Saturday, December 30, 2006

Sweet Potato Canneloni


This makes enough for 6-8 rolls depending on how full you make them. You can also stuff shells with the mixture if desired.

1 pkg. Trader Joe's Fresh Pasta Sheets
8oz ricotta salata
2 tbl crumbled goat cheese
1/2 c grated parm/regggiano (any grated combo will do)
one med/lge sweet potato
1/2 small onion (a little shaved fennel with the onion adds more flavor)
2 eggs or equivelent egg substitute
Tomato Sauce of choice (something fresher tasting will be best)
1 tbl fresh basil (or Trader Joe's frozen cube!)
Veggie of chicken broth
S/P to taste

Dice the potato, onion and fennel (if used). Roast in the 410 oven till golden and soft about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly and add the cheeses and eggs, basil and S/P to taste. I used my food process but you could get it mixed well with a mixer, just might want to cut the veggies up more.
I place some of the tomato sauce and broth in the bottom of my baking dish, about 1/2". You want the consistency to be that of a thick tomato soup. I then take the pasta sheet in my hand, place about 2-2 1/2 tbl of the mixture in the middle and wrap it up. Place it seam side down in the baking dish. After all the canneloni are rolled add abit more "brothed down" sauce to the tops (more like just moistening the tops), sprinkle with more grated cheese and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

Trader Joe's

Before posting this next recipe I just want to say that TJ is the best thing in the world! Moving would really be determined by having a TJ within driving distance. The "processed" food is better than some fresh and the fresh items are often unique. There are so many items that make cooking on the fly so very easy:
No Cook Fresh Pasta Sheets
Frozen cubes of fresh parsley, basil and cilantro
Multitudes of excellent tomato sauces
Ricotta Salata
Buffalo Mozzarella
Frozen fish (the Marinated Ahi is soooooo good!

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Christmas



What is Christmas? Is it a time of year? Is it Jesus' Birthday? Is it a feeling that really should be with us all year? Unlike Mabel, I have long since outgrown the need to count gifts, not sure that it ever was part of my nature. I do like picking out the right thing for someone, regardless of the price...just the right item.
We shouldn't need Christmas as an excuse to get together as a family. We shouldn't need Christmas to prompt us to be nicer to each other.
One of my best Christmas' as an adult was the year in Fresno when someone left us a tree on our doorstep. I had had more than a few years of pulling in someone's tree from the trash bins and celebrating Christmas after Jessica returned from Vermont. As a child I can remember waiting for the snow and having it start just before leaving for Midnight Mass. There was something about taking our naps and then getting up for Midnight Mass. When we would come home it was obvious that Santa has been there. I learned later that my dad would come home ahead of us (must have been on foot) and set up the gifts. It seemed real.
I don't recall my age when I stopped "believing" but I am sure my brothers had something to do with it. My dad will always be Santa as far as I am concerned.
So, remember that Christmas is best celebrated with loved ones and that $1 gift thoughtfully chosen means more than a $100 gift chosen for show. Love each other, smile and give what you can to the planet and to mankind.

Monday, December 18, 2006

Fall

Talking season here, not the other!!

Today was one of those wonderful fall days. Leaves crinkling on the ground, cool breeze and clear skies. As the sun rolls toward the west the eastern skies turn dark. The color is beyond a grey or navy, it is a mix that is dark, bottomless. The clouds absorb all light around them yet the ground glows. The cool 64F is dropping rapidly, night is claiming reign. Tonight, frost will be dancing along the roof tops and lawns alike. We will be snuggled in our comfy home, candles and Christmas tree aglow, (it seems like something like "let it snow" should go here but I have not lost my sanity yet!) let the night play because the sun will soon chase the chill away!

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Sammie Girl


Sammie gets a little intense and excited sometimes, she loves all creatures, large and small!

I am not sure what she is thinking......

Saturday, December 09, 2006

jumping in

I have my resume all ready to go. My friend told me that next year she will be making $37/hr!! I am currently attempting to hire a REGISTERED nurse for $26 and I make less than $29 as the administrator. Now, Arc thinks they have made great headway cause they bumped us up by $5 a little better than a year ago....they just don't understand that nurses are not like the rest of them. That bump up still left us on the bottom when compared to our competitors.

Our population is getting older all the time. Their medical needs are becoming more and more intense! My nurses work like hell and we risk lawsuits from families because we did not think about every little thing that could potentially cause harm to this non-verbal individual. I love my consumers but this job and its' responsibilities weigh healvily on me.

It reflects my whole "mid-life crisis". My aging mother is failing. What am I going to do when she can no longer move herself around?? I look at her and see my future? How far will I get? Will I ever have a time when I am all I have to worry about? I want my play time while I can still enjoy it!!!

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Changes and Therapy

Today was party day for the consumers. Something I was looking forward to. Started out well enough, good CDC seminar at the Public Health Department. When I go to work though things quit looking so great. Noreen, my east county nurse for 5+ years, is leaving us to go on to a better paying job with better benefits.

I know where she is coming from, I think about it all the time....Retirement. I just recently decided to increase my 401 share here, 5% to 8% that way the 3% "raise" we got will just disappear. Arc increased their generosity too, they will match 50% up to 5% of our $$. As Nurse Administrator I make a great big $28.89/hr, $5006 a month. The lowest starting range for DHS is $5265-5649 a month....with 2/two 3% raises guaranteed in 2007. Checkout some of the other great benies at: http://www.dhs.ca.gov/lnc/pubnotice/jobs/default.htm

DHS works 4 days a week once you are trained, just one week vacation at 6 months but they get more holidays than we do and more vacation time overall. Noreen said that it took a few months to get through the system. I have stayed at Arc for many reasons but as I go toward the tail end of my career I would like more financial freedom and less responsibility. My flexible schedule has been working against me these days and after training is over with and I start my 4 day work week I will have a whole day free to do Mabel stuff which would be better than trying to work it in and having people call me while I am trying to get her out of the car.

So I am looking toward the future with hope and trying to embrace change. I am sad too but big brown eyes were waiting for me when I got home. I am a happier person with my furry friend next to me

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Sorrow

The loss of a love one really does not ever go away completely. It often stays in the back of your mind. You always expect that your parent will die but siblings and friends are harder. The relationships that exist with these individuals also affects our memories.

I dream of my dad and talk to him in difficult times. I do the same with my sister, Joan. Poor Pat was so devastated when I went to see the movie with Susan Sarandon...I think it was "Step Mom". Sarandon's character was so much like Joan and dying of cancer. I bawled. I still can't watch that movie. I have had a couple of intense dreams as well where I am with Joan (and usually dad too)and when I wake up I am sobbing. This morning was one of those. I went to a place where Joan was, not sure if dad was there. Mom was and I walked in walking toward Joan even though I knew Mom would be offended that I went to Joan first. When I hugged Joan it was like I knew that she was not really in my world and when she looked at me her eyes were sad with the same truth. Wake up, sobbing.

As I told the old lady yesterday, life has plenty of sadness. If that is what you dwell on then that is your life. But there is re-birth and beauty around every corner, you just have to be ready.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Dad

I can never say enough about my dad. I miss him so much even though it has been over 20 years since his death. He would help all the little old widows with their chores, people in town thought he was so sweet. No one (except my mother) ever said a bad word against him. He loved all of his children equally, and even my half sister was no different for him, you would never have known that she was not his own.

The Colomb family was like that, at least the ones I knew. Aunt Dot was rather taciturn but always kind. Aunt Gladys was the independent spinster sister, never married, always doing for others, also never one to say something bad about someone else. The Colomb's were readers, guess we know who Jessica takes after. They would gather in the living room and read with sparse lighting. My mother hated this, she and her mother both loved TV. I can remember Grandma Ploof talking to her TV cause it was fairly new to her by the time she got the first one, my mother planned her day around daytime TV shows.

Dad's best display of humor came when he retired and he got a big cash payout. He went and bought a used car. He had it painted to match mom's!! That started years of dad trading for a car off the lot that would be the same color as the special order one that mom had purchased, that way it always looked like she copied him instead of the other way around. God love him, he sure did deserve a laugh or two.

I can still see the towel rack in our horribly ugly bathroom. Mom and I could use the "new" towels but dad was relegated to these threadbare rags. He never complained. My mom gives you $$ but she definitely holds it against you, doesn't want it paid back but you are going to pay for asking for help. My dad always made it clear that it was a loan and the payback was expected, but it was never a guillotine over your head.

I learned alot from my dad and I always hope that I am more like him then my mother. Sometimes I see myself being more bitchy like her and I try to step back. When things are particularily tough with Mabel, I talk to dad and hope that, someplace out there, he can hear me. He was such a ray of sunshine on this earth for so many people.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Jail is looking better everyday........

I never really understand why Mabel (my mother) loves to make my life so miserable. On days when I try to be nice she makes even bigger attempts to make me crazy. Today was Jeanel's cookie party so I brought home a bunch of cookies. I already seperated out the chocolate ones I made, cause she said they were like the dark chocolate candy and she does not like dark chocolate. So I set her up to put away the rest. I did not do the dishes until late and so she comes into the kitchen and asks for a glass from the clean dishes (while I am still cleaning them)..."oh, it's warm.....well I guess that's ok....I have to put ice in it." I just started laughing, like what else could you do? I will preface this with the fact that she has been whiny most of the evening, oh my feet swell, this is wrong....she is 90 for chissakes!! What does she think is going to happen?? She is getting more whiny so I tell her if she wants a cold glass she should rinse it and put it in the freezer like I do. Most of the time she just puts ice in the glass and takes one or two pills and then dumps out the water. No wonder we have to dump ice every day and sometimes twice a day.

Despite a week from hell looming in front of me I am setting time away on Tuesday to take her to the foot doctor and hopefully the hearing aid people. But she knows I have a bad week coming so let's see what she can come up with to make me even crazier.

So still no jail but there are days, maybe I could work in the kitchen......

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Chocolate Pepercino Crackle Cookies

I love Vestri Pepercino Chocolates. Creamy, yet that delicate warmth from the pepper. Here is the cookie version:

Cream together: 1c butter, softened, 1c granulated sugar, 1 t. Vanilla, 1/8 t. finely mashed chipolte pepper in sauce, 1/8 t. ground cumin, 1/8 t. red pepper
once "fluffy" add 2 large eggs and beat to fluffy and light.

Mix together 2c flour, 1c Ghiardelli Ground Sweetened Chocolate Powder, 1t. salt, 1t. baking soda. Add slowly to butter and egg mixture, beating till thoroughly mixed. Add 1 bag Ghiardelli 60% bittersweet chocolate pieces. Let dough sit in fridge for 1h.

Form into 1" balls and roll in granulated sugar that has been lightly sprinkled with red pepper (this is to your tolerance, start low and add if needed). Cook at 350 for about 12-14 minutes. Remove to cool and enjoy!!

Friday, December 01, 2006

California Dreamin'??

Lots of folks think that California is one of those magical places....today was not one of those days where I felt that way. I went to Anaheim for a seminar. The seminar was great, which was good.
The morning commute was not bad but the place where we were is in the heart of the Disneyland commercial zone, hotels and bad restaurants. Sure would have liked a Ciro's sandwich and wine!! So bad food and several hours of sitting were topped off by a drive back to SD starting at 3:30p....... the northern part was not bad but from Oceanside to La Mesa is was mostly 5-10 mph. Funny how you can become so fatigued doing nothing.
Finally made it home and dragged Sam out for her walk...well she needed no dragging really!
It also struck me that except for the 4 lane local streets, I could have been in SD or LA and not known the difference.....not like knowing that you are in Assisi because of the color of the building or Siena because of the Pala plaques...or even gritty Naples. Nothing much stands out in southern California. Tourist traps and corporations, not many artisan stores...you really have to look for those. Don't get me wrong, the weather and plant life, farmers market fruits and veggies help make it better. Sometimes I think I would like to live elsewhere, maybe I can take all my consumers with me!!

Saturday, November 25, 2006

My Special Place





Whenever I do a little project based on my Itlay trip I just feel so much better. Today I am working on incorporating the Ottobre from the Italian calendar I got for Christmas last year into a floating frame with some Italy pics. I have chosen some of my favorites....

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Catharsis

I worked all day to day. I walked the dog, cleaned mom's room while she ate breakfast. I cleaned my room and sorted through the remainder of vaction stuff and things I just hadn't put away (for months). I did gardening and got Christmas stuff in all while cooking a mini-Thanksgiving feast. I changed the tennis balls on her walker like she asked. So when I am finally resting (we are talking like 8p!) I see that she has left the light on by the door and the door to her room is open. See, the manger that my wonderful brother Matt built was on the kitchen table so I was suppose to know that she was ready for it. So I bring it in and leave it for her to settle, closing the door on my way out and go back to try to rest....
Yeah! Fat chance! She comes out wanting me to fix the wires. I am really pooped but I go in and go to look at it...is it unplugged? No but it's off, it's ok. Yeah, I am going to trust that statement! So I said that I needed it unplugged and that she wasn't going to get rid of me that way! Manipulation starts and poor pitiful me, I tell her she can get Hank to fix it because now I am tired and pissed. All is quiet until she comes out for her water run. Crying away "you hurt me when you say things like that". No matter how many things I do right and good, there will always be one more thing that did not work out but will stand out over and above all the rest. I should also say that when I brought the Christmas stuff in I was met with the "I didn't think I'd see that again". I know that she is aware of the fact that I am tired and that she uses that to manipulate my reactions, she loves conflict and she will just keep at me until she gets it.
This is a woman caught in no man's land. She says she is ready to die but when we go to the hospital she says she wants everything done to prolong her life. She's made the choice to sit and wait for death, choosing to not participate in life. She watches other live their lives. She wants something I cannot give her, I hope she someday finds her happiness. I hope I can last......

Basking in the warm glow..


I watched "Under the Tuscan Sun", "It's a beautiful life" and travel shows galore. Being in Italy was so different though. The beauty of the land and people, the kindness and simplicity of life there. It allows you to be so much more grounded. I am not saying that it is perfect, there is graffiti, plumbing and modern conveniences may be lacking, traffic can be crazy. Jeesica put is best when she commented on the confidence of the Italian women. They were not all stunningly beautiful but they were confident in the way they walked, in how they talked to their boyfriends and friends. Lots of the Italians are that way, they simply enjoy living everyday. I don't believe that (many) Americans understand confidence and that is why we have road rage, domestic violence and a number of ills here. There is that constant need to out do the neighbor, to get ahead. We are in a competition to nowhere.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Holidays

Holidays are great for the purpose of time off. I fully enjoyed my vacation but if I were free, I would so take off on a road trip this weekend. Hell, Sammie and I could sleep in the Prius if necessary and finding places to eat and taking some easy food is a piece of cake. But I will be good daughter and cook some sort of turkey stuff. I have had no meat for sometime, except for an occaisonal thin slice of proscuito or crumble of pancetta over my flat bread pizza. Don't really think I want a traditional turkey fest either, not ready to move too far away from the Italian Style...well maybe some sushi!

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Trash

When I was in Italy, with the exception of The Napoli Trash Wars, it was fairly clean. It has struck me upon my return home that everyplace is subject to trash here. People regularly trash the beaches, hiking trails will have soda and beer cans, bar wrappers, streets. It is everywhere.

This was brought about by a single piece of white trash on the freeway heading out to Bonnie's this morning. It is part of the American psyche, nothing is our fault and we are responsible for nothing. In Italy I saw people cleaning "their space", taking pride in what they presented to the world. I am not saying that everything was pristine but it was a whole lot more pleasant.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Bird(s) on a Wire


I have a fascination for birds and their behavior regarding sunset and sunrise. These guys are waiting for the sunrise. Many times all will be facing the arriving or departing sun, never less that 75-80% though. Are they worshiping it? Is it to heat the front of their bodies? Why do they face the sun as it comes and goes?

A job well done


I am finished with one phase of my post trip clean-up. I will soon start my next phase. Thank goodness for coupons and Cost Plus. Although Mary gave me a photo album for my birthday, this one is me.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Happiness



A Friend of mine had been perusing our trip pics and said that she thought Jessica had never looked happier. I think October was a very happy month for all of us!!

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Self Preservation



Being in Italy and setting up my Flickr account made me realize that there is plenty right here to show people. So I started my San Diego file on Flickr. I hope to add pics regularly and let people see my home through some different eyes. It may save my sanity.
There is a Di Vinci thing at a museum in Palm Springs, nice day trip I think, but I have some work to do first....

Cruel Intentions

I try to give her the benefit of the doubt but there are days when it just doesn't fly. I made a great meal, roasted veggie gratin, yellow beans w/butter, sweet potato gnocchi with a gorganzolla cream sauce. After that Mabel says "oh that Noreen is great, she sees everything".....Noreen had noticed that she had finished an open can of Ensure, and "opened the one on the shelf". There is a can of Ensure on the shelf. I was supposed to know that meant I was to open it. I informed her that I work with people who cannot communicate and that she is not one of them. She was about to go into her "I'm such a burden" martyr crap but I think I must have had a look because she stopped and muttered something else. I turned and kept doing the dishes, she went to her room.

I hate that all of this can still send me into a crying jag. It isn't right for a grown woman to treat her daughter like this, notes and innuendos instead of a pleasant, would you mind, I could use a little help with..... I feel like a horrible person when I think that the only way that I am free is for her to die, but one of us has to go and I really have a lot more that I want to do here.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Long ago and far away...



It seems like forever ago that I was in Italy. Work has invaded my being, it is more difficult to retain the Italian lifestyle, why can't I have wine with lunch!! I want an afternoon rest and late dinner!! (ok I can still have Limoncello and chocolate but the chocolate wont last forever!)

Sunday, November 05, 2006

The Week




It has been a week plus a day since my return. Some one asked "how is it to be back in civilization?" I was taken aback and answered quite truthfully that I thought it was the other way around. I have had mexican food twice and sushi once. I am continuing the late Italian meal habit as well as wine with dinner (damn American rules) and Limoncello to help with digestion.
I have finished uploading my pics to flickr/debcolomb and printed out a few including some larger shots to replace some non-personal pics in my living room. I miss seeing the kids everyday and get mildly irritated by my mother like usual.
I think the Italians have life so right. I wish it could catch on over here.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Aftermath

The trip is over with. Now comes hours of reviewing and posting pictures. Not unpleasant as it refreshes memories and feelings but time consuming. Everyone wants stories and what is your favorite.....

I was working on a favorites page in my little travel book. Best Shower (other than J&G house was The Carlton in London...odd but really good. GiraSole was the best bed (other than J&G house). GiraSole and The City Guest House in Rome were my favorite away from home stays. GiraSole for the vineyards, the beautiful rooms and setting. City for the view of the aquaduct and the rooftop breakfast. My favorite churches were Siena and Santa Croce. There was no way to choose best pizza, pasta, meal, seafood...each was different and wonderful. Best bread was La Lanterna but I would not want it every day...I could take the bread from Ribot everyday.

And so I sit, here in La Mesa, eating truffle pecorino and honey while my flat bread pizza bakes. My mother tells me that the dog often had an empty dish while I was gone and wants to know if I am buying some more CostCo chicken and tuna. I ask her what the real question is and she of course does that Huh! thing, knowing full well what her intention is. We manage to get to the point using behavioral interventions learned at work. I don't care what happened here and I would leave again tomorrow if I had all the money in the world. Mabel would be placed in a nice retirement home in Vermont and I would be free.

But for now I cook semi-Italian meals and have my Limoncello and chocolate and re-live my wonderful vacation.

Thank you to Jessica and Greg for the best 3 weeks of my life!

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Finally!



Yes I am finally in Italy! I am having the experience of a lifetime and mildly jealous that my kid and her man get to continue this adventure for another 2 years!! Pics are on flickr; Jessica and Greg and eventually debcolomb.
Naples hits you in the face. It is raw and intense, yet there are snapshots of beauty and tenderness there too. There is beauty in the rows of antennas on top of the buildings or the gently waving awnings in their striped wonder. The sadness is in the dogs, languishing and uncared for, yet gentle. J&G home is lovely, quiet in a way even though the dogs and nightly fireworks are interesting, you get used to them quickly. The constant burning or trash is more disconcerting and I am sure not good for people.
Tuscany was a lovely respite from the city yet so much beauty can lull you into a duldrum of wanting to do nothing but sit in the town square and watch the tourista. The cities are ancient with construction on top of construction, 12th century just under a 16th century addition. Or, as with the churches in Sienna and Montepulciano, no further construction.....we have just stopped.
I got to see Civita de Bagnoreggio. When we asked the owner of Antico Forno if his building was old...."No, just 1300, just 700 years". Every town here has substantial walking and hill climbing but I am holding out well and hopefully not holding the kids back much. The churches are opulent, gold and marble, workmanship of such beauty. Even today there is intense pride in good workmanship, no matter the end product. The people are so pleasant they enjoy talking to tourists and the Italians themselves love stuff with English writing on it. The agrituismo was nice and convenient to everything, I am so glad that we decided to home base and drive out from there. I am also thankful to be a good backseat rider as I don't get car sick, even on the winding Tuscany roads. Food and wine have been exceptional here, no surprise there either. Best get ready as I don't know what I am doing today. More catch up later.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Throwing barbs

OK, so I know that having everyone far away is freaking the old girl out but can she truly believe that we should stop living and just stay with her?? I'm sure it's my fault...."where are the tennis balls in case the girls need them"? Mom has tennis balls on her walker legs to protect the floors and make the walker glide easier. I just changed them and, the pair that were on it, were there for a few months. "In the closet but I just changed them, don't think that you need to make up things for the girls to do". My friends are great but they are not use to extended exposure...it could be detrimental. Time for drops and good night, "my blood pressure was 170/90, that can't be good for my eyes". Do I say....well you are just working yourself up, calm down and your BP will be fine. Maybe smuggle a little Valium from work, slip it in her morning coffee. Just a little over 24 hours....please let me get away, please!!

T Day


Travel Day is almost here. This evening was a quick Sushi excursion, none of that for a month! Tomorrow morning is Bonnie's.....it's all about the hash browns. Then a primer...Antica Toscana. Lovely Italian food, wine and friends. A great send off.

Sleep was elusive last night and I don't really expect it to improve. I feel like I might be going to outer space as much as to the other side of the world. Traveling by car to Paso Robles just doesn't prep you for going to a country where a nappie is a diaper and everyone rives on the wrong side of the road! It does not seem any less of a challenge than going to Italy and listening to a totally foreign language in incredibly passionate tones.

Some preparations may be useful or they have simply given me a false sense of security. I hope I am as prepared as I hope to be and that the flight is swift and that there is a big warm hug waiting for me on the other end.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Fear and Hope

I still hang from the pendulum, swinging from elation about the pending trip to absolute fear that next Wednesday morning will be a repeat of this Wednesday. It is as though someone is playing with my psyche, how much can she take....when will she break, will she make it?? I look at my partially packed bags and wonder, and I hope. Please let this happen, I need a break.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Single Digits

I was reading one of my old posts about getting excited at 2 months.....Let's see, we have basically 8 days left as of Tuesday AM. Now the days are flying at me and I am so crazy to get on that plane!!! I still have the tiny fear that something will happen at the last minute but I am already rehearsing my message for the personal and work phones, my bags are partially packed and I pretty much have everything taken care of or scheduled for "taking care of".

I am going to have a wonderful Tueday, breakfast at Bonnie's with my east county freinds and Dinner at Antico Toscana with the "girls". Then I will have a fitfull sleep and wake early to take a slow ride to the airport with Hank and Mary (cause one goes no where without the other).

I hope for a great plane trip but the end of the ride is my reward as I will be in an incredible place. I will see history that I have only seen on TV and books. I will touch stones that have been touched for hundreds of years, walk in the paths of the Romans, the ones who built the Empire.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Setting Sun


I am never really sure which is my favorite, sunrise or sunset. But the setting sun can make anything look nicer.

The setting sun will also make the dust and cobwebs shine like jewels, ever moving and elusive. They float out of your reach, sparkling on their flight before lighting on a surface that seconds ago appeared to be clean.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

tre settimane, ventidue giorni

The days are flying by and preparations are underway, like seriously so. The suitcase comes in this weekend or next for trial packing, how much am I taking, how much can I bring back!?!?!?

I am trading one set of brown eyes for another. I will miss the furrier of the two for a few weeks and I know that she will greet me with great leaps and bounds on my return.

My mother told me about getting someone to stay with her mother when we all went to New York. She said her mother was afraid that the caretaker would not stay, I told her I was not worrying about anything. Maybe she will be happier with my friends.

I have copied my "important documents" and will leave a set with my friend and one to Jessica. I am hopeful that all will go well. I can't wait to start planing my next trip and this one isn't even over.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Preview

I just spent a lovely two and a half weeks with my little girl (who turns 30 in January). She was here to work but we made the best of our time and I appreciate every minute of our time together.

It was not so hard to leave her at the airport today as I will be with her again in just 31 days.
We will have so much more room at her house in Italy, where I will spend about 30% of my 3 week stay. We will be in a car together, sometimes even sharing a hotel room. So we will be close for another few weeks, I can't wait!!

And for perspective...Jess came (back) to SD to work and spend a little time with family and friends. I am going to Italy for the first time in my life with no work! I will see works of Michaelangelo and Da Vinci, the most incredible archeological site in Pompeii, the peace and beauty of the Tuscan country side and the life of a population that is going to be new and yet very old.

E una favola! It is a Fairy Tale!!

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Extra Surprises
















It is odd that it has been not quite 2 weeks since my daughter emailed a request for airport pickup!! It caught us all off guard, happily so. It has been a fine juggling act since she arrived...leave space for work (afterall this is all on Salvo's dime) and finding time for friends and activities. I hope we all will accomplish our goals this coming week.

My countdown is at 45 days. I am getting very excited. I don't know how I will be able to function that last week or 2!

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

La Mesa Life....




So this is the turkey sandwich at Cosmos. I was hoping to get that Cranberry Salad but the guy said they had stopped making salads for the night....putz!! The CousCous had slivered almonds, boiled egg, cilantro and red onions. The sandwich was quite delicious with the chipolte mayo and a great salsa of fresh tomato and onions. Seeing as how Sammie did help me with the sandwich I felt that we could also split a yogurt....you have to get the childs size if you want anything close to a manageable amount of yogurt. We had sugar free banana with fat free peanut butter....quite yummy. I don't believe that dogs get brain freeze. I have, on many occaisons, watched Sammie really go at the yogurt with a gusto that would have me writhing in pain. Just in case she did not get enough from the sandwich and yogurt, we also stopped at PetPeople......gluttonous dog she is!

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Kingdom of Heaven and Terror

I got the HBO package when I got my new TV. They do have great documentaries but the repetative movies bore me sometimes. Then again I will often watch a movie on HBO that I would never have rented. Watching War of the Worlds made me happy because it was a crappy ass movie and I would have been pissed to have paid for a ticket or a rental! But last night I watched Kingdom of Heaven. It is a bloody detail of the Crusades at a time when the King of Jerusalem actually was sustaining peace there, with Christiaity and Muslim living side by side. It shows the deep seated and long lived need for the west to dominate that part of the world. From the beginning it has been the Christians who have been heavily into aggression, who have been unable to allow others to believe, to have their share. Orlando Bloom's character eventually surrenders Jerusalem to the Saracens for safe passage of those who wish to leave there. The King of England tries to enlist him in further Crusades but he has learned from his father, the Saracens and the other muslims he met there that the Kingdom of God is not Jerusalem, it is your own life and your house. It is in the creation of life and the respect of life.

I cannot believe that "GOD" wants all this bloodshed, if he does than I guess I am destined for hell because I cannot give my soul to a being that would want that for his "children". What is most likely is that man has bastardized the story of Christ and Mohammed over the years for their own gain and to justify the horror they have inflicted on others.

Today Bush and other US politicians rage "terrorism, save your country, patriotism". Since when is it patriotic to invade a country half-way around the world? If we stayed out of their business, I do believe they would stay out of ours. Canada doesn't get bothered....Switzerland? Netherlands get many terrorists?? There will always be certain conflicts in the world, but I am neither happy nor proud to be an American. I think I should be checking out what would be necessary to carry my nursing license into Canada...maybe Australia.

Soon

I am starting to feel the increased excitement of my pending trip. This coming week will mark the 2 month wait. When I first purchased my tickets so long ago it seemed like forever but now it is like...I need to get some other pillows and extra bedding...there will be alot of folks sleeping here. I need to start thinking about cleaning up some areas that are less than stellar. Parties are one thing, overnight guest are something else all together. I need to leave instructions for the TV and VCR. I need to figure out...what can I really fit into that backpack.

Jeannel asked me about the one big question....what happens IF "it " happens while I am gone!?! I told her the number for the funeral home is on the Mabel Info Sheet. Call for pick-up, and no, I would not come back for any reason! Heartless bitch that I am! Life is for the living, remember the dead best by living your life in the best way possible!

Saturday, July 29, 2006

It Runs in the Family


So my dear daughter posted her tomato fiasco the other day and just so she would not feel too bad I made a syrup fiasco. Henry's had great sales on fruits so that is a delightful blueberry/peach pie in the back. I was making the syrup for a fruit salad...coconut rum, orange liqour and Splenda.....Oops...new batch on the stove. GOT TO GO!!

Monday, July 24, 2006

What is a geek?

When I went to school in the dark ages there were the popular kids, the geeks/nerds, the dopers and such. We are such a technological society these days that if you do not possess some computer skills you may not get the job you want, you pay more for airline tickets, you can't sell Aunt May's ugly old Divan. So are geeks cool today??

Is being techno savvie enough to be termed a geek?? I don't think so. Today it is necessary to have computer skills so the folks tapping away at the coffee shop are no different than the kids with diaries and connections in the past. Today the geeks are talking physics and space travel, alternative fuels, space/time continuum....... The pocket protector has been replaced with PDA, Blackberries and mobile phones that keep you connected to everything. They have super gigabyte memories, special language skills.

I may be able to search, buy my airline tickets to Italy and have fun on PriusChat.com but I fear that I will never be a geek. I would take the geek over the millionaire though....duh the geek probably has more $$ than the millionaire!

Sunday, July 23, 2006

I'm melting......

That was Saturday. It was listed as 109 here in La Mesa. When my poor little car was in the sun the temp registered 113. The Patio 116. You could barely walk, the AC struggled. The cement floor beckoned. It is cool and smooth, the heat rises far above and even a slight breeze feels 15 degrees cooler down here.

Today was a cool 96. You would think we would be happier, right?? See yesterday's humidity stayed under 20, not so today. Hovering near 50% it made the 96 feel more oppressive than the drier heat of yesterday. Water is a wonderful thing...at night I sweat less so my body lets go of the extra fluid. That means that even if I weren't hot, I still would not sleep much cause I got to pee every 2 hours!!!

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Oh yeah!




Oh yeah! Friends and Sushi...what could be better? Maybe a couple more people in the party?

I strongly feel that Sushi does have healing powers. I always feel so good after I have some great raw Ahi, I am one of those folks who also love Albacore as well....I will eat salmon though I like other ones better. Even raw scallops that top a Stuffed Tomato (no tomato present). Maybe it's the rice too but I would have to say that I love Sushi and would have to consider availability of good Sushi when choosing a place to live.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

World Cup Futbol

Watching World Cup this year has been so much fun. To begin with I actually have a vested interest in a country that is still in the mele, Italy. It is currently the foster country of my daughter and her husband. I am very into Italy winning, very, very much so.

Futbol is intense and you must be an extremely good athlete in order to excel here. It is never boring. There exists a sportmanship and commraderie between teams that is not seen in American sports. When these teams lose those men are crying real tears and unafraid to do so. When they win they hug and kiss each other with genuine affection. Teams exchange jerseys at the end of the game, momentos of a game well played. It is about pride in country and self. These men will be heroes. It's nice to have good heroes. America has not caught on to Futbol. Hopefully Futbol can avoid Americanization and stay fresh.

Monday, July 03, 2006

Fruit and Summer

Year to year you can sometimes forget what really thrills you about seasonal change. Spring is always the flowers, fall/winter is the advent of rain (though that cannot be depended upon). But summer.....summer is the food! Living in California we have access to really good fruit and veggies most of the year but during the summer something special happens......

During the summer your neighbor has fresh oranges, strawberries or, as today's morning walk proved....fresh blackberies! I was still picking them as Marcia went in to shower for work leaving me with her dog and mine. Stanley does not eat the blackberries but Sammie loves her fruit and was eating the ones trailing on the ground. Although I ate a few as I picked, I also came home with 3-4 cups! I still had left over fruit from the Berry Delicious Cake so a breakfast smoothie was in order...Blueberries, Strawberries, Frozen Banana, Blackberries and a splash of Orange Juice!! Heaven! I feel so energized! Berries are my favorite fruit group, I never want to eat a ton of bananas but a little is good. Mangos are delicious but messy. Never got into peach/nectarine/apricot but I will eat pineapple till my mouth is sore.

For veggies any type of tomato (yeah I know--technically a fruit) or potato is tops! And onions...I just don't understand people who don't like onions. A few "don't go there" veggies are peas, brussel sprouts, badly cooked or canned spinach, sauerkraut (fresh cabbage is so good and good for you but some one had to go and ruin it) I have 2 tomato plants that appear to be working their little selves into a frenzy. I really need to plant snap peas again. When we were on Cherokee I had some and would go out in the morning and just eat the right off the bush. Although I don't want to "garden" per se, I do like having a couple of things out there to pick fresh...and last year my tomatoes were yummy!

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Hoping....

I ordered a new W/C this evening. It is definitely one for me more than for mom. The large wheels can be removed and the weight of the w/c becomes 19#!! I might not even need to fold the seat down in the car. But what if it comes and she doesn't like it. It is not any different measurement-wise than the one she has now but if it doesn't hold up well, if it "cuts" her somewhere...it will be my fault. Well there is always hope.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

99 bottles of beer on the wall.....

Actually for today, June 25th, it is more like 101 days before I leave for Italy..... Soon the countdown will be in the double digits. I am impatient for the time to be here even though I do not want time in general to slip away.

We had an extended talk yesterday about Civita di Bagnoregio. It is like a fairy tale, or something out of your nightmares. The scene has been depicted in many Dracula movies, the Beast's castle where Beauty must escape and many other horror films. High up on the craggy hill, no escape except for a narrow, treacherous path. Any minor loss of footing could result in death. The small town is over 2500 yeqars old. People have lived there for hundreds of years following in their father's footsteps over generations too many to count.

The path is long, ascending over 10 stories to the ancient city. I hope to have oil and Bruschetta made in the way that the family has made it for hundreds of years (this is beyond the hope to make it up the path in a reasonable amount of time and alive). "New and Improved" does not exist here.

They say it is a dying city as the sides crumble away. Bbut as long as so many remember and hold it in their hearts can it truly die?

http://www.civitadibagnoregio.it/civita/storia.htm
http://images.google.com/images?q=civita+di+bagnoregio&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Space




Having a little extra space goes a long way. When I bought this condo the I told the realtor that a yard for the dog was good and easy access was a must for my mom. She said "what about you?"
I'm like make those things happen and I will be happy. I saw my place online and called her immediately to say that I wnated to look at it. The pics of the inside were nothing but the outside was enticing even then.

Over time, as with the rest of the place, the appearance has changed. The mound of dirt covered with astro turf is now the beautiful area with small bushes (the good kind!) and vines. It is a haven for the birds and butterflies...and a few bees! Every year I plant a couple tomato plants and revel in fresh tomatoes. I haven't mastered the growth of the blackberry bush there to the right of the table but maybe someday. The hardscape has increased with hard labor and concrete blocks, not all even mind you but presentable all the same.

We did have resident gnomes when we moved in and felt it just wasn't right to bring in a new family so the only other garden creature is the pig/cat....he is open to interpretation and never offended. This year we have a huge umbrella which is very much needed in the California sun.

Overall I can say that I am happy with my purchase here, this is now my home. I made it that way, something of which I am very proud of. The "things" I surroound myself with make me happy because they are beautiful and serve a purpose. The people I have in my life are much the same except that they give back and that is something that a "thing" can't do.

PS; Beauty means more than outside appearance, beauty is a light that shines and warms everything around it.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Father's Day

Father's Day is in a week. It is a bittersweet day for me.

I had the best dad in the world. He wasn't great at fixing things. He did not have any special skills. He wasn't rich. But my dad made me feel important and that is why I loved him. He listened to me and when he looked at me I knew he was looking at me and that he was proud of me for who I was.

My dad would sit and read to my daughter for as long as she said "please", she would trail behind him to the garden and he would give her the world if he could. My dad was the type to help anyone who needed it without thought of payback. He rarely spoke a word in anger or haste, never against someone. When caught sleeping in his rocker he would just chuckle and say "yup, guess I was asleep"! He could laugh at himself better than anyone but you always wanted to laugh with him.

I wish my dad was here but he has been gone many years now and although my daughter was too young to hold onto many memories of her Grand Dad I know that his love for her still exists as does his love for me. I will try to live my life in the way he would be proud.

PS; Daddy, I know I don't do so well on that one topic that you and I disagreed on the most, but I've never seen her the way you did. I hope you can pass me a little more of your patience. Love, Deb

Back on Track???

Work is starting to slow down. We can get so caught up in the everyday stuff that we forget to breath, drink, eat. That was last week. I realize that when I don't do things for myself I just feel that much worse. So this week I made it to the gym 4 out of 5 days. I made some good food and I made sure to drink alot of water!!!

Friday, June 02, 2006

Whirl Wind!!

Life has been a whirlwind lately. A good friend got fired, possibly for cause but hard to tell. Noreen left for vacation May 24th. The other nurse, Eve, called out sick having done NONE of her weekly work. So last week the beach nurse, Karen , and I did all 13 homes alone. I love Karen! She is efficient, thorough and competant. Hope for an easier week did not occur. I worked the holiday for about 5 hours and it did not help me to finish without a butt load of unpaid overtime.

So..... As I am not feeling shitty enough about working my ass off, my mother makes sure to point out to me that my dog is having some issue with her skin/coat. Does she really think I can't see that spot where she is diggin' at herself? Does she believe that I don't hear her scratching at my bedside? Mostly I think that it is just that convenient method for reminding me that I fail her as well as the dog. Course I am not the one who is home all day but will leave the poor dog with an empty water dish while the cat has ice water in a special glass......

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Blankets

Another thing that I really love about California is that during certain times of the year Mother Nature tends to "tuck us in".

The "marine layer" is like this huge bank of dense clouds that cover the coastal area. At night you can see it rolling in, covering the land east of the beaches like a blanket. Then, in the morning, it rolls back out. You can often see it sitting out there during the day, waiting to come back to the east. It is comforting, reliable, cooling.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Horrible People trying to hurt My Prius!

The Condos where I own a 2/2 have the most ridiculous HOA and maintenance people ever known to man. This one guy, Bill Hayes or Hanes, is so lazy that he will drive his Explorer from point A to point B, even if it is 10-20ft. He did that today with the back of his Exploder open. I am driving in behind him when I suddenly hear a horrid explosion (unbelievable as it may sound, my mother could not hear this sound). I am appalled and wondering if something has happened to my beautiful Prius but as I continue forward I can see a spray of white something all over the pavement behind me.

BH goes to pick up the shattered can, I realize what has happened. He does not even look at me or apologize. I get my mom out of the car and into the house, grabbing my camera on the way back out. I can see that there is paint on the tire and the wheel. I think this is it. When I get to work my friends go and look at the car. There is paint all over the back bumper, the back rear door and rear quarter panel. It is devastating. I realize that this is more than talking to Property Management. Insurance will be involved, time will be required to deal with this idiot's incompetancy.

Monday, May 08, 2006

Frustration

My elderly mother lives with me and I truly believe that she sometimes hatches schemes designed to send me to the grave before her.

She like to leave everything to the last minute and then I am expected to jump and run about. If you are going by the store I need X. Now, it is not as though I have not told her unlimited times that I would prefer a shorter list more often but she waits till there are dozens of things and at least one or two are a "dire" need.

The most recent is her shower. Apparently, on Friday morning, it started leaking somewhere near the top resulting in a different type of bathing for her. She does mention this late Friday. All weekend I am just doing little things but she doesn't bother to mention this to me again until 10p on Monday night. I told her I was not about to get wet at 10p. She appeared "put off" and I quickly put the responsibility back in her lap. I told her specifically that she might want to mention it earlier in the day.

My mother truly believes that she is the high priestess, the princess of all. I am apparently her lackey and should recall and attend to her needs without more than one mention. One should at this time be aware of the fact that I have a full time job, a full life, am trying to learn Italian and cook and clean not only for myself and the dog but for my mother.

She is most likely to throw this type of stuff about when I have been very good to her. I made her Lamb Chops this weekend after my nephew failed to carry through on his promise to bring some to her. I made a appoinment to get her teeth repaired. She has some wonderful meals put up for the week. But there is that need to remind me that I am not capable of meeting her needs, that I am lacking.

I pray that this is not some sort of functional aging issue and that I will not drive my daughter to distraction when (if) I manage to outlive my mother and become an old lady myself. Surely I do not walk in those shoes.

Battle Axe!

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Prius Smugness??



I really disagree that we are a smug bunch. We are simply not as stressed as some but these ever increasing gas prices. On Monday $3.18, Tuesday $3.23, Wednesday $3.28, Thursday $3.34.

My favorite game is "What if..". What if I still had the Sport Trac? Today I needed 5.8 for $19.50. That was for 260 miles (44.8 mpg). The Sport Trac got 14mpg...it would have cost me $62 for this same mileage!!!

OK, so it is a little difficult to not be proud of the little rebel..but is that smug??

And if gas mileage was not enough, just look at the cargo space, Smart Key, Regen Braking, smooth acceleration, cockpit design..... We have reason to be smug, so there!!!

Sunday, April 30, 2006

Would you...

If you knew when you were going to die would you live your life any differently?

I feel bad sometimes when I don't make good use of a beautiful day. I cleaned the house, cooked, did some yard work. I should have been out sitting in a nice little park somewhere, walking the dog, looking at a fountain.....

Poopy!!

Monday, April 17, 2006

Flying...

Taking the grandparents to the airport in the morning. Once they go and come back, then I will be all that much closer to going myself. Chocolate dipped Kahlua Wafers will be going with them.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

It's all good...

What makes it all good? Some folks always look for the big payoff, but in reality life is about the little things.

Walking the dog on a beautiful morning, the birds singing in the background, spider webs shining in the morning dew.

Crawling into my bed at night, dark room, comfy bed, dog snoring next to my bed.

Having anyone of my clients do something silly. At psych rounds the other day one of our newer consumers came right up to me and took my hand and touched her cheek to mine. For some reason she has formed an attachment to me even though I do not see her often. The unconditional love these guys give you is awesome. Even when they might be manipulating me a little they do it without malice so you got to love them!

Having a party at my house and watching our mixed group having so much fun together.

Cooking!!!

Crying at some silly movie that I have seen several times and still cry at certain parts.

My daughter's graduation, birthday celebrations, wedding..........

Yeah, life is about the little things, sometimes even the mundane. Life is very good these days.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Scars

Scales, black and shiny, circle the golden tan rings, smoothed edge.
They no longer reach to the sky but others stand close.
Their bodies are as black and scarred, golden spots shine where the dark skin has fallen away.
Their arms reach out through fluffy sleeves of green, bare to the ends.
Tears fall. Life is scarred but still it exists? Do they suffer?

I went towards Julian today. Took the old route 79 off of the 8east. I think I went up after the fires. The blackness and desolate area was heart wrenching then but today it seemed even sadder. The trees that are standing are losing their limbs. These were trees that didn't even look like they had been burned. Maybe it was the recent storms but there were so many of them broken. Then I got closer to the burn areas. Roads that were once wrapped in the cool warmth of the leaves and limbs of those trees are now barren, open to the sunlight, hundreds of black ringed stumps lining the roadside. Some pine trees that burned on one side and not the other stand at the side of the road.
By the time I got past this I was too depressed to stop in Julian and went through town watching the tourists who flock there for the shopping and the still lagging snow. I was not in the mood anymore. I couldn't drive back down that way either so I followed the 79 to Ramona stopping at Wynola on the way. Quieter, sedate little antique place. There was not as much damage on that side.
I thought of all the folks who were affected by the fires. I wonder how some of these folks face this every day and when will things be "normal" again. The guy who started the original fire and the difficulties that surrounded fighting the fires that ensued can be second guessed forever, but the amount of time it will take for "nature to get back on her feet" is beyond what I can imagine.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Lights

The air is warm, the night struggles to be seen.
There are red tailights going ahead, there are white headlights running in the other direction.
As I pass under the road the ambulance speeds by above, red, white, flashing and screaming.
On the side off the hill the lights of the trolley crawl like a snake toward the college where the self powered billboard flashes and pulses with sun like brightness.

Still the night beckons, through streetlights and buses and stores, opened and closed.
24 hours, open all night, extended hours....why do we waste so much time.
Embrace the night, close the curtains, rest your soul and release your dreams.
Peace, the night has come.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Vacation

I go on vacation quite often. I join my daughter and her husband through the lovely pictures they send and their blog. In less than 6 months I will be there in person. I am so excited that I can barely contain myself. I worry about things that could go wrong but I try to keep it in mind that my friends will be there to support my trip planning. Soon bella Italia.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

La Mesa and the Hybrid

La Mesa is a town in its' own right, it flows from the east side of San Diego. You don't know that you've left SD but you have. While driving around my town I run into so many Hybrids that I nearly had one hit me while I was stopped on a corner and she was cutting the corner a bit too tightly. We both had red Prii so it would have made quite a picture! When I go to the gym there is usually at least one Prius there, Trader Joe's, Vons, Downtown La Mesa. Leaving my house I can often find one or two Prii hanging about, often pulling onto University at the same time. I have started to notice that it is not only Prius II but also Gen I and Honda Hybrids. Not sure what makes La Mesa such a hot bed of Hybrids but I like it.

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Work

Work is a relative term now isn't it? Some people love work, they stay at their diligently pounding through projects. Then there are those who say "I'm going to (off site)" and they never come back. Or they might even tell you they are plannning to take a sick day cause they are at their limit and don't want to lose any.....
I goof off a little during the work day but I also get calls late at night or early in the morning and when I work I am effecient, That always worked out poorly for me in the hospital. "Oh Debbie, as long as your caught up could you go help (name)." Well (name) was always behind so I learned to take my breaks, probably drove my patients crazy hanging out with them and learned to write notes very slowly.
I love what I do now because of the amount of flexibility. Because I am the "boss" I know that I have to present a good work ethic in order to get it from my nurses. I can wear jeans and even run around in my gym clothes at the home. One night I had to go to a Santee home to let a staff in the house, after he accidentally locked himself out, I went in my jammies!
Life is too short to do something you don't like. As I said before, money is not the end all. Set Priorities.

Friday, March 03, 2006

Priorities

Sometimes I think there is something wrong with me. I just don't seem to have the same priorities as many people have. I know so many "frugal" people. I have friends who devote so much time to looking for bargains that they don't have time to enjoy what they have. I know people who have to use that coupon even though it is for some trashy processed food product, or even if they have a dozen of the same things in their closet. It seems like a game to them but to me it is such a waste of time.

Money is nice and it is necessary. I don't think you should restrict yourself too much though in the pursuit of more. I like fresh vegetable from the farmers market. Sometimes it is a bit more expensive but the flavor is worth it. I bought my most expensive car ever and it is worth every cent I paid for it.

I have friends who travel all the time and they like to go the cheapest way possible, family too. I was explaining to someone tonight that my priority for my Italy trip was the shortest amount of time to get there, not the money. She could not understand the importance of an extra 4-6 hours with my family and I could not understand why she didn't get it.

Life is short. You may think that you are going to be here until you're 80 or 90 but tomorrow may be it. Does $200, $400 or $600 make a big difference in the grand scheme of things?? Time is money, and my time is priceless

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Thank You Jessica

It is good to continue learning as you get older. That way you keep everything sharper.

My daughter showed me that it was not that I hated cottage cheese but that I hate the way it had been prepared for me in the past. I quite enjoy using it in cooked items. Today I made Chili Potatoes; 1/2 of a good baker covered with FFCC and Vegetarian Chili, topped off with some low fat mexican cheese and diced tomatoes!! Yum!

The real star today was the Spinach Lasagna: I got some fresh pasta from TJ and used a can of fire roasted tomatoes with about a 1/2 jar of their vodka tomato sauce thinned out with some No-Chicken Broth. I used the food processor to chop a 1/2 bag of baby spinach and about 8 good sized basil leaves. Then I added 8oz FFCC and 6oz low fat ricotta, 1/4c egg product some grated romano cheese and some pepper. This got blended into this beautiful green tinge mixture. Layer your pan with the sauce, pasta, spinach mixture and a sprinkle of mozz or mixed italian cheeses, not much just a sprinkle. Repeat for another layer and top it off with the last of the pasta and sauce. Bake at 375-400 for about 40 minutes and then top with cheese and let it brown.

If Jessica had not cooked some foods for me with CC in it, I would never had known that it would be this good in something. Traders FFCC is awesome! Mom likes the 4% fat one from Vons, she eats hers cold...I still don't like it cold.

So thank you mia bella figlia. Vorrei baciare la tua guancia!

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Mare

The sea, it is a giver of life and a taker of life. I like what the sea gives me. This weekend I will try out a new Halibut recipe. I have promoted my Tilapia recipe to all my friends but here it comes.

Tilapia, The best way!
Amounts are by personal preference, play with it.
Olive or Almond Oil for pan searing.
Tilapia with S/P
Limes, cut and ready to squeeze
Cilantro rough chopped, enough to lightly cover the fish
Red Pepper flakes
Butter about 1-2 Tblsp depending on amount of fish
I use a little bit of rum but you can do with out it.
Get the pan nice and hot, toss in the fish. After about one-1 1/2 minute turn the fish over and turn the heat down to medium. Squeeze on the lime juice, RP flakes and dot with the butter. If you want the booze just splash 1-2 Tbsp over thefish then toss the cilantro on top. It is ready to serve.

That's not Catfish!
Catfish w/S/P
Homemade or commercial Pesto Sauce
Parmesan Cheese, grated

As above start with a hot pan that is ok for oven use. Olive oil works best for this one. Brown one side of the fish then turn it over, top it with a layer of pesto and place in 400 oven for about 7-10 minutes. Top with parmesan cheese and return to melt (ok to use broiler).

I imagine that i may try some octopus while I am in Italy but I don't think it would end up on my plate much, we'll just have to see......

Passive Aggressive

As a nurse with a long history in the field of mental illness I still cannot come to a full understanding of why people develope certain behaviors.
My mother is the queen of passive aggressive (pa) behavior. I haven't eaten, so even though I have told her that I will do the dishes in an attempt to get her out of our very small kitchen, she diddles around, rinsing the dishes like there is no tomorrow. Yet when I am not in a hurry to get into the kitchen she leaves her dishes unrinsed in the sink.
So when we go somewhere, I like the radio on pretty loud, I know she hates it. It's not like we are going to have any earth shattering conversation so why shouldn't one of us be more comfortable. So I have learned (pa) from my mother and use it on her despite the fact that I know it will not change how she approaches things.
I am hopeful that this is not some sort of genetic thing and that I can avoid making my daughter's life the hell my mother has made mine. Seeing my mother's life is painful at times. The best thing she ever did was to have kids. I consider myself and my sister to be her best projects, both of my brothers suffered mental illness (I think I mentioned in an earlier post that my parents were 1st cousins). Otherwise her days were filled with Bingo, game shows and soap operas. I wonder at times if she was really satisified with her life.
I wish I was in better shape but overall I am happy with my life. I have a great career, friends who truly love me, a daughter who is talented and loved in her own strong persona. I am proud of the effect that I have had on those I have dealt with in life. I feel like I have made a contribution to the world around me. I hope I have.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Brown Eyes



Brown eyes are very important to me. Mine are not brown.

My daughter (of course) is the most important set of brown eyes in my life. They were never baby blue, just dark and deep brown. They have always been warm, intelligent and open. When she looks at my son-in-law with those eyes, I know that everything is OK.

My "other" daughter, the one that leaves tons of hair all over my floors on a daily basis is the other set of brown eyes in my life. Hers are forgiving, adoring and childlike. She is my best friend and I often don't feel like I deserve her. Right now she is chewing on one of those petrified bull penis things.......

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Sunshine

Living in California you tend to forget that the rest of the planet does not have weather like this. We are insulated here. There are regulations about smoking in bars. Some cities like Del Mar are banning smoking on the beaches as well. Drinking has come under control at most beaches as well.
As a non-smoker I love going into a restaurant or a bar and enjoying myself and my food without smoke clogging my tastebuds.
A few places east are starting to get into it. I know when I go to Italy I will have to put up with more smoke, I am hoping for a lack of cigars though as those are really nasty. Something in the process makes me violently ill.
Take a deep breath, even my car contributes to that clean air. The sun, I cannot take credit for.

Monday, February 13, 2006

Where are we?

Some of the things that people will say on the internet surprise me. If I were standing in front of someone with whom I have debated an issue online with, would the debate be the same??

Some guy was blaming WW2 on the Jews sucking up all the money. Like some Jewish folks went out and said, "Hey let's really drive this Hitler guy crazy and make some money". Is Hitler's jealousy and hatred of Jews justified in light of their financial supremacy?? Did they deserve the atrocities that were enacted during the war. maybe this guy is one of those that thinks it was all made up. I don't think photoshop was around then......

Will there ever be a time when everyone could put away their insecurities and hatred and actually think first of another rather than themselves........

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Late Nights....

We haven't had a party last past 10p for a while but the last couple went home at 1am Saturday morning. I believe that a party is a success if you have friends, food and a comfortable atmosphere. Notice booze and music are not listed.

We do like booze but these days it is more the enjoyment of this vinter or that. Was that a syrah or sangiovese? A chianti! Cool! My friends circulate. There will be some in the kitchen , some on the patio, some in the living room. People who don't know each other will talk and learn new things. People who know each other very well may learn something they didn't know about each other. We rarely have music on, people love to eat and drink and talk!

Food is big for our parties. Beside my regular "Creamy Gorganzola and Mushroom Wedges", I also topped some with a mixture of these incredible Rosemary Almonds that I got from Trader Joe's ground up with a chipolte pepper. The big hit was the Roasted Onion and Chipolte Spread topped with Pine Nuts. I like to mix low fat soft cream cheese with goat cheese. Makes a great base spread, the flavors and textures really compliment each other. I added about a half of a perfectly carmelized onion, 1 pepper and 1-1 1/2 teaspoon of the sauce to 4oz each cream/goat cheese and creamed it in the food processor. It was to die for! My friend Pat is going to start being my "namer ". I cook very well but can't get names for stuff. She dubbed the cake "Cappuchino Cathedral Cake".

When people are still talking about the party on Monday morning you know you've done a good job. It's all about making everyone comfortable.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Night

Along with crazy periods and night sweats, sometimes I just can't seem to get to sleep. When I hit a certain point I just figure that it is best to stay awake and call my kid. It is perfect, I am laying in my bed waiting to sleep and she is just starting her day. I call at other times to let her wonderful husband, Greg, know that I love him too. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't my subconscious mind just setting me up for the phone call as opposed to my hormones running amok!

Friday night is my first party in a while. It is the "older" crowd, no nurses and no Q's. My friend Pat is even staying over so she can really enjoy some of the wines. I will plan my menu while I am walking through Trader Joe's in the morning. That is why I would never make a good caterer...it's that last minute creativity. Good for my parties but a customer probably doesn't want many surprises!! I hope they have some nice bouquets.

New Challenges

This whole change of life thing presents new challenges. I am not big on creams and remedies and cosmetics but I had been using this "Yam Cream". It is supposed to help out your hormones by providing natural Progesterone. Progesterone is a highly regulatory hormone in itself. It helps us girls to know when to stop bleeding. I had run out and been with out for 3 weeks. I got hit so hard that I was taking 600mg Ibuprofen with a Vicodin. Now I have broken limbs and had numerous root canals done and never required that level of medication. I think I'll get some more Yam Cream.

Monday, February 06, 2006

What is it all about?

Why are we here? What is the ultimate goal?? Should one live ones life with gusto, not caring what we do might hurt someone else, the next generation, ourselves. The S&M folks go to the limits for pain/pleasure. Daredevils risk it all and sometimes lose. Others live to be 100 or better but live a sedate life.

Not everyone can be in the "Limelight", and some may not want to be. I am pretty happy knowing that my friends can't wait to come to my house for a party. I am pretty happy knowing that my daughter (and her darling husband) love me. I wish I could lose weight but that becomes harder with age.

And speaking of age, I have definitely gotten to that stage in my life where I must realistically prepare for "departure". I am not ready to go, don't want to go. But I am on blood pressure pills and cholesterol medication. My dad and my brother both died of heart conditions. My sister and other brother died of cancer. Neither are wonderful choices. I have a horrible suspicion that my mother could easily out live me. Somedays I think going might be better than staying with her. But I have more than her in my life so I really want to stay as long as possible.

So as to "what's it all about?" I think it is about today and tomorrow, yesterday is done with. It is about my daughter, my nephews, my neighbors, my friends. Until we die it is about what is around us and what we do each day, but we should try to be good to each other and the earth so that just in case there is something going on after we die...............

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Best

The best thing I ever did in my life was to get pregnant. Then the next best was to move to California.

My daughter just had her 29th birthday. It was the first birthday where we were seperated since she was 5. I was a single parent all the way through. There were days when I wished that I could lean on someone else but in the long run I would not have wanted it any different.

When Jess was little I would buy her books. Mom would say "why buy her all those books, she can't read". This year she graduated from UCSD, English major, won a very prestigious award for writing and can get a job just about anywhere doing anything she wants. The little girl that I would read to for hours is all grown up and doing her own reading and writing.

Remember that the best things in life are not always the easiest. They are worth every tear and every smile. That is what makes them the best.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Lunch

I have been better lately about bringing my lunch to work. It is very entertaining for my friends. They look, "what's in there", "how'd you make that", "can I have a bite".......
Sometimes it is just those return glances and "that looks fabulous" comments that prompt the offer of a taste. I always bring generous portions because I know there is a good chance that it will be feeding more than me.

Smoked Salmon Spread

One 6 oz package of smoked salmon (like lox)
2 tblsp fine chopped onion
4 oz Goat Cheese
5 oz Low Fat Cream Cheese
Pepper to taste, careful and wait on the salt
1 Tblsp (+/-) Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
Toss it in the Food Processor and blend till smooth and creamy, I add about 1-2 tblsp non-fat evaporated milk to make it as creamy as I want it. You don't need to be exact in anything. Increasing the salmon will give you more intense salmon flavor, more goat cheese than cream cheese will add a bit more sharpness and the chili sauce...well, it is up to your tolerance!!

Saturday, January 28, 2006

child to adult to child....

We do come full circle if we live our lives to the end. My mother is going to be 90 in April. Her hearing aids were just whistling like crazy. That high pitched squeal that drills its way into your head and rattles each tooth. It rests at the base of your brain and builds pressure until you think your head is going to leave your shoulders and go flying off like a rapidly deflating balloon!!!

"Mom, please turn your hearing aids down, they are making noise."
"Well I guess I just shouldn't wear them"

Anything that start with "mom would you please" always ends with some sort of pouty answer. "I wish God would take me" is always a good one. Mom's other purposeful communication involves telling visitors that she hasn't gone somewhere. "I haven't been to church for almost a year". See the last 3-4 times I asked she said no, too tired or whatever. So I stopped asking.

Food is in the fridge and "areas" have been designated (mostly by her) for food items. I'll fill it up with good food and it rots, "oh I didn't know I could eat that". She has always been told when items were prepped for a party so why she continues this is unknown. I always tell her it is her choice what she chooses to eat.

I do not understand why she chooses to live her life like this. This should have been a time for us to be close but she put up barriers at every pass, chooses to be non-communicative. She loves "the fight", has always chosen to do battle for some slight, real or imagined. She loves to write to companies and complain about their products. Then she gets freebies, coupons or whatever and lives on telling that story to everyone she sees, many times more than once. I can not imagine what the thrill is. While I do not shrink from conflict, I do not seek it out.

Life is too short to always be negative. My life is so good except for having her live with me. You see the joke is that everyone else died so they would not get stuck with her. My brother, Billie, died when he was 18, me 10, cancer of the bone. He was mentally unbalanced so it may have been for the best. You see my parents were first cousins, something that is not allowed for good reason. My other brother, Matt, died when I was in my early 30's. Mom found him dead, face down on the living room couch. He was "retired" from the Airforce and was pretty much not doing anything, living at home. When my nephews cleaned out his stuff they found child pornagraphy. My sister was born before my parents met. Her dad was never involved in her life and you would never know that she was not my father's daughter. She died after my brother. She was cool, little drinking problem but a great person overall. We'll save dad for another day. I loved my dad.

Friday, January 27, 2006

There are so many times in my life when I have had the opportunity to be an observer. I love to throw parties for my friends and I will sit back and just watch everyone interacting. Sometimes I feel like I have become invisible because I am able to watch so completely. These are often the times when I feel most at peace, closest to "God".

Monday, January 23, 2006

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

This one is way easy!! It is mostly the Tollhouse recipe but I do 1/4c soy margarine and 3/4c smooth low fat peanut butter for the FAT in the recipe, use the "Peanutbutter/Milk Chocolate Chip" Chips from Nestle's and no extra nuts (unless you must but I don't think so). I also adjust the sugar to 1c Brown sugar and 1/2c white sugar.

Always remember to take your cookies out just before you think you should...too much cooking time makes cookies dry and hard!

This is Chocolate Cake

One box of chocolate cake mix:
Instead of pure water try 1/3 c Kahlua or Bailey's topped off with water, Real or fake eggs as requested in directions, substitute the oil with one container of (my favorite for this cake) Yoplait Boston Cream or Vanilla Non-Fat Yogurt, one box of chocolate pudding mix.
Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes in bundt pan (less if using a flat pan...cake will be dense and moist).

Cool and remove from pan as usual. Make the glaze by simmering 1/2-2/3c of whatever liquor you used in the cake with same amount of water and 1/4c sugar or Splenda. As it gets thicker take it off the stove and brush intermittently over the cake. Dust with powdered sugar if desired and enjoy. This is a great cake recipe. I tend to enjoy cake with little or no frosting and sub the non-fat Yoplait for all my oil in boxed mixes.

Cooking

I have so improved my cooking skills. I grew up with white bread and meat and potatoes. My mom and Grandma were ok cooks, nothing special. I think being exposed to so many fresh items and varied foods here in San Diego helped me to learn how to put things together.

I love to stand in my small kitchen with the cabinet and fridge doors open. I peruse the contents and "Voila" a plan emerges. I think this is easy but my friends tell me "no way!". I find as much pleasure in cooking as I do in refinishing an old bookcase or acid staining concrete (though cooking is definitely easier than those two things). I am not a cooking snob either. I think it is fine to use box mixes, just don't limit yourself to following the directions.

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Time



I have some time to kill. What a strange term but true. After all if we aren't doing something useful isn't is like killing time instead of using it for something worthwhile.

There are so many things right now that I am waiting for. I am waiting to go to Italy to see my daughter. I am waiting for my mom to pass on. While I wait I live my life as best I can. There are so many things I can do with my time and sometimes I do what I should and other times I am just a lump.

In 2002 I bought this 906 sq. ft. condo. It has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. My mom has the master, someone other than me has always had the master. It was pretty white bread, plain walls, mint green kitchen, ugly linoleum in the bathrooms.

My first room to paint was the little hallway. Tiny space with three doors and a built-in cabinet that would later be taken out in favor of a lovely corner cabinet in teak. The little hallway is the color of pumpkin pie. It is warm and dramatic in such a small space.

The next color decision was also easy. Red for my bedroom. It is a soft red but not bright or dark. My furniture glows against it. I finally tok down the massive white closet sliders in favor of a design of my own making with painters canvas and strips of red oak. My friends can't believe the stuff I do. It doesn't seem like a big deal to me. The bedroom floor was the first to go. The carpet had been so nasty!! I put in a black border and did swirls of amber over the main body of the floor. I swore that it was too much work and that acid staining was in my past. That would ony last just so long. The floor is aging beautifully. There isn't a day that goes by that I do not look at my floors with pride and appreciation.

I would paint my bathroom twice. The last color is a vibrant gold. I really though of a breast fed baby's poop when it was going up. I would re-furbish the exhisting cabinet, replacing the sink and ripping up the old linoleum in favor of beautiful Italian tiles. The old aluminum medicaine cabinet came down in favor of a rich Tuscan mirror. The kitchen is also a goldish color. When I made the decision to paint the dark wood cabinets (plywood for the drawers and lower doors) my friend, Pat, was agahast!! You can't paint wood! I agree if it is good wood, but this wasn't. The first time she saw my beautiful purple cabinets with their fancy brushed nickle knobs and pulls, she realized that I do know what I am talking about. My living room would be another two color thing. The first one was bland, peachy. Not right with the rest. The kitchen is open to the living room so it needed to work with it not against it. I had already purchased my purple chair and ottoman, the new leather was a rich rusty brown, the walls are now that bright green that you see on all those commercials. Imagine my surprise as I saw what I had thought was an unusual color feature so prevelently in so many ads! Now the living room and mom's room all have the acid stained concrete, in the living room we did an awesome broken checkerboard design. Mom's room is like an edge carpet with in the floor. Hers is harder to keep up, the walker and the constant rolling about in her desk chair takes the sealer down all the time.

Time is what you make of it.....

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

California is such a great place to live. We have some of the most expensive real estate around but it is worth it to have sunshine most days, a view of the beach or of the mountains. I can drive a couple of hours and be in the heart of Mexico or on Big Bear with snow on the ground.

I started spending time on Paso Robles and Solvang after a friend moved into the area. People make wine for the love of it, some for the love of money. I like the folks who do it for fun. Standing at the bar at Penman is one of my favorite things to do. Beth and Rosie are quite a pair. They feed you, I like to compare recipes with Rosie and discuss different ways to use any of the many oils and vinegars they also sell. The pouring is free in more ways than one and oyu must pace yourself as Tobin James and Pretty Smith are also on the east side of the 101. TJ makes you feel like you have indeed fallen into the old west. Having a designated driver is great. If you are tasting to buy though remember that it is ok to NOT DRINK the whole pour!! Lisa Pretty is a singular woman. Now running the winery with little help and without her ex (the Smith part) she puts out some exemplory wines. She is often up at the house as you drive in but comes running as she hears her dogs start to bark as you approach the tasting room.

There are so many wineries starting up and sometimes just changing hands. This only discusses 3 of my favorites on the east side. These wineries make afew whites but what is life without a little touch of color?!
I will need another time for the west, Santa Barabara, Napa, Sonoma....... How many reasons are there to love California?
Life is never what you thought it was going to be. Folks make their 5 year plan, their 2 year plan and you know what happens?? Life passes by you.....