Voter Suppression is Nothing New

 Many years ago I heard a speech by a Republican congressman (I can't remember who it was and can't seem to find it) who said that best way for Republicans to win elections was to suppress the vote.  That was said out loud and in public a few decades ago, but the fact of the matter is that voter suppression is nothing new.  It has been around ever since people of color and women were given the vote, and continues to this day.

In the beginning, efforts to suppress the vote came in the form of poll taxes, unusual tests that were given at the polls, like knowing some little known fact from history.  Suppression also took place by limiting the number of polling places, or placing polling places far away, so that poor or senior citizens would have difficulty getting to the polls.

Now we're in the 21st century, and many states are still trying their best to suppress the vote.  South Carolina just approved a measure that makes it necessary to have a witness to your signature in order to make your vote count.  If you are old and poor and possibly live alone, getting someone to witness your signature is difficult.  Other current efforts to keep people from voting include reducing the number of polling places so that citizens will have to travel further, having groups of poll watchers (one poll watcher is legal) in front of polling places to intimidate voters, and shortening hours and days for voting.

Voting is one of our most cherished rights.  We should be making it easier, not harder, for people to vote.  That is, if we want all citizens to have an opportunity to participate in the voting process.  That is what we want in a democracy.  Other forms of government have different rules, but as long as we are democracy, every citizen has a right, and duty, to vote.  Our country is now, more than ever, a melting pot, in which many thoughts and ideas abound.  Everyone's voice must be heard.

Dog Attack At Ocean Hills

 I've got a lot to handle right now.  The death of Ron just 4 months ago, and the pandemic, which brings fear and isolation.  I did not need something else, but I got it just the same.  On Saturday, October 17, Pepper and I were attacked by a neighborhood dog.

Let me go back to the beginning.  About a year ago, I was standing with Pepper (my dog) at the corner early one morning.  The next thing I knew, a dog was barreling down the street (from 2 blocks away) at full speed.  I was terrified, but was able to pick up Pepper and hold him in my arms.  When the dog attacked, she bit my coat and Pepper, breaking the skin, but not causing any serious damage.  Our dogs have never met, so I was stunned by this, and curious as to why my dog would be chosen for the attack.  The owner paid the vet bills and promised to get the dog trained and to walk the dog with a muzzle.  That did not happen.

Back to October 17,2020.  I was walking on my street, when I saw the same dog walking on a leash up the main street, Leisure Village Way.  For safety, I ducked into the driveway of the house I was in front of, to wait for the attack dog to pass.  She must have smelled Pepper.  She bolted from the owner's hand and raced toward me, with teeth barred, and ears pinned back.  I was panicked.  Pepper was squirming, as he wanted to run from danger, and I could not get him in my arms.  The result was that my arm was bitten, scratched, swollen and bloody, and Pepper spent 14 hours in the emergency room.  Broken fibula, bites and contusions all over legs and stomach, and trauma.  

All I can say is that the law favors the attacking dog, not the victim.  I will get my medical bills paid and hopefully a little more, but will forever fear this dog might do it again.  No, animal control does not remove the dog from the home.  No, our HOA and security do little more than warn the owner to control her dog.

If you have a dog and live in a community with an HOA, check with them to see what their policy is for aggressive dogs.  Most HOA's have a policy for nuisance dogs, but ours has no policy for aggressive dogs.  From now on I plan to walk with a walking stick.

What's Happening?

I used to turn on the nightly news and find out what was happening nationally, internationally and locally.  Now, almost all you hear is political news.  There's a big beautiful world out there, but we hear nothing but politics these days.  Here I have listed a number of things that are happening elsewhere in the world.

1.  Desert Growth.  Because of climate change, the Sahara, for example, has been extended 6,000 square kilometers since 1990.

2.  Decreased cancer.  Did you know that cancer has decresed 20% in 20 years?

3.  Deaths in stadium construction in Qatar for 2022 World Cup. It is estimated that up to 1,000 workers could die during construction of stadiums needed for 2022 World Cup in Qater.  The subject is handled with great secrecy because Qater wants to keep up the image of a rich Arab state.

4.  Antibiotics are becoming less effective.  

5.  Modern slavery exists.  35 million people worldwide are enslaved.  The concept refers to when a person obtains an economic benefit as a result of depriing another of his or her individual freedom.

6.  Coltan mine slavery.  Coltan is a material used in the making of smartphones.  It is mined in Rwanda, by slaves.

7.  Blood smuggling.  There are human farms in poor countries like India, where humans are chained and blood is drawn to be sold later on the black market.

I found some of these things very disturbing.  We sometimes get so focused on ourselves and the drama we are enduring that we forget there's a world out there full of many injustices.  There are some good things, too, like reduction in the amount of cancer worldwide.  Mostly, it's just more depressing news.  I am going to look for some feel good stories to send your way soon.

  

How Seaweed Can Help Climate Change

 Nothing I write here is new, but with the Amazon burning last year, and the western United States on fire this year, we need to take another look at the importance of seaweed.

An increasing body of research is documenting the potential of seaweed farming to counter climate change as deforestation decimates rainforests and other crucial carbon sinks.  Seaweed grows fast, really fast, whereas trees take decades to reach maturity.  Seaweed can grow as much as one meter per day!  Cultivating seaweed forests that absorb planet-warming emissions that are fireproof, seems the way to go.

Seaweed forests or farms as they are often called are highly efficient at storing carbon.  Seaweed also ameliorates acidification, deoxygenation and other impacts of global warming that threaten the biodiversity of the seas and the source of food and livelihoods of  hundreds of millions of people.  

Farming seaweed in just 3.8% of the federal waters off the California coast could neutralize emissions from the state's $50 billion agriculture industry.  Finally, seaweed farms can be integrated with fish and other marine life, to grow enough protein to serve the world.  It's something we all need to take a closer look at.

Some Sage Advice

I don't think I've ever asked my readers to advise me on anything in all the years I've been writing this blog, but I am now.  My mom Dorothy, age 97, living in her own home where she intends to stay for the remainder of her life, wants to remodel.  Her beautiful home in Westwood is in need of some updating.  She is getting estimates on remodeling her bathroom, getting rid of her bathtub (unsafe), putting in a huge shower, and making everything handicap accessible, should that be needed.  The remodel will take about a month.  There will be workers in her home everyday.  Should she do it?  Is it safe to do?  Is it too risky?  

Your thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.  No, this is not something she HAS to do, but it would make her life safer and more enjoyable, and if not now, when?  Please respond with your thoughts either on this blog in the comments section, or e-mail me.  I know that if she doesn't do it now, she will probably never do it. 

Dog Behavior

 I met a nine year old dog today that had been fostered, then adopted by a woman a few years ago.  The dog spent the first 4 years of his life in a cage.  He was not talked to, touched or played with.  Why would anyone have a dog and treat it like that I do not know, but there are crazy people out there.  In any event, this dog was finally rescued from this environment, and fostered by a true dog lover, Kathy.

Kathy was not ready to adopt the dog, named Cue, but was willing to foster him until a proper home could be found.  Kathy soon found out a few important things about Cue.  Cue was depressed.  He never wagged his tail, never came up to Kathy for a little petting, in short, he didn't know what to do.  Also, when he first started walking around Kathy's house he saw every obstacle, a shoe, a chair or a box, as an obstacle, like the door of the cage had been an obstacle.  How sad.  He would walk around in the backyard and not realize that he could walk through a plant, push it with his nose, and move around the planting area.  He saw everything as an obstacle!

After three years, Kathy was unable to find a forever home for Cue, so she adopted him.  It took three years for him to wag his tail, and years for him to find out that he could walk around the backyard without every plant seeming like a barrier.  Cue is now nine years old.  He has never learned what it means to chase a ball or play with another dog.  Poor guy just doesn't get it.  

Cue is the cutest guy.  He's about the size and shape of a Basset Hound, yet he has long shaggy hair and big brown eyes that look at you with such love.  It's hard to imagine that anyone would mistreat a dog like Cue, in fact any dog.

In the time of the pandemic, dogs offer something special.  They are available for unconditional love, affection and cuddles, something we can't do with most humans.  They will love you no matter what, and they give their owners a chance to get up close and personal, something we all need.  What would we do without them>

Stress In The Age of Covid-19

 Anyone that doesn't feel a degree of stress now hasn't been paying attention.  It's like we've been hit with the seven plagues:  virus, economic hardship, fire, hurricane, and threats to our democracy.  That's not seven, but that's more than enough!!

If you go to visit a doctor today, one of the first questions they will ask is how you are feeling emotionally.  For most, the answer is that they're feeling anxious much of the time.  If you're not worried about the election and a peaceful transition of power or continuation of power, you've got plenty of other issues to worry about.  Raging fires in the west like we've never seen before, hurricanes in the south and southeast that are destroying towns, and as if that weren't enough, the possibility of a woman's right to choose moving us BACK, instead of forward and health care being taken away from over 10 million people at the height of a pandemic with no substitute in sight and oh, how about protesting in the streets over the killing of unarmed black men and women?  I offer no solutions to any of these issues, but I do have a few ideas on how to keep calm, how to keep sane.

1.  Turn off the TV!!  Hour upon hour of watching these events play out in front of you is not good for your mental health.  I try (not always successfully) to keep my consumption of news to 3 hours a day.

2. Take a walk.  I walk 4 times a day because my dog needs to go out, but even without a dog, a good walk in the morning and a good walk at night is good to clear your mind.

3.  Meditate.  I listen to a podcast called Daily Breath, by Deepak Chopra.  Each meditation is from 3-10 minutes, and just listening to it, being still, and focusing on his voice is very therapeutic for me.

4.Read and watch books and movies that are uplifting.  Where I used to read books and watch movies that would entertain and teach, I am now looking for entertainment that is just for fun.  Any suggestions?

5.  Call a friend.  I was out for dinner recently with friends, and we were talking about to stay connected during Covid-19.  Charlene told us about a 90+ year old friend of hers that every week, went through her address book and called people she hadn't talked to in a while.  They were always delighted to hear from her, and she felt so good about making the call.  Ron used to do the same thing.  At least once a week he would call a few of his friends just to see how they were.  He did this up until two weeks before he died.

6.  Get involved in a project.  My project has been cleaning out my closets, rearranging furniture and straightening the garage.  Others my sort old photos, do small repair projects around the house, cook, do puzzles, learn an instrument or another language.  There's a whole world of things to do out there, even if you're home.  Involvement in a project helps take your mind of the current situation.

7.  Talk to someone.  Hopefully you have someone you can talk to, tell your hopes and fears to.  A brother or sister or a good friend will work.  If you don't have someone call your doctor, rabbi or priest and get a referral.  Everyone needs someone to talk to during this time.

White Bean Caprese Salad

 I love to cook, and for the first time in a long time when I cook, I am cooking for an audience of one.  Prior to Ron's death, I was always trying to please him.  Now, I make what I want.  So, here's a recipe Ron would have hated, but I made it for lunch on a hot day last week, and I loved it!  It takes all of five minutes to make.  It's filling and healthy.  I hope you try it.

                               White Bean Caprese Salad

1 14 ounce can white beans, like cannellini (I used great northern beans) rinsed

5 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

5 ounces small mozzarella balls, torn into bite size pieces

1/4 cup loosely packed basil leaves, torn

2 T. olive oil, or more if needed

kosher salt and black pepper

2 tsp good (thick)balsamic vinegar, plus more if needed

Coarse, flaky salt

Combine beans, tomatoes, cheese and half the basil and toss.  Add the olive oil and seas with salt and pepper.  Put on serving plates, then drizzle blasamic vinegar and top with the remaining basil.  Finish with flaky salt.  Serves about 3 people as a main course.  Enjoy.

A Foodie Weekend in LA

For the last several years it's been difficult to spend much time with my mom.  When Ron's condition worsened, it became almost impossible to go to Los Angeles.  Since Ron's death, I am making up for lost time.  

Since the pandemic hit, my mom has been isolated in her home in Los Angeles.  She has a wonderful companion that lives with her, but she doesn't get out too much.  Most of her friends are fearful, and many have disabilities that make getting out difficult.  

Susie to the rescue.  I go visit my mom about once a month now, usually spending a Friday, Saturday and Sunday with her.  Occasionally she comes down here for a few days, so we have been spending some quality time together lately, and loving it.

My last trip to LA took place on the first weekend in October.  We ate home Friday night.  A delicious brisket and potatoes (wine and appetizers first), followed by a nightcap of Bailey's Irish Cream.  I had forgotten how much I loved that!    We also discovered Emily in Paris, which we binge watched all weekend and finished the first season.  It is a new series created by Darren Star (Sex in the City), and is just a lot of fun.  I highly recommend it.

Saturday I spent the morning in Woodland Hills with Brian and Beth, Spencer and Ryan.  I hadn't seen them since early June, and it was great to catch up.  Saturday night we planned dinner at La Bruschetta, a longtime favorite Italian restaurant.  We arrived and ordered drinks, and while purusing  the menu, Mom noticed some smoke in the back of the restaurant.  She thought nothing of it because she figured they were barbequing.  Just then, there was a big explosion followed by crackling sounds.  We all got up and quickly ran out to the street.  It turned out to be an electrical fire from the building next door, but it added a bit of excitement to our dinner, which continued without incident after the fire department checked it out.

Sunday we went to Shutters, a beautiful boutique hotel in Santa Monica, right on the beach.  What a beautiful spot to enjoy a great breakfast of lemon ricotta pancakes and nice, strong coffee.  We enjoyed people watching and dog watching too!  

Finally, late Sunday afternoon we went to Century City to enjoy a wonderful meal at Din Tai Fung.  It's Chinese, of course, their specialty being noodles and buns.  They have opened outdoor seating in the mall which is very safe.  The mall was bustling.  I commented to my mom that you'd never know we were in the middle of a pandemic from the number of people shopping and eating on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  I did notice, however, that most visitors were just looking and not buying.  It was a wonderful afternoon and we really felt "normal."

I can't wait for my next visit to LA.  We have scouted out other areas of Los Angeles that are busy, and will visit them.  For now, my next great eating adventure will be Sunday with Marilyn, where we will visit the new Nick's in One Paseo.

Fun With Friends

When was the last time you went out for the evening, had a few drinks, a great dinner, and enjoyed some good friends?  It's probably been a while.  Well, I did just this recently.  We all had a great time and felt safe doing it.

I always weigh the risk/reward before leaving the house.  Is what I am doing necessary or voluntary?  Will I be with people out of my "bubble"?  Will I be outside with social distancing?  I weigh all these factors before making my decision.  From what doctors and scientists know now, following these protocols is likely to keep you safe.  So, yes, I flew to Denver in August to see my children and grandchildren and yes, I go to visit my mom regularly, and yes, I go out to dinner with my friends.

We went to 333 Pacific, a favorite place for Ron and I when we were in the mood for lobster.  With the use of our Passport Cards, a lobster tail (2 tails) dinner is very reasonable.  333 also happens to have wonderful drinks.  I enjoyed an appletini, a departure from my normal red wine or margherita.  Fran had a key lime martini, which she loved.  I can't remember what the others drank, but they all enjoyed whatever they had.  Although the inside bar area was busy, as that is allowed now if food is also served, most people were outside.  333 has added a large outdoor dining area right in front of the Wyndham.  We enjoyed a balmy evening outside, with a magnificent sunset.

After such an enjoyable evening, I came home to the news that President Trump had tested positive for Covid-19.  No, Mr. President, you are not Superman, you can get the virus just like over 7million others have if you don't do everything to keep yourself and those around you, safe.  His reckless behavior is not only dangerous to him, but to everyone he comes in contact with.  Putting on a mask to save tens of thousands of lives seems like such a simple thing.  It's really tragic that it has become political and a sign of weakness.

During WW11 when London required lights out for everyone to keep the Nazis from knowing where to bomb, everyone complied.  Imagine what the result would have been if some had decided they didn't want to keep the lights off, and didn't comply.  The war may have had a different result.  We're at war with a virus, and everyone has to comply to beat it. 

Get Your Flu Shot

 Now, more than ever, it's important to get a flu shot.  Why?  We want to protect ourselves from the flu, and we know that the flu vaccine will do that.  We have a bit of a heads up from Australia and New Zealand as to what this flu season will look like.  They had a very light flu season, and that's because of social distancing, hand washing, mask wearing, and the flu shot.  Hopefully Americans will learn from this and get vaccinated as soon as possible.  I also think that with people staying home more and keeping away from crowds, the likelihood of picking up the flu are less.

The Covid-19 vaccine is a very different story.  We still don't know when it will be available and how effective it will be.  Scientists have not yet had the time to know what long term affects could be.  We don't know how quickly it can distributed, but the CDC says now that the Covid-19 vaccine probably won't be readily available until this time next year.

That means we all need to keep the course for another year.  Take all the precautions doctors are recommending, and get the flu shot.  Masks are not comfortable, they're not pretty, but they do protect us.  The fact that some may not like wearing a mask is just too bad.  I don't particularly like wearing a seat belt, but it keeps me safe.  I don't like slathering sunscreen all over my face and arms, but it keeps me safe.  It is reckless not to adhere to what scientists recommend.  Thousands of Americans have died, and many more will die, with or without masks or vaccines.  Let's take care of ourselves and our fellow Americans and keep the number of lost lives as low as possible.  Science rules.

Eating Out During Covid-19

 As you probably know by now, I love to eat out, so Covid-19 has put a real crimp in my style.  For many months we could not eat out, and take out is not something I enjoy.  Then things started to open, and at first I was hesitant to venture out, but after several experiences at restaurants, and seeing how the places I had been had gone overboard to keep customers safe, I have been eating out often.  Some places are better than others, but here's a short list of places I have enjoyed in North County in the past few months.  I have also eaten out in Los Angeles, as I have visited my mom several times and she loves to eat out and can't find many friends to venture out with, so we always have a few meals out while I am there.  I won't bore you with the L.A. restaurants, but there are some very good ones.  Here's are places I've enjoyed that are close to home.

1.  Black Rail (the old Tuscany) probably has the prettiest outdoor setting of them all.  It's a huge patio, tables spaced far apart, nice lighting, heating and friendly servers.

2.  101 Diner in Encinitas.  This has always been one of my favorite places for breakfast or lunch.  Their apple pancake can't be beat.  As many restaurants on their street have done, they have set up umbrellas and tables on the sidewalk and street.  It is festive and so much fun!

3.  Panera in Solana Beach or Carlsbad are great choices for outdoor dining.  They both have big patios and lots of seating, and the food is ok.

4.  Breakfast Republic in Encinitas is another one of my favorite breakfast spots.  They have also moved outside.  Numerous tables and umbrellas have been set up in front of the restaurant and in the parking lot.

5.  ShoreHouse in Carlsbad.  I love this place on State St. in old Carlsbad.  They have always had a huge outdoor eating area, but they have expanded it and put in more seating in the parking lot at the back of the restaurant.

6.  Del Lusso in Carlsbad is a relatively new Italian restaurant.  It opened just a few months before the pandemic hit.  Owner Walter is wonderful, and will do anything to make you feel comfortable.  They have a good patio in the front of the restaurant, and lots of great food choices.

7.  Broken Yolk in Encinitas, San Marcos and Oceanside.  It's not my favorite breakfast place, but they have done an excellent job of setting up a big outdoor restaurant in each of these locations.  Every time I go by one of them, they're packed.  (in a social distance sort of way). 

A few other places to consider are WR in Bressi Ranch, Pill Box in Solana Beach and Kings in Carlsbad are other good options.  

Eat out, and enjoy, but stay safe!!