Bargains Galore

I've never seen such online frenzy as I have this year. Discounts abound, and every time I think I've found the best deal something else comes along. Luckily Hanukkah is early this year, so while most of you are out shopping I'll be enjoying my holiday gifts and relaxing at home.

Actually, there's no reason to hit the stores anymore anyway. Everything can be done online. However, there's a certain type of person that still likes the maddness of Black Friday. I was in LA last week for Thanksgiving, and on Wednesday afternoon while shopping at Ralphs, I noticed a line of a dozen or so young men in front of Best Buy. They had sleeping bags, chairs and tents, and were waiting for the store to open at 4am Thursday morning. On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, I went car shopping with my mom. The saleswoman had just returned from 8 hours of shopping. She had been to 5 different stores, and bought a huge TV, camera, and who knows what else. I guess people are starting to spend.

I went to Target yesterday to buy gifts for my 5 month old twin grandsons, but the only price reduction was their standard 5% discount. This morning I looked online and there are all kinds of major discounts on toys. As I said before, I think I have the best deal, then a better deal pops up. It's kind of what I've always said about the stock market. It's impossible to time buys and sells to get the lowest and highest price.

I have a new coupon website to share with you. Go to www.couponcabin.com. They have coupons for all the major stores, Sears, Target, K Mart, Wal Mart, JC Penney, Amazon, Ann Taylor, and some other specialty stores. Whenever you buy on line you see a box that asks for the "promotional code." This is where couponcabin.com comes in. You put in the code and save money. I haven't done it yet, as I have finished my shopping, but I will save in my Favorites and use it next time I shop for something online.

Maybe the economy is turning around. I'm no economist but I know that if people are getting out and spending, especially spending on luxury items, it's a good sign. I wish you all a happy holiday season, and happy shopping. No reason to brave the cold. You can do everything from the comfort of your desktop. Stay warm and relaxed and help the economy. Now that's a win-win situation.

Forty Fifth Visit to Taft

This was the first Thanksgiving I have not spent with Ron in 41 years. Most Thanksgivings have been a blend of friends and family, great food and lively conversation. This was a quiet year, just Mom, David and myself. David made the turkey (delish), gravy and dessert (panna cotta), mom contributed the sweet potatoes and asparagus, and I made the stuffing and cranberry relish. We had a great meal and talked about family that couldn't be with us for one reason or another. I thought about how grateful I am to have what I have, considering the condition of the world today. I have discovered that regardless of what's going on in your life, you don't have to look far to find someone with unbearable problems, and you didn't even know it!

Ron did not have a Thanksgiving dinner this year, as he is on the Kosher meal plan at Taft and they do not offer a traditional meal. The rest of the camp does receive a full Thanksgiving meal, but not the Kosher eaters. He really didn't miss it all that much. He spent the day watching football, calling me, and thinking about Friday when I would come to visit. He did want me to tell everyone how grateful he is for all he has. He says there are so many ups and downs emotionally in prison, yet he tries to maintain balance. This is hard, he told me, but each day he is that much closer to release and a life of normalcy.

One of his daily routines is a long shower after dinner, and time to think. Ron raves about the bathroom and shower facilities at Taft. They are private, and you can let the hot water run as long as you want. He spends this time every evening to count the amount of time he has left. It's a little mind game he plays with himself, and it keeps his math skills sharp. During every shower he figures out the months, weeks, days and hours he has left at Taft. Just another one of his many "routines."


Last week Ron wrote a letter to his friends and family which I sent to his network of friends. It was written the night before his 68th birthday, November 16, and I thought I would share a bit of it with you. He said that the last three birthdays have been some of the saddest days of his life, but that he hoped next year would be the start of some very happy birthdays. On November 17 (his actual birthday), 2008, my 93 year old father was buried. He was like a dad to Ron, and Ron loved and respected him more than you can imagine. On November 16 (the day before his birthday), 2009, Ron was sentenced in federal court to a 24 month sentence. Although he was not shocked after years maneuvering through the legal system, he was disappointed. This year Ron spent his birthday without his family for the first time in his life, and although his Taft family did their best to make it a festive day, it's still prison. Ron received lots of cards and letters on his birthday, and a group of friends bought Drumsticks and they had an ice cream party. Amazing how they find a way to celebrate events.

I feel our last few Thanksgivings have been very much the same as his birthdays, being they are so close together. Next year we will all be together, children and grandchildren too, for our first Thanksgiving with three new grandsons. It's something to look forward to. As for right now, I am thankful that I have a remarkable mother, three remarkable sons (and two daughters-in law) and three adorable grandsons. I don't know if they're remarkable yet, but they are adorable and perfect to me.

Friday was the busiest visiting day I have seen in the 10 months I've been coming to Taft. It was great to see so many men with visitors from far away. One of Ron's best friends had a visit from his sister and her husband from Chicago, another close friend of Ron's had his whole family visit from Indianapolis, several men had visitors from Phoenix and Hawaii. It's heartwarming to know there are people that think enough of these men to take a day (or weekend in some cases) out of their lives to visit them. No one can possibly know what these visits mean to the men that are incarcerated.

Making a difference in someone's life everyday is something I make a conscious effort to do. It may be just a friendly phone call to say hello that makes someone feel special or having coffee with a good friend. In the past Ron and I have had large Thanksgiving dinners to include friends that have no family and no one to celebrate with. These dinners have been meaningful to us, and hopefully to those we invited. Ron is also hoping to touch someone everyday. Friday during visitation he introduced me to several of his students (he's tutoring them in accounting) and one of his very good friends, Richard. I know he makes their lives better every day. He does the same for me, sometimes with a phone call, a joke on the phone, a letter or a hug when we greet each other on Fridays. He probably doesn't even know it, but these little things can make a big difference. Ron and I have so much to be thankful for, and even though we are not together right now, we talk often about how lucky we are for what we have and know that six months from now we will be together again.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Don't discard the scraps from your turkey just yet. I have a fantastic way for you to use leftovers, particularly the small pieces that don't look so good. I saw a version of this on the Food Network, modified it a bit, and I think you will love it.

Asian Style Turkey Tacos

1 package refrigerator rolls (the one you slam on the counter to pop open)
1 bunch of scallions, diced
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into julienne strips
hoisin sauce
leftover cranberry relish
Siracha sauce or chili paste (optional)

Open refrigerator rolls and separate the rolls. Roll each roll individually with a rolling pin, to about 6-8 inches in diameter, about the size of a tortilla. Sprinkle with scallions, so that they become imbedded in the dough as you roll.

The roll looks like a pancake at this point. Place in frying pan and brown on both sides. This will serve as the "tortilla" for your taco.

Place cranberry relish + about 2 Tablespoons of hoisin sauce and puree the mixture. This will be the topping for your taco. If you'd like to add spice to the sauce, add just a little Siracha or chili paste. It will add a little kick to the sauce. This step is optional.

Put turkey in sauce pan, add a little soy sauce and a little hoisin if you like a sweet taste. Heat for a few minutes.

Assembly. Place refrigerator roll pancake (cooked) on plate. Add heated turkey, top with sliced cucumber and drizzle with cranberry/hoisin sauce. Fold like a taco and enjoy. You can spice this dish up by adding a little hot mustard to the sauce. Either way, your family will gobble them up.

Pizzeria Mozza=Fantastico

I've been dying for an opportunity to dine at Pizzeria Mozza, Mario Batali's pizzeria in Hollywood. Phil and Deborah were in town recently, and we all went to lunch at Pizzeria Mozza. What a treat. Just another pizza parlor? Hardly. The pizza crust was the best I've had in recent years. The outer diameter of the crust was dark, puffy and downright delicious. According to Phil the pizza is cooked at a very high heat (800 degrees), causing the dough to cook quickly and puff up around the edges. The menu consists of pizza, salads and appetizers. It's all so tasty I hardly know where to start.


First, Mario Batali, one of my favorite TV chefs has partnered with Nancy Silverton (La Brea Bakery) to create Pizzeria Mozza (pizzeria) and Osteria Mozza(fine dining and only open for dinner). The pizzeria is expensive, but well worth it. Pizzas range from $10.95-$23.95 for a 10 inch pizza. We ordered three. squash blossoms, tomato and burrata was the most expensive pizza on the menu, but not my favorite. I loved the funghi misti, fontina and thyme pizza. Loaded with a variety of earthy mushrooms and fontina cheese and thyme, it was rich and satisfying. The third pizza, rapini, cherry tomatoes, anchovies, olives and chiles was exceptional. However, it's only for those who love salt. Sausage is made in house, and the fennel sausage, panna, and red onions and scallions looked delicious. We had lots of appetizers, and I would want to try others on a return trip. White bean bruschetta with olive oil was exquisite. Cauliflower fritti, fried cauliflower in a spicy dipping sauce was so wonderful I am going to figure out how to make it. I've never had anything like it. The eggplant caponata was chunky, mildly spicy and a wonderful appetizer. other options included fried squash blossoms with ricotta, spicy bean salad with almonds, and crispy goat cheese with Umbrian lentils. Everything is interesting, unusual and delicious. You must order a variety for the table so you can taste everything.

Salads looked fantastic, but we were stuffed. Desserts are all made in house and looked like a meal in themselves. I wish I could have eaten more, it was that good.

The restaurant is located at the corner of Melrose and Highland in Hollywood. It took us 45 minutes to drive there on a Saturday, and my mother was saying before she arrived that there weren't many restaurants worth that kind of a drive. She was singing a different tune after lunch, and can't wait to go back.

It's hard to rave about a pizzeria, but this one is worth raving about, especially if you're like me and like interesting and unusual dishes. I'm already anticipating my next visit to Pizzera Mozza. I don't know when it'll be, but I know it's worth waiting for.

Something New in Self Defense

We all realize the importance of self defense in this scary world. But many of us have not learned even basic self defense techniques. The senior centers and the Y offer training for seniors that I feel is knowledge we should all have. Many of us don't want to take the time or money to learn self protection, but here's an idea. Keep a can of WASP SPRAY next to your bed or wherever you would keep pepper spray. A can of wasp spray will spray 20-30 feet and temporarily blind a person better than anything else, including pepper spray.

Yes, it will do this and much, much more. It will also kill a mouse, rat or a snake. I sure could have used this when I had my rat problem earlier in the year. And oh, yes, it will also kill wasps.

Obviously you can't carry a can of wasp spray around in purse, but how many of you carry pepper spray? I doubt many of you do. I don't. We all get complacent about selp protection. We feel we live in a safe area, and relatively speaking we do, but it doesn't hurt to have some protection. Just a reminder from time to time keeps us on our toes. Now, if you have wasp spray in your house, put it somewhere accessible so it's there if you need it and hope you never need it. (thank you Lynda for this information)

Forty Fourth Visit To Taft

Friday was my forty fourth visit to Taft, and my mom came to visit Ron too. She hadn't seen him in several months, but found him looking well and happy. I sometimes lose perspective because I see him every week, so it was nice to have her confirm what I already thought. David was there too, and the four of us had a wonderful visit. The visiting room was rather quiet today. Many families are waiting until Thanksgiving to visit. Thursday is a free day, as are Christmas and New Year's Day. I will not visit on Thanksgiving, but have turkey with my family, then visit Ron on Friday. He is happy with that visiting schedule, as there's lots of football to watch on Thanksgiving Day.

Ron and I spent a long time talking about restaurants and food Friday, and where we will eat when he is released. We do not have the same likes and dislikes when it comes to food, and by the time we finished our conversation I was feeling really sad. He wants a burger and fries, a steak, a big plate of pasta, barbeque and an apple pancake. I want none of those things, except the pancake. He doesn't want fish, or Mexican food, or stir fried veggies or anything that reminds him of rice and beans. I, on the other hand want fish, sushi, good Italian food in small portions, or creative dishes in appetizer size portions. How have we survived together all these years, is what I started to think? Here I've been fantasizing about eating out with Ron at some of the new restaurants I have recently enjoyed (Cucina Urbana, Tommy V's Urban Kitchen, Canapes), and he wants to go to the Claim Jumper! There's got to be some way we can work this out.

I decided that when he gets home I'm going to give him one month where he will make all the restaurant decisions. He can have his burger and fries, we'll go to P.F. Chang's for the garlic noodles, we'll go to a restaurant of his choice and get a steak, and of course we'll go to 101 Cafe for an apple pancake. After a month of eating what he's been deprived of for the past year (it'll be 17 months when he's released) we will return to normalcy, I hope. He will choose a restaurant one night, I'll choose the next. Compromise. That's what we're all about. Ron said there's no way I can understand the feeling of deprivation he feels from eating institutional food for so long. For some inmates, to whom food is not important, this is not a big deal, but to Ron, to whom food has always been an important part of life, this is very important. Ron's right. I can't begin to understand what it means to not have sushi when I want it, or a burger when I'm in the mood. I think I was feeling so sad during our conversation on Friday because I realized we both had different visions of where we'd be eating. I was saying to myself, "I've waited all this time to be back with my husband again, and he wants to go to the Claim Jumper?" I fantasized about taking him to Cucina Urbana or Pizzeria Mozza and all he wants is a good burger and fries or a barbequed beef sandwich from Phils.

I only hope he doesn't go crazy and cause his diabetes to go out of control. He has worked hard to get his blood sugar into the normal range, and erratic eating may throw his blood sugar off kilter. I won't be a nag, he knows exactly what he should and shouldn't eat, and that he must exercise. I plan to have him around for a long time. That being said, he has one month to taste all the tastes he's missed, then he can go back to eating like a diabetic who wants to live a long life. That's my plan for him when he gets home, and I hope it's his.

After our conversation was over and I was on my way home, I got a call from Ron. He said not to get upset about our conversation, because when he gets home and back to a regular routine, all this focus on food will probably disappear. After all, we never had a problem deciding where to eat in the past. Ron keeps telling me that being incarcerated causes one to focus on things that in everyday life would be irrelevant. I do understand this. He's got one month of complete control with the dinner plans, then we're back to joint decisions.

I wrote this blog just hours after I had been at Taft, and as I finished it I wanted to delete it. I thought, how petty of me to be worried about where we would eat dinner 6 months from now. I should be happy that we'll be able to have dinner together. Ron has so much time to think that often insignificant things like where we'll eat dinner take on much too much importance. I hope after today we have both put the choice of where to eat dinner in it's proper place. Does it really matter after 17 months apart if we eat dinner at The Claim Jumper, P.F. Chang's or Firenze? I don't think so.

America's Foodiest Town 2010: Boulder, Colorado

Hardly a day goes by that we don't see a new list of "Bests." Best places to live, best cities to find a job, best cities to find a husband, etc. Well, Bon Apetit recently named Boulder, Colorado America's Foodiest Town. I'm not exactly sure what that means. It doesn't mean it has the best restaurants or the best chefs. What it means to me is that it's a town where food is a way of life, from farm to consumer, from local farmers market to the dinner table.

Boulder has won just about every shiny happy lifestyle award a city can. Healthiest, most educated, most bicycle friendly and now foodiest. It turns out that, along with having fit, smart and eco-conscious citizens, Boulder is home to a number of innovative food companies, including Celestial Seasonings, Izze Beverage Company, Bhakti Chai, Evol Foods and several top-tier restaurants and one of the best farmers' markets in the country. This small town of just over 100,000 is a bellwether of a changing food culture across our land.

I love to visit Boulder. It's the perfect combination of rugged outdoor activities (biking, hiking, tubing, skiing), to beautiful walks down Pearl Street, to Saturday visits to the Farmers' Market, to just sitting outside having coffee at one of the many independent coffee houses. It's got an intellectual atmosphere, lots of bookstores to browse and so many wonderful restaurants. I have written about some of my favorites: The Kitchen, Salt, Happy Noodle, and each time I go there I try to try one or two new eateries. I will be there in December and hope to return with more reviews from America's foodiest city. Does food just taste better after exercise? Does all that clean air build up your appetite? You bet it does. Going to the farmers' market on Saturday morning is one of my favorite activities. I love going with my kids as they know everyone in town and buy many of the products for their business from local farmers. It's a real happening, something we don't have going on here in San Diego.

As much as I love Boulder and their small community, I think I'll stay right here in sunny San Diego, where on November 17, 2010, it is 75 degrees and sunny. No, we don't have the restaurants or the foodie community that Boulder does, but we've got WEATHER. Good restaurants and good chefs will come our way, they already have started, and local interest in producing fresh, sustainable foods will develop. For now I'll get my Boulder fix a few times a year when I visit Phil, Deborah and Lennon.