click here for info.

Terminal in Twitter

Twitter is a bit different than Facebook in that if you are inactive (i.e. no logins or Tweets) for 6 months, they may permanently remove your account due to prolonged inactivity. That pretty much will take care of your Twitter account.

That said, or Tweeted, as the case may be, a family member or executor of your estate may also request that your Twitter account be terminated. This is done by contacting Twitter. You may be asked to provide the deceased's user name, death certificate, the requestor's driver's license or other Government-issued ID and a signed statement.

And of course you could share, before your final breath, your login information with someone you trust, who in turn can go to your Settings/Account, then scroll to the bottom of the screen where it says "Deactivate my account" and be done with it.

LinkedIn Through the Out Door

Someone I'm connected with in LinkedIn passed away several years ago. I still see her profile in there, which to me is a bit depressing and sad. Recently LinkedIn reminded me of her "work anniversary" even. Unlike Twitter, LinkedIn does not remove an account with prolonged inactivity. And unlike Facebook, LinkedIn does not have a "memorialize" feature where you can post comments to the deceased's page.

What LinkedIn does have is a feature for members to complete a form to report a colleague, classmate, or loved one who has passed away so they can close that person's account and remove their profile. So unlike Facebook and Twitter, non-family members can make a request to remove your profile in LinkedIn. I completed the form for the acquaintance who passed away, including a link to an online obituary. Six hours later, I received an email from LinkedIn indicating their account has been removed.

If you're reading this article, I'll assume you are still alive. Thus, you might as well check out the CVG Twitter page at twitter.com/ConejoJoe and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ConejoValleyGuide.

Mugu Canyon Rest Area in Oxnard

The Mugu Canyon Rest Area is located at 5735 Pacific Coast Highway in Oxnard, at the corner where PCH veers due north near Naval Base Ventura County.

“Rest Stop for Weary Travelers”

There is a viewing platform at the rest area with a bronze dedication tablet affixed to a rock, as well as two interpretive panels.

The tablet reads “Dedicated One July, Nineteen 1975 to Professor Emeritus and Mrs. George E. MacGinity in recognition of their scientific efforts for over fifty years to preserve the vital estuaries of California and the United States as a whole, and for their leadership in the field of marine and estuarine biology. This husband and wife team exemplify the need for people from all walks of life to work together so that man may live and prosper in harmony with his environment.”

The first interpretative panel points out that the Mugu Lagoon is the largest remaining coastal wetland in Southern California, providing much-needed food, shelter and breeding habitat. Naval Base Ventura County preserves and protects this area for wildlife and bird lovers.

The second panel describes the Chumash “House of the Sea,” a tomol, or plank canoe. Chumash mariners would paddle on a tomol, built by splitting driftwood, sewing planks with cordage and caulking with tar, as far as the Channel Islands. They would fish the open waters, return to this lagoon and the nearby Chumash village of Muwu.

The Truck Escape Ramp on Kanan Dume Road at the Intersection of Pacific Coast Highway

From time to time we take Kanan Road in Agoura Hills to Malibu for quick access to Zuma Beach, Westward Beach and Point Dume State Beach as well as Escondido Canyon Park, Paradise Cove and other great outdoor spots in Malibu.

From the 101, Kanan Road is about 12 miles from Pacific Coast Highway and takes roughly 15 minutes without traffic. Something that has always puzzled me is why it is called Kanan Road all the way from its juncture with North Westlake Boulevard in Thousand Oaks to the 101, through Oak Park and Agoura Hills, down to its intersection with Mulholland Highway in Malibu and then becomes Kanan Dume Road.

Runaway Truck Escape Ramp

The southernmost section of Kanan Dume Road is particularly steep, with an 8% grade over three miles.  My kids always ask about the "Escape Ramp" at the bottom of Kanan Dume Road at its intersection with PCH.

The Truck Escape Ramp was built in 1987 after a series of crashes and resulting deaths due to runaway trucks. The escape ramp, or arrester bed, is an 800 foot long, pit in the middle lane of the road filled 2 1/2 feet deep with gravel. The allowable weight limit for trucks on Kanan Dume was also dropped in 1987 from 14,000 to 8,000 lbs.

The arrester bed was renovated in 2014 to make it wider and improve signage. Thankfully we have never seen the escape ramp used, but it is there if it is ever needed.

Tunnel Vision

There are three tunnels on Kanan Dume Road between Latigo Canyon Road and PCH built in the late 1960s to early 1980s. They are affectionately referred to as T-1, T-2 and T-3. T-3 is two-lane tunnel located at approximately 1142-1208 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills, roughly five miles from Highway 101. A short distance later, you will drive through T-2, located just northeast of Rocky Oaks Park. About 2 1/2 miles from T-2 is the T-1 tunnel, just south of the Newton Canyon Backbone Trail trailhead.

One of three tunnels on Kanan Dume Road in Malibu. This one is called T-3. (Clever, eh?)

Signage indicating approach of the truck escape ramp on Kanan Dume Road.

A closer view of the escape ramp gravel pit. My son asked if we could drive in it (in my minivan). I said, "um, no" although if our brakes gave out, sure, I would use it.

SKA-teen Roller Rink in Thousand Oaks From 1967 to 1983

Back in the day, there was a roller rink at 300 Hampshire Road in Thousand Oaks, across the street from the former K-Mart. It was called the SKA-teen Roller Rink. It opened in 1967 and closed in 1983.

Twelve years later, Roller Dome opened at 950 Avenida de Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks in 1995, where it operated until October 2010.

Now the only remaining roller rink in Ventura County is Skating Plus in Ventura.

ICE SKATING, ROLLER SKATING AND SKATEBOARDING OPTIONS IN VENTURA COUNTY