New and Improved Food Trucks

I wrote about food trucks about 6 months ago, and although the food overall was delicious, it was not really the way I like to eat a meal. I went to Venice (in Los Angeles) on a Friday night for their big food truck happening. There were over 30 trucks in attendance, hundreds, probably thousands of people, but nowhere to sit and eat. It was not my idea of how I like to eat dinner.

Six months down the road and San Diego, which had only a few trucks at the time, is loaded with restaurants on wheels. The best website to find your favorite trucks and their locations is www.sdfoodtrucks.com. Each day the website is updated giving the exact lunch and dinner locations of dozens of trucks. As great as this website is, my favorite local food truck even takes place the 3rd Friday of each month at 57 Degrees. Each month they have about a dozen trucks show up in their parking lot, and for a $2 admission you can browse the food trucks, figure out what you want to eat, buy your food and actually sit down on benches to eat! They even have a wine bar! This is my idea of how to eat at a food truck. I'll be there in September.

There are many local food truck events, but most of them charge up to $15 admission. These are just opportunities for event planners to make lots of money. I like the idea of food trucks gathering in one spot so that you can check them all out, but they lose me with a big admission fee. I should pay $15 to someone for the privilege of then paying money for my meal? That doesn't sit right with me. I don't mind the $2 at 57 Degrees because you can also buy wine and sit down at tables. I think the food truck revolution is evolving, and in a few months there will be something new. For now, I'll go once a month for a food truck dinner just to see what's new. There is always something new to try. That's one of the things that I really enjoy. Lots of choices and everyone can get what they want, all at a very reasonable price.

The Trolley Dances in San Diego

The Trolley Dances began in the late 1990's in San Diego. Jean Isaacs, the founder, wanted to use local dance talent and incorporate the environment in dance, and that is exactly what she did. Ron and I went to see the Trolley Dances last week. It was an interesting experience. The concept was unique, but the ability of the dancers was not what I was expecting.

We started at the Granville Trolley Station where we saw two dances. They were very colorful, with costumes, painted faces and streamers, which the dancers danced around. We then took the trolley to SDSU where we saw a group of teens, dancing in black tights and hardhats, on a grassy area outside the trolley station. These were just kids, so I wasn't expecting too much from them, but they were quite good. Next, we got back on the train and took the trolley 6 more stops, to El Cajon. This was the worst part of the day. There was no place to sit, so we had to stand and get jostled around for the next 15 minutes. It would not have been a good outing for anyone with a balance problem or anyone who could not stand for long periods of time. We got off the trolley and walked across to the showroom of the El Cajon Toyota dealership, where we saw another dance. This was an interesting dance, much better than any of the previous dances.

The dance at the defunct cooking school in Santee Town Square was our favorite. All the dancers were dressed like cooks from different countries. A French chef, an Italian, and Indian, a Creole cook, and one dancer that dressed and talked like Julia Child. They danced around using kitchen props. It was very enjoyable.

We took the trolley back to the starting point and luckily found a seat for the 20 minute ride. All in all it was an experience, probably not one I would do again, but was glad to have tried it. It's nice that our city has dance troupes like this one to give budding artists a chance to perform.

Elevation Burger Reaches New Heights

I've been waiting patiently for months for Elevation Burger to open in Bressi Ranch, Carlsbad. Finally my waiting was rewarded. One recent weekday afternoon I stopped in for a quick burger and fries. I had been by the restaurant once before but it was so busy I delayed my visit until another time. Word gets around quickly when the food is good.

Elevation Burger first opened in 2005. It was the brainchild of Hans Hess and his wife April. They had left California for the east coast in 1999, and we dissatisfied with the burgers they were finding. So, after several years of research they developed a concept and opened their first Elevation Burger location. Their philosophy was to create an elevated product by using fresh and flavorful ingredients. Everything served in the restaurant is 100% certified organic, 100% grass fed beef, 100% free range beef, all beef ground in house, and potatoes for fries cut in house too. You can't get much fresher than that. Right now they have about 2 dozen locations, Carlsbad and soon to open San Diego are the only ones in California. They are now being franchised.

I ordered the 1 beef patty burger with about 6 different toppings. The list of toppings is long, maybe a dozen items or more, which can be added to your burger to make it exactly the way you want it. (don't expect it rare, though). They also have a burger wrapped in a lettuce leaf (protein style) for those that are watching their carbs. My burger was delicious. It's very similar to the 5 Guys burger, but this one is made with grass fed rather than grain fed beef. I don't think you'll be able to tell the difference, but the grass fed beef is much leaner, and probably healthier. I also had the fries. They were excellent. They are thin cut and fried nice and crispy, just the way I like them. The menu also has shakes, which looked wonderful. The menu has a few vegetarian items, like a grilled cheese sandwich and a veggie burger. There is something for everyone.

I loved the food, the atmosphere (bustling) and the help. The servers were well trained, friendly and efficient. As soon as a table was vacated, someone came to clean it. My food came out in less than 5 minutes, and someone even came to my table while I was eating to ask if everything was all right. I'll be back again soon, and look for Elevation Burger to be a big hit in Carlsbad.

The Health Benefits of Yogurt

I was listening to a health program on NPR the other day which was talking about things like white rice and white potatoes and bread being as bad for you as sugar. It was from a new study, and the results say to treat these foods just as you would sugar. In other words, eat them in very small quantities. The program went on to talk a little bit about the benefits of yogurt, a food I thoroughly enjoy, so I came home and did some further research and found that it is even better for us than I thought.

Yogurt can give you flat abs. I don't know if I believe this one, but the research says that if you eat 18 ounces (that's a lot) a day you can drop a jeans size. People who ate that much, in conjunction with cutting their total calories, lost 22% more weight and 61% more belly fat than dieters who didn't. Fat around your waist produces the hormone cortisol, which tells your body to accumulate even more belly flab. When you eat yogurt, the calcium signals your fat cells to pump out less cortisol, making it easier for you to drop pounds.

Most yogurt brands contain live and active cultures, which means the yogurt has probiotics, beneficial bugs that live in your digestive tract. Many yogurts now contain a special strain of probiotics meant to help regulate your digestion or strengthen your immune system.

Yogurt is loaded with vitamins and calcium. It contains too many vitamins to list them all here, but I do want to mention that it contains vitamin B12, found mostly in animal products, so it's a great product for strict vegetarians. Vitamin B12 maintains red blood cells and helps keep your nervous stystem functioning properly.

A cup of yogurt a day can help you recover faster after a workout. With the right ratio of protein to carbohydrates, yogurt, particularly high protein Greek yogurt, is the perfect after workout snack. It is best to eat within 60 minute8 of exercise. The protein and amino acids it provides will help repair your muscles.

Not all yogurt is created equal. If calcium is what you're looking for, stick to plain, unsweetened yogurt. Added fruit takes up precious space in the container, thus you will be consuming less calcium. Most yogurts add vitamin D today, as it helps boost calcium absorption.

Yogurt may help reduce high blood pressure. Most of us eat far above the recommended daily allowance of sodium, and eating yogurt, which contains potassium, may help flush out the excess sodium.

My favorite yogurt these days is the rich, thick Greek yogurt. I love Fage and Greek Goddess. I buy the plain, and if I want fruit, I add my own. That way there is no added sugar, unless I choose to add it. 18 ounces of yogurt a day is a lot. I don't think I can eat that much, and that's an awful lot of calories. I don't know how I could lose weight eating that much yogurt. I don't think the delicous frozen yogurt I love so much would count as part of my yogurt intake for the day. It probably contains some nutritional values, but not like the plain Greek yogurt. For now, I'll eat both.

Phase Two-Week Eight

I haven't crossed out the dates on the calendar since Ron came home, but with just 11 days of home confinement left, I find myself again counting down the days. It's different, though. I used to get up each morning, look at the calendar, count how many days it was until I would see Ron again, then count the weeks and months until his release. Now I just think about the day that we don't get a 3am wake up call. Ron is very understanding about accountability and takes it all in stride. They could call him in the middle of the night and tell him he has to come take a drug test in the morning. I find that a bit harassing, but he understands how the system work.

My mother is coming to visit on Wednesday, and David is coming on Friday. Since Ron can't travel out of the Southern District, these visits are looked forward to with great anticipation. We both look forward to the day we can go to Los Angeles, and hopefully Colorado, to see our children and grandchildren. That will be part of Phase Three, which begins October 7.

Overall I think we have made a good adjustment to Ron's return. After October 7 things will change a little. He will no longer be accountable on an hour by hour basis, no one will be calling to see what he's doing, and he will be working more. Hopefully he will be umpiring on the weekends. No more having to be home at 8pm.

Ron's counselor at the halfway house has been very helpful. She has a huge case load, yet she has been there for him and helped him get through this process as painlessly as possible. Although it took some time, she finally got him excused from the Lifestyles class. She has been great.

Ron continues to think about his friends at Taft and wonders what they are doing. A day rarely goes by that he doesn't tell a story about one of the men he met there. I keep thinking of what Ron was told by so many people who have been incarcerated, and that was that after you're home, you'll forget everything and everyone. I see Ron, how he talks about the men that are still there and wonder how men do that. How do you walk away from 19 months of day in, day out living together, and never think of these people again? He can't do it, and I don't think he'd want to do it.

I went to LA about 2 weeks ago when Phil and his family came to town. I was just there for the day, but it was the first time in 6 weeks I had made the drive up there. I felt funny driving there, knowing that that would be the furthest point of my trip. I would not be going on to Taft. It felt strange, but I am so happy my intense driving days are behind me. I used to listen to a book on tape every week, now it's one book in three weeks. I miss seeing my mom every week. That was a treat, one of the best things that came from Ron's 19 months away. I got to spend time with my mom. Not quite the way I wanted it, but I have to look at the good side of things. Seeing my mom every week, my kids more often than I do now, and having a closer connection with my immediate family was a great bonus. It really helped me through those many months.

Now we're back to our ordinary lives, with a little less travel. We are both grateful to be together again, and for the time being, the family will have to come to us. I hope that will change soon.

Freebies No More

Back in the day (I'm not sure exactly when that was), but I'm talking about 20+ years ago, things we pay for today were free. The list from free to fee is long, and it starts with something I know well, the travel industry. I've been in the business since 1989, so I've seen a lot of changes. When I began in the industry, a travel agent's services were free. We were paid by the vendors: airlines, hotels, car companies and tour operators. Today, airlines do not generally pay commision to agents and hotels and car companies pay very little to agents. Travel agents do receive commision from many tour operators and cruise companies. Many consumers pay travel fees to their travel agent, either outright as a consultant fee, or built in fees for a big vacation. In addition, the airlines, that used be very customer service oriented, now charge for everything, and often treat you with less than the respect you deserve. Luggage, meals and seat assignments are just some of the things airlines are now charging for. When you check the cost of air travel, you must consider all these factors to know the true cost of your airline ticket.

Another area of service that used to be free, but now charges a fee, is banking. Banks actually used to want to keep your money for you, and for that service, they would pay YOU a nice rate of interest. Today, you might as well keep your money under the mattress or under an old tree in the yard. Interest rates are pathetic, and in addition, banks now charge for checks, withdrawing money from ATM's, check writing, and on and on. With all these fees it's no wonder the financial businesses are so profitable.

Directory assistance used to be a free service. Today, you pay for this service too.

Gas station service is also now only available for a fee. Many years ago, not only would a nice young man pump your gas, but he'd check the air pressure in your tires, clean your windows and check your battery, all with a smile. As if gas prices weren't high enough, you now have to do all this yourself. In their defense, gas stations will help disabled persons pump their gas.

Water. I never thought I'd see the day where we had to pay for water. Well, we really don't have to pay for water. You can still drink the tap water if you want, but how did water become a multi billion business? I'm part of the reason, I guess, as I love buying the flavored bottled waters. I know this is ridiculous, as it's wasteful (plastic bottles) and what's wrong with plain old water? A whole aisle in the supermarket of water. I never could have predicted this.

So when you look at your monthly bills now, compared to 20+ years ago, you will notice a number of charges that never existed then. Cable TV, satellite radio, banking charges, bottled water, and of course higher gas prices and higher airline costs. Who's next to charge a fee? We'll have to wait and see.

More Openings, Closures

A few more restaurants have gone out of business. Blanca, a very upscale restaurant in Solana Beach, has finally closed its doors. The principals say they are looking for a new location. Another restaurant that just closed is the second location of Beachgrass Cafe. This is the one that was just behind Maria's Mexican restaurant at El Camino Real and Encinitas Blvd. This location just never caught on. For me it might have been the decor. It had no ambience, in my opinion.

With every negative there is a positive. Swami's will be opening in the space formerly occupied by Beachgrass Cafe. This is Swami's third location. They also have a fairly new location in Carlsbad.

Burlap is the new hot spot in Del Mar. Acutally, it's in the shopping center where the new fancy theatres are, at Del Mar Heights and El Camino Real. I have not had an opportunity to dine there yet, but the reviews seem positive, and I will try it soon.

Another new place that I want to try is called Stacked. It is in the Fashion Valley Mall. It features burgers, pizzas and salads, but with a twist. Every table has an iPad, where you build your own burger. You put your order in at your table, with all the specifics you want. A little gimmicky, but it sounds fun. The owners were the two men that started BJ's back in the early 1990's. They are no longer involved in BJ's, and started Stacked in Torrance, and have now expanded to San Diego. Their concept is to free up their waiters to give excellent service and not have to worry about taking food orders. Several other restaurants in the area have also introduced iPads to their restaurants. Candelas, Naked Pizza, Toast Enoteca and Cucina and Aqua Al2 all use iPads in order give the customers a different experience and to provide better service for their patrons. Servers are being replaced with technology.

I'm trying to keep you updated on new restaurants in North County, but I know I don't mention many new places (and closures) in Carmel Valley and La Jolla. I would like to, so if you have places you know are opening or closing, please let me know. For now, these new places I mentioned should keep your stomach happy.

The Hearty Generation

I recently had the good fortune to hear Louis Zamperini speak at Cal State San Marcos, thanks to Marilyn's organization. Thanks, Marilyn, for bringing this lecture to our attention and arranging it. Louis is the hero of Laura Hildenbrand's new book, Unbroken. At 93 years of age he is funny, strong, inspirational, and extraordinary. I feel lucky to have heard him speak.

The book Unbroken is one I will not soon forget. Saying that I loved this book is not excactly right. I could not put the book down, yet it was difficult to read. The subject matter, which I did not know before starting the book, is tough. An American airman, lost at sea for 47 days, then found by the Japanese, and imprisoned and tortured for 5 years. How does someone survive this and forgive his captors? I can only figure that his faith made him able to forgive. It wasn't until he heard Billy Graham speak, on the insistance of his wife, who was fed up with his alcoholic ways, that he found Christianity. It was also at this time that he stopped having the nightmares that had been haunting him since his release.

Louis Zamperini was an Olympic athlete, taking part in the 1936 Olympics, and rooming with Jesse Owens, yet most of us have never heard of him. Shortly after the 1936 Olympics he enlisted, and was sent to the Pacific. That was the end of his career as an athlete, but more important work was waiting for him after the war. He has been counseling at risk youth for many years. He carried the torch in the 1998 Olympics in Japan, and was cheered as he ran through the streets.

He has a great sense of humor. He was asked if anything positive came out of his years as a POW. He said, "Yes, it prepared me for 55 years of marriage."

The sadistic psychopath who tortured Louis for years was nicknamed "The Bird." For years all Louis thought about was revenge. After he returned home he thought about returning to Japan and killing him. When he heard Billy Graham, this all changed. He forgave The Bird, and actually wanted to meet him. The Bird, however, would not meet with him.

oTom Brokaw named Louis' generation, The Greatest Generation. Louis feels they should be called The Hearty Generation, for they were strong and could overcome any obstacle. They were tough.

The audience was filled with dozens of former POW's and current military. The audience cheered them all. It was an emotional afternoon. I felt I had the privilege of hearing an extrordinary man, who shows no signs of slowing down. He has a positive outlook toward life and forgiveness in his heart. I am proud to have had the opportunity to hear him.

Trolley Dances in San Diego

For 39 years, the San Diego Dance Theatre (SDDT) has been enriching the cultural life of San Diego residents through countless dance concerts and training for young dancers. In 1997 Jean Isaacs was appointed artistic director, and under her tuteledge the company has earned a reputation as a company of fully professional dancers committed to unconventional and deeply courageous programming. They are known specifically for their Trolley Dances their summer dance workshops, and the sheer beauty of their dancers.

Their mission is to create and perform intelligent dances that breathe life into the people of their region and beyond. The dances created have to be gorgeous and very physical. They have to reflect the world as it is now: urban, edgy, moving towards gender equality, deeply human, and danced by people of varied sizes, colors and background.

I can't wait to go see the dancers! They'll be dancing at trolley stops around San Diego on September 24, 25, and October 1 and 2. You can buy discount tickets by going to www.sdarttix.com (thanks Jill). 2 hours of great entertainment for only $15. I hope to see you there. For more info, go to www.sandiegodancetheater.org.

Phase Two-Week Seven

With less than three weeks to go in this phase of our experience, the nightly calls are still waking us up. I think there's been just one night without a middle of the night wake up call. About once a week Ron will get a call around 3am and they'll tell him he needs to come for a drug test in the morning. Nothing like a lot of notice. We're used to it.

I can't believe it's been seven weeks since I picked Ron up at Taft. In some ways it seems that 19 months never happened, in other ways it seems I just picked him up yesterday. We are now into a routine. We spend lots of time together, we play a lot of bridge, shop for food, then eat the food. We've kind of picked up where we left off 19 months ago.

The one thing that has changed is Ron's visible appreciation for all he has. He gets up each morning thankful for the life he has, his good health, good marriage, good family. He goes to sleep each night remembering where he has been and again feeling thankful that he is home.

Ron loves my smile. He says I don't smile enough, and he is working hard to make me smile alot everyday. I thought I did smile alot, but maybe not. He does so much every day to assure that I am happy. I guess I could say that he thinks more about me than he ever did before. This is a change I love.

Happiness. The simplest things make us happy. Having breakfast together, going to Costco, or eating a burger at Hodad's make us happy. I've been doing some research on the countries of the world where people are the happiest. The U.S. is NOT one of them, but I consider myself happy. I believe we make our own happiness. I think of our lives together and realize that our happiest times have been when we've had the least. Security makes me happy, and emotionally I feel very secure, thus very happy. As the Bob Marley song I like so much says, "Don't Worry, Be Happy, Everything's gonna be all right."

As we enter the final two weeks of home confinement and get ready for phase three, we both look forward to the end of the phone calls and the weekly schedules telling where Ron will be and when. The Halfway House is constantly checking up, but as I've said before, they're never going to find Ron in the wrong place at the wrong time. No way. He's always where he's supposed to be. Just 18 more days of extreme accountability.

A Night Without Power

We take it for granted that the power will always work, the TV will be there when we want it, and the internet will always be connected. But where humans are in charge, there is bound to be human error. That is what happened on the afternoon of September 8 when a worker in Yuma was working on the electricity and before we knew it, all electricity was out for hundreds of miles, and affecting millions of people.

Ron and I were at the doctor's office in Encinitas that afternoon when everything went out. When I think back on it I thought it was just a power surge at the time, as the lights went out and then a few lights came back on. They must have a back up generator that quickly kicked in. We left and came home, noticing that street lights were blinking everywhere. It wasn't until we got home at 4pm and couldn't open the garage door it dawned on us that the power was out.

We were what I call semi prepared. We had 2 flashlights with fresh batteries, a transistor radio that sort of worked, but by the end of the evening was working no more. We also had candles if needed. We had a cell phone and a land phone that both worked, which made us feel connected. Unfortunately the power went out on the night of the first NFL football game which made many fans, Ron included, pretty unhappy. Luckily he had the transistor, which made it through the whole game.

It was still light out when we got home and realized the power was probably going to be out all night, so Ron went up to Rite Aid to get more batteries. The entire center was closed. Next he tried Costco, which was open, but on a limited basis and had no portable radio. He gave up and came home.

Our evening was simple and enjoyable. We had already planned to barbeque that night, so no oven was needed. I had made a cold wheatberry salad earlier in the day, and the naan bread I planned to take from the freezer would be thawed, then placed on the barbeque. Except for the fact that the fish we barbequed wasn't very good, everything else worked out well, and we enjoyed our little outdoor picnic. Then I showered early and got ready to listen to the ball game. There wasn't much else to do. Around 8:30 we got in bed, listened to the game, and talked. It was a little like camping out. At 10pm we went to bed, knowing that electricity had already been returned to Laguna and Tijuana, so I knew it was just a matter of time before we were up and running. Sure enough, around 10:20pm, electricity came back on. We reset all the clocks, TV's and made sure the internet was connected, then went back to bed.

I got to the Y Friday morning for an 8am class only to find that the teacher's power had not resumed until 4am, and her alarm clock never went off. Luckily they got a sub for her. Many people did not get power for as long as 12 hours, so we were lucky. No spoiled food in the freezer and refrigerator.

Nights like September 8 are a reminder to all of us that we should be prepared for emergencies, be they electrical, earthquakes, or storms. We should always have a light source handy and a portable radio. I'm guilty of NOT doing this, but I sent Ron to the store this morning to get all the necessary equipment. Hopefully we won't have another incident like this for a very long time. I think about all the millions of dollars that were lost in restaurants, retail shops, supermarkets and more. A simple human error can sure case a lot of harm.

Deja Vu All Over Again

When Ron and I first met in 1970 we lived in a one room apartment on Elm Drive in Beverly Hills. We slept on a Murphy bed that came out of the wall, we ate Goobers Peanut and Jelly, the only thing in Ron's refrigerator when I moved in, and Ron had a pile of dirty clothes in the corner. His idea of doing laundry was going to Bullock's every few weeks and buying new underwear and socks. The rest of the clothes he would take to the fluff and fold. To say he was not very domestic is a gross understatement. Those were great times. We were broke and happy. Our idea of an evening out was walking to MFK (the drug store in the old Beverly Wilshire Hotel, now the Beverly Regent) and getting a hot fudge or hot caramel sundae. That was a night on the town. The best nights were spent at home. We'd stay up all night talking. We had so much to say to each other, and we never tired of being together. Our landlord had plenty of complaints from the neighbors about out talking all night long. At one point we were warned that we would be evicted if we did not keep our voices down.

Flash forward 42 years. Only the location has changed, but not much else. Since Ron's been home, we have been up many nights for hours, talking, planning, discussing. I get up bleary eyed for the gym each morning, but it's worth it. Those nights spent talking in the past, and now, are such happy times. I wouldn't trade them for anything, even a decent night's sleep. Our evenings out are not at MFK anymore, but a trip to Whole Foods for gelato or the local yogurt for dessert are our idea of an evening out.

We've got no neighbors to complain about our talking now, so we're free to talk to our hearts content, all night if we want. I wonder if we'll still be talking all night when the halfway house stops calling in the middle of the night and wakes us up. That's what gets us started in the first place. Whatever the reason, I'm glad we still talking after all this time together!

New San Diego Airport Concessions

I don't know about you, but I'm sick of the same old concessions in domestic airports. Host has a huge presence in airport restaurants, and most of them are expensive and aren't any good. Wolfgang Puck and other well known chains have entered the arena, but now San Diego is going to have some real choices. Host's contract with San Diego airport, which has dominated the food courts for 40 years, will soon be up. Along with a $1billion remodel and expansion of Terminal 2, officials decided to get some great San Diego restaurants and concessions into the airport. That way when people arrive or take off from San Diego, the airport will have a mix of some of our favorite local spots. Here are just a few of the local businesses and merchandise that are planned for the new airport concessions: Stone Brewing Co., Panniken Coffee and Tea, Saffron Thai, Phil's BBQ, Warwick's of La Jolla (books and gifts), Jer's Chocolates, and Bankers Hill Bar and Restaurant.

If all these businesses are in the airport, I could actually get excited about my next flight. I wouldn't mind arriving a little early and having lunch at Phil's or browsing through Warwick's. The airport may become a destination for food! Just kidding about that, but it sure would be nice to know that if you have a delay you aren't stuck for a meal. The information I read said this remodel would be underway soon, but with budget issues dominating the news, who knows. It certainly would create lots of new jobs for San Diego.

What Ever Became of Los 33?

I was deeply touched by the story of the 33 Chilean miners who all survived 69 horrific days buried deep inside a Chilean copper mine last year. Many people thought that these 33 men, who bonded together to help survive, would become rich and famous. One man, Mario Sepulveda is about the only one to have cashed out. Here's what actually become of Los 33.

Nearly half them men have been unemployed since their rescue. The mine in which they were trapped is now bankrupt, and lawsuits against the mine owners will take years to be resolved. Many of the miners have signed up to give motivational speeches. 25 of the miners have been working with a university professor, Ricardo Munoz, who has helped them polish their deliveries. He is one of the few who is working with the miners to help them, and not just profit from them. Four of the miners have gone back to working in underground mines.

They have gotten some financial rewards from the experience. Leonardo Farkas, an eccentric millionaire and Chilean mine owner, wrote each of the miners a check for about $11,000, gave each of them a motorcycle, and threw them a lavish part.

Miners were hoping that President Pinera would announce lifelong pensions of about $430 for Los 33, and although it's under negotiation, it has not happened yet.

Many of the miners also received paid trips for interviews, but no actual money. Neither did they proft from books written about them. Only recently did they reach a deal with a Hollywood agent for an authorized book and movie, but they have yet to see any money. They sold the rights to their story to producer Mike Medavoy (Black Swan), who is set to do a movie about the rescue.

Saddest of all is that a year after they were buried alive by a mine collapse, the remarkable unity that mnay credited with helping them survive has fallen victim to misunderstandings over fame and money. Only some of the men plan to join President Pinera and the anniversary mass and musuem inauguration.

I'm not sure what this all means. I do know that once money enters the mix, everything changes. These 33 men who relied on each other for their very survival, are now focused on the money. It sounds to me like these men, who got to know each other intimately during the 69 days, are now resentful of what others have and are trying to find a way to make the mine collapse turn prosperous for them. It's the old saying "Money changes everything." This was one of the most emotional stories I can ever remember following. It mesmerized me. Now these men are just 33 Chileans, mostly uneducated and unemployed, trying to make ends meet. It's a sad story.

Catching Up

It's amazing how quickly you can catch up with people you haven't seen in a long time. For the first time since my father's funeral, I had most of my immediate family together. My three children, my two daughter in laws, three grandsons, and my mom. Unfortunately Ron could not be there as we met in Los Angeles, and he cannot travel there yet.

The occasion was the wedding of Phil's sister in law, Leslie in Rancho Cucamonga on a Saturday night. Phil and his family came to LA early, and stayed a day late so we could all get together. We all spent Sunday afternoon at my mom's house, and it was a memorable time for me. The kids were running everywhere, exploring, chasing the dog, spilling the milk, have a grand time. It didn't take long for everyone to feel like getting together was something we did all the time. We don't, but in no time flat it felt like we did.

We recently had Ron's high school friends Phil and Ellen here. They had not spent much time together in many years, but after one evening of retelling old stories, asking about classmates, and basically summarizing the last few decades of their lives, they all felt like they've never been apart. Catching up doesn't take long.

I know that when I go to Colorado to see Phil's family, I never think I'll have enough time. In reality I always have plenty of time. It doesn't take much time to catch up.

A New Way To Learn About San Diego

I recently wrote a blog about expectations, and said that usually our expectations for an event (a cruise) or a person are greater than what actually takes place. Well, I just attended an event that actually exceeded my expectations in a big way. I organized a scavenger hunt in San Diego through the company Where You Want To Be Tours that was so much fun that I don't know where to begin.

The beginning. Fran and I saw a Groupon for a scavenger hunt in San Diego, and we both said that was something that sounded unique, so we decided to put it together. We began, with the help of Marie, by purchasing 20 tickets for the scavenger hunt, then putting together an amazing group of women to join us. Unfortunately there were some last minute snaffoos, and a few people couldn't go at the last minute due to illness, work or funerals, but we got replacements, and I think all those last minute people were happy they came. Here's how it went.

We arrived at the Omni Hotel in San Diego a little before 10am. I had randomly divided us into 2 teams, and there was a third group of women that made up the last team. (they were a group of women turning 50, and were they ever having a good time). We each had a leader from the tour company that kept us together, gave us our clues, made us aware of how much time we had, and encouraged us. If you've ever watched "The Amazing Race" (one of my favorite shows), this is like a mini race. Over the course of the next 2 hours we had 7 big tasks to complete, including writing a jingle about San Diego from Altitude bar at the top of the Marriott, to getting someone on the street to sing for us. We had buildings to find, statues to locate, and questions to answer. It was interesting to see how each team worked.

Our team decided to divide up the questions, so each person only had to look for a few items, other teams approached it by having everyone look for everything. We couldn't use an I Phone or any GPS, we had to figure it out the old fashioned way. In two hours we answer about 22 of the 25 questions, walked three miles, and got to work together with our team. What a great experience.

The funniest answer to one of the clues was when we asked a 6 foot woman with extremely large breasts, lounging in a gold lamee bikini, to pose with us. The task was to find someone in a colorful outfit and photograph a few of our group with him/her. She was a good sport and we got a great picture.

At the end of the day we met at Hard Rock Cafe for the awards ceremony. Sadly, my team lost to the 50 year old women, but it was so much even competitive me didn't really care. I was exhausted when I got home. In fact, I had to take a one hour nap, something I rarely do.

This event was such a great opportunity to see another side of some women's personalities. We're all pretty take charge people, but each person had something they were especially good at. My strength was finding obscure items, like a stuffed frog on a car dashboard, or a 2 spire building. They all said they don't want me around if they ever do anything wrong. I'm very observant, and they won't get away with anything.

If you ever have a chance to attend a Where You Want To Be Tour with Darlynn, Troy and Marie, do so. It was fantastic.

Phase Two-Week Six

With just less than 4 more weeks of phase two, Ron and I went out for our first "Fancy" dinner. Our friend Murray, had given us a gift certificate to Ruth's Chris, which we decided to spend. It was a holiday weekend yet the place was packed. We arrived just in time to watch the sunset. What a beautiful sight.

Not only was the dinner fantastic, but the whole evening was very special. We talked about expectations. What did I expect from Ron when he came home and what did he expect from me? We decided that neither of us got exactly what we wanted, but isn't that pretty much the way life is? I'm a bit of a romantic, and had visions of walks on the beach, breakfast outside in the backyard, trips to the farmers market on Sunday, then cooking together in the afternoon. Why I would expect this I have no idea. It's not that people can't change, they can, but you can't change a leopard's spots.. Ron has changed in many ways, and we have actually done some of the things I fantasized about. But those things are NOT him, and he struggles to do them. He makes an effort to please me in so many ways which I thoroughly appreciate and love him for, but I guess I'm just never going to enjoy long walks at the beach with him.

When a couple is separated for a long time, each person thinks about how life will be when they're back together. The reality is it will never be the way either of them imagined, but hopefully life will be a mixture of what they both want. Earlier in our marriage Ron feels I gave much more than he did, and is now willing to bend over backwards to be the one giving more. I love him for that, as I know it's hard for him.

I think expectations of ANYTHING are often disappointing. A cruise or big trip that you plan often does not meet your expectations. The new job you finally got may not be what you were expecting either. So it goes. We should all continue to have high expectations for the things we do and the people we do them with, but realize that most things don't turn out the way we want them to. Just another part of life that I've come to accept in the past few years.

Many years ago a doctor friend of ours told us a story. He said when your children are born, you expect them to be brilliant, funny and successful. A doctor, lawyer, or even president of the US. Then as they grow and develop you realize that your child is not all of these things, and you start lowering your expectations. It's so true. The same can be said for relationships. If your expectations are too high you are constantly disappointed. Although all of my expectations have not been met, I am happy and content that we can talk about these things openly, and in many cases make compromises so that we're both happy.

More New Restaurants

I am amazed everytime I drive by a new restaurant, especially ones that are being built from the ground up. Opening a restaurant is a huge financial investment. Ron always said you want to be the second person in the restaurant space, that way the kitchen, a major expenditure, has already been built and paid for by someone else. There are a few new restaurants in North County that just might make it in this economy. On Highway 101 near Leucadia Blvd, is the new Fish 101. This has been several things in the past few years, most recently Jawz, a fish taco place from Hawaii, that lasted about a year.

Fish 101 has a great chance to succeed, because it is great. It's small and intimate, but the food is amazing. Seafood salads, fish platters, fish tacos, and every imaginable side to go with these fresh from the sea dishes, make Fish 101 a winner. To top it all off, the wife of the husband/wife team that own the restaurant is a pastry chef, and makes all the desserts. If you still have room for dessert, try the creme brulee. Fish 101 has a modest happy hour menu, with beer and fish taco. Prices are very moderate and the food is delicious.

Another new fish restaurant on Highway 101, this time near Encinitas Blvd, is HappiFish. It's got lots of sushi, but in addition, you can find most any seafood item you want. It's a little pricier, than Fish101, much bigger, and they have a hoppin' happy hour. So far that's all I've been to, but I enjoyed that very much.

Urban Solace recently opened in Encinitas, right behind the Lumberyard. My foodie friends say I will love it, that it's American comfort food kicked up a notch. Right now they are open for dinner only, but in a few weeks look for them to serve lunch, too.

Ignite is the other new player in town. They have redone La Costa Bar and Grill that went out of business about 6 months ago, and they have an extensive menu, that looks fantastic. Salads, interesting starters, pizzas, burgers of all types, and much, much more, make this restaurant appealing. They have Happy Hour everyday from 4-7, with lots of great appetizer choices. I don't know if they're trying to attract a big bar crowd or if they intend to concentrate on good food, but I'll soon find out. I will give it a try very soon.

If you have any new restaurants to report, please let me know. We're all looking for something new, something good, something unique. The quality of restaurants in North County is definitely improving. No longer do we have to go downtown for a good meal. We've got lots of great options in our area, and more are on the way. The new burger place in Bressi Ranch just opened, and was packed when I drove by last week. I hope to go there for lunch very soon, and will let you know how I liked it. It's called Elevation, and it features grass fed beef.

Next time you're looking for something new, try one of the new spots in town. It may become your new favorite place.

Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake

Back in the 1980's one of my favorite desserts to make for dinner parties was an icebox cake. It was nothing more than a package of thin chocolate cookies with whipped cream in between, then covered with whipped cream and refrigerated. Cut on the diagonal, it was beautiful to look at and delicious to eat.

The Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten) has updated this recipe, made it a bit more sophisticated. It's got a few more ingredients, but it's still simple to put together and perfect for a special dessert. I think you'll enjoy this.

Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake, from Barefoot Contessa How Easy is That?


2 c. cold heavy cream
12 ounces Italian marscapone cheese
1/2 c. sugar
1/4c. coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua
2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tsp. instant espresso powder
3 (8-ounce) packages chocolate chip cookies
Shaved semisweet chocolate for garnish, optional

Directions

In a bowl fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the heavy cream, marscapone, sugar, coffee liqueur, cocoa powder, espresso powder and vanilla. Mix on low speed to combine, then slowly raise the speed, until it forms peaks.

To assemble the cake, arrange chocolate chip cookies flat on an 8inch springform pan, covering the bottom as much as possible (break some cookies to fill the spaces). Spread a fifth of the mocha whipped cream evenly over the cookies. Place another layer of cookies on top, lying flat and touching, followed by another fifth of the cream. Continue in this manner until there are 5 layers of each, ending with the cream. Smooth the top, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

Run a small sharp knife around the outside of the cake and remove the sides of the pan. Sprinkle the top with shaved chocolate, cut into wedges and serve cold. Enjoy.

The picture you see here is what your cake will look like during assembly, not the finished product.

Try Crush in Solana Beach

Recently Fran and I tried the new restaurant Crush, in Solana Beach, for lunch. Dining there was research for our Newcomers Luncheons that we are planning for the year. Our focus is on new restaurants in North County, so of course we had to try Crush, which has taken over the space formerly occupied by Pacific Coast Grill. PCG is moving up to Cardiff, and is still under construction. Pacific Coast Grill should open around the end of the year.

Crush opened a few months ago, serving dinner only, but has recently expanded to include lunch. On the Friday we were there, we had the restaurant to ourselves until about 12:45 when another couple walked in. I hope they get busier or they won't be open for lunch or dinner. I am told that their happy hour and dinner service is bustling, but they've got to improve the number of lunch time customers. I'd read reviews that said the service was spotty, and even though we were the only ones in the restaurant, they got part of the order wrong. Our waiter Adam, was excellent. A real professional. He gave us suggestions and really extended himself. If the rest of the employees are like Adam, they will be successful.

The food was delicious. We sampled several things, my favorite being the paparadelle bolognese, although everything was excellent. The sauce was delicious, with a small amount of fresh ricotta on top. We also ordered a fish sandwich, breaded and fried, served on a fresh bun with lettuce, tomato, tarter sauce, pickled onions and pickles. Fresh homemade potato chips were served on the side. This was a great sandwich. Our other entree was a meatball sandwich. This was absolutely excellent. Three big meatballs, sauce, melted provolone cheese, and fresh potato chips on the side. The sandwiches were $10 and $11, the pasta dish was $15. The most expensive thing we had was 2 diet cokes, at $3.50 each. I think this is very pricy for an item that costs them pennies. I would go for water next time.

The meal began with delicious Italian bread, with olive oil and thick, sweet balsamic vinegar. We ate it all. Other entrees included a burger and several salads. They have a buratta cheese salad and another salad with greens, veggies, bacon and gorgonzolla cheese. Many of the dinner entrees are available for lunch at a reduced price.

The family that owns Crush has another restaurant in Orange County that has been successful. This one will be too, if they get good managers with great people skills. Right now that is lacking, although Adam, our waiter, was outstanding.

The front outdoor patio is great for a large party. They have a table for 12 with a fire pit in the middle, that I can't wait to try with a group. Right now they have lots of business thanks to Del Mar Racing, so their test will come after Labor Day. I hope they market their restaurant well, because the food was really good and I'd like to see them make it. I'll be back for dinner soon.

Phase Two-Week Six

I threw out my jelly bean jar this morning. It was sitting empty in the kitchen, and everytime I walked by it, I was reminded of Ron's almost 19 months at Taft. Not that there's anything wrong with thinking about that time, but this was just a constant reminder that I wanted to get rid of.

Ron thinks about Taft alot. Everytime he's in traffic, or otherwise annoyed with a slight inconvenience, he thinks about the past 18 months and smiles. He is SO happy now and he gets angry with himself for allowing a little traffic or a line at the bank to upset him. Life is wonderful, for both of us, but he, more than me, appreciates the little day to day things. A trip to Costco is one of his favorite things to do these days. Not that he wants to buy everything, but just that he wants to look, to see what's available, to know what he missed.

Today we met for breakfast with our old horse trainer Alfredo, and his wife Angela. Ron had not seen them in several years, and it was such a warm and welcoming get together. We reminisced about our years together, and talked about the changes in our lives. They have 4 grandchildren now, we have 3. Two of their children are married, two of ours are married. We were like family for many years, and it was great to see that even though circumstances have changed and our lives are completely different, we still have such a strong connection.

Ron thinks he may be excused from the rest of the Lifestyles classes that he's been taking at the halfway house every week, but we're still waiting for final approval on that. In the meantime, life is getting back to normal, although things really won't seem normal until after October 7. Until then, Ron has to be in most nights by 6pm, a few weekend nights at 8 or 9pm. He has to call in twice a day, and they call us at least once each night, usually waking us up. He can only drive HIS car right now. After October 7 Ron will be on probation, with different rules, many less rules, and pretty much complete freedom to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants to, as long as he stays in the Southern District of California.

Ron tells me that he thinks about a few of his friends from Taft everyday. They are not allowed to have contact with each other, and that is very hard for him. It must be awful to have such close friends, then, in an instant, they're gone forever. There are some circumstances where felons can get permission to talk to each other after being released, but that will probably not happen in Ron's case.

We are still on our honeymoon. We are spending a lot of time together, and I know that will change in time. As Ron starts to get busy working, we will do less together during the day. Right now he has a little work, and very soon he will be umpiring pony league baseball several times a week. I love being with him, but I love my separate activities too. Things will soon balance out.

Here's what I'm having a hard time with. While Ron was away I got used to eating small, thrown together dinners most nights. I'd have a sweet potato and a cup or soup or a great salad. I rarely ate meat or fish or chicken. Now Ron comes home, and what does he want? He wants to go out almost everynight, which I don't want to do, or if we're home, he wants a steak, hamburger, hot dog, or some other meat item that I really don't want. We're basically on two different eating plans. How this will play out I'm not really sure. Right now we're doing things Ron's way for the most part, but that's only temporary. I told him when he came home that we would share responsibility for the household duties, and after his initial eating frenzy dies down, we will compromise on where and what we eat. Shared responsibility and compromise. Two things that keep a marriage together.

All We've Got Is Earthquakes

Recently, the news has been all about the weather. What happened to Libya, the budget, jobs and all the other issues we were focused on a few weeks ago? For about a week all news other than Irene was discontinued on CNN and MSNBC, the two stations I watch frequently. Not that hurricane information isn't important, but we have hurricanes every year, and many of them. Yes, this was supposed to be a big one, but enough is enough. I find with everything nowadays, the media saturates the air waves with too much. Remember when Michael Jackson died? All we heard and saw for two straight weeks was Michael Jackson memorials, stories about his family, and speculation on exactly what happened. Is this what news stations should be reporting?

I don't think that earthquake in Japan garnered as much attention as Irene, yet thousands of people were killed, and entire towns were swept away. There is no comparison between the two events, yet Irene was nonstop news for days. In the end, although the storm was terribly destructive, it was far from what was predicted.

Good journalism is so important in this 21st century world of instant news, bloggers who interpret the news and radio and tv personalities that make it up. How do we, as listeners, know what to believe? We all look to the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and a few other sources, for the real facts. But, are we getting the full story even from them? Reading on line bloggers is usually just getting someone else's opinion. It may or may not be true. I remember something George W. Bush said early in his presidency. I'm paraphrasing, but is was something like this: " If you say something to the people often enough, they will believe it." Scary.

Hurricanes, tornados, floods, fires, and earthquakes are a part of life. We have them all the time, all over the world, and they certainly are a part of news. But after the story's been told, why can't we get on with important domestic and international issues? We sure have enough of them. I'm glad I live where I do and only have earthquakes to deal with. On second thought, I now see tsunami warnings posted near the beach. Something else for us to worry about.

Who's Worth More Dead Than Alive?

The dead celebrity industry is a new legal speciality. For years we have heard about the huge earnings of people like Albert Einstein and Elvis Presley since their deaths. Albert Einstein is one of the most recognizable people in the world, and his estate earns millions every year from licensing agreements, much more than he ever earn in his lifetime. Elvis, who made millions while he was alive, continues to be one of the top dead celebrity earners, last year making around $60 million. But the top Deleb(as they are referred to by those in the industry) is Michael Jackson, last year earning $250 million. Other Delebs who earn big for their heirs are J.R. Tolkein, Heath Ledger, Paul Newman, Charles Schultz, Marvin Gaye and Elizabeth Taylor.

Lawyers love the dead celebrity industry. The client is easy to manage, no annoying phone calls or arguments. In fact, I don't think this is really true, because the heirs, who all want a piece of the pie, all have opinions on how estates should be handled, and who to hire to see that they get the most from their deceased relative. We all know that the value of fine art rises when the artist dies. He can produce no more. But music, books and film are reproduced, yet these dead celebrities reap huge profits.

I have a little first hand knowledge about this industry, although it was many years ago. In their early 1950's my uncle, a talent agent in Hollywood died and left 7 year old twins without any parents. (their mom had died of cancer a few years before). My uncle handled alot of Disney stars in the 1950's and one of the properties he owned, was Zorro. He didn't leave his kids much money, but he did leave them the Zorro property. My father, who took care of the estate, was smart enough to hang on to Zorro, and it produced enough income to raise and educate the children, and in recent years was made into several lucrative movies. You just never know what you've got. I don't think my uncle or my father ever could have predicted that 50 years after aquiring the Zorro property, little boys and girls would still be playing with Zorro action figures, or that major movies would be made.

Michael Jackson and Elvis are still at the top of the earnings list, but Elizabeth Taylor is not far behind. Who will be the next big Deleb earner?

Never Throw Anything Away

I recently had a back yard barbeque, and as usual, I overbought. I've got hotdog and hamburger buns for the rest of my life! What can I do with all those buns? At first I just stuck them in the freezer, but upon further thought I realized my freezer would be crammed full of buns forever. So, I went to the internet and started researching how I could use the leftover buns. I found so many innovative ways to use up the buns. Below is a summer fruit pudding recipe which I hope you'll enjoy. There are lots of other ways to use the buns. I heard that most Americans waste (throw out) about 27% of the food they buy. I don't want to be one of them.


Plum and Berry Summer Pudding

Ingredients
3 red or black plums, sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 6-ounce container blackberries
1 4-ounce container blueberries
2 6-ounce containers raspberries
3/4 cup sugar
grated zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 hamburger or hot dog buns, split
whipped cream (optional)
Directions
1.In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the plums, blackberries, blueberries, half the raspberries, the sugar, and ¼ cup water to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the blueberries begin to burst, about 5 minutes.
2.Remove from heat. Stir in the lemon zest and juice and the remaining raspberries. Transfer to a bowl and let cool for 15 minutes.
3.Line an 8-inch square baking dish with 2 sheets of plastic wrap, allowing at least 6 inches to hang over each side. Place the bottoms of the buns in the dish, cut-side up. Spoon half the fruit mixture over the buns.
4.Top with the remaining buns, cut-side up, and the remaining fruit mixture. Cover with the overhanging plastic wrap, a plate, and two 15-ounce cans. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1½ hours. Spoon the pudding into bowls and top with whipped cream (if using).

Here's another way to use the extra hotdog and hamburger buns.

Tomato Bruschetta
Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 15m | Total Time: 20m
Ingredients
2 hamburger or hot dog buns, split
4 tablespoons olive oil
6 Roma (plum) tomatoes, seeded and diced
6 kalamata olives, pitted and roughly chopped
2 tablespoons fresh oregano or basil, torn
kosher salt and pepper
Directions
1.Heat broiler.
2.With a rolling pin, roll the bun halves until flattened.
3.Place on a baking sheet and brush both sides of the buns with 2 tablespoons of the oil. Broil until golden brown, about 1 minute per side.
4.In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, olives, oregano or basil, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and the remaining oil. Transfer the buns to a platter and spoon the tomatoes over the top.

The website realsimple.com has these and many other ideas for using leftovers. Croutons and bread crumbs are other ideas to use up the old buns. I've got many other leftovers from this party, and will look later on ways to use sliced olives (I bought them by mistake), sweet pickle relish, and sauerkraut. I don't want to waste 27% of the food I buy so I better be creative!