La Michoacana: New Ice Cream Shop In Town

Ritas used to be one of our favorite ice cream shops, but sadly they are gone.  Finally, a new ice cream shop is opening right around the corner from us.  It's called La Michoacana.  I was at one of their LA locations a while ago and was blown away.  They have about 100 flavors of ice cream and sorbet, paletas and lots of other goodies.  Here's a little about La Michoacana.

The Lua family started the company in Mexico about 60 years ago. They originated in Tocumbo,  in the state of Michoacan. They made milk based pops and water based pops with ingredients like mango, cucumber, lime juice and chili powder.  Recently they decided to open up shop in the US, starting in the Inland Empire.  Now they're in San Diego.  I know of two locations:  One in San Marcos on San Marcos Blvd, where I just stopped for a scoop of pineapple coconut, loaded with coconut, and strawberries and cream, with big chunks of fresh strawberries.  The other location is in Vista, on Melrose and Shadowridge.

When I lived in LA I saw the little ice cream carts on street  corners everywhere, but never tried them.  Now they have brick and mortar stores and sell the fruit paletas plus delicious ice cream.  Next time you're in the mood for ice cream or a frozen fruit bar, try La Michoacana.  You won't be disappointed.

Imperfection Vs Perfection: Both Are Important

Man and nature are imperfect, which is part of what makes us so interesting.  All creatures do not look the same.  It's the imperfections in nature that we love.  In science, on the other hand, perfection is required.  Beginning with the Industrial Revolution and its multitude of technical advances, perfection has been required.  A jet plane needs every part and element in it's right place for it to run properly.  An I phone and surgical procedures now use robots for the precision required in their work. In search of perfection, robots have replaced man for many types of jobs.  Man can make a mistake, computers and robots do not make mistakes.

I think we all figured out long ago that we are not perfect, try as we might.  A mistake in a painting that an artist might be working on becomes part of it's uniqueness.  A crafty projects that  you make a mistake on gives it character.  So much of what I personally like about people and nature are the imperfections.  Someone with a quirky personality is far more interesting than someone who is totally predictable.  The old tree that curves and swerves, is more memorable than the tall, straight tree that looks like every other tree in the forest.

Our world of technology demands perfection.  If your GPS is not assembled properly, it will not work.  If your automobile is not assembled perfectly, it will not run.  Robots have now replaced man for many tasks, because they are perfect and we're not.

In school, many students are striving for a 100% score, perfection.  Being human, most students do not achieve this.  My husband Ron always tells the story of his mom, Anita, who thought he was the smartest young man in the world.  When he'd come home with a 98% on a math test as he often did, rather than praise him for his achievement, she would ask him, "What happened to the other 2 points?"  We are imperfect, unlike robots, computers and machines, and that's what makes us human.

Men's Attitudes Toward Rape

If you are offended by these quotes by some of our leaders in congress, then get out and vote.  Show you distaste for these male attitudes by voting for men and women that have empathy for rape victims.  Vote for men and women who are not stuck in the 1950's, thinking rape is a sexual act, or that women who are raped deserve it, or even worse,  that just because a man and woman are married, he can have sex with her whenever he wants, even if he doesn't want to.

There is so much information on rape and rapists, and about the shame felt by the person raped, that everyone should get educated.  If you have ever been raped or assaulted or know someone who has been, you know that you don't just forget it.  It is something that stays with you forever, and it may be a very long time before the victim is even able to talk about it.  Don't assume that just because a man appears to be of impeccable character, that he isn't capable of bad behavior.  Get all the facts, and realize too, how difficult it is for a woman to come forward with a rape charge.  She knows that she is in for a tough time.  Only 1/3 of all rapes and assaults are even reported, so we know this is a huge social problem.

Let's hope that our voice at the ballot box will show men that they must listen to women.  Men, and I guess there are some women, with these old attitudes must not serve in congress.  Let's get rid of them.

A Day In Balboa

Several years ago our boogie boarding group decided to take a day to explore Balboa Island, just about an hour north of San Diego.  We had so much fun, we decided to do it again.  This time we invited some of the old boogie boarding group and a few others who we thought would enjoy the day.

Sixteen of us carpooled up to Balboa on a beautiful Tuesday in September.  I even got to ride in a Tesla.  What a treat.  Anyway, we first explored the town, with it's beachy upscale shops and restaurants, then walked to the ferry.  We passed $4-$10 million dollar homes, most with beautiful gardens in front.  The homes in Balboa were once little cottages, so the lots are not big, and homes are very close together.  Homes are practically on the street, with maybe only 10 feet between the house and the sidewalk.  Regardless, the houses are just gorgeous.  We took a quick ride on the car/pedestrian  ferry across to the island.  Here we got our instructions for the the two Duffy boats we rented for the next few hours.  I captained one boat, Fran the other.  We brought our lunches on board, and spent the next two hours  eating, drinking, and pretty much laughing non stop!  I don't think they'll  ask me to drive the boat again.

Driving the Duffy boat was more difficult than I thought.  I couldn't keep the damn think straight, and I was constantly turning the wheel side to side to keep straight.  I had a boat full of back seat drivers.  We had a map that was supposed to show us where all the famous people had lived, John Wayne and others, but we had trouble finding the houses, so we  made up our own stories about who lived in them.  Who would know the difference?  None of us, nor did we care.

Back on land after I nearly hit the ferry twice and a large pleasure boat once, I was exhausted.  I had a two hour workout of my upper arms.  It was a lot of laughs, and I arrived home around 4pm.  What a fun day with 16 great women.  Can't wait to go again.  We had a whole bag of water taffy to sweeten up the trip, which we all thought would never be eaten, but alas, we ate it all, and no one lost a crown!

Roma Culture Misunderstood

Why am I writing a blog about an ethnic minority that has migrated across Europe for centuries, and faced enormous persecution and discrimination?  Because I am reading a book in which a Roma fortune teller predicts the year, and in one case the actual date, of several family members.  It's a fictious story, but the Roma people are real, and I thought I would research who they really are.

They are the largest ethnic minority in Europe, consisting of 12-15 million people.  70% of them live in Eastern Europe.  There are about 1 million Roma living in the U.S.  The word Roma simply means "people."  but many call them Gypsies, although that is considered a derogatory word by many.  Roma have a rich oral tradition, and much of what we know about them is through songs and oral history.  They speak many languages, but most speak Rromanes, a language with Sanskrit roots.  Religious, they seem to take on the religion of the region they are living in.  They have strong family bonds, and stick to themselves because of discrimination.  Centuries ago they were continuously on the move as a matter of survival.  In the 20th century, many would live in cars or RV's, and contstantly be on the move.  Today, at least in the U.S., most live in homes or apartments, but do not talk about their culture.

During WW11, Gypsies were rounded up, placed in concentration camps, experimented on, and killed.  220,000 Gypsies (Roma) died in the Holocaust.

They have been known as fortune tellers for centuries.  No one really believes that they have any more ability to foresee the future than you or I.  They have a reputation for being cunning and mysterious outsiders.  In 1554, English Parliament passed a law that made being a Gypsy punishable by death.  Sounds a little like Salem, centuries later.

Fortune telling has been around for centuries.  Everyone wants to know what the future holds.  Or do they?  I'm not so sure that knowing  the future would make life any better.  I'll take it as it comes.  Good or bad, I like surprises.

Barbusa in Little Italy

The latest Italian restaurant from the Busalacchi family is in Little Italy, and you won't want to miss it.  It's Barbusa, a big, beautiful, contemporary looking interior, with Andy Warhol type portraits on the wall.  The food is Southern Italian, Scicilian.  Fran, Linda, Janie and I had lunch there after our visit to an art exhibit at the waterfront.  Friendly wait staff and good food make this a must if you're in the area.

The restaurant was about 1/2 full on a Thursday afternoon around noon, and it was noisy.  I would imagine when it is full at night it is quite noisy.  We ordered a couple of dishes and split everything.  I always like to try as many dishes as I can.  We ordered the Granchio pasta dish.  It was sensational.  Spaghettini cooked al dente (fresh pasta), with crab meat, a light pink sauce and just a bit of heat.  We devoured it.  We also tried the squash blossoms tempura, which  were served in an apricot sauce.  They were big squash blossoms with an asparagus spear, gorgonzola cheese, fried.  I could have eaten the whole order.  We also had a peach and prosciutto salad, with a roasted peach, sliced, with prociutto and a nice glaze.  Excellent too.  The menu also included a beet and buratta salad, Sicilian meatballs, and a bone marrow cavatelli, which is a pasta dish with sausage, cream and bone marrow.  They had many other interesting dishes, too many to mention here.

Pizzas looked good too.  I'll just have to go back again soon and try some of the other delicious dishes.  Be warned.  The pasta dishes are HUGE.  Plan to split.  I hope you enjoy it.

Some Things That Have Happened To Make You Optimistic About The Future

It's easy to look at the mess we're in and be negative about the future of our country and the world.  There are, however, some things that have happened in the world to give us hope that things are going in the right direction.  Here are some of them:

1.  Women's right to vote.  In 1893, no countries gave women the right to vote.  In 2017, 193 out of 194 countries gave men and women equal rights to vote.

2.  Science:  In the year 1665, 119 scholarly articles were published per year.  In 2016, 2,550,000 scholarly articles are published every year.  Most of the increase has taken place in the past 50 years.

3.  Literacy.  In 1800, 10% of the world was literate.  In 2016, 86% of the world has basic reading and writing skills.

4.  Democracy.  In 1816, 1% of the world lived under a democracy.  In 2015, 56% of the world lives in a democracy.

5.  Immunization.  In 1980, 22% of infants got at least one vaccination.  In 2016, that number is up to 88%.

6.  Water.  In 1980 only 58% of the world received water from protected sources.  In 2015, 88% of people were drinking clean water.

7.  Mobile phones.  In 1980 only .00003% of people had cell phones.  Today 65% of the world has cellphones.

8.  Internet.  In 1980, 0% of the world had internet service.  In 2017, 48% of the world has internet service.

9.  Girls in school.  In 1970, only 65% of girls received a primary school education.  In 2015, 90% of girls were enrolled in primary school.>

10.  Electricity coverage.  In 1991, 72% of the world had some access to electricity.  That number increased to 85% by 2014.

11.  Child cancer survival.  In 1975, the 5-year survival of those diagnosed before age 20 was 58%.  In 2010, 80% survival rate was reached.

12.  Harvest.  The cereal yield increased from 1.4 in 1961, to 4, in 2014.  (thousand kg per hectare).

It's easy to look at the world and think we're going in the wrong direction.  Science and technology have made the world smaller, and made education more accessible to everyone with a smart phone or internet access.  Life is easier for so many, and life is longer for everyone.  We've got to look at the good in the world, and realize that much has changed for the better, and will continue to do so.