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.