I Can't Think Of Anything Else!

For the past few weeks I have sat down several times to write a blog.  You know I like to keep the topics varied and informative, but right now I'm having trouble doing that.  The only thing that comes to mind is the Covid 19 virus and what we're doing about it.  So, I have not written much lately, but I want you to know I'm still here and thinking about staying in touch with all of you.  Here are a few thoughts I can share with you.

Taking the advice of the science and health professionals is the best thing you can do right now.  Stay home!!!  I got a call from friends yesterday who wanted to bring dinner over and spend the evening with us.  NO!!!  The only person coming in our home until further notice is Dan, our caregiver.  I go to the supermarket once a week during senior hours, but I am considering ordering groceries on line.  Other than that, and a once a week trip to a drive thru for lunch (In and Out), then eating in the parking lot, is all we are doing. 

A friend sent me an e-mail this morning, trying to put our self isolation in perspective.  Anne Frank and family hid in a 450 square foot area and could not make any noise, for over 750 days.  We can all do this!  And her family had no telephone, Netflix, or other devices to keep them busy. 

Thank goodness for Zoom.  My lunch group is meeting on Zoom this week, in place of a great meal at a restaurant.  We will all have a great time, eating our peanut butter sandwiches or yogurt and just having fun.  Our Newcomers group is planning our first on line book club meeting, which I can't wait to attend.  Newcomers will also have their general meeting as a Zoom meeting, which should be fantastic.

The bridge club that we play at in Phoenix has organized an online bridge game every afternoon.  Just like being at the bridge club, same people, same competition, but you can compete in your pajamas.  That's something I also plan to try. 

So what else are people doing?  My friends who used to sit by the pool and sunbathe everyday have set up beach chairs in their driveway, brought the dog's bed out to the driveway so the dog can be with them, and they sit there in their bathing suits all afternoon. 

Several people from our dogpark have arranged walks, usually just two or three people at a time (in order to keep our distance) everyday.  This is a benefit to humans and canines alike.  Others I know are going on Facetime and reading to their grandchildren, or helping grandchildren with their homework.  My gym has set up virtual exercise classes, where you can go on line and take a class with your favorite teacher any time you want. 

I'm exhausted from keeping so busy! Next time I blog I will talk about some of the psychological effects of social distancing, and how I am coping.  We are all in this together, and we will all get though it, if we stay strong and follow the advice of professionals.  Stay safe.

The Art of David Hockney

One of my favorite artists of the past 50 years is David Hockney.  Born in 1937 in England, he has had an extraordinary career.  When Ron and I started collecting art in the 1980's, Hockney was one of our favorite artists.  At one time we had a print from his pool series, an original oil of his favorite dog, and several prints from his theatre works, which were drawings of the sets he designed for operas.  The only one we still have is the drawing of his dog.

 Ron and I visited long time friends in Phoenix recently.  Our hostess, Ellen, said the Heard Museum had a show of Hockney's Yosemite paintings.  This was the first exhibit of Hockney's in Arizona! I couldn't wait to see it. The exhibit combined the prints of Hockney's that were done in 2010 and 2011 with a few of his photographic collages from the 1980's, and baskets made by indigenous women, inspired by the same landscape that Hockney painted.  The 20 baskets that were displayed were examples of Mono Lake Paiute and Miwok basketry from early-mid 20th century.  Hockney's prints were first drawn on his iPad, then transferred to larger paper.  This is just one example of how David Hockney has evolved over the years, always trying out new techniques.

In 2018 Hockney's 1972 work Portrait of an Artists (pool with two figures) sold at Christies for $90million.  Over the years, David Hockney has done portraits, printmaking, photocollages, plein air landscapes, and theatre works, where he designed sets and costumes for opera in the 1980's.  He is truly one of the most recognized and respected artists of the 20th century and beyond.

No Restaurants to Review: What to Do? What to Do?

The last restaurant I reviewed was only about 2 weeks ago.  It was Beshok  Ramen in Carlsbad.  I'm still thinking about how delicious the soup was.  Rich, intense broth with an abundance of noodles, sprouts, egg, and pork.  Well, I won't be going there any time soon, if ever.

I know we will recover from this catastrophe, but will things ever be the same?  How many of our favorite restaurants will have closed, never to be seen again?  It's hard to know.  Most small establishments are like most people, living paycheck to paycheck.  Will no interest loans and government help be enough to keep them alive?

It's still too early to tell.  We still don't know how long cases are going to increase daily, and how long it will be until we see the curve start to flatten.  I think of restaurants like Market and Pamplemousse.  Can they possibly do enough take out to keep them afloat?  I don't think so. 

Ron has not been out of the house in over a week, so last Friday we decided to get out for a while.  Dan was with us (our wonderful caregiver).  Ron wanted to go to In and Out for lunch in the car.  We went to the Vista location, and waited about 25 minutes in line.  They have a fantastic system set up, with one person taking your order before you get to the window, then payment at the first window and food at the second window.  It was a treat, and we ate in the parking lot of the restaurant.  We plan to go to another drive through on Friday, maybe some place a little nicer.  I'll have to research and find out who's doing take out.

Difficult times call for innovation.  My lunch bunch group was scheduled to go out next Tuesday, but instead, we have all added Zoom to our phones, and we will sign is as a group and have lunch together.  Not quite the same as last month's fantastic visit to Brussels Bistro in San Clemente, but it will have to do for now. 

Keep safe everyone.  This is not a hoax.  Listen to health professionals, not politicians who have their own agenda.  Facts matter.

Surviving Coronavirus, Physically and Mentally

There's not much I can tell you about how to stay safe during this pandemic that hasn't already been said.  One Japanese doctor has suggested the following, for self monitoring yourself daily.  Take a deep breath, hold for at least 10 seconds.  If you can do this without coughing or feeling tightness, you probably don't have fibrosis in the lungs. If you do this simple check each day you can hopefully catch the virus before it become dangerous.  Another tip from the same source is to keep yourself hydrated.  Dry mouth can be a breeding ground for infection.  If you do happen to have contact with some who has the virus, frequent sips of water will wash the virus out of the mouth, down into the stomach where it will be killed.  I haven't heard either of these ideas from any American doctors, but that doesn't mean anything to me. Neither of them cost anything and they just may protect you.

Keeping yourself mentally fit is a bit more difficult.  If you plan to self distance yourself from crowds, you will probably be spending a lot more time at home.  Unless you plan on selling stocks at this time, don't look at your portfolio for a while.  It will only depress you.  Based on past performances, the market will come back.  Be patient.

How to keep yourself busy?  Catch up on the new shows and old ones you've missed on Netflix and Prime.  We just watched several old seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and every Sunday night look forward to a new episode of season 10.  Clean out clutter in your home and garage.  If you're like me, this will take you several days, but you will feel great.  Catch up on correspondance with friends and family.  It's a good time to reconnect with people.  If you're missing your day at the bridge club, invite a few local friends over for the afternoon.  The same goes for Canasta players and Mah Jongg players.  Play with a fresh deck of cards!  Or, play games on line.  There is so much to choose from.

Visit grocery stores or pharmacies at quiet hours, to avoid the crowds.   I plan NOT to buy grapes right now.  They have been touched by too many people, and even if you wash them, there is risk.  I will try to stick with peeled fruits and apples, which can be easily washed. Reschedule doctor appointments that aren't urgent.  I just cancelled Ron's ALS checkup and my mammogram.  He is stable so I see no reason to take him into a hospital filled with sick people.  My mammogram can be done at a future time.  These are just a few of my thoughts on staying safe during this trecherous time.  If I have more, I will let you know.  In the meantime, stay safe, don't panic, and get medical help if you think you need it.  We will all get through this.

How To Keep Your Sanity During The Coronavirus

As it appears more certain that social distancing, school and restaurant closures, and just about every form of entertainment will continue for quite a while, we all have to find our own way of keeping productive, fit and involved.  So far, my plan is working for me.

I have always been very organized, making "To do" lists and the like, and I am continuing to do that now.  I have a daily schedule of things I want to do, in no particular order, but if I do everything I put on the list, I will have accomplished a lot and another day will be put to bed.

Here is a typical day for me:

7:30am  walk pepper
8:00 make breakfast and coffee and enjoy while reading on line NY Times and e-mail. 
8:30-9:30 read (just finished The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich and am now reading Deacon King Kong by James McBride)
9:30 get Ron up and dressed and get his breakfast
10:00 help Ron arrange work for the day (he's doing tax returns)
10:30 Watch a Netflix show (just finishing Pandemic, a six part series.  How appropriate!)
11:30 Make lunch and eat
1:00 Take Pepper on a 3 mile walk
2:00  Free time-write a blog, talk to friends, text, clean garage, drawers, closets, etc.  (I'm working on the garage right now)
4:00  Play on line bridge on BBO with a friend (I could do that for several hours, but I don't)
5:00  Watch news
5:30  Make dinner and eat
7:30  Another short walk for Pepper
8:00  TV time with Ron and then bed

That's a pretty full and productive day!  Lots of exercise, some interaction with social friends by text or on line bridge, entertainment and conversation with Ron, and some cooking

I'm doing a lot of cooking these days.  Today I made a brisket, pickled beets, chicken salad, and a batch of oatmeal cookies.  I will take some food to my old, single neighbor who is not doing well.

We will all get through this.  Keep yourself busy, find new was to interact with others, find new things to do.  I'm texting a lot with my 8 year old granddaughter, which I don't usually do.  Stay safe everyone.

Generate Hope: Help For Young Girls

I went to a fund raiser for Generate Hope.  It was inspiring.  Here in San Diego sex trafficing is rampant.  Most girls that are lured into prostitution are age 14-16.  It takes years, if ever, for them to escape the horror.  Generate Hope is helping girls recover from the trauma of sex with up to 10 partners a night for years.  They need to rebuild self esteem and ultimately start a new life.

Most girls are lured into prostitution at a very young age.  They are often girls that don't feel they fit in, and are looking for someone to love them.  The sex trafficers spot these girls at malls, in front of schools, or at the movies.  They are often getting attention from a young man for the first time, and they love it.  Within weeks they are into prostitution.  They are told that they need to prostitute themselves to help pay for expenses.  (most of them run away from home to be with the boyfriend).

This all leads to an abusive relationship from which it is hard to escape.  In the past few years, Generate Hope has helped over 100 young girls recover and rebuild their lives.  Over 12,000 girls are taken in this way in the San Diego area every year.  Sex trafficing is very lucrative, second only to illegal drugs in profitability of underground businesses.  Our Newcomers group  raised over $14,000 for Generate Hope, which will go a long way towards helping these young girls.

If you've visited the ladies room at an airport in Southern California you have probably seen big signs in the restrooms and in individual stalls urging girls that are in a situation that they want to escape from to call for help.  Great idea.  This is such a serious problem.  It breaks my heart to think of beautiful young girls in middle school being lured into a horrible life.  Hopefully Generate Hope and other organizations that work to end sex trafficing will continue to fight the fight.  Unfortunately gangs, learning of the amount of money that can be made, have gotten in on the activity.  I hope laws are tough on these people that take advantage of young girls.  They must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

How To Enjoy Life In The Age Of Coronavirus

We live in such trying times, and now along comes Coronavirus to make life just a little more difficult, a little more stressful.  I see a variety of responses to the people around me.  Some are hunkering down in their homes, ordering food and supplies from Amazon and hardly leaving their homes.  These people are fearful of dining out, going to movies, sporting events or any activity that involves leaving the house.

Then there are those who, although they believe the Coronavirus and its consequences are real, they choose to live life as they always have.  They have decided not to wear protective gloves, constantly use hand sanitizers or restrict their normal activities.

I fall in between these two extremes.  Yes, the virus is real, yes, if you have underlying medical conditions you should be super vigilant, yes anyone over 60 should take measures to protect themselves.  My biggest change has been hand washing.  I am now washing and sanitizing frequently.  That is something I didn't always do.  I try to enter and exit automatic doors as much as possible.  I try to keep my hands off my face, and I do try to stay away from big crowds.  Am I going to give up playing bridge, going out to restaurants, going to the movies going to parties?  NO, NO, NO! This pandemic may last for months.  We cannot wish for miracles that are not going to happen.  We need to take basic precautions to protect ourselves, but we still need to enjoy life.

I probably wouldn't take a cruise right now, or fly internationally.  I'd be afraid that even if I were healthy I might not be able to get back to the U.S.  For those that are gutsy and have a "what will be will be" attitude, there are some great bargains out there for hotel travel and cruises!!

Did We Have A Party!

I've had many parties in my married life, planned and hosted several weddings, big birthday bashes, etc, so when I had to plan our 50th anniversary party, I had no worries, or so I thought.  I haven't entertained or done anything big in years, I don't know caterers, bartenders, etc. in this area, but I was sure I could figure it out.

We planned to have the party at Ocean Hills Country Club (where we live).  When I went to them to reserve the date in November, they told me to come back after the first of the year, and they would schedule the party.  Well, I did that, only to discover that Ocean Hills was doing a huge clubhouse renovation, and nothing could be booked for six month.!  Here it was, 8 weeks from the party, and we had nowhere to hold it.  After looking around the area for about a week and getting very discouraged by all the venues I saw, my friend Fran came to the rescue.  She lives in Solana Beach and Tennis Club, which happens to have the most gorgeous view lounge with a drop dead ocean view, and said we could use it!!!  Wow.  It turned out to be the most beautiful setting you could imagine. 

The rest of the party came together easily.  Primecuts Catering owner Ron DePaul did a fabulous job.  The food was delicious and we all had a great time.There was such a feeling of love, optimism and good wishes in the room, I, who don't usually get emotional, was so touched.  That people came from Phoenix, Las Vegas and LA to help us celebrate, meant so much to me and Ron.

The anniversary gave us both a chance to look back over our life together.  What surprises Ron the most is that he is still here after a fatal diagnosis six years ago, while many, many friends, younger and healthier than Ron, have passed away.  As my friend Paula says, who found a new love later in life, "We live each month together as if it were a year."  Great philosophy.  We're living one day at a time.

Del Lusso: Great New Find In Bressi Ranch

I got an e-mail from Yelp the other day, listing new restaurants to try in North County.  The one that caught my eye was Del Lusso.  It's next door to Eureka on Innovation Way in Carlsbad.  Right near Bressi Ranch, but far away from the parking hassle and huge crowds.

Don't get me wrong.  The restaurant is bustling, and with the play area in front of Eureka, the restaurant is family friendly.  It's fresh and sparkling clean, with a brick wall behind the bar area, and a beautiful Italian pizza oven, visible for guests to see.  Chairs are super comfortable, which isn't always the case.

We were planning to go there for a 6pm dinner with our friends Ian and Carol, who were visiting from Scottsdale.  Ian is allergic to garlic, so I called the restaurant  early in the day to see if they could accomodate him.  The hostess ran and got the chef, who spent five minutes on the phone with me going through the entire menu and telling me what Ian could and could not eat.  I was hooked.  I knew I would like Del Lusso because the owners and staff want to make sure you have a great experience.

About 5:20pm I called the restaurant to see how long the wait would be at 6'oclock, as I was coming with 4 people, one of whom  was in a wheel chair.  The hostess said they don't take reservations, but they wanted to make sure we didn't have much of a wait, so she took my name.  We arrived at 6'oclock, and our table was waiting for us.  They held that table just for us, and we appreciated it so much.  Fabulous service at every level!

Not only was the service great, but the food was too.  We were seated, and in  less than two minutes, and our server was there to take drink orders, which appeared promptly at our table.  A few minutes later, Walter Wong, one of the owners, came over to introduce himself, welcome us, and give us a short summary of his background and and the kind of fresh, locally sourced food we could expect.  We were delighted to meet him.

Now, for the food.  Pizzas were fantastic.  They use some special flour imported from Italy, and all the toppings are fresh and local.  We had pancetta, tomato and olive.  Ian and Carol had a pizza with  spicy sausage with veggies.  We also ordered spaghetti carbonara and salad.  The salad was great with delicious ingredients, and great dressing.  We also tried the bread and dipping sauce which I loved.  Balsamic vinegar, oil and lots of garlic, served with hard, crusty bread, which our waiter told us is made in house.

All in all, you will want to try Del Lusso.  It's a great place for kids, too, as they have a special menu for them, including a mini pizza and drink for $7.  Be sure to meet Walter, owner and host.  I wish him well.

50 Years And Counting

Ron and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, March 8.  Where has the time gone?  I started looking at some old pictures of our early years together, and it brought back such great memories.  Our marriage has been a roller coaster, highs and lows.  It's all been part of our five decades of love.  A beautiful family, with three handsome sons that we couldn't be prouder of, three terrific daughter-in-laws, who keep their families going, and five wonderful grandchildren, who I wish we saw more of. 

This is a somewhat sad time for us too, as several close friends have recently died.  Ron's good friend Bernie Drapkin, then the next day Ron's bridge partner, Al Feldman passed away in February.  It makes us think about our own longevity.  Then I look at my mom, age 96 and in good health, and I think I may still have many good years. 

With ALS one never knows the path the disease will take, but so far, Ron is holding his own.  He still works, plays bridge and poker regularly, loves to eat out, and loves to visit with friends.  (mostly on the phone now). I try to make sure that his life is full.  He is a fighter, so I expect he will be with us for some time. 

No one knows what the future holds.  We take each day and enjoy it to the fullest.  We live by the motto,"One day at a time."  That works for us.

Keeping Safe From Coronavirus

Wow.  In just a week we've gone from the stock market hitting its all time high, to a week when the market lost over $3trillion.  We went from hearing about a faraway flu called coronavirus, to cases popping up in the U.S. and worldwide.  Hopefully our leaders will let doctors keep us informed as to how bad it is and what to expect.  Hoping for a "miracle" doesn't help.

We were talking about the virus at the dog park today.  One person's international trip had been cancelled, another had a Disney cruise cancelled, and I had a tour of the Amazon fulfillment center in San Bernardino cancelled.  They are not having any tours there until further notice.

The coronavirus is easily transmitted from person to person, so here are a few tips.  I went to CVS today to look for hand sanitizers.  They were all sold out.  My friend Karen gave us all a great tip to use in place of hand sanitizers.  Use rubbing alcohol, at least 70%.  Use a funnel to put it in a little bottle with a pump, and voila, you have hand sanitizer.  It will be a bit drying, but after cleaning hands, use some hand lotion.  Don't mix them together.

Wash your hands frequently, and keep things like your cell phone or phone at an office clean.  Keep your desk clean too, if you still work in an office.  Don't touch your hands to your face, mouth or nose, especially if you have been out touching things like money, shopping carts and doors to buildings.  Keep washing your hands and sanitizing with rubbing alcohol.

We need to pressure our leaders to keep us honestly informed of the situation.  Keeping us in the dark is not the answer.  Stay safe, everyone.

Remembering Jim Lehrer

Jim Lehrer, American journalist, novelist, screenwriter and playwright, died in January, at age 84.  He was a fixture in American journalism for decades, and he will be missed. 

Most notably he was executive editor and anchor for PBS Newshour.  He moderated several debates during presidential elections, wrote several fiction and non fiction books that drew on his experience as a newsman.  He also wrote a play.

Jim began his career in 1959 at The Dallas Morning News.  He covered the assassination of JFK.  In 1972 he moved to PBS in Washington, D.C.  He began there as public affairs coordinator.  He was there that he met Robert MacNeil in 1973.  Together they covered the Watergate Hearings and Watergate Tapes were broadcast lkive on PBS.  He covered the impeachment inquiry of Richard Nixon. In 1975 he became Washington correspondent for Robert MacNeil Report, and two months later he was promoted to co anchor.

He received many accolades during his long career.  In 2011 he stepped down from the day to day involvement in PBS, but stayed involved in the news analysis segment of the show. 

Married for six decades to Kate, also a novelist,  they had three daughters and six grandchildren.  He certainly had a long, full life.  He will be missed.

Locusts Wreaking Havoc In East Africa

So much is happening in the world right now, that the invasion of locusts in East Africa has been widely overlooked.  Primaries in South Carolina and Super Tuesday right around the corner, have been covered extensively.  Now the coronavirus is something on everyone's mind, both here and abroad.  So while we fight to get a possible worldwide pandemic under control, Africa, specifically the Horn of Africa, is dealing with the worst invasion of desert locusts in 70 years.  The region hit is one of the most impoverished regions in the world.  It is said to look like a huge umbrella in the sky.  The insects fly through fields of crops at an astonishing pace, decimating everything in their path.

The highly mobile creatures can travel over 80 miles a day. Their swarms, which can contain as many as 80 million locust adults in each square kilometer, eat the same amount of food daily as about 35,000 people.

Officials say the infestation poses a risk to food security, undermines economic growth and, if not controlled soon, exacerbate communal conflict over grazing land.

In addition to the 12 million people already experiencing acute food shortages in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, the locust crisis now poses a potential threat to the food security of over 20 million others, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, a U.N. agency.

“The magnitude of the problem is just so big,” said Cyril Ferrand, who leads the organization’s resilience team for eastern Africa. “The locusts are a moving target and we are racing against time.”

Scientists know how to control it, even to erradicate it, but because of lack of money and apathetic worldwide interest, response is slow.  In an area of the world already dealing with famine, this adds to their troubles.  A chemical spray to kill the locusts is on its way, but the locusts lay eggs and reproduce quickly, so the infestation will be difficult to erradicate. 
Here is some information from a worldwide organization that tracts the infestation.

Desert Locust situation update 24 February 2020

Swarms invade the Persian Gulf and continue to breed in the Horn of Africa The situation remains extremely alarming in the Horn of Africa, specifically Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia where widespread breeding is in progress and new swarms are expected to form in the coming weeks. In the past few days, there has been a significant movement of swarms over the Arabian Peninsula, unrelated to the Horn of Africa, that reached both sides of the Persian Gulf. Kenya. Swarms continue to be reported in northern and central areas where they are mostly mature and have laid eggs. Hatching is causing an increasing number of hopper bands to form with new swarm formation expected in the coming weeks. Mature swarms are also present along the shores of Lake Turkana. Aerial and ground control operations continue. Ethiopia. The situation is similar to Kenya with widespread swarms, breeding and hatching in Somali, Oromiya and SNNPR regions, including the Rift Valley. Movements further north can be expected as well as from adjacent areas of Somalia and Kenya. Somalia. Breeding continues in the northeast where new immature swarms are expected to form in about one week or so. Uganda. A mature swarm arrived in the northeast from adjacent areas of western Kenya on 24 February. South Sudan. Only remnants of an earlier mature swarm have been seen in the southeastern county of Magwi. A second mature swarm was seen near the border on 23 February. Tanzania. No new reports of swarms. DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). A small group of mature Desert Locust arrived on the western shore of Lake Albert near Bunia on 21 February after crossing northern Uganda on strong northeasterly winds. The country last received Desert Locust in 1944. Saudi Arabia. Ground control operations increased against hopper bands on the Red Sea coast and immature groups and swarms in the interior. Yemen. Another generation of breeding is in progress on the Red Sea coast where hatching and early instar hopper bands are forming. Immature and mature swarms were reported in the interior during this past week. Surveys remain limited and control could not be carried out. Persian Gulf. During several days of strong winds, dense immature swarms arrived in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and along the southwest coast of Iran between Bushehr and Kish Island on 20-21 February. More swarms are likely during periods of southerly winds. Control operations were immediately mounted in Iran.