Sweetgreen Is Sweet

There's always room for another taco shop, burger place, or salad restauarant, if you make the new place better than the others.  I just discovered Sweetgreen, a casual dining restaurant serving fresh as can be salads, bowls and plates.  You can choose one of their creations, or make your own combination of foods.

Sweetgreen first opened in 2007.  Founded by three college buddies, they now have 140 locations nationwide, and are listed on the NYSE.

When you go there, expect to find the freshest ingredients and the highest quality food.  I had a bowl with kale, almonds, sweet potato, blackened chicken,  sunchokes and other root vegetables, quinoa and wild rice, all tossed in a light miso vinegrette.  I I didn't think I could finished it, but I ate every last bit.  

The restaurant just opened a few days ago, but it was packed.  It's in Carlsbad on El Camino Real.  Check it out.

Back On WW And Loving It

 I don't know how many times I've started Weight Watchers (WW), but never finished.  Maybe 30 times.  It's a new year, there's a new WW program, so will there be a new me?  With recipes like the one below, I am able to eat very low point breakfasts and have enough points  for some more high point foods later in the day.  Here's a favorite breakfast of mine, which totals 0-2 points, depending on what I add to the basic recipe.

                                                      WW Egg Bites

2 eggs, beaten

salt and pepper to taste

Add ons if desired:  shredded cheese, sun dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, bacon bits, diced onions and zucchini (cooked) are just some suggestions

Pour beaten eggs in muffin cups.  If using cheese or vegetables, put them in first and pour the eggs on top.  Cook as you would custard, with a water bath under the muffin pan.  You can also make this in an InstaPot.  Cook until eggs are set, approximately 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

I complete the breakfast by adding fresh fruit, and sometimes 1/2 multigrain Thomas' English Muffin.  (1 point).  The egg bites can be made in advance and frozen, or they will keep well in the refrigerator for about 5 days.

If You Grew Up In LA, You Probably Know Of Paul Fegen

 When Ron left Touche Ross (accounting firm) around 1970, he rented a small office on Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills.  It was old, but it was nice, and all he could afford at the time.  A few years later as his practice grew, he moved to a suite in Beverly Hills, run by Paul Fegen.  Paul was a personal injury lawyer who created the concept of shared office space.  Paul would rent a floor in a prestigious building, divide it into dozens of small offices, and rent the space to accountants and lawyers.  There was a receptionist to answer the phone, a shared library, shared conference room space.  It was a win/win situation.  Ron stayed there only a short time, as his practice was growing and he had a new partner and needed larger space.

The concept of shared space was brilliant.  We see it everywhere today, but Paul Fegen was the first to do it.  Over the years, he had offices in 26 states, had over 10,000 renters, and grossed $3 million per month!  The LA Times got wind of what he was doing in 1971, and an article about him appeared on the front page of the newspaper in December, 1971.  The article made him an instant celebrity.

Paul was a hippie, with a long, scraggly beard and hair, but he didn't live the hippie life.  He drove a fancy car with the license plate "FIG,"  had a palatial office that looked like he furnished with Louis X1V furniture.  He brought his dog to work (before that was popular) every day.  

All was great for Paul until the crash of 1983, when everything went to hell.  He lost his fortune.  He had practiced law for over 40 years before he was disbarred around 2010, after admitting to four counts of misconduct in three matters.

Today he is a magician, and I think a very good one.  You can rent his services for your next party for $250.  He says he loves magic more than his days as a real estate tycoon, with constant parties and women.  Who really knows.  In LA, its easy come, easy go.  You're on top of the world one day, and in the dumps the next.

Winter Soup

 I'm back at WW (Weight Watchers) for maybe the 40th time in my life.  I'm not kidding.  Every time it's the same thing.  I lose 10-15 pounds, then never get the final 10 pounds off.  Well, my friend Fern is a lifetime member, and she encouraged me to start again in January.  She thought I would like the new program (there's always a new program) and I do.  I am approaching it a little differently this time, though.  Instead of setting long term and short term goals as I have done in the past, I am approaching it more like AA.  One day at a time.  I'm just trying to get through each day, then wake up the next day as if it were my first day on the program.  So far, so good.  

I like to cook, so I'm taking advantage of  the many food choices and doing lots of cooking.  One soup I made a few weeks ago is delicious, low calorie, and low in points.  Anyone would love it.  Here's the recipe.  It makes a lot, so I always have in the refrigerator as an emergency snack.

                                                                  Winter Veggie Soup With Chicken

1 container low sodium chicken broth (32 ounces..can be with salt if you prefer)

4carrots, diced

1onion, diced

1/2 butternut squash, cubed

1 chicken breast cooked and cut or shredded into bite size pieces

8 tiny red potatoes, quartered

squeeze of lemon

herbs and spices, your choice

Combine all ingredients, simmer for 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are cooked.  The soup will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.

I used fresh chopped parsley, oregano, basil and salt.  If you want some spice, add red pepper flakes.  Also, if you have leftover chicken from Costco's rotisserie chicken, just shed it up and use it in the soup.

Yes, There Are Some Positives To Come From The Pandemic

 With over 850,000 people dead from Covid -19 in our country alone, it's hard to think about anything positive coming from such a horrible world event.  I am, however, a very positive person, and find many positives that have come from the pandemic.  Here's a list of a few that popped into my mind.

1.  The expanded use of telemedicine.  This includes use of psychotherapy on Facetime with your therapist, or an on line appointment with your medical doctor.

2.  Drive thru flu shots save time and reduce the possibility of getting Covid-19.

3.  Working from home.  For many, this is what they want!  It saves on commuting, lunches out, wardrobe for work, and child care.

4.  Shopping from home, including curbside has increased.  Also, meal delivery, which existed before, has expanded.

5.  Flexible learning for kids.  For many children, on line education did not work, but for many, they blossomed.

6.  Museums now give (sometimes free) on line tours, which opens culture to many who never went to a museum

7.  Plays and concerts are often live streamed, opening more cultural opportunities to everyone.

8.  Pollution is down, less cars and trucks on the road.

9.  People are more in touch with friends and family.

10.  People have learned new hobbies, new skills.

11. People have had time to reassess their lives, figure out what's really important.

12.  Animal shelters have been cleared, and everyone has a pet to keep them company.

13.  Entrepreneurs have come out of nowhere, finding new businesses, and reinvention existing businesses.

Second Booster May Get Us To The Finish Line

I'm getting my second booster shot on Valentine's Day.  It's the best present I can get.  Although it's impossible to find anything on the CDC website categorically stating that the second booster is needed, many medical officials have stated that the booster shot wanes after about 4 months, and a second booster is needed.  Israel has authorized the second booster.  I believe they are on the right path, so I am following their lead.

I have spoken to several doctors who all recommend a second booster for seniors and immunocompromised people.  We are getting close to "back to normal," and we don't want to blow it.

The government messaging on boosters has been horrible.  Very smart people don't know what to do.  As with anything medical, check with your doctor before getting vaccinated, and use your own common sense.  My common sense tells me to get the second vaccine, so  as of February 14, I will be double boosted.

Whether your get your second booster now or later, please tell everyone you know to check into the second booster.  The more people safely vaccinated, the less likely we all are of contracting Covid-19.

I was just listening to Farreed Zacaria.  Denmark, which is 81% vaccinated and never had a vaccine or mask mandate, just lifted all Covid restrictions.  It was concluded that the reason they did so well in fighting Covid-19 was two fold.  One, the citizens have a very high degree of confidence in their government, and two, the citizens have trust in one another.  Well, unfortunately those are two metrics that we fail at miserably right now, so we'll have to find another way to defeat Covid.  Vaccinations work! 

Paid Family Leave: Isn't It Time We Had It?

We're the only developed nation that doesn't offer family paid leave to it's employees.  That is shameful.  Biden's plan to offer time off to employees with newborns, elderly parents that need attention or employees in a situation where a family member needs special health care, should be a slam dunk.  We shouldn't be slaves to our jobs.  We should be allowed time to bond with our newborn, or help care for an aging parent without fear of losing one's job.  Having the opportunity to take care of one's home situation makes you a better employee.  We should be able to figure this out.

Right now, there are only a few states where state employees have PFL.  (Paid Family Leave).  California is one of those states.  All state employees have a right to PFL.  Many private corporations also offer PFL to their employees.  There's a list you can find on line that tells you who does offer PFL and who doesn't.

Work should be just one part of the many roles we play in life.  We need time to be a parent, a mother or father, a sister or brother, a friend.  I think Covid-19 has shown many that all work and no play does not make for the most fulfilling life.  That is why many are changing careers or working at home, trying to balance work and play.

A happy workforce makes for happier citizens.  That's what we need.  There seems to be so much anger in society today.  We must find ways to make our people happier.  Paid Family Leave is a good start. 

How Climate Change Is Redrawing The World's Wine Map

 California, Spain, France and Australia, look out.  The temperate climates of these areas have changed, and in the future, may not be where the best wine and champagne is produced.  Look at pictures of Napa or the champagne region of France, and you will find parched vines, less than 50% of their crop suitable for turning into wine.  Why?  Climate change has caused these areas to become hotter (for longer periods of time) and drier.  They are not receiving the rain they need.  The future looks bleak for wine producers in these areas.

Winemakers began studying the effects of climate change on wine production back in 2013, and came to some startling conclusions.  Over the next 50 years, the iconic wine regions like Burgundy, France and Napa Valley, would slowly disappear.  In their place would arise new wine regions, such as England, Montana, Wyoming and Michigan, and Scandinavia.  

Here are some NEW wine regions that are getting great acclaim.  You will start to see them in the stores very soon, if not already.

England:  The consensus in the wine world is that England's wine industry could be one of the biggest winners from global climate change by the 2020's.  Hundreds of wineries are popping up in Southern England, and the country is already producing some sparkling wines on a par with France.

Scandinavia.  Due to climate change and warming temperatures, the growing season in this region is longer and the winters are milder.  They are just developing as a wine producing region, about 15 years behind England, but weather conditions should make it possible for them to become a major player in the wine industry.

China.  China seems to be involved in everything, and wine is no exception.  In the past, grapes could only grow along coastal regions, but due to increases in temperature, wine growers are venturing inland.  Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends from Ningxia that are appearing in restaurant and hotels around the world.

Northern United States.  Michigan, Wyoming and Montana now have very small scale wine industries right now, but as Napa Valley becomes warmer to grow certain grape varieties, the northern states will get a lot more attention.  Michigan seems to have the greatest potential.

Next time you go shopping for wine, see if you can find any from some of these countries.  I can't wait to see what places like England and Scandinavia are producing.

The green area on the map are new wine regions.

And You Thought Farenheit 451 Was Fiction

 With new, more conservative legislators in Virginia, one school board has begun to debate, and possibly implement, something that I never thought I'd see.  They want to eliminate all books from the libraries of their K-12 schools that have any sexually explicit reference.  What that means is vague and open to interpretation.  They not only want to remove them from the library shelves, but they are actually talking about burning the books!

When I heard this I immediately thought of the Ray Bradbury's  book Farenheit 451, which at the time it was published, we thought of as science fiction.  Well folks, it's here.  Now we will read what a Virginia school board (or some other school board) thinks is appropriate?  The themes of Farenheit 451, set in 2049, are censorship, ignorance and knowledge, and the power of books, among others.  Some school boards want to create their own ideas of right and wrong, good and evil, and what kids should know about history.  I guess they will also want to eliminate books that describe what early settlers in this country did to the American Indian.

With this line of thinking, I can imagine school boards removing books that teach about race or religion.   I have heard people talk about teaching the holocaust, but then also teaching the other side.  Is there another side to the holocaust?  I can't even respond to that kind of thinking.  Are you going to get rid of all books that describe slavery because it might make whites feel bad?  

What is happening in America?  I fear for our future in so many ways.  If we are not allowed to know the truth about ourselves as a people, we are bound to make the same mistakes again.  Wake up America!  

Sorry I'm not starting the New Year with a more positive story, but we are really in a dark place in America.

What's The Secret To Living To 100?

 In November one of my mom's oldest friends, turned 100.  To celebrate, she threw a party at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, for 20 of her closest friends.  I was amazed when I heard she still had 20 friends to invite!

The party was a big success, the birthday girl was beaming.  Everyone enjoyed themselves.  How could they not?  They were all still living in relatively good health, they were all between 80-102,( most were 95+), they had all made it through the pandemic in one piece, and they were out celebrating at one of the nicest country clubs in LA.

How did these 20 women live to be so old?  First, of the 20 women in attendance, only 3 still had a husband.  Not surprising.  What is the secret to living such a long, healthy, life and why do women live longer than men?

If you ask these women, here is what most of them would say:

1.  Keep learning.  Read books, belong to a book club, discussion group, or take classes on line.  Make sure to learn something new every day.

2.  Exercise in moderation.  None of these women were overly active.  Some played golf, some tennis, and some did yoga, all in moderation.  Also, they all walked a little every day.

3.  Eat a normal diet, but don't overdo anything.  Drink in moderation and eat desserts, meat, potatoes, just about anything, but in moderation.

4.  Socialize daily.  Play cards, golf, go to a church or temple groups, or just talk to friends daily.  This is so important.

5.  Get up everyday, get dressed everyday, and plan at least one activity to do each day.  We all need purpose in our life.

6.  Find a way to deal with stress.  These older women didn't talk about this much, but I think stress is a major factor in health and wellness.  Meditate, do yoga, talk to friends.

In short, the advice of these ladies was to keep active, both body and mind, as long as you are able.  Finally, do everything in MODERATION.  I think that might be the secret.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

The Pandemic May Be The Perfect Time To Start A Business

It's hard to believe, but over 4.4 million new businesses were started in 2020, and in June of 2021, 440,000 new businesses opened their doors.  These are the highest numbers in history.  Why now?

There are many reasons.  A recession can create ideal conditions for people to start their own business.   People have the time to pursue their dream.  They're spending most of their time at home.  Many people either lost their job or worked at home, which gave them time to think about another career.  Start up costs have gone down because online platforms have made small ventures viable.

Many jobs involve things like online mindfulness coaching business.  Entrepreneurs need to be creative.  Direct to consumer is the model of choice.  Many businesses just need a computer to get started.  

Will these businesses survive?  Many of them will survive and prosper.  One man took a used food cart and turned it into a hot dog business.  He's doing well.  A woman lawyer who was out of work took her love for horses and everything equestrian and began making riding pants at a fraction of what store bought pants would cost.  Within a few months, she had thousands of orders.  

One final thing.  Most of these businesses have 5 or less people working in the business.  This eliminates the need for a lot of management costs.  Talk about making lemonade out of lemons.  Millions of people have found a way to do it.  Never underestimate the entrepreneurial spirit of Americans!!