Final Post, At Least For A While

I haven't written anything in several weeks.  Life has become busier than I want, and it has left little time for blogging, which I love.  I have been blogging on a regular basis for over 11 years, and it may be ending.  At least for now, I have no time to plan, research and write.  Here's what's happening.

My mom is turning 100 in a few months.  We are planning a big family getaway to celebrate the event, but are having a hard time putting it together, with several teenagers, and some younger children too, who all have busy schedules.  Planning is taking up a lot of my time.

My twin grandsons who live in L.A. are having their bar mitzvah in June.  I will am so excited about the event, and will be with lots of family for a long weekend.

I just got back from two fabulous trips.  One was an Oceania 12 cruise in the Carribbean with my mom.  The other was an 8 day trip to San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuanto, in Mexico, with friends Meena, Ginger and Kevin.  Both were trips to remember, but now I am home for a while.

I'm home helping my mom, who has decided it is time to sell her house in Los Angeles, and move to Ocean Hills Country Club.  We are both so excited, but there is much work to be done.  She has lived in her house for 70 years, so there's a lot of stuff to go through.  She will buy a smaller house in this community.  Here's hoping it all goes well.

So, you can see I'm pretty busy.  To top it off, I will soon have carpel tunnel surgery to eliminate the numbness in my hand, the result of my broken wrist last year.  Also, I have a consulation with the cataract doctor in two weeks, and I will most likely have cataract surgery soon.  My vision has become very blury lately, and I think it's time.

So, no time to blog.  Perhaps I will be back at it in July.  We'll see.  Until then, it's been so much fun sharing recipes, restaurants, travel and information with all of you over the years.  Stay curious.  I will too, and I will hope to revive this blog in July.  Susie 

Make Your Own Mango Salsa

 Food is expensive these days, so every time I get a chance to make something at home rather than buy it, it choose to make it.  I recently bought a mango for 79cents and turned it in to a delicious salsa, which I use on chicken or fish, or just plain!

Here's what's in it.  The fact that it took less than 10 minutes to make, and the total cost for a big container of salsa, was about $1.50.

                                                    Mango Salsa

1 mango, ripe, peeled and cut into small cubes

1/4 red pepper, diced

1/4 red onion, diced

1/4 bunch of cilantro, diced

1/4 jalapeno, seed removed, diced (more if you like it hotter)

lime juice

salt (to taste)

Combine all ingredients.  Use enough lime juice, about 1/4 cup or maybe a little more, to coat all ingredients and have it the consistency of tomato salsa.  Salt to taste.  It gets better with age, so make it and put in the refrigerator overnight before using.  It's a great condiment for chicken or fish, or just toss it in a salad or use on fish taco.  So many ways to use it.  Enjoy

Hutchinson Internment Camp

 I learned about Hutchinson Internment Camp while reading  the fascinating book, "The Island of Extraordinary Captives,"  About the people imprisoned at Hutchinson, on The Isle of Man, during World War 11.  I just had to know more.

Hutchinson Internment Camp was a WW 11 internment camp in Douglas, Isle of Man, particulary noted as "the artists" camp due to the thriving artistic and intellectual life of its internees.  The camp housed enemy aliens, civilians who the government believed to be a potential threat and have sympathy with the enemies war objectives.  Almost all of the internees were German or Austrians, living in Britain.  

The internees were not treated as prisoners, and after some initial mistrust, they were allowed to apply to work outside of the camp, predominantly on local farms.  Additionally they carried out professional activities within the camp, tailors, barbers, a Viennese baker and many artists and intellectuals.

At it's height, there were over 1,000 enemy aliens in captivity.  Always want to learn, the internees set up a camp university, holding lectures, and utilizing the talent of scientists, mathematicians, lawyers, philosophers, writes and artists.  This was in addition to the artists and musicians who offered lesson to individual students.  A camp newspaper was produced, written in English, by the internees.  It contained reviews and stories, as well as editorial pieces.  

Hutchinson was renowned for its thriving artistic life.  The art created in the camp ranged from figurative sculpture, graphic art, expressionism, Dadism, engraving, and other styles of art that were being suprpressed within the Third Reich.  Kurt Schwitters, perhaps the most significant artist in the camp, produced over 200 works during his 16 months of internment.  In the field of music, a camp orchestra was formed, led by Professon Kastner, nephew of Thomas Mann.

The camp was closed in March, 1944, and ended an ugly chapter in British history.

New Medications For Weight Loss

Everyone wants to lose weight.  The old fashioned way, reducing your caloric intake and increasing your exercise do work, but many people can't stick with it.  Over the decades, weight loss fads have come and gone, and we now have another diet tool. 

Ozempic and Wegovy are the two new drugs that are touted as a way to lose and control weight.  It's a once a week injection, like an epi-pen, that mimicks a hormone called GLP-1 that taragets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake.  The medication is increased gradually over 16-20 weeks to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.

Ozempic and Wegovy lower your appetite.  Many  doctors prescribe the injections along with intermitant fasting, also a fairly new weight loss tool.  Doctors also encourage a healthy diet along with exercise.

Because of supply chain issues and the fact that many prescription plans do not pay for the medication, losing weight using one of these medications can be very costly.  It's not a rapid loss plan, like gastric bypass, but a slow, steady weight loss. 

If you are overweight the best thing to do for your body is to shed the excess weight.  Easier said than done.  It took me decades to figure out what works for me.  Whatever plan you decide on, stick with it.  Your heart, lungs, blood pressure, and muscles will thank you.   

New Labor Laws in California

Every January brings a slew of new state laws, too many to enumerate here.  I will tell you about a few of the new labor laws, meant to protect workers.

1.  Senate Bill 62, The Garment Worker Protection Act. This law addresses the proper payment of employees n the garment industry in some very important ways.

2.  Assembly Bill 701.  Warehouse workers in California are protected from quotas that violate labor laws.  Employers must provide information about quotas that employees have to meet while working.

3.  Senate Bill 93 Recall Rights.  Employees of certain hospitality industry employers who were laid off during Covid-19 must be notified of job openings for the same or similar positions as the the ones they last held.  They must be offered jobs with priority.

4.  Senate Bill 3.  Minimum wage $15 an hour.  this bill has been phasing in since 2017.  The increase in minimum wage is different for large employers (26+) and small employers.  If local city or county has adoped a higher minimum wage, employees must be paid the local wage.

5.  Assembly Bill 1066.  Overtime for agriculture workers.  In 2016 agricultural workers started to receive overtime pay on the same basis as workers in most other industries after 40 hours per week.  Larger companies (26+) must pay overtime after 40 hours, smaller companies pay overtime after 55 hours.

So there you have it.  Several of these laws actually took affect in January 2022, but are being gradually phased in.  I hope they help protect workers as they are meant to.

One Of My Favorite Appetizers Ever

 When I was growing up, my parents entertained quite a lot.  Every dinner party began with drinks and hors d'oeuvres in the living room, followed by a delicious  dinner.  When I was young, I would help pass the hors d'oeuvres, and one of my favorites was a mayonnaise, parmesean cheese and onion mixture that was spread on tiny bread rounds and placed under the broiler.  I liked to pass them to her guests, because when they cooled off, I would eat the leftovers, before getting some hot hors d'oeuvres for the guests.  I have remembered this specific hors d'oeuvres all these years, 60 years, yet I have never made it, until now.

Why now?  Well, that's a funny story.  The hors d'oeuvres are made on tiny rounds of very thin sliced bread.  The bread is from Pepperidge Farms, and is extremely hard to find in Southern California, so I ordered a loaf on Amazon, and paid $13.99 for one loaf!

Here's the recipe for these delicious hors d'oeuvres that you won't be able to stop eating.

                                    Mayonnaise, Parmesean Cheese, Onion Rounds

White bread (very thin) Pepperidge Farm bread

1 cup mayonnaise (I used light mayonnaise)

3/4 cup parmesean cheese (use a little more cheese if desired)

1/3 cup finely diced onion

Cut each piece of bread into 4 small rounds (I used a cookie cutter)  You could also use a small water glass to cut rounds)

Spread each round with the mayo mixture.  Place on cookie sheet and place under broiler until golden brown.  Remove and eat!!  They are delicious!!!

This recipe is more than 60 years old but still one of the best hors d'oeuvres ever.

Helpful Household Tips

 I had just gotten my new all electric Chevy Bolt (my second one) back in the rainstorms in January, and my charger wasn't working.  I'd never had a problem before, so at first I thought there was something wrong with the charger.  When I discovered a hissing sound, I thought perhaps water had gotten into the outlet.  I mentioned this to Regina who told me to take my hair dryer out to the garage, plug it into a 110 outlet, and dry the the 240 volt outlet for a few minutes.  Wouldn't you know it worked!!  I was astounded, since I had an electrician out the day before and his thoughts were to have me spend $1000 for an adapter.  Thank you Regina.

That got me thinking about all the household problems and how to solve them.  Here are just a few helpful household tips.(not all of these have been tested by me)

1.  Hold a piece of bread between your teeth while peeling an onion.  It will prevent tears.

2.  Add a few tablespoons of white vinegar to your dishwasher.  Regardless of what kind of soap you use, your dishes will come out shiny and spotless.  (it works, I use vinegar all the time)

3.  Place candles in the freezer for three hours before burning.  They will burn much longer.

4. To remove cooking oil stains from clothes, was with regular shampoo.

5.  Plant mint around your house to prevent mice, rats, ants and fleas.

Brittany Is Finally Home: What About All The Others?

 There are no official statistics on how many Americans have been wrongfully detained in foreign countries, but it seems to be somewhere between 60 and 150.  These are the Americans that are being held by foreign governments.  There are many, many more that are being held by terrorist groups.

The number is on the rise.  State actors such as China, Iran and Russia are targeting U.S. nationals to exert political leverage over Washington.  In order to get these Americans home, there is an emerging threat to national security, given the steep price foreign governments typically demand for a captive's release.  As a result of the increase in Americans being detained, the state department has added a new risk indicator to travel advisories- the "D" indicator- to warn citizens about the risk of wrongful detention.  

Six countries account for 2/3 of the cases.  They are Iran, China, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria and Russia.  In 63% of the cases a wrongful detention has ended in a release, rescue or escape.  Negotiations during the first year are critical.  Those held for more than four years have only a 7% chance of ever returning home.

Little known are the name of the American detained abroad, despite their years' long plight, but now, a work of art unveiled in Georgetown puts names and faces to those in captivity, which will be visible to tens of thousands.

There is no good answer to this problem.  Releasing known killers, gun traffickers and the like to get an American citizen home is what is being done.  My heart goes out to Americans being wrongfully detained, and hope we get them all home.  

Have You Ever Eaten Jackfruit?

 Walk into any supermarket today and you will see jackfruit for sale.  It's the biggest fruit you've ever seen, a single jackfruit can weigh up to 40 pounds.  It looks like an oversized mango with green skin and spikes.  There are two varieties of jackfruit- firm, which is crunchier and considered to be of a higher quality, and soft, which has small, spongey flakes and a sweeter flavor.  It is so popular today because it is used as a plant based substitute for meat, although I have never personally tried it.

It's a very healthy alternative to meat.  Here are some nutritional facts.  One cup of jackfruit offers 157 calories, 38 grams of carbohydrate, 2.8 grams of protein, and 2.5 grams of fiber.  It does not offer much protein.  An average chicken breast offers 33.6 grams of protein, so you wouldn't be eating it as a protein source.

Other nutritional benefits include vitamin C.  The seeds of jackfruit are a source of protein, potassium, calcium and iron.  Unlike other fruits, jackfruits contains B vitamins, including B6, niacin, riboflavin and folic acid.

Vegans and vegetarians pair jackfruit with chickpeas, beans and almonds to create some delicious recipes.  The size of it is intimidating, but I will try it one of these days.

How Dolphins Communicate

 Many species in the animal world communicate with each other, but not many to the extent that bottlenose dolphins do.  Their communication is extensive and complex.  A dolphin maintains an intricate social network that includes a few close associates (mother, calves, or pair-bonded males), plus more casual relationships with others who come and go within a larger groups.  They're pretty much like us in this way.  They hunt together.  Pods of dolphins coordinate their movements to herd prey.

In water, sound travels 4-5 times faster than air.  For this reason dolphins rely on sound for communication more than any other mode.  It is believed that every bottle nosed dolphin develops a distinctive high-pitched whistle.  The whistle appears to serve as a means of individual identification.  It lets the rest of the pod know which pod members are nearby.  Dolphins in distress sometimes emit their signature whistle very loudly. If a young dolphin becomes separated from it's mother, they will both whistle frequently until reunited.

Bottlenose dolphins also whistle while foraging on various prey.  If they find a school of potential prey they will vocalize more frequently.  Dolphins are capable of mimicking certain sounds very accurately.  The reason they do this is still being studied.  Body language may also play a role in dolphin communication.  Researchers are still studying the many behaviors observed by dolphins to figure out what they mean.  Bent head, rolling eyes, flex head and tail, headway, play dead and sideways head jerk with open or closed jaw are some of the body language behaviors dolphins exhibit.  They're social animals, just like us, and use both vocal sounds and body language to communicate.

Jazz Ambassadors And The Power Of Music

 Back in the late 1950's, the U.S. State Department started sending began sending musical groups to Eastern Europe and Russia.  It was a new experiment known as "cultural diplomacy."  The State Department hoped that by showcasing popular American music around the world, they would introduce audiences to American culture, and win them over as ideological allies in the cold war.  One such group that did this was the Dave Brubeck Quartet.  They toured Poland, Middle East, parts of Eastern Europe, central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Other tours allowed jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie to trumpet American values in Africa and Asia.

The State Department had first realized jazz's potential as a cold war weapon several years before.  Adam Clayton Powell Jr., a congressman with close ties to the jazz community, first suggested sending jazz musicians around the world on state-sponsored tours.  Gillespie's first tour was a great success, and provided the blueprint for a host of others.

The music of jazz, which was structured around improvisation within a set of commonly agreed-upon boundaries, was a perfect metaphor for America in the eyes of the State Department.  Music tours diffused the cold war conflict.  The power of music:  it brings people together in a special way.  That's why Dizzie Gilespie, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck and others are often called "The Real Ambassadors."

Who Really Wrote Wind of Change?

 In 1990, the Soviet Union is on the verge of collapse.  The Berlin Wall had just come down.  A heavy metal band from West Germany called the Scorpions, releases a powerful ballad "Wind of Change."  It becomes the anthem of the peaceful revolution sweeping Europe.  It was one of the biggest rock singles ever.  Some go so far as to say it's the song that ended the Cold War.

Decades later, writer Patrick Radden Keefe heard rumors that the Scorpions didn't actually write "Wind of Change."  The CIA did!  If you like spy thrillers, you will love the podcast Keefe has produced called "Wind of Change."  It's about spies doing the unthinkable, propaganda hidden in pop music, and a maze of government secrets.  Check it out if you like a spy story that seems to wild to believe.  You will be thoroughly entertained by how our government likely used music to achieve our American objectives abroad.

Is There Help For Dyslexic Children?

 Yes, there is help for children and adults with dyslexia.  The challenge is finding that help.  It's the most common learning disability, with up to 20% of children showing some degree of dyslexia.  It needs to be identified early.  If a child is not reading proficiently by the third grade, they are four times less likely to graduate from high school.  Because of this disability, children often become behavior problems in class,  They tune out, as they can't read assignments.  They think of themselves as dumb, of having a small brain.  None of this is true, but getting children the proper help can be a problem

Public schools that identify children as dyslexic are supposed to provide the proper program for them, but most public schools do not have teachers trained in alternative methods of teaching reading.  IEP's (individual educational program) map out a curriculum for dyslexic children.  If the public school cannot provide for them, they are entitled to go to a private school that will meet their needs.  (in some states, not all).  Private schools focusing on dyslexic children are extremely expensive.  They provide a small child/teacher ratio, and offer a multi sensory approach.  

Dyslexic children and adults can learn to read, but will likely not learn under traditional classroom conditions.  Early diagnosis and a good reading curriculum should lead to success for most children.  We don't know yet why some people develop dyslexia and others don't, but hopefully research will soon be available to answer our questions.

Nothing Says Winter Like A Bowl Of Soup

 I love soup, especially hot, steaming soup, in winter.  Right before New Year's I went on a two day cooking spree.  I made several dinners for the future, froze most everything.  One of the things I made that I did not freeze, was a pot of chicken minestrone soup.  It's just like minestrone, but with shredded chicken instead of beef.  (Still watching my WW points).  

I went to Costco, bought a roasted chicken, which soon became green chile verde chicken enchiladas, chicken salad, a little bit of scraps for Pepper, and a big pot of Chicken Minestrone.  Here's how I made it.

                                                   Chicken Minestrone Soup

5 cups chicken broth (Winco has 32 oz. cartons for 99cents)

2 cups shredded chicken

1 bunch kale

1/2 diced onion

2 cloves garlic

1 can chick peas

2 carrots, cut in rounds

10 ounces of canned diced tomatoes

1sliced zucchini

1/4 cup uncooked orzo (or other small pasta)

Parmesean cheese for topping, optional

Parmesean cheese rind (if you have it)

                          Chicken Minestrone Soup

Brown onions and garlic for 5 minutes.  Add all ingredients except chicken (and parmesean) and cook until veggies are tender.  Add shredded chicken and cook for 10 minutes.  If you have a piece of parmesean cheese rind, throw it in the pot.  It will add a little salty taste to the soup.  

To serve, heat well and add fresh parmesean to the top.  Be sure to remove the parmesean rind before serving.  I think this will be come a winter time favorite for you, as it is for me.

U.C.San Diego Park and Market

 How do I find out about some of the articles I blog about?  Sometimes in the craziest way.  I received a magazine in the mail in late December that I almost threw in the trash, before noticing it was addressed to Ron.  I have pretty much stopped getting mail for him, so this caught my attention.  It was a magazine called Octagonian, and is a publication of his fraternity from college.  It recognizes achievement by members of the fraternity, and there are many.  (Sigma Alpha Mu).

The name David Guggenheim caught my eye, and I noticed he and his wife Clare had gifted $1 million to U.C. San Diego to build  a 225 seat theatre to be used to present diverse cultural events, as well as be configured for music, theatre, lectures and conferences.  

UC san Diego Park and Market is a multipurpose four-story venue in the East Village of San Diego.  It is a social and intellectual hub for civic engagement, learning and collaboration.  What a great addition to San Diego, and I didn't even realize that I'd actually been there.

Several months ago Regina, Barbara and I went to see a documentary about Horn and Hardart in San Diego at a 58 seat theatre operated by Digital Gym.  I'd never heard of it before, but was impressed with what I saw.  Digital Gym shows independent and foreign films, has virtual speakers and other multimedia experiences, made possible through a partnership with Qualcomm Institute at the Jacobs School of Engineering.  A gallery space, education and conference rooms and computer lab are all part of the Digital Gym.

So, thank you to Sigma Alpha Mu for sending me a copy of the magazine, Octagonian, and thanks to Dave and Clare Guggenheim for donating to improve the cultural community of San Diego.  Park and Market is an addition to the diverse community we live in, and help thousands of residents grow and learn.  Check it out and see what might be there for you.                    

An Afternoon At The Skirball

Two days before Christmas Dorothy and I went to the Skirball Museum in Los Angeles to see the exhibit, Fabric of a Nation:  American Quilt Stories.  Unfortunately we did not get there in time to take the daily docent tour at 1pm, but we thoroughly enjoyed the show anyway.  Through quilts, the exhibit  tells the extraordinary human stories of five centuries.  It features works by more than 40 artists.  These artists are a diverse and largely under recognized group of creators.  Their quilts help tell the story of the American experience.

Originally organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Skirball's presentation features additional works by Los Angeles artists Sabrina Gschwandtner, Ramsess and Sul Bermudez-Silverman. 

A lovely cafe is also available for a light lunch, as well as several other very interesting exhibits (Noah's Arc being one) and a wonderful gift shop.  If your travels take you to LA, be sure to visit the Skirball.  The quilt exhibit is here until mid March.  If you want a full day of art and culture, visit the Getty Museum, just minutes away from the Skirball.  It will be a day to remember.

The Kindness of Strangers

 In the middle of the worst snowstorm in a century, a Buffalo family welcomed 10 strangers into their home and likely saved them from a terrible fate.  Just before Christmas, the east coast experienced one of the worst blizzards in most of their lives.  Several days of sub zero temperature, high winds, and several feet of snow left many residents dead, and many others cold and wet.

It so happened a group of 10, mostly Korean travelers, were driving through Buffalo, when their van got stuck in several feet of snow.  There was no chance of getting the van out of the snow, and they would surely freeze to death if they attempted to stay in the van overnight.  Two of the Korean travelers decided to knock on a residents door, and see if they could get help.

They did get help, and much, much more.  They knocked on the home of Alexander Campagna, a local dentist.  In the true holiday spirit, the family invited the Korean travelers into their home, where they stayed for two days.

They slept on couches, in sleeping bags, watched NFL football, and cooked Korean food with their new-found friends.  The Campagna family loved Korean food and had all the ingredients for several traditional dishes, so the Korean visitors made some special food for their hosts.

All the people involved in this amazing encounter now consider they have new family members.  It is wonderful to see that a local family would bring complete strangers into their home and welcome them so graciously.  

Stories like this make me feel good all over.  It reminds me of the play "Come from Away,"  where Icelanders welcomed a whole plane full of travelers who were stuck on their island for several days.  It gives me hope that the goodness of mankind will shine through when  the chips are down.

Electric Insecurity

I've owned a fully electric car for three years.  I got my second Chevy Bolt just the day before Christmas, and I'm as happy with it as I was with my last Bolt.  Actually, nothing has changed except that the driving range is a little bit further.  Depending on how I drive, I get between 240-270 miles on a single charge.  No, that's not as much as you get on a full tank of gas, but it also doesn't cost as much as gas.

Prior to owning a Bolt, I had two plug in hybrids.  First, I had a Ford CMax, which gave me 20 miles of electric before converting to gas.  That was great for getting around town, and it was about 10 years ago, when there weren't too many electric options.  The next car I got was a Chevy Volt.  I loved that car, but unfortunately they don't make it any more.  I got about 50 miles of electric on that car before the gas kicked in.  It was a great car, but now that I've been all electric for several years, I've gotten over the anxiety of running out of electric and love my Bolt.

I charge my car at home on a 250 volt charger in my garage.  I don't know how long it takes because I usually do it overnight.  A complete charge probably takes about 8 hours.  On the road, I have an app that tells me where charge stations are located, and what level charger they have.  A level 2 charger will charge to 75% capacity in about 45 minutes.  I try to find a place with a coffee shop nearby and charge my car and have a cup of coffee and relax.

There are advantages and disadvantages to an electric car.  Charging times are becoming shorter and length of time between charging is getting longer.  People worry about charging the car while on a road trip.  This used to be an issue, but with so many charging stations along the highways, it is not so much of a problem.  It still does take longer, but this will change over time.  The other great thing about an electric car is that other than rotating the tires, there's virtually no service needed.  Look into electric for these reasons, and more, when you get your next car. 

Cutwater Spirits: Go There

 My friend Jerri is always talking about craft cocktails.  She brings her own canned cocktails to parties, offers everyone a taste, and everyone loves them.  There are a number of brands of craft cocktails out there, but when I discovered Cutwater Spirits right here in San Diego, I just had to go.

I took my once a month lunch bunch there just before Christmas.  We had a fabulous lunch in an amazing setting, with a wonderful, helpful waiter.  Everything was perfect, so good in fact that we are planning another trip for lunch, happy hour, or dinner, soon.

The distillerary is located on Distribution St, just off the 5 freeway near Sorrento Valley.  They make all their products there now, but since they are now owned by Anheuser Busch, some production may be moving to another location.  The craft cocktails I've been talking about were created by master distiller Yuseff Cherney, one of the founders of Cutwater Spirits.  Rum, whiskey, and vodka are the basis for most of the craft cocktails, and the array of flavors is amazing.  Margarittas come in mango, lime, strawberry and many other flavors.  They're so good.

It's best to go for lunch and get their special, which includes an entree and a craft cocktail for around $15.99.  Burgers and fries were delicious.  I had falaffel sliders with tzadiki and pickled onions.  They also had chicken wings, brussels sprouts, roasted carrots, several interesting salads, etc.  We ordered several craft cocktails and had them served in small glasses, like a flight.  We got to taste several cocktails and we couldn't agree on which was best.  For dessert they offer slushies, a sweet cocktail.  We loved the gingerbread cookie cocktail, but the chocolate peppermint slushie was good too.

The restaurant itself is a huge distillery, lots of comfortable tables, just a really welcoming feeling.  Our waiter (sorry I forgot his name) was so helpful.  He made our experience fantastic.

I urge you to try Cutwater Spirits for the food, ambience, and drink.  They also sell a lot of their products at this location, and you probably won't leave empty-handed.  I didn't.

Have You Gotten The New Covid Booster?

 I had never heard anything about the new Covid-19 booster that was released in September until my mother told me about it.  She had gone to the doctor for a regular check-up in early January, and the doctor recommended she get the Bivalent Booster that is very effective against the new strains of Covid-19.  She was surprised that she hadn't heard of it, but wanted to know more.

Coincidentally, the next day she saw Dr. Eric Toppel from Scripps, on CNN.  He was also recommending the bivalent vaccine (Moderna and Pfizer both make it, and they are equally good).  Why haven't we heard anything about this?  Where is the media?  I think it's shameful that they pushed vaccines and boosters when thousands were dying, and now that less are dying, but many are still getting sick, they are ignoring a booster that could help.

I am getting my booster right away.  It is supposed to be especially effective against the current variants of Covid-19.  If I believed in the vaccine before, why wouldn't I believe in it now?  Some people I know have said they're "done with it."  They already got vaccinated and don't want to get anymore boosters.  Why?  If you believed in vaccines before, why not now?  Luckily people aren't dying at the rate they were before, but they're still dying, and anything we can do to decrease the risk of illness, I will do.

Please check out the bivalent vaccine and spread the word.  The media isn't helping us on this.

Do You Like Contemporary Art? Visit MCASD

 The Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, or MCASD as it is also known, has been completely renovated, and I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the museum itself, and the collection.  Fran and I took a group of 30 women for a docent led visit of their current exhibit (closes January 29), Alexis Smit, The American Dream.  What a wonderful day!

We had two docents, so each group got a little different perspective on the exhibit.  Zack led our group.  He was enthusiastic, young and very knowledgable.  Alexis Smith was born in the 1940's, attended UC Irvine, and has been creating interesting art for years.  Much of her work is collages, and many of the items in the collages are repurposed.  Alexis scrutinizes the myth of the American Dream through themes of self invention and reinvention.  She uses literary references and historical references in many of her pieces.  

This was her first retrospective in 30 years.  She has also done some large installations in California.  One is right in our backyard.  It's called Snake Path, part of the Stuart Collection at UCSD,

The permanent collection of the museum has 4700 works created after 1950, in a variety of media and genres.  They collect promising emerging artists, many from California and San Diego/Tijuana region.  One of the greatest strengths of the collection are minimalism and Pop Art of the 1960's and 1970's, a period I particularly like.  

Be sure to include a visit to this contemporary museum on your next visit to La Jolla.  It was such an enjoyable experience.  We topped it off with lunch at Duke's, just a few blocks away.  We had a beautiful ocean view on sunny, 70 degree day in January!  What could be better? Picture shown is of Snake Path, a public installation.

Have You Ever Eaten A Guava?

 I don't think I'd ever eaten a guava before a woman brought a bag of guavas from her tree to our Tuesday night bridge game.  I took a few of the fragrant fruits, and then had to decide how to eat or use them.  It's a pink-fleshed fruit, maybe the next super fruit.  The problem, as I soon found out when I cut into one, is what to do with the seeds inside.  They're not chewable, they're small, yet hard, so I had to keep spitting them out.  My friend Kannon said to blend the fruit in a Ninja (seeds will be chopped up), then use the pureed guava pulp to make margeritas.  That worked out just fine, after adding a bit of sugar, they were delicious.

Here are a few facts you might not know about the tropical fruit, guava.

1..They contain four times as much vitamin C as an orange.

2.  Guava is used, in some form or other, to treat fever, constipation and diarrhea, high blood pressure, and dysentery.

3.  An average guava takes 2-8 years to grow to maturity.

4.  There are about 150 varieties of guava.

5.  Young guava leaves are boiled to make a tea to cleanse wounds.

6.  The lifespan of a guava tree is about 40 years.

7.  There are between 100-500 edible seeds.

8.  The origin of the guava is unofficially Central America or Southern Mexico.

What Is Fermentation?

 I watched a whole program on the making of kambucha, and I'm still not sure about fermentation.  The dictionary defination says it is "the chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria, yeasts or other microorganisms, typrically involving effervescence and the giving off of heat."  Sugars are being broken down by enzymes.  Whatever fermentation actually is, the foods that are fermented are delicious, and are good for you.  

Here is a short list of some of the foods we buy regularly that are fermented:  kefir, yogurt, sauergraut, temph, natto, cheese, kombusha, miso, kimchi, sourdough bread, and all kinds of pickled veggies.  

Man has been fermenting food forever.  How else would man have kept fresh vegetables and fruits for use all year round?  Long before refrigerators kept our food fresh, people were fermenting food for later use.  

It's so popular today, there's even a show on PBS that teaches you all about fermentation. One of my favorite vegetables to pickle is beets, and I make them every few weeks.  Here's how to do it.  I guarantee you'll never buy canned pickled beets again!

                                                  Pickled Beets

3 large beets, yellow or purple

Pickling liquid:  red wine vinegar, water, peppercorns and sugar or honey.  (actually use splenda)

Cook beets until tender, about 40 minutes.  Remove from water and use your hands to remove the skin.  Cool.  

Cut beets in slices, dices, or julienne, it's your choice.  Put in a glass container, then add the pickling liquid.  My measurements are all approximate:  1/2 cup vinegar (I usually used red wine vinegar, but white wine vinegar or even apple cider vinegar would work}  Add a little water, maybe 1/4 cup.  Add three packets of Splenda or the equivalent amount of honey or sugar, and a few peppercorns.  

Liquid doesn't have to cover beets completely, but you can add more vinegar and water if it doesn't look like enough.  Cover, and refrigerate.  In a few hours you'll have pickled beets, firm and crunchy and so delicious.  Shake the container every so often to cover all beets with the liquid.    Enjoy in salads for several weeks. 

Altitude Effects On The Human Body

 I spent a week in Colorado in November, and for the first time, I felt the effects of high altitude.  I'm not sure why, but when I didn't feel well on my second day there, I knew why.  I have been there many times before, and never felt sick.  I was walking around Costco one day with David, when I told him I didn't feel good.  I was dizzy, and my vision was unfocused.  When I got back home, I decided to read up on the effects of altitude on the human body.  Here they are

Reduced physical performance.  Anyone working out, riding a bike, or just going for a walk, must adjust to the high altitude before doing anything physically challenging.  If you go to Colorado to sky, it is important to give yourself and few days to acclimatize.

Psychological effects.  Altitude exposure may change you senses, mood and personality.  Your vision and taste can be effected.  Most of these changes are temporary.  

Dehydration.   This is very common at high altitudes, so it is important to stay hydrated.  Dehydration can cause perspiration, increased breathing, sweating and vomiting, and decreases physical performance.

Tobacco, alcohol and caffeine are products to avoid at high altitude.  Tobacco smoke interferes with oxygen delivery to the body, alcohol impairs judgment and perception, and caffeine may improve physical and mental performance, but should be consumed in moderation.

As we age, changes, like the effects of high altitude, are more pronounced.  I sure felt it on this last trip.  My vision was blurred, I felt unsteady on my feet, and I felt nauseous.  Be careful of altitude and if at all possible, plan time to acclimate to the change when you get there.

The Swimmers: Must Watching

 Netflix recently released a movie based on the true life story of sisters Yusra and Sara Mardini.  The left their home in Syria, in 2015, due to the war.  Yusra and Sara, both swimmers, had dreams.  Dreams of swimming for their country in the 2016 Olympics, but this was not to be.

A large part of the movie tells the harrowing story of their crossing the Aegean Sea to get first to Greece, then Turkey, and finally Berlin, Germany.  They had a lot of courage, and plenty of luck to reach Germany.  In order to get to Greece, they paid smugglers.  They, and dozens of other refugees, were sent in a rubber boat out into the ocean.  Early in the voyage, the boat sprung a leak and started to fill with water.  The only way out was to lighten the load of the boat and continue across the sea.  Yusra and Sara jumped overboard, attached a rope to their waist, and swam for their lives.  They saved the lives of 18 refugees on the sinking dinghy!

Once in Berlin, they met the local swimming coach, who committed to training Yusra, in the hopes of getting her to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, as part of the newly formed Refugee Team.  Her sister Sara was injured and could not train.  Yusra competed in the 2016 Olympics, and did so again in 2020.  She is now a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.  The sisters were able to bring the rest of the family from Syria to Berlin, where they all live.

Sara, was interested in doing refugee work for her country, so she went to the island of Lesbos, Greece to help out.  She was accused of smuggling, espionage and fraud, served 107 days in jail, and is now in Berlin awaiting trial.  She faces up to 25 years in jail.  Amnesty International says these are trumped up charges.  

If you haven't seen the movie, watch it on Netflix.  I found it a great story of courage, and what people are willing to do to save their lives, and the lives of those they love.

Goldfinch: A Modern Deli

I went to lunch at Goldfinch in Torrey Pines recently to see what all the fuss was about.  A Jewish deli run by a restaurant group that specializes in Italian food?  I was skeptical, but not for long.  It's across from Scripps Green in Torrey Pines, in an area surrounded by medical and bioscience buildings.  

The restaurant is modern in every way.  From it's decor to its food, it is definitely modern.  There is a large patio in front of Goldfinch, and if the weather is nice, that's the best place to sit.  Inside there is some seating for tables of four, and one large family table in the middle.  To order, just go to the person at the register, and place your order.  You will be given a number and the food is brought to your table.

To give you an idea of what they had, here's what we had for lunch.  Paula ordered a stack of the most delicious latkes I have had in a long time.  Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside.  This is served with applesauce and sour cream.  Vivian had the brisket french dip sandwich with smashed potatoes.  I ordered the roasted vegetable wrap.  Roasted cauliflower, eggplant, carrots with Mediterranean spices, wrapped in lavosh,  Other menu items include lox, smoked cobia, bagel and shmear, boiled egg, pickles, onions and capers.  Tzimmes brisket, root vegetables and mashed potatoes is a good, hearty meal.  Mushroom noodle kugel with onions sounds good too.  Sandwiches include pastrami or cord beef , tuna, ruben, smoked turkey and artichoke chicken or egg salad, all served with all the trimmings.

Lots of noshes like chicken liver pate, pickled herring, moroccan carrot salad, and schmaltz crushed potatoes are also available.

If you think you're going to a traditional looking deli, think again.  Goldfinch is not that, but the food is delicious and has something for everyone, from hardcore deli lover to vegan.  

Slavery In The 21st Century

 If you thought slavery were a thing of the past, think again.  Right now, almost 50 million people worldwide are trapped in slavery.  It's a problem that affects every country on earth.

Slavery today may look different than our picture of American slavery from the 19th century.  Modern slavery encompasses many forms of slavery, including human trafficking and people being born into slavery.

The definition of modern slavery varies, depending on who you talk to, but at Anti-Slavery International, they define it as "When an individual is exploited by others, for personal or commercial gain.  Whetcher tricked, coerced, or forced, they lose their freedom."

Modern slavery is often around us in plain sight.  People can become enslaved making our clothes, serving our food, picking our crops, working in factories, or working in homes.  Victims of modern slavery might face violence or threats, be forced into inescapable debt, or have their passport taken from them.

Here are a few staggering statistics.  49.6 million people live in modern slavery-in forced labour or forced marriage.  A quarter of all victims are children.  22 million people are in forced marriages.  27.6  million people are trapped in forced labor, 17.3 million are in forced labour exploitation in the private economy, 6.3 are in commercial sexual exploitation, and 4 million are in forced labour imposed by state authorities.

Sobering statistics.  The most common types of slavery today are human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage labour, descent-based slavery (where people are born into slavery), child slavery, forced and early marriage, and domestic servitude.

Where do we find modern day slavery?  North Korea, Eritrea, Burundi, India, China, and Pakistan, just to name a few.  People may end up trapped in slavery because they're vulnerable to being tricked, trapped and exploited, often the result of poverty, and laws that do not protect them.  Tragic to hear this, when we have so much.  Fortunately, there are organizations working to eliminate this.  More about this later.