Cream of Broccoli Soup Without Guilt

 I love soup, and since I've been on WW for the past year, soup has become a mainstay of my diet.  Not just the boring old vegetable soup which we all know, but cream soups.  Yes, cream soups.  I have perfected cream of carrot, cream of mushroom, and cream of cauliflower soup.  I usually make one of those each week and eat it for lunch with a half sandwich.  Delicious, satisfying and guilt free.  

I decided to try cream of broccoli.  There are only three ingredients in the recipe, and you wouldn't know there's no milk or cream.  Here's the recipe I made, and can't wait to enjoy this week.

                                                   Cream of Broccoli Soup

Broccoli (I bought crowns, and cut them up, but you could buy a whole big piece and cut.  Do not use frozen broccoli)

Chicken broth

Non fat sour cream

I'm sorry I can't be too specific about the amounts, but I think I used about 24 ounces of chicken broth, and about 6 large tablespoons on non fat sour cream.  I must have used 1/2 pound of broccoli, or more.

Spray broccoli with olive oil spray, season with a bit of salt, and roast in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Transfer to a large soup pot, add chicken broth, and cook until broccoli is tender.  In at least 2 batches, transfer to a blender, a mix of the broccoli and chicken broth, and add several tablespoons of non fat sour cream.  I use a Ninja, which pulverizes everything, and it comes out nice and smooth.  Transfer to a large bowl, season with salt as need, and continue the process until all the soup is made.  

Transfer to a large air tight container and refrigerate.  It will keep for about a week.  You'll be surprised how smooth and creamy it is, all for just 1 WW point!  Enjoy

Should School Teachers Be Armed?

 The NY Times has a wonderful podcast called First Person, where people tell important stories, in the own words, and explain how they came to believe what they believe.  Recently I listened to a two-part podcast that explained how one sheriff in Utah started The Teachers Academy, to teach Utah teachers how to use a gun in an active shooter situation.

There have been more than 40 school shootings in 2022.  I know, you've only heard about a few, like Uvalde, but they happen almost every week!  Imagine that.

One sheriff in Utah decided to start a 20 hour training session to teach teachers how to react, with a gun, in an active shooter situation.  Utah is a state where teachers who have a concealed weapon license can bring a gun to school.  

The average time response from first shot to police on the scene is typically 3-5 minutes.  That sounds pretty fast to me, but apparently this sheriff feels that teachers with guns could do a lot to lessen the damage in those 3-5 minutes.

His academy spends 20 hours over 6 weeks, training teachers about what to do.  Although I don't believe that teachers should be armed, at least those that are trained have the possibility of a better outcome.  

It was mentioned that in 29 states teachers have the right to bring a weapon to school.  I was shocked by this statistic, but I also understand how frightening it must be to be involved in an active shooter situation when you may have 30 5 year olds to keep safe.

I think there must be better ways to deal with the possibility of school shooters than arming the teachers and administrators, but I don't have the answer.  It's just something else to think about.

Does America First Really Mean What You Think It Means?

 You hear the phrase "America First" and think it sounds like something you would definitely support.  Think again.  The phrase is often thought to be traced back to Charles Lindbergh in the l940's, but it's origins go even further back.

The earliest use of the phrase was in the 1880's.  It was a phrase used by Republicans, but it didn't enter the national discussion until 1915, when Woodrow Wilson used it in the speech arguing neutrality in World War 1.  What Wilson meant was not isolationism.  He meant America would be first in Europe to help whichever side won.  

When Mussolini took power in November 1922, the word "fascism" entered the American political conversation.  This was between 1915 to mid 1920's, when the Second Klan was on the rise.  The Klan instantly declared "America First" one of its most prominent slogans.  They would march in parades with banners saying they (the Klan) was the only "America First" society.  

By the 1930's "America First" stopped being a presidential slogan and began to be claimed by extremist, far-right groups  who were self-styled American Fascist groups, like the German American Bund and the Klan.  When the America First Committee was formed in 1940, it became a magnet that attracted all of these far-right groups.  Lindberg and the Committee used the phrase, but it's history started long before the 1940's.

Think again when you hear the phrase "America First" and you'll realize it's not something you want to be associated with.  It's a far-right, anti-Semitic, White Nationalist phrase that has no place in our democratic society.

Child Labor and Slavery Are Prevalent In The Chocolate Industry

 The widespread use of child labor and slavery has been documented by a number of organizations and journalists over the years, yet little has changed.  70% of the world's cocoa, is supplied by Ghana and the Ivory Coast, two small West African countries.  The farms of Western Africa supply cocoa to international giants, such as Hershey's, Mars and Nestle,  revealing the industry's direct connection to the worst forms of child labor, human trafficking and slavery.  About 2.1 million children in the Ivory Coast and Ghana work on cocoa farms, most of whom are likely exposed to the worst forms of child labor.

The children of Western Africa are extremely poor, and many begin working at a young age to help out the family.  Some children end up on the cocoa farms because they need work and traffickers tell them that job pays well.  Others are sold to traffickers or farm owners by their own relatives.  Often, traffickers abduct the young children from small villages in neighboring countries and sell them to cocoa farmers.  

Once taken to the cocoa farms, the children may not see their families for years, if ever.  The children live in huts, locked up at night, and work 12 hour days.  They do not attend school.  Many of the children are girls who end up working on the cocoa farms through adulthood.  Young children are using chainsaws to clear forest, a direct violation of international labor laws and a UN convention on the worst form of child labor.  Children are also using machets to expose the cocoa bean and remove it.  

Check out the documentary Chocolate's Heart of Darkness to learn more.  It is shocking, and the fact that the chocolate industry has not sufficiently addressed accusations of child labor in its supply chain, is deplorable.  Recently some large chocolate companies have acknowledged these abusive practices, but have distanced themselves from responsibility.  

There's so much to this story, but I think you get the picture.  When you see Fair Trade on the label of a chocolate bar, don't necessarily believe it.  There are dozens of small companies that have been inspected regularly, and are indeed, Fair Traded.  But most of the big companies are using child labor.

 What can you do?  Go to foodispower.org and read the list of chocolate companies to support.  There are many.  Speak out, and let chocolate companies how you feel about the injustices in the industry.

Google "Slave free chocolate" or "Ethical Chocolate" to get lists of companies acting responsibly.  This should not happen, and we can help stop it.  I guarantee after reading this and even going further on the subject, you'll never look at a chocolate bar the same.

Is There Reason To Be Hopeful About The Future?

 As I look at the world today, I often think there is little for which to be hopeful.  War in Ukraine, crimes against humanity taking place around the world, shootings, hate, drug overdoses, destruction of our planet due to climate change, crime, and ethnic and religious hate like we haven't seen in years, poverty, inequality and injustice, just to name a few things that come to mind.

This is the season of giving, giving thanks, helping others.  Jews celebrate Hanukkah, Christians celebrate Christmas, and both holidays emphasize peace and goodwill.  The reason I am hopeful is that I see so much love and kindness by individuals around the world, that I think optimistically.  Most people are good.  Most people are kind.  Look in your own neighborhood and you will see kindness and giving all around.  Unfortunately, a few bad apples spoil the bunch.  

I think we need to figure out why so many people today are so angry and are acting out.  More of this is happening in America than anywhere else, but it is happening everywhere.  If we could figure out why, then we could deal with the problem.

I see the rise in hate crimes as one of the biggest threats to our way of life.  Much of the hate people have for those who are different than themselves comes from ignorance and fear.  People fear what they don't know and understand.  Ask a white supremist if he's ever known a Jew, and he will likely say 'No",  We must educate people who don't understand that most Muslims, Jews, LGBTQ people are just like you and I.  They really are.  We should all make it  our mission to get to know someone who is different than us.  We could all learn alot from getting to know someone we think we don't understand.

No doubt the world seems to be quite a mess right now, but my guess is we'll get out of this mess, as we have before.  We've got to make sure we're teaching our kids that kindness matters, giving is good, and acceptance of others is absolutely necessary.  We need peace on earth, and if we'd learn to respect one another, it would go a long way toward peace.

It's All About Who You're With

 I've been on plenty of cruises.  Costa, Princess, Oceania, Crystal, and most recently Holland America.  They've varied in luxury from average to sensational.  You probably know where these cruises rated in my opinion.  I just returned from a seven-day cruise on Holland America's, 2600 passenger, Koningsdam ship.  It was built in 2016.  It is beautiful.  All the common areas are gorgeous, and the staterooms are comfortable and well thought out.  I shared a room with Barbara, and we had plenty of space for all our stuff.

Regina had organized a fund raising cruise for City of Hope.  About 10 us of went, and we had a ball.  We all did our own thing during the day, but got together for several evening dinners.  There was organized mah jongg available for the group, and lessons and duplicate bridge games every afternoon for the bridge players.  Everyone found something to do.

Dinner at the specialty restaurants, Pinnacle and Rudi's, were really special.  I think the dinner at Rudi's was memorable!  Beef tartare to start, dover sole as an entree, and salzburg nacharal for dessert.  I was stuffed, but happy!  Pinnacle was steaks and seafood with all the trimmings, and again delicious, but not memorable.  

Sure, there were a few things that I didn't like about the cruise ship, but when you get down to it, it's the people you travel with that make the trip.  We had a great group.  Regina is a great leader.  The great showers and the great french toast for breakfast were always top of mind when something went wrong, like the TV not working on Election Night.  

So, yes, I've been on ships with better food, better entertainment, and better organization, but it's all about the people.  We were with a great group, and had a great time.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Pudding

 I often watch The Kitchen on The Food Network while I'm eating lunch.  The food they make and the creativity they exhibit are amazing.  I was watching one day in November when they were doing a Thanksgiving themed show.  Katie made a pumpkin dessert that looked so good I made it the very next day.  I adapted it to my Weight Watchers program, so the whole dessert, made the WW way, is only about 4 points.  I will give you both versions.  WW version is in (  ) Enjoy.

                                                     Pumpkin Spice Latte Pudding

1 package instant vanilla pudding (or sugar free instant vanilla pudding)

11/2 c. milk (non fat milk)

2T. espresso powder

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 c. pumpkin puree

Pinch of salt

3oz thin ginger snaps, crispy, not soft, crushed in a plastic bag (big crumbs)

1 c. whipped cream (cool whip)

Prepare the pudding by putting packaged pudding, milk, espresso powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt in bow and stirring until it starts to thicken.  Then add the pumpkin puree and refrigerate for about an hour, until pudding is set.

In the meantime, crush the ginger snaps.  To serve, layer like a parfait.  A little ginger snap mixture on the bottom, pudding, more ginger snaps, pudding and top with whipped cream.  This is delicious, healthy, low in WW points if you want, and perfect for fall and winter.  I think it will become your new favorite dessert.  And perfect for guests, as you can make it well in advance.  Enjoy.

Factors In Low Academic Scores For Children

 We all realize the loss that two years on Zoom had on young children and their academic progress.  Scores were way down for most children in both reading and math.  So many children found focusing on school remotely to be near impossible.  Areas of the country where in person learning continued, fared better.  Obviously in person learning is best for most students.  

There is another reason academic scores have dropped dramatically during this time.  That is the mental health of children.  Depression, isolation, lack of socialization, are all conditions that can lead to poor academic performance.  

Schools have a huge task before them.  Yes, they must work hard to help children catch up.  Home schooled children and some kids in private schools continued with good academic progress during the pandemic, but the vast majority of kids have fallen behind.  Public schools have a daunting task.  In addition, teachers must deal with the mental help many kids now need.  Isolation has led to depression, lack of motivation, in short, many kids are lethargic.  The teacher now has to be both teacher and psychologist.  The physical learning cannot take place if the child is depressed.

What can we do?  First, we need more psychologists in the schools.  Kids need help, and most cannot afford private therapy.  We need to fix the child psychologically before we can increase math and reading skills.  Good luck to the teachers and health professionals out there.  Such a difficult job!

Everyone's Welcome On Sesame Street

 So says Sal Perez, new Executive Producer of Sesame Street, and first Latino to have that job.  Sal is only 38 years old, but has been with the Sesame Street organization for many years.  Sal grew up on Sesame Street, and will now be leading them in their 53rd year.

My kids grew up on Sesame Street.  The variety of characters, both puppets and human, is extraordinary.  Black, white, Latino, LGBTQ, everyone is represented.  I guess that's the point.  Everyone is welcome on Sesame Street.  With the way things are today, couldn't we all learn a lesson?  The values taught through Sesame Street are invaluable, yet so many young people who grew up watching the show didn't get the lessons taught.  We are in such a divided world!  All of us need to take these lessons of respect, compromise and acceptance, and just get along.

By the way, who was your favorite character, human or puppet, on the show?  A survey of adults had Cookie Monster in first place, and Big Bird next.  I hope the show is around for many generations to come, teaching kids values that many just aren't getting at home.

What We Learned From Project M & M's

 Several years ago Google did a study.  They wanted to see if the amount of M & M's candy consumed by it's employees changed, when a clear glass jar filled with candy was changed to an opaque jar.  Also, the jar was moved to a more remote location (but still accessible), and healthy snacks like nuts and fruits were put into the clear glass jar.

The results were astounding.  In the New York office of 2,000 employees consumed 3.1 million fewer calories during a seven week period.  This is scientific evidence that visually seeing something makes you more likely to want it, and in the case of M & M's, more likely to consume it.

Are you trying to watch what you eat, stick to healthier snacks, trying to avoid sweets?  Here are some ideas.  Get them out of your sight!  Put candy in a drawer in the refrigerator, or even in the freezer.  Have healthy snacks front and center, maybe a fruit bowl on the counter in the kitchen, or cut up veggies in the front of your refrigerator.  

Easy access and visibility to healthy foods make one more likely to go for them.  If the candy is in a bowl in your living room, chances are you will take a piece when you pass it.  It's so much easier to put it away where it's not in your face.  

I have a favorite candy, scotch kisses from See's.  If I had them out and available I could eat a pound in a few days.  If I have them, I freeze them, and stick them in the back of the freezer so they're not visible every time I open the door.  The old saying, "Out of sight, out of mind,"  is really true.  The only ones that did not benefit from Project M & M's is the company itself, that must have lost a lot of business!

The Terrifying Rise Of White Nationalism (Again)

Jews have fought for thousands of years to keep from being extinguished by haters.  They have survived so far.  Here we go again.  Phrases like "Jews will not replace us" have become all too common.  Billboards in the south saying, "Kanye was right" have appeared lately.  The sad truth is that you don't hear many Republicans criticizing this rhetoric.  We should all be condemning hate speech against any group!

My mom's friend told a terrifying story of what happened to her grandson and his family.  The grandson, with wife and four daughters, was visiting LA from Brooklyn.  They are devout Orthodox Jews, which must have been apparent from their dress, as they boarded a flight back to New York.  The six family members were sitting together, and the seventh seat was taken by a female passenger.  As soon as she saw the family next to her, she started  yelling religious epitaths.  The family was humiliated and intimidated by her words.  I don't know exactly what the slurs were, but it was so bad that the plane was emptied, the flight cancelled, and I assume, the woman was reprimanded at the very least, more likely arrested.  I don't know any more details about the incident, but I will eventually find out.

I'm hoping some passengers spoke up to say the woman was out of line, inappropriate and should be removed from the plane.  The airline chose to remove everyone from the plane and cancel the flight!

There is no place for hate speech in this country.  Often religious or racial slurs are spoken and people let it go.  No more.  If you see something, say something.  It is not acceptable to demean anyone, and people who do so need to be called out.  They need to know others don't accept their behavior.

Leaders in Congress make statements that reflect their hate for certain groups, and often no one says anything.  What's wrong with this world?  What's wrong with leadership that talks this way?  What's wrong with Americans that they elect leaders who only represent white Christian America, not all America?  I fear for our country. 

Classic Encinitas Holiday Parade

 Saturday night was the annual Encinitas Holiday Parade.  Our boogie boarding group, The Wave Chasers, along with the Encinitas Heritage Museum, were part of the parade.  Fran asked me and long time boogie boarder Pam, to hold the banner and lead our group.  It was so much fun.

The parade must have included half of Encinitas, and the other half must have been watching, standing for almost 2 hours.  There were 82 entries in the parade, from our group, to the YMCA, to San Dieguito Academy, to a home construction company, a horse boarding and training center, and just about everything else that makes Encinitas so great.

Kids were everywhere!  Hundreds, maybe thousands of kids were in the parade, watching the parade, or riding around on beautifully decorated bikes.  E bikes were in abundance.  What a business that must be.

The theme of the parade was classic Encinitas, so there were literally hundreds of classic cars.  Our entry was a 1969 T-Bird.  Fran (my friend and one of the leaders of the boogie board group of 132 members) and Charlotte, our Classic boogie boarder, age 97, rode in the car.  Pam and I led our group, followed by 15 boogie boarders dressed as santa's helpers and holding decorated boogie boards followed, then came the car.  

It was wonderful to see the community all out supporting this annual event.  Families, grandparents and lots of dogs, all dressed in holiday costume.  If you've never been to the Encinitas Holiday Parade, sorry you missed it this year, but mark your calendar for 2023.  It was such fun.

Revisiting Old Friends

 I moved to North County 20 years ago.  The first, and best thing I did, was join Newcomers.  The friends I made in those first few years are still in my life, even with all the ups and downs and changes that have taken place in my life.  One of the first activities I helped organize was a boogie boarding group.  There were about 7 of us:  Susie, Fran, Kim, Barbara, Linda, Christie and Christa.  Actually, Christa came up with the idea of getting a little flag to mark our location on the beach.  Most of us showed up to a boogie boarding reunion, which Fran organized in October.  

Many of us have moved away from Newcomers.  Linda lives most of the year in New Hampshire, Christa has moved to Carlsbad by the Sea, I live in Ocean Hills, so it's hard for us to get together much.  We met at 11:30 on a Friday morning for a beach picnic, followed by boogie boarding in 65 degree water.

What a treat it was to have our group together, and to get in the ocean.  It was fun catching up with everyone.  I have to be honest.  I was a little worried about catching the waves again after such a long absence.  Knee replacement, rotator cuff repair, and a broken wrist, have kept me out of the water for quite a while.  After one or two waves, it all came back, and I felt relaxed and happy.  What a thrill it is to ride the waves.

Another highlight of the day was meeting up with Alex and David, longtime Newcomers too.  We were eating lunch,  and I saw them walking, wasn't quite sure it was them as I haven't seen then in probably 10 years, but we called out to Alex, and she responded.  They were as thrilled to see us as we were to see them.  They have gone through some difficult times, but seem to be enjoying life once again.

There is nothing like catching up with old friends.  Our reunion at the beach and our chance encounter with old friends Alex and David, got me thinking.  If you're thinking about an old friend, call him.  You never know about tomorrow.

Picasso: The Doodling Genius

The third exhibit that I saw at the Hammer Museum in October, and maybe my favorite, was titled Picasso:  Cut Papers.  The exhibit spans the full career of Pablo Picasso, from his first cut papers of a farm animal at age 9, through the 1960's, with works he made in his 80's.  It features some of the artists most whimsical and intriguing works made on paper and in paper, alongside a select group of sculptures in sheet metal.  Was there anything this man couldn't do?  How did his family know to catalogue all his cut papers  when he was age 9? 

Although Picasso rarely sold or exhibited his cut papers during his lifetime, he signed, dated and archived them just as he did all his works.  Many examples have been stored flat or disassembled in portfolios until now and will regain their original three dimensional forms when presented in the exhibition.

The Picasso exhibit will be at The Hammer Museum until December 31, 2022.  I hope you get a chance to see it.

Anytime Is The Right Time For Lunch At Tartine

 A tartine is an open faced sandwich on great bread with great ingredients.  That's exactly what you will get if you visit Tartine for breakfast, brunch or lunch.  I was lucky enough to go to the Tartine in Santa Monica last month.  It resides in an old church, and is the perfect place to sit and eat, people watch, or work.  Tartine has two locations in the Bay Area, five LA locations, and six locations in Seoul, Korea.  More will be opening in the U.S. soon, I hope.

The bread is the star at Tartine, although everything is so good.  I had a mushroom conserva tartine.  It was served on a slice of their delicious bread.  It had cooked mushrooms, chilis and some great seasoning.  The also offer avocado, lox and cream cheese, peppers and cheese, and other tartines.  One of my favorite desserts is the lemon bar.  Fantastic, but you can't go wrong with a bavarian fruit tart or a banana creme tart.  Croissants are great, served with butter and homemade jam.  Grain bowls, quiches, scones and sandwiches and salads complete the menu.  Coffee is also hot and strong. 

If you've ever been to Le Petit Quotidian, Tartine is similar.  I loved the atmosphere at the Santa Monica location, and I look forward to going again.  If you're in LA or San Francisco, try to go for breakfast or lunch.  

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Who Was Joan Didion? Find Out At The Hammer Museum

 My mom and I went to the Hammer Museum in Westwood one drizzly morning, and were delighted to find three exhibits there, all so interesting.  We saw Joan Didion:  What she means.  But more about the actual exhibit in a minute.  First, who was Joan Didion?

Joan Didion was a writer, a journalist, a screenplay  writer, and a keen observer of culture and chaos in America, especially California,  where she was born and raised.  She established a distinctive voice n American fiction before turning to political reporting.   She died earlier this year from complications of Parkinson's.  

Joan was attracted to trouble spots, disintegrating personalities and incipient chaos.  In some writing, she included her own psychiatric evaluation.  Her talent was for writing about the mood of the culture.  She wrote about the 1960's and 1970's and was perfectly matched to the times, with her slightly paranoid, slightly hysterical, high-strung sensibility.  She wrote for Vogue, Mademoiselle and National Review.  One of her most famous books, "The Year of Magical Thinking", became a Broadway play.  Check out the documentary on Netflix about her life.  It is excellent.

The Hammer's exhibition is a portrait, a narration of her life, featuring approximately 50  artists and more than 200 works including painting, ephemera, photography, sculpture, and video footage from some of her films.  It follows a meandering chronology that grapples with the simultaneously personal and distant evolution of Didion's voice as a writer and pioneer of the "New Journalism."  If you're in Los Angeles between now and February 19, 2023, you might want to check it out.  And for a special treat, have lunch at Lulu, Alice Waters new restaurant in the museum.  It will be a very special day.

A Day At The Hammer

 The Hammer Museum in Westwood, steps from UCLA, is one of the most interesting museums for me to visit.  Changing exhibits make it fun to go again and again.  While visiting my mom one weekend, we decided to go, and were delighted to find not one, but three fabulous exhibits.  I will tell you about one here.

An artist by the name of Bob Thompson was have his first retrospective in 20 years.  His short, dynamic, career began in the late 1950's and ended in his premature death from a heroin overdose less than a decade later.  He was prolific beyond anything you can imagine during his short life.

Thompson grew up in Boston, after moving there from Louisville at age 13, due to the death of his father in a car crash.  He was depressed as a young man, and after beginning his academic career in pre med, he moved to art.  He met and befriended all the young artists of the 1960's.  He won many awards, and critics proclaimed him the genius of the new, young, African-American artists.  

He painted Renaissance themes with a contemporary focus.  His paintings were large, figurative, bright, raw and unorthodox.  He was influenced by German abstract expressionism, as you can plainly see from his work.  

He loved music, and that can be seen in his work.  He loved Europe, lived there for a time, and when he died of an overdose in Rome, was getting ready to move to Florence to study Renaissance painting.  

I didn't know of him before this exhibit, but I loved his work.  Imagine what he might have done had he lived more than 29 years!!

A Memorable Meal At Felix's

 About six years ago, one of my favorite restaurants on Abbott Kinney in Venice, California, closed.  I'm talking about Joe's.  It had been a fixture for years.  Housed in an old home with multiple rooms and a charming, homey feeling, it was our go to place in the 1990's.  Felix's replaced it a few years ago, changed the decor some, and brought some memorable Italian food to the area.

I went there with a group of four, and upon the waiter's recommendation, we shared everything.  The menu is divided into four distinct Italian regions, offering specialties from each region.  The chef likes to have the complete meal ordered at one time, then ty bring your courses, one at a time.  

We started with a most delicious foccaccia bread.  It was light and airy, golden brown on top, and salty.  Next we had stuffed squash blossoms, the best I've ever had.  They were stuffed with ricotta that oozing from them, hot, golden brown and crispy.  Next came an apple salad, with lemon, fennel, celery, parmigiano reggiano.  It was outstanding.  Next came a pizza, and we were not disappointed in the mozzarella di bufala, meyer lemons, and other cheese atop a wonderful crust.  Next came pasta.  We ordered tagliatelle with a bolognese sauce and linguine al limone.  Both were exceptional.

I didn't think we had room for anything more, but our group ordered cannoli and budino.  I loved the small, thin pastry on the cannoli.  It was a little different.

The restaurant was expensive.  Without drinks, it was probably about $100 per person.  It was worth it.  I can't wait to go back again.

The Crisis of Men and Boys

 If you're the parent or grandparent of a boy, you better listen up.  Boys and men are struggling across the U.S. and the globe.  Take a look at these statistics.  American girls are 14%more likely to be school ready than boys.  By high school 2/3 of the students in the top 10% are girls, while 2/3 of the students at the lowest part of the class are boys.  In 2020, at the top 16 law schools in America, not a single one had a man as editor of law review.

The biggest drop in employment is among  young me aged 25-34.  Pretty much all of the income gains that middle-class Americans have enjoyed since 1970 are because of increases in women's earnings.  Men are struggling with drugs and suicide at a far greater rate than women.  For every 100 middle-aged women who died of Covid up to mid-September 2021, there were 184 middle-aged men who died.  

Boys are more hindered by challenging environments than girls.  Girls in poor neighborhoods are more likely to climb out of the situation than boys.  Boys raised by single mothers are less likely to enroll in college than women.  Programs designed to promote social mobility often work for women, but not for men.  One policy to help men have a better chance for success, is to hold them back in school for a year.  Girls are able to start school successfully than boys.  The prefrontal cortex and the cerebellum mature much earlier in girls.

Many men just seem less ambitious.  They don't seem to be the go getters they once were.  Richard V. Reeves's book "Of Boys and Men" is a place to start to learn more about this issue, and what you can do about it.  Men and women are different, and those differences seem to be in all phases of development today:  education, work, social life, health, etc.  I have tried to summarize some of the salient points made by Richard Reeves in his book, but for more information, I suggest reading his book.

Taking Care Of Your Eyes

 You only get one set of eyes, so you must be so careful.  I started seeing flashing lights on the periphery of one eye recently.  It alarmed me, so when it continued for a week, usually most apparent at night, I called the Opthomologist.  He too was concerned, and I was in his office in less than three hours.

Here's what I found out.  There is a vitreous gel inside your eye, that may dry up as you age.  The gel may pull or rub on your retina, causing the flashing lights.  This may appear on and off for as much as several months.  It's a normal part of aging.  Usually it is not dangerous. 

What I was worried about was a detached retina.  This is a possibility, that's why if the condition continues too long or gets worse, or more floaters (which may or may not be present) are present, it's time to get to the eye doctor immediately.  A tear in the retina can cause diminished vision or worse.  To me, eyes are not something to fool around with.  I'm glad I went to the doctor right away.  He eased my mind, after giving me a complete examination.  Still, he referred me to a retina specialist, just to be sure.  I love my doctors, they so thorough, and don't leave any stone unturned.  As we age, so do our eyes, and we've got to give the same attention to them as we do to the other parts of our body!  

Ever Try Catsup Leather On Your Burger?

 My mom and I were looking for a new restaurant in LA on a Saturday night.  Unless you make reservations at least a week in advance, there's not much available.  We settled on a burger bar on Sawtelle in West Los Angeles.  Sawtelle is mostly Asian restaurants, very crowded, and very good food.  We went to Plan Check, a bar and burger joint about a block off the main action.  We sat outside, which was completely full, and had a great burger, fries and fried cauliflower with ranch dressing.

What sets Plan Check's burger apart from the competition is catsup leather, something they make in house each day.  They take a sheet pan, cover it with catsup, then cook it low and slow, about 150 degrees, for about 3 hours.  The result is catsup leather, which is then cut into squares and put on each burger.  The heat from the burger softens the leather, but doesn't melt or get messy.  The leather, instead of catsup from the bottle, keeps the bun from getting soggy.

The burger was delicious, as was the catsup leather.  The fries were delicious too.  We loved the place, and besides several different burgers, the restaurant has wings, pretzels, and other bar food snacks.  It was a nice change, and I loved their twist on catsup.

Do You Know About Facticious Disorder?

 You've likely heard about Munchausen's Disorder, but have you heard about Facticious Disorder, or sometimes called Munchausen's by Internet.  I learned about this disorder while listening to an interesting podcast by AARP, call The Perfect Scam.  The podcast's goal is to inform seniors to the many scams that are being perpetrated on them.  

The scam I was listening to went as follows.  A healthy middle aged man came home one day and told his fiancee he was just diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  The couple were expecting their first child in a few months, and each had a child from a previous marriage.  It was devastating news to everyone in their small, close knit  community.  One woman took it upon herself to start a Go Fund Me page for the couple, ultimately raising over $50,000 to help pay for bills, pay for a wedding, and pay for travel to events to make sure this man's last months were memorable.  The woman who set up the Go Fund Me page started to get suspicious.  Things didn't add up.  This very sick man didn't look sick, didn't take any meds, and would not allow his now wife to go to doctor visits with him.  The bottom line was he was not sick and never had been.

The scammer had facticious disorder, or what is sometimes called Munchausen's by Internet.  It is a serious mental disorder in which someone deceives others by appearing sick, by purposely getting sick or by self injury.  

Scammers are everywhere, as I have learned from this podcast.  On the one hand I hate to be cynical, but on the other hand, I don't want to get taken.  Please check out anyone or organization asking for money on the internet.  It may be for real, it may not.  Don't get taken.

The Downward Trajectory of Child Poverty

A comprehensive new analysis shows that child poverty has fallen 59% since 1993, with need receding on nearly every front.  It has fallen in every state, and has fallen about the same amount for white, Black, Hispanic and Asian.  In 1993, nearly 28% of children were poor, meaning their households lacked the income the government deemed necessary to meet basic needs.  

Millions fewer children are considered poor today than they were 25 years ago.  In 1993, 19.4 million children were considered to be living in poverty.  In 2020 there are 8.4 million children living in poverty.  Deep poverty is likely to effect Black and Latino children about three times more than white children.

The decrease in child poverty has coincided with profound changes in the safety net, which has become more generous.  Starting in the 1990"s tough welfare laws shrank cash aid to parents without jobs. Subsidies grew, and total federal spending on low-income children roughly doubled.  Multiple forces reduced child poverty, including lower unemployment, increased labor force participation among single mothers, and the growth of the minimum wage.  But a dominant factor was the expansion of government aid.

The plunge in child poverty is the opposite of what most liberal experts predicted a quarter century ago when President Bill Clinton signed a law to "end welfare as we know it."  Conservatives say the landmark law pushed more parents to work and call it the main reason child poverty declined.  Progressives say many working families would still be poor without the expanded safety net.  Whatever the reason, the result is more children are out of poverty and have a better chance for a bright future.  Isn't that what we want for all Americans?

Senior Dating In The 21st Century

 Have I mentioned how much I dislike the process of online dating?  Well, I don't like it!  It is such hard work, and so far, the results have been underwhelming.  My recent coffee date at Monarch in Del Mar, which I had high hopes for, turned out to be disappointing.

I read Lew's profile online, and he seemed to be someone I had a lot in common with.  Politically liberal, Jewish (but not practicing), travelled around the world, divorced, no children, lives in Marina area downtown San Diego, sounds promising. 

When he first walked into Monarch, I could see that he was having some difficulty.  He was taking small steps and just didn't look like a fit, active man.  That's because he wasn't!  BTW, Monarch is a great to meet for drinks and snacks in Del Mar.  Great food, beautiful view, good vibe, but I digress.  We sat at an outdoor table, great view of the ocean, quiet and so perfect, until I started to find out more about him.

Lew was married for 16 years, and just recently divorced.  That means that he was single until he was 60.  That's kind of a red flag for me.  Anyway, he moved to San Diego in 2004, but still most of his good friends are from New Jersey, where he grew up.  Not much of a social life here.  We talked a little about politics, travel and food, and were having a nice time, until he mentioned his heart attack a few years ago, his low back problem which will probably lead to back surgery, and one other major health issue I can't remember.  You have probably figured out what I was thinking.

So I had decided early on that we would split the check on this first date, since I had picked the time and place.  That was, until he started ordering food.  I ordered a glass of wine and a farro bowl with butternut squash and brussels sprouts ($5) which was delicious.  He order 12 oysters to start, followed by a bowl of crispy brussels sprouts, glass of wine, cookies and coffee for dessert.  I decided to let him pay the bill.

He wants to come visit Ocean Hills with the prospect of moving here.  Oh, no.

Are You A Listmaker?

 I am.  I've always been a listmaker, and even more so as time goes on.  Making a list accomplishes a lot of things on one small piece of paper.  It motivates you to complete tasks.  It reminds you what needs to been done, sort of a memory aid that relieves anxiety about forgetting things.  It keeps you organized.  

Lists have been around forever.  The ultimate list is the 10 Commandments, a list of commandments to live by.  In more modern times, the iPhone allows one to constantly keep lists.  If your the person in charge of making a Starbucks run for your co-workers, you list them, in order to keep everything straight.  I make one big list each day that includes grocery items that need to be bought, plus all the various other tasks I may need to do.  (bank, cleaners, gym, visit a friend, make business calls, etc).  Then, I love to cross them off as I complete them.  It is so satisfying to do that, I don't know why.

Not everyone is a listmaker.  There are several personalities that typically keep lists, including those who are detail oriented, highly organized, planners.  I am all of those things.  People who just "go with the flow" probably don't keep a list.  Which type of person is more productive?  I don't have the statistics on that, but my sense tells me the listmaker is more productive.  Now that you've made your list for the day, all you need to do is remember where you put it!  How often have you made an extensive list, only to get to get to the first stop on the list and found you left the list at home?  Happens all the time!

Green Chili Verde Chicken Chili

 There's no better time for chili or soup than fall.  I had a bridge party recently, and served a delicious dinner that included a rotisserie chicken from Costco.  You know how big those chickens are, so I had to do something with the leftovers.  Here's what I did, and was it ever delicious.  I made a chicken chili, using green chili verde sauce.  It freezes beautifully, so I ended up getting six meals out of the leftovers.

To say that it was easy, is an understatement.  The hardest part of the recipe was taking the chicken off the bone and shredding it.

                                                     Green Chili Verde Chicken Chili

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

2 cups mild green chili verde sauce

4 cups chicken broth

4 small can chopped green chilis, mild

2 cans northern beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup cilantro (optional)

1 tsp cumin

chili powder to taste (add at the end)

salt to taste(add at the end)

Throw everything in a pot and heat.  That's it!!!!

I froze most of it, in small batches, for future dinners when I don't feel like cooking.  It is really delicious.  Enjoy.

What's In Ohio?

When I told people I was going on a 7 day trip through Ohio with my mom and Regina, they all looked at me quizically and said, "What's in Ohio?"  After spending a week there my answer to them is, "Lots, in fact we could have stayed a few extra days."  Here are just a few of the sights you will see if you ever go to Ohio.

We started in Cleveland, and a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  It's an excellent museum, and for those of us of a certain age, it brought back lots of memories.  The Cleveland Art Museum is world class, and we were lucky enough to catch an exhibit called "From Impressionism to Modernism,"  which we all enjoyed.  Cleveland is actually a small city, under 400,000, yet there's a lot to see and do.  We had other areas to explore, so we headed for Ashtabula next.

Ashtabula and the area surrounding it, contains more covered bridges than just about any other place in the state.  In all, there are over 100 covered bridges in Ohio.  Many of them have been refurbished, and are just a charming feature of the landscape.  There's a map available that shows you where they're located.  We ran into an old timer at one of the bridges.  He had lived in the area his whole life, and one of the bridges was named after his family.  He took us to a local museum to see all the artifacts related to covered bridges.

Next we toured the Amish country.  We stayed two nights in Berlin, the heart of Amish Ohio.  It was so interesting to learn about the ways of the Amish, and do see and talk to them in markets and restaurants.  After spending time in Amish country, we drove to Dover, the sight of the Warther Museum.  This was one of the most amazing museums I have ever seen, and Mr. Warther is the greatest craftsman you have never heard of.  Totally self taught, he produced works of art that will amaze you.

We stopped in Columbus for lunch and a tour of the Franklin Botanical Gardens.  The Dale Chihuli exhibit was mind blowing.  Beautiful glass works throughout the gardens were magical.  After a nice lunch, we headed for Cincinnati.

What a beautiful little city Cincinnati is.  Only 300,000 people, a beautiful, clean downtown, with murals everywhere.  Cincinnati also has an Underground Museum, which tells the story of slaves being brought north on the underground railroad.

I could go on and on.  We visited an apple orchard, street markets, some good restaurants too.  Every place you visit has lots to offer.  You've just got to seek it out.  We found so much to do, including an evening theatre performance in the Amish Country of a comedy show.  So we would definitely say that Ohio has lots to offer any visitor.  Leaves were just beginning to turn, but the landscape would have been stunning in a few more weeks. 

Is This The Best We've Got?

 I try to stay out of politics on this blog, but there are just times when something has to be said.  I look at the evidence piling up on Donald Trump, and say to myself, "How much evidence do you have to have against someone to indict?"  Obviously a lot!

The number of lawsuits underway is huge, but the criminal and civil investigations into his behavior as president and his financial antics is bigger.  Here is just a smattering of investigations he and his friends are facing:  Attack on the U.S. Capitol-  Did he break the law in trying to overturn the 2020 election?  Did he commit seditious conspiracy?  Wire fraud- Trump raised $250 million from supporters to advance fraudulent claims that he won the election, but steered much of the money elsewhere. Georgia election tampering- Did he try to get the Secretary of State in Georgia to find enough votes to declare him the winner?  The answer is clear, he asked him to do that.  New York criminal inquiry-  did his family's real estate company misrepresent the value of properties to get favorable bank loans and lower tax bills?  Yes, they did.  New York attorney general civil inquiry- a civil investigation into the above matter is also under investigation.  Removal of Documents- Did Trump take government records, some personal, others confidential, secret and top secret nuclear secrets to his home in Florida?  Yes, he did.  This, in itself is a crime, but asked to return all the documents, he still kept hundreds of documents that under no situation, belong to him.

There are literally hundred of lawsuits against him, from improper sexual behavior, to defamation, and much more.  So I ask you, is this the best we've got to represent our country?  If if it, we're in more trouble than I thought.  Democrat or Republican, do we want people in office who are trying to bring down the country?  Who are doing everything to enrich themselves?  Trump has always weaseled his way out of trouble in the past, but he may have dug a hole too deep this time, that even he can't escape.  I hope so.

Oh, and by the way, if you or I did any ONE of these things, we would be behind bars for a very long time.  So much for equal justice under the law.

Sheet Pan Dinners Are Quick and Delicious

 Cooking for one and still enjoying delicious, healthy meals is a challenge.  It's so easy to just open a can of soup and call that dinner.  Fortunately, I still love to cook, so I've started making sheet pan meals which take minutes to prepare, and pack a lot of flavor.  The most recent one I made was for four people, so I ate 1/4 of the meal, save another 1/4 for another night next week, and froze the rest for next month, during a busy week when I won't want to cook.

The idea came from The Kitchen, a Food Network program that gives me so many great ideas.  I changed the recipe just a bit, but you can find their exact recipe on the Food Network website, and type in Sunny's chicken meatloaf.

                                    Sunny's Chicken Meatloaf Sheet Pan Meal (with a few modifications)

1 lb ground breast of chicken

1/4 cup chopped basil

1/2 cup chopped parsley

1/2 chopped onion

1/4 cup parmesean cheese

1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

1 egg

1 tsp  salt

2 tsp paprika

2 cloves minced garlic

1 bunch chopped scallions

Mix all ingredients except the chicken together until well blended.  Then add chicken and mix lightly.  Do not overmix.  Form 4 oz chicken loafs (freeform) and place on a foil lined baking sheet.  Add broccoli florets and yams cut in 1/2 inch rounds.  Season with salt and a little lemon juice.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  Remove and add the following glaze:  1/2 cup barbeque sauce, 1 tsp honey,  1 tsp hot sauce or chili flakes, or chinese spicy chili crisp.  Paint on top of chicken loafs, cook for an additional 15 minutes.  That's it.  Eat and enjoy.

A Feel Good Story

 I was playing bridge one day at my weekly Friday game, and my friend Lorraine came to our table.  Lorraine is a beautiful woman of around 85 years of age, inside and out.  She told us about her experience at dinner the night before.  It gave me hope that are truly good people in the world.

Lorraine stopped into a local restaurant for dinner.  She was alone.  She was sitting there, waiting for her meal to arrive, when she noticed a couple (probably in their 40's) looking at her.  She didn't think anything of it, but a few minutes later the couple came to Lorraine's table.  They said they had run out of things to talk about, to each other, and would she like to join them and have dinner with them.  She thought that was very nice.

Lorraine and the unnamed couple had dinner and drinks together, talked for two hours, took pictures of each other, and the couple picked up Lorraine's check for dinner.  She said she had not spent such a pleasant evening in a long, long time.

What a lovely thing for this couple to do!  They saw an older woman sitting alone having dinner, and thought they might enhance their lives, and the woman's life, by having her join them.  They certainly did that.  Next time I'm out for a meal, see a single person alone, I may do the same thing.  Yes, there really are some good, kind people in the world.

My Favorite Warm Weather Salad

 When fresh corn is at it's peak, there's nothing better than a fresh corn salad.  It goes with anything you choose to barbeque, or tacos, or whatever you cook indoors.  I use fresh corn cut from the cob, but you can also grill the corn first, then cut it off the cob.  Either way, it's a winner, and you can assemble in in minutes, and make it the day before.

                                                  Fresh Corn Salad (serves 4)

2 ears fresh corn, cut off the cob

1/2 English cucumber, diced

1/4 red onion, diced

Fresh parsley, chopped (use a lot or a little)

3 T. red wine vinegar

2 T. olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Put all vegetables in a bowl.  Add the oil and vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.  If you like your salad very tangy, as I do, use a little more vinegar and a little less oil.  Put in an air tight container.  It is best the next day, when the flavors have a chance to blend.  You can alter this recipe by adding any of the following ingredients:  green or black olives, halved, cherry tomatoes, halved, and crumbled feta cheese.  Enjoy.

What We're Learning From Space X

 Every time another space ship, manned or unmanned takes off, I hear many people talk about why we are doing this.  They think it's a waste of money when there are so many problems on earth.  Billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are spending much of their fortune on developing rockets that can take us to the moon and beyond.  Much of it is billionaire competition and ego, but there are are many benefits beyond this. 

Space X and NASA have partnered on much of the new exploration.  Private development of space exploration is much less expensive, and I daresay faster, than U.S. government exploration.  What makes space exploration so exciting to me, beyond the obvious of wanting to know what's out there and are we alone, is the hundreds of scientific experiments that are being done that will benefit us all.  Experiments include studies on the aging of immune systems, organic material concrete alternatives, and cardiorespiratory effects during and after long-duration exposure to microgravity, studies of bioprinting, crystalization of monoclonal antibodies, changes in immune function, plant gene expression changes, processing alloys.  These are just some of the more than 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations that take place on missions.  Installing telescopes in space, and other photographic material is also done.

So next time someone tells you that space exploration by the billionaires is just for their ego, you can remind them that probably the most important work of the missions is really not talked about by the media.  The hundreds of experiments across many scientific disciplines, done in every mission,  will benefit all mankind.  

Mixed Reviews on Newsroom Diversity

 I was watching a news program one morning when I was struck by one of the reports.  A white female anchor, who had been a newsroom reporter for 35 years, was fired.  She was fired because she had let her hair go grey, and the powers that be felt she should color it!!!  A female veteran of 35 years in the newsroom is let go because of her grey hair, while a male reporter in his 50's or 60's with grey hair, is said to look distinguished and wise.  There's something wrong here.

The Pew Research Center surveyed 12,000 journalists and reports that newsroom diversity is a work in progress.  Journalists give their news organizations mixed grades on how well they are doing in building a diverse staff.  Still, newsrooms today, about 82% of decision makers are white men.  Over 70% of on anchors are white male.  There are many women in high profile reporting jobs, but we need more.  People of color, especially Asian Americans and Native Americans still lag far behind.  We live in California, where there is a great deal of diversity in news reporting which reflects the population, but if you go to other areas of the country, this simply isn't so.

Diversity at the upper levels of management and decision making, means there will be more diverse stories reported.  This is what I want, and hopefully you see this as a good thing.  One Asian American reporter from the mid west was told to move to California, where she would have a better chance at success.  That may be true, but hopefully not for long.

Newsrooms are changing, and hopefully older, experienced reporters, especially women, will not be locked out of jobs because their hair has gone grey and they like it that way.  Reporters around the country should reflect the diversity of our country, and hopefully give us a greater perspective on the world.

What Is The F Factor Diet?

If you spend a lot of time on social media, you probably already know about the F-Factor Diet.  It's a high fiber diet intended for weight loss, created by Tanya Zuckerbrot.  Tanya is also a nutritionist, and has built a high profile brand around the diet, serving as the official dietitian to the Miss Universe Organization.  She has become a media personality and has created a line of high fiber food supplements, and branded clothes and accessories.

In 2020 fashion influencer Emily Gellis spoke publicly about what she considered the dangers of the diet, purporting a variety of negative side effects from the diet, including rash,  GI distress, hair loss, bloating and psychological symptoms.  Zuckerbrot has denied these allegations, and brought a lawsuit against Emily Gellis.  The lawsuit ( I think there are several suits) has not yet been settled.  There's a lot of not so nice media talk back and forth about the two women involved, and the diet itself.

Tanya has written a book outlining the program.  It's a high fiber, low net carbs diet.  The first phase of the diet allows only 35 net carbs per day.  That number increases over time, but it's the side effects and long term effects that have people concerned.  

While the lawsuits are not yet settled, you can listen to the podcast, The F-Factor, as I have, and find out more details about the women involved and the diet itself.  There's always a new weight loss program out there, and this is just one of hundreds that will probably come and go.  Some people are gaining financially, and others, while they may be losing weight, may also be jeopardizing their health. 

A Great Summer (or anytime)Sweet Treat

You know I love to cook.  You know I'm always looking for creative new dishes to make, so what I came up with probably won't surprise you.  It's an "ice cream" where the only ingredient is bananas.  Here's what I did.  I took a very ripe banana (even if they're turning brown you can use them).  Break it into a few pieces, then put it in a baggy and freeze it.  Using a Vitamix or Ninja (the motor has to be super strong), pulverize the banana until it becomes the consistency of soft serve ice cream.  EAT.  It is delicious, or you can freeze it, and then it will be more like traditional harder ice cream.

I got a bit creative.  I made some sugar free instant pudding, and added about 1/4 of the finished pudding to the blender, and made chocolate ice cream.  You could add other items, like chocolate chips, coconut, nuts or nutella to make other flavors.  Since I'm on WW, I wanted a 0 point dessert, so I made the plain banana, but for just 1 point you can make the chocolate ice cream.

The trick is having the right blender.  It must be powerful.  If not, you can also make it in a food processor, which takes a little longer.  It breaks up and eventually becomes the soft serve ice cream consistency.

Other options are to freeze other fruit, like peaches, pineapple or berries, and use them with the banana to make the ice cream.  If you use other fruit without the banana, your product will be more like sorbet, which is also delicious.  Experiment and try some of these low calorie, delicious desserts. 

What's The Fastest Way To Relieve A Headache?

 Luckily I don't get many headaches, but if and when I do, I'm going to follow the advice of some recent Johns Hopkins researchers.  They found that if, after taking the pain meds, you lie on your right side, the medication will get into your body faster and relieve your pain.

The fastest way, using gravity and anatomy, to get the drugs out of your stomach and into your intestines and to work, is to lie on your right side.  Researchers tested several positions and found that lying on your right side sends pills to the deepest part of your stomach, where they dissolve 2.3 faster than when you are in an upright position.

Pills take 10 minutes to dissolve on the right side, 23 minutes on the left side, and 100 minutes when lying on the left side! The researchers were surprised that posture played such an important role in the dissolution of pills.  The moral of all this:  Your mother was right.  Posture is very important!

Do You Have A Doppelganger? Probably

 I'd never heard of the word doppelganger until recently.  It has several meanings, but the meaning I'm referring to is " a person who looks like an  identical twin to you, is unrelated to you and you probably don't know, and likely shares much of your DNA"  

Even facial recognition may not be able to tell doppelgangers apart.  They seem to have genetic similarities, according to a new study.  Many had similar weights, similar lifestyle factors, and similar behavioral traits like smoking and education levels.  This may mean that genetic variation is related to physical appearance and potentially may influence some habits and behavior.

I always thought there were an infinite number of features that would make finding two look alikes unlikely, but apparently that is not true.  There may be a random person in Brazil or Iceland or China that looks just like you, and shares much of your DNA, although you are not related.  Here's where the internet is extremely useful, as it can scan millions of faces and find matches.  The picture here is of doppelgangers.  Who knows where your doppelganger may be.

  

The High Cost of Rebuilding After Hurricanes

 Let's face it.  Hurricanes are a fact of life in Florida and surrounding states.  They are stronger and more frequent than ever before.  There have been 17 hurricanes in Florida in the past 20 years!  Do we continue to spend billions of dollars to rebuild these areas, only to have them knocked down in the next hurricane?

Let's look at Katrina (New Orleans).  The federal government allocated $15 billion to rebuild Katrina.  The total cost of rebuilding New Orleans was $125 billion, and it's not even done yet.  Puerto Rico.  Billions of dollars spent to rebuild, and here we are again, another hurricane and billions more in damage.

Should people be allowed to rebuild in areas that are hit year after year by devastating storms?  Who should foot the bill for the damage?  Mobile homes are not built to withstand 150 mph winds, and the after effects of hurricane Ian show that.  Mobile homes were decimated during the recent storm, and should not be located in areas with yearly storms.  Updated building codes are part of the answer.  Florida has updated their building codes dramatically over the past 20 years, and structures built with new and more stringent standards withstood the latest storm.  So,  stricter building standards are definitely needed.  What about insurance?  What about relocating to less dangerous areas?  

We have a big, beautiful country, with lots of unused land.  Let's develop other, safer  areas of the country to house people.  I know we all want to live near water, but let's face facts.  In this age of more frequent, stronger and deadlier storms, this is not possible.  Billions of dollars to rebuild, and then have the same thing happen next year or the following year?  It doesn't make good sense.

Lawmakers have some hard decisions to make, not all of them popular.  Will they make the decision that gets them reelected, or the one that serves their community?

Hurricane Andrew Was 30 Years Ago

I was watching TV the morning of the 30th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, which hit landfall on August 24, 1992.  Many of the reporters who covered the original story are still active journalists, and recalled the harrowing experiences they encountered.  They remembered it like it was yesterday.  One of only a few Category 5 hurricanes to ever hit the U.S., it wreaked havoc everywhere, crushing whole towns in minutes.  It even destroyed much of the Metrozoo in Miami.

One of the iconic images from that hurricane is a picture of a dozen or so pink flamingos in the bathroom of the zoo.  Miraculously only a few mammals were killed in the hurricane, but several hundred birds of various kinds were killed.  The structures at the zoo came down like a house of cards.  With winds from 165-212 mph that's what you would expect.  Zoo employees who were present that day acted quickly.  They herded the flamingos into the bathroom for safekeeping!.  Most of the flamingos were spared, and in 2013 the new Miami Zoo, with a beautiful flamingo habitat was created.  The new area is designed with hurricanes in mind.  There is a structure near the habitat that the flamingos have been trained to go into in case of disaster.  The new building is storm proof.

Flamingos can live to be 50 years old, so many of the 40 flamingos in the Miami Zoo were there in 1992 and survived.  I wonder how they like their new digs.  Through the kindness and generosity of thousands of Floridians and animal lovers around the world, the zoo was rebuilt and is a place of beauty, for all to enjoy. 

Ben and Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli!

 Marilyn called me recently and asked me if I wanted to try the new vegan deli that had just opened in Oceanside.  I scratched my head, wondering how food filled with animal products and schmaltz, could produce plant based lox, corned beef and brisket. They've actually pulled it off.

Ben and Esther's is from Portland, where they have 2 successful locations, plus a store in Seattle and now 2 in San Diego.  I went there once, liked what I had, but would not rush to go again.  I'm not a vegan.  I like my animal protein, and if I'm going to eat a corned beef sandwich, I want the real thing.  The plant based proteins don't really taste like the real thing, but they're ok.  If you don't eat animal products, then this is a great alternative, but  if you do, there's no substitute for the real thing.

The food is made from soy and tempeh.  The corned beef is made from peppery layers of tempeh.  The lox is made from a pickled carrot preparation, and the whitefish is made from hearts of palm.  The marble rye is good, and the bagels looked good, although I didn't try one.

My conclusion is that I am not, nor will I ever be a vegan, unless someone tells me the little animal protein I eat is killing me, and then I may eat it anyway.  If you are a vegan, Ben and Esther's is probably as good as it gets.

Did The Pontiff's Apology Go Far Enough?

 During a recent trip to Canada, Pope Francis begged for forgiveness for the Catholic Church's role in the oppression, mistreatment and cultural genocide of indigenous people in Canada.  However, he faced criticism that he did not do more to fulfil other demands and to take more tangible steps to make amends for the role of the church's role.  The indigenous people of Canada want reparations and investment, accountability for those who perpetrated abuse at Catholic-run-schools and for the return of sacred indigenous artefacts from the Vatican.  What was done to these people is similar to what was done to  indigenous people in America and Australia, where children were removed from their homes and sent to boarding schools to "civilize" them.

All of this came about as a result of the 15th century papal Doctrine of Discovery.  It gave blessing to European colonizers to seize land that was not inhabited by Christians.  Non-Christians, were in effect, deemed savages.  The same thing happened in our country to Native Americans.

For centuries the Doctrine of Discovery was used throughout the world to basically enslave Non-Christians.  In 1455 the pope approved Portugal's claims to lands discovered along the coast of West Africa.  The discovery doctrine was expounded by the US Supreme Court in a series of decisions that explained the way colonial powers laid claim to lands belonging to foreign soverign nations during the Age of Discovery.  Under it, if colonial powers discover a territory, they could lay title to it.

The Discovery Doctrine is still in effect, although it has been condemned by Christian institutions around the world.  It is still used today.  The Pope acknowledges it has an adverse impact on the lives of people today, and it should be repudiated.  The Vatican says the matter is under discussion.

I Love Road Trips

 In April I took a road trip with Regina and my mom, Dorothy.  We were great traveling companions, so we decided to plan another trip.  I recommended a trip to Ohio.  Ohio?  What's in Ohio?  Alot.  

I've found that every region of the country has it's own charm, and no matter where you travel, you will find much of interest.  The more I looked into Ohio, the more interesting it sounded, so what we have come up with is a truly fascinating one week trip.

What does Ohio offer?  Well, first of all, we are going in October, so we will see the changing of the leaves, something that is always a delight.  The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is something I wanted to visit in Cleveland.  Many Amish communities dot the landscape, many of them offering tours to visitors of  the farms and homes, and even buggy rides.  Many of the beautiful covered bridges in our country are also in this area.  Beautiful national parks, caves and caverns (love them), ancient Indian ruins, and small towns with historic districts are all of interest to me.  On our drive from Cleveland to Cincinnati we will also visit historic homes, many restored and available to visit.  And what would a visit to Ohio be without a tour of the Fanny Mae Chocolate Factory?  

I'm excited about this trip in October, and when I return, I will tell you all about it.  I hope it's all I'm expecting.  

Online Dating: What An Education!

 The last time I went on a date was in 1969.  Boy, have things changed. You met someone you were attracted to, he called you on the phone and asked you out, and you were in business.  Today, if you're over a certain age and are not into the bar scene, meeting men is difficult.  So, like many women, I decided to try online dating.  

There are many on line dating sites, some better than others.  I have found that the bigger sites, like Match.com, are better for me because there are more men to choose from.  Today you need to fill out a profile, entering your age, education, religious preference, political preference, hobbies, interests, and much more.  Then you have to get at least one good picture of yourself to post.  It's a lot of work.  Then comes the hardest part, reading through the dozens of men that meet some of your qualifications and see who is likely to be interesting.  

Some men have very specific qualifications, like you need to live within 20 miles of them.  Some men want a younger woman, a petite woman, an athletic woman.  Some men want a woman who will be with them all the time, others want an independent woman with a life of her own.  All these things that people are looking for today that we never even thought about 50 years ago.  I'm so confused I feel like giving up.

I met one man who sounded great on the phone.  We laughed, thought similarly on many issues, and really seemed to connect.  Then I found out he was broke, lived in a broken down trailer park about an hour away, and had no friends.  Even having a great connection wasn't going to lead anywhere with this guy!

Another guy told me he was 70 years old, but when I met him he looked to more like 85.  I was stunned.  Why lie about your age like that?  He took me to Starbucks for coffee, but never offered to buy me anything to drink.  After a 15 minute meeting at Starbucks, he took off, telling me he was going dancing!  This was at 4:45 in the afternoon.  What's with these guys?  I'm still out there, still looking.

  T

Here There Are Blueberries

 I'm sorry I saw this show at the La Jolla Playhouse on it's last weekend, because I would have told you how riveting and important this was so you could have seen it before it closed.

Is there any more to say about the Holocaust?  Yes, there is, and "Here There Are Blueberries" has a lot to say.  All I can say is this:  If you find this show anywhere nearby, run, don't walk to get your tickets.  Simply done, with minimal sets, no costume changes, and only 90 minutes, you will be engaged from start to finish.  I hope you get a chance to see it. 

How Do Butterflies Mate?

 I never thought about this question until recently.  We have established a monarch butterfly sanctuary in Ocean Hills.  It is an area set aside to help this endangered butterfly thrive.  Two of my friends are intimately involved in its success, and they're doing a great job.

Diane came into the dog park one afternoon (we meet there most days to solve the problems of the world!!) with exciting news.  Rona had videotaped the mating of two monarchs!  The video is 8 minutes long, too long for this blog, but I have included a short U-Tube showing the mating process.  Careful, you've been warned, it is X rated.

I was exhausted just watching the process.  Apparently the butterflies can engage in copulation for as long as an hour.  No wonder they have such a short life span.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLBJFAHJ5gE

I was unable to pull up the video, but click here and you should be able to view it.  Pretty interesting.

You've Heard Of FOMO. Do You Know About JOMO

 I wrote awhile ago about FOMO, or fear of missing out.  Some people are afraid of missing any activity with friends or family, which often keeps them from enjoying anything!  I was recently at a WW meeting (Weight Watchers) where we discussed.  FOMO can create stress.  You're not enjoying your breakfast with friends because you're concerned about whether you'll have enough time to get to your yoga class.  You're not enjoying Happy Hour with a group because you've got a 7:00 movie scheduled.  Do we really have to do everything.

Then Melanie, our WW leader, talked about JOMO, or joy if missing out.  Relieve the stress.  Don't schedule so much in a day, and enjoy what you're doing.  Linger over a second cup of coffee at breakfast with friends.  Give up the yoga class for a day.  They'll be another one tomorrow.  JOMO takes the stress and anxiety out of doing too much.  It allows us to enjoy the choices we make and to be present and connected with what we are doing, not worrying about getting to the next event.  Those things will all be there another day, and we will be happier and healthier limiting our activities so that each one is enjoyed to its fullest.

Red Cross Gives Home Fire Safety Tips

I was at a health fair in July, and the Red Cross had a booth, telling visitors that they would come out to your house and install smoke detectors.  I thought that was a great idea, so I signed up, and about a month later, the Red Cross came to my house.  They will install a minimum of one smoke detector on each floor of your house, but recommend one smoke detector for every bedroom.  That's what I did.  I also had them install a carbon monoxide detector in the den.  I'm all set.  The batteries in the smoke detector should last for ten years, but they advise checking them once a year.  The carbon monoxide batteries have to be changed every year, or whenever the damn thing chirps.

Besides installing these life saving detectors, the two gentlemen that came over, gave me great information on fire safety, escape plans, safety checklists, and wildfire safety checklists.  Here are a few things I learned.

Every home should have a home fire escape plan.  Your family should practice your escape plan at least once a year.  The goal is to have everyone out of the house, including pets, in two minutes.  Practice makes perfect.  

Everyone in your home should know two ways to escape from each room.  One might be crawling out a window, another might be a door.  Yes, if your life depended on it, you could get out the window.  Make sure the window can easily be opened.  I had a dresser in front of the window which I have now moved.  If you hear the smoke detector go off, get low and go!  Decide with your family where you will all meet once outside.  Do not go back in the house.  Call 911 AFTER everyone is safely out of the house.

I was also given information on how to keep my home safe, and what to do in case of a wildfire.  Great information, and thank you to the Red Cross for providing this service.  It is probably available in your area too.  Just call your local Red Cross office for more information.

 

Alaska's Glaciers Retreating At Record Pace

 When my mom and I recently cruised in Alaska, she was remembering the way the same landscape looked 25 years ago.  She kept saying, "Where are the chunks of ice in the ocean, where is the calving of the glaciers?"  The answer is that they're gone.

Alaska is on pace to break their record for warmest year.  Alaska's glaciers account for far less than 1 percent of the world's land ice, but their melt contributes 7% of the water that is raising the world's sea levels.  The local impact is great.  Glacial melt affects salmon-spawning streams and harms marine fish and animal habitats.  It is creating new lakes where ice used to be, and outburst floods from those lakes are happening more frequently.  

Changes in the glaciers and the ecosystems they feed has been so fast that they are hard to track.  Glacier after glacier is melting at record levels, pouring waters into rising global seas.  Just an example of the drastic melting is Kenai Fjords National Park.  There, Bear Glacier, a popular tourist spot, retreated by nearly a kilometer in just 11 months!!!  Hopefully the new bill passed by congress to address climate change will get us back on the right track.  Let's hope it's not too late.

Depression In Seniors Is Common

 Clinical depression in seniors affects about 6 million American age 65 or older, yet only about 10% get treatment.  The likely reason is that older people often display symptoms of depression differently, and many clinicians read the symptoms of depression to be the result of drug interactions or the effects of multiple illnesses, and may not treat the depression.

Depression in older adults is tied to a higher risk of cardiac diseases and of death from illness.  Depression reduces an older person's ability to rehabilitate.  Studies show that nursing home patients with physical illnesses and who also have depression have a greater likelihood of death from those illnesses.  Older people may exhibit depression in one or more of the following ways:  tired, trouble sleeping,  grumpy, confused, struggle to pay attention, not enjoy activities they used to enjoy, move slowly.

Depression, and as a result suicide, is higher in people 80-84, more than twice the general population.  The National Institute of Mental Health considers depression in people 65  and older to be a major public health problem.  

Risk factors for depression in seniors include being female, single, unmarried, divorced or widowed.  Physical conditions like stroke, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, dementia or chronic pain can further increase the risk of depression.  

A primary doctor should regularly ask questions to check for depression, and treat accordingly.  Many drugs are available that may help depression, in addition to psychotherapy and support from friends and family, or support groups.  Left untreated depression at any age will not end well.  There is help for those with depression.  It's a matter of finding the right treatment.