Out of the Mouth of Babes

As part of my nephew's school's Christmas chorale performace, a video collage was put together that was quite entertaining. The kids were shown photographs of 3 presidents: George Washington, George W. Bush and Barak Obama and were asked to identify each picture. One 6 year old is to be commeneded - he was the only student to get them all right. The other answers, although incorrect, were priceless. When George Washington's photo was shown, one child authoritatively stated he was John McCain and many classmates followed suite. One little girl however, was sure the picture was of Hilary Clinton! (Lots of laughter from the audience) And then proceeded to say, that Hilary Clinton had lost and "was out of the game" which caused the audience to laugh even harder. Well, Hilary's definately not out of the game ...and it sure was interesting to hear the perspective of 5 and 6 years olds and who they voted for...another said Obama because he is cool, another said he voted for McCain because he was old. Out of the mouth of babes.....

Sarah Brightman at the Honda Center

My sister-in-law and brother had gotten the adults in our family tickets to see Sarah Brightman last Friday. The staging, sets and costumes were a creative feast for the eyes with special effects ranging "water ballet" to fantastic computer graphics. The backdrop would change from calm and beautiful tree images with saturated green and points of light to create a fairy like forest. In another scene SB was Little Red Riding Hood riding a bike to a scary ride down a menacing forest road while computer images of wolves on bikes chased beside her and the huge superimposed trees gave the audience the impression of racing down a road. (How she can sing and get an aerobic work out, we wondered?).
One of my favorites was the hommage to Ester Williams which was done by mirror reflection from a recess on the stage. All the dancers circled around SB and every arm and leg movement was done in unison as SB sang while lying down in very glamorous poses (we also wondered how difficult it was to project your voice while lying down?)
The costumes were fantastic with over the top peakaboo French Rocco inspired dress with a corset, long train, and platform thigh high boots. SB is a slight framed little thing and therefore the use of swings, ladders, etc were used. Luckily we brought binocolurs to see the all details.
All in all, SB gave a wonderful performance - sang her most beloved songs - Time to Say Goodbye, Phantom of the Opera, a couple of rock covers, etc.
One another note, it took us 2.5 hours to get down to Honda Center on a Friday night and 30 minutes to get back. We had reservations for Luigi's but alas - that will have to be for another time. We opted for a quick stop at In and Out Burger rather than stadium food and were quite satisfied with that.
Note: If you need to find a restaurant use mapquest or yahoo which will give you options in the area.

Sunset in Palos Verdes

This is one of the photos I took when the fires were burning. The sunsets for a few days were surreal - and there were a handful of photographers who gathered at Oceanfront. Some had point and shoot cameras while others had expensive commercial gear. The view sparked (no pun intended) conversation among like minded locals.

Overnight parking at LAX

For years I parked at the "Parking Spot" but they steadily raised their prices so now it's something like $20 a day for parking. Yikes. As much as I appreciated their service, the cost forced me to look for other alternatives.

I recommend Air Park Lax. They don't have valet, bottles of water or free newspapers but their service is good and their prices are great. Roof top parking is dirt cheap ($5.95) but for a dollar more a day, you will be happy you choose covered parking.

During major holidays you need a reservation. They book up fast.

www.airpark-lax.com

English Beat at Hollywood Park

The English Beat is one of my all time favorite bands and I was really happy to hear that they were playing in the area. Wow. The thought hadn't occurred to me that they would play at Hollywood Park - but let me tell you - it was a great concert. And suprisingly a really good venue.

The concert was outdoors which was perfect. The weather was nice, and once the music starts it so infectious, you can't help but move your feet. The stage/concert space is smallish , which I prefer, but small as the square footage was, the crowd spanned different ages, colors, styles of dress and backgrounds. I watched little kids and their impressive fast foot steps - no way could I even begin to keep up their pace.

Today I was catching up with a friend lives in Marin County (near San Francisco for those of you who don't know). She told me she saw the English Beat yesterday, which I thought was pretty cool since I went on Friday. Neither one of us knew the other was a "Beat" fan and a lover of ska.

So here's the low down, Hollywood Park is fun! Ok, so I got their at the 7the race (of which their were 8) but the crowd was filled with lots of people hanging out, enjoying each other's company, drinking beer and being casual. Hollywood Park is easy to get to, parking was free, entrance was $7 and another $3 for the clubhouse (which gives you access to the free concert) and beers were a couple of bucks. To bad I found all this out after there Friday concert series ended this past Friday. On the other hand - I look forward to catching their next concert line up. I'm really glad I went - the English Beat gave a great performance. Here's a link to Hollwyood Park's concert series:

http://www.hollywoodpark.com/visit/fabulous_fridays.html Here's a link to Dave Wakeling's website (he's the lead singer of the English Beat) http://www.davewakeling.com/home.asp

Hotline for Fire Victims

I just caught this on the evening news and wanted to post it for those who may need help.

800 927 HELP

As I understand it - it is a government hotline that provides guidance on issues from insurance, to FEMA etc .

www.FireSafety.gov

Have you thought of what you would do in case of a fire? Do you have copies of insurance papers, do you have photos documenting your belongings, do you have copies of all your critical legal documents? We all put it off because it is so unpleasant...but it would be more unpleasant if you had the opportunity to plan for the worst, didn't and the worst happened.

Here's some helpful info...

I googled fire saftey and recommend this site: wwwFireSafety.gov which includes information provided by theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention,the Consumer Product Safety Commissionand the U.S. Fire Administration.


Here's a quick snapshot of what's on the website:
Get a Smoke Alarm
Make an Escape Plan
Practice Fire Safety
Residential Fire Sprinklers
What to Do After a Fire Statistics

Also - - you might not be aware of all the various causes of fire....it's not just wildfires that we have to guard against.
Risk of Cooking-Related Fires Doubles on Thanksgiving Day; Safety Guidelines for Using a Turkey Fryer (PDF, 564 Kb, Adobe Acrobat PDF Help)

PC Notebook Computer Batteries Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazard (10/30/2008)

Ghost Tealight Holders Recalled by Trade Associates Group and Crate & Barrel Due to Fire and Burn Hazard (10/29/2008)

Serta International Recalls Mattresses Due to Violation of Federal Mattress Flammability Standard (10/28/2008)

Lastly, if you want to volunteer - do not let policy and procedures of non profits deter you. Although the Red Cross does great work - I do not agree with their policy on requiring training before accepting volunteers during a crisis or their policy on no dropping-off of clothes, blankets etc. (call us and we might accommodate your interest in helping is so off-putting to me.) For those intersted in taking immediate action - just do it! There are plenty of organizations that would love your help!

California Wildfires & the Mt. Calvary Monastery

Southern California has been hit again - first with the Montecito fires 2 days ago, Sylmar yesterday and Anaheim Hills today. Hundreds of houses of burned to the ground and over 10,000 people have been temporarily displaced.

Today when I walked outside in the sunshine, sunlight was filtered taking on a hauntingly beautiful quality. Air smelled of smoke and I found it harder to breath. White ash wafted back down to earth like snowflakes and I decided it was better to be indoors. Who knows what you might be inhaling...Apparently there was a small fire in Palos Verdes this afternoon that I didn't know about until my (curtailed) evening walk.

I am particularly sorry to hear that the Mt. Calvary Monastery completely burned to the ground. The monks provided spiritual retreats to individuals and groups. I visited many years ago - and was struck at the warmth and hospitality of the monks. The mountaintop sanctuary was breaktaking with its panaromic view of the Santa Barbara Coastline. The retreat house itself was a Spanish style house built in the 1920's that housed Spanish colonial masterpieces, Navajo blankets, wonderful books in their library - what a loss. Very little survived the fire - the large iron cross in the garden and a fraction of the beautiful mural at the entry way.

Here's their website: http://www.mount-calvary.org/visit.htm

Sonar, the Navy and Whales

It is very unfortuante that the government is allowing the Navy to use sonar....

Here's an except from an interesting article: Dissenting judge Ruth Ginsburg further said the navy had failed to obey the law by not supplying a full report on the environmental risks before beginning to use sonar, and just sticking to its preliminary report. At the start of the Supreme Court hearing in October, government lawyer Gregory Carre acknowledged that a preliminary navy study found that sonar could disorient 170,000 marine mammals, and leave 8,000 whales temporarily deaf.

Drilling, sonar, sewage negatively impact our own ecosystem. I did a google search to see what individuals, groups or countries are doing to help the environment in which we all live I am impressed by Tunisia's environmental policy which reads... (www.tunisiaonline.com/culture/index.html)

Tunisia's environmental policy aims to preserve the ecological balance, safeguard natural and human resources, and control all forms of pollution. It also seeks to reconcile development needs with environmental imperatives in order to protect natural elements (air, water, soil, and biodiversity), reduce existing risks to such resources, and improve the living conditions of the population.

It is notable I did not find such a policy for the U.S. but there are plenty of articles on sonar use harming wildlife.

NRDC: Protecting Whales from Dangerous Sonar
International campaign to regulate active sonar systems that harm marine mammals.www.nrdc.org/wildlife/marine/nlfa.asp - Cached
Whales Index Page - NRDC's BioGems
NRDC BioGems page to save whales and other marine mammals. ... Ear-splitting military sonar is needlessly threatening whales and other marine ...www.savebiogems.org/whales -
Is Navy Sonar Killing Whales? Holology by Freydis
This report studies the connections between Navy active-sonar and reports of whale deaths. ... sonar system could have caused a mass stranding of whales off ...www.holology.com/whale.html
Orca Network - News - Navy Sonar Blasts Whales
The Orca Network Lolita campaign: Enhancing awareness of a captive member of the Southern Resident ... US Navy Sonar blasts Pacific Northwest killer whales ...www.orcanetwork.org/news/shoup.html - 77k - Cached
Whale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pathology: whales, sonar and decompression sickness". Nature 428 (6894) ... "Sonar versus whales: noise may disrupt neural activity in deep-diving cetaceans" ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale - 68k - Cached
Sonar May Be Linked to Stranding of Whales LiveScience
The Navy's use of sonar during maritime exercises may have contributed to the mass stranding of more than 150 whales in Hawaii's Hanalei Bay two years ago, ...www.livescience.com/animals/ap_060428_sonar_whales.html - Cached

Getting Ready for the "Inevitable" - Earthquake in SoCal

I turned on the TV and for the first time, heard about "The Shake Out" - an emergency prepareness simulation scheduled tomorrow at 10:08 am. The news tells us "the big one" is inevitable - not a matter of "if" but when.

For more info go to: http://www.shakeout.org

Opening of Spit Studio in Hermosa Beach

I had the pleasure of attending a gallery opening in Hermosa Beach called Spit Studios. The gallery is located a short walk from the corner of Pier Ave and Hermosa Ave, amid restaurants and shops and is a welcome addition. My interest was originally piqued when I had read that Bo Bridges was the artist and I had equated the name with the actor. Different person. But no matter, kudos to Bo Bridges, the artist, for creating a gallery in a unique space filled with photographs that reflect a hip, California-inspired lifestyle.

Here's a about about the artist from his website: ....His move to Hermosa Beach, California in 2000 put Bridges in the heart of the action sports industry, where he could shoot surfing, skateboarding, and BMX as well as lifestyle year round. He now counts many of the best athletes in all these sports as his primary subjects.


I was drawn mostly to the great ocean shots (not limited to only CA) and had an appreciation for the different printing applications used - photography on canvas, on metal, some huge wall mounted images, others creatively displayed in groupings. One of my favorites was an image of girl skateboarding on the Strand - very original and definately upbeat. The gallery also had handcarved, mod looking stools - and if you didn't catch the marketing postcard - you probably wouldn't have realized the functionality that these pieces of art were meant to be sat upon. Definately cool.

The opening was well-done with entry permitted if you had RSVP'd in advance. Cadillac was giving away free stuff outside like luggage tags, wine stoppers, eye glass cases with a very low key- no sales pitch approach (thank you!). Inside a DJ spun songs from a loft, drinks and chicken hor d oevres were served upstairs and there was a goodie bag for attendees. Nicely done.

It was really nice to have a new gallery open in the South Bay and I wish Bo much success on his new venture. For more info: http://www.spitstudio.com/

In praise of Fresh and Easy

This year I have drastically changed my grocery shopping. When I was traveling extensively, a neighborhood Von's and Trader Joe's were my staples. However, I rarely shop at Von's now. Von's is a rip-off. Everything in the store has gone up by dollars not cents. And I don't like the way they remodeled making it impossible to shop with a cart in the produce area. It's annoying and overpriced and there are always lines. No mas. Trader Joe's - still a great store - but I realized that I was drawn to their speciality items like their papaya salsa - nearly 4 dollars that doesn't make a meal and pretty soon you can be down $60 without real food in the house.



Then a new player comes into town - Fresh and Easy. The first go through I was mildly impressed. But I received a $5 coupon off $20 of shopping and I was motivated to go back. I spent more time perusing the isles and now I am a fan. They have a fairly good offering of staples, produce and convenience items. They are situated in shopping centers with plenty of parking in convenient areas. There are no lines. The prices are very fair and in some cases, down right cheap. They have a food sampler were there are at least 3 items you can taste. Fresh and Easy has a "Reduced" area - 50% off for those items that are expiring that day. My thought - stock up and freeze those items - for example a pizza for $2, rice pilaf for $1.50, chicken enchilda meal for $2 etc. Layer on top - the $5 coupon and what a deal - and the food is good! It's tasty. It's healthy. It's easier and cheaper than buying all the ingredients to make your own. Two thumbs up.

Get Out and Vote

This morning, after punching my ballot and leaving the polling place with the "I voted" sticker on my chest - I felt an unexpected feeling. I felt lighter. Optimistic. Energized. Excited. Ha-cha-cha - good bye President Bush, hello CHANGE. I was really suprised at myself - that I felt a physical reaction in my chest and throat after voting - and as I looked out toward Los Angeles, I smiled.

It's about time we have a leader who can bring together our citizens and get us back on track to being a great nation and a global leader.

It really felt like my vote really mattered and THAT is very energizing.

Let's make this world a better place.

Water therapy - rehabing a back injury

If you suffer from back aches or a back injury, I can not say enough good things about water therapy. This is different from water aerobics which has its own benefits. Water therapy - like land-based physical therapy - is provided by a licensed physical therapists. So before you begin, you need a referral from a doctor and don't expect to be in the pool the first day. The first day is reserved for a full evalation.

What you can expect from water therapy.
Based on my own experience, the sessions begin with a warm up where you walk through water - heel to toe keeping your abs engaged for several laps This is then followed by side steps for another set of laps followed by walking backwards. Then the physical therapists gives instructions on various exercises which are typically are done in two sets, 15 reps on each side. This all sounds easy but if you do it in perfect form - and go twice a week and try to practice in between, you will feel stronger and will notice better range of motion and increased endurance. The flexability issue takes awhile.

It's been really interesting to meet other patients and learn of their injuries and how well they are responding to aqua therapy. There is one woman who has had her upper and lower vertabrae replaced - wow - I called her the million dollar woman. She had her surgery at Cedars Sinai 4 months ago and showed me the "zipper" in the back of her neck. I was amazed.

So if you have a back problem and were not aware of this option - I encourage you to find out more about aqua therapy.

Turkish Delights

Istanbul is a treasure trove of sensory experiences. Look and you will see amazing historic sites like Hagia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque. Taste the sweetness of lokum (Turkish delight), baklava or halva and you tastebuds will thank you. Listen to the beautiful and exotic call to prayer, take a moment to say your own prayer and you will feel doubley blessed. Feel the heat emmanting from the marble slab of the hamman amd you will be relaxed and cleansed. Smell the aroma of the apple tea that served as you shop at the Grand Bazaar and you will feel welcome.

My trip to Turkey was filled with new experiences and I felt very fortunate to see as much as I did in a short amount of time.

I was thrilled upon checking into my hotel room with a partial water view to the left and a view of a mosque to my right. The hotel had a spectalar roof top patio perfect for panaramic photo opportunities of the water and the Blue Mosque. I did my homework on the internet, checked out http://www.tripadvisor.com/ and called Best Western central reservation to book my stay at the Best Western President. I would, however, recommend to book online at the hotel's website - they have better deals on tours, airport transfer etc. The General Manager did everything to ensure my stay was a good one and therefore, I think this is worth mentioning.

t

Girl on a Bus

As I was driving home today, I sat at a red light behind a school bus. It was a long light. I started to notice the girl sitting on the back of the bus was in a wheelchair and her head kept bobbing back and forth. May the sun was hitting her and it was uncomfortable? Maybe she was talking to someone? I kept observing. What I then saw, tugged at my heart strings. She was crying. I scanned the bus to see if there was anyone to help her. It look liked she was the sole passenger at the back of the bus and I kept thinking - how can I help her? Strange as this may sound, I tried to help her by talking to her silently in my car. "It's ok....it will be ok...you are almost home." The bus continued on and I arrived home wishing I could have done more.

The Women's Conference 2008

I've followed The Women's Conference the last 2 or 3 years in large part because of Maria Shriver. Her speeches are so compelling, compassionate and filled with first hand life accounts that are so personal and intimate - you want to hear more.

You realize she is a real and an admirable person. She spoke at length about her love of family and in particular her love for her mother who is the foundation of her very being. This I can relate to. She elaborated on her fear of her mother dying and of her fear of going out on stage for a particular event. and that made me think about a conversation at a dinner party. I was interested to hear such an accomplished speaker such as Maria Shriver share her view about overcoming such universal fears . It goes to show - we are all human.

Christiane Amanpour is a longstanding favorite journalist of mine. I wish I had my laptop available to share her presentation. She spoke about Afganistan and how for a time, as a result of US support, women were able to enjoy more social and educational freedoms but when American turned their attention to Iraq, those social advancements dimished. This was of interest to me because I just met a physician from Afganistan who is actively seeking to expand hospital services in his home country. These topics don't usually come up in day to day conversation.

Condoleeza Rice...some discussion points:

• The glass ceiling will go away when women help women.
• It's ok to be the first and not have a role model that looks like you. Example: Sally Ride Realize You can find a role model in any age, color, ethnicity and religion.
• You have to find the road that works for you - there is no particular route - you have to create your own way.
• One's failure can lead to redirection in which you can be wildly successful. Example: Condoleeze Rice's failure as a concert pianist and her passion for studying Russian. She acknolweged as a Black girl from Alabama with no Russian blood, had never been to Russia, it didn't make conventional sense.
• Don't let conventionalism stop you.
• Condoleeza Rice - why she is single - she hasn't met anyone to date that she wanted to marry and spend her life with was met with applause. I must admit - I quitely applauded in my living room - as I feel the same. But - I sure am looking forward to meeting a life partner who is a great husband, a best friend, a savvy business partner, and activities companion. Too much to ask? I don't think so!
  
  For more information go to http://www.womensconference.org/

The Women's Conference Pledge

As each year passes faster than the next (just as my mother said it would) it has become increasingly important to live a good and full life.

Days and months fly by and you wonder, where did the time go? What have I done recently that is important? The pledge below is part of the Women's Conference. Read it. It is certainly worth sharing and really thinking about.


1 I pledge to "show up" in my life as myself, not as an imitation of anyone else.
2 I pledge to avoid using the word "just" to describe myself. For example, I won't say, "I'm just a mother," "I'm just a student" or "I'm just an ordinary person."
3 I pledge to give myself 10 minutes of silence and stillness everyday to get in touch with my heart and hear my own voice.
4 I pledge to use my voice to connect my dreams to my actions.
5 I pledge to use my voice to empower myself and others.
6 I pledge to serve my community at least once a year in a way that will benefit others.
7 I pledge to ask myself: "Who am I? What do I believe in? What am I grateful for? What do I want my life to stand for?"
8 I pledge to sit down and write my own mission statement.
9 I pledge to live my own legacy.
10 I pledge to pass it on.

Off the Wall

The Palos Verdes Art Center is presenting "Off the Wall" - an art exhibit in the Beckstrand Gallery. The opening reception is the Friday from 5-8 pm. This is my first art show and I have two photographs of Neptune's Fountain that will be on display. I also have photographs on display at Skin Haven Spa in Los Angeles. (skinhaven.com)

FDIC and the average Jane

The news that we have been bombarded has not been pleasant. But don't let this rile you...take action to protect yourself, your home and your assets.

I called a couple of banks and investment firms to see how they would respond to questions regarding the safeguarding of hard earned money. The banks were FDIC insured for up to $100,000 and the investment firm is insured by FTIC up to $500K.

I asked if something were to happen, how would got my money and how long would it take? I was referered to the following website: http://www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/index.html

You might find it interesting reading.

Happy Birthday, William Carlos Williams

With the wonders of google alert, I was pleasantly suprised to receive the following awaiting me in my inbox:

Happy Birthday, William Carlos Williams findingDulcinea - New York,New York,USAWilliam Carlos Williams was the first child of British-born William George Williams and Puerto Rican-born, Raquel Helene Hoheb, born on September 17, ...http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/happy-birthday/2008/Sep/William-Carlos-Williams.html

To those of you who may not be familiar with William Carlos Williams, he was a Pulitzer prize-winning author, a compassionate doctor and I am proud to say, a relative of mine. I never met him in person but he was a steady presence in our household growing up. His books sat in a revered place on our family bookshelf in the living room which also displayed an Etruscan vase, a centuries old Buddha given to a relative for providing electricity to the palace in Siam and a mahogony chess set. Although WCW was not alive when I was born, he had a steady presence through conversations in our family. He had asked my grandparents - who were both physicians - to oversee his practice while he was on extended leave in Europe, in the literary circles of Esra Pound and others.

It wasn't until I was in high school that I read a few of his poems, and in my naivitee - they did not ring a bell. A few more years past and in college, I became interested and read his autobiography which I lapped up since it included the rich history of Raquel Hoheb. I remember being suprised that he had referenced Wanamaker soap - because for years - that was the special soap my mother had ordered. It came in a pretty box and was stored in our linen closet for special occassions. Small details...but yet...they provided a thread of connection. And as more years past and I pursued my master's degree in healthcare administration and read his book "The Doctor Stories" ....I felt like I knew him. He came to life for me as he described helping patients that had very little means, patients that were from other countries, stories of life and death.

From time to time, he comes to life again. week at a medical tourism conference, I met a physician from Tunisia and she is an avid reader. She is a general practitioner who is devoted to her patients. We talked about late night rounds, and that only 2% of the graduating medical students are going into general practice. Before I knew it, I was mentioning "The Doctor Stories" and soon I was telling her about my distant relationship to the author. I guess I am just proud of my family. What can I say?

What I find so intriguing about WCW is that he combined two passions that were so different from each other and was incredibly successful at both. I have my own collection of his books now, and today I will make it a point, to celebrate his life by reading his works.

Happy Birthday WCW!

A chain mail prayer to read at least once

This morning, I received one of those chain mail messages from a friend. Typically I delete chain mail messages. This one though, I like enough to post because it has a good message regardless of religion.

May today be all you need it to be. May the Peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears. May God manifest himself today in ways you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged. I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.

Why I like it: Basically the message is about making the most out of your day. Life is short.

Why I love the Olympics

I am sorry to see the Olypmics some to a close but what a joyful ride it has been!

What I love most about the Olympics is - it is a time we can forget aboout the failing economy, the increasing joblessness, the overburdened healthcare system, oil prices, the presidential race and all that other downward spiral current event news that we are blasted with day in and day out. The Olypmics replace that junk food for the mind with nurtition for the soul. Inspiring stories, triumphs, defeats, sportmans like behavior , beating the odds, making the odds, surpassing the odds. Gosh - if you can't get inspired to be a better person after the Olympics - then that's a problem!

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved the Olympics. Some games I have been able to immerse myself more than others. Althletes like Olga Korbut, Nadia Comeneci, oh who was the Italian skier that was so cute about half a lifetime ago? and the U.S. hockey team in all there glory wrapped in the American flag with the one guy asking "where's my father?" or the American speed skater with thigh like tree trunks....they were all amazing individuals with great character.


By the way, it is so nice to see the US Basketball Team demonstrate sportsmanship rather than displaying bad attitudes of (hopefully) the past. Hats off to Michael Phelps for being a champion and a humble one at that, to Liuken who accepted her silver medal with dignity and to the 41 year old swimmer who missed her gold but showed the world she is a champion.

Shortly after the opening ceremonies, I was on tech support to India for nearly 2 hours. To pass the time, I asked the operator what he liked best about the opening ceremony. For him, it was the awesome show of pagentry. For me, it was the Walk of Nations. Watching each country march by, to see how many countries there are that make up this world - and every 4 years I am amazed to hear countries announced that I have never heard of or know very little about. To see the uniforms, observe how many are on the team, see how they interact, I find this fascinating. This was more enjoyable than watching the awesome display of unified movement in the drummers - which to me - was awesome in it's miliary precision. If anyone noticed the drummers were wearing gold army boots. An interesting message.

Hats of to the the athletes for pursuing their dream with gusto.

Lake George

It’s had been raining cats and dogs in Upstate NY but that did not stop an afternoon outing to Lake George. Before I was born my grandmother would join my parents for a picnic. If I recall correctly, they would pack a basket full of veal cutlets and other goodies. This trip we made our way to The Alogonquin which is a perfect spot to lunch that has an outside patio right on the water and has docks for boaters to tie off and enjoy a relaxing meal. A long, long time ago, when I worked one summer at Canoe Island Lodge, a couple of the staff and I made up a drink called The Red Stressor (basically vodka, cranberry juice and ginger ale) that we thought was a clever way to celebrate our difficult clients. I digress. The menu at the Alogonquin is simple but the food is solidly delicious. I ordered a Rueben with turkey which I never have in Los Angeles and it was glorious in all it’s sauerkraut, Russian dressing, turkey, cheese and rye bread. My mother had a burger with blue cheese and onion. This is one of my favorite spots for lunch....in the whole United States!

Just as we finished and headed to the Sagamore Resort – down came the rain. If you haven't been, you should go. The Sagamore is really a lovely property with great views. If it had been a nice day, we would have sat on the deck in Adirondack chairs and soaked up the sun.

Bella Napoli

It’s been awhile but I had to make a pit stop into the best little Italian pastry shop. The store itself is a stand-along building located on the corner of busy intersection which mimics the feel you get when you enter the premise. There are cases filled, and I mean filled, with every kind of sweet imaginable. For those who tend to have American taste – there is the case that offers donuts, cookies, breakfast cake and bread. But where I stand in wonder, is in front of the display case with Italian goodies: almond horns, canoli, chocolate covered canoli, biscotti, cream filled pastries with the pasta fragla dough, ricotta filled cakes and the list goes on. I can never enter and order just one thing. It is inevitable that I will leave with a large box closed and bound tightly t with a lot of deli string. The best is when you arrive home to the happy exclamation of “oooh, what did you get?!” The second round of fun entails placing the assortment on a pretty dish and sitting outside on the porch, sharing all the yummy treasures.

3 Summer movies - My take

I haven't gone for the blockbuster summer videos like the dark and sinister Batman sequel (no thank you.) I've seen: "The Visitor" (2 thumbs up), "Mamma Mia" (2 thumbs up) and "The Swing Vote" (eh - one thumb up maybe).

What I liked about "The Visitor" - it makes you think, it is more than just a movie about illegal immigrants (and does not revolve around the most commonly discussed illegal immigrants), I believe it accurately depicts some of the bureaucratic non-sense that happens every day in this country and it's about relationships.

What I liked about "Mamma Mia" - it's fun albeit implausible, but is a kind of calgon-take-me-away type of experience. Meryl Streep is great in her part. The scenery, costumes and dancing were fun-fun-fun. It was like eating dessert without the calories.

"Swing Vote" - um, ok, well, it has a positive message that every vote counts. That as much of a compliment that I can give it. With all the beer drinking and pizza eating, it did whet my appetite and it dawned on me that Inferno pizza (see last entry) was only a call away.

Divine Pizza found at "Inferno"

The truth is you just can't get really incredible pizza in Southern California. Or maybe I just haven't found the Holy Grail yet. Fast forward to Inferno pizza. It's delicous. Ask for thin crust and that is what you get. Perfectly cooked, a little chewy and very tasty. Ask for pepperoni and you don't get the minimalist L.A. style of one pepperoni slice to a slice, you get 3 pieces of pepperoni to one slice. Ask for extra cheese and you get high quality delicious cheese. The red sauce is good too. If you add Sam Adams beer - the summer brew - which is in limited distribution - you have a divine dinner.

The staff is very friendly and couldn't be nicer. The pizzeria has expanded since I was a kid and now has several locations. As frequent customers, I recall my mother engaging in conversation with one of the brothers behind the counter...and he said if he had a college education he would have chosen zoology. It was playful banter. It was fun. If I remember correctly, his hard work allowed for his younger brother to go to college. This is the kind of place, business and family values, I feel is worth writing about.

For more information: http://www.infernopizza.com/

Swimmer's Ear - Home Remedy

Swim class is over for the summer. I have really enjoyed it but I am left with an ear ache and after googling to confirm my suspicions regarding "swimmer's ear" I headed to the drug store.
You can buy a product called "Swimmer's ear" which is 95% rubbing alcohol or buy rubbing alchohol and put it in a dropper.

Here's one link to a remedy that advocates equal parts of rubbing alchohol and white vinegar.
http://www.mothernature.com/library/bookshelf/books/19/222.cfm

29 Day Giving Challenge

There's a movement underfoot and it is about giving. I think it is worth sharing.

If you are a TV watcher, then you probably caught Oprah's Giving Challenge, or the show about building houses for needy people. (I'm not that big on TV so the name escapes me.) If you are movie enthusiast, you probaby heard of "Pay it Forward." Personally, I think it is great that the media is exposing and supporting this movement. Personally, outside of the cooking and travel channels, the rest of TV is filled with junk food for the mind. But I digress..

There's a social network that deserves attention. It's called the 29 Day Giving Challenge and you can check it out at:www.givingchallenge.ning.com

Here's the blurb on the website: Give one thing away each day for 29 days. Why? Because to see the world change, we have to do something to change the world.
GOAL: Inspire at least 2,000 people to commit to the 29-Day Giving Challenge by 9/29/08.

For those of us who are givers, you may think, "I do it everyday, why sign-up?" Personally, I think it makes us more aware of giving, how to give, what to give and when to give and where to give. Your own answers may suprise you!

Princess Chunk & The Art of Happiness

In the wake of another business biting the dust, more commercial real estate left vacant and thousands more unemployed, I find myself searching for some news that appeals to my desire to be happy. It's not as vapid, self-indulgent, or head-in-the-sand as some will probably think. Life is short. It's the little things in life that can make a big difference.

One story that made me laugh outloud was about a very fat cat aptly name "Princess Chunk". I'm not sure if was the picture or the name that I found so amusing or a combination of the two. Whenever I chocolate cake with ice cream calls my name late at night, I will invoke the name "Princess Chunk" and see if my cravings disappear.

Shake, Rattle & Roll - Earthquake hits California

About a 15 mninutes ago, I felt the earth move under my feet. An earthquake. The whole building shook and I could hearing creaking followed by a punctuation. Some item from the loft upstairs - either something fell off the bookshelf or the wall had fallen. The rolling movement stopped thankfully.

Do you know what to do in case of an earthquake? If not, check out the Red Cross website.


Here's what was posted on the Internet a minute ago.

By ROBERT JABLON, Associated Press Writer 1 minute ago
LOS ANGELES - A strong earthquake shook Southern California on Tuesday, causing buildings to sway and triggering some precautionary evacuations. No immediate damage was reported.
Preliminary information from the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the quake at magnitude 5.8, centered 29 miles east-southeast of downtown Los Angeles near Chino Hills in San Bernardino County.

The quake struck at 11:42 a.m. PDT. "It was dramatic. The whole building moved and it lasted for a while," said Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore, who was in the sheriff's suburban Monterey Park headquarters east of Los Angeles.

California is one of the world's most seismically active regions. More than 300 faults crisscross the state, which sits atop two of Earth's major tectonic plates, the Pacific and North American plates. About 10,000 quakes each year rattle Southern California alone, although most of them are too small to be felt.

P.V. Art Center Associates Know How to Throw a Party!

Saturday evening, the P.V. Art Center Associated put on there 3rd and last chef event for the year. It was - incredible. I had so much fun and every one was so nice and gracious and interesting - it made for a great evening. There were Flamenco dancers and a Andalucian horse show and beautiful estate grounds complete with stellar pararomic views of Los Angeles, a boxwood garden, exotic birds, a well-appointed barn, pool and beautifully decorated tables. Restaurant Christine's catered the event. Yum. Fried olives and empanades with sangria (or wine if you preferred) to enjoy before dinner. My favorite part of the meal was the last entree - beautiful jumbo shrimp, clams and mussels in a tomato-based sauce. Dessert, I couldn't help ask if there were more churros with that decadent chocolate sauce.

New Food Network Star

The Season Finale ended with "Big Daddy" winning and it looks like it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. I only started following the show for the last month or so but quickly found myself rooting for Aaron because he is so likeable - like a big teddy bear and someone you could imagine being a great neighbor, teacher or friend. I have to admit, his stammering and anxiety before going on-camera and during filming, at times made me uncomforable to watch and I found myself flipping the channel to avoid this discomfort...but it also made me want to watch him succeed. For vieweres that are not public speakers - his win is inspirational. If you have the passion and dedication to utilize your God-given talents and are an all around good person, things work out.

As for Lisa, I was rooting for her too. While Aaron is down-to-earth and friendly, Lisa is polished and multi-faceted. It's interesting to see when others are so tough on themselves, when they are blessed with talent and have so much to offer. It makes you think about yourself and what you have to offer the world and sometimes, the biggest challenge is not tripping over yourself.

I'm looking forward to seeing Aaron's first show. For the first time, I checked out the food network website and it looks like there are some recipes I will definately try out...

www.foodnetwork.com

Christian the Lion video

For all you folks out there who need a little pick me up, there is a video out there that is just so happy and joyful ....I'm pleased to post it.

Here's the excerpt that was on AOL.

ChristianThe LionHeart-warming Story of Love Triumphing Over Animal Instinct.Bought at Harrods, raised in England, and then released into the wilds of Africa -- this lion didn't forget the people who raised him.

http://video.aol.com/video-category/best-viral-videos/111064?icid=200100397x1206467915x1200338906

If you haven't gathered from my website already, I'm a nature lover and a big fan of St. Francis.

A Few Quotes from St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)
"Not to hurt our humble brethren [the animals] is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission: to be of service to them whenever they require it."

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."

The pictures are of my own cats.

A good organization to support is www.spca.org

Winding Paths of Palos Verdes

Today I had the pleasure of meeting with a staff member of the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy and we went on a hike around Abalone Cove. How many times have you walked an area and realized you know really not much about it?

I started to learn about birds and vegetation as well as vandalism and hazards. There are so many types of vegetation some of which are native to the area and many that are not. For example, all the pretty yellow flowers in the spring and early summer are not indigenous to the area and have now turned to dry brown brush. There's a bird called the cowbird that basically is a nest parasite and kicks the eggs out of the nest from other birds, lays their own and leave their eggs to be raised by birds. Or the lemonade plant that supposedly tastes like lemonade if you lick the berry - however, I was cautioned not to actually eat the berry itself.

There are plans to label the trails with markers which would be great since the maps we had did not seem to fit the terrain and wow...there are a lot of trails and up and down and over rocks and after 3 hours - I was only too happy to see a lifeguard who was happy to give us a ride back to our cars. His name was Jim (I think) and he could not have been nicer and was so interesting as he shared a lot of PV history.

To learn more http://www.pvplc.org

The Shift

I just joined an online network...it is thought provoking...and one of the members posted something interesting. It's a movie called The Shift and is in production. It is about the shift that the world is experiencing globally and how we are all a part of it. Desmond Tutu is featured. For the trailer (which in and of itself will get you thinking outside youreself) click on the link below

http://www.theshiftmovie.com/home.html

A Word from the Pope

"Reluctantly, we come to acknowledge that there are also scars whiich mark the surface of our earth, erosion, deforestation, the squandering of world's minerals and ocean resources in order to fuel an insatiable consumption."

Here are a couple of websites that help raise awareness on environmental issues:
www.healthebay.org
www.nrdc.org

Finally Tried Pinkberry

With the growth of Pinkberry, it piqued my curiosity but I never seemed to be inspired enough to try it. Finally I did, with the encouragement of a friend. We ordered a regular with almonds and a green tea with chocolate bits. They were good - the tartness of yogurt came through - unlike other frozen yogurts and it was an interesting experience. I like the futuristic hip interior although with ABBA playing loudly, we opted for the CA fresh air and sunshine. Would we try it again. I think so. I especially liked the green tea which has a strong flavor. On the other hand, at $3.50 a cup with topping, I would be more apt to splurge on good ice cream.

The Best Starbucks Location in California

There's been a lot of play on Starbuck's store closings and 600 stores is a lot of stores! I used to frequent Starbucks habitually when I was a road warrior traveling red-eyes and other crazy itineraries for work. Now, Starbucks is more of a treat than a neccessity. In fact, I would say, I haven't been to a Starbucks in the last 6 weeks. But when I do go, I am choosey about the location. There are several close by but there is one and only one that merits some recongition. It is located at the Golden Cove Plaze in Rancho Palos Verdes - practically where Hawthorne meets the sea. The view is spectacular and with outdoor seating and a firepit - this is one Starbucks that I hope is not on the list of impending Starbucks closures.

Coffee Crisis? Starbucks Closing 600 Stores
Effects of Economic Woes Hit the Coffee Shop Chain
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5288740

Travel Tips - Cape Cod

While my last trip is still fresh in my mind, I thought it might be interesting to include some travel tips and experiences. I flew into Boston and had decided rather than to drive or fly the remainder of the itninerary to Cape Cod, I would try the ferry. It was a fun experience that I highly recommend. It does seem a bit like the movie "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" since an airport bus (#66 and free by the way) is required to get the water taxi. At 7:00 am, the water taxi was like a private tour on a small, covered motorboat. Commadeered by an older gentleman wearing typical New England garb - a collared knit shirt, khakis and boat shoes, he couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. ($10 plus tip and it was well-worth the view of the Boston Harbor). I arrived at the dock (#4) very early but enjoyed watching the passengers and crew arrive. The ship was clean, comfortable, sleek and fast - it only took 90 minutes to arrive in Provincetown. For more info: www.bostonharborcruises.com/ptown_main.html

July 4th in Cape Cod is a family affair. It is wholesome and fun and filled with tradition. Every year we stake out our spot, plop down our chairs and await with great anticpation for the parade to begin. I usually buy too many baked goods from the Methodist church ladies, there is a elderly war Veteran that sells American flags and the parade floats are as hometown-USA as they get. Later, we pick up our lobster roll lunch from the Methodist church.

Some favorites:

• Kale soup and soft ice cream with jimmies from PJ's


• Taking a refreshing dip in the fresh-water pond


• The Wellfleet General Store sells made-to-order sandwiches in the back. They are 2 pounders. I had the "Ride the Bike like you stole it". An odd name but a yummy, packed sandwich.


• Riley's gift store - filled with t-shirts, water floaties and sundries at great prices


• The Wellfleet swap meet - you never know what treasure you will find

The Pump House - Dining in Albany, NY

After returning from the Cape, my Mom and I decided to have dinner at The Pump House in downtown Albany. An 8,000 sf building with 40 ft ceilings, the pump house was converted to a restaurant about 20 years ago and is a bustling place to eat. We had the calamari which were served on top of cherry peppers and drizzled with a balsamic reduction. Good and spicy. The chicken wraps were the counterpoint - health wise - lettuce, carrots, diced chicken, baby corn and water chestnuts served with a peanut dipping sauce. When it came to dessert however, sugar coma would be an appropriate way to describe the bread pudding which which was a a corn syrupy sauce ladeled heavily over a dense brick of dessert. Too much. Definately too sweet to finish which rarely happens. All in all a nice experience.

For more info check out their website: www.evansale.com

Summer Time....

Favorite Summer Time Things...

Concerts in the park

Cook-outs

Playing in the pool

Hanging out at the beach

Some Mores

Picnics

Walking around the marina

Catalina

Cape Cod

Salty chips and cold drinks

Sun and shade

Long days

Freestyle 101

Now that it is the time for cooling off in the water...here's a little refresher on the freestyle stroke.

• When breathing, tuck your head in and look down at your feet - this will prevent sucking in water.
• Rocking side to side is a good thing when doing the freestyle. Staying flat in the water is not.
• The beat is 1-2-3, 1-2-3 when kicking and your arm strokes should match...so every 1-2-3 of flutter kick equals one arm stroke. For beginners this is important since we tend to forget kicking when concentrating on arm strokes and breathing!
• Don't cup your hands with closed hands - open your fingers so that you get maximize displacement of water.

More on this later!

Mercy Mercy Me

Oh, mercy mercy me...Oh, things ain't what they used to be
Where did all the blue sky go?

Poison is the wind that blows from the north, east, south, and sea

Oh, things ain't what they used to be
Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas
Fish full of mercury

Oh, things ain't what they used to be.

Radiation in the ground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying

Oh, things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land?
How much more abuse from man can you stand?
My sweet LordMy sweet LordMy sweet Lord

California Coastline

My Turn: Rebuttal to responses to the letter to the edtior

To those who responded to the WSJ regarding my letter to the editor, I am glad I got you thinking. Type in the words "massive oil spill" into google and you will find over 473,000 hits. Oil dependence has a negative impact on the environment, economy and world relations. For those that called me selfish for my quiet enjoyment of the California coastline, who's calling the kettle black? As reported in the WSJ, there will be no relief in gas prices from new offshore drilling for another 10 years. No one likes gas at nearly $4+ gallon but more drilling isn't going to solve the problem. Buck up readers. Reliance on gas is not helping anyone. The time has come for change.

From the over-the-top, knee jerk reaction from several respondents, you would have thought I was advocating a moratorium on gasoline use in total. No. What I was suggesting was a commitment to new technology and energy sources rather than pouring more money into a limited resource, in which there is no immediate benefit to our economy. It's rather simple.

Results 1 - 10 of about 473,000 for massive oil spill.

BBC NEWS Americas Alaska hit by 'massive' oil spill
Mar 11, 2006 ... An oil spill at Prudhoe Bay field is confirmed by US officials as the largest ever on Alaska's North Slope region.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4795866.stm - 33k - Cached - Similar pages
BBC NEWS World Americas Alaska hit by 'massive' oil spill
Mar 11, 2006 ... Alaska hit by 'massive' oil spill. An oil spill next to a transit line in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The spill covers two acres of the ...news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4795866.stm - 33k - Cached - Similar pagesMore results from news.bbc.co.uk »
"Massive" oil spill in Alaska - Wikinews, the free news source
Mar 13, 2006 ... Although not as large as the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, this is thought to be the largest spill on record affecting the Alaska North ...en.wikinews.org/wiki/%22Massive%22_oil_spill_in_Alaska - 21k - Cached - Similar pages
Images: Massive Oil Spill - Photos - KNTV San Francisco
Images: Massive Oil Spill. Most Popular Slideshows. Awww-some Pics · Several Fires Rage In Watsonville · 3 Female Teachers Charged With Having Sex With ...www.nbc11.com/slideshow/slideshow/14532919/detail.html - 41k - Cached - Similar pages
Tanker spills tons of oil in Indian Ocean The Japan Times Online
A tanker operated by Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd. is believed to have spilled about 4500 tons of crude oil into the Indian Ocean after colliding with a freighter ...search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20060816b2.html - Similar pages
Cleanup continues on B.C. oil spill
Jul 24, 2007 ... Ian Anderson, president of Kinder Morgan Canada, blamed city contractors for the massive oil spill. "We will be undertaking a thorough ...www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/07/24/bc-oilspill.html - 36k - Cached - Similar pages
MIDEAST: Bombing Stalls Cleanup of Massive Oil Spill
As Israeli bombs continue to fall from the skies across Lebanon, destroying homes, parks, roads, bridges, forests, hospitals and power stations, ...ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=34280 - 66k - Cached - Similar pages
ESA Portal - Envisat’s ASAR reveals extent of massive oil spill ...
Oil from the wrecked tanker off the northwest coast of Spain had already reached the Spanish coast when ESA's Envisat satellite acquired this radar image of ...www.esa.int/esaCP/ESAGFD7708D_index_0.html - 24k - Cached - Similar pages
Spill closes bay beaches as oil spreads, kills wildlife
Some 9500 gallons of oil have been contained since a container ship rammed the Bay Bridge and spilled 58000 gallons of its fuel Wednesday morning, ...www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/08/BAD8T8PLU.DTL - 68k - Cached - Similar pages

Taco Tuesday & Happy Hour at El Torito in Redondo

A friend introduced me to Taco Tuesday at El Torito located at the pier in Redondo Beach. Although somewhat of a landmark at the pier, I had passed this up time and time again. Call it food snobbery - or anti-food chain mentality - I don't think this was ever on my radar for a rocking good time!

I was pleasantly suprised upon entering the dining room - the panaramic view of Redondo Beach was incredible. There were swimmers froclicking in the surf, folks enjoying the bike and foot path...all this... and...the Lakers were playing the Celtics - (they won that game and the rest is history). Definately a good vibe to this place. The chips were salty, the salsa had some kick and the tacos were good. I was impressed at the women working hard to produce fresh tortillas at the taco bar. She fills them with your choice of meat and you add the fixings from the buffet. I wouldn't recommend the combo plate - to me - fried bits and pieces of the same things in different configurations.

Yesterday after driving all over L.A. for two appointments and hitting Thursday rush hour - I was in the mood for attitude adjustment at the beach, with some salty chips. El Torito called my name. After consuming half the basket of chips, I tried the chicken quesidalla - quite good. The location is wonderful. The food is cheap. And with the economy the way it is, I'll probably be headed to El Torito more often.

Fast Food Nation

With the lack of intelligent TV these days, I thought a trip to the library was in order and I rented a couple of movies. The jacket describes the movie as "inspired by the best-seller that revealed the unpleasant truths behind America's fast-food industry." Rolling Stone said "...a firecracker of a movie that jumps off the screen."

I found it very slow moving and not that interesting although I enjoyed Greg Kinnear's character. About 3/4 of the way through - I was downright bored. Ok so a guy gets ensnared in a meat grinder and loses his leg while his friend tries to save him and is severly injured. Kids spit in burgers before handing them off to customers. A supervisor in the meat packing plant is having sex with his underlings. All the while - a high fecal count is making it into the food supply because the "gut line" is moving to fast for the workers to properly remove the matter from the end product. Enough.

I fast forwarded only to see how cows are slaughtered and call me what ever you will - but it was deeply disturbing. I was mad at myself for watching this before bed-time. I instantly thought about my food choices. Will I eat meat again? I am sure I will...but it the inhumane slaughter made a strong impression. And I do believe how we treat animals is indicative of how we value life and treat each other.

Good website on Palos Verdes

For those of you who are interested in learning more about what Palos Verdes has to offer, check out http://wikitravel.org/en/Palos_Verdes.

I was pretty impressed with the level of detail and suggestions. When I have time, I will add a few suggestions o my own.

Molten Chocolate Cakes for Father's Day

Here's the dessert I plan on making for my brother and his family in celebration of Father's Day.

Molten Chocolate Cakes
Serves 6

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp, more for muffin tin
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more for muffin tin
3 large eggs
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 salt
8 ounces bittersweet choc, melted
Confectionary sugar for dusting
Whipped cream (optional)

1. Preheat over to 400 degrees. Butter 6 cup muffin tin and dust with sugar.
2. Beat butter and sugar (yum) until fluffy. Beat in 1 egg at a time. Reduce mixer speed and beat in flour and salt. Beat in chocolate. Divide batter among muffin cups.
3. Place tin on a baking sheet, bake until cakes no longer jiggle (8-10 minutes). Let cool for 10 minutes
4. Turn out cakes onto serving plats. Dust each with confectionary sugar and serve with whipped cream or perhaps ice cream or some other yummy accompanyment like fresh raspberries.

If you try this, send me a comment - I'd like to know for what occassion, how it turned out and some other fun details!

On Manners

On an errand to mail a Jimmy Buffet book to a friend , I noticed an elderly gentleman parked in a handicapped spot talking to his wife. As I breezed by, he followed.

In a rush, I didn't realize he was right behind me, but as I always do, I turned back to make sure the door I had just opened would not slam on the person behind me. I held the door open for him.

He looked so astonished. So appreciative. So happy. "Gosh, I'm not used to anyone doing that for me." "My pleasure!" rolled off my tongue as an instant reaction. And I took a good look at him.

An elderly gentlemen, stooped over in his walk, wearing a plaid shirt and a lariat with a big stone in the middle.

How could anyone not hold the door open for this man?

Are we all too busy to have manners? Or to be genuinely concerned that we might slam the door in someone's face? Ye gads! This man was so surprised at such a simple gesture.

For those of you readers who are door slammers - please take note.

In response to WSJ article - Drill. Drill Drill.

This morning over my cup of java, I turned the pages of the WSJ and there was a photo of dolphins frolicking in the foreground and a big oil tanker in the background with the headline shouting, "Drill. Drill. Drill." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121322872046666269.html?mod=todays_columnists I actually got a pit in my stomach. I gulped my coffee, took a deep breath and read the article and then took action. I wrote a letter.

Here's my letter to the WSJ:

My response Daniel Henniger's comment, "This is the year Americans joined the real world of energy costs. Now someone needs to explain to them why we - and we alone - are sitting on an ocean of energy but we won't drill for it." is simply one word. Good. Good that we won't drill for it. If Mr. Henniger needs an explanation, then surely his mind has been affected by the asphalt jungle. As a resident in Palos Verdes in Southern California, I walk the coastline daily. It is one of the most inspiring, uplifting, calming, rejuvenating experience one can experience. To roll the dice on more drilling, is fool hardy. We shouldn't be consuming so much oil anyhow. Our dependence on oil causes wars, damages the environment and fuels the fires of economic downturns like the one we are facing now. When "How much does it take to fill up your gas tank?" is the most common question asked these days, it's time to get our head on straight. No to Henniger's mantra of Drill. Drill. Drill.

Just when I had blogged about the price of gas!...

The Wall Street Journal's dismal front page news today reads, "Gasoline Hits Average of $4 a Gallon" with the subheader, "Price Shock, Among the Worst in a Generation, Will Worsen the Risk of Recession". Oh goodie. More good news!

I had also received an email from a dear friend who lives on Orcas Island - he commented that gas is nearing $5 a gallon there.

Well, on the plus side, there is less traffic, which means more people are staying home and hopefully having nice, meaningful conversations rather than being in a constant state of isolated mobility. See? Things aren't so dour after all!

More to come, I am sure!

Back to Rock N Fish in Manhattan Beach

Try Rock N Fish on a Friday late afternoon and you are lucky to get a seat! My friend and I were fortunate to land a table upstairs with a birds eye view of the activity on the porch and the dining room below us. Crab cakes, coconut prawns and mussels arrived perfectly timed as a 3 course dinner. Each choice did not dissappoint and with a Hefenwiezen - we were all set.

Three cheers for a fun Friday at Rockin Fish. I highly recommend it.

Less traffic in LA - Fact or Fiction?

Oh yes...this is a fact...well, maybe an opinion...but one that has been the topic of many recent conversations with friends and family. The question "How much does it cost to fill up your gas tank?" has become very popular.

Yesterday a family member joked around that she should have filled up her gas tank the day before because of the rapid jump in price. No kidding! Gas is up to $4.55 in L.A.

Am I glad I drive a car with good gas mileage. I am one of those weekly customers at COSTCO - if I am in the general vicinity - and I can save $5 or $10 on a tank why not? It pays for a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread! No joke.

Elvis Costello & The Police at the Hollywood Bowl

What could be better on a beautiful L.A. day, then heading to the Hollywood Bowl, picnic basket in hand with good company, ready to see a great line-up! Before entering, 3 women enjoyed Pinot Grigio while waiting for our 4th wheel - a husband - to join us.

We hoofed it to our box seats while Elvis sang his heart out onstage. The guy looks the same and his classics are awesome. We waited for "Pump it up" to get the audience really frenzied but alas that was not to happen. Sting came on for a duet of Alison which I thought was awesome.

When The Police came on stage - I let my hair down. I think I sang nearly every song, clapped to the beat, hollered and hooted and had so much fun, I wondered why I don't make it to more concerts. I was up and out of my seat, stomping my foot on the concrete, moving to the music - I felt like a kid again. No one seemed to care and the 18,000 in the audience made for an intimate setting (well, as far as concerts go!)

For the last 2 days, I've brought out all my Sting CDs and have been playing them non-stop. Too bad you can't hear me sing!

New World Fair- Drumming, Stone Balancing, Zen Garden & Labyrinth

This weekend, while I was feeling under the weather with a bad cold, the thought of staying home on a steamy hot day, just didn't sound very comforting or inspiring.

Who would think a long commute to the Pasadena Convention Center would be such an uplifiting experience when battling a sore throat, coughing, sneezing and lethargy?

I knew I was in the right place when I saw the Walking Labyrinth. Putting one foot in front of the other, I felt more calm, content and had a little more hootzpa. I love this form of mediation because the path is clear - there are no dead-ends or tricky, misleading turns. Sure the path winds back and forth and around, but if you pay attention, it is easy.

This lead me to the Zen Sand Tray. I've been familiar with the concept but not with the actual symbolism behind it. The patterns you create can help you understand more about yourself and your relationship to others. For example, rocks can represent land formations while sand may represent water. Or you are free to attach other meaning - choosing rocks to be representative of friends and family. The rake patterns are like water ripples affecting everything in its wake - showing an interconnectedness betweeen all things. It is said that the sand tray will quiet your mind. I found that I was drawn to raking a completely new pattern, erasing all before me - and although it may sound like I wasn't playing nicely in the sandbox, I felt calm knowing that life is about change - nothing stays that same - and soon the next person would rearrange my design just like waves over a sand castle. To me, that is the beauty of the Sand Tray.

The next type of meditation was Stone Balancing. I always admired stone stacking monuments in Hawaii but never knew what they meant. At the Fair, it was said that stone balancing teaches "spiritual qualities and the process itself is a metaphor for the way we live our lives...discover more about what balance is and how to achieve it." For me, I was drawn to selecting 6 large rocks and placing them front and center on the table. The rocks were not perfectly snug in their arrangement and there was a little wiggle when pushed on either side but still they stood strong. For me, this represented my family. I chose the big rocks because we are big people. I chose 6 because there are 6 members. It suprised me a little later on when I thought more about it, since my father passed away awhile ago. Without even thinking, he is still here and still very much alive in my mind. This was a very good exercise for me.

The next experience for me was a drumming circle. Boy was that FUN! There is a lot of joy in this acitivity and it sure gets any negative emotions out as you pound the drum. Soon there is only positive energy and a lot of smiling and laughing. I found I was a little timid at first but by the end, had lost my inhibitions and felt very happy.

This lead me to listening to the reggae band before heading home. I had a wonderful day - flopped on the bed, exhausted from stretching my physical limits with the cold/flu and feeling very gratified.

I'm always interested to hear comments from readers - and if any of you have thoughts or experiences regarding these various types of meditation, please feel free to write a comment.

Back from Mexico!

Boy, where did the time go?

This trip was filled with all sorts of fun and interesting activites, food, company and unfortunately, an accident of a family member that resulted in surgery and their curtailed vacation. All is ok...now..but boy, who would have imagined that?!?!

Water aerobics, kayaking, ping pong, shows, shopping and plenty of pool time were some of the activities. It was the first time my family and I experienced one of those bars that you can swim up to in the pool and partake in an icy cocktail. My choice was a pina colada - (forget about the 1000 calories - it's vacation!). We all learned the Spanish word for pool - "piscena" and splashed around daily - the kids had a great time playing together.

Champagne was delivered upon our arrival, the next day there was a plate of sweets, after that a bottle of tequila and many other pleasantly suprising deliveries to our room. Each day fresh towels were delivered and folded into various exotic shapes - swans, fans, an elephant head, etc.

The sun was relentless - I have never used so much sun screen and was vigilant with sunglasses, a hat and wearing a cover up. I still managed to get burned! Our family outing to the ruins of Tulum felt like a Mexican death march. I could not help myself - but I tuned out after the first 5 minutes of our tour guides explaination of the Mayans....lunch made up for the discomfort - a couple of cold cornonas, the best quacamole ever and yummy fresh grouper with a table side view of the amazing torquiose waters.

Now - jet lag and a mountain of laundry...

Off to Mexico!

Greetings from the Mexican lounge at LAX. Check-in and security was a breeze...which is a refreshing change from all the other airport experiences over the last 6 years! A restless sleep worrying that I would oversleep came to fruition...my alarm clock did not buzz and so when I felt the sun streaming in my bedroom - I knew I was late. 20 minutes later I was out the door and acted like one of the impatient LA drivers!

VACATION!

This is going to be awesome. I cashed in my miles for a first class seat and am already enjoying a first class experience. Time to explore the lounge and enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee!

Prices in Los Angeles

For my international readers who may be interested to know the price of neccesities in Los Angeles...

Gas - has surpassed $4 a gallon. In LA that is tough because it take an hour to get anywhere and if you are a commuter, most of the time you are sitting on the freeway. I am definately glad I do not own a big gas guzzling SUV or a big engine in my car. I am a lot more careful about where I go...

Eggs - Now this shocked me. Eggs were a cheap staple. Not at $3.39 a dozen - not so cheap. The gal at Trader Joe's said she could remember they were only a dollar last year.

Daffodils - Remember those daffodils I waxed on about? They were orignally 99 cents a bunch - in a couple of weeks - the price has gone up to $1.29

Rice - The news reported a 160% increase. Someone is stock piling rice.

Wheat - The Eqyptian gal at Trader Joe's was telling me their is a wheat shortage in her country and that everyone is fighting over pita bread. Someone is stock piling wheat.

Milk - nearly $4 a gallon - the same price as gas. Is this crazy or what?

Best bargains in town can be found at:

1. The International Store on Hawthorne - lots of reasonably priced produce, bread and cheese.
2. Farmer's Market - lot of veggies and fruit for a dollar or more
3. COSTCO - obvious right? Tonight I was wishing for a big hunk of cake from the Cheesecake Factory. 1) it was off my driving route 2) I couldn't justify $8 or $10 for a piece of dessert. On my COSTCO run I discoverd chocolate covered ice cream that is covered in big chunks of yummy almonds. It was so big - my hand was literally getting tired holding the end of the wooden stick. It was amazing and for $1.62 it was the most enjoyable and best value. I will probably have to walk from here to AZ to burn off the calories. YUM

Rock N Fish - Manhattan Beach

After a spectacular day at the beach, complete with a yummy picnic, good conversation and 5 hours of hot sunny weather, my friend and I were....PARCHED.

In our post-beach attire, we felt very comforable at Rock N Fish and ordered a large, cold, very perfect beer - Widmer Hefenweizen. It came with a wedge of lemon and was the color of peach juice, opaque and so, so, so very delicious.

Ah...happiness is... a fun day at the beach
...with the company of someone you enjoy
...and a nice impromptu surprise in the form of more good company over a cold icy beer on a steamy hot, sun-blazing day.

The food looked great. We vowed we'd come back for dinner. For their menu: check it out at
http://rocknfishmb.com/menu.html

In praise of daffodils Part II

Here are some more photos...they looked so pretty on my dining room table and the shadows against the pink table cloth. It reminded me of a book I read about 25 years ago called, "In Praise of Shadows". I also admired the stems - all uniform in their shape - and I thought they were beautiful and made an interesting picture.

Daffodils from Trader Joe's

I love these daffodils. They are magical. I bought these at Trader Joe's for a little more than a dollar. I snipped off the ends, put them in a vase of water and 20 minutes later, rounded the corner to see that they had gone from closed little buds to cheerful blossoms. It was better than any recent show I have scene. Pure and natural. Absolutely beautiful.

The weather in Palos Verdes has been fantastic. Spectacular. Amazing. I wish I had my camera today and could show you the cheery bird perched on a bush - chirping happily over an ocean view...or the little cottontail hopping across the path to eat a little din-din. This is why I love Palos Verdes.

More to come.

Don't Cry Over Spilled Water

Last night I was working on an article at 11:30 and had just completed about an hours worth of word-smithing and finesing. I hit save and reached for a glass of refreshing water. It happened so quickly (I must have been tired) that it spilled over my laptop and although I tried to turn whole lapside upside down. Fizzle Fizzle. Snap, crackle and pop. There went the screen and the motherboard and the laptop. For some reason it didn't seem to faze me. Odd. So...oh well, it gave me good service every day for 5 years and I took it will me on many trips for business and pleasure. What can you do. I found myself standing in line at COSTCO at 10 a.m. with an unanticpated purchase. Life is too short to cry over spilled water.