Monkeypox Is Not New

 Monkeypox is a cousin of smallpox, though less severe.  Actually, smallpox was eradicated in the early 1980's.  Monkeypox has been emerging for the past 20-30 years, and is endemic near tropical rainforests in central and west africa.  It poses a low risk to the general public.

Recently, 250 cases have been found in 16 countries.  It is spread by close and prolonged contact with an infected individual, so remember the covid protocols to help protect yourself, if you think someone you know has monkeypox.  Incubation period is 7-14 days.  Symptoms are flu like:  headache, congestion, and swollen lymph nodes, like smallpox.  Small bumps appear on the skin, often in the genital area, but other places as well.  The are filled with a fluid, and until the bumps scab over, they are contagious.  Monkeypox that is showing up today is often just a rash.

Is it something to worry about?  According to WHO and the CDC, no.  Just follow good health practices if you think you have been exposed.  At this time, monkeypox is a low risk disease.

The Future of Covid

 We hear of covid cases rising again.  Some are alarmed, hoping that we're not getting ready for a shutdown.  Well, I've been reading and listening to as much as I can find about the future of covid (It's hard to come by these days) so that I can be confident about the decisions I am making.  

I no longer wear a mask, unless it's required.  Doctor offices and hospitals are the only place masks seem to be necessary right now.  Airports, concerts and supermarkets will find some amount of people in masks.  Are they really necessary?

The scientists are saying that covid will exist for the rest of our lives, in some form or another.  One question people are asking is, "What are the chances of another variant? "  Science says, 100%.  The good news is that we now have vaccines that minimize affects of the virus, and therapeutics to control the virus if we get it.  

It's not like the flu, but it is like the flu in the sense that it is here to stay, variants may be different each year, and over time we will figure out how often we need to be vaccinated.  It's too early to know that yet, but do know that one's chances of death or hospitalization from covid, if you've been vaccinated and act immediately if you do contract the virus, are slim.

Covid numbers are way up right now, but hospitalizations and deaths are not.  Take precautions and respect the virus, but don't let it control your life.  It's here to stay and we must learn to live with it.

By the way, the extreme shut down that took place in China reduced the amount of covid, but did not eliminate it, as the Chinese government thought it would.

Boulder Has 90+ Murals

On my trip to visit children and grandchildren in Colorado last month, I discovered the many, many, beautiful murals in Boulder.  I had already seen many of the Denver murals on my last trip.  Wow, looking at murals is now something I try to do everywhere I travel.  It's really fun, and you get out on foot and really see the area.

Over the past decade Boulder has been adding dozens of murals to its city each year.  This gives local artists an opportunity to make some money, and to get some exposure.  Many of the murals in Boulder have a message.  It may be a social or environmental message.  You have to look carefully to find many of the murals, as they might be on the back of a building, in an alley, or on the side of a garage.  They have some excellent maps to help you out.  Since my mom was with us, we did most of our mural searching by car.  Phil was on a mission to find them all!  They have an 3-bike tour of about 20 miles that will lead you to most of them.  If you have a free afternoon in Boulder, looking at murals and walking around town is a great way to spend your time.  Here are a few of my favorites.

 

If You Go To Branson, Don't Miss Top Of The Rock

 One of the highlights of my recent  trip to the Ozarks was my morning at Top of the Rock.  Top of the Rock is a lodge (Big Cedar Lodge), golf courses, Chapel, Native American Museum, and wide open spaces that can be viewed up close and personal by golf cart.  We had an absolutely fabulous day exploring it all.

Top of the Rock was founded by Johnny Morris.  Morris is the billionaire founder of Bass Pro Shops.  He also owns Cabela's another retailer of outdoor merchandise.  He is founder of the White River Marine Group, was presented with the Audubon Medal in 2019 in recognition of his conservation efforts, and also owns another preserve, Dogwood Canyon, about 20 miles from Top of the Rock.

The dogwood trees were in bloom, as were the red bud trees.  There are paved paths to ride on to view the many water falls, limestone rock formations, animals, and the beautiful trees and hills of the Ozarks.  It is truly a spectacle.  Oh, there's, an underground cavern that you drive thru, in which there is a bar!  You can stop for a drink along the way.

We didn't know until the end of our time at Top of the Rock that there was another, even more spectacular area owned by Johnny Morris just a few miles away.  It is called Dogwood Canyon, and the only way you can explore it is by tram.  We drove there, but the tram was filled, so we were out of luck.  From what I saw, it too is amazing.

If you go to Branson (and I can't really rave about Branson itself or the entertainment), Top of the Rock and/or Dogwood Canyon must be included.  The Ozarks are beautiful, and taking either one of the rides on the Johnny Morris preserves is definitely worth it.  I thought so anyway.

21C Museum Hotels: Comfort and Culture

 We had a one night stay in Bentonville during our recent trip to the Ozarks.  The good news was Garth Brooks was in town for a concert in Fayettville.  The bad news was that we could not get a room at the best hotel in Bentonville, 21C Museum Hotel.

I'd never heard of this hotel before, although my son Phil had stayed in it many times on his trips to Walmart headquarters.  He always told me how great it was.  

21C Museum Hotels is a Louisville-based combination of contemporary art museum and boutique hotel.  It was founded  by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, philanthropists from Louisville who wanted to combine the boutique hotel experience with great art.  The hotel chain, all 9 of them, was sold to Accor in 2018.  Accor is a French company that owns and operates hundreds of hotels around the world.  However, the founders still have a 15% stake in the company, which means they have a lot of say in how things are done.  Most hotels are in the midwest and south:  Louisville, Cincinnati, Bentonville, Durham, Lexington, Oklahoma City and others.  Chicago and Kansas City are in development.

The lobby of each hotel exhibits contemporary art of the 21st century, and it is free of charge and open to the public.  I was most impressed with the quality of the art.

Each location of 21C has an onsite restaurant, many receiving recognition and awards.  We ate at The Hive in Bentonville, one such recognized restaurant.

If you are in any of the cities where there is a 21C hotel, check it out, even if you don't stay there.  Better yet, stay there if you can afford it.  I plan to next time I'm in any city that has one.

Back From The Ozarks

 I don't know what I expected when I planned a one week trip to Branson, Eureka Springs, Bentonville and Little Rock, but what I experienced was definitely NOT what I expected.  I will write later in detail about some of the things we did and saw, but this is just my general impression.

I had heard southerners were friendly.  I just didn't know how friendly.  Everywhere we went we were greeted warmly with, "Hi, y'all,"  and a big smile. We were impressed.  

Most of the towns we visited were small, very small.  Eureka Springs has only a few thousand residents, yet the downtown business area is bustling.  Cute shops for crafts and original artwork abound, clothing stores and souvenir shops are abundant.  Want a "Trump 2024 lunchbox?"  This is the place to get one. 

As nice as the people are, politics is off limits.  In Branson we found that some of the shows made political comments.  At one show the cast came out wearing T-shirts that said " I stand for the flag, I kneel for the cross."  Obviously a reference to Colin Kaepernic taking a knee during the national anthem.  The oddity of the uproar over players kneeling during the national anthem as a form of protest is that taking a knee is a military tradition, for a number of situations.  Colin took a knee to peacefully protest police brutality toward blacks.  It had nothing to do with disrespecting the flag.  But I digress.  I thought the T-shirts worn were in poor taste, and it left me with a negative impression of Branson.

The scenery in the Ozarks was also not what I expected.  I guess I've watched too many episodes of Ozark, the Netflix show.  The landscape was beautiful.  Big, beautiful trees, real close together, made it look like all there was were trees.  Not so.  Beautiful farms, raising chickens and many crops, most abundantly rice.  Who knew?  The dogwood trees were in bloom, as were the red bud trees, which I loved.

The highways, and for that matter the cities, were clean.  No trash, no grafitti.  I was impressed.

Finally, the food.  Most often restaurants served a mixture of southern favorites, like fried catfash, fried green tomatoes, biscuits and gravy, fries and gravy, collard greens, etc.  They tried hard to incorporate some healthier choices, with some success.  I could not get non fat yogurt for breakfast, or for that matter, toast.  I was offered biscuits or sweet rolls.  I could not get non fat milk.  We did, however, in several cities (Bentonville and Little Rock), eat at upscale farm to table menus, similar to what we would get at home.  I ended up going to the local grocery store to stock up on yogurt, carrots and fruit.  A seasonal fruit plate was my go to item, if all else failed.

More about my trip to the Ozarks in another blog.  We had some great experiences that I hope you will enjoy hearing about.

Welcome Back Java Hut

Since 1999, Java Hut on Coast Highway in Encinitas has been serving coffee drinks and snacks to the surfer crowd.  During the pandemic, they decided to close and completely remodel.  The results are amazing.  Fran and I stopped in one Saturday after our beach walk, and were happy we did.

The old Java Hut was dark, with old tables and not much ambience.  The new Java Hut is like a restaurant makeover from Robert Irvin on Restaurant Impossible.  Beautiful new tables and chairs, lots of wood and surfer memorabilia, and an outside covered patio in front.  The surfer theme is displayed in the front part of the building.  It looks like a wave.  To go with the new decor, is a new and upgraded menu.

We just had coffee.  It was very good, but they have much, much more.  Smoothies, avocado toast, fruit and granola, lots of egg dishes, including breakfast burritos.  I hope they improve the service, though.  It's a little slow, but hopefully it will get better.

Next time you're out for a stroll in Encinitas and need a coffee pick me up or some good breakfast or lunch food, give Java Hut a try.  I think you'll like it.

The Automat=Nostalgia

 I was listening to a Christopher Kimball blog one morning.  You might remember him as the host of Cook's Country several years ago before the people involved in the show went their separate ways.  Chris went on to create a new TV show, an online  cooking show, books, blogs, etc.  You name it.  He is considered royalty in the cooking world.  Anyway, he was interviewing Lisa Hurwitz, a first time filmaker, to learn more about her first movie, The Automat.

When I heard the words "automat" uttered, I got a tingly feeling all over.  Just the memory of walking into Horn and Hardart, handing the lady with the gloves a $1 bill and having her give me 20 nickels, gave me goosebumps.  Then, when I thought about walking around the banks of gleaming stainless steel and glass wall of dozens of little doors on the perimeter of the restaurant, I smiled.  

I only went to The Automat as a child.  Every time I visited my grandparents, we would visit The Automat more than once.  Choices, choices, choices.  Lemon meringue pie was one of my favorites.  The mac and cheese was great, salisbury steak, chicken pot pies, chocolate cake! It was like magic.  You'd finally decide how to spend your precious nickels, you'd put your money in a slot, turn the dial, and Voila!  the door would open and you would remove your food. 

Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart opened their first diner in 1888.  It was a simple counter with 15 seats.  By 1912, they opened their first automat.  They welcomed everyone, including those that had been ignored by society, immigrants and the working class.  The automat was the great equalizer.  Seating was family style.  You could sit anywhere.  

One constant was the coffee.  Always good, always fresh, (if the coffee was more than 20 minutes old, they would throw it out), always just 5 cents.  Irving Berlin was inspired by this to write the song, "Let's have another cup of coffee."  It became the theme song for the restaurant.

One other interesting note.  At the end of the day, all food that was left over was sent to a food pantry.  They didn't call them food pantries back then, but they gave excess food away.  They were way ahead of their time.

I wish everyone could have experienced the joy of visiting The Automat.  The chain closed it's last location on 3rd ave and 42nd St. in 1991.  McDonald's, KFC and Burger King had taken over !

(The documentary is being screened in San Diego between June 3-9.  I am planning to go see it, but if you miss it, it will be on Netflix sometime soon.)

Decision Making And Ageing

 In my younger years, I would make hundreds, if not thousands of decisions in a single day.  As a teacher, I made dozens of decisions in a single morning.  Should we open the windows or keep them closed, does John really have to use the bathroom or does he just want to get out of class for a while, should I allow John and Ben, good friends, to sit together or will they be disruptive?  The list goes on and on.  Someone once did a study of how many decisions a teacher makes in a single day, and it was hundreds.  

We built two houses, and I can tell you the number of decisions (big decisions) involved, were numerous and constant.  I used to rush home from my teaching job to go to the site of the home we were building in Brentwood before all the workers left for the day.  I would have decisions to make all afternoon regarding windows, hardware, plumbing, permits, etc.  Yes, we had a wonderful contractor, but in the end, the owners have decisions to make.

Everything we do requires so many decisions, and you get to a point in your life where you just don't want to make so many decisions.  I was on a mini trip to LA with family and friends, and we were so happy one person in our group had taken charged, made all the plans.  All we had to do was show up.

We talked about earlier in life, we were always the planner, always the decision maker.  My research says that people in the 50's are the best decision makers.  What I find is that I still make good decisions, but I don't make them quickly, the way I used to,

As I said earlier, I used to make so many decisions that I couldn't fret over everyone.  Now I make far few decisions, but I find they take me a long time.  For example, I need a new shower curtain.  I have been looking at shower curtains on line for several days, and still haven't made a decision.  What's wrong with me?  It's just a shower curtain!!  In years gone by, I would have decided on what to buy in less than 10 minutes.

As older adults, we have more life experience to draw on when making important decisions, but let's face it, making decisions that involve multiple issues is more daunting as we age.  Most importantly, we need to keep physically and mentally fit and sharp so we are still able to make decisions.  It may take a little longer, but so what?

I kind of like letting someone else take over the planning of trips, restaurant choices, movies and the like.  I've done it all my life.  Now it's someone elses turn.

I just thought of something.  I am going to try to count the number of decisions I make in a single morning.  I will report back on this.  Any guesses?  I'm going to guess 300 decision before noon.

You Never Know Who's Sitting Next To You

A night at Il Pastio, a fine Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills, turned out to be a little more interesting than just a great dinner.  Yes, the food was very good, there was a nice buzz in the restaurant, but it wasn't so loud that you couldn't hear the conversation.  Barbara, Regina and my Mom Dorothy were out to dinner after enjoying an awesome afternoon at the Frederick Weisman  home in Beverly Hills, probably one of the finest contemporary and modern art collections in the U.S.  By appointment only, you can book a docent led tour of the house and grounds, which includes all the greats of the second half of the 20th century, focusing on California artists.  Botero, Robert Graham, Henry Moore, Lichtenstein, Larry Rivers, Kandinsky, Andy Warhol, Ed Rusha, Tom Weselman, Magritte, Tanguay, Raushenberg, I could go on and on.  I highly recommend you visit it.

Back to dinner.  We all noticed a table of four men sitting behind us by the window, all nice looking older men.  They finished their meal a little before us, and came over to our table.  One man taps Regina and myself on the shoulder, gives us a big smile, and says,  "It's so nice to see a group of strong women out for dinner.  I'm Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayor of Los Angeles."  I was shocked to say the least, but then we got into about a 10 minute conversation with him.  He wanted to know where we were from and a little about us, then told us what he is doing these days.  He was Los Angeles mayor from 2005-2013.  He had visions of running for senate, but his personal life and reputation got in the way.

In any event, it was a delightful evening.  He is a charmer.  Beautiful smile, and always knows just what to say.  I guess once a politician, always a politician.  In any event, you go out for dinner and you never know who might be sitting right next to you.