Healthy, Delicious Food At Flower Child

I went to lunch today with several of my Newcomer friends.  We tried the new restaurant in Flower Hill mall, called Flower Child.  I had looked at the menu online prior to our visit, so I knew what to expect.  Fantastic, healthy food in an upbeat environment.  First, there are flower boxes and vases filled with flowers everywhere.  There is outdoor seating in the front of the restaurant, and lots of outdoor seating in the rear.  Inside, there is seating on two levels, so there  should never be a wait for a table.  The restaurant is noisy.  Nothing on the floors or windows to absorb sound, but it was manageable.

Flower Child is casual dining.  Go to the register and order your food, take your number to your table, and in less than 10 minutes they will bring you your food.  There were five of us, and all of us ordered something different.  Salads, soups, bowls, wraps and entrees.  Viv ordered the salmon, perfectly cooked, with a side of glazed butternut squash topped with spinach and pomegranat..  I had a spicy quinoa bowl, with lots of veggies, topped with cashews.  Marilyn ordered a curry tofu bowl with lots of veggies. Merrill ordered a vegetable salad, filled with all kinds of veggies and a nice dressing. Of course they had  avocado toast topped with a soft egg on the menu.  That seems to be on every trendy restaurant menu these days.  Various kinds of hummus were on the menu, and chicken or beef could be added to many of the vegetarian items.  Bottled juices and water and several flavored ice tea and lemonades were also available.  They also had a nice coffee bar.

One thing I particularly liked about Flower Child was each menu item listed calories, and whether it was vegan, vegetarian or gluten free.  They have several other locations, including Santa Monica.  I called my mom right away and told her about the restaurant.  She will love it.

If you like places like True Food and Tender Greens, you will like Flower Child.  It's moderately priced, and if you don't have too much hassle with parking, you will have a great experience.  Oh, they also serve breakfast.  As if Flower Hill Mall wasn't popular already, this will really add cars to the parking lot.

A Day At The Park, The Dog Park That Is

Every day around 4pm, a group of Ocean Hills residents congregate at our on site dog park.  The dogs love it, and so do the people.  Over the almost two years that I've lived here, I have learned a lot about all the people who visit the park regularly.  We watch out for each other, call to make sure everything's ok if someone doesn't show up for a few days, and take care of each others dogs when necessary. 

We have an interesting group of park regulars.  There's a commercial pilot who used to fly for LBJ.  He's got so many interesting stories.  There is a nurse, a lawyer, a teacher,  an engineer, a psychologist, several retired military men, an insurance salesman, and a variety of other talented people.  We have Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and Independents.  We have had some lively political discussions over the past year, and I'm sure there will be lots more conversation once the new president takes office.

Time at the park is as much for the people as it is for the dogs.  Some dogs don't play at all.  They just sit on their owners' laps.  Others, like Pepper, have their favorite dogs to play with.  Pepper loves Carli, and waits patiently for her to arrive each day.  He also enjoys playing with Mr. Snuggles.  Dillon, a double doodle, grew up at the park.  Don and MaryAnn started bringing him to the park when he was three months old.  He is a year old now, and he loves to play ball.  He was so rambunctious when he first came to the park.  Now he is full of energy but well behaved.  Then there's Bruce, all six pounds of him, barking at the gate as each dog arrives.  Charlie is the playground supervisor.  He will bark and bark as other dogs play, and we think he is telling them to behave.

It's a great group.  Our ages range from 55 to 97.  Paul, the oldest member of the dog park regulars, is quite amazing.  He never forgets a name, never forgets anything you tell him.  Socialization is one of the things that keeps people young.  We'll keep on visiting the dog park.  It keeps us young, and keeps our dogs young, too.

Holiday Traditions

Christmas is over, but Hanukkah is just getting started.  It seems like the holiday season just goes on and on and on.  Traditions are a big part of both Christmas and Hanukkah, and everyone has their favorites.  For Hanukkah, my favorite tradition is making and eating latkes.  Better still is a latke party!  No one can resist a party where the main event is eating latkes with applesauce and sour cream.  When the kids are around, playing dreidel is another fun tradition.  This year we were without children and grandchildren, so our Christmas dinner was at our favorite Chinese restaurant.  A movie and Chinese food is one of our Christmas traditions.

Christmas baking is another holiday traditions that many families take part in.  Grandmas, moms and kids spend the day baking holiday cookies to enjoy themselves and give away.  Another popular Christmas tradition is to watch Christmas movies, like It's a Wonderful Life.  Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, this tradition is one that I love.

Buying each child an ornament each year is another Christmas tradition.  It's one that usually is passed from generation to generation.  My personal favorite tradition, is to play nothing but Christmas music from Thanksgiving until the new year.  I love Christmas music.  I have two stations set in my car so that I can enjoy it as I drive around.

Finally, a holiday tradition told to me by my friend Renee, that I just love.  She and her family (adults and older children only) spend a day together watching movies and having lunch and dinner together.  It's sort of a movie marathon, that they plan in advance.  They vote on which movies they're going to see together.  They see one in the morning, then have lunch, then two more movies, then dinner, and I think one more movie after dinner.  I'm exhausted just thinking about it.  Renee is the one to ask if you want to know which new movies are worth seeing.

Spending time with family and friends is really what the holidays are all about.  Any tradition you develop just adds to this special time.  We all create our own traditions.  That's what makes us each unique and special.

Cooking Classes For A Healthy Lifestyle

Several months ago, Fran and I went to a breast cancer fund raiser put on by her sister, Maryanne.  It was great fun, and Fran won lots of prizes.  One of the prizes she won was a cooking class for 4, at the home of Freddie Pakier.  Freddie is a well known cooking teacher in San Diego, and a nutritional coach.  She is very knowledgeable and entertaining.  Fran invited Janie, Maryanne and myself to join her for an evening cooking class, titled Silent Inflammation.  I was excited to go.  I am stuck in a rut, making the same dishes over and over, and frankly, Ron and I are sick of it.  This class gave me inspiration to try something new.  Here's what we ate and learned.

Freddie talked about knowing your CRP.  That stands for C-Reactive protein, something a blood panel can test for, but you have to ask your doctor to include that test in your blood panel.  You want yur number to be less than 1.  She talked about low glycemic foods, especially good for diabetics.  She talked about eating real food, eating organic fruits and veggies and grass fed beef, eating lots of greens and eating whole grains in moderation.

The best veggies to help maintain a low glycemic load dozens of veggies, mostly green.  This list does not include carrots, corn or beets, all high sugar vegetables.  Other foods to avoid to keep your CRP low include sugar, flour, processed food, gluten and dairy and starchy foods.  Obviously it is impossible to avoid all of these foods, but recognizing that they lead to a higher CRP and also lead to weight gain, may help you eat them in moderation.

Our menu at the class included split pea soup first, followed by a delicious arugula, cabbage and lettuce salad, steamed veggies with glaze, marinated and baked cod, and sweet potatoes with curry and olive oil.  It was a delicious meal, low in calories with a low glycemic index.  Dessert was a frozen strawberry and banana sorbet.  What a satisfying meal!

Thanks, Fran, for taking me to Freddie's cooking class. It was informative, fun, and delicious, and got me out of my cooking funk.  I especially loved the sweet potatoes, and will make them soon.

Should You Always Listen To Your Doctor?

My immediate response to this question, is YES.  Most doctors and dentists have the patients best interest at heart when they prescribe medications and  recommend procedures and tests.  However, patients should always listen to the doctor and their own common sense.  Doctors have been known to prescribe tests that are not really necessary, and dentists have done the same.  The jails are filled with doctors involved in medicare fraud and over prescribing medication.

One 90+ year old woman that I spoke to had changed doctors several years ago and the new physician had recommended that she have the wax cleaned from her ears, a charge of $400.  The next year the woman went in for a physical, and the same procedure was recommended again.  She had her ears cleaned again.  In the third year, when the same procedure was recommended for a third time, the woman caught on.  She had not had this procedure done in the first 90 years of her life, and now, all of a sudden, she needed it every year?  That doesn't make sense.  She determined that the doctor was adding additional treatments to increase her bill.

Many years ago I went to a dentist who told me that I needed deep cleaning.  I had never had any problem with my teeth or gums, so I was a little skeptical.  I decided to change dentists (for another reason), and I went to two more dentists before selecting a new dentist.  Neither of the dentists recommended deep cleaning.  I was also told by the old dentist to remove all my old fillings (the silver ones) and have new ones put in.  I thought this sounded fishy, and decided not to do it.  In researching this subject, I found out it is not necessary to have old fillings replaced unless they are cracked.

Medicine is a business.  Doctors and dentists are  there to help others, but in the end, they're in business.  With insurance and medicare reducing income for doctors, some medical professionals are looking for ways to increase their bottom line.  One thing doctors do today that they never used to do, is require an office visit for absolutely everything.  This way they will get their co-pay.  Gone are the days of doctors calling in a prescription without seeing you.

Use your good common sense and you will usually be right.

This whole story came about when my grandson, age 2, was sent to the dentist for a checkup.  I told my son I was surprised that dental visits were required at such a young age.  I told my son that in my day, children  didn't have a dental visit until around age 5. My son told me all the pediatricians send their 2 year old patients to the dentist, and at six month intervals forever.  Is this necessary, or just a way to improve the dentists' bottom line?  I don't know, but I think we all need to listen to the doctor, and use our own common sense, when deciding on treatment for ourselves or our children.     

Why Do We Snore More As We Get Older?

Snoring is not a breathing problem.  It has to do with your throat, and narrowing in your throat can cause snoring.  This happens more as we age for several reasons.  One, we usually put on weight, and if we gain weight in the neck area, breathing at night becomes more difficult. (the space that the air goes through narrows.)   The reflexes that keep the throat open relax when we sleep. Also, women tend to snore more as they age because of the hormonal changes in their body.

Over the past six months, Ron has been complaining of my "snoring."  He says it's really not snoring, but a little puff of air that escapes from my mouth.  This wakes him up, so for all intents and purposes, it's snoring.  I went to the doctor and he gave me an oxometer to wear overnight.  The oxometer measures the amount of air you are taking in, and lets you know  if you stop breathing.  You want your oxygen level to be 90 or more.  Apparently my level was not what it should be, as the doctor has now referred me to a specialist.  I will await the results of further tests.

The bottom line is that additional weight, especially around the neck, leads to snoring.  If you are waking frequently during the night and are not rested in the morning, there is need for concern, and you should probably check it out.  I'll keep you posted on the final outcome of my snoring.  It won't be for a while, as I have to wait until mid January to see the doctor.

Fiction Writing Reflects The Times

One of my favorite college courses was one I took one summer at UCLA.  It was a political science course, that integrated art, science, music and literature into the political and social climate of the times.  I have thought about that course many times over the past 50 years.  I wish I could remember who the professor was.  His course had a profound impact on me.

Now, 50 years later, I am taking a literature course through Brandeis University.  The course is titled, American Bestsellers.  It attempts to do what my UCLA professor did 50 years ago.  He will help us discover how the social and political thinking of the times influences what is written, and how some of that writing can influence politics.

The first book we will discuss is The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair.  The book is about the deplorable conditions of the meat packing industry in Chicago at the turn of the century.  No doubt this book did much to change law in this industry.  I read the book in college, probably for a sociology class, but I will reread it before our Brandeis discussion.  It will be interesting to see how I view it 50 years later. 

Other books that we will be discussing include Uncle Tom's Cabin, To Kill a Mockingbird,Gone With the Wind and Huckleberry Finn.  All of these books delve into racial inequality in some form another.  It's not surprising that here we are, 100 years + after some of these books were written, and society is still grappling with the same issues.  It's hard to look at a best seller list today without finding books about racial inequity.  One recent book that comes to mind is The Help, a bestseller just a few years ago.

I love this Brandeis study group.  It really gets me thinking.  There are so many smart women in the group, with interesting opinions to share.I find it fascinating to read and reflect on how current social and political attitudes influence our literature.  Happy reading, all.

A Visit To Redlands and Riverside? Absolutely

For years I've been talking about going to the Mission Inn in Riverside in December to see the holiday lights.  Well, I finally organized a trip to the Inn, and to make it a full day, a stop in Redlands at the Historical Glass Museum on Orange Ave.  Seriously, this is not to be missed.  Both the glass museum and the Mission Inn were better than I could have ever expected.

The Historical Glass Museum is housed in an old Victorian house.  Every inch of the house is filled with American glass, from the late 1800's to the present.  Depression glass, hand blown glass, big vases and bowls, and tiny bowls for salt, all sorts of the most remarkable colors and designs imaginable.  Glass makers like Flint and Fenton and Old Morgantown Glass are well represented.  I was looking at a one glass statue of a dancer and noticed it had been donated by a familiar name.  It turned out it was donated by friends of my mom's.  They had also donated a large collection of perfume bottles.  It was exciting to walk into a museum and find pieces donated by someone you know.

So sorry we didn't have more time in Redlands to explore the historic downtown area, which I hear is spectacular.  Also, there is a library of Lincoln memorabilia that I hope to get to another time.

The Mission Inn in Riverside was the real reason we took this day trip.  They have been decorating the inn for decades, and it is a sight to behold.  I have included a few pictures that don't do it justice.  Someone said it was like fantasy land.  It truly was.  Hundreds of visitors were in an around the inn, to view this spectacular light show.  They start putting the decorations up in August, and don't get everything put away until February.  The 19 foot Christmas tree in the lobby, with gingerbread decorations and bows and bulbs, was a real eye catcher.  The historic area of Riverside, with a pedestrian mall, is filled with food stalls and interesting stores.  Get there if you can.  It is so worth the trip.

Teaching Children The Value Of Giving

For children, the holiday season is all about gifts.  Most of our children and grandchildren have more toys and clothes than they could ever possible enjoy or wear.  So many children, even in our immediate neighbor, have little or nothing.  The Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, fire stations and churches and synagogues, have for years addressed the needs of the needy.  Here at Ocean Hills Country Club where I live, our residents concentrate on helping children of military families.

The Wood Chucks club has made dozens of the most beautiful wooden toys, to be given to children in need.  Boats, cars, trucks, airplanes and motorcycles, are just some of the toys they have made.  They've made cradles for dolls and puzzles too.  Additionally, our community has donated hundreds of toys, to be given to Camp Pendleton military families.  I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the residents of Ocean Hills.

I think it's important for our children and grandchildren, who come from families of greater means, to learn to give.  By the time a child is six, and for many even earlier, I  would like to see children giving at least one of their gifts to a needy child.  It's important for them to learn to help those that don't have as much, and to feel good about doing it.  It would be best if they could give personally to a child, but this is not always possible.  There are so many organizations that collect toys and clothes for needy children, it is not hard to make this part of your holiday ritual.  With all we have in this country, no child should go without something this holiday season.

The Jungle Is Relevant Today

In 1906, The Jungle was published, and became an instant classic.  Upton Sinclair was an American author, mainly remembered for this one book.  However, he wrote 90 books in all.  He was an socialist, and was commissioned by the leading socialist organization of the time, to write a book about social change.  Sinclair picked the Chicago meatpacking industry as the vehicle to expose the plight of the poor, difficulties for immigrants, greed, and corruption at every level of police and government.  Sinclair's philosophy was one of social Darwinism:  like evolution, the best, brightest and strongest people rise to the top.  We know today that this is not so, as there are many social factors that go into success.

The Jungle was responsible for the creation of the FDA.  After reading the book, Theodore Roosevelt called Upton Sinclair to discuss issues in the book, particularly those relating to food safety.  From that discussion and the book itself, Roosevelt created the FDA.  That was over  100 years ago, and the FDA has definitely protected consumers, but still has a long way to go.  At the time there were actually arguments against even having the FDA.  Opponents say there is nothing in the Constitution and thus it wasn't anything the government should be involved in.  Roosevelt argued that the food industry was involved in interstate commerce, and thus could be regulated.

The book was so popular at the time, that the sale of meat dropped by 50% shortly after its publication.  Armour was the biggest meat packing company at that time, and they used their influence to try to get libraries not to carry the book.

One might argue that the FDA has too much power today, but we must have some regulation of our food and how it is grown and packaged.  Without FDA oversight, we'd have the fox guarding the hen house.  Hardly a month goes by that we don't hear about tainted meat or vegetables, so for protection of consumers, we must have regulation.  With world wide imports and exports today it is more important than ever.  The Jungle, which showed  the dark side of the meat packing industry  through several immigrant families, touched on just about every social issue that we face today.  I reread the book for a class I am taking.  I read it first over 50 years ago, and it's message was more powerful now than it was then.

Solar Energy Is Here To Stay

Some may think that solar energy is just a passing fancy, but statistics show otherwise.  The industry tracks trends and trajectories.  Their findings demonstrate diverse and sustained growth across the country.

The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is partially responsible for growth.  Passed in 2006, solar power has experienced a compound annual growoth rate of nearly 60% since its passage.

The solar industry employs more then 200,000 workers, more than double the number in 2010, and created 8,000 companies representing all 50 states.  By 2020, the number of workers in solar will more than double, to 420,000.

Another factor in the growth of solar is that the cost  of installation has dropped by more than 70% over the past 10 years.  California dominates the U.S. solar market with 44% market share in 2015.  Massachusetts, New York and Texas continue to expand.

Data from solar companies show that major U.S. corporations, including Walmart, Ikea and Macys are going solar at an incredible rate.  Look up at the roof tops as you drive around and you will see schools, churches and large commercial buildings going solar.  In addition, residential installation of solar continues to explode.

We've had our solar for about 15 months now.  I love getting a $10 gas bill from SDGE every month.  That's it.  We just settled up with SDGE for the year and ended with $59.  At the end of the year, after paying for no electricity, we had a $59 credit.  I love it.  As time goes on and more and more people get solar, prices will continue to drop.  So happy to be "off the grid" when it comes to electricity.  For more info, with charts on the growth of this industry, go to seia.org/research-resources/solar-industry-data.

Equal Pay For Equal Work Exists Nowhere

Americans are not alone in the fight to pay women equally for same work that men do.  I saw a video the other day that really brought this concept home.  The women of Iceland, who are paid about 20% less than men for the same work, decided to go on strike.  The women in the entire country (granted, it's a pretty small country)  left work in the afternoon, when they had worked 80% of their day.  They figured that since they were getting paid 20% less than men, they would work 20% less.  What a great way to show their value.

There is no country on earth where women are paid the same wages as men.  The best women have done so far is in New Zealand, where women earn 5.6% less than men.  Other countries that rank close to New Zealand include Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark.  On the other end of the spectrum, is South Korea, where women are paid 36.6% less than men.  Estonia, at 26.6%, Japan, at 26.6%, Israel, at 21.8%, and Netherlands, at 20.5% also do not fully value the work of women.  The U.S., at 17.9% is the 10th worst country in the world for women's wages.

How have we allowed this to go on for so long?  We are more than half the population, so can't we use the power of the ballot to change this?  For the life of me I cannot figure out how anyone would support a candidate at any level who did not believe women should be paid the same salary as men.  Are we less valued?  Yes, we are.  Women have the power to change that, just as we did with the right to vote.  Let's get to work.  Obama worked hard to get equal pay for equal work, but was fought every step of the way.  We need to keep working to achieve equality for all.

What's Wrong With Sugar?

Everything's wrong with sugar, except for the fact that it tastes good.  The USDA recommends 40-50 mg of sugar per day, which is several tablespoons.  The fact is, most Americans consume far more sugar than is recommend, which can lead to a multitude of problems.  Here are some of the problems that may develop from an excess of sugar.

First, not all calories are created equal.  Calories from sugar are not as fulfilling as calories from protein, which translates into an increased calorie intake.  Glucose calories and fructose calories are also different.  Fructose, which is added to many food products, is very bad for us.  Fructose is added to soda and juice, for example.  That adds no nutritional value, just a lot of calories.

Sugar causes dopamine to be released in the brain, making it highly addictive.  Sugar is the leading contributor to obesity.

Sugar has no essential nutrients.  It is high in fructose, which can overload the liver.  This can lead to non alcoholic liver disease.  Sugar can also cause insulin resistance, which is a stepping stone to diabetes.  If you eat too much sugar, the body has a difficult time processing it, and it can create a fatty liver.

Finally, new studies show that sugar, not saturated fat, may be the culprit that creates high cholesterol.  This was news to me.  Does that mean that I can go back to eating bacon and other meat products containing saturated fat?  I hope so.  I do know that it means I should continue to try to reduce my sugar intake.  There is nothing good about sugar, except when you have a diabetic with low sugar and you want to increase their sugar level fast.  Other than that, I'm trying my best to reduce sugar, at least fructose.

I realized after I wrote this that I did not mention that natural sugar, the naturally occurring sugar found in fruits and vegetables, if fine.  It is easy to metabolize does not lead to huge spikes in blood sugar, as fructose does.  It's processed sugar that we need to stay away from

Drought Areas You May Not Have Heard About

When you hear about drought, you think first of California.  For years we have been fighting drought conditions.  No matter what we do solve the water problem, it doesn't seem to work.  Governor Brown put limits on water usage and they worked.  Why, then, did they lift restrictions, just when things were getting better.  Now we're back to a drought situation again in California.  The reality is, there are many more areas of the country facing serious drought and we don't even realize it.

Dry conditions in the Northeast have created drought conditions.  Almost 10% of the state of New York is now in extreme drought, according to the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor.  Extreme drought conditions also expanded in New Hampshire, up double digits.  Temperatures have been one to five degrees above normal in the Northeast.  The benefit to farmers is that peaches and other produce love heat, and the hot weather over the summer has produced better crops for farmers.

Other areas of the U.S. that are facing drought like conditions that didn't in the past, are portions of the Southeast and the northern High Plains.  I hear about rain in the south, southeast and north, and tremendous flooding, and don't think the U.S. could possibly have drought conditions there, but they do.  We on the west coast are not alone.  It's either feast or famine.  We should all embrace the fact that climate change is real, and work to prevent more severe weather from occurring in the future, if that's possible.  Florida is one area that must be dealt with.  If not, much of Miami will be under water in the not too distant future.

The Many Uses And Benefits Of Kelp Noodles

I was at a cooking class in October, where Freddie Pakier, our instructor, pulled out a package of kelp noodles to use in one of the dishes.  I had heard about kelp noodles, but had never seen them.  They look like spaghetti, and in fact can be used as a substitute for spaghetti.  The most striking difference between kelp noodles and spaghetti, is that kelp noodles have virtually no calories.

Do they taste like spaghetti?  No, they don't, but they have the same texture, and if you add marinara or any other sauce, you kind of feel like you're eating spaghetti.  Other uses in include cutting them into smaller pieces and using them as a crunch in salads.  That's what Freddie did in our cooking class, and they added nice texture to the salad.

The health benefits of kelp are numerous, and that alone might get you to try them.  Kelp is a type of seaweed, packed with more than 70 minerals and 21 amino acids.  Kelp aids in digestion, increases metabolism, and works to strengthen bones and teeth.  Kelp noodles contain a high quantity of iodine, something some of has to minimize, so check with your doctor about eating them before you do.  Their high iodine content makes them useful for thyroid functioning.  Because of their high levels of calcium and magnesium, kelp noodles are useful in preventing osteoporosis, although I think you'd have to eat an awful lot of them to prevent osteoporosis.  Finally, kelp noodles are abundant in folic acid, which plays a protective role in circulatory health.

Next time you're shopping for a new, healthy food to try, try kelp noodles.  They are relatively tasteless alone, but add a great sauce or put them in a salad, and you'll add kelp noodles to your diet.

Are You Adam 1 Or Adam 11

You may know David Brooks from his insightful articles in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, or from his many appearances on Meet the Press.  I hope you will have the chance to read his new book, The Road to Character.  Although I have just started it, I already want to recommend it.

In the introduction, Brooks talks about what he calls Adam 1 and Adam 11.  Adam 1 is the career-oriented, ambitious side of our nature.  Adam 1 wants to build, create, produce, and discover things.  He wants high status and to win victories.  He wants recognition.  He wants to conquer the world Adam 11 is the internal Adam.  Adam 11 wants to embody certain moral qualities.  He wants to have a serene inner character, a quiet and solid sense of right and wrong.  He wants to sacrifice self in the service of others, to have a cohesive inner soul that honors creation and one's own possibilities.  Most of us are a combination of Adam 1 and 11, thank goodness.  This book is about Adam 11.

Brooks gives some statistics early on that show where we are as a nation.  In 1950, Gallup asked high school seniors if they considered themselves to be a very important person.  12% said yes.  The same question was asked in 2005, and those that considered themselves very important was 80%.  Wow.  Psychologists have a thing called the narcissism test.  They read statements like "I like to be the center of attention...I show off if I get the chance because I am extraordinary."  The median narcissism score has risen 30% in the last two decades. 92% of young people score higher than the middle score just twenty years ago.  There's been a rise in self esteem and an increase in the desire for fame.

Brooks speaks often of humility.  People who exhibit humility are Adam 11's.  I can't wait to read more, find out who in history he considers Adam 11's, and how we can all show more of our humble side in daily life.  Check this book out at your local library if it sounds as interesting to you as it did to me.

Leftover Stuffing Recipe

I love Thanksgiving leftovers.  I think the reheated stuffing is even better than eating it for the first time, and a cold turkey and cranberry sandwich, well, there's nothing better.  Often we are left with more leftover stuffing than we know what to do with.  Here's a simple way to put it to good use.

                            Leftover Stuffing Recipe

leftover stuffing
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
Meat, grated cheese, and veggies of your choice

Moisten the leftover stuffing with a little melted butter, then pat it into a pie pan, like a pie crust.  In a 375 degree oven, cook for 8-10 minutes.  Then, add you quiche ingredients.  You can use leftover turkey if you wish, or make it vegetarian with just cheese and veggies, plus the milk and eggs.  Cook at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until a knife inserted comes out clean.  Let rest for 15 minutes before cutting.  Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Bird Carcasses Along Pacific Are A Mystery

Climate change affects much more than just the weather.  It affects ocean temperatures, water levels, and the ocean food chain.  The carcasses of thousands of small birds called Cassin's auklets have been washing up ashore over the past year from Northern California to the north coast of Washington, and although scientists have not pinpointed the reason, climate change is considered one possibility

One possibility involves the unusually successful breeding season last year in the British Columbia.  Almost every breeding pair laid an egg that hatched, and as young birds flew south they may not have been able to find the small fish and shrimp that they normally feed on.

Pacific ocean water is warmer than usual.  This could touch off subtle change in the food chain that may make it harder for small birds to find sustenance.  But other birds are not dying at the unusual rates as the Cassin's auklet.  Possibly, birds are flying closer to the shore to find food.  Normally, the birds fly far out at sea to find food.  Spotters normally see one to two dead birds along a kilometer of beach.  Oregon spotters saw up to 30 dead birds per kilometer last November, then 115 dead birds per kilometer in December.

This is still considered a scientific mystery, but scientists feel that climate change is partially, if not totally responsible for this disaster.  What's happening in Northern California to Cassin's auklets, is happening to many other bird species.  Thank goodness we have rescue teams that are working diligently to save our wildlife.

Cooking Classes For A Healthy Lifestyle

Several months ago, Fran and I went to a breast cancer fund raiser put on by her sister, Maryanne.  It was great fun, and Fran won lots of prizes.  One of the prizes she won was a cooking class for 4, at the home of Freddie Pakier.  Freddie is a well known cooking teacher in San Diego, and a nutritional coach.  She is very knowledgeable and entertaining.  Fran invited Janie, Maryanne and myself to join her for an evening cooking class, titled Silent Inflammation.  I was excited to go.  I am stuck in a rut, making the same dishes over and over, and frankly, Ron and I are sick of it.  This class gave me inspiration to try something new.  Here's what we ate and learned.

Freddie talked about knowing your CRP.  That stands for C-Reactive protein, something a blood panel can test for, but you have to ask your doctor to include that test in your blood panel.  You want yur number to be less than 1.  She talked about low glycemic foods, especially good for diabetics.  She talked about eating real food, eating organic fruits and veggies and grass fed beef, eating lots of greens and eating whole grains in moderation.

The best veggies to help maintain a low glycemic load dozens of veggies, mostly green.  This list does not include carrots, corn or beets, all high sugar vegetables.  Other foods to avoid to keep your CRP low include sugar, flour, processed food, gluten and dairy and starchy foods.  Obviously it is impossible to avoid all of these foods, but recognizing that they lead to a higher CRP and also lead to weight gain, may help you eat them in moderation.

Our menu at the class included split pea soup first, followed by a delicious arugula, cabbage and lettuce salad, steamed veggies with glaze, marinated and baked cod, and sweet potatoes with curry and olive oil.  It was a delicious meal, low in calories with a low glycemic index.  Dessert was a frozen strawberry and banana sorbet.  What a satisfying meal!

Thanks, Fran, for taking me to Freddie's cooking class. It was informative, fun, and delicious, and got me out of my cooking funk.  I especially loved the sweet potatoes, and will make them soon.

Mediterranean Eggplant Dip

On my last trip to Zion and 99 Ranch Markets in San Diego, I bought a Chinese eggplant.  It is similar to the Japanese eggplant, although lighter in color, thinner, but much longer.  The one I bought was about 18 inches long.  I used it to make a delicious Mediterranean eggplant dip.  It's easy to work with, as the skin is thin and easy to peel.  I served the dip with pita triangles.  Here's the recipe.  I hope you enjoy it.

                                         Mediterranean Eggplant Dip

1/4 c. capers
2 lbs eggplant
salt and pepper
olive oil
1 cup chopped scallions
1 cup chopped parsley, flat leaf
1 garlic clove
1 tsp lemon zest
3 T. lemon juice
2 T. pomegranate molasses (I used regular molasses, but a little less)
2 T. yogurt

Rinse capers, then soak in lukewarm water for 20 minutes, and rinse again.  Set aside.  Peel and cube eggplant, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil, and cook on a cookie sheet for 20 at 400 degrees or until eggplant is golden brown and soft.  Remove and pulse in a blender until coarsely chopped.  Then add all other ingredients and pulse until incorporated.  I like to keep the mixture with some texture, but you can blend it to your desired smoothness.  Serve with triangles of pita bread or pita chips.  It is delicious, and you can also use it as a sandwich or wrap spread, then top with veggies.  Any way to serve it, it's delicious.

A Day Of Fun

Every once in a while we need a day of pure fun.  I had a day like that a few weeks ago.  Fran, Marie and Deb joined me for our Asian adventure.  Here's some of what we did.

We met in Del Mar and drove to Claremont Mesa Blvd to browse and buy wonderful food items from Zion Market and 99 Ranch Market.  We started at Zion.  If you've never been there, it is well worth a trip.  The fruits and veggies are fantastic.  There will be many veggies that you've never heard of or seen before.  I bought a Chinese eggplant.  It was light purple in color, about two inches in diameter, and about 18 inches long.  It was similar to the Japanese eggplant, but much longer.  I also bought a box of dried persimmons.  I am never able to find them in traditional markets, and since they freeze beautifully, I bought a box.  There were several perishable items, like sushi and salads that we loved, so we decided to return there at the end of the day.

Our next stop was 99 Ranch.  We concentrated here on the prepared foods.  I bought several Portuguese custard tarts.  I first had these on a cruise several years ago, and the only place I ever see the custard tarts is at 99 Ranch.  I bought sesame balls filled with taro and mung bean paste.  It sounds terrible, but I love them.  Fran bought lumpia, a Philippino type of taquito, Marie bought Kimchee, Deb bought ginger cookies and some frozen thin pancakes, that you fry on a skillet.  I haven't tried them yet, but Deb loves them.

It was now lunch time, so we headed to Jasmine, my favorite place on Convoy St. for dim sum.  We stuffed ourselves, then decided to check out the rest of the shopping center.  We found the reflexology center and vowed to get reflexology treatments on our next visit to Convoy Street.  Also of interest was a new ice cream type treat.  It comes in dairy or non dairy, and many flavors.  We tried strawberry.  They take a huge frozen disc and shave it into thin strips.  The result is a cross between a snow cone and ice cream.  It's light and fluffy and they have toppings you can add.  I don't know if it will catch on in San Diego.  Boba drinks, so popular in Los Angeles, are available in San Diego, but never really became popular.  Also in the center is another dumpling restaurant, and a Chinese herb store.

What a great day.  We all went home with lots of goodies, and most of us bought prepared food for dinner that night.  We'll need more time on our next visit, as the $29.99 one hour reflexology treatment is too much to pass up.  It was a great day with friends, and I can't wait to do it again.

To Improve Personal Service

I just found out what tips, as in the amount of money you tip a restaurant server, stands for.  It means "To improve personal service."  When I heard that I thought that made sense.  A tip is a reward for good service.  However, with hourly wages so low for restaurant servers, most servers rely on tips just to make a minimum wage.  A friend of mine was telling me that her granddaughter works at a popular seafood restaurant for $2.75 per hour.  She receives this under the table, so there are no taxes.  In addition she makes about $10-$15 an hour in tips, which she has to share with the bus boys.   That's hardly much of a living.

Europe has always included the tip in the cost of the meal.  One could argue that it no longer is a reward for good service, but just part of the cost of the meal.  This has been tried by some American chain restaurants, but so far it has not had success.  It seems to me that there must be better oversight over this group of people, most of whom work very hard, and make very little.

Years ago we used to go to Lawry's prime rib restaurant, in Los Angeles.  The wait staff there bought and owned their stations.  They were that valuable.  At the time, probably 30 years ago, a retiring waitress could sell her station for $50,000, so you can only imagine that waitresses made a very good living at Lawry's.  There are other high end restaurants, where servers make a great living, but there are too many coffee shops where food is cheap and the customers even cheaper.  Something should be done to make sure that the hard working men and women in this industry make a living wage.

By the way, I think Uber is on the right track.  The price of a ride includes tax and tip.  No money changes hands with the driver.  I have talked to dozens of Uber drivers and they are all happy with their job and the pay.  The restaurant industry might want to take a look at this.

All Politics is Local

There's no need to hide my disappointment at the election of Donald Trump.  I think America made a mistake that will have far reaching effects for years to come.  However, the electoral college has spoken (he did not win the popular vote, but that's a discussion for another time), and he will be our 45th president.  I wish him well, and hope he chooses wisely, the people he will rely on for news and information and counsel.

In the meantime, let's get to work at the local level and do what we can to make our community the best it can be.  Even if our leaders don't want to work on climate change, for example, does not mean that we at the local level can't.  A perfect example is the recent vote by the Encinitas city council to ban styrofoam containers in their city.  Styrofoam is not degradeable.  It sits in the landfill, taking up space, forever.  A decision such as this would never happen at the national level, but at the local level Encinitas got this to happen in short order.  The banning of plastic bags, which has now taken affect in dozens of cities, is another example of working for change at the local level.

We have so many problems, both nationally and locally, that we have many opportunities to enact change in our local communities.  We can work on improving education, climate change and race relations at the local level.  I hope people will not let disappointment keep them from getting involved at the local level and work to make America greater than it already is.

Easiest Cake Ever

I went to my friend Shirley's funeral last week.  It was a sad event, but Shirely's daughter, Susan, one of our original Chicks group (a birthday group we formed about 12 years ago), made it very special.  The service was beautiful, and then lunch and conversation at Rancho Santa Fe Country Club, made it a day to remember.  I was seated at a table with a group of Newcomers friends, and we started talking about food.  Cheryl mentioned a two ingredient cake that sounded so simple and delicious, I went home and made it the next day.  Here it is.

                                     Two Ingredient Angel Food Pineapple Cake

1 box white angel food cake
1-20 ounce can crushed pineapple, undrained

Combine angel food cake mix and pineapple, including juice, in a bowl, and mix until well blended.  Pour into bundt pan or angel food cake pan that has been well sprayed with Pam.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, or until a tootpick comes out clean.  Let cake cool completely, about one hour, before inverting.  Invert on to serving platter, and cut into pieces.   l like to serve this with Cool Whip, whipped cream, or whipped cream flavored with just about anything.  (maybe a little rum would be good.)  Enjoy.

Cell Phones On Planes

There's been a lot of talk recently about the Samsung phones and the danger of fire.  On planes, one of the first instructions given to passengers is to turn off your Samsung phone (all phones for that matter) because of the possibility of it catching fire.  It happened the other day.  A Samsung phone that had been turned off, but held an 80% charge, caught fire and filled the cabin with smoke.  Luckily this was before take off, and the plane was evacuated and everyone was fine.  Imagine what might have happened if the phone caught fire while the plane was in flight,>p>

Here's what I don't understand.  The TSA has strict rules and regulations on what can and cannot be taken on board.  No guns, liquids over a certain amount, knives or flammable items.  Doesn't the Samsung in question qualify as a potentially flammable item?  They X-ray us, pat us down, have us take off our shoes, yet something that they know if potentially flammable can be taken aboard.   They are expecting passengers to be honest and turn off their phones, when we all know in reality this will not happen.  For some reason, the Samsung phone is allowed to be taken aboard, even though we know of its' potential hazard.  I just don't get it.

What Do You Know About Pokeman Go?

Ron and I stopped at the 101 Diner in Encinitas for an apple pancake one Thursday, before heading to the senior center for our afternoon bridge game.  As we parked and walked to the restaurant, I noticed about a dozen people, mostly young boys (teens), but some women and some young children too, standing in front of a store, all looking at their phones.  I commented to Ron that this was a curious sight, and what in the world could they be doing?

We went in, had our lunch, came out 45 minutes later, and saw the same people, still standing in the same place, looking at their phone.  I said to Ron that I thought they might be playing Pokeman Go, even though I didn't really know what it was.  I felt compelled to ask one of the boys what was going on, and sure enough, they were playing Pokeman Go.

They 're trying to catch Pokeman, but I don't really know what that means.  All I know is that they were completely enthralled in what they were doing.  I have heard of people walking off cliffs while playing the game.  They are so engrossed in the game, that they forget there are cars and traffic out there.  For the life of me I don't understand it.  Maybe I'm just too old for the game.  My kids and grand kids don't play it, so I don't have a young person to help explain it to me.  Maybe next time I see a gathering of Pokeman Go players, I will ask for an explanation.  They'll think I'm crazy, but maybe one of them will explain what all the fuss is about.  I certainly don't get it now.

So You Think You Can Dance

I was in Carlsbad yesterday running some errands, and I parked my car in front of a dance studio.  The students, age 5-10 were just finishing class.  About 10 children came out of the class, and four of them were boys.  I was surprised.  Parents have generally gotten their boys involved in sports, but due to several factors, dance is becoming acceptable for boys.

It could be due to the popularity of So You Think You Can Dance? and Dancing With the Stars over the past decade.  Boys see that it's ok to dance, that it can be a career, and that dancing can attract some good looking women.  Boys see football players, actors, politicians, and astronauts dancing, and want to do it too.

Dancing enhances ones rhythm, balance, grace and flexibility.  Football players, basketball players and baseball players can all benefit from dance.  Some great football players think their dance background has enhanced their ability to play football, basketball or baseball.  Lynn Swann and Willie Gault are just two of the great football players that studied dance.

I was an advocate of Yoga many years ago, before it became so popular.  25 years ago I used to take yoga in Santa Monica at a well known studio, called Yoga Works.  I was shocked when I found big, burly men in the class.  I came to discover they were all football players from college and pro teams in the Los Angeles area.  Many of them were also studying dance.  Think about it.  The moves of running back require speed, flexibility, coordination and balance.  Dance and yoga improve all of that.

Thank goodness boys can now go to dance class and feel proud.  They no longer have to keep their passion a secret.  Although we've got a long way to go as a society, we are definitely becoming more accepting of our differences.  That's part of what makes us great.

Breakfast Republic

Breakfast Republic opened in 2015 in North Park to rave reviews.  Their newest location is in Liberty Park.  Although I didn't actually eat there, I interviewed several diners and know exactly what it's like.  First, the restaurant big, with seating inside and out, and crowded.  So crowded, that at 11:30am there was a 45 minute wait for breakfast!  Everything looked huge and fantastic.  Here's what customers I talked to were eating.

Scrambles and omelettes were popular, all made with four eggs.  In addition to this, they have eggs benedict several ways.  Pancakes and french toast were extremely popular.  Pineapple upside down pancakes, mint chocolate chip pancakes, and cinnamon roll pancakes were just some of the options.  French toast possibilities are lemon and coconut, banana split, marscpone and strawberries, and peanut butter with bananas and bacon!  They have one combination where you get a taste of three different french toasts.  It seemed a bit much for me, but for those with a sweet tooth, this is the place for breakfast.

We ended up eating at an empanada place inside the new market place.  This was my second trip to Liberty Station since they opened the new market place, and to tell you the truth, I don't think there are such great restaurants to choose from.  Yes, Stone Brewery is there and has fantastic food and ambience, but the little stands in the market place are for the most part, so, so.  They do, however, have a great fresh pasta place where you can buy pasta to take home, and a wonderful French bakery.  The empanadas can be taken home and frozen, and they are delicious.

Breakfast Republic is a long way from North County to travel for breakfast, but if you are in the Liberty Station or North Park area for breakfast or lunch, you might want to give it a try.  It's the kind of place Guy Fieri would visit on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.  Maybe he will,

The Mother Sauces Have Been Replaced

We live in a time when we we're looking for a little simplicity.  So many things are complicated, but cooking doesn't have to be one of them.  In days gone by, cooking schools would teach students the 5 mother sauces, those rich, delicious, sauces from which all other sauces are born.  The five mother sauces are bechamel, veloute, espagnole (brown), hollandaise and tomato.  Some of these sauces require reductions, boiling beef or lamb bones for hours, or delicate additions of eggs, as in hollandaise.  Who has time for all that these days?  The UT had a recent article about sauces, and it got me thinking.  A good sauce changes the whole meal, so why not keep some of these on hand?  Here are a few of my favorite sauces.  They're all easy, and they really liven up a meal.

                     Parsley Pesto

2 C. flat leaf parsley
2 T. Toasted pine nuts
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp salt

combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Use on chicken  or vegetables.  Store for up to a week in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

                  Creamy White Sauce

1/4 mayonnaise
2 tsp white vinegar
one garlic clove, crushed
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt

Combine all ingredient until thoroughly incorporated.  This is a great sauce to serve with hot or cold vegetables, or as a sandwich spread.  I also like it on fish.

             Basic Yogurt Sauce

1 cup plain Greek style yogurt
2 T. finely chopped mint leaves

2 T. extra virgin olive oil
2 T. lime juice
1/2 tsp salt
1 garlic clove

This sauce can be made in a blender  or by hand.  You will get a smoother sauce if you do it in the blender.   However, I like it done in by hand with a whisk.  Combine all ingredients.  Grate the garlic clove before adding to the sauce.  To make this a cucumber sauce, simply add 1/2 chopped and peeled Persian cucumber, chopped dill and one tablespoon of cumin.  With or without the cucumbers, this sauce is fantastic.  Use it on any Mediterranean inspired meal.  Use it in a pita pocket with turkey and veggies, or on chicken or fish.  It's also a great dip for veggies or pita chips.

Pop Art = Roy Lichtenstein

My mom and I spent an afternoon at the Skirball in Los Angeles on Sunday.  The Skirball is a cultural center, focusing on Jewish culture.  While we were there, we saw the Noah's Ark exhibit, which was just extraordinary.  Children and adults with both love it.  We also saw an exhibit called American Dreams, about Jews and the history of baseball.  Any baseball fan will want to see this.  But what we actually went to see, was the Roy Lichtenstein exhibit.

Roy Lichtenstein is one of my favorite artists of the last half of the 20th century.  He came on the scene in the early 1960's.  He originally began as abstract expressionist, but soon changed course.  He felt there were too many artists in that movement, and decided to do something else.  He decided to take the comic book style and elaborate on it, and voila, a new art movement was begun.  It was called Pop Art, and Lichtenstein is definitely the finest example of this type of art.

Lichtenstein worked (printed) at Gemini G.E.L., the premier print studio of its time.  Other contemporaries of Lichtenstein, like Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Rauschenberg, and Claus Oldenberg, also worked there.  I was lucky enough to know one of the owners of Gemini, Stanley Grinstein.  He and his wife's interest in modern art led to founding of Gemini.  I was fortunate to  have been able to observe famous artists at work in the studio,  and see  many prints before they were finished and available to the public.  I will never forget one day when Ellen, Stanley's daughter, took me to the studio.  I had commented on how vibrant I found the colors that Lichtenstein used.  She wanted to show me what  old prints from the 1960's that had been in a dark drawer for 30 years actually looked like.  They were shades brighter than anything that had been exposed to light.

One of the more interesting things that Lichtenstein did was take the style of famous artists, and make them his own.  He did this with Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet.  He did an fascinating series of haystacks, in the Monet style, but with his own twist.  At the Skirball exhibit they had a full scale copy of his take on Van Gogh's bedroom.  You know the painting, with the bed and the chair.  Lichtenstein's picture is influenced by Van Gogh, but very much his own.

Lichtenstein died in the late 1990's, but still had time to do so much.  He was a skilled artist who created an art movement, Pop Art.  Here are just a few of his hundreds of contributions to the art world.  Get to the Skirball if you can.  There's so much to see there.

 

Oh Rats

I never liked rats, and after two experiences with rats in the house, I despise them.  Here are my two rat stories.

We had been living in our newly built house in Del Mar for about six months, when I noticed that the telephone cords in my bathroom looked like they had been eaten away.  They had, by Ricky the rat as we came to call this elusive oversized rat that took weeks for the exterminator to exterminate.  If he had chewed the phone cords in the master bath, that meant he'd been in the bathroom and probably in our bedroom.  I was not happy.  Traps were set in the attic, where there was evidence of rats, but we could not set them in the house because we had two dogs at the time.  The night I saw Ricky run by my bed on his way to the bathroom was the last straw.  I called pest control and told them to come out immediately.  It was Sunday, but they came, and within two days had finally caught Ricky.  I'm not sure exactly how they finally caught him, and I don't really care, but rats were out of my life until a few years later.

We were living in Carlsbad.  We had a very old dog, Barney, at the time, who couldn't hear or I guess smell very well, because we had a family of rats who were making nightly visits to our kitchen, and Barney slept through it all.  I didn't.  I hear rustling in the kitchen, and being the coward that I am, woke Ron.  He was slightly better at attempting to solve the problem.  He went with a flashlight, but as soon as there was light on the scene, the rat disappeared.  We called the pest company, the same one we used in Del Mar, and they came out to inspect.  They found that there was probably a family of rats in the walls of the house.  This is very hard to get rid of.  We put a sticky trap in the kitchen and yes, we caught one.  I screamed as Ron put the rat and trap in a plastic bag and dumped it outside.  This was not the end of the problem, as there was a whole family.  I don't know how many children they had, but it took weeks resolve, and several more sticky traps and lots more screaming.

So now you see why I have such antipathy for the rat.  I was going to tell you some interesting facts about rats, but actually more personal stories are a little more interesting.  I'll give you some interesting facts about some of the 56 known species of rats at another time.

American Jerusalem: Jews and the Making of San Francisco

I enjoyed watching this movie  recently with a group of Brandeis women, and learned so much.  Jews from Bavaria began emigrating to the U.S. in the 1840's, and many of them settled in San Francisco.  The Gold Rush drew people from all over the world seeking fame and fortune from the Gold Rush.  Many Jews determined that their fortune lay more in business, something they knew from the old country.  They could sell goods to miners, which might be more lucrative than mining for gold.  Many had been merchants in Bavaria, and so they continued this tradition by opening businesses in San Francisco and sold to city folks and miners

In 1848, people were coming from all over the world for gold.  Over the next several decades, 250,000 Jews left Central Europe, mostly young and not devout.  It was a long, dangerous trip to get to San Francisco.  One of the most famous immigrants  was Adolf Sutro. Sutro took on the Bank of California and got his Sutro Tunnel built, which made mining safer and more efficient.  He went on to become the largest land owner in San Francisco, and finally, the first Jewish Mayor of San Francisco.

  When Jewish immigrants arrived, they started mutual aid societies, even before synagogues were started.  In 1851, two synagogues were started. In 1866, one of these temples, Temple Emanuel, built a big, beautiful temple in San Francisco, to let everyone know they had arrived, and were part of the community.

Another famous early Jewish immigrant was Levi Strauss, and we all know how he started as a merchant, then went on to manufacture the most famous clothing item ever, jeans.  Believe it or not, Strauss had a sign on his building that said "White labor."  He used only white labor, and did not use Chinese workers.  His attitude toward Chinese is distressing, but he was not alone.  You would expect Jews to sympathize with the plight of poor Chinese labor, but many did not.  For all the good Jews did in building the city of San Francisco, their dislike and lack of desire to help another group that needed help, is unfortunate.  Jews were a vital force in the building of San Francisco.  They came as immigrants, but within a few short years they were leaders of business and industry.

Some Unique Hotels

At some point in your travels, you've probably seen most of the places on your bucket list.  I'm far from there, but for those who are, the next thing you might look for is some really unique hotels.  There are some amazing hotels around the world built of ice, underwater, in the sides of cliffs, and up in the trees.  Here are some that you might seek out on your next adventure.

The Fairy Chimney Hotel in Turkey looks like an alien landscape.  The Caves Resort in Jamaica is dramatic and something you might enjoy.  Hotel de Glace in Canada is just one of many hotels built out of ice.  Other ice hotels are located in Scandanivan countries.  Sala Silvermine is a hotel in Sweden, which is underground, and the Poseidon Undersea Resort in Fiji, is underwater.  Iglu Dorf Hotel in Switzerland is another igloo type hotel.  Ngorngoro Crater Lodge in Tanzania is a gorgeous safari lodge.  The Ice Hotel in Sweden is the largest ice hotel in the world.  Another igloo style hotel can be found in Finland, Kakslauttanen Igloo Village.  Finally, The Mirrorcube Tree House in Sweden is so exotic.  Rooms of glass hang nearly invisibly among the trees.

If these exotic hotels don't get you yearning to plan a trip I don't know what will.  Staying at any of these incredible hotels would be quite an experience.  I'm already thinking about Scandanivia and one of the ice hotels.

Helping Stray Dogs

I got a call from my sister this morning.  We don't talk very often, but she had an interesting story to tell today, and I thought I would pass it on to you.

Madeleine lives in Lake Elsinore, at the top of a hill on a cul-de-sac, surrounded by a canyon.  During the heat of the summer, Madeleine noticed that a German shepard mix dog was roaming the canyon, looking for water.  It was about 110 degrees, so without water, she wasn't going to last long.  Day after day Madeleine would see the dog roaming around, but the dog would run away every time she was called.  Finally, Madeleine decided to put a water bowl and some kibble near her house.  She did, and the next morning, much of the water and kibble was gone.  Madeleine did this for several days, but was unable to get the dog to come close to her.

In desperation Madeleine called the humane society.  They set up a trap to catch the dog, and in a few hours the dog was lured into the trap and caught.  Madeleine did not know at the time that this particular humane society killed animals that did not get adopted in a week.  When she went to the humane society to visit the dog, she noticed that there were several other dogs that looked similar to the one she had just found and caught.  How was she going to make sure that this dog lived?  She had a clever idea.

She decided to sponser the dog, which involved advertising on the internet, so that people would know this dog needed a home.  Low and behold, in three days, a former military man suffering from PTSD, looking for a companion, came into the shelter due to the advertisement, and a match was made.  The man got a wonderful, and the dog was saved from being euthanized.  What a happy ending.  I'm so glad Madeleine went the extra mile to advertise this dog and find her a home.  This was a win/win situation.

Have You Tried A Pitaya Bowl?

I've been eating acai bowls for several years now.  The acai is a South American fruit that is high in vitamins and minerals.  It's on lots of menus these days, and is absolutely delicious.  I was at the Lotus Cafe with friends one day, when I noticed that their menu offered a pitaya bowl.  I asked what it was, and found out it was another South American fruit, one with a more tart taste than acai.

Pitaya is also known as dragon fruit.  It's either pink or white on the inside, with tiny, edible black seeds.  It was originally grown in Central and South America, but it is now grown all over the world.  It has the consistency of kiwi.  It is high in magnesium, iron, fiber, vitamin B2, vitamin C, and anti oxidents.  I tried the pitaya bowl, and loved it.  The pitaya is blended with ice and almond milk, to the consistency of sherbet.  It is placed in a bowl, and topped with granola, coconut, and a fruit.  Mine was topped with bananas, strawberries, and blueberries.  It looked like an American flag.  Gorgeous to look at and so delicious.  I couldn't believe I at the whole thing.  Acai (sweet) and pitaya (more tart) are both healthy and delicious.  Next time you're out for breakfast or lunch and want something different, give either one a try.  You'll be happy you did.

More Add On Fees

Remember when travel started to change dramatically, with add on fees for everything from additional fuel costs, to baggage fees, food service charges, and charges for advance seat selection?  A $200 ticket could be more like $275 by the time all additional fees were tacked on.  Then, hotels, not to be left behind, started adding fees.  For many years resorts have been charging what they call a "resort fee,"  whatever that means.  Now things are getting worse.

In order to increase their bottom line, hotels have added additional fees to many hotels.  First, some of the hotels that used to include a free breakfast, no longer do.  I was recently at a Courtyard by Marriott, a hotel that used to have a wonderful free breakfast served daily.  Not anymore.  Now they have a designated area for the purchase of hot and cold breakfast items, and in many cases, Starbucks.  A bowl of oatmeal was $6.95 at a Courtyard I recently stayed in.  A full breakfast will cost you close to $15!  Also, many hotels used to offer in room coffee.  Many still have it, but at a cost.  Each K-cup will cost you $3.50.  Parking has been added to many hotels that didn't charge in the past.  Resort fees are to be expected everywhere these days, and can be very costly.  Finally, some hotels charge for the use of the business center and wi fi.

You must consider all these costs when book a hotel room, especially hotels that used to include breakfast, and no longer do.  That is a huge expense, especially if traveling with a family.  It's amazing how corporations invent new ways to increase revenue.  Since most of these  charges are add ons, only a savvy traveler will notice that hotels have risen, when you include all the extras.  Know what you're getting when you book your next hotel.

The Important Work of The League of Women Voters (LWV)

I went to listen to two representatives from the LWV speak at our clubhouse today.  They were giving us the facts on the 17 propositions listed on our November 8 ballot.  Many of these propositions are complicated.  Yes means No, No means Yes.  You're going to need some help sorting it all out.  I got what I was looking for, and now feel able to make an informed decision on the propositions.

The LWV was formed around 100 years ago, just after women were granted the right to vote.  Women decided that if they were going to vote, they should know the issues and make educated decisions.  Today, the LWV purpose is two fold.  First, it works to educate  the public about the issues.  Second, it advocates for some candidates and initiatives.  By going to the website www.votersedge.org you can get all the information on propositions and candidates, and follow the money.  You can find out who supports what, and how much money is being spent on each proposition.  Great information to have.

I urge everyone to go to a presentation by the LWV and find out the facts about the propositions we will be voting on.  Some of them are very important, and will be permanent.  If you can't do this, at least check out their website and get the straight facts on the various propositions.  Most of  us don't have the time or inclination to research 17 propositions.  Thank goodness for the LWV.

Vacation Means Good Food

My trip to Nashville and Chicago with my mom was so much fun.  We both love to eat, and I thought I'd just mention a few of our favorite spots, just in case you're thinking of visiting either of these cities.
Nashville:  The best meal we had was our first night in town at a Mediterranean restaurant called  The Butcher and Bee.  Fantastic, is all I can say.  A corn pudding to die for.  You've got to try it if you're in Nashville.  Pinewood Social, for coffee, after dinner drinks, or a meal.  We went for coffee.  it is so unique.  It's a huge room, divided up into cozy areas with sofas and chairs and dining tables.  Very upscale, wonderful drinks.  They have a bowling alley in the back.  It's a great place to relax and kick back when you're tired of the hustle and bustle of Broadway.

Chicago:  It's hard to get a bad meal in Chicago.  Two standout breakfast spots were Kanela Breakfast Club (several location)  and Beatrix.  At Kanela Breakfast Club I had a wonderful French toast with apricot flavored creme fraiche on top and sitting on a bed of apricot puree.  Mom had avocado toast with spicy chickpeas.  Delicious. At Beatrix, I had the most delicious lemon ricotta pancakes I've ever had.  The lady we met on the street who gave us this recommendation, and walked us to the restaurant, was right.  Our breakfast was great.  For dinner, our favorite was Monteverde, a neighborhood Italian restaurant serving modern Italian food.  This was one of the best meals I've had in a long time, and the items on the menu were so unique.  My describing them will not do them justice, but trust me, if you go to Chicago try to get a table at Monteverde.  We also tried Swift and Sons in Fulton Market.  This is a traditional grill, with steaks, seafood, and chicken.  Great starters, like lobster bisque and caesar salad and steak tartare, which I ordered.  It's like Ruth's Chris or Flemmings.  We loved it.  Another restaurant called the Grand Lux, right on Michigan Ave, was wonderful, especially for lunch.  It's owned by the Cheesecake Factory, so you know it's good.  We had two of the best salads I've ever had there.  These were the standouts on our trip.

Oh, I should mention that we saw Garth Brooks getting into his car in Nashville, and Pam Tillis walking down the street.  They were both on music row, where all the music publishing houses are.  It was a great time for us.  My mom was disappointed to find out that people from Nashville don't have much of a southern accent.  We heard more southern accents from the tourists in Chicago!

Oh Rats, Part 2

As much as I hate and fear rats, they are pretty interesting.  Here are some facts about rats that you probably didn't know.  I'm not sure you need to know this information, but I found it interesting.

1.  Rats' front teeth grow 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches each year.  They wear them down by continuously gnawing on everything around them, from brick, to cement, to lead pipes.

2.  A female rat can mate as many as 500 times with various males during a six-hour period of receptivity-a state she experiences about 15 times per year.  Thus, a pair of brown rats can produce as many as 2,000 descendants in a year if left to breed unchecked.

3.  A rat can tread water for three days and survive being flushed down the toilet.

4.  There are 56 species of rats.  Many live near humans, but they are often found in remote habitats like marshlands and rain forests.  Some species of rats are even endangered.

5.  A rat can fall as far as 50 feet and land uninjured.

6.  Rats do not sweat.  They regulate their temperature by constricting or expanding blood vessels in their tails.

7.  Rats are known to transmit several potentially fatal diseases to humans, including viral hemorrhagic fever plague, Weil's disease and Q fever.  The good news is that is rare for a human to get rabies from a rat.

8.  Rats don't have gallbladders or tonsils, but they do have belly buttons.

Just thought you should know.

The Poke Trend

Poke has been popular for years in Hawaii, but it's popularity is quickly catching on here on the mainland.  Poke is raw fish, usually tuna, that is seasoned with garlic, chilis and onions.  A poke bowl, which is a new food trend on the West Coast, is similar to a burrito bowl, only with an Asian flair.  Rice on the bottom, seasoned raw fish on top, and several veggies on top of that.  Sliced onion, chopped green onion, sliced avocado, soy sauce, roe, cherry tomatoes and sesame seeds are the most popular condiments.

I was in LA a few months ago and tried to visit a poke restaurant, but couldn't because we arrived before opening.  Now I see San Diego is loaded with poke restaurants, none of which I have tried, but that Carlsbad now has Yoshino, a poke restaurant, that I will try for lunch very soon.  Food trends change rapidly.  Sushi, pizza and burgers seem to be most popular right now, but poke may catch on.   It's fresh and delicious and very healthy.  I can't wait to try Yoshino, North County's first poke restaurant.

Just for your information, and for barbeque fans, Texas Roadhouse, on El Camino and the 78 is just about to open.  Another place for North County residents to try.  We're getting lots of new restaurants all of a sudden, and I hope many of them are good enough for a second visit.

Old Words Take On New Meanings

I've often thought about how old words have taken on new meanings.  For example, the word "gay."  It used to mean lively and fun, but it now also means homosexual.  When you were introduced to someone years ago as someone's partner, you probably thought they were referring to a business partner.  Today, partner may also me living partner.  The technological changes have provoked linguistic and cultural change.  Here are some examples.

Canoe:  Old meaning= a long narrow boat.  New= A twitter conversation that has picked up too many usernames for an actual conversation to take place.

Friend:  Old meaning=one attached to another by affection or esteem.  New=to add a person to one's list of contacts on a social-networking site.

Cloud:  Old meaning=a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor.  New=Any of several parts of the Internet that allow online processing and storage of documents.

Sandbox:  Old meaning=a low box filled with sand for children.  New=An environment in which software developers or editors can create and test new content.

Ping:  Old meaning=a sharp sound like that of a striking bullet.  New=To make contact with someone by sending a brief electronic message, as a text message.

Tweet:  Old meaning=A chirping sound.  New=A very short message posted on the twitter website.

Other words that have taken on new meanings in the last 20 years are like, handle, swipe, text, troll tag, profile, unplug and viral.

Dictionaries are constantly being updated, not only for the addition of new words each year, but for the addition of new meanings for old words, most of which have come about due to the internet.

Take An Uber

I just returned from an eight day trip with my mom.  We visited Nashville and Chicago.  We ate, drank, saw the sights, listened to music and comedy, looked at art, and all our transportation was by Uber.  I feel like an expert, after about 25+ Uber rides, including four rides from airport to hotel, which were the most expensive.

Uber, or Lyft (which we did not take just because I didn't have the app on my phone) are here to stay.  The bigger the city, the better, and cheaper, are your rides.  Most of our rides were in the $5 range.  You have so many options.  You can get a basic car like a Toyota Camry, or you can get something more upscale, which will cost you more.  You can go by yourself, or you can request a share ride.  The share ride will cut the cost of the ride in half, and add about 5-10 minutes to the length of your trip.  We did a lot of shared rides, as we were not in any hurry, and we loved meeting the people.

Most of the riders we encountered were under 40 years of age.  Many of the college age kids we met are growing up with Uber.  They don't see any need for a car.  We met so many young people in the shared rides, and they all love Uber.  We met med students, lawyers, businessmen, unemployed young people.  We shared a ride twice with the same young girl, Kate.  Talk about a coincidence!

Most interesting were the drivers, and the diversity we met.  We met everything from college students driving part time, to college professors raising money for charity.  The latter was a college professor working part time for Uber to raise money for juvenile diabetes.  He got 14 of his friends to work for Uber too, and they all plan to raise $1000 each.  What a great idea.  Drivers we met came from Nigeria, Equador, Mexico, Egypt, Palestine, and all over the U.S.  Most loved the work, especially the freedom to set their own hours.

We met many young people in Chicago who had sold their car, finding out that by using Uber they can save money and still get around town.  I think Uber is here to stay.  Maybe in a few years Uber won't even use drivers.  After all they're working on the car with no driver.  That will put thousands of drivers out of work.

Another Animal Rescued

I met Aster this morning.  She is a 10 pound dog, around six years old, that one of the residents in our community just rescued from the Humane Society.  The woman had gone to the shelter looking for a companion for her other dog.  She had a specific type of dog in mind, but that's not what she ended up with.  Aster took one look at my friend and that was it.  Aster put her head in her lap and gave her a look that said "I'm yours,"  and she was.  When she took Aster home there was concern that she might not even make it.  She was a mess, but my friend could not go home without this poor little guy.

Aster was found in a canyon, probably one day from starvation.  She weighed six pounds when the human society found her.  She had been surviving on berries for some time, because that is all she pooped for the first week.  She was infested with fleas, and they thought she had cataracts.  Actually, her eyes cleared up nicely after she got her energy back.  She was shutting down all together when she was found, but as soon as they got food and water into her and she gained a few pounds, her eyes cleared up.  How she avoided the coyotes while in the canyon is a mystery to everyone.   She has now been in her new home for about a month.  She has gone from an amaciated six pounds to just over 10 pounds!  She is happy, always wagging her tail, and loving.  I was so happy to meet her today, and see that another rescue dog has a happy, forever home.  As much as I'd love to rescue another dog, I told Pepper when we got him that he was, and always will be an only dog!

More Good Eats In Oceanside

Rarely do I concentrate reviews or recommendations on just one city, but since Oceanside is an up and coming foodie location, here goes.  These are just a few of the super cool restaurants to try, some old, some new, in the hottest spot for new gastropubs.  Actually, only one restaurant on this list is a gastropub.  All the others are good, causal restaurants, with great food.

608 is the name of a new restaurant taking over where Swami's used to be on Mission Avenue.  The owner and chef comes from Real Bar and Bistro in Solana Beach.  He likes to combine classic, comfortable and familiar staples with bold flavors and seasonings.  The restaurant just opened a few weeks ago, and I will try to get there soon for a full review.

Captain's Grounds is a local coffee house, with great lattes and a good vibe.  If you're like me, and like to support local merchants rather than chain restaurants, give them a try next time you're in the area.  Also, Red and White Market on Vista Way, is a small local market that has been around for years.  It's family owned, and the people couldn't be friendlier.  They are known for the excellent deli, and delicious sandwiches.  Next time you're on the way to the beach or picnic, stop at Red and White and get your sandwiches.

The Breakfast Club Diner is not new, but it's place you will love, if you want to feel like you're back in the 80's.  Huge portions, great food and a real diner experience await you at this local spot on Coast Highway.  It looks like something Guy Fieri from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives would review.  Maybe he has.  Buccaneer Cafe is another diner type restaurant, with big portions and always busy with lots of locals.  My favorite breakfast place in Oceanside, however, is the Beach Break Cafe on Coast Highway.  Run by the same family for many years (they used to be right down the street), the food is fabulous, whatever you get.  On the weekend, be prepared for a wait, but it's worth it.  French toast, pancakes, omelettes, and eggs of any type, are all great.  Try their coffee cake for a special treat.

Finally, one more restaurant that I can't wait to try.  It's called WuLan Ramen House, on Frazee Rd.  Coming from L.A, we have one street in Santa Monica (Sawtelle Blvd) that has about 15 different ramen restaurants to choose from, so I've had lots of ramen.  We don't have many ramen restaurants  here in north county, so if this is good, as all the reviews say it is, it will surely be a winner.  They serve ramen with several types of broth, and lots of additions to broth, depending on your taste.  They also have other Asian appetizers, so there's a lot to choose from.

So many new places to try, I can't wait.  I will review 608 and WuLan Ramen House as soon as I go there.  Until then, happy eating, wherever you go.

Music And More At Kaboo

Fran was lucky enough to get VIP tickets to Kaboo, the music, food and art festival in Del Mar.  Last year was the first time it was held, and it was a huge success.  We wanted to see what it was all about, and Fran knows one of the performers, so was able to get tickets.  Prior to this concert, I had  probably been to four or five concerts in my life, like Rick Springsteen at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, and Neil Diamond at the Forum.  I'd never been to an outdoor concert like this.  The added bonus of Kaboo, was delicious food, wine and beer choices and some wonderful art.  We loved the day and evening, but I came home exhausted.  I definitely got in my 10,000 steps!

We were dropped off by Fran's husband, Jim, almost at the entrance to the fairgrounds.  That saved us at least 1/2 mile of walking.  We got our badges, and headed over to a concert venue on the other side of the fairgrounds, to see Sugar Ray and his band, which was excellent.  There are no seats, so don't even think you're going to sit down at one of these events.  Luckily we found a spot along the fence, and were able to lean for much of the time.  The concert was great, everyone singing along, arms waving in the air, wall to wall people having a good time.  What energy Sugar Ray has, after doing this for so many years!

Next, it was off to find water, then dinner, before we saw Hall and Oates and Jimmy Buffet.  There were at least 20 bands performing each day, so you have to pick and choose.  Dinner was our next choice.  We were surprised.  We both expected to see fair type food choices, and they were all there.  However, they also had some very gourmet choices.  Searsucker, City Tacos, Bottega Americano, Seaside Market, JSix, and many other wonderful restaurants from the area had limited menus for us to choose from.  We selected a Mediterranean restaurant in El Cajon, and had a delicious flatbread, topped with chicken, garlic, cheese and other good things.  Fran had one of the many beer choices.  We were lucky to find a picnic bench for dinner.  I saw many people eating standing up.

As day moves to night, the concerts get bigger and more crowded.  By the time Jimmie Buffet appeared on stage, it looked like Woodstock.  I tried to capture a picture of the crowd, but the picture doesn't  really capture it.  (the pictures I posted are of Sugar Ray and the crowd at the Jimmie Buffet concert). In any event, we were lucky to find VIP seats, yes seats, for the rest of the evening.  It helped a lot, as my legs were shot.  I noticed lots of other concert goers over 55 as the night wore on.  This was truly a concert that appealed to all ages.

My only disappointment was with the medical services.  A lady passed out at the afternoon concert, probably from too much sun and not enough water, but it took a full 15 minutes for EMT to get to her.  Also, water was not easily available.  You had to stand in a long line to get water.  All in all though, it was a great experience, which I'm glad I had.  I can check it off my bucket list.  Been there, done that.