Why Is This So Confusing?

 I can't imagine why understanding when to get a Covid-19 test and what kind of test to get should be so confusing, but to be quite honest, I am totally confused, and with the information and protocols changing almost daily, I feel I know less now than I did a year ago.  Am I the only one that feels this way?

First they said to isolate for 10 days if you had contact with someone who had Covid-19.  Now they say isolate for 5-7 days.  They make it sound like everyone should be testing all the time!  Take a test on consecutive days and get a negative result to make sure you are ok.

Viral test or PCR test?  A viral test will show current infection.  There are two types, the antigen test and the nucleic acid amplification tests.  (NAAT).  Use the rapid test (PCR) whether you have symptoms or not.  Take the test 5-7 days after exposure.  With all this information, who knows what to do?  Also, the rapid tests are not always accurate, so throw that problem into the equation.

My friend's granddaughters teacher came down with Covid.  My friend was with her granddaughter all day on Christmas day.  Her granddaughter has no symptoms.  Should my friend isolate or not?  I had lunch with a friend who tested positive about 5 days after I had lunch with her. (this was a while ago).  Was she contagious when I was with her?  She had mild symptoms and got tested.  Should I have isolated?  Tested?  I just don't know what's the right thing to do anymore.

My answer to all this is to lay low for the next month.  I will stay home as much as possible and always wear a mask in public.  I think January is going to be a bad month, so it's best just to stay away from people if you can.  I just ordered a box of N95 masks.  

A least people are being responsible.  I went to play pickleball with a group of 8 yesterday, and one woman who I did not know announced that she had been exposed to someone who had Covid, and she would leave if people felt uncomfortable.  You should have seen everyone take a big step away from her when she said that!  No one said anything, then I said that I felt uncomfortable, especially since I spend a lot of time with my 98 year old mother.  She understood and went home.  I think we all need to speak up more!  Ask if someone's vaccinated if you don't know them.  What's wrong with that?  It's your life, and let's protect ourselves and each other and get through this terrible mess.

The Barbizon Hotel for Women: What A List of Residents

I just finished reading about the history of Barbizon Hotel for Women in New York.  It was fascinating.  The hotel was opened in 1927, and was THE place for single women to stay while trying to get a career started in fashion, acting, publishing or anything else.  Strict rules had to be followed, including a dress code and specific hours women had to be home.  

The women's magazine Mademoiselle was founded in 1935.  Editor Betsy Talbot Blackwell had a junior editor program, very prestigious, where young women would come from all over the country as assistant editors.  They would stay at the Barbizon.  

Another group of young women who resided at the Barbizon were aspiring models.  Both the Powers Modeling Agency and the Ford Modeling Agency were started during this time, and young models all stayed at the Barbizon.

The Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School was very popular with young women, and those attending the school from out of New York, stayed at the Barbizon.

Then of course there were dozens and dozens of aspiring actors, writers and poets.  Any woman who came to New York to find fame and fortune, or a husband, stayed at the Barbizon.  It is no longer in operation.  Changing with the times, it finally started allowing men to stay, then ultimately it was bought by a developer and is now a pricy condo complex.  

Here is a list of some of the very famous women who resided at the Barbizon Hotel:  Joan Crawford, Cloris Leachman, Joan Didion, Ali MacGraw, Grace Kelly, Tippy Hedron, Lauren Bacall, Candice Bergen, Betty Buckley, Rita Hayworth, Cybill Shepherd, Jessica Savage, Sylvia Plath, Nancy Regan.

Now that's some list of influential women!!!

History of Women's Clothing Sizes

 We've all done it.  We've worn a size 12 forever, and now it doesn'tt fit.  What happened?  The answer is simple.  The growing obesity rate in the U.S. has made the size you used to wear, too tight.  So what do the manufacturers do?  In order to keep you happy in a size 12, they do what's called vanity sizing.  That's when manufacturers mark clothing with smaller sizes to appeal to customers.  

In the 1940's the government, in their infinite wisdom, funded a study attempting to define the average American woman, by measuring thousands of women.  The result?  Way too many measurements.

In the 1950's the government tried to classify the woman's body yet again.  Marilyn Monroe, with her 35 inch bust and 22 inch waist might have worn a size 12 at the time.  Today, those same measurements would put her in a size 6.

In the 1970's the government updated its standard again, this time including non-whites and non-military personnel.  The hour glass figure is what most women were going for.

But we're all so different.  Today, vanity sizing is still prevalent, while many brands (Chicos) use their own catalog sizes.  A size 12 dress can vary dramatically according to the manufacturer.  The goal is to keep customers happy, and that means to keep the sizes small.  We all know it's a game, but there's something about still wearing a size 12 that makes a woman happy.  Even though I know I'm fooling no one, it makes me happy!

Washington Post

What To Do About 3 Million Stray Dogs In Morocco

 There are millions of stray dogs in Morocco, running in packs, terrorizing school children, and often attacking people.  What is often done now will not reduce the dog population long term.  Poison, bullets and starvation are the methods mostly used today, but there are other ways to reduce the population of stray dogs that will actually reduce their numbers.  

Sterilization, vaccination and release is the best approach to reducing the number of unwanted dogs.  Dogs that are sterilized are not going to reproduce, and over time, the number of unwanted dogs will diminish.  This is the humane thing to do.

Ferrol cats are also a problem.  There is a program used in other parts of the world that could also be used in Morocco.  It is called TNR, trap, neuter, release.  This is similar to the program suggested for dogs, but because the cats are more difficult to catch, they must use humane traps to catch them.

Many humans are hurt by the packs of wild dogs that roam Morocco.  Sterilization and vaccination are the best way to reduce their numbers.

Shame On Kelloggs

 I love capitalism, but I hate corporate greed.  On October 5, 1,400 Kellogg's workers went on strike when their contract expired.  They wanted better health care benefits and higher pay, especially for the lower tier wage earners on their two-tier wage system.  Today is December 17, and the strike has not yet been settled.

Why do I talk about greed in this dispute?  Here are a few facts.  During the past two years, workers at Kellogg's, and millions of other essential workers, kept us fed.  They often worked 12-15 hour days, many workers worked 50-70 straight days without a break.  They worked incredibly hard to help keep America fed during the pandemic.  The CEO earned $12million last year (salary and compensation), other executives earned $300,000 or more.  Profits for Kellogg last year were $1.4billion, yet here we are, not giving the worker bees their fair share.

To top off this bit of corporate greed, Kellogg is planning to ship several hundred jobs to Mexico, where the average hourly wage for workers is 97 cents.  Additionally, Kellogg says it plans to replace striking workers with new hires, with many, including President Biden, saying it is an existential attack on unions and workers.

According to the news this morning, it appears a contract may be approved.  Membership is ready to vote, and if it passes, workers will return to work after Christmas.

Next time you reach for that box of Corn Flakes, Raisin Bran, or Rice Krispies, think again.  Do you want to support a corporation that earns $1.4 in a year and doesn't take care of its essential workers?  I don't.

Where is Peng Shuai?

 Peng Shuai is one of the most famous female tennis players in the world.  On November 2 she accused 75-year old Zhang, a former leader within the Chinese Communist party, of pressuring her into sex.  Peng claimed the assault occurred after Zhang invited her to play tennis with him and his wife.  She posted this on social media, and within hours, her post was taken down.  Days later, Peng Shuai disappeared.  She has not been seen in public since.

A post, presumably of Peng recanting the charges she originally made, was forthcoming, but most experts feel it is not Peng, or that she is being forced to make the statement.  The world tennis association is trying to figure out what to do.  On December 1 the WTA suspended all tournaments in China over the country's censorship and failure to investigate the allegations.  The WTA said they cannot in good conscience send more WTA players to a country capable of the censorship it's applying to Peng.

Is this a political issue or a sports issue?  Of course it is both.  Tennis is big business throughout the world, and China stands to lose millions, maybe billions of dollars over the incident.  However, control of content on social media is of utmost importance to the Chinese.  Everything is subject to censorship, and if you're famous, even more so.  

I worry about our censorship of social media.  There's a fine line between freedom of expression and speech, and censorship.  Blatant falsehoods should be removed and allegations should be investigated.  This is an ongoing problem for the free world, and it's getting harder everyday to control.  We'll just have to wait and see what happens to Peng Shuai next.  Hopefully world pressure will force the Chinese to release Peng.  I'm not hopeful that this will occur.

A Day in LA: Van Gogh and Pizza

Beyond Van Gogh will soon open in San Diego, but I was looking for a fun outing in the fall, so I got a few friends together and we bought tickets for the show in Los Angeles.  What a great day we had, although, as usual, things did not go according to plan.

We were planning to drive in two cars to comfortably accomodate six of us.  At 9am in the morning I got a call from Sharon.  Her dog was quite sick, and she need to take her to the vet right away, and would miss the trip.  We scrambled to find someone to take her place last minute, but had no luck.  Then, just a few minutes before our departure, we got a call that Sue had been in a minor car accident, and could not go.  So, although our group got smaller, we did not lack in enthusiasm for the day ahead.

Our first stop was lunch, just a few blocks from the Van Gogh venue in Hollywood.  We ate at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele.  You would miss it if you didn't know it was there.  It's off Sunset one block from Las Palmas, on a shabby looking street with nothing much to see.  But once you enter the doors of the restaurant, you are transported to an Italian bistro.  It is light and airy, bustling, and very inviting.  The restaurant originated in Naples in 1870, and their tradition of authentic Neopolitan  pizza and pasta is still alive in Hollywood.  Pizzas are big (12 inches) and delicious.  Appetizers are wonderful too.  They include things like burrata and eggplant, gnocchi fritto, and zucchini blossoms stuffed with ricotta.  Great salads and pastas round out the menu.  We enjoyed a modestly priced Italian wine to accompany the meal.

Then it was off to Immersion Van Gogh.  The exhibit consists of a walk through empty rooms where paintings are projected all around.  The images move and swirl around the walls and floors and ceilings.  There are 300 Van Gogh works in all, and wonderful recorded symphonic score to accompany the visual images.  It is truly a beautiful sensory experience.

Although the gift shop (of course there's a gift shop) has some lovely items, we all thought the prices were, well, quite pricy.  No one bought anything.  We did stay to watch the program twice.  It was that good.  It's only about 30 minutes long, and you can't see everything the first time, so I recommend watching it twice.  You won't be bored.  I hope you have a chance to see it when it comes to San Diego in January.

Ecuador's Chernoybl

 Texaco's 30 years in Ecuador was like a war on the environment.  Decades after drilling in the Amazon, the oil production waste Texaco left behind continues to sicken Indigenous communities.  The allegations by Indigenous Ecuadorians for environmental justice  say Texaco (later acquired by Chevron) deliberately dumped more than 18 billion gallons of toxic waste into hundreds of uncovered, unlined pits that now dot over a million acres.  Texaco has admitted to dumping 15.8 billion gallons.  There was better technology at the time that may have prevented some of the environmental contamination, but Texaco chose not to use it.

Texaco saved billions of dollars by dumping its oily waste into unlined pits and leaving it there.  They dumped on sites next to homes, adjacent to drinking water wells, and uphill from rivers and streams locals relied on for bathing and fishing.  Indigenous residents say the contamination decimated the natural environment.  Crops no longer yielded harvest, fish stocks vanished, as did the lush foliage of the rainforest.  The effects on the local residents showed shockingly high rates of cancer, miscarriage and other diseases associated with oil contamination. 

Decades later, little as changed.  Residents still suffer from high rates of respiratory illnesses, diabetes, and other oil-related health conditions.

I learned about this when I listened to a podcast about Steven Donziger, the American attorney who led the legal team that sued Chevron in Ecuadorian court, and won.  Yet he so far has served 800 days under house arrest.  How he ended up under house arrest is a Kafkaesque story that no one would believe.  I urge you to google Steven Donziger and hear his story.  You won't believe it.  It appears his arrest is retribution for his lawsuit against Chevron (formerly Texaco) that he won in court after court.  How he ended up under house arrest is truly terrifying.  

How is it that I (and probably you) never heard about this disaster, worse than the grounding of the Exxon Valdez and the sinking of BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico?  I don't know how this escaped my attention, but I am so happy to hear about it now.  Unfortunately large corporations put profits above all else.  We need to punish companies that do this.

Milton Hershey School

 Did you ever hear of the Milton Hershey School?  Well, neither did I, until I was listening to a podcast one day about children living in poverty.  The Milton Hershey School was mentioned, so I had to learn more.

The Milton Hershey School began as a dream shared by chocolate magnate Milton Hershey and his wife Catherine.  Unable to have children of their own, they decided to use their wealth to create a school for orphaned boys.  That was in 1909.  It has evolved into one of the premier independent private schools for children of all races, Pre-K-12.  About 2,000 children attend the school each year.

Admission is restricted to low=income individuals without intellectual or behavioral problems.  Students live in group home with children of the same gender and similar age, with houseparents.  The houseparents are a married couple who act as surrogate parents, helping them learn life skills and good character.  The school is free for students and is funded by a trust containing most of Hershey's fortune, valued at $15 billion, making it the wealthiest private school in the U.S.

The school helps develop leadership skills and build character, and much of their learning is by doing.  They have a opportunity to travel internationally and gain worldly experience and global awareness.  What an awesome opportunity for the kids who attend the Milton Hershey School.

If you're interested in seeing how amazing the school is, go to UTube and view a 2 minute video that will tell you much more.  I was so impressed I spent a long time reading about the school and it's history.  It was a K-12 school until recently, when the Catherine Hershey School opened for Pre-K children, ages 4-5.  I never knew it before, but the Hershey's used their wealth to change the lives of so many people.  So impressive.

How Long Can We Live?

 A French woman, age 122, recently died.  She was the oldest known woman alive, but scientists now think we can and will live much longer.  In 1990, there were 95,000 centenarians in the world.  In 2015, there were 450,000.   By the year 2100, scientists predict there will be 25million centenarians!  In fact, the first 150 year old human is probably alive today.

There are many reasons why people are living longer, but I am more interested in what society is going to do with all these old people.  Who will care for them and how will this affect society?  It is a huge problem.

Why does an organism get old and die anyway?  Not all organisms do.  Nothing in biology indicates the inevitablity of death.  Microbes have been dug from beneath the earth that have been alive for 100 million years.  A grove of aspen trees in Utah has been alive for 14,000 year, and the hydra, a type of jellyfish, does not appear to age and can revert to juvenile stage, then mature and revert again, potentially forever.  

Medical science has increased lifespan throughout the world and will continue to do so.  But what are we going to do with 25 million people worldwide who are 120 years old?  It's a good question to contemplate as we age and understand the challenges for society that an aging population creates.

Starship Technologies Deliver Food At UCLA

 In the middle of the pandemic, UCLA began a safer, contactless way for students to receive meals and drinks while on campus.  Thanks to a partnership between ASUCLA Restaurants and Starship Technologies, food delivery is getting safer and more interesting.  

UCLA joins a roster of dozens of colleges and universities that are using Starship robots.  Since its launch in 2018, more than 1 million orders have been completed by the delivery robots.  As you drive around campus, you are likely to see several robots moving along the sidewalk, probably to a dorm or office building.  They travel at 4mph, go up and down stairs or ramps, or even grass.  I read that the delivery cost is only $1.99!  I think that might just be an introductory offer, as my good sense tells me these robots are VERY expensive.  Companies are not only getting into the autonomous car business, but now the autonomous delivery business.

My mom and I went to the UCLA Conference Center's restaurant Paleia, for dinner.  The dinner was excellent.  On the way home, I took a wrong turn.  Lucky for me.  I discovered the robots moving along the sidewalk to deliver food to a dorm.  

If you think this is a good idea, you might want to check Starship Technologies on the Frankfurt and Stuttgart stock exchange, symbol DAI.

I'm Back

 On November 19, my mom and I left on a Crystal Cruise to the Caribbean.  It was everything we expected, and needed, and more.  First,  there were five other women from Ocean Hills on board that I knew, which mad it all the more fun.  Additionally, my bridge friend Liz, a travel agent specializing in bridge cruises, was also on board with over 20 clients.  With all that, we were never without dinner partners or cocktail parties.  

I felt extremely safe.  Starting with a rapid covid test before boarding, to crew members (all vaccinated) masked at all times, to buffets where only the staff serves the food, to contact tracing watches which were worn at all times, I never felt uncomfortable.  

Our ship had 560 passengers, where capacity is 950, so nothing was overly crowded.  Hand sanitizers were everywhere, temperature checks were done before entering restaurants, and when we disembarked in port, we always wear a mask.  We were the first cruise ship to stop at Key West in 18 months, and were they ever thrilled.  There must have been 100 businesses that came out to greet us with cheering, bands, and signs of welcome.  We loved it.  They were so happy to have us back.  

The entertainment on the ship was the best I have ever seen on Crystal.  The highlight was a comedian from New York named John Joseph.  I haven't laughed so hard in years.  We also had lectures by Roger McGinn, co founder of The Byrds, who had some wonderful stories to tell.  

My mom kept up with women 25 years younger than her, and even solved her hip problem.  After months of suffering, mostly at night, with a sore hip that kept her up, her pain disappeared.  Why?  The only thing we can deduct is that the extensive walking she did on the ship was just what her hip needed.  She is so happy, and plans to continue walking as much as she can at home.

Now, I must tell you about the blue watches that everyone was required to wear all the time while on the ship.  They are for contact tracing.  Each one is specific to you, so if you have more than 15 minutes of contact with anyone who tests positive, they can track you and tell you.  Fantastic.  I think they will be standard equipment on cruise ships, at least for the foreseeable future.

Great trip, great food, entertainment, lectures, and lots of relaxation all add up to 5 pounds.  It was worth it.

LA Hotspot: Birdie G's

 Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, California, has long been an artist hangout.  Lots of galleries of young artists to visit, meet the artists, and maybe even buy something.  Now it is also a dining hotspot.  Birdie G's is at 2421 Michigan Avenue, and is a wonderful spot for drinks, dinner or brunch.  The indoor dining area is spacious and attractive, but the outside space is amazing too.  This restaurant was never set up for outdoor dining, but Covid-19 required people to get creative.  The people at Birdie G's created a large outdoor space, mostly covered with heaters, and very inviting.  We sat outside and loved it. 

The star of the restaurant is of course the food.  Being part of the Rustic Canyon Family of restaurants (Rustic Canyon is one of the best restaurants in Santa Monica), you know it's going to be good.  Jeremy Fox, an award winning chef, is in charge of the kitchen.  The food is comforting, seasonal, and locally grown.  The menu has influences from the US and Eastern Europe.

The items on the menu seem to be all over the place, with hors d'oeuvres from matzo and butter, to a pickled, fermented and marinated relish tray with five onion dip.  My favorite starter was the button mushroom carpaccio.  Thinly sliced button mushrooms topped with slivers of parmesean cheese and spices and olive oil.  Delicious.  The cornbread in a little cast iron skillet with honey butter was wonderful too.  But my favorite dish was the kugel.  Yes, kugel!  Ricotta cheese, pecans and sage brown butter made this a fabulous dish that I can't wait to order again.  Oh, yes, they also have matzo ball soup on the menu. 

The rest of the menu consists of a few steaks, a lamb with Persian spices, and striped bass paprikash.  We never got to dessert.  We enjoyed a simple glass of wine, but for drinkers, there is a full, spectacular bar.

If you find yourself in Santa Monica in the late afternoon, try Bertie G's for a drink and eclectic dinner.  Or, try it on a Sunday for brunch.  You will be happy you did.

Delicious Winter Meal: Baked Farro and Butternut Squash

 It may not look like much, but this dish is so delicious.  Serve it as a main course for lunch or dinner, with some crusty  bread and sliced tomatoes.  It's great for meatless Mondays.  It's easy to make, just takes a little time.  Farro is a grain, similar to rice, that takes a while to cook.  It can be used in hot dishes like this one, or cold salads (think rice salad).  Anyway, it is healthy and delicious.

                                          Baked Farro and Butternut Squash

4-6 slices bacon

2T. olive oil 

1 T butter

1 chopped yellow onion

1/4 tsp dry thyme

3 c. chicken stock

3c. butternut squash, peeled and cubed

1/2 c. parmesean cheese

Prehead oven to 375 degrees, place bacon on sheet pan and cook for 20-30 minutes.  It does not have to be completely crisp.  Break up into large dice.

Use a Dutch oven to heat oil and butter.  Brown onion 6 minutes, add thyme and salt and pepper.  Add the farro and chicken stock, and put put squash on top.  Bake for 30 minutes, covered, checking at least once.  If liquid evaporates, add more chicken stock.  Sprinkle bacon and parmesean and return to oven for 15 minutes.  Squash and farro should be tender, and cheese melted.  Serve directly from pot.

Or, you can do all the cooking except the last step, and refrigerate for up to two days, they cook for the final 15 minutes and serve.  (you can make it even easier by buying precut butternut squash at market.  I actually prefer the cheap parmesean in the can to fresh parmesean.  Either way, you're going to love this dish.

The UN Report On Climate Should Get Your Attention

 We've known about the effects of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere for decades, at least 4 decades, yet here we are.  The new report by the IPCC (United Nations) is 4,000 pages of doom and gloom.  Well, not really.  Maybe just 3,000 pages are doom and gloom.  The rest offers some optimism, if we change our ways.

  One quote from the report says, "It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land.  The last decade was more liely than not warmer than any multi-centennial period after the Last Interglacial, rougly 125,000 years ago."

According to the hundreds of scientists that contributed to the report from around the world, we have to totally change the way energy is produced.  There doesn't seem to be the political will to do that right now, at least in this country.  Changes will likely come regionally.  Asking people to make changes for something that will benefit mankind in the future, is hard.  People don't want to invest in these changes unless they are personally going to benefit.  And they aren't..  The reality is that unless we keep our emissions low for the next 30 years, we cannot be at Net 0 by 2050.  

If we continue doing what we're doing the earth will at some point become uninhabitable.  Fossil fuels have got to go.  I know, lots of people make their living taking energy out of the rocks and ground, but if we don't find another way, we will all lose. 

If you're a podcast listener, I can recommend the August 13 episode of The Daily, called Code Red for Humanity.  It will wake you up.

Global Rise In Authoritarianism

 We live in what is commonly called a representative democracy.  There are other forms of democracy, such as direct democracy and consitutional democracy.  Sadly, the Democracy Index, compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit,  has found that more countries are declining in their level of democracy.  They rate countries on 5 categories such as functioning of government and civil liberties.  They can score between 0 and 10.  Overall scores of 8.01 and 10 are considered full democracies.  There are 10 countries in the world with scores higher than 9.  They are (In order with Norway being the fullest democracy):  Norway, Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand, Finland, Ireland, Canada, Denmark, Australia, Switzerland.  The United States ranked 36th, with a democracy rating of 7.96.

On the other end of the spectrum, many countries that were once democracies or at least flawed democracies, are becoming autocracies.  Ones that come to mind that have changed their form of government in the past 10 years are Venezuela, Hungary and Poland.  Below are some bullet points regarding the rise in authoritarianism.  Pretty scary stuff.

• There are fewer democracies in Europe and Eurasia than at any point in the 26-year history of Nations in Transit. Of the 29 countries assessed, 10 were rated as democracies, 10 as hybrid regimes, and nine as authoritarian regimes. No countries changed categories this year.
• The average democracy score for the region has declined every year since 2005—17 years in a row. Eighteen countries’ democracy scores declined this year, only six countries’ scores improved, and five countries experienced no net change. The spread of authoritarianism continues to outpace democratic progress by a wide margin.

• The largest declines occurred in Poland (-0.36), which suffered the second-largest single-year drop ever recorded, and in Hungary (-0.25). Both countries’ democracy scores are the lowest they have ever been during the 17-year period of overall decline.
• The most common regime type in Eurasia remains “consolidated authoritarian.” Armenia is the only semiconsolidated authoritarian regime in Eurasia, while Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine are the only hybrid/transitional regimes in this subregion. There are no democracies in Eurasia.
• The most common regime type in the Balkans continues to be “hybrid/transitional.” The only exception is Croatia, which is considered a semiconsolidated democracy.
• Despite having suffered the steepest decline over the past decade, Central Europe remains the best-performing subregion; its most common regime type is “consolidated democracy.” Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania are the only semiconsolidated democracies in Central and Eastern Europe; Hungary is the only hybrid/transitional regime.

Queen Califia's Magic Circle

Niki de Saint Phall was an Franco American woman who did many things in her life, including modeling, writing, and sculpting.  She is best known as an artist.  She was at one time married to the French artist, Jean Tinguely.  She was born in France in 1930, and died in 2002 in La Jolla, California.  She was a self taught artist, who delighted people worldwide with her colorful, monumental, cartoonlike sculptures and environments.  Early in her career, she created what was called target painting, where she threw darts at balloons set up on a canvas, and the dripping paint created the painting.  

She created sculptures for gardens around the world.  One of her nanas (bulbous, maternal like figures} can be seen in Balboa Park, another in the La Jolla restaurant, Barbarella.  Before she died she created Queen Califia's Magic Circle, in Kit Carson park in Escondido.

She did not live to see the completion of the installation, but she was involved in every phase of it's execution.  It was completed shortly after her death, and remains one of the beautiful sculpture gardens around.  Queen Califia was an Amazon goddess, and she is depicted in mosaic in the park.  Niki de Saint Phall depicts snakes, totem poles, and astrological symbols throughout her work.  The sculptures are massive.  I  was overwhelmed by the size and beauty of these sculptures.  

If you enjoy art, please make a point of visiting Kit Carson Park when Queen Califia's Magic Circle is open.  (Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the 2nd and 4th Saturday).  Check the website to be sure you are there at the right time.  It's an little known San Diego treasure.

Chiko Encinitas: Chinese Korean Fusion

 Thank you, Regina for sending me the link to Chiko in Encinitas.  When I looked at the menu, I knew I had to try it, and the very next day, Regina and I went to Chiko for Sunday Brunch.  What a feast we had!  We loved everything we ordered, and the portions were so big that we both had food to take home.

The restaurant began in 2017 in Washington, D.C., as the first restaurant in The Fried Rice Collective.  (A group of restaurants).  It was begun by Scott Drewno, who came from a fine dining backgroup, including a stint at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant, Chinois.  Chiko added several partners, went for casual dining, and they were a big hit from the beginning.

 Chiko's is a great restaurant for sharing.  There are appetizers, salads, entrees and sides.  For the two of us, we ordered the orange-ish chicken as our main course.  It was slightly spicy, with a crispy coating on the outside, and just enough spice to make it delicious.  It was served with white rice and a wonderful sauce.  We also ordered half-a-cado salad.  So tasty.  It was a mixture of cucumber, jicama, nuts

and avocado, in a slightly spicy sauce.  The chicken spring rolls we ordered were wonderful.  The chicken mixture was nestled in a huge wonton, then wrapped like a burrito and fried.  We loved it.

Other popular dishes include spicy ribeye and rice, cumin lamb dumplings, and pork and kimchi potstickers.  

The restaurant  is in the space that was once occupied by Jamroc, one of my favorite Jamaican restaurants ever.  Chiko may well become a favorite of mine.  I can't wait to go again and try new dishes.  They have so many interesting items to choose from.

I will be taking our lunch bunch group there in January.  It's perfect for them.  Casual, great for sharing, and spectacular food.  Check it out.  It's a winner.

You're Going To Love Pickled Potatoes

 I was at The Waverly restaurant in Cardiff for lunch recently.  Pickled potatoes were offered as an appetizer.  I had never heard of pickling potatoes and was intrigued, so we ordered some for the table.  I was impressed!  They are absolutely delicious, that is if you like other pickled vegetables.  They're so easy to make.  I created a recipe as soon as I got home, and plan on serving them soon at a Happy Hour.  We pickle cucumbers, ginger, carrots, cauliflower and onions, why not potatoes?  Here's a simple recipe you won't make just once.

                                                       Pickled Red Potatoes With Creme Fraiche

12 small, firm red potatoes.  Be sure to get potatoes that are not too big

pickling brine:  it can be as simple as just malt vinegar, or you can use the pickle juice from an empty jar of pickles, or you can make a simple bine with vinegar, water and spices.  I used just malt vinegar

1 container of creme fraiche (for dipping)

chopped chives for garnish

Cook red potatoes in water until just tender.  (about 15 minutes)  Let them cool, then take a fork and prick each potatoes about 10 times.  You don't need to push too deep into the potato.  You just want the vinegar to be able to get into the potato and pickle it.

At this point you can store the potatoes in a bowl (drain the brine) until ready to use, or get ready to fry right away.

Using a fryer or a pan, heat oil to 350 degrees, and fry the potatoes until crispy and somewhat brown on the outside. Drain. on a paper towel.  Place in a bowl for serving.  Chop chives and sprinkle on top for garnish.  Serve with a side of creme fraiche for dipping.  If you don't have creme fraiche, use sour cream. 

I hope you love this dish as much as I did.  So easy, unusual, and delicious.  Enjoy. 

Are Lawmakers Trying To End The Opioid Crisis?

 I've been reading and listening to  books and podcasts about the opioid crisis, and it is heartbreaking that Congress has not done what it could do to reduce the amount of deaths from opioids.  Over the past decade over 500,000 Americans are dead from opioid overdoses.

There are so many aspects to the crisis:  how we got here, what are the causes, and how we get out of it are just some of the issues, but I want to focus on Congress, specifically Marsha Blackburn (now a senator from Tennessee) who was a congresswoman in 2014-2016  when she co-sponsored a bill that was ultimately passed.

Blackburn was warned by a DEA official about her bill.  The law that Blackburn co-sponsored increased the burden for DEA to immediately suspend large shipments of drugs, requiring that it demonstrate a "substantial likelihood of an immediate threat that death, serious bodily harm, or abuse of a controlled substance will occur" without action.  Congress pass the law, and President Obama signed it. 

So what does this mean?  This law means it became harder to stop large shipments of drugs, making it easier for bad players to continue to get drugs on the streets.  

Blackburn's co-sponsoring of the bill was at the behest of the pharmaceutical industry, and it weakened the DEA efforts against drug distribution companies that were supplying corrupt doctors and pharmacies who were pedaling  narcotics to the black market.

Marsha Blackburn's contributions from the pharmaceutical industry were over $711,000 from 2002-2015.  In 2016, after the the bill she co-sponsored was passed, contributions to her campaign increased dramatically.  Just thought you'd like to know about this.  

Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle Annex

 About 2 weeks after rotator cuff surgery I went to LA for 10 days.  My dog Pepper was staying with my mom while I recovered, and I missed him desperately.  I thought the 10 days in LA would give me and my mom some time together too, and give me a chance to recuperate. 

Eating out is one of my great enjoyments.  Luckily my mom enjoys eating out as much as I do, so we made a list of a half dozen restaurants that we wanted to try while I was in LA.  We almost got to all of them.  I will tell you about those I especially liked, so if you have an opportunity to visit LA you will have some great places to dine.

On a Tuesday afternoon we headed to Sawtelle Blvd in West Los Angeles.  There are probably 30 Asian restaurants on a three block area of Sawtelle.  I had heard great things about Tsujita, often called the "king of ramen restaurants" so that's where we went.  Normally there is a line around the block waiting to get in, but we timed it just right, and got a table inside right away.  Almost all the customers were Asian, which is always a good sign.  The restaurant itself gave me the feeling of walking into a ramen shop in Tokyo.  I loved it.

The ramen was fantastic.  The broth was deeply flavored with pork, garlic and onion.  The noodles were perfectly cooked, the egg on top was delicious, and we added some extra toppings.  

There are basically only two things to get at Tsujita.  Ramen, either vegan or pork broth with delicious toppings, or tsukemen Tsujita style (Dipping noodle.)  The latter dish dips cold noodles into hot broth.  Ramen is just hot noodles and hot soup.

If you thought  ramen was the 25cent package that you used to cook in your dorm room in college, think again.  Tsujita ramen is a sophisticated soup, with layers of flavor.  It is so flavorful.  I can't wait to go again.

The good news is that there is now a ramen shop in San Diego that is owned and operated by a man who spent 5 years working at Tsujita in Los Angeles.   The restaurant is called Artisan Noodle Tatsuki on Broadway. I can't wait to try it.

A Meal To Remember: Le Petit Chez Mimi

 While recovering from rotator cuff surgery in August, I spent about 10 days in LA with my mom and dog Pepper.  We made a list of restaurants we wanted to try when I arrived, and I think we made it to all of them.  My favorite, by far, was Le Petit Chez Mimi in Santa Monica.

Our meal at Chez Mimi was memorable.  When I heard Mimi had opened another restaurant in LA, I jumped at the chance to enjoy her food again.  Mimi Hebert is the owner and chef at Chez Mimi, and has been involved in the LA food scene for years.  Many years ago Mimi worked at and helped create recipes at Chez Helene, a wonderful French restaurant that was on Abbott Kinney years ago.  Chez Helene eventually closed, and Mimi went on to open several other restaurants in LA.  Ron and I were frequent diners at her 26th street restaurant in Brentwood in the 1990's.

Mimi opened Le Petit Chez Mimi in the middle of the pandemic, and it is a miracle it is still open.  It was only take out for quite a while, but they made it through the rough times, and from what I can see, have a great following.  We sat outside on the heated patio, as did most diners.  

The food is so outstanding, that even though I was stuffed when I left, I couldn't help but think about what I would get next time I dined there.  It's typical French food.  Appetizers include chicken liver pate, escargots, onion tart and salmon mousse.  The salmon mousse was extraordinary.  Every night there are about 5 soups to choose from.  I had cold cucumber soup with lots of dill.  Yum.  Entrees are mustard chicken, grilled lamb chops (fantastic sauce), mussels, calves liver, pepper steak and bouillabaisse.  We had the tart tatin for dessert, with a big dollop of whipped cream on the side.

So, if you're visiting LA or in the Santa Monica area, make it a point to go to Chez Mimi for dinner.  (reservations necessary).  It will be a meal you will not soon forget.

Stay Away From DNP

 I listen to a number of podcasts, and recently I listened to a fascinating 4 part podcast on One Click, about the toxic drug DNP.  I couldn't believe how deadly it was, yet is still sold illegally on the dark web.

DNP is Dinitrophenol, a drug sold illegally as a weight loss supplement.  Online retailers target body builders and extreme dieters, promising miracles.  It is potentially lethal to anyone, at any age.  The drug can cause a rapid increase in you metabolic rate and body temperature, and it's a terrible death.  It is not fit for human consumption.

DNP was originally manufactured in France during WW1 to make dyes and explosives.  In 1933 it was found to be good for weight loss.  It was sold over the counter from 1933-1938 as a weight loss supplement, but was pulled from the market because of safety concerns.  It is used today in wood preservatives, dyes, explosives, and pesticides, so it's hard to imagine it could be good for human consumption.  

In the One Click podcast, they explained how people got involved in buying DNP, what specifically happened to them, and reviewed some very sad stories of death.  I encourage anyone who finds this topic interesting to go to One Click, and listen to the 4 part series.

Sadly, it is not illegal to possess DNP in the U.S.  However, the sale of DNP is prohibited around the world, and it has never been approved by the FDA.  Sellers of DNP face heavy fines and jail time.  

DNP is extremely toxic and has a high potential for overdose.  Ingestion doses as low as 10-20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight can be fatal.  The most common cause of death from DNP is hyperthermia.  

The FDA and other international regulatory bodies routinely take legal action against websites illegally selling drugs such as DNP.  DNP can legally be sold as a fertilizer.  In many countries retailers use this loophole to sell it as a weight-loss drug.

Warning:  try to avoid any drug supplement that claims it can cause weight loss without the need for dietary changes or increased exercise.  Any product that claims this is either ineffective or dangerous.

Gypsy Moths Being Renamed

 We've all heard about renaming sports teams, college mascots and the like because their names were offensive to certain ethnic, religious or social group, but here's a new one.  The Entomological Society of America, an organization that oversees bug names, has dropped the name "Gypsy" moth, considering it an ethnic slur to the Romani people.  

This move is one of the first two for the organization's Better Common Names Project, which seeks to replace names that contain derogative terms, inappropriate geographic references and for those that disregard what native communities called the species.  The other insect it renamed was called the "gypsy ant."  

The gypsy moth is a caterpillar that eats large quantities of trees and plants, similar to locust, but not as extreme.  Are we carrying the renaming of things too far?  You tell me.  The new names for the moth and the ant are unknown at this time.

Make Your Own Vanilla Extract

If you like the idea of making your own vanilla extract, and maybe giving it as gifts this Christmas or Hanukkah, you better get started right away.  The ingredients have to sit for 2 months to finish.  If you've bought pure vanilla extract recently, you know how expensive it is.  I usually buy it in Mexico, but I haven't been to Mexico recently, so I'm almost out.  Actually, even if you start making it today, it won't be ready for Hanukkah.  Hanukkah is early this year, at the beginning of December.  Oh, well, make it anyway and give it as a New Year's gift.

                                                            Homemade Vanilla Extract

6 vanilla beans, sliced lengthwise

8 ounces vodka

Place sliced vanilla beans in a 10 ounce jar, and cover with vodka.  A small vinegar bottle or any small bottle will do.  Place in a dark place, shake once a week, and in 2 months you will have vanilla extract.  

That's it.  It makes a wonderful gift for bakers.  Be sure and keep some for yourself. 

Red, Bold Lips of the 1940's

 The 1940's was an era brimming with patriotism, optimism, and red bold lips.  "Beauty was your duty" and considered an act of patriotism during WW11. 

Elizabeth Arden, famous makeup artists and women's activist, was approached to create a lipstick specifically designed for women in service.  In 1941 "Montezuma Red" was created.  Why red?  Adolf Hitler hated red lipstick, thus red lipstick was seen as sign of patriotism.  Red lipstick was not only worn by American women but in all the Allied countries.  It became a statement against fascism.  

The origins of red lipstick can be traced to the Sumerian region of southern Mesopotamia, circa 3,500 B.C.  It was there that the red rocks were crushed into powder to tint the lips red.   In the 1700's, red lipstick was outlawed in England on the basis that women were using cosmetics as a tool to seduce men into into marriage.  

Do You Really Know Your Neighbors?

 As I walk around my neighborhood, I love to look at the landscaping.  I never realized that one's outdoor decor and landscaping could be sending a signal to passersby.  Someone hit me with the information recently that gnomes in the front landscape may indicate that the couple inside are swingers.  I confirmed this by talking to others and by researching this bizarre topic.

There's a realtor in North County San Diego, specifically Carlsbad, that posted this information on line.  She had clients looking at property in a family friendly community in Carlsbad and found out that there were many swingers in the area, all identifying themselves as such by gnomes in the front yard.  Who knew?  

Next time you take a walk, you may want to be on watch for gnomes.  Now let me be clear, there are other reasons for adding a gnome to your lawn decor, but it could be a sign of what's going on behind closed doors.  Upon further digging, I found that there are other signals that a couple may be identifying themselves as swingers.

White landscaping rocks, pampas grass, pineapple door knockers, plastic pink flamingos and of course gnomes may all indicate that swingers are looking for action.

Don't be fooled by the community.  This exists in family friendly areas, senior communities, and very upscale areas alike.  Who knew?

Fighting Flat Earth Theory

 People who believe that the Earth is flat aren’t coming to that conclusion from a scientific conclusion. They, instead, believe that we are being misled and lied to, that scientists want you to believe that the Earth is round, despite its flatness.

So the question isn’t "why do people believe in a flat Earth" but rather "why do people believe in a conspiracy?" And the answer is the same reason it always is: a lack of trust.

Many people don’t trust the society around them, most notably the representatives of that society. That trust often falls even further when it comes to trusting government officials, members of academia and scientists

By claiming that the Earth is flat, people are really expressing a deep distrust of scientists and science itself.

So, if you find yourself talking to a flat Earther, skip the evidence and arguments, and ask yourself how you can build trust.

Throughout history, there have been flat-earth believers, who doubt what seems to most people, unquestionable.  The flat-earth conference began in earnest in 2009.  They have their own models to propose their beliefs.  Some say the Earth's edges are surrounded by a wall of ice holding in the oceans.  To account for night and day, most flat-Earthers think the sun moves in circles around the North Pole.  

Can you believe that 7% of the Brazilian population thinks the earth is flat?  This shocking number is attributed to a resurgent evangelican Christian church.  It would be easy to dismiss flat earthers as simply being misguided due to lack of education, but that's not it.  It seems to be based on both a conspiracy mentality (conspiracy theorists) and a deeply help belief that looks a lot like religiosity but isn't necessarily tied to religion.  

It's hard to imagine anyone believing in a flat earth after the volumes of science we have.  But there are some that do, and that is frightening.

The Night of the Murdered Poets

 There's so much I don't know.  It amazes me that everyday I learn about some incident from history that I knew nothing about.  The latest bit of knowledge is learning about the night of the murdered poets, in Russia, on August 12, 1952.  

On August 12, 1952, thirteen Jewish intellectuals were executed by a firing squad in Moscow's Lubyanka prison, after being convicted of treason and espionage.  The mass execution, one of Stalin's final acts of persecution, became known as the "Night of the Murdered Poets."

Among those executed, were five Yiddish writers who were part of the JAC, Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee.  The organization had been formed during the Holocaust to lobby world Jewry to support the USSR in fighting Nazi Germany. While Stalin initially overlooked the development of the group, he tightened his control of the country after the war ended.

Stalin's reign of terror began by murdering the head of the JAC, Solomon Mikhoels.  He then secretly arrested members of the organization, held them in prison without charging them for several years, while they were tortured.  A memorial for the JAC victims was dedicated on the 25th anniversary of the Night of the Murdered Poets in Jerusalem's Rasko neighborhood in 1977.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7H9uo3j5FQ  click on this link to find out more about this historical event.

Maria Empanada is Fantastico

 I was watching Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives one night about a week before my trip to Colorado, when I watched Guy Fieri review Maria Empanada, and knew I had to go there when I was in Denver.  Lorena, the Argentian owner who came here with just $300 in her pocket and big dreams, now has four locations.  When Lorena first arrived, she made her empanadas for a friend who served them at a party, where a caterer tasted them and gave Lorena her first big order.  The rest is history.  

I visited the location on Broadway in Denver, and at 11:00am it was still busy with breakfast customers.  The empanadas are probably the best I've eaten.  The dough is soft and flaky.  They even have a gluten free option, so my grandson Lennon was happy.  They serve several breakfast empanadas, one similar to a burrito with eggs, potato and cheese, another with chorizo.  The all day empanadas include chicken chimichurri, beef and peppers, ham and cheese, just to name a few.  There are many vegetarian empanadas as well.

Of course Maria Empanada also has the iconic Argentine cookie.  Shortbread cookies filled with a dulce de leche cream.  Just wonderful.  If you look at their website you will see that they can also be shipped to you!  If you do find yourself in Denver and are looking for a nice light breakfast or lunch, give Maria Empanada a try.

Fall Dinner Means Pumpkin

 If you're like me, you already getting sick of "pumpkin everything."  Pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin latte, pumpkin bread, even pumpkin flavored cereal.  Well, I have a quick and easy dinner meal that you'll enjoy anytime of year!  It's a great way to use up a can of pumpkin.  I call this one dish meal Pasta with pumpkin and parmesean sauce.  Here it is.  When I made it I didn't measure anything.  Sorry about that, but these measurements are close to what I used.  I love it.

                                              Fusili with pumpkin, parmesean and sage

Sauce

1/2 can pureed pumpkin, no sugar added

2 T. butter

2 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped

2 heaping tablespoons grated parmesean

Several spoons of pasta water (to thin out the sauce) from the cooking water of the pasta

Fresh sage, browned in butter if you have it.  If not, I just sprinkled a little dried sage in the sauce

Melt butter, add garlic and cook until butter bubbles around the edges.  Add pumpkin, however much you like, and combine.  I added several spoons of the pasta water to thin the sauce.  Then add the parmesean cheese.  Season with salt and pepper, but not too much because the parmesean cheese is salty.

While making the sauce, cook the pasta.  I used penne, but fusili would be even better.  It has more nooks and crannies to hold the sauce.  Drain the pasta and add to the sauce.  

To  serve, simply put pasta on plate, sprinkle more parmesean on top, and add sage leaves if you have them.  This a great fall meal, and especially good for meatless Mondays.  Enjoy

Great Pizza in LA: Jon and Vinny's

 Things are opening up in a big way.  Every time I go to LA to visit my mom, which is about once a month, we go out for at least two meals.  I've had some great food recently, and our visit to Jon and Vinny's in Brentwood was no exception.  They also have a branch in West Hollywood, plus several other restaurant brands.  They own and manage Petit Trois (two locations in LA), Son of a Gun in LA, a wine company called Helen's, and Danos Dumplings.  

At the Brentwood location of Jon and Vinny's, they built a huge, socially distanced outdoor dining area in what was formerly the parking lot.  The outdoor area must seat about 30 people, more than the indoor area.  In any event, the food is the star.  Everything is delicious.  Pizzas, pasta, salads (great salads), etc.  I was there for dinner, but I would love to try it for breakfast.  In addition to the usual suspects for breakfast, like pancakes, bacon and the like, they have some items you don't often associate with breakfast.  Ricotta bruschetta with orange blossom honey and sesame seeds, polenta, olive oil and parmesean, melon and prosciutto, and spaghetti carbonara, pancetta and pecorino,  Yum.

If you're in the Brentwood/Santa Monica area, try Jon and Vinny's.  Great food in a great setting.

An Evening With Friends

 Regina, Merrilee and I enjoyed an evening out recently.  We chose BlueWater Grill in Carlsbad.  It's been around for about three years, since Fish Veracruz closed, on Carlsbad Village Drive.  We went on a Wednesday around 6pm, and I was shocked that there was a 30 minute wait.  Luckily they had entertainment (a folk singer) to keep us happy, and a wonderful, strong, Margherita.  We were happy and hungry when we were finally seated, and immediately dug into the sour dough bread and butter on the table.  How can you resist that?

We started the meal with an order of fried calamari, probably one of the best I've had in a long time.  It was lightly battered, fried but not greasy, with a remolod sauce and a sweet and sour sauce.  That was gone in no time flat, and we all ordered our entrees.  Merrilee ordered scallops on a bet of mashed potatoes with vegetables.  She loved it, and had enough to take home for another meal.  I ordered grilled salmon with scalloped potatoes, Regina ordered another fish (sand dabs?) and scalloped potatoes.  The fish was delicious, and the potatoes were outstanding.  If you go there, try the scalloped potatoes.  

No room for  dessert.  The menu is extensive and includes everything you would expect, including lobster roll and cioppino and key lime pie for dessert.  The food was great, and of course, dinner with Merrilee and Regina is always a treat.

Cauliflower Tabbouleh Salad

 Cauliflower is all the rage today.  Roast it, puree it instead of potatoes, use it as a crust for pizza.  Here's another way to use cauliflower, which I recently discovered, and maybe the best use of the vegetable yet.  Use it in place of bulgar wheat to make tabbouleh salad.  It's fantastic.  One of my favorite dinners is a Mediterranean dinner with tabbouleh salad, hummus, tzadiki, falafel, and pita.  Try this salad next time you want a light, yet tangy and refreshing salad.

                                                  Cauliflower Tabbouleh Salad

1 pound riced cauliflower (I buy the packaged riced cauliflower for convenience)

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 cup chopped fresh mint

1/2 cup flat leafed parsley

1/4 cup olive oil

6 scallions, chopped

4 Persian cucumbers, chopped

3 radishes, thinly sliced

1 lemon, juiced (or about 1/4 cup lemon juice)

1/2 cup red onion, chopped, salt and pepper

red pepper flakes to taste (not too much)

Put the riced cauliflower in a pan with a little olive oil, and cook for about three minutes, just to soften

Mix the cauliflower with all the other ingredients.  Make it in advance to give flavors a chance to meld. 

Enjoy as a side salad, or include in a medly of Mediterranean  salads with pita. Either way, enjoy.

The Benefits of a Weighted Blanket

 The Odyssey Blanket, and other weighted blankets for humans, have been on the market for a number of years, but before people started using them, they were used for decades with animals.

When we had race horses in the late 80's, 90's and part of 2000 and 2001, we had several that we anxious, extremely high strung, and out of control around July 4 and other nights when fireworks were shot off.  Thoroughbreds are by nature high strung, but some are almost impossible to control.  We had two stakes horses, very expensive, who could not calm down in the starting gate.  They would rear up, throw the jockey, not be able to race.  Our trainer suggested the weighted blanket, developed by the Horse Whisperer, Monty Roberts.  It's a special blanket that is put on the horse as he enters the starting gate, then when the gates open, it pulls off.  It made a huge difference, and both horses that used the blanket had a successful racing career.

Now my dog Pepper is another story.  He, too, has terrible anxiety during a rainstorm with thunder and lightening, fireworks, explosions at Camp Pendleton.  He shakes so, I'm afraid he's going to have a heart attack.  I bought him a Thunder Coat, a tight fitting coat that is supposed to help make him feel secure.  Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Now humans are using the weighted blanket.  It is supposed to relieve anxiety and relax you.  I have not used it, but it probably works, just like it works for other animals.  First we try it on animals, and when it works, we try it on people.  The weighted blanket is just another tool for people with sleeping problems.  I'm sure it helps.

Pizzana in Brentwood (and West Hollywood)

 There is one more delicious restaurant I want to mention from my August trip to LA during my rotator cuff recovery.  It is Pizzana.  It's an Italian pizza restaurant, with a few antipasti and salads also available.

About a dozen years ago Caroline and Chris O'Donnell (yes, the actor) were hosting one of their pizza parties, when they were introduced to Daniel Uditi, a chef from Italy.  With Daniel and Candace and Charles Nelson of Sprinkles Cupcakes, the O'Donnell's opened Pizzana.

It was so hard to get into when it first opened, but since the pandemic things have cooled off.  The food, however, is as good as ever!  

It's a Neopolitan style pizza, with a thin crust that bubbles up around the edges, and the middle is a little soft and chewy.  Pizzana offers about 10 pizza pies, and it's hard to decide what to get.  I had the mushroom pizza, filled with several varieties of mushrooms and lots of cheese.  Great.  Pizzana also has antipasti, such as charred broccolini, carciofi arrosti, which is grilled artichokes in a vinegrette dressing.  A brussels sprouts salad with chopped apple and pistachios was my favorite.

Pizzana is a very casual restaurant.  Great food and good service make it my go-to place for pizza on LA's Westside. 

Enough With The Thoughts and Prayers

I'm sick of every time there's a mass shooting, hearing fire, police and government officials say "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims."  Of course we are thinking  of them, but instead of praying for them, why doesn't somebody do something?

On Wednesday we again had a school shooting, fortunately not a mass shooting as so many in the past, but one that could have been easily avoided.  This was an altercation between students, one of whom had a gun, and when the argument escalated, the one with the gun took it out and opened fire.  Fortunately no one was killed, but hundreds of children and their families were traumatized, possibly with long term effects.  Not to mention the strain on hospitals, fire and police departments that probably spent untold amounts of money to ready ambulances, busses, etc. for the worst case scenario.

I don't care where you stand on the 2nd amendment, school shootings must be prevented.  Why are kids bringing loaded guns to school anyway?  Many of these children are totally untrained in the operation of a firearm, yet are walking around with a loaded gun.  I know it sounds awful, but how about metal detectors or security checks for students each day?  I know about ghost guns, but there's got to be a way for security to check each child as he/she enters school.

The right to bear arms is given to us in the constitution.  I don't think our forefathers had in mind that teenage children should have the right to bring weapons to kill other students and teachers that they didn't like.  Something is very wrong. 

Will Bulk Shopping Change Forever?

 One of the things I missed most when the pandemic began was bulk food shopping at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and just about every other market around.  I loved going into North Coast Produce and buying 4 dates from the bin, rather than a big box that I would end up throwing out.  Bulk shopping allows the shopper to buy just what they want.  This is especially important for single people or just a couple, who can never use up a large box of hemp seed or flax seed.  It is so wasteful!

Well, the pandemic shut down bulk shopping right away.  You could find the bulk items prepacked by store employees in plastic bags, but it was never just what I wanted.  

For quite a while, companies were unsure regarding the safety of bulk grocery items, but I guess they are all following the science (what a concept) and the CDC must now say that bulk food offers no health risk of cross contamination, as originally thought.

Yippee.  I went to Winco in September and ALL the bulk items they offer were available.  I was so happy.  Then, I went to Sprouts a few days later, and found the same thing.  No more prepackaged food.  You can use the scoopers to fill your plastic bags and get just what you want.  

Although the pandemic rages on due to those that refuse to follow the science, at least we have bulk foods from the grocery companies now available, because the grocery industry IS following the science.

The Waverly in Cardiff

 My lunch bunch group ate at The Waverly recently.  We all raved about the food, ambience and service.  I can't wait to go for dinner.  It's a very contemporary atmosphere, with soft beige on the walls and ceilings, fans and a beautiful bar.  There is seating both inside and out, and lots of heaters outdoors for the cold weather.

The food is unique, but delicious.  They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and although we were there for lunch, some of us had breakfast.  The creme brulee french toast was out of this world.  Brioche bread, carmelized on the top and bottom to create a nice crunch, was served with berries and whipped cream.  Avocado toast and eggs benedict were also on the breakfast menu.

We tried some appetizers for the table first:  a delicious, creamy eggplant dip spread on toasted bread was wonderful, but I loved the pickled potatoes with creme fraiche.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Small new potatoes were cooked, pricked with a fork, then brined before being fried.  I will try to make them at home.  They were that good.  They have several bowls, a large bao filled with beef, cheese and lettuce, to simulate a Big Mac (not for me), a few grilled sandwiches, and a wonderful hot shrimp dish.  Oh, I can't forget the salted carmel butterscotch pudding.

The Waverly is not for someone wanting to eat the same old thing all the time, but more for those who want to try something new and different.  The Waverly checked all the boxes for me:  beautiful restaurant with attentive servers, excellent food and unique choices.  I can't wait to go back.  (The Waverly is in Cardiff, right near Seaside Market). 

Chicles de Talpa

 You probably never heard of the town of Talpa, about two hours by car from Puerta Vallarta.  Talpa is a mountainous town and

the home of edible art in the "Cradle of gum."  

In a mission to boost development by attracting tourists with it's centuries old traditions, Talpa is expected to attracting 20 million visitors this year.  The Mexican government is trying to steer more tourists to small towns like Talpa, in a new program called "magic towns."

The gum creations are works of art.  There is nowhere else in the world where craftsmen and women produce these works of art.  The gum is unflavored and chewable. The creations are sculpted using only a pair of scissors and tweezers.  The gum disks are bathed in hot water to soften them, then colored with a rainbow of vegetable dyes, then cut and rolled into long strings.  The artist might create a rose, a pair of shoes, a mariachi band, fruits and veggies, hats, animals, just about anything you can think of.  

The annual gum competition takes place each year, with the first prize of $425 at stake, but what's really at stake is bragging rights until the next competition.  

I fell in love with these little gum creations when I first saw them at my mom's house in LA.  Her live in companion, Chayo, had acquired some from a friend.  She is now trying to get some more for me from a friend traveling to Talpa.  I can't wait to see what she brings me.  

Was Brett Kavanaugh Thoroughly Checked Before Being Nominated To The Supreme Court?

 I was listening to an Al Franken Podcast one morning, where he was interviewing Sheldon Whitehouse.  One topic they discussed was whether there was a proper background check done by the FBI during the Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing.

First, Sheldon Whitehead is a highly respected senator, promoting progressive ideas.  Prior to becoming senator of Rhode Island, he was Attorney General of the state during the Clinton years.  Now, he has asked Merrick Garland to help facilitate "proper oversight" in Brett Kavanaugh's background check process in 2018.

As I'm sure you remember, the confirmation process for Kavanaugh was tumultuous.  I remember Ron and I were driving to Phoenix to visit friends, and were glued to the radio.  The testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, who claimed Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers, was compelling.  Kavanaugh denied the claims.  The FBI interviewed a number of people after listening to the testimony, but they did not interview Kavanaugh or Ford as part of the probe.

Whitehouse's concern is that some witnesses who wanted to share information with the FBI could not find anyone at the bureau to accept their testimony.  No one had been assigned to accept or gather information.  This is unique behavior, as the FBI is usually seeking information and evidence, but in this matter, the doors were closed.  

The FBI  created a tip line.  He said the senators had been made aware of a"stack" of information that had come through the tip line, but were given no information on how the information had been reviewed.  In fact, the information was NOT reviewed.  The tip line appears to have operated more like a garbage chute, with everything that came down the chute consigned to the dumpster. 

This appears to be worthy of further investigation, and I hope Merrick Garland will do what is necessary.  Thoroughly investigate Kavanaugh's background check process, and determine whether it was thorough.  We deserve to have the highest quality individuals on the court, and full transparency is necessary to assure that we do.