Mediterraneo in Hermosa Beach - Amazing Tapas

A girlfriend and I tried this Pier Ave hang-out and were very impressed with our fare. We each picked two selections. I choose the stewed calamari with red peppers. I was happy to see it arrive with grilled bread for mop sauce. It was hearty and satisfying. The asparagus wrapped in prosciutto with Romano cheese was perfect. The vegetable was cooked perfectly, still had some snap, and was wonderfully salty between the cured meat and Romano. The sweetness of a glass fof pinot grigio was a good accompanyment.My friend hit the mark with her selections of roasted dates stuffed with cambozola cheese (yum -yum and yum!) and a shrimp and scallops in a basil cream sauce.The staff was helpful and prompt. There is an outside patio is equipped with heat lamps for perfect people-watching. The weather was cold and rainy so we opted for inside seating which was a bit noisy but happily festive for a Friday night outing.On a final note - this tapas bar far surpassed my tapas experiences in Spain and I look forward to coming back and sampling more of the menu.Here's their website: http://www.mediterraneohb.com/

Earth911 - A Living Green Resource

Wonder what to do with batteries? An old laptop, cell phone or printer? Want to get the low down on living green? Try the following website for a good resource. http://earth911. org/

The Labyrinth - A Walking Meditation in Palos Verdes

Today I had the pleasure of introducing a meditation practice to a new friend. The "walking labyrinth" is a spiritual took used for meditation, prayer, and personal reflection. My favorite labyrinth is located on the grounds of the The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes. Imagine Spanish style church grounds replete with wrought iron fences, manicured gardens, fountains, a walking bridge, and the most amazing view of the Pacific Ocean and California Coast line. There is plenty of inspiration to draw upon, plenty of benches to sit quietly and reflect. On a day filled with sunshine, a light breeze and the sound of crashing waves, this active form of mediation can be a refreshing practice for body and soul.

A Catholic writer describes their spiritual significance in this way: "The labyrinth is a universal symbol for the world, with its complications and difficulties, which we experience on our journey through life." The labyrinth is an ancient practice in which there is only one path leading to the center. (Not to be confused with a maze which has many paths meant to confuse and confound.)

How does one walk the labyrinth? It's as easy as putting one in front of the other and following the path. Walking paces vary. There's no worry of doing it incorrectly. Sometimes the practice clears the head, provides a way to unwind or to reflect on intentions or seek a solution to a problem. When you enter the labyrinth, you begin to meander back and forth creating literally creating shifts in views and figuratively in perspectives. In reaching the center, it is typical to stop to pray or linger to think quietly. When leaving the center, and returning to the beginning, you usually feel lighter.

Amazingly, the labyrinth is an old practice which spans many cultures and regions and some references date back thousands of years ago. Labryinth images have been found on rocks and tiles, on pottery and baskets, and in Medieval churches. The medicine wheel in Hopi culture used the labyrinth as a symbol for “mother earth”.

I was introducted to the labyrinth almost 10 years ago and find it to be a very calming, mind-clearing and rewarding practice. I was very pleased to introduce this form of mediation to a new friend.

On a humorous note - we had walked down to a lower balcony and continued our meditation practice past dusk and into early evening. We realized all too late church gates had been locked. Thank goodness we successfully scaled the church fence and laughed at our circumstance.

Glorious Apple Pancakes at Dinah's

Yesterday a friend of mine, trained in the culinary arts, suggested breakfast at Dinah's. I had driven by dozens of times over the past 15 years. It is located in a non-descript, semi-run down looking strip mall. Little did I know it was a hotspot for Angelino's. A brief history: Dinah's has been around since the 50's and is known for their fried chicken, ribs and pancakes.

We split the apple pancake - LARGE. I was not dissapointed. With lots of cooked apple slices and a thin layer of pancake topped with lots of butter, sugar and cinamonn, this was more like a dessert than breakfast. Proud to say, I only ate a quarter at our get-together, later in the day, I warmed the left-over in skillet and topped it off with sugar-free vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed every mouthful. And promptly went to the gym for a 30 minutes! Ah the desire to be healthy challenged by sweet desire!

Tip: The apple pancake takes 20 minutes to prepare. Good things come to those that wait!

Dinah's website: http://www.dinahsrestaurant.com/aboutus.html

Move to the Groove: My Two Left Feet

"Move to the Groove" is the name of an exercise class at my favorite gym, the Spectrum Health Club (To check out classes log on to http://www.spectrumclubs.com/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp). Longingly, I have watched through glass doors, as women of all ages, sizes and dance abilities have worked up a sweat with a smile on their face. I 've watch since November. I finally summoned up the courage yesterday and brought along the "ok, I might make a total fool of myself infront of everyone but I will have fun doing it" attitude with me. Can you say "Two left feet?" As the dance steps progressed into a routine, I could not remember the first moves we just learned! Ack. So towards the end I just concentrated on the steps - forget the shoulders, the head, the arms, the hips - I must have looked like a spaz and towards of the end I was too tired and sweaty to care. I must admit, it was fun. So next week, you'll hear from me again on this subject!

Lessons From a Shattered Pot

About 2 weeks ago, there was quite a storm in P.V. To describe it in three words: 1) cold 2) rainy 3) windy. The Christmas lights were still on my back patio strung up and around plants and potters and the twinkling colors danced wildly as the night progressed. Observing this, I turned to my mother and said, "I hope my plants don't topple over" and magically just as I said that, I witness one dive over the edge and heard the crashing pot even with all my windows closed. Knowing this very likely could happen again, I donned on my raincoat and got my plants to safety. The next morning, I looked out my window to survey the damage. Well, my favorite pot - a handpainted Italian design - was smashed into a million little pieces but the contents - a jade plant from a former boyfriend- seemed to survive. It's a hearty little thing! Stout, robust and beautiful! I am happy to report the plant is doing well and the pot? I gathered up all the shards and saved them to make a mosaic. It's funny what or who we get attached to - life is fleeting - things and people come and go in our lives. It's how we pick up the pieces and move on with grace that matters. Who knew that a shattered pot and a hearty plant could bare such wisdom?