Going Green At The Y

I go to the Y almost everyday, and I usually stop for a cup of coffee at their coffee and tea bar after working out. The Y provides free tea and three different kinds of coffee. Well, recently I noticed a new sign next to the coffee and tea. It asked members to bring their own container for coffee and tea, and here's why. The Ecke Y in Encinitas uses 18,000 cups per month! That means they are using and throwing away (not recycling) 216,000 cups per year. And this is just one Y. I started thinking about the ramifications of using this amount of cups for the Y and immediately went to my cupboard to get one of the many reusable containers I have. I plan to carry it with me to the Y, just like I would a water bottle. Then I can drink coffee or tea before or after my workout, guilt free.

Now I'm thinking about how many gyms there are just in this area, and how much paper is being wasted and thrown in landfills just from gyms. It must be millions of cups every year, and it's just not necessary. It's really no different than bringing your own reusable bags to the market. By now most of us are in the habit of carrying reusable bags with us at all times and using them at the supermarket. We can do the same for our coffee and tea at the gym, or for that matter at Starbucks or Coffee Bean. (or your favorite coffee shop) Several years ago our weight management group started bring reusable containers to the local coffee house for our Monday meetings. Not only did we save a paper cup, but the coffee shop always gave us free refills because we brought our own containers.

All of this is just habit. It's just one more thing to carry in your car. Then the challenge is to remember to bring it into the gym or Starbucks or the market. Change is difficult, but this is a habit worth developing. Think of the cups we can save every year just by this one little change. If you see me at the Y or a coffee house without my own cup, please remind me of what I said here. I AM going to make this change, just as I did with canvas bags a few years ago. I hope you can too.

Seventy Second Visit to Taft

Oh, the highs and lows of the prison experience. We had some hope that Ron would be released prior to his July 27 date, but that never materialized. Just the possibility pumps you up, then when they say "no" it's a real letdown. Fortunately that letdown only lasted a few hours for both of us, and we are back to counting the actual days left. There are 56 days left after today. Sounds like 8 weeks to me, and I'm just so happy. I keep thinking of a phrase Ron started reciting after the first week at Taft. "Hope for the best, but expect the worst."

As soon as I got to Taft on Friday, Ron wanted to know how he looked. Did he look any different? I said not really, although I could see he had shaved. He has always hated to shave (luckily he has a light beard), but even more so at Taft because of the shaving cream problem. No aerosol cans are allowed, so they have no shaving cream. They shave with soap and water or hair conditioner. They never really get a clean shave, and the face is always irritated. Last week someone made Ron home made shaving cream. Now he's a happy man. He says it is so much better and it smells great. Too bad it took him over 500 days to discover this product. Here's what it is.

Taft Made Shaving Cream

toothpaste (any type with a mint flavor)
liquid laundry detergent
small plastic bottle.

Fill the bottle halfway with liquid laundry detergent, then add 1/4 bottle of toothpaste. (at this point the bottle is 3/4 filled). Mix ingredients well. Shake it up and you have foamy, menthol shaving cream. Necessity is the mother of invention.

When you think about being in a federal camp for over 500 days, the word "happy" does not immediately come to mind, but that is in fact the word I would use to describe Ron. He is genuinely happy. He has no fear, no stress. He says he has only been really unhappy about 5 days during the last 17 months. There are many frustrations for him that are unsolvable, so he has to learn to tolerate a lot. Today, with just 8 weeks left to go, he is a happy camper. More on frustration for the inmates and the difficulty some have adjusting to Taft life next week.

Eat Like A Greek

The Greeks are among the longest living people on the planet. Why is this so? It's a combination of a number of factors, including diet and lifestyle. We have all heard about the Mediterranean Diet and it's health benefits, but what is it exactly and why is it so good for us?

The Mediterranean diet refers to the diet of all countries in the Mediterranean, including Greece, Turkey, Italy, and many Middle Eastern countries. It is high in fruits and vegetables, low in animal fat (saturated fat), and loaded with fresh ingredients. Historically, Greeks ate what was seasonally fresh from the garden, which added variety to their diet. Today, with packaged foods and busy lifestyle, Greeks living in large cities face the same dietary challenges that we do, but their traditional diet has proved beneficial for thousands of years, so health conscious individuals worldwide are following it. Tons and tons of vegetables are served at both lunch and dinner, perhaps four or five at each meal. Lots of beans, lentils and chickpeas are staples in the diet, as are yogurt, fish and chicken. Very little red meat is eaten. Olive oil is oil of choice, and nuts and dried fruits are also part of their diet. Following this diet helps reduce cholesterol, blood sugar and weight.

Additional factors that lead to long life for the Greeks are exercise. Just simple walking for 30-45 minutes every day helps keep them fit and trim. An afternoon nap is also part of their traditional regime, and experts feel that this might help lead to better health.

Greeks are a fun loving, social people, and experts also feel that gathering with family and friends to share a meal has many health benefits. It can reduce stress and tension. That's what I read! So, don't eat alone. Maybe when you eat with people you are busy talking and laughing and don't eat so much. The focus is not just on the food. A little wine, preferably red wine everyday, is also part of the Mediterranean diet.

One other thing that Greeks do every year is follow the fasting rules for the 40 days of Lent. They eat nothing that comes from creatures with blood in its veins. Many Greeks also fast before other Christian holidays. It sounds like a form of detox to me, which many feel is very beneficial to the body.

The Mediterranean Diet is a very simple diet. It contains fresh foods with no preservatives, small amounts of protein from animals or fish, high amounts of protein from beans, yogurt and low fat cheeses, olive oil, nuts and dried fruits. It all sounds great to me. Add a short walk everyday, and you too can live like a Greek. The stress, now that's something I can't help you with, but maybe that afternoon nap will help. Do all this and you may live forever!

The Disappearing HoneyBee

Recently while on a flight home from Phoenix I was reading the Southwest Magazine, Spirit, and I came across an article about hoenybees. Did you know that in the course of their short 7 week life, they travel about 37,400 miles gathering nectar to feed their queen. In this short lifetime all they produce is about 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey! Not very much for all that work. The article made me hungry for more information on the plight of the honeybee. I had heard that the dramatic loss of bees was at a critical level. Here's some of what I discovered about why honeybees are disappearing.

Honeybees were brought to North America from Europe in the 1600's. They are bred commercially for their ability to produce honey and polinate crops. There are over 90 differen crops that depend on the honeybee for pollination, including many fruits and nuts. The honeybee population has plummeted by as much as 70% in recent years, and scientists are still trying to figure out why, and what to do about "colony collapse disorder." (CCD)

Many believe that the increase in the use of herbicides and chemicals, which honeybees ingest during pollination may be to blame. Another factor that may contribute to the problem is the increase in atmospheric electromagnetic radiation, from cell phones and wireless communications. The signals given off by such devices may interfere with the bees' ability to navigate. A study in Germany found that bees would not return to their hives when mobile phones were placed nearby.

Global warming is another factor in the decrease in the honeybee population. Global warming may exaggerate the growth rates of pathogens such as mites, viruses and fungi that are know to take their toll on bee colonies.

A recent gathering of biologists yielded no consensus, although they all agreed that a combination of factors is likely to blame for the loss of honeybees. At one time the federal government planned to allocate $80 million to fund research in connection with CCD. I fear that has been cancelled due to budget cuts. This is, however, a critical matter, as farmers depend on bees for pollinization of their crops. Without bees, our food supply is in jeopardy. Hopefully scientists will continue to work on a solution and be able to reverse this devastating trend.

Low Calorie Sandwiches

Ever since Orowheat introduced Sandwich Thins about 2 years ago, I've been eating more sandwiches. I have two rather gourmet sandwiches I make that are both low in calories and full of flavor. Both can be modified and I'm sure improved upon.

Ricotta and Sun Dried Tomato Sandwich

1/2 cup fresh or store bought ricotta
several sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil (plus a little oil)

Puree above ingredients

Saute sliced mushrooms in olive oil and a little garlic

Top each sandwich thin with ricotta mixture, basil or arugula leaves, then mushrooms. Broil until cheese is bubbly.


Crab Sandwich

Costco crab dip
sliced tomatoes
sliced avocado

Spread crab dip on sandwich rounds, top with sliced tomatoes, avocado and sprinkle with parmesean cheese. Set under broiler until brown and bubbly.

There are many other ways you can use this product to make delicious and flavorful sandwiches. How about cream cheese with tappenade, arugula and tomatoes? Or goat cheese and walnuts and cranberries? There are so many variations, but try these for starters. All this has made me hungry. Let's see if I can create something new for lunch today.

Grocery Shrink Ray

I never heard the term before I started to research the hidden cost of food inflation. Companies have tried to camouflage price increases by selling smaller and smaller packages of their product. This is a world wide phenomenon, and consumers are complaining not only about the high cost of groceries, but about the intentional deception of the manufacturers.

Raw materials are increasing every time we turn around. Wheat, sugar, cotton, cheese, milk, corn are all higher than they were last year, and are the main ingredient in so many products. To compensate for a product costing more to produce, the manufacturer is changing the packaging, that is reducing the size of the packaging.

Take canned vegetables for example. Several years ago a can of corn was 16 ounces. Then it became 15.5 ounces, then 14.5 ounces, and recently canned corn was in 13 ounce container. Has the price changed? No.

Chicken of the Sea tuna used to be packaged in a 6 ounce can. That is now a 5 ounce can, for the same price. So they have effectively raised the price of the tuna about 20%.

On a UK website I was reading about candy bars, and how Mars, Snickers, and Toblerone have all shrunk. All three of these candy bars have shrunk by over 7%, yet the cost has remained the same or gone up.

Other products I have noticed where packaging has shrunk include boxed cereal, dry pasta, yogurt, ice cream, ice cream bars, crackers, soups, frozen vegetables.

Often the manufacturer will try to trick you into believing that the packaging has changed to be "greener", or to ensure greater freshness, when in fact what they've done is shrunk the size of the package and hoped you wouldn't notice. Label readers like me cannot be fooled. Many consumers just grab boxes from the shelf without checking the size. It's not until they come home and find out that the box of cookies has several less cookies than it used to that they realize they've been tricked.

If you asked the manufacturer they would not say that they are trying to decieve the public, but we all know they are not changing the packing just to be greener. We weren't born yesterday. We know what's going on, and unfortunately there's not too much we can do about it. I would just appreciate a little more honesty, a little more transparency. I guess that's not going to happen. As long as a quart of milk is still a quart, it's easy to guage how prices are rising. Knudsen fat free milk is now $1.69 a quart at Ralph's. Not too long ago it was $1.29. That's quite an increase. So now I buy my milk at the 99cent store.

The bottom line is, pay attention (unless price doesn't matter to you). We've got to be smart shoppers today to stay even. It's hard, but by reading labels and shopping for specials, it's still possible to keep your food costs under control.

Seventy First Visit to Taft

We're down to just 10 weeks, and that gets me thinking about a time very soon, when I won't be coming to Taft every week. Here is a list of things I WILL NOT miss.

1. A dirty car. There's no use washing it, because by the time I get to Taft it will be splattered with bugs and dirt.
2. Vending machine food. There's not a single piece of fresh fruit, yogurt, cottage cheese or vegetables. I either go hungry or eat what I shouldn't.
3. Having to rush through phone calls because we only have 300 minutes per month10.
4. Having someone listen to every conversation we have on the phone.
5. Having our letters monitored.
6. Being on guard to make sure I don't say anything on the phone that might be misconstrued.
7. Eating alone.
8. Sleeping alone.
9. Waking up multiple times every night, and not being able to get back to sleep. (I hope this will change)
10. Paying the bills
11. Dealing with rats or other rodents in the attic or house.
12. Not having someone to bounce ideas off of.
13. Making a list to follow when Ron calls so I don't forget anything.
14. Driving 450 miles every week to see Ron

Now to be honest, there are a few things that I've gotten used to that I will miss.

1. Spreading out in the house, having things all over the place (but neatly)
2. Not having to cook dinner if I don't want to.
3. Not cleaning the house if I don't want to.
4. Turning on the TV in the middle of the night if I can't sleep.
5. Doing things my own way, without questions.
6. Having the TV off most of the time.
7. Playing my radio stations in the car.
8. Seeing my mom every week and my kids and grand kids more often.
9. Having 4-5 hours of Ron's undivided attention every Friday. I love that.

Ron is making a similar list, but I won't publish it until he is released. I bet his list of things he'll miss will be mighty short.

Business is booming at Taft. There are 550 inmates, and this is the largest population since Ron arrived. It's interesting to see the comings and goings of visitors and inmates. Since I visit on the same day every week, I get to see the same people each week. Today, I mentioned to Ron that I saw some new faces, and he said they were all new arrivals. Every week some come, some go.

Ron and I are both so excited about his upcoming release that we both have trouble sleeping, and thinking about anything but him coming home. Before my last 2 bridge games, I apologized in advance to my partner for all the mistakes I was going to make. Focus is very difficult.

One of the things that the BOP says they want to do is to keep families together. Yet they limit phone minutes, visitation, and in the federal system, do not allow conjugal visits. It seems to me that if you want to keep families connected, you would not have a 300 minute limit on phone use. After all, why do they care how much you talk? The inmate pays for the phone, so more minutes would be more revenue to the prisons. Also, limiting the visitation to once a week does not help to keep families together. Many other prisons have much more visitation available. A friend of mine visited her husband 4 times a week (2-3 hours at a time) when he was in Colorado. This makes sense to me. And not having conjugal visits for federal prisoners, what's that all about? They give state prisoners, violent prisoners, conjual visits. I don't understand the system, probably never will, but I question the logic behind many of their rules.

Zucchini and Basil Soup

I've been shopping at the 99cent store regularly, and trying to cook with the fruits and vegetables they have available on a particular week. Recently I bought 2 huge zucchini for 99 cents, and after I oven roasted some zucchini early in the week, I had to use up the rest of the zucchini towards the end of the week, or throw it out. Hating to waste anything, I made a zucchini and basil soup that was very good. Here it is.

Zucchini and Basil Soup

2 T. olive oil
1 1/4 lb. zucchini, crookneck or patty pan squash, roughly chopped
1 large onion, chopped
6 c. vegetable stock
1/2 c. chopped basil
1 1/2 T. butter, softened
1 1/2 T. flour
freshly ground pepper to taste
juice of one lemon
dollop of plain greek yogurt as an accompaniment

In a large saucepan, heat olive oil, add squash and onion and saute for 5 minutes or until onions are translucent and squash is crisp. Add the stock, bring to a boil, reduce heat and partially cover and cook for 25 minutes. Add basil during the last 5 minutes. Melt the butter, add flour, and blend to a paste. Remove 1 cupt of simmering stock and whisk in butter mixture until smooth. Add back and stir until soup is slightly thickened. Remove soup from heat to a blender and puree until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Add a dollop of yogurt to each serving.

I love this soup. I froze the remaining soup and ate it several weeks later and it was delicious. If you want a richer soup you can replace half the vegetable stock with milk or cream. I would not freeze this soup, though. Enjoy.

Health Care Answers

One of the hottest topics of the decade is health care. Will we ever get it all sorted out? Probably not, but it doesn't keep people everywhere from trying to work out the problems. I recently read an article that I found most interesting about a community that was doing something innovative to bring down the cost of health care.

Studies show that 80% of health care services are used by 20% of the people. The people that use the bulk of the services are generally poor. There are many reasons for this, the most important being that poor people often do not have insurance and over use the emergency rooms. A small town in the NorthEast decided to try a different approach.

What they did was use nurse practicioners and social workers to do follow up on people released from the hospital. Often what would happen is that a poor, uninsured person would need medical attention, but as soon as they went home they would go back to their old ways, often not even taking their medication. Then they would end up right back in the hospital, worse off and requiring more expensive treatment than before.

So much of health care does not involve a medical doctor or a registered nurse to administer treatment. Social workers and medical technicians can do a lot to keep patients on track. Take diabetes for example. This is a disease that requires education and adherance to the program for the patient. There must be follow through for diabetics that come for treatment or they will get sicker and will rack up huge medical bills. A trained medical technican could keep a patient on track.

The study in the small town that tried to use auxillary resources to follow up with hospitalized patients found as much as a 40% decrease in rehospitalization, and the cost of medical care dropped dramatically.

As I've said before, "All change is local," and individual communities are going to have to work out solutions that work for them, then extrapolate that to a larger population.

No one asked me, but I've always felt that prevention should be the focus of doctors. Teach your patients what they need to keep their good health, and when they start to falter, try to fix it. Don't wait until a 16 year old boy weighs 280 pounds and has Type 2 diabetes to try to change his diet and exercise. The writing was on the wall for such a boy for years. Now he will probably be a medical drain on society for the rest of his life.

I remember years ago when I went to West Africa and needed several preventive immunizations. Blue Cross would NOT pay for the immunizations. They must figure that it was cheaper for them to take a chance that I wouldn't get sick than to pay for the vaccinations. It's the same today with the Shingles shot. They won't pay for it. They are betting that you won't get it. This just seems wrong to me.

Health reform is not a lost cause. It takes innovation and real guts to make change. Change may upset the pharmaceutical industry. They're hoping we need the meds they're offering. If we were all healthier, pharmaceutical companies would suffer. There are so many political and economic implications associated with change that it's hard to imagine anythng substantive will happen any time soon. All we can do is keep informed, keep healthy, keep educated and hope we've got good genes.

Homemade Ramen Noodles

One of the cheapest and easiest meals is a box of Ramen Noodles. That was one of my go to meals or snacks when I was in college, and I used to serve them to my kids all the time. But realistically they're just noodles, water and salt, unless you make your own. By making your own you can not only control the sodium content, but you can get creative and really elaborate on a very simple dish. Here is one idea on how to make your own ramen noodles. It may not be any cheaper than what you buy in the grocery store, but it will be so much better for you and better tasting.

Homemade Ramen Noodles

7 oz. shitake mushrooms, stems removed, thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1-inch piece of ginger, peeled, minced
1 finely minced hot chile pepper (with or without seeds, depending on hot spicy you like it)
1/4 tsp. chinese five spice
1 5-ounce package Japanes curly noodles or Chuka soba
1 cup reduced sodium beef broth
4 cups baby spinach
1 T. butter
2 scallions
1/4cup cilantro leaves

Heat a large skillet, coat with cooking spray. Add the mushrooms and cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring once or twice until the mushrooms start to soften (add 1 T. water if they begin to stick.

Add the garlic, ginger and chiles, and reduce heat to medium. Cook another 1 to 2 minutes until the mushrooms are cooked and the garlic is fragrant.

Sprinkle over the Chinese five spice and stir to coat. Add the noodles and broth. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer 4 to 5 minutes until the noodles are tender.

Add the spinach and the butter, and cook 1 to 2 minutes more until the spinach is wilted. Garnish with scallions and cilantro and serve immediately.

For variety, add chicken, beef or shrimp for a protein meal. I hope you enjoy this.

Cafe Lalibela:Ethopian Cuisine

I had never tasted Ethopian cuisine, so when Phil and Ellen suggested an Ethopian restaurant one night during my visit to Phoenix, I thought they were kidding. Always game for something new, I said yes, and was delighted with the whole experience.

Ethopian food is similar in many ways to other North African cuisines. Both vegetarian and non vegetarian choices abound. Many of their dishes are stews, with a variety of meats, beans, vegetables and spices. No utensils are used. A staple in Ethopian cuisine is injara. This is a very large pancake, made from a sour dough batter, that is cooked on one side, then taken out of the pan and folded several times into a large triangle. Injara is torn off and used to scoop up the various stews and salads. It's a delicious and rather primitive way to eat, but I just loved it. Here's what we had.

Since I had no idea what to order, Phil ordered for us all. They brought us a huge platter, lined with injara, and topped with about 8 different dishes. Alicha sega wat (beefe cubes simmered in kibae, onion, turmeric and spices), yebeg alicha sega wat (lamb cubes simmered in the same ingredients), azifah (brown lentils blended with onion, green pepper and spices), gomen (collard greens cooked with garlic and onion), salad with cabbage, onions and tomato, and a deep fried cubed beef with spices were just some of the items on the platter. There was really nothing I didn't like, and several things that I loved. The collard greens were fabulous. The deep fried beef was tender and delicious. Several of the chicken dishes really impressed me too. We finished everything, and although it looked like a lot of food, I wasn't stuffed. It takes a while to eat with injara, tearing off pieces and deciding what to try next, it's a real experience.

Although it was an Ethopian restaurant, the desserts were from everywhere, which struck me as funny. We ended up with a piece of tres leches cake, which was fantastic. (it's from South America. I've had it in a Peruvian restaurant, but it may also be found in other countries.

The evening at this little restaurant in a Tempe, Arizona strip mall was a winner. I would definitely go back there, and if I can find an Ethopian restaurant in San Diego I may try it. Come to think of it, I think I've seen one near Hillcrest. Did you know that Phoenix has an Ethopian population of over 2,500 people? I found that interesting.

Seventieth Visit to Taft

Friday morning the phone rang, and it was Mr. 74 calling. That's the new way Ron answers the phone when he calls me, with the number of days remaining. Today he is Mr. 71. I thought he should call himself agent 74, or agent 71, but then I thought those people recording our conversations might think that was some kind of code or something. This was a super day because Phil and Ellen, our friends from Phoenix were back for another try. They're the ones that were turned away a few months ago for driving over the 20mph speed limit. This time Phil crawled through the complex aat 15-20mph. With license in hand, he was immediately admitted to the visiting room, where we have a wonderful four hour visit.

A correction from last week. Ron's new bunkie is Iffy, not Izzy. He's got a long name with about 14 letters so they call him Iffy for short. He's a devout Muslim, and must pray 5 times a day. The little cube in which the three of them live barely has room to move around in, much less pray, but several times a day he pulls out his prayer rug and puts it on the small space in the center of the cube and prays. I guess the men at Taft learn to adapt. I'm sure that's not the optimum setting for his prayer ritual, but it's all he's got.

Ron was excited because he and his old bunkie were going to have BLT's for dinner. Bacon is a new item on the commissary list. I asked Ron if they were going to have it on toast, and he said "No, there is no toaster." He said that once in a while they have toasted grilled cheese sandwiches made with an iron, but the men that use the iron to actually press their clothes don't appreciate cheese on the iron. I got a big chuckle out of this, just picturing someone making a grilled cheese sandwich with an iron.

Other meals of distinction recently have included a chinese beef and broccoli dish, made by one of the Asian inmates, for the whole camp, all 550 men. Evidently he was given permission to cook for the whole camp, and Ron said the food was delicious. Ron also said that they have been barbequing things like chicken lately, and it tastes so much better. He's got to leave, just when the food was improving!

Phil and Ellen commented to me at the end of the visit that they felt Ron was just about back to his old self. They have seen him several times during his incarceration, so have really seen a transformation. Initially he was quiet, reserved, kept to himself and didn't socialize too much. Midway through his stay he loosened up, started telling jokes and stories and socializing with everyone. Yet Phil and Ellen felt there was a bitterness about him. Now, at the end of his stay, they felt the bitterness is gone. I find him back to his old self in terms of self confidence, personality, joking and story telling, and planning for a great future. I still think there's plenty of bitterness, and whether this will always be with him or not, I don't know. I do know that when he gets home he intends to write a bit about his experiences and feelings, things he hasn't felt comfortable to have me share right now. We shall see what he has to say. In the mean time, I look forward each day to a phone call from a new man. Today it was Mr. 71, and tomorrow it will be Mr. 70. Soon it will just be Ron at the end of the phone, with no security recording and listening to our every word.

Drinking My Way Through Temecula

If you're short on time and money and want a trip to the beautiful wine country right in our own backyard, take a day trip to Temecula. Only 45 minutes northeast of San Diego, yet a million miles away. Recently my friend Gloria organized a wonderful day of tours, tasting and food. Of course I loved it!

Late April is the perfect time to visit Temecula. The temperature was a balmy 75 degrees, just perfect. Wait until June and you'll face 100 degrees or more. Bella Vista and Calloway started growing grapes in the 1960's, after developers began developing the area. Today there are more than 2 dozen wineries in the valley and growing. Grapes from all over the world are grown there, and the quality of the wines they produce are beginning to get recognition.

We began at Mount Palomar Winery, where we had a short, but extremely informative tour from our guide David. This was followed by tasting. We each bought a ticket for 6 tastes for $5. What a deal. Coupons abound, so if you go to Temecula be sure to check the wineries you plan on visiting first for coupons. My favorite wines were a delicious port, aged 5 years, and a cream sherry. Delicious. Lunch was next, and we sat on the shaded patio, and if you let your mind go, you could be anywhere. An outdoor pizza oven and decor and garden similar to what you'd find in Tuscany, made us feel we were on vacation. After sobering up from the first tasting and having a great lunch, we were off to another winery.

Our last stop was Wiens Winery, again 6 tastes. They always start the tasting with white wines, moving next to reds, heavier reds, and finally champagne and sherry. The most interesting taste here was champagne with an orange taste. Very refreshing.

On the way home we commented on the beauty of the area. Rolling hills covered with vineyard, beautiful wineries and restaurants that are so inviting you can't help but stop. Many people enjoy purchasing a bottle of a wine they have tasted and liked, stopping by a local market, and buying food for a picnic. Most of the wineries have gardens with tables for picnicing.

Weddings and special events are commonplace, and there are a number of resort and spas in the area if you want to extend your stay. It's not quite like going to Napa or Sonoma, but it's one fantastic day of good food, good drink, and good friends.

Lots To See In Phoenix

I flew to Phoenix a few weeks ago to visit friends Phil and Ellen. You might remember them from one of my Monday blogs. They were the couple that came to visit Ron in March, passed a slow driver in the parking lot, and were turned away. They felt terrible, Ron and I felt terrible, but we all learned something. The rules are the rules at Taft, no ifs, ands or buts.

My visit to Phoenix was two fold: it gave me a chance to relax, and it also gave me a chance to get to know Phil and Ellen better. They live in Paradise Valley. Their home is nestled in the hills, with a beautiful panoramic view of Phoenix in one direction, and mountains and cactus in all other directions. I could have spent hours in their backyard, enjoying the spectacular scenary. My visit with them was just what I needed.

Phil and Ellen went to high school with Ron, so they've known each other for over 55 years. I only met them about 10 years ago, and every time we've seen them, it's been the four of us. Well, this visit was just the three of us, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with each of them separately and as a couple. I know now why Ron has talked so highly about them for so many years. Wonderful people, great friends, and so much fun to be with.

One day Ellen and I decided to visit the Desert Botanical Gardens. It is almost entirely succulents, something I'm very interested in. It also has some desert wildflowers. I was there about one week too early. One more week and everything would have been in bloom, but I still got a chance to see many blooming succulants. It was spectacular. They also had a butterfly pavillion, which although I've seen them many times, is always a delight. This is truly someplace to see on any trip to Phoenix.

Ellen and I had a delicious lunch at the garden cafe, talked alot and really got to know each other. It was a great afternoon.

Another great attraction in Phoenix is the MIM, the Musical Instrument Museum. This is unlike any museum I have ever been to. Plan on 4 hours to really see it. It covers every part of the globe, every country, every kind of music. For example, you walk into Africa, and then go through displays, country by country with audio headsets explaining the video you are watching. All the native instruments are displayed, and the music is played for you to watch and listen to. As if that's not enough, they have a huge interactive room where kids and adults, can try out many instruments. It's fun and informative for all ages. I would highly recommend this museum to anyone going to Phoenix.

Our evenings in Phoenix were spent engaged in one of my favorite pasttimes, eating, but I'll talk about some of our interesting meals at another time. For now, it's enough to say that Phoenix is much more than just desert. Museums of all kinds, architecture that will inspire you, and outdoor activities(if it's not too hot)that will get your heart pumping. Thank you, Phil and Ellen, for showing me such warm hospitality. Next time, come to San Diego and I'll show you my city.

Off The Hook: Fresh and Healthy

A few weeks ago, Kay and I went to Off the Hook, a new seafood grill in Encinitas, for a quick bite before our weekly Tuesday night game. It was about 5:15 when we arrived, but already there were families eating and take out orders being phoned in. This is a good sign. I hope this restaurant makes it.

Off the Hook is located in the big shopping center at El Camino Real and Leucadia, near Best Buy. It is fresh and clean, with an open kitchen and a great smell of grilled seafood. The tables are covered in white butcher paper. It's a simple menu, but I had trouble deciding what to order. There is a list of 15 fish plus chicken options, which you can have as a sandwich, a salad, a bowl or a plate. Prices range from $7.99 for talapia, snapper and chicken sandwiches, to a swordfish plate for $16.99, the most expensive item on the menu. If you're having grilled fish, you can decide what flavoring you want: lemon butter, cajun, garlic olive oil, teriyaki. Sandwiches are served with lettuce, tomato, onion, special sauce and french fries. If you order a bowl, you pick your favorite fish, which will be grilled and placed over white or brown rice and veggies. The plate consists of fish with veggies, cole slaw and white or brown rice.

Also available is fried fish, including calamari, shrimp, coconut shrimp, halibut and chips and clam strips. I opted for halibut and chips. The breading was very light, quite different from the traditional battered fish. It was excellent. The fish was perfectly cooked. You get cole slaw and either regular fries or sweet potato fries with your meal.

Kids meals are also available at $4.99, and include chicken strip, teriyaki chicken bowl and fish and chips.

Finally, wraps and tacos are also served. Both sound delicious. I am going back again soon and will try the fish taco, one of my favorite meals.

Good food, great prices and friendly service. I will be back to Off the Hook again and again.

Sixty Ninth Visit to Taft

Just as I was thinking I couldn't bear another trip to Taft, I got a new car. Now I have hundreds of radio stations, CD's, and my IPod to help pass the time, and I actually look forward to the drive. Funny how things work. The car came just at the right time to get me through the last 12 weeks.

I'm in the process of getting things ready for Ron's return. I'm doing some spring cleaning and throwing out lots of old stuff. When I pick him up in July I will bring clothes for him, but which pair of jeans will fit? 33, 34 or 35? I'm not sure, so I'll bring several. I'm also trying to get the bills and records in order. This has never been my domain. I did my best to learn what to do before Ron left, and I have tried to maintain order. No past due notices tells me I've done an adequate job. Now I am just organizing everything so that Ron can file things the way he likes, and take over the bill paying duties. At least now I know I can take care of the bills if necessary. This is something I should have learned how to do years ago. It's very empowering to realize you're not helpless.

With only 79 days to go, both Ron and I can see the finish line. He thinks about it constantly, even waking up at night and visualizing his homecoming. I think about it too, but differently. I think about what we will do, where we will go and how Ron's business will develop. He thinks only about being home. David came to visit on Friday, and although his visit was brief, it brought a big smile to Ron's face. They talk business, stocks, politics and sports. At times I could see that Ron was not totally focused on the conversation, and when I questioned him about this, he said he has a lot of things pertaining to coming home to think about.

Ron has a new roommate. His name is Izzy. He's originally from Pakistan, so now they have the United Nations in their three man cube. American, Pakistani, and Taiwanese. Jew, Muslim, and Buddhist. What a group. They all get along and I'm sure the combination makes for some interesting talks. As of today there were 553 men at Taft. At one time during Ron's stay there were as little as 503 men. Lots of comings and goings.

There is always gossip at Taft, and although Ron doesn't like to gossip, he tells me some of the stories, but prefaces it all with the statement, "You don't know what to believe." Everyone has a story, and some of them are outlandish. I too, have lots of neighborhood gossip these days. We live on a cul-d-sac with lots of new neighbors, several houses for sale, new twins, and domestic squabbles. Like never before I see neighbors outside talking to each other. It does make life interesting.

I believe that soon Ron and I will have finished this journey and will start the next one. This time, we'll be the captains of the ship rather than having the DOJ and Taft sargents calling the shots. I know I'm going to enjoy our next journey.

The Power Of Television: The Glee Effect

Just a few short years ago you couldn't pay a "cool" teen to sign up for glee club or choir. Now, with the popularity of the hit show "Glee" everyone wants to be in glee club. Kids are excited and proud to be part of this musical craze that just a few years ago couldn't get anyone to join. There are now about 600 high school choirs nationwide that are supported by their own fund raising, and some are even paid to perform.

We so often think of the negative effect that television has on youngsters today. Well, here's an example of something positive. Being a part of a group such as glee club or choir gives kids a similar experience to being part of a sports team. We always talked about getting kids involved in sports to keep them off the streets and give them positive role models. Glee does the same thing. They learn discipline, teamwork and committment, while forming friendships that may last a lifetime. Not only that, they are being recognized by their community for their hard work and talent. John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California, has a glee club called Powerhouse. The group has appeared in a variety of venues, including The Oprah Show.

The teachers in charge of glee and choir have also changed. They realize that to keep kids engaged in music, they must like the music they are performing. So the glee clubs today are performing much more contemporary music than in the past. This gives kids from all musical backgrounds a chance to shine. Rap, broadway musicals, country, just about every musical genre may be performed.

Glee not only attracts jocks as well as nerds today, but it also gives kids with disabilities a chance to perform. It's a most positive example of how life imitates art. It's not just for kids, either. Many adult groups and senior groups are now getting together for regular sing a longs. A great thing has happened. A TV show has effected pop culture in a very positive way. It's the Glee Effect and it's good.

GoCars: A Great Way To See San Diego

You're probably looking for new ways to entertain your out of town guests in America's Finest City. Well, this is not exactly new, but most of you have probably not tried it yet. Rent a GoCar and tour San Diego.

In 2004 GoCars were first introduced in San Francisco. Time Magazine called it a great invention, and I agree. It's a Disneyland type car, maybe a little bigger, with GPS and voice activated. After a brief training session, you and one passenger are on your way. GPS is available to guide you, and an audio voice will point out the sights and tell you the history of the city. The cars are convertibles, so wait for warm weather and give it a try. You can find GoCars in numerous cities, including San Diego, Barcelona, Miami, and Madrid. What an innovative way to cruise around town, get the history of the city and have a ball.

Check their online website for more details. Next time you have out of town visitors, give them an experience that they have surely not had before. They won't forget San Diego.

Great Food Can Be Found Anywhere

Not long ago I was in Phoenix, and was reading their local paper, when an article about Encinitas caught my eye. The article said that the Encinitas school district had introduced yoga as part of the curriculum, at all grade levels, to help kids reduce stress in the 21st century. Encinitas has always had a reputation as a forward thinking community. Check out the number of yoga studios they have, and many have been around a long time. Add to that the large number holistic and alternative medical practices, organic and vegan restaurants, and a great interest in health and well being by much of the community, and you have a place that I like to have access to.

One of my favorite Sunday outings is a trip to Farmers' Market at Ecke Elementary School on Vulcan, from 10am-2pm. I will often go there, buy my fruits and veggies, and stay for lunch. The food at the market is amazing. Recently Fran and I walked to the market from the Lumberyard, had a wonderful whole wheat crepe, stuffed with fresh veggies and cheese, then walked back to the Lumberyard.

One of my favorite places to eat at the Farmers' Market is Annel and Drew's Kitchen. All of their produce comes from Susie's Farm, a well known local organic farm. They have sandwiches, salads and and grilled meats and veggies. My favorite sandwich is the Cuban...Its a combination of pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles, mustard on a great roll, then pressed and grilled. It is fantastic. They make an organic market veggie salad, composed of about 8 different farm fresh veggies, that change as the seasons change. I'm a huge artichoke lover, and they offer a grilled balsamic artichoke. I love this. The artichoke is halved, marinated in a balsamic vinegrette, then grilled. It is served with either a lime aioli or chili aioli dipping sauce. You will love this.

I really started writing this blog just to tell you that Annel and Drews Kitchen now has a pop up restaurant that you can find every Saturday on Coast Highway, just north of Encinitas Blvd. It's across from a favorite restaurant of mine, Jamroc. Go to the pop up kitchen sometime, just so you know what everyone's talking about when they talk of pop up restaurants. They just set up shop for a few hours and serve some amazing food, with just a few tables and chairs to sit at. Next time you're around Moonlight Beach on Saturday, go check out Annel and Drews Kitchen, or you can find them Sunday at the Encinitas Farmers' Market. They are also in Oceanside at their Farmers' Market, but I have never tried that location.

Pop up kitchens are a new trend. Don't be turned off by the fact that they're nothing more than a little stand. The food is fresh, organic and well priced. You're giving your body something delicious to eat that's actually good for you. Enjoy.

The Father Of Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar has become a staple in everyone's pantry over the past 10 years. It is used in everything from salad dressings to sauces. Now here comes sapa, or saba or vin cotto, as it is more commonly called. It's been around since ancient Rome and was used as a favorite condiment for sweetness at that time.

It is a condiment made from boiled grape must (young wine containing the skin), the unfermented juice from pressed grapes. You can't call it a vinegar, because it isn't made by fermenting grapes into wine. Each region makes its product from its own blend of local grapes. The must is reduced for 24 hours, then aged in wooden barrels for up to a year. What emerges is a thick, sweet cooking syrup for savory and sweet foods. It's a natural, fruity, slightly sweet cooked grape syrup, with hints of plum, raisin and other dark fruits. It is NOT vinegar and it contains no alcohol. So what do you do with it?

Breakfast...Flavor plain yogurt (greek yogurt)
Lunch and Dinner....Drizzle over meat, poultry, seafood and vegetable dishes, especially grilled veggies.
Use as a marinade or a salad dressing
Drizzle over polenta or grains
Drizzle on fresh or grilled fruits
Top ice cream, sorbet, plain cakes like pound cake or angel food cake

You can buy this product in specialty grocery stores. Some makers of sba are Leonardi, Terra Sonoma and San Giacomo. Check them out on line and you will find more on this product and other ways to use it. I think you're going to like this.

Sixty Ninth Visit to Taft

Today was the first day I drove my new car to Taft. What a pleasure. It's a Camry, and I never thought I'd be saying this, but I absolutely love it. Now all I have to do is figure out how to use the navigation system, Bluetooth for the phone, and the radio, AM, FM, and satellite. It'll probably take me the length of the lease to figure out how to use everything. Today also means only 88 days left.

Brian came to visit today. He stayed for hours, something he doesn't usually do, and Ron absolutely loved it. We talked about his family, his work, our future and just about everything else. It was a really great visit. The weather was beautiful, so we sat outside again. That's a great sacrifice for Ron, as he has a very bony behind and hard wooden benches hurt his tailbone. Not a problem for me or Brian, so we were comfortable sitting while Ron stood for a good hour.

I've seen a progression of Ron from the early days of incarceration to now, a few weeks before release. He began his stay there as a very quiet, reserved, humble man. He only spoke when spoken to, he never looked the guards in the eye, never told a joke. Today he still somewhat reserved and humble, but everything else has changed. The passion he used to have toward whatever he did has returned. He loves to tell jokes to his friends at Taft, even off color jokes, which he never would have told a year ago. He has established a very friendly relationship with most of the guards. They even talk about sports. They now seem him as a person, not just a number. It really improves your self image when you realize that the guards know your name, and don't refer to you as just another number.

One of Ron's traits is that he likes to be in control. Just ask his children. He is working so hard on tempering this trait, and it reared it's head today during our visit. I left Taft wondering if he really has made changes, as I thought he had. I hadn't been gone 20 minutes when my phone rang. It was Ron telling me that he realized he was trying to be controlling today, and that he is going to make a concerted effort not to control, but to be there to advise if I, or the kids want him to. That's hard to do when you've been doing something else most of your life. I can't expect any more of him than to try, and I know he will. Of course I'll be there to remind him if he tries to get controlling.

One other thing he reminded me of today was how much he has had to rely on himself alone, to solve problems, to figure things out. Yes, I've been there to support him when something comes up, but since I'm not there he has to go through alot alone. We've been a team for over 41 years, so dealing with adversity alone is difficult. Luckily we have both had support from those around us, but as I've said before, when you turn out the lights and put you're head on the pillow, you're alone with your thoughts and feelings, and you have to learn to deal with them. I think we've both done a pretty good job.