Really Fresh Food

Gardening has always been a passion of mine. Many years ago in Los Angeles I became a master gardner, worked in a community garden, and had my own vegetable garden at home where I grew everything from artichokes to zucchini. I loved it. Right now my space is limited, so the best I can do each season is a few tomatoes, some squash, herbs and some fresh lettuce. Luckily for us we don't have to grow our own to have fresh fruits and vegetables every day.

Farmers Markets abound, my favorite being Sunday in Encinitas, at the elementary school on Vulcan. Many local farmers sell their crops here and are delighted to share their knowledge with you. If you happen to be in Santa Monica on a Wednesday, be sure to visit the Farmers Market there. It's about 5 times the size of anything we have here. Many of the best chefs in town, both in San Diego and Los Angeles, shop regularly at the Farmers Markets for their restaurants. Chino Farms is a local favorite in Del Mar where you can buy for your own home use exactly what the best chefs in town are buying for their restaurant. Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe is just one of the many restaurants that names Chino Farms as the source of their vegetables.

I love restaurants that change the menu according to what's available that day at the market. That tells me the chef is innovative and that the food is fresh and locally grown. Rocket Bistro in North Park is another restaurant that tells you where all the food originates.

Ann Shepphird waited years to get a plot at a community garden in Santa Monica. When she got it, she realized she didn't know what to do or where to go for answers. So she and Janine Warner, a gardner, started www.gardenstotables.com. They created an on line community where ideas and recipes are shared. It features gardening advice, links to classes and restaurants offering farm-to-table dining. Check it out.

There are so many opportunities for us to eat healthy today. Growing our own food (or some of it), eating in restaurants that tell you where the food comes from, or shopping at farmers markets are just a few ways to enjoy good, wholesome food. I'm planting my tomatoes next week, and I can't wait to eat a fresh grown heirloom tomato with buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, and a little salt and olive oil. Yum.

Wandering Around San Diego

Every month I take a group of men and women on a walking tour around an area of San Diego. Many of the participants are new to the area, so they appreciate learning about the varied communities in our area. In January we toured part of Bankers Hill, a beautiful area of the city adjacent to Balboa Park.





Our guide was Patty from Urban Safaris (http://www.walkingtoursofsandiego.com/). She has been leading tours around the city for over 10 years, and boy, does she know her stuff. History, architecture, human interest stories relating to the area, she knows it all. We walked over suspension bridges and through neighborhoods with beautiful old homes, many with historic designation. Patty has 15 different tours of San Diego which she has listed on her website, or she will arrange a special tour for your group. That's what we did. Check her website for further information.





At 11:45 we returned to Carpe Diem Cafe (our starting point), got in our cars, and headed for Hob Nob Hill Cafe(http://www.hobnobhill.com/), the oldest diner in San Diego. It's a comfortable diner, great menu, big portions, and friendly service. They have everything you'd imagine a diner to have; breakfast all day, huge sandwiches, salads, things like meat loaf, swiss steak, stuffed peppers, etc. You get the idea. Diner food. When you sit down and order, regardless of what you have ordered, a basket of warm muffins and butter appear at you're table. They're hard to resist.





Hob Nob Hill was recently visited by Guy Fieri (the Food Network star) for his show, Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. He loved it, as did we. It's the kind of place you don't find anymore, but people still love.





Well, this was a great outing, enjoyed by all. We will take another trip next month, to another location, and I'll let you know how it goes. We have fun no matter what we do, but learning about our city is just an added bonus.

Tenth Visit to Taft

I've spent the past nine weeks telling you about Ron and how he has adjusted to his new situation. Today I will focus on myself, what I've been through, the good and the bad, and how I've adjusted. I don't know where this is going, but here goes.

It may be hard to believe, but I have never been alone in the last 40+ years. Yes, Ron would frequently go on business trips for a few days, but there were always children and dogs around. When I was working I was so busy I didn't have time to feel lonely. If I went away, I was always with someone. I used to travel without Ron, but I was either with a group or a friend. Being alone was new to me and something I feared.

I dropped Ron off at Taft on a Monday, and expected to hear from him by telephone in a few days. The waiting was agonizing. I still hadn't heard from him after a week and was frankly a little panicky. It's the most helpless feeling you can imagine. There is no one to call, no one to turn to. I called my attorneys, and they told me to be patient. Easy for them to say. To top off the anxiety of not knowing where or how he was, I was faced with the death of my dog. Two days after Ron left, I had to euthenize my 19 year old dog Barney. He was suffering, and keeping him alive was for me, not for him. That was one of the toughest days of my life. I was heartbroken. He had been my constant companion for 18 years. He slept on our bed, followed me around the house, waited for me at the door when I came home. The first few days without him were deadly quiet.

As I often say, "This too shall pass", and it did. I finally got a call from Ron on day 8, and just hearing his voice made everything all right. When he called on day 11 and told me he had been moved to the camp, I knew the worst was over. I was right. Now I hear from him almost every day, get letters a few times a week, and see him every Friday. It's amazing how a three minute phone call can lift your spirits.

The deadly quiet of the house has lessened too. It's just as quiet, but I am getting used to it. I used to look for Barney when I would wake up at night. I don't do that anymore. I no longer expect to see him when I come home.

Thankfully I have a busy life and wonderful friends and family that support me. You have no idea how crucial this is to getting through the experience without having a breakdown. I am busy every day. Gym, walking, bridge, golf, mah jongg, work, writing my blog, reading and eating out are just some of the activities that keep me occupied. I go out a few times a week, but really enjoy staying home most nights. Late night is always the hardest, just before bed. I wish my brain had on/off switch.

There are some positives to my current situation. My house is clean, I have less laundry to do, I don't have to get up to walk the dog in the morning, and I don't have to lift the dog 10 times a day and hurt my back. Oh, and I don't have to fix dinner if I don't want to. Not so bad, eh?

I have lots more to say, but I'll leave it for next week. Every experience, no matter how bad you think it will be, offers something positive. I will talk more about that next week.

Checkout Your Own Backyard

If you really look, you can find many interesting excursions right in your own backyard. Such was the case in February when our wanderers group visited San Elijo Lagoon in Cardiff. Our guide told us this was one of the best times of the year to visit, because you have winter birds still there, and spring birds arriving. In addition, you may see nests, baby chicks and wildflowers. All in all, if you only go once, go in the spring.

Our guide Bob was an expert on both birds and plants. He brought a scope with him and set it up so we could see some birds way off in the distance. We saw a Peregrin Falcon, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, Mallards. and dozens of other birds whose names I can't remember.

The plant life in the escuary was also very interesting. I didn't know that there are numerous plants that have adapted to the salt water and thrive. The pickle plant and witches hair were two such plants. Many of these plants are even edible.

The building which houses interesting displays showing the evolution of the lagoon and its development is a LEED approved building. This means that it meets the highest standards for a green building, from materials to emissions, it is of the highest standards. Another building in our area that meets these standards is in Solana Beach on Cedros. It houses the restaurant Claires.

After our docent guided trip through the lagoon we had a picnic lunch on the rooftop of the building. It was a warm, sunny day (after all the rain we've been having), so everyone was delighted to be out in the fresh air. Another great day was had by all of us, and I look forward to another adventure next month.

FYI. If you enjoy birding, call San Elijo Lagoon and get their schedule of weekend walks. They go twice a month on Saturday mornings, it's free and very interesting.

The Death of J.D. Salinger

If you're over 50, you surely remember reading Catcher in the Rye in high school. It was a hit from it's first publication, in 1951. J.D. Salinger was lauded as the next Mark Twain. He was thought to be one of the most important writers of the 20th century, but then turned his back on success and adulation, and became the Garbo of letters, famous for not wanting to be famous. He died recently at 91.

Salinger was one of those literary figures who was an enigma. No one really knew why he chose to live in seclusion for nearly 50 years. His death has resulted in yet another burst of frantic digging around to get any scraps of information. However once the frenzy is over, we will have time to admire the man for what he truly was, his work and not the way he lived his life. In this celebrity crazed world, the public demands to know about people of fame and fortune. He did better than most at keeping his private life private. Why does the public have such a problem with that?

J.D. Salinger gave us a remarkably small body of work. Besides Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zoe, he had two other publications of short works. Yet his sharp social observation and his pitch perfect dialogue were recognized by critics as something special. Philip Roth and John Updike, two other great authors of the late 20th century we influenced by Salinger. His main character, Holden Caulfield, will be remembered by all of us. Hopefully his works will be read by generations to come, as no book so captures the struggles and thoughts of a teenage boy. I hope the critics will let Salinger rest in peace and seclusion, which is what he would want.

Worldwide Obsession With Weight

Thank you Pat, for the article you gave me regarding a worldwide study on weight. There's so much information in here, it's hard for me to decide what to tell you. I will just give you some facts about worldwide obesity and the attitudes and behaviors of men and women in the 16 countries they surveyed. The study reveals the country where being fat is no big deal and the spot where this is the most in. It makes clear which nation blames America for this obesity epidemic and which points the finger at itself. It shows who's dieting, who's doing surgery, and who's positively reckless in paring the pounds. Here we go.

Finland is the country most aware of the dangers of obesity. In the 1970's Finland had the world's highest incidence of deaths from heart diseas. Through a public campaign to educate people about diet, exercise and the dangers of smoking, heart disease has been slashed 80% in the last three decades and added nearly ten years to the average Finn's life.

Brazil is the country that feels the most pressure to be thin. In Rio, where people are expected to wear as few clothes as possible, there is a genuine cult of the body. It was found that 83% of the people think there's too much emphasis place on weight. But, the percentage of the population taking diet pills doubled between 2001and 2005 and plastic surgery is booming. In comparison, 62% of Americans say there is too much focus on weight.

Hungary is the country where you're loved just the way you are. They seem to be out of the mainstream, as most countries surveyed were obsessed with dieting, plastic surger, and diet pills.

China consumes the most diet pills. This really surprised me. 37% of the Chinese admit to taking weight-loss pills. Experts say that body consciousness is growing throughout China, and diet pills are seen as quick and trendy way to achieve the ideal.

France is the country most likely to blame Americans for their weight problem. They point to our fast food addiction as a prime culprit in their weight problem. At least we take responsibility for the effects of our fast-food habit. Almost 75% of Americans say our way of eating promotes obesity.

Mexico is the country with the highest weight loss IQ. By that I mean, 93% of Mexicans report switching to more healthful food in an attempt to lose weight. 86% have also tried to become more physiclly active. More than any other country surveyed, Mexico knows the sensible approach to weight loss-even if they don't always put it into practic.

Finally, America is the country where women struggle most with weight loss. More than half of American women said that being overweight makes life more difficult.

It's interesting to note that we're not alone in our struggle to keep our weight in check. It's become a global problem, but the solution will be found locally. The Finns found a way to reduce heart disease by over 80%. We must keep educating our people and hoping the information will sink in.

Food Expo Part 1

Last year I started writing this blog right after Food Expo in Anaheim, and here it is one year later and the blog is still going strong. I just returned from the three day show. Evol Burritos (www.evolburritos.com), my son Phil's company, had a booth, and I was there to help with baby sitting. I came home Sunday night, exhausted. Taking care of a six month old is no easy task. Anyway, the show was amazing. How do they keep coming up with new and interesting products?

Food Expo in Anaheim is a natural food and product show. It is the fifth largest show of it's kind in the world. The four bigger shows are in Europe and Asia. I can't even imagine how big they are. This show had five huge halls filled with food, drink, vitamins, beauty products and homeopathic remedies. Today I will tell you about the yogurt products. If you're like me, you are wondering, how is there any more room on the supermarket shelves for more yogurt? I guess some of these products will fail, and others will limp along with limited distribution.

Last year I discovered Greek Gods yogurt. Thick, creamy and oh so delicious. I've been buying it all year. I have a new favorite this year. It is Siggi's (www.skyr.com), an Icelantic style yogurt you will love. What does Icelantic style mean? It means that they take skim milk, strain out the whey to make the yogurt extra thick, and add unique flaorings, including agave in place of sugar. The result is supergood. Flavors such as orange and ginger and pomegranete and passionfruit. This yogurt uses 2-3 times more milk to produce the product. The result is a yogurt with a much higher protein content than other yogurts. This is great for women trying to increase their calcium intake, yet it is only 120 calories per container. It can be bought in the San Diego at Sprouts in San Marcos and Whole Foods.

Another new product is Liberte yogurt (www.liberteus.com) from Montreal, Canada. Another delicious addition to the burgeoning yogurt business. They offer a full fat and a non fat product, nice and creamy, with fruit at the bottom. I loved the date and fig flavor. If your local supermarket does not carry it, ask and they may get it for you.

Fage is another great name in Greek yogurt. You can find their products everywhere, including Trader Joe's. Both flavored and plain, fat and skim milk varieties, it is great.

I have one final product to tell you about which is not yogurt, but a soy based pudding that was absolutely delicious. It is called So Yummi (www.soyummifoods.com)They have great flavors: dark chocolate, cherry, lime, rice pudding and tapioca. This product is also from Montreal. It is gluten free, lactose and dairy free, cholesterol free and Kosher. It is smoothe and creamy, and may be hard to find. Their website does not list their distributors. Jimbos, Whole Foods and Sprouts are possible places to find it, or ask and see if they will order it.

There was so much food at the food show I will write more about other products next week. I will tell you about new products, some of which will surprise you. Stay tuned.

Ninth Visit to Taft

As I wound down the Grapevine on Friday, just after dawn, a beautiful sight awaited me. On both sides of the freeway for about two miles, was a blanket of purple wildflowers. It was magnificent, and after seeing that, I knew it was going to be a great day. It was.

The weater is warm at Taft during the days now, and Ron works in the garden four days a week, so he came for our visit looking strong, tan and fit. Even though he wears a hat most of the time, he still has a nice tan and looks very well. How do any two people have so much to talk about? We talk on the phone for 5-7 minutes a day, yet we talked for six hours on Friday. I usually make a list of what I want to talk to him about. Can't I remember? No. I almost always walk out of there and then think of something I wanted to discuss with him. Oh, well, I guess I'm just showing my age.

I said last week that I would tell you about some of the things Ron and other inmates are doing to help each other while at Taft. First, I must say that the inmates consider each other extended family, and in some cases, the only family they have. They are each other's daily support system, confidant, psychriatrist, and anything else you can think of. There is one man who has been there 16 months and has never had a visitor. How devastating that must be, so you can see how they need each other.

The level of education of inmates at Taft goes from Doctors, Phd's, judges, lawyers, accountants and businessmen at the top end, to some with just a third grade education. Each man has something to offer his fellow inmates at one time or another. Ron knows of a man who cannot read, and when he gets letters from home he finds a friend (it has to be someone he trusts not to make fun of his illiteracy) to read him his mail. Ron is on the unofficial welcome committee. New people are always coming in, and he has taken it upon himself to make them feel safe and get them acclimated. He remembers all too well his first 11 days at Taft, and the night he arrived with no mattress, no clothes or toiletries, and someone helped him out. He said that no one should feel the way he felt that night, so he is always there to greet the new arrivals. There is a non denominational chaplain on duty at all times, so Ron takes the new arrival there first, where he is given a toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. Then Ron helps him to get his mattress and bedding, and a few articles of clothes. There is no one there to help you out in the beginning, and if you're not an outgoing guy, it might be very difficult.

Ron is also helping at Taft in the sports program. They have several excellent softball teams, and since he is an official umpire, he spends many afternoons umpiring the games. He loves it and they love having someone official to umpire the game. He hopes sometime soon to be able to get some of the many seniors involved in softball and have a few teams just for seniors. He feels anything you can do to help the time pass and stay productive is worthwhile.

Ron will also become the new secretary of the Toastmaster's group. He loves this organization for several reasons. First, it gives him a chance to learn more about the background and lives of those that speak (he says some of these men are amazing) and second, it gives him an opportunity to speak in front of a group, something he enjoys and is very good at.

Finally, Ron is always available to help other inmates with anything they are having a problem with. Most of the men there are helpful too, but Ron is a good listener, and people respect his opinion. A personal problem is often talked out and a solution found. There is a wealth of information, intelligence and street smarts within the 600 men, so there should be no problem they can't solve together. As I said earlier, these men consider each other extended family while they're incarcerated, and they share a great deal with each other.

I'm happy to see Ron, someone who has loved helping others throughout his life, find a way to continue this important work in Taft. It adds value to his life, increases his own sense of self worth, and most importantly helps time pass. Next week I'll write about me, and how I'm coping. (you may get more than one week on the subject, I've got lots to say)


FYI...Tomorrow, March 23, from opening until 10:30am you can get a free pastry at Starbucks with the purchase of any handcrafted, brewed or iced beverage. Go to www.kyxy.com (one of my favorite local websites for deals), scroll down to the Starbucks story, click and get the coupon. You need the coupon to get the free pastry. Enjoy your morning coffee and sweet on Tuesday.

Eliminate Hunger, One Heifer at a Time

In December my mom gave me a very unique gift. She had given, in my name, money to buy one goat for a family in Cameroon. When I saw the note describing the gift, I chuckled to myself and said, "What an unusual gift. She's given me a goat for Christmas!" When I actually realized what this gift meant, I was thrilled with the idea.

Heifer International (www.heifer.org)is an organization that has been around for 20 years. Their mission is to end hunger and poverty and care for the Earth. A noble idea, but difficult. Their concept is that if they give people the tools to sustain themselves, their giving will go much further than just giving money. If you give a family a cow, for example, you are not only giving them milk and cheese for their own family, but milk and cheese they can sell to buy other goods for their family. That is how Heifer International bagan, but they have branched out.

In Rwanda, with the help of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Heifer International has formed the East Africa Dairy Development Project, to help dairy farmers form cooperatives that will help them boost production, improve quality and more easily get their goods to markets.

In Chipas, the southern region of Mexico, many coffee growers were in seasonal poverty. That means that their income is not year round, as the rainy season approaches they have very little income. Over the past dozen years, many of the coffee growing communities have banded together to form co-ops, which has helped cut out the middle man and stablize prices. But even with a direct connection to the U. S., prices still fluctuated. Enter Green Mountain Coffee Roasters from Vermont, who began buying directly from the co-op. In concert with Heifer International and other agriculture groups, the communities are now provided with everything they need to make it trough the thin months; rabbits, fish, bees, mushrooms, and training in how to create local markets.

I like this idea of giving so much. Often we give to organizations and have no idea where the money is going or how it will be spent. Much is often used for adminstration. This organization brings home the old proverb, "Give a man a fish and you give him dinner. Teach him to fish and you give him food for life." Next time you feel like giving, this might be an organization to check out. If not for giving, just read about the great projects they're involved in. They're touching the lives of children and families all over the world.

Give the Ugli Fruit a Try

I'm a big proponent of buying locally grown or at least regional fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Once in a while I like to try something unusual, and as I was walking through Whole Foods not long ago, I spotted the ugli fruit. I had eaten it years ago in Jamaica, and had forgotten how delicious (but expensive) it was. I'll tell you a little more about it.

It really is ugly. It's probably a cross between a tangerine and grapefruit. It's very juicy, it has no seeds, and it's quite sweet, usually sweeter than a tangerine. It's about the size of a big orange. You can quarter it and eat it, or just peel it like an orange. The fruit is aptly named because it's exterior is knotted and bumpy, but it's really delicious. Many stores are carrying more exotic fruits, like Whole Foods, and I have heard but cannot verify, Wal Mart. The fruit was recently $2.99 each at Whole Foods, but I heard from someone that they were $.99 each at Wal Mart. Apparently they are not grown in America, and I don't really know why. They would grow beautifully in Florida with it's hot, humid weather, but there must not be demand for them yet. Someday.

What else can you do with an ugli fruit besides peel it and eat it? One, you can make an exotic drink out of it. In Jamaica, the juice of the ugli fruit is added to other fruit juices and rum, to make a cool refreshing cocktail. Also, the skin of the fruit can be boiled and turned into delicious marmalade. It would taste similar to orange marmalade. If you get a chance, give it a try. I think you'll be happy to find out that an ugly fruit can be delicious.

Roasted Cauliflower

Cauliflower isn't the kind of food you'd even think of writing about, but I have to tell you that the recipe I have here is absolutely delicious. I was in Boulder a few weeks ago visiting my kids and their six month old son, and Phil made this side dish vegetable for dinner. The rest of the dinner consisted of a Caesar salad with homemade dressing (lots of anchovies) and fresh croutons and oven baked cod, simply cooked with salt and pepper and a little garlic on top of lentils with fennel, hearts of palm slivered almonds and cranberries. What a dinner. It was all delicious, but the cauliflower could stand alone with anything. In fact, the cauliflower was done first, put in a big bowl, and was almost gone before the rest of the dinner came out.

Roasted Cauliflower

1 head of cauliflower, cut in florettes and the tough stems trimmed off
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil
fennel seeds (not too many)
thick cut bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled
squeeze of lemon

Sprinkle cauliflower with salt, pepper and olive oil, toss with your hands and put in a large pan (don't pile them up)
Cook for about 45 minutes, or until cauliflower is tender. Turn once or twice.

In the mean time, cook several slices of thick cut bacon, drain and crumble.
When the cauliflower is tender, add bacon, fennel seeds to taste (or fresh fennel), and squeeze with lemon. You're going to love this. It's fresh, healthy and a great addition to anything you're serving. Enjoy. We sat around while the rest of the dinner was being prepared and practically polished off the whole head of cauliflower. The bacon adds so much to this dish, you're going to love it.

Keeping Up With Restaurant Coupons

It's a daunting task to keep up with the restaurant coupons and special offers. I could spend all day seeking out the best deals in town, but I think my time might be better spent researching topics that pique my curiosity. So, my information on coupons and other specials will be more limited than it has been.

I do have a few savings to tell you about. Robecks, a smoothie and juice store, has a special. For $2.00, you can buy any smoothie on Tuesdays. I saw this at the Carmel Valley location, and am not sure if it varies from place to place, so be sure and check. Sammy's Wood Fired Pizza offers you a sticky sundae on your birthday. You must sign up online for the birthday club. This is a great offer. The sticky sundae is $8.95, and is it delicious!

There are many restaurants that also give you gifts or discounts on your birthday, but you must join their birthday club. Red Robin, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Cheesecake Factory are a few that have a birthday club. There are many sites that say they have coupons for a particular restaurant, but when you get to the website, offen all you can find are expired coupons or nothing at all. If anyone has a good website for restaurant coupons, I'd love to hear about it. In the meantime, I am not going to focus on this aspect of saving money, but try to give more reviews of restaurants, mostly local, good recipes, ideas for improving our planet and living healthy, and I hope to continue to bring you interesting stories that are "under the radar". In other words, stories you probably won't find in your local newspaper. I'll keep trying to keep it fresh and current, but with more focus on unusual stories. This blog is evolving, just as I am.

Eighth Visit to Taft

Last week I spoke about how RESPECT at Taft Camp is of utmost importance. There is protocol for just about everything, and rules, procedures, and how to behave are the first and most important things you learn.

Although privacy in general is at a minimum, the unwritten rules dictate that everyone follow certain bathroom and shower procedures to allow each inmate to feel comfortable. Ron describes the bathrooms as similar to an expensive health club's facilities. Large, individual showers with complete privacy, a large bank of sinks and private stall toilets. The difference is that no one at Taft walks around naked. Everyone does what they came for and no one bothers anyone else. This aspect of prison life is always a concern for new inmates, but as Ron quickly found out, there is nothing to fear.

Respect is given to each and every inmate, and if the unwritten rules are not followed, someone will tell that inmate what is expected. For example, the TV room. There are three TV rooms. The room you go to for TV depends on what you watch. Ron goes to the room that shows CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS. Other rooms show basketball and other sports, while a third room shows many Spanish language programs and soccer. The first time Ron went to watch TV he just went in and sat down. Wrong. First, the channel selection is done by seniority, so he'll never be choosing the programs. Second, you bring your own chair with you, and ask if it's ok to sit in the spot you have chosen. Everyone has their own spot, again by seniority, and if you sit in someone's spot you will be asked to move.

In the dining hall you again ask if you can sit with someone. You don't just sit down anywhere. Everyone is very polite. There is no pushing in line, no cutting in line. Because of Ron's age he is shown extra respect. They call him Pops or Ump, terms of endearment and show him great kindness. It's amazing. Some of these men might have been wild on the outside, but at Taft they are all model citizens in every way.

Last week I was talking about ways of counting time. Ron met with his friend Michael Santos last week. They spoke about the positive aspects of incarceration and about looking forward to the future. Michael gave Ron another way to count time. Here it is. Ron made a commitment to Michael that he would do nine laps around the track every day until he is released. He has just about 5,400 laps to go. It sounds like a lot but before you know it the number done will outnumber the number left to do.

Here's one funny little joke Ron made the other day at his horticulture class, and for those that know his sense of humor, will appreciate it. They were taking their first horticulture exam. Ron was prepared, but many of the other students had not studied and did not think they would do well. One man turned to Ron and said, "I'm really nervous about the test. What if I don't pass?" Ron answered, "What are they going to do, put you in jail?" (I thought that was very funny)

Each week I think I will have nothing to say on this blog, and as I start writing it all just flows. Next week I will tell you about some of the amazing ways Ron is helping individual inmates. You will be surprised.

Innovations That Could Make Us Greener Drivers

The U.K. seems to be way ahead of us in innovative ways to make driving greener. At least they're getting the publicity. I'm sure with our entrepreneurial spirit we're hard at work on ways to run a car without having to import oil and without spewing toxic emissions into the atmosphere.

Wireless charging...Every day it seems more inevitable that electric cars are our future. If true, we'll all soon become accustomed to charging up at home, at work and at the mall. Nissan, maker of the forthcoming Leaf electric vehicle, is already experimenting with ways to make the chore more of a no-brainer. Using magnetic induction-the same technology found in electric toothbrushes and pacemakers-the automaker is devising ways to charge EV batteries wirelessly. Nissan has demonstrated a system that can wirelessly charge a parked car, but the Japanese automaker is also tinkering with the next frontier: implanting induction charging strips into roads so cars can juice up on the go.

Kinetic Roads...In the U.K., the Sainsbury grocery chain is experimenting with special plates implanted in its parking lots that produce power as cars drive over them. Only a little energy is harvested from the pressure of each passing car, but tallied up, it's enough to run the grocery store's checkout counters. Application of this technology to the automobile is a long way off.

Road Train...The European Union has commissioned a three-year study to test "platooning", or automated road trains that roll down the highway in line behind a professional driver, just like railroad cars follow a locomotive engine. Here's how it works. A commuter would enter the highway and signal a convoy already heading in his direction. The driver would then relinquish control of the vehicle to a professional driver at the head of the convoy, who would guide the vehicle into line and then operate it by remote control. The driver could then let go of the wheel, write a letter, watch tv, or just relax as the car drives in tight formation with up to six other vehicles. According to the designers of the Safe Road Trains for the Environment (SATRE), platooning could save 20% on fuel consumption and cut down on commute time and congestion.

Higher-Tech Hybrids...Finally, the plug-in hybrid car is about to become a regular sight around the neighborhood. In late 2010, GM will introduce the Chevy Volt, a car that will charge up in eight hours and travel roughly 40 miles in electric mode, after which it can rely on its backup gasoline engine. Scheduled to first hit the California market, the Volt will be priced around $40,000. It seems like we're thinking in the right direction, but all this takes time and money. We've just got to be patient.

Day Trip to LA for Foodies

For those of you looking for a day trip to LA with some sights and sounds even the natives may not know about, I have this for you. Melting Pot Food Tours (www.meltingpottours.com), founded in 2008 by sisters Diane and Lisa Scalia, offers two walking food tours of LA. What better way to experience the culture and history of a city then through it's food. Like most of the world's great food cities, LA's gastronomy is best experienced on foot.

The Original Farmers Market tour makes 11 stops, and participants are feed an unbelievable amount of food. Caviar cheese, baguettes and olives from Monsieru Marcel, fresh peanut butter from Magee's House of Nuts, sausage and deep-fried yucca at Pamapas Grill, and spider rolls at Mishima, a small sushi restaurant in a strip mall on 3rd Street

The other route that the sisters offer is in Pasadena. Here you might stop at up to nine restaurants or shops, including Tutti Gelati, carne asada tortas and pineapple agua fresca at Tortas Mexico, shrimp shumai and tea sampling at Bird Pick Tea and Herb.

If a walking food tour appeals to you, there are other tour choices, including Six Taste, which takes guests through Little Tokyo and downtown LA, James Beard-nominated chef and author Robert Danhi's Asian cuisine tours through neighborhoods including Little Saigon and Thai Town, and LA Commons' Trekking LA series, which offers summertime culinary tours of East Hollywood and elsewhere.

What I particularly like about the Scalia sisters tours is that they patronize only independently owned and operated businesses. The personal stories that these accessible business owners share provide the bulk of the tours' humor and entertainment. So next time you're looking for something unusual to do, give one of these walking food tours a try. You'll not only sample some wonderful food, but you'll get a chance to see some of LA's most interesting neighborhoods, up close and personal.

My Birthday Bash

Birthdays are no longer a one day celebration, at least not in my family. This year, for the big 65, I had several celebrations, each one memorable in its own way. It began the week before my birthday with a sushi lunch with a number of friends, and ended in Boulder with a gourmet meal prepared by Phil for myself and his family. In between I had a family dinner in Los Angeles with Mom, David, Brian and Beth (children). The week after my birthday I had another lunch with a group of seven friends. We used to go out for each person's birthday, but with everyone's busy schedule we now get together three times a year, celebrating two or three birthdays at a time.

On the night of my birthday my friend Marlene, invited me to dinner at her house. She doesn't get an opportunity to show off her cooking skills very often, as she has a teenage daughter who doesn't usually want to eat what she eats. So she cooked one of her favorite recipes for me, and I just loved it, and will share it with you. It's simple to make. Only 15 minutes from start to finish, so don't save it for a special occasion.

Marlene's Fettuccine with Artichokes, Sun Dried Tomatoes and Walnuts

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1 6oz can of artichoke hearts, marinade reserved
1/2 c. white wine
1/4 cup sour cream (use lite if you want)
3 T. chopped oil packed sun dried tomatoes (or to taste)
1/3 cup +2 T. chopped chives for top
1/2 tsp. salt

Combine all ingredients, including liquid from the artichoke hears, stir until smooth, then cook for 15 minutes until sauce reduces and thickens. Prepare fettuccine or any other pasta of your choice. I think wide noodles are better. Rinse fettuccine, pour sauce over and mix. Top with chives. That's it. It's delicious.

With a salad and some crusty bread and of course a great wine, you will have a feast in no time flat. I brought a 1999 Sicilian red wine called Passomaggio, which I just love. It really topped off a delicious meal. Thanks, Marlene. Hope you all enjoy the recipe.

Things That Are Getting Better

Not long ago I wrote about the past decade, and how things were looking pretty gloomy. The economy, unemployment, two wars, terrorism, the environment, and much, much more. But I saw an article recently that reminded me that things aren't as bleak as they may at first glance appear. Here are a few things (there are many more) that are actually better than they were in 2000.

1. Paint...Benjamin Moore's Natura line is eco-friendly and odor free. Gorgeous, durable, low maintenance.
2. TV dinners...Remember Swanson TV dinners from years ago? Compare that to what we now have with Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, Kashi and some lesser known great frozen dinners from Trader Joe's.
3. Oak Street, New Orleans. Ransacked by looters during Katrina, Oak Street is back in action. Businesses like Ace Hardware, the Maple Leaf Bar, and the legendary Jacques-Imo's Cafe have reopened and new businesses are popping up all the time. A $5.4 million overhaul helped, as has the annual Po-Boy Preservation Festival.
4.Our reputation around the world...Looks like the Ugly American has gotten a makeover. According to the Pew Research Center, the nation's standing is on the rise in Latin America, Africa, much of Asia and western Europe.
5. Surgery..New techniques in surgery are changing so fast, it's amazing. Using radio waves or ultrasound to destroy a tumor without a single cut would have been something you read about in a sci fi novels not long ago. Now they're here, and often surgeries that used to require several days in the hospital are now done on an outpatient basis.
6. Wind power. Change is in the air, literally. We now produce enough wind power to run seven million homes. The goal is to generate 20%of our power from wind by 2030, which would mean a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions.
7. Diabetes maintenance. Improving on the pincushion approach to testing one's blood, patients can now use a subcutaneous gluose sensor, which gives a reading every five minutes. One of my friends is using this and loves it.
8. Breast cancer survival rates. A recent report from the American Cancer Society found that since 1990, breast cancer mortality rates have been steadily dropping-by 2% a year among women 50 and older, and by 3.2% among women younger than 50. We all have earl detection, healthier lifestle choices, and improved cancer treatments to thank.
9. Animal shelters. Not all that long ago, 17 million abandoned dogs and cats were euthanized each year in the U.S. Today that number is around 5 million. Much of the credit goes to the advocacy movement No More Homeless Pets, which creates rescue networks and educates the public.

So next time I think our country, and our world, is going in the wrong direction, I will think about the positive strides we have taken in the environment, medicine, environmental issues, and the humane treatment of animals. Of course there's much more that is going in the right direction, but these few ideas caught my eye. We can make this a better world, Yes We Can.

Seventh Visit to Taft

I drove cautiously to Taft on Friday morning. If you remember, I left my driver's license with the guard last week as always, but forgot to pick it up at the end of my visit. So flying to Colorado was a bit of ordeal, but worked out ok, then I just had to be careful not to speed on my way to Taft. I made it, and had a fantastic visit as always. This week David was there for about two hours (our son). He always brightens up the room and makes things lively, so Ron really enjoyed that.

I said I would write about "getting real" this week. I'll try to explain. While the events of this saga are unfolding, you are busy dealing with the day to day changes, talking to lawyers, visiting lawyers, taking depositions, going to court, talking with prosecutors, and paying lawyers. This doesn't leave a lot of time to deal with the emotions you are, or should, be feeling. You're just so busy. So, when it all comes to a head and the judge tells you you'll be incarcerated for 24 months, you're numb. But reality quickly sets in and you are relieved. Yes, it sounds odd, but it is a relief to know what is going to happen. I have always felt that fear of the unknown is the most difficult thing to deal with.

Even when you finally know when and where you are going, reality has not truly set it. Ron said that for the first few weeks he was at Taft, he would lie on his bed in the afternoon, doze off, and think that when he woke up this would all be just a dream. After you do that a number of times, you realize this is for real. It is not a dream.

At Taft the inmates call it a "Come to Jesus meeting" with yourself. It does not have any religious implications. By this they mean that you have a talk with yourself and come to terms with the fact that this is where you are, this is where you will be for X number of months or years, and you better deal with it. After you have this meeting with yourself you are ready to move on to the next level, which is making the best possible life for yourself while you are there. He pointed out a man in the visitors room who has been there for many years and still has not come to terms with his situation. He's still playing the victim. This is so sad because he cannot move forward until he accepts where he it. Ron has done all of this and has moved on. He is positive and productive everyday.

Ron made a few interesting comments Friday about the whole experience. He feels that his time in Taft will add years to his life and is giving him great perspective on his life up to this time, and time to think about the future. The diet (he doesn't eat much junk anymore, just the bland food they offer), exercise and excellent health care is definitely a good thing. Plus, there is no stress at Taft. Everything is taken care of for you. Not so bad.

He also spoke about the fact that everything changes after incarceration. He will never take anything or anyone for granted again. Respect is the name of the game at Taft. I will write more about this topic next week. For now, all I can say is this is the end of the second month already. Time is moving quickly. Today is our 40th anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Ron.

San Diego Communities You Wouldn't Believe

I recently got a part time job which requires me to do a lot of driving, from Oceanside in the north, to Fallbrook, all the way down to El Cajon, Chula Vista, and San Ysidro. There are dozens of other communities that I have driven through that until now, I only heard about on the news. You wouldn't believe what's out there!

I'm always looking for new and exciting places to eat, but my dilemma now is that I'm really trying to watch what I eat. But that doesn't mean I don't notice what's out there. Most of you will never go to any of these places, so the names (some of them don't even have names) of the restaurants or stands is not important, but I'll try to give you the flavor of some of these communities.

I was in Santee today, and stopped at a gas station to read my Thomas Guide, when I noticed the most wonderful smell. It was Mary's donut shop. The smell I was inhaling was freshly baked donuts, probably glazed. I couldn't eat one, but talked to the gal coming out of Mary's and she said they're the best she ever tasted. Someday I will try Mary's donuts.

Later today I was in San Ysidro. That's the farthest south you can go in San Diego without crossing the border. It's like a little Tijuana. All the signs are in Spanish, the buildings are mostly stucco, with murals painted on many. The homes are a mix of old and in need of repair, alongside brand new homes and condos. There are vendors on the street selling all sorts of wares, from sombreros to CD's to food. Yes, lots of stalls selling street tacos. The smell was fantastic. I could hardly keep myself from indulging, but I did. Beef and chicken cooking over charcoal, fresh grilled tortillas, onions and delicious salsa. I didn't have to eat it to know how delicious it was.

One final place that caught my attention was Smokey Joe's Barbeque (no, not the one we have in north county). I went in to look around, and again the smell was overwhelming. This little restaurant was in National City, and the servers there told me that this was real southern barbeque. Pulled pork, baby back ribs, beef ribs, barbequed chicken and sausages were just a few of the many items on the menu. It looked amazing, and the prices were great too. I'd say prices were about 20% lower than what we normally pay. Other areas of National City have a large Philippino population. If you pull into a strip center the smell of Philippino food is immediately apparent. It's a strong aroma, similar to Chinese, yet different. (I think they use different spices). I just love all the cultures we have, it makes life so interesting.

Each community has it's own style, it's own character. Chula Vista has a beautiful new downtown area, with lots of shopping, restaurants, and bustling parks. Big parks everywhere, and families were everywhere on a Sunday afternoon. There are so many little Mexican restaurants in this area you wonder how they all stay in business.Most of these communities don't look like your neighboorhood, but they all have character and something special we can appreciate. Next time I hope to go when I'm hungry and try the barbeque or the street taco. My mouth is watering just thinking about that.

More New Restaurant Openings

North County is booming with new restaurants. I have four more new eateries to tell you about, most will be opening soon. It still amazes me that investors are putting up their hard earned money and investing in a restaurant in these trecherous times.

In San Marcos, another branch of The Broken Yolk is opening in the space formerly occupied by Chili's (right next to the Elephant Bar). San Marcos really needs a breakfast place.

On Coast Highway 101 in Leucadia, you will soon find Jawz. This is a grilled fish taco restaurant, that I can't wait to try. If it's any good, it will do very well. It's a little hole in the wall and I haven't seen the menu yet, but it sounds very promising.

In Encinitas, again on Coast Highway 101 and located right next to Honey's in the heart of Encinitas, is East Village Asian Diner. The diner is scheduled to open around March 8. I went by the restaurant today to check out the menu and talk to the owners. They have developed a wonderful menu, with several Asian styles represented. There is Chinese and Vietnamese, also curry dishes, several soups and lots of salads. You can get garlic noodles, wonderful soups with shrimp or pork, salads, Vietnamese style spring rolls, fried calamari, and so much more. I'm looking forward to this new addition to the area.

Finally, in Del Mar, on the corner of 15th and Camino del Mar, in the space previously occupied by Java Kai, comes Smashburger. It's a chain, new to California. It sounds fantastic. 1/3 or 1/2 pound burgers done five different ways (bacon, chilis, cheese, mushrooms, etc). Then they have sides like fries and haystack onions. They also have hot dogs done several ways, including Chicago style. So many people I know have been aching for a Chicago style hot dog, and it really doesn't exist around here. This place will be a big winner if it's as good as it looks. Many years ago, this same Del Mar center had Johnny Rockets. I don't know why they failed, but I think there is more traffic in that area now and Smashburger has a good chance for success.

As I go to these new places I will review them. If you get there before me, please let me know how you liked them. You might even save me a trip.

Gardening Odds and Ends

Thanks, Jean, for alerting me to a recent L.A, Times article about gardening. It reminded me that I haven't talked about the garden lately. Actually, since I did not plant any winter vegetables, I don't have much to talk about. This is, however, a good time of year to do a little research, see what's new in gardening and composting and plan for the spring. Even if you only plant one tomato plant in a pot this spring, try to do so. It will be fun to watch it grow, and the results will really satisfy you. In the meantime, here are two good websites to browse. http://www.blogger.com/www.gardners.com was mentioned in the L.A. Times. I spent a few minutes looking at all the great stuff they have to buy. New Bamboo Crocks for kitchen refuse is attractive and made from a sustainable material. It is $39.95. The stainless steel composting pail at $19.95 will look good in almost any kitchen and will not omit any odor. After it's full, just dump it in your composting pile outside. They also have biobags, which you can use to line the pail, or dump the contents into the bag and place in the composting pile. It's biodegradable, made from cornstarch. Other great items that they sell include gloves, knee pads, watering cans and spades. Great website.

Another good gardening website is http://www.gardenweb.com/. This site is a great resource for gardeners. They have an "ask the expert" section and a "zone buddies" section. Zone buddies is great for keeping in touch with other gardners in your area and building a network of garden buddies. They also have a section that will help you identify and describe hundreds of plants.

Finally, there is a calendar of events worldwide, so you can visit garden events wherever you travel. I feel this site would be helpful to both the casual beginning gardner and the expert.

Most importantly, get out there and do a little gardening. It's good for the mind and the body. It's so satisfying to plant something and watch it mature. Keep in mind that composting is easy and clean and will significantly reduce trash that you send to the landfill. That's good for everybody.

No More Ricky

About six weeks ago we started hearing noises in the attic, the scurrying of little feet running back and forth, and even noises in the walls behind our bed!! I knew right away we had a rat. I know what a problem they can be from past experience. When we lived in Del Mar, we had a rat problem you wouldn't believe. The rat was actually entering the house through a hole under the bathroom sink, walking by our bed (with two dogs sleeping on the bed) and into the kitchen, where he proceeded to eat anything that had been left out. This continued for weeks before he was finally caught. I didn't want this new experience with the rat to be so lengthy.

I called pest control, and they came out right away, set traps in the attic, and within two weeks, caught the rat. However, we had more rodent trouble in the meantime. We heard noises in the kitchen in the middle of the night, and when Ron went to investigate, he saw a little furry creature run through the kitchen and disappear in a small space near the dishwasher. He thought it was a mouse. Well, night after night we would hear something in there, so of course we called pest control again, and they came with traps. The rodent got bolder as time went on. He was able to avoid getting caught, and he was getting into everything. Bananas, crackers, raisins, boxed candy, he ate it all. It gives me the creeps just thinking about him walking around the kitchen and the counters. Ron saw him three times, and thought he was a mouse. Finally, we set four sticky board traps together and caught him. It turned out to be a rat, not a mouse.

I won't go into what happened next, except to tell you that my dog slept through the whole thing, I screamed and acted like a baby, and Ron had to do the dirty work. Ricky the rat is gone, but not forgotten. I hope he has no friends or relatives that know where we live.

Sixth Visit to Taft

As I drove to Taft Friday morning I thought about the fact that Ron was finishing his seventh week of a 71 week sentence (probably). That's almost 10%! When I think about it that way, it seems time is moving along quickly. One of the things I have thought about alot, and I know Ron has too, is the many ways to count time.

There are many ways to count time. One woman told me about a countdown clock. You put in the length of the sentence, and it shows you exactly how many days, weeks and months you have left. I opted not to get that. When I lie in bed at night I often think of different ways to figure out the amount of time Ron has left at Taft. How many months, how many weeks, how many more Thanksgivings, or birthdays,or the percentage of time left. Never being much of a math student some of the calculations are difficult for me, but there is gratification in figuring this stuff out.

Other ways of counting time are the traditional monthly calendar, where I X out each date at the end of the day. Another fun way that I just started is this. I counted the number of days left in Ron's sentence, put that number of jelly beans in a jar, and each day I eat one jelly bean. When the jar is empty, Ron will be home.

Ron told me that when he was in the SHU (solitary) for the first 11 days, he figured out the hours of his sentence. Time passes very slowly there.

Lucky for him, and for me, time is moving right along. I can't honestly say "I don't know where the time went", but it is moving along, and we are both focused on getting what we can out of this experience (there's a lot to learn) and planning for the future.

Speaking of time, I arrived at Taft at 8:10 this morning, handed in my paperwork to the counselor on duty, and waited for Ron to come through the door. He knows I always arrive between 8-8:30, and he is always waiting by the door for me. Well, ten minutes went by, then fifteen, still no Ron. I didn't want to annoy the counselor, especially since he was new, but I figured something must be wrong. So I asked him to please call Ron again. He said to wait, that Ron was probably "getting ready" to see me. I said, no, that Ron had been waiting for me since breakfast at 6am. So he finally called him again. Sure enough, he had not heard the first call, and was wondering where I was. He came right out and we had a wonderful, five hour visit. After 40 years (our anniversary is in one week ) you know what each other is thinking and I knew when he wasn't right by the door at 8:00, he didn't know I was there.

We had such a great visit Friday, I just left Taft and enjoyed the ride home. The next day I was leaving for Colorado to visit my kids and their six month old baby. I awoke about 4am, realizing that I had not gotten my drivers license back when I left Taft. I was in Los Angeles, not San Diego, so I didn't have my passport. What was I going to do? I went to the airport hoping I could convince security to let me on, I showed them my picture ID from the YMCA, and a picture ID from the City of San Diego which I use to make golf reservations. Would you believe it, they let me on. There seems to be drama in everything I do these days. Next week I will continue, writing about facing reality.