The Last Decade...What Will We Remember?

When I think about the past decade, 2000-2009, it's hard to think about anything good that has happened on a global scale. The list of negatives is long, and filled with situations that won't change overnight.

Unemployment in 2000 was at 6.1%, a 30 year low. Now it is over 11% (some think that's a low estimate), a 26 year high. In 2000, foreclosures were already the highest in history, but 2009 finds foreclosures topping the 1million mark for the first time ever. This is due to predatory lending, the recession, and the jobless rate. What a mess.

Global warming has led to the hottest decade in history. Each decade gets warmer than the one before it. Melting polar icecaps not only are ruining the Artic landscape, they are reducing the number of polar bears in the wild.

2000 found America at peace, and the envy of most of the world. 2010 finds America at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, with no end in sight. Our reputation as a peace loving nation has been deeply tarnished, and is just beginning to be restored. Sounds like a pretty gloomy scene, but wait, I haven't mentioned 911.

September 11, 2001 was an event that changed the world forever. Jet planes slamming into the Twin Towers, another plane trying to hit the Pentagon, changed America and the world forever. Our country declared a "War on terror", that we will probably be fighting for the rest of our lives. Who could you trust? We were told to watch for suspicious people. What exactly were we looking for? We are a nation of immigrants. Anyone can blend into American society. So how has this changed us? The worst act of terrorism on U.S. soil has changed us in many ways.

I will remember that during this decade, the way we do everything, changed. Visitors are searched at government buildings, trunks are searched when entering a high rise office building, fans are searched at football games, everyone is under scrutiny at the airport, on trains, and so on. Will travel ever be what it was pre 911? Young American students wandering the world in search of adventure can never be as carefree as they used to be. Older Americans are subject to questioning wherever they go. Things will never be the same, as the war on terror is never ending.

Some good has come out of this past decade. Americans are consciously trying to help the environment, many laws have been passed to this end. Everyone I know is working to be green in some way or another. People are building and remodeling using sustainable products. This is huge, and if they can bring the cost down on some of the building products, even more people would get involved.

Many of us have become more concerned with the quality of our food, how it is grown and where it comes from . That means that more people are eating healthy, although the percentage of young diabetics wouldn't make you think so. I feel that many people at the local level, are trying to help those that are in need more than ever before. Many groups are trying to help military families and returnees in a way that the government has not. So there are many out there who are trying help those in need. This all gives me hope that we may recover from the mess we're in. If each of us helps in a small way it can make a world of difference. I hope we look back over the first decade of the 21st century and see it as a turning point in creating a better world, a more peaceful world.

Happy Hour+Great Music=Wonderful Evening

You know I love a bargain, and happy hour is one of the best bargains around. Pair that with some great entertainment and you hit the jackpot. Thank you, Pat, for inviting me to join your group at the Beach Grass Cafe (http://www.beachgrasscafe.com/) in Encinitas for a great evening of food, entertainment, and conversation.



Last Thursday, the night of the big rains in Southern California, a group of seven of us braved the elements and stopped by the Encinitas location of Beach Grass Cafe. If you have not been there, you should try it, as the food is just delicious. Their Solana Beach location is very popular, especially for breakfast, but the Encinitas location focuses on dinner. Their happy hour menu, good until 7 pm is terrific. They serve $5 martinis, $4 wine selections, and an array of delicious food. I had the sesame crusted seared ahi (a generous 5 slices) with two dipping sauces and a little seaweed salad. A light, healthy dinner for only $6.95. Others at our table ordered fish tacos, burgers and crab cakes. Three huge crab cakes for $8.95. Everything was just delicious, and the music that we were lucky enough to hear was equally wonderful.

The highlight of the evening was the entertainment by Adrienne Nims and Mike. Adrienne is multi talented, playing several wind instruments, including flute, clarinet and sax. Mike plays guitar and sings, and together they make beautiful music. They play there often on Thursday nights, but not all the time, so call ahead and see if they're there. Check out Adrienne's website at http://www.blogger.com/www.versatileadrienne.com for more information about her, and her performance schedule. I have known Adrienne for several years. She teaches dance at the Y and I've taken her classes regularly for several years. This, however, was the first time I saw her perform. She's a regular around town at many events, including the Encinitas Street Fair, evening at the zoo in the summer, Calypso restaurant in Leucadia, and many other spots. Try to see her. She makes wonderful music. A mellow jazz sound that will enchant you.

Give Beachgrass Cafe a try for dinner or happy hour, and be sure and look for Adrienne Nims and Mike, or Adrienne and Spirit Wind around town. They offer a cool evening of mellow jazz.

Yikes...I'm Almost on Medicare

Reading the official government handbook on medicare will make even the smartest among us question their intelligence. As if turning 65 was bad enough, trying to understand your options as a medicare recipient is downright impossible. How many pieces of junk mail did I get from health care companies, soliciting my business? Aetna, United, Blue Cross, AARP all spend millions trying to get our money. How is any reasonably intelligent individual supposed to figure it out?

I spent hours reading about deductibles, donut holes, prescription plans, covered services, not covered services, penalties, medigap and more. What did I find out? I found out that I couln't figure it out on my own, and called in a professional to walk me throught the process. I finally settled on a Part D Supplement from Blue Cross that I hope will meet my needs. We'll see.

I feel like I know as much or more about our crazy health insurance program than the average person, due to what I have experienced in the past year. One year ago my Cobra ran out, and I had one year to go before Medicare kicked in. I had to get private insurance for 13 months. I applied to Blue Cross, with whom I had been insured for over 30 years. They rejected me due to preexisiting conditions. What person at age 63 doesn't have preexisting conditions? I even tried to get my neck surgery or anything related to it excluded, but no, I was just rejected. So I tried other companies, including Kaiser. I was rejected by all.

Fortunately, California has a high risk insurance pool that you can apply to, and they have to take you. Kind of like the high risk insurance for drivers. Anyway, I was finally approved for Kaiser, but I had to go seven months without any insurance. What I got was a policy that cost over $600 a month, with all kinds of deductibles and co pays. I was just happy to have something, in case something catastrophic happened.

Luckily, I made it through both the uninsured months and the six months with Kaiser with no emergencies. I never thought I'd feel as happy, and relieved as the day I got my Medicare card. That meant I could go back to my old doctors. Someone asked me during the period I was uninsured, when I would be boogie boarding again. "Not until I have insurance" was my immediate answer. Now I've got good insurance, and can go back to boogie boarding, but not until the water warms up. Now all I have to do is find a doctor who can figure out what's wrong with my leg!!

Garcias in Encinitas...It's Muy Bueno

The newest Mexican restaurant to come to Encinitas is Garcias (1486 Encinitas Blvd. 760 942 1259). Their original restaurant is in Carlsbad Village, a small space on a side street. The new place (in the old Herchel's location) is contemporary and very upscale. The space is furnished with bright colors, a beautifu mirrored bar, flat screen tv's, and comfortable tables and chairs. You walk in and immediately you feel comfortable. Everyone is friendly. I've been there three times and have never had to wait. (we eat early). If you do have to wait, there's a firepit and seating area outside that looks very inviting.

Your server will immediately bring you a bowl of delicious, spicy salsa and fresh hot chips. They are great. I know the salsa is made in house, as each time I've eaten there the salsa has had a different degree of heat. I love knowing that the food is fresh.

So far I have tried fajitas, tamales, enchiladas, and tacos. Everything has been good, the tamales we excellent. The ingredients are fresh. I love shredded chicken in my tacos (not just little cubes), and Garcias delivered.

Portions are huge. I would recommend splitting full entrees. With the chips and salsa, you'll have plenty. One special note. Garcia's offers either white, wheat or gluten free tortillas. This is the first restaurant I have seen that offers so many options. I guess if people keep asking for healthier choices some restaurants will listen. Garcia's obviously did and I hope it pays off for them. Give them a try next time you feel like something new. By the way, it's great for kids too.

First Visit to Taft

When you think you've prepared for something, and things don't go according to plan, it really throws you for a loop. That's what happened to me in the past two weeks. When I dropped Ron off at Taft on January 11, I expected to hear from him within 72 hours and that he was settling in. My experience was nothing like that.



It wasn't until Wednesday, January 20, that I found out anything about his whereabouts or his condition. That evening Ron called our son Brian to say he had been, and still was in SHU (Security Housing Unit) ever since his arrival, and he didn't know when he was getting out. In essence, he was in solitary. In a cell by himself for 23 hours a day, one hour out for exercise and crappy meals in the cell. He was never given a legitimate explanation as to why he spent 11 days in SHU. I could go on forever about his experience, but I want to move on to my first visit to the camp, as he was moved there Thursday night and I was cleared to visit this past weekend.



I went there with some anxiety, as I didn't know what to expect. Horrible circumstances can break a man. Would he be bitter, angry, despondent? No, not at all. He came into the room, smiling, so I knew right away he was all right. We visited for five wonderful hours, and I don't think we stopped talking the entire time. He had so much to tell me, it will take several visits and many letters to tell everything. He spent a little time telling me how he passed the 23 hours a day, not knowing when he was getting moved . He sang, recited poems he knew by heart, counted the days, minutes and hours until he would be coming home, read, and slept. He also evaluated what's important in his life, set goals for the future, in short gave himself an emotional tuneup.

The most difficult thing for Ron in those first few days was not being able to tell me where he was. Luckily, after about six days, he was allowed to make a phone call. He called our son Brian to say everything was ok. He arrived at Taft with money, so after a few days he was allowed to buy stamps and finally mail a letter. On one of the days he was out for his one hour of exercise it started to rain, hard. Luckily, a nice man gave him a postage size towel to put over his head. Had he not had that, he would have been soaking wet for 8-10 hours until someone came around to give him dry clothes. What a place!! The hardest part of this whole experience was that Ron does not like surprises, and boy, was he surprised. He had no idea this might happen to him.




Prior to Ron getting a stamp, he was told by the guards to write his letter and that since he was in SHU he didn't need a stamp. He wrote the letter to me, and two days later it came back to him "No postage." No surprise.



Two funny stories about his horrific first 11 days. They took him for a dental check up, standard for all new arrivals. He got a clean bill of health, and the dentist told him to come back in six months for teeth cleaning. They would send him a postcard to remind him. I thought that was hysterical.



For 11 days he ate all his meals alone on a stool in his cell. That is, if you can call it food. Ron said most of it was unedible. However, one morning at 5am they brought him French toast with maple syrup and little sausages. Now remember, it's still dark, and he's pulling off pieces of the French toast and dipping them in the maple syrup and really enjoying it. Unfortunately, since he couldn't see what he was doing, his jumpsuit got caught on something and the maple syrup went flying, all over the floor of the cell. You can only imagine the mess it made, and he's trying to clean it up with the one little towel he has. So much for his best breakfast in 10 days.



These are just a few of the many stories he told me Saturday. Before he went in, Ron did a lot of research and talked to several former inmates, to help him prepare and know what to expect. As he said to me during our visit, you cannot prepare for this because you never know what to expect. Their motto at Taft, and I assume other institutions is, "Hope for the best, but expect the worst." Today was the best.

My Favorite Mexican Casserole

When my kids were growing up one of the biggest challenges was finding dinner entrees that everyone would like. My Mexican casserole, which I just created one night, was a family favorite at our house. My son Brian, married for just two years, asked for the recipe the other day. He has always loved it and wants to make it for his wife Beth. I gladly gave them ther recipe. I hope you enjoy it too. There are lots of variations to this recipe, so feel free to experiment.

Mexican Casserole

1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained (you could also use ground turkey)

1 can corn kernels

1 can pinto beans

1 small can sliced olives

1 can tomatoes, crushed (do not use the juice from the tomaoes. It will make the dish too runny)

grated cheese ( I like a combo of jack and cheddar, but a spicy jack would also be great)

flour tortillas, either white or wheat flour

Place tortillas in the bottom of a large pyrex pan, next to each other but not over lapping. Then layer ingredients (use 1/2 of each ingredient). The order doesn't matter, but you want the cheese on top. Then add another layer of tortillas, and again layer the beef, corn, tomatoes, olives, beans and cheese.

Cook at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, or until it's bubbly and the cheese is melted and browned. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Cut into squares, like lasagna, and serve with a green salad. I promise, everyone young and old will love it.

For a little variety, you can sprinkle tortilla chips on the bottom instead of tortillas, and again for the second layer. They will get soggy during cooking, but will add a little crunch to the dish.

Top each serving with a big dollop of sour cream. Enjoy.

More Restaurant Coupons

Many people I know never go out to eat without a coupon in hand. That's not me, but I do like a bargain, and with so many coupons or "specials" available, I try hard not to pay retail.



This morning I was up early, surfing the internet, and came up with a website I have not seen before that you may like. Its called http://www.thokalath.com/. Go there and you will see some great stuff. I was looking only at the restaurant coupons available, and there are many that you can just print. Rubios, Subway, Red Lobster, KFC, Peets, Boston Market and Dominos are just a few of the coupons I saw. Some coupons are better than others. Some are buy one, get one free. Other restaurants will give you a coupon if you sign up for their birthday club.



This site doesn't just have restaurant coupons, it has food coupons for supermarket items, clothing items and much, much more. It is worth a quick perusal. With specials like Restaurant Week, Cohn Restaurant specials, and some of the more expensive steakhouses all offering specials, coupons are not the only way to go. It seems that it's the more upscale restaurants offering these great special.



Two weeks ago we went to 333 (a Cohn restaurant) in Oceanside. They offered a three course meal for $20.10. This was just for one short week, and unfortunately I didn't find out about in time to get the word out. But it was a great value, and very well received. Next time I'll try to have this information early enough to share with you.

So keep your options open. You've got the Entertainment Book, coupons, specials, restaurant.com discounts, and www.passportdining.com which everyone has told me is a great opportunity. You join the club, then you get discounts on dozens of great restaurants, not cheap places, but very upscale restaurants. Bargains are everywhere. I'll keep looking, and let me know if I've missed something great.