Mindless Monday

Remember the saying "Weekends were made for Michelob," well not so much. I actually don't like Michelob, and really not sure if they still make beer. I'll have to ask the beer snob in my house. And I just asked, he's sitting right next to me. and he said yes they still make it and he cringed,  He thought he was "high class" back in the day when he drank that Michelob Dry. Times have changed.

My weekends are marathon runs. Trying to be outside as much as possible, especially as I work from home, we all need to get outside of our daily environments.  This past weekend, and mine starts on Friday, was full of trying to get back into my regular routine. Well, it didn't really even start, I had one day of a sort of regular routine. In a few weeks I'll try again, cause it ain't going to happen in the next two weeks.

I did get to stop at my current favorite coffee place, Groundwork. Are you starting to see a coffee theme to this blog, I am. I love Groundwork and this sliver of a location is my favorite, the other one on Rose is much bigger, but I like the "one person" wide space on Main Street in Santa Monica. I usually get a Mocha, and that's unusual for me. But they make it so well, not to sweet and not to milky, just the right combo. This week I choose a Machiatto...i needed the jolt of espresso with just a dollop of milk. It was perfect start to the weekend. Hope your week is off to a great start. It's definitely cooler in LA today so that's a good thing. Enjoy this September day.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

In a few months my fellow bloggers and I are doing an event that will include a coffee tasting.  The good folks at Stumptown Coffee Roasters have already agreed to submit there coffee for this tasting. This past Labor Day weekend we went camping a perfect place to try some new coffee. Thanks to Stumptown we had the opportunity to try some amazing coffees. I'm kicking myself for not purchasing the camping coffee mugs, they are perfect. They will be going in my camping kit for the next time.

The two we tried were Ethiopia Mordecofe (I kept calling this one Mordecai, as in the bible character) and Holler Mountain.

Incidentally my fellow coffee aficionado, Gita, also gifted Ethiopia Mordecofe to me on our last visit to San Jose. She's up in Seattle and has been bragging about Stumptown for a few months. We have our own little coffee exchange, I sent her a bag of Handsome Coffee Roaster beans she brought me Stumptown.

Ethiopia Mordecofe definitely has a fruity taste. Can I say, seriously, tasting coffee out in the woods, before everyone is awake, just opens all the senses. Aaron, as in the other half of Deborah at my.life.at.playtime loved this one. He's a tea snob and after I read the flavor notes, which include black tea, orange blossom and bergamot which converge (their word) with flavors of lime, peach and hops. I told him you like it cause it has flavors of black tea. This is a good cup of coffee that everyone enjoyed. I think Gita mixed it with some Handsome Coffee and said it was mind blowingly good.

The second bag we tried was Holler Mountain, I really liked this blend. It went perfect with french toast and bacon. The flavor notes are syrupy, with notes of blackberry, hazelnut and toffee. We brewed these coffees two different ways. We used a French Press above from Target (only $12) and brewed the other in old fashion percolator.

I can't wait till the official coffee tasting where we all can take notes on each coffee and pick our favorites. I figure it's like wine or art, it's subjective and really your taste.  Thanks to Stumptown for letting me try these coffee's before the big event. I might be slightly biased now to Stumptown, which isn't a bad thing, since they'll be opening in LA very soon.

Mindless Monday

As much work it is to prepare for a camping trip, I still love getting on the road and out of the city. Once you set up "home", your tent, it's just about living. Not much else to do, but enjoy the outdoors. Chop some wood for fire, boil some water for coffee, put on your shoes for hiking and exploring. Life is simple, we don't need much, well a hot clean shower is always nice. I think that is one of the life lessons I always learn when I go camping. Life doesn't need to be complicated, we don't necessarily need a lot of "stuff." We really can get by with the minimal supplies, just the basics.  As we're back to "civilization" and fully dialed in technically, I find it peaceful to just not do much today. Another busy week will present itself and we'll be back to next Monday. So I'm being fully present today, recharging and just happy reading and lazing about in my pj's. 

Failure Schmailure

In the essence of true transparency, I decided to try making a vegan, gluten free dessert. Why you ask? Because quite a few of my friends are vegan or gluten-free and whatever else you can think of, oh raw food eaters (not going to touch that one yet). This is the first time I've tried to make a recipe fully from scratch, I mean developing the ingredients and measurements with no guide. I probably should have started with something simpler, like with BUTTER, and real sugar. 

So as beautiful as the batter and the pluots look, this cake didn't exactly turn out right. First off I could taste the earth balance butter and secondly it wasn't sweet enough and one more thing, I think I should have put the pluots in halfway thru the process. They were so juicy the cake really never fully baked. So what I got was a pudding cake. I do have to say the pluots helped the sweetness. However, I think I'll stick to tarts for pluots and stone fruits. Next try will involve canola oil, instead of earth balance butter, and a little more sweetener and probably some almonds on top for crunch and prettiness. 

So I call this Failure Schmailure....yes I'm still trying to eat it, and yes I'll try this again. 

Muji

About 3 years ago, while in NYC working, I was introduced to Muji. I'd never seen this store, they didn't have one in LA. I love Muji's philosophy:

"In its deliberate pursuit of the pure and the ordinary – achieves the extraordinary."

All their products live by that philosophy. I was immediately drawn to the stationary, I love notebooks and use them all the time. Since then I've been a fan, mostly ordering online.  Earlier this year on a trip to San Jose, right outside my hotel was a Muji store. I nearly squealed, actually I did squeal, and on my night off immediately went to shopping. I told my two co-workers (one based in Denver, the other in Seattle) about my purchases, they'd never heard of the store either.

So a few weeks ago on our last visit to San Jose, wearing my Muji scarf, I made converts out of these two ladies. I think I went back to Muji three days in a row. We all bought scarfs, pens, notepads, socks, I think someone even bought a linen blazer. Oh and I said I'd bought that story board book above and colored pencils for one my friends kids...yeah I am SO keeping that. I love it.

Best thing I found out while there, they are opening a store in Hollywood, I'd prefer if it was closer to the Westside, because it will probably be quicker to fly to San Jose then to drive to Hollywood.  But I guarantee I'll be there when it opens.  Check out their online store, you'll love the simplicity of their products, and if you travel a lot, they have small items perfect for carry-on luggage.

Tech Tuesday

For this months Tech Tuesday, or maybe you'll call it a non-tech Tuesday, I want to highlight what we did before we all had a computer in our hands when we travel.

About 20 years ago I went to Italy with 4 friends.  I traveled with two girlfriends and we made plans to meet up with our guy friends in Rome. Back then, maybe people had pagers, certainly cell phones were not prevalent in the US. I do remember seeing a few very Chic Italians with cell phones, but only a few. 

We were young, traveling off-season (March) and flying by the seat of our pants so we made NO hotel reservations anywhere. Instead we decided to look thru our Let's Go Italy book and decide what hotel we'd meet at when we arrived in Rome. You see we flew into Milan, went our separate ways and agreed that mid-way thru our trip, we'd meet in Rome at "such and such" hotel, with NO reservation. 

Of course when we got to Rome and called the hotel there were NO rooms left. Are you getting the idea, with all the NO's. So I went down the list of hotels in our travel guide, and in my broken Italian found one that had a room for us three girls. I'll tell you about the adventure getting there in another post. When we arrived we asked if there was a room for our friends, and yes there was, so we asked them to hold it for them.

Now, how to tell our friends that we changed hotels and have a room for them.  What would you have done? No cell phone, no contact number for where they were staying, no idea when they were arriving, we only agreed on the day and place, not the time.

We decided to go to the hotel where we said we'd meet and try to speak to the owner and let them know to tell our friends where we are. Once we got to the hotel, we couldn't find a door or entrance, we saw a buzzer and buzzed several times. No one answered.  Across the street was a cafe, we ate, drank cappuccino and waited and waited. After being fully caffeinated, we devised a new plan.

Remember no cell phones. "Let's write a note." We laughed at ourselves, because there was no alternative and we thought this was really silly and probably wouldn't work. However, we found a place on the building near the buzzer and left it. This was a busy street, mopeds zooming by, people walking up and down, cafes, tourist, you name it. Our thought, "hope the note stays put." It looked something like this (original note is long gone): 

 Then, well...we went on tour thru Rome. Walked to the Colosseum, that's me above, with my manual camera, some 20 years ago. I still have and love that camera.  We left the boys fate to the Note and had ourselves a grand time. Saw a Vogue fashion shoot, wandered around the Colosseum, dodged the crazy Italian drivers and enjoyed our first day in Rome.

Later that day, when we arrived back to the Hotel the owners were so excited, "the boys are here!" they yelled. We were really surprised, we went running to their room and had to know how they found us. "We saw the NOTE!" We shared our travel tales and rejoiced that all had worked out well. Without the technology we have today we still found a way to make sure we communicated, even if it was the old-fashioned way.

How did we ever get by without our phones? We rely on them so much, I call my husband when we get separated at Costco, "where are you"? Do you remember what you use to do? I have to say these adventures make me smile as we didn't have any alternatives back then. Not every outcome turns out well, but you can always chalk it up to a tale you will have to tell.

Today when I travel in-country it's easy with my phone service in most areas. But only 3 years ago when I went to the UK and France, I didn't have an iPhone, only a Blackberry and my texting was non-existent, email and phone calls were limited, it was only for work. Today it's so expensive to get your phone to work internationally I'm not sure I'd even try. I really like to be disconnected from it all. Though I know I'd be all over Instagram, so I'd probably have to work something out or go into serious withdrawals.

This weekend we'll be camping and I already know we'll have no phone service and I'm kind of looking forward to that.  What do you do during travel, especially internationally, do you take your phones or unplug? Would love to hear.

Mindless Monday

This past week SB and I volunteered nearby, Beverly Hills. Renewed friendships, dug deeper into just a passing hello or how you doing from acquaintance's. Made new friends, found a kindred spirit that is 20+ years older, walked up and down Rodeo drive, knocked at door where Gene Kelly use to live, shopped an estate sale, had my picture taken by tourist's on a star tour, apparently I was standing in front of a celebrities house. What I learned, no matter where you live or work or volunteer, we all have the same problems, rich or poor, we all have aches and pains of aging, of the economy, of family issues, well at least at the moment. When you think of Beverly Hills you think of celebrity and fame which are fleeting, what matters are who we are inside and our relationship with our creator. It's so nice to be with people who have endured all kinds of things in life yet we all have a common belief that gives us hope of a better life that isn't so superficial. Getting off my soapbox now....it's my Mindless Monday, so that's part of what is in my jumbled brain.

Mindless Monday

Two weeks of volunteer work, in between regular work, blogging, funerals, going-away parties, blogging event planning, trying to keep up with my girlfriends, calling my mom, and then a week of work travel...leaves my mind mushy.  I literally slept walked this morning as I tried to put one foot in front of the other on my beach walk. I could have easily sat at the end of the pier watching the pelican's above soar over the surface of the glassy ocean waters. Managed a quick cup-o-joe at Ground Works, I love that little coffee shop. It's teeny tiny and yet warm and friendly. Grabbed me a bag o beans of Black Gold to try tomorrow with my morning breakfast. Currently listening to the new Civil Wars album. Hauntingly good and painful to know they may never deliver this vocal magic again. How do you recreate chemistry like that, please make up Joy and John Paul.

California Nature

During our time in Arnold enjoying Nature was one of the best parts. I really forget how much I miss this living in the city. 

Dragonfly's, I swear I chased these bad boys down and still only got just a fleeting image. I will invest in a waterproof camera next time as they buzzed me a million times while floating on the Lake. 

Can you smell the pine leaves, another thing I miss. FRESH AIR.  

These wild lily's were everywhere. The contrast of the green leaves, blue water and bright orange petals made you smile. 

I love trees, the stillness of them and then the rustle when the wind breathes thru them is one of my favorite moments. 

I called this my pine cone constellation, not sure which one, but it reminded me of the stars I saw at night. 

More lily's hanging out at the lake. 

Light, leaves, shadow and pattern. 

I don't believe you could call it a lake if you didn't see the cattails on the edges of the water. 

California Lake Country

While everyone loves to travel to England in the summer to drive thru the lake country that sings of Jane Austin's past, us Californian's have our own lake country. Visiting these lakes felt like a modern and much cleaner version of Dirty Dancing. It's the idea of creating family memories and enjoying a week or two together. Having no children of our own, I can't say that Rob and I have any family traditional vacation. Unless we count going home to New Mexico every year, which usually involves helping to repair anything on Mom's house, hardly a memory building vacation, well maybe. We usually look for a place we haven't visited yet and go to exploring. We're always up for an adventure, especially when the budget allows, which usually means a road trip.

A few 6 hours north of LA and just east of San Francisco in a town called Arnold there are a few vacation lakes with many permanent residence. And another 30 minute drive and your in the high country with boating and more fishing lakes. This particular one is called Lake Mont Pine. Families have been coming up here for years renting houses around the lake and enjoying leisure time. 

At Lake Mont if you rent a house here, and there are quite a few that hold 8 - 14 people, you will usually get few passes to rent equipment for the lake and just hang out on the lakeside beach. This isn't usual for all lakes in the area most times you need to have a steady supply of change to rent any equipment. Activities at the lake range from swimming, paddle boards, kayaks and small pontoon paddle boats. During the week they also show movies at night outside for the whole family. Oh and the STARS, living in LA we forget they exist with so much disturbance light you never see one. That first night we saw the Milky Way and so many stars you can't even begin to count.

In the still of the day here are the reflections of the trees on the lake.   

What better treat to eat during the summer, by a lake, is watermelon. Indeed eating outside, food taste SOOO much better. 

It's a quick and leisure walk around the lake. You get to peek at all the houses that can be rented and the view they have. Also just a nice nature study of light and color. 

This lily pathway was a welcome surprise. 

Lily and toy still life. It may also be a fish lure, but at this state it looks like a toy ducky. 

Boats and reflections wait for a push to the refreshing water. 

Trail narrows in places along the lake and even SB got into the photo action.

A five minute drive from Lake Mont is the Calaveras Big Trees. This is a giant Sequoia tree grove, it's one of the first tourist attractions in California. The "Discovery tree" is here. This was one of the first Sequoia trees discovered by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852.

John Muir said about this grove: "They [the Calaveras giants] were the first discovered and are the best known. Thousands of travelers from every country have come to pay them tribute of admiration and praise."

This was a treat for us. Other than knowing we'd be by a lake we had no idea where we were going or what was around.

Sadly the Discovery Tree was chopped down and shown around traveling exhibitions as proof of these giant trees. The stump has been planed and smoothed down and even served as a dance floor.  In 1852 they didn't have the modern tools to saw a tree down so you can see that they used various tools and drills to fell this giant. Thankfully Dowd and many other visitors protested to the chopping down of these majestic trees so that we can enjoy our Creator's delight. 

You feel so small and insignificant next to these beauties. 

This is little Marie, 9 years old walking among giants. 

The view from below. 

Between the trees.

The rest of our time was spent at the lake, cooling down and relaxing in the refreshing waters. We even found a few friends to hang with. 

Mindless Monday

Did you know that JCPenney's sales Marchesa gowns? I found this out when I was checking out the JCP's newly revamped home section here. I was this close to trying on this dress and running out with it, they have a cute short red number that is adorable here. But seriously I have no events coming up and I don't foresee the Red Carpet in my near/any future. This day I was specifically looking at the Happy Chic Jonathan Adler collection as well as the Michael Graves Design tea kettles, toasters and other amazing modern home furniture by designer Sir Terence Conran.

I love when a brand that seems to have gotten stale works to revive itself. Though in much of my reading on JCP's troubles they have a long way to go, with new CEO out and old new CEO back-in, there's much to be done.

I personally felt like JCP was reintroduced to me, a middle to low income SoCal girl. Although I may not be the Middle American target, I loved seeing cool design in the store. Not sure this has fully caught on yet as it was pretty sparse in customers. JCP may have isolated their core audience with a no-sales approach in the past, but you have to admit the new home designs of the "store within a store" are appealing.

Did you also know they have Sephora stores within the store, I didn't either, and they've been there since 2009.  Seriously great design should always be affordable, none of this Design NOT Within Reach. And this is so not a sponsored post, I just felt like I needed to say how I felt about JCP. It's is a Mindless Monday dump once again.

Fall Color Trend

I'm starting to see what MY Fall color trend will be.  Separately and without realizing I've been drawn to Teal or as Essie labels it "trophy wife".   I've always loved this color, but I have to say a quote from the Wedding Planner had me put it on the back-burner a few years ago: 

"Fran has chosen teal for her brides maids? Teal, the color of gangrene. My last bride who chose teal ended up getting her marriage annulled in 12 days!"

What's your favorite soon to be Fall color?

1.  Nail Polish - Essie Trophy Wife $8 at CVS or Rite Aid

2. iPhone Case - Rifle Paper Co   currently $36

3. Purse - Target currently $15.99

Cuba A Bittersweet Tale - Part IX

One day while visiting with Abuelo I watched the kids outside play in the pot-holed dusty street. Not a Gameboy or iTouch around. Life consisted of a cart, horse and laughter. Simple living. They would circle the block a few times, run and jump off cart.  Innocence. I was moved by this moment. Then smilingly I walked back into the house laid down my camera only to have one of these stinkers dart in and grab it. The whole house jumped up and chased this kid down and retrieved my camera. Innocent moment broken with the realization of poverty.

Lazy days of the summer of 2000 in Habana, Cuba. Dad asked for these images to paint a picture, I hope to see it someday soon.

We drove to an old Church where Grandma use to attend services. The children playing outside happily let me take their pictures.  Can you feel the heat all the kids run shirtless and smiling.

Down at the Malecon the kids fished and played on the edge of sea leading into the harbor of Habana.

Don't be fooled by the moody image above. It really was a humid mirky blue water day in the bay full of boats.

For transportation in this city they of course have all the old vintage cars. Laws in Cuba at this time didn't allow people to buy or sell cars or homes.  So the country has been filled with 1950s Fords, Buicks and Pontiacs, some in mint condition, others barely sputter down the calle's. For most of the weeks we were there we rode around in a Russian Ladas. Around town we saw few modern Peugeots and Kias. I saw maybe one shiny black SUV and was told only the elite athletes and celebrities are allowed to purchase new vehicles.

One thing about being a tourist with a camera is you stand out quite a bit. Plus usually I know how to blend with my clothing, but that was impossible unless i wanted to wear spandex.  So anytime I took a picture people noticed.  These guys told us "hey, you taking a picture old guys working on old cars?" Indeed I was.

We stopped and chatted with them.  They wanted to know about my Dad, he told them a brief version of why were were there and how long it had been since he'd been back.

Another means of transportation where these small taxi's. I think I would prefer a vintage 1950 turquoise blue ford personally.

My cousins, who I'd just met, and spoke perfect English, learned on their own reading Vogue magazine, told me about the buses and trucks. As many people as possible would cram in them on their way to and from work. These ladies choose to walk rather than endure this, especially in the heat. I would too.

One thing about old cars, they die or stall all the time. We pushed this car so many times while I was here. Living in NM cars get stuck in mud and snow and whatever else the elements produce. I secretly kind of love pushing a car. I begged this day to push the car, but this male dominated culture wouldn't have it, so I was subjected to sitting in the back taking these photos. People are used to assisting in an old fashioned jumping a car and they come out of the wood-works to help a soul out.

Lastly on the highways it's routine to pass a buggy pulled by a horse. This is the way and life of getting around in Cuba.

Mindless Monday

So this past weekend I attended a wedding, where the bride is never emotional and gets choked up during her vows, which made me cry. And I NEVER cry at weddings, not even my own.  Then during the reception my dear friend Jessica went into labor, so I left the reception early, made my way home, changed and then took off to the hospital.

Out of all my friends who have had babies, naturally, with and without drugs, c-sections, I have actually never been in the delivery room for any of them. Jessica asked me to come, so I took the chance, I think she'll be the last of my close friends to pop out any more gorgeous children.  While I was super excited about this opportunity, I was nervous. Did I tell you I gag at everything. This was a problem in elementary school when throwing up for kids was second nature and well when I would see it, yes I would GAG and then throw up and get sent to the nurses office.  So you see my dilemma. I can happily say no gagging happened at all. I was proud. Jessica was amazing, calm yet emotional. Held on tightly with her perfectly manicured hands during the delivery.

So after crying at the wedding I proceeded to cry at the birth of this lovely little girl.

Sailer Carlyle, she's a beauty. I had no idea how emotional birth would be, I am thankful to participate and am moved by this moment. Congrats to Mr. & Mrs. Maxwell and to the Real Family for bringing in a beautiful little girl to our world.

Keep a look out on My Life at Playtime, this is her niece and there are sure to be some lovely pictures of this precious little girl. 

San Pedro Mini City Guide

Giving you all a quick break from Cuba and focusing on a cool SoCal city. Recently I spent a week in San Pedro, while i wasn't exactly a tourist, I did get to spend time in the area with quite a few of the locals.  I have to say I've driven to this city several times on my pacific coast highway adventures.  But this is the first time I really hung out in the area. Gaffey seems to be the main thorough fare from where the 110 ends at the coast.  South of Gaffey seems to be a lower income area and flatter to walk.  North of Gaffey you start getting more houses and less apartments, also at the top of hills up you can see the San Pedro harbor, I really never got tired of this view.

So I found out that there are lots of Italian and Croatian's living here, purely because at one time this was a fishing town. Back in the day there were up to 70 commercial boats in the harbor, now merely 12. So of course you'd expect to find some good fish in the area. Our friends took us to a place on Gaffey called Baja Fish, small place tucked in between a few other places. They had salmon and various fish tacos served with beans and rice, all very good. I'd go back to this place for sure, everything tasted fresh.

Baja Fish

611 S Gaffey St

San Pedro, CA 90731

While walking thru one of the neighborhoods I was startled to see a peacock on top of someones garage. Then they told me there are all over the area.  This was so bizarre to me, but seriously I saw about 25 Peacocks mostly male but I saw a few females and their chicks. It was a bit misty in the area and their calls were haunting, I felt like I was at a wild animal park.  The history goes that peacocks where gifted to the Vanderlip family and Estate which is in the area. There are quite a few in this neighborhood of San Pedro and Portuguese Bend in Palos Verdes.

Along with great fish in the area I also found an amazing Italian bakery. A few locals told me about the place.  I went in and asked what the favorites were and they pointed to the treats below: Rum Ball, Almond Cresent and Cannoli.

Amalfitano

9111 S Western Ave,

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275  

Oh my goodness, I took a bite of that rum ball on my drive home with coffee and I have been dreaming about it ever since. Dark chocolate covered rum infused cakey texture with just enough to not get pulled over for a DUI. I can't wait to go back.

Walking again in another neighborhood one of the locals pointed out this Corner Store, she loves to go here for breaks and raves about the lemon bars.  We took a quick stop had a few sandwiches, sodas and took some baked goods home. This is going to be a place I come to all the time, I would have never found it had I not been with a local. This is the best way to find out about these special little places. Some of my best dining experiences have been when I asked a local for a recommendation.

Corner Store

118 W 37th St  

San Pedro, CA 90731

At the Corner Store they have live music. On this day these guys were playing a few old tunes. The harmonica player was funny, he stopped playing for a minute to tell me he liked my hot pink shoes.  

Nothing fancy here, but feels like a family joint.  Simple fair with an easy-going vibe. 

We order the Italian Stallion: grilled chicken breast with provolone cheese, mayo, sicilian bruschetta on ciabatta roll. Tasty goodie.

Loved this view from the table.

They have a wide range of sodas in every flavor imaginable.  You can even take some flowers home. 

My friend insisted we take home some sweets, she order a Brownie, Apricot tart and Butterscotch Blonde. Wow were these delicious. Rob preferred the brownie. I was partial for the apricot tart, but the brownie was my second favorite. Again this is a place I'd returned to and hopefully very soon. Take a day and go explore this great little area. The views are great and I saw a few hiking trails along the coastal line with a historical lighthouse and park nearby. Enjoy!

Cuba a Bittersweet Tale - Part VIII

So I've finally spilled the beans to my Dad about this story of our trip to Cuba.  My scanner broke and life has kept me busy.  Dad loved the story and asked me to please finish it.  

In May 2012, in Albuquerque, there was a reunion of all the Cuban boys that had been in and out of the home that they stayed in. The local newspaper interviewed my Dad and he was able to recount much of what I've been writing.  Here's a link to that interview.  Be prepared, you might cry.

While visiting in Cuba every morning was spent with Abuelo and Berty, then we'd venture out for food or repairs. 

We had contemplated replacing the Hotpoint refrigerator (see image), but new ones were about $500, which was too much and then we worried that the electrical system might not be able to handle a powerful new refrigerator.  

Most of the day we'd sit in the house with Abuelo and Berty.  Berty is only 2 years younger then Dad, but seemed like 16, so sweet. He'd give you kisses, say hello or goodbye and occasionally have outburst in Spanish, which were usually curse words.  

I struggled with Spanish, but really tried, Abuelo would get a bit irritated when someone was speaking Spanish to me and I am trying to explain that I don't speak it very well.  He would tell them in Spanish "No Hablan Espanole."

Dad continued to sift thru the cabinets finding sanders, that were used to shape and make the furniture, lots of old receipts and boxes of quills and who knows what else. Dad cried over the box of quills. Everything is emotional when we're in this house.

We found images of my grandmother as a young lady. She was in a Catalan choir when she lived in Spain. She was such a beautiful woman. I wish I had met her before she died.

In the evenings Dad and I would leave with Luis and stroll through the town of Habana. On this evening we went to the old part of Habana (yes an even older part then everything else you've seen).  We walked by the Capital which looks just like the Capital in Washington D.C. The streets in this part of Habana are cobblestone. Some buildings are starting to be restored.  

Usually we'd go out in the afternoon if at all to get supplies and food. So we asked Abuelo what did he want to eat.  He said "Jamon y Queso." I had to laugh because that's all I ever remember my Dad eating. Luis knew about the dollar stores, where yes they took U.S. currency. There is not much on the shelves but regardless Luis knew where to go and what my grandfather liked to eat.  

We walked to the entrance of Habana Bay where you can see the lighthouse and El Morro, the castle where Che set up after the Revolution.  The wall that lines the ocean front area is called the Malecon and you see this in film all the time.

We had to go to the place made famous by Ernest Hemingway. El Bogodita, as the legend goes he wrote his name on the wall and thus everyone that visit does the same. I was too busy slurping down refreshing sweet and minty Mojito's to write my name so Dad did justice to the whole family at the time.

This particular day was the day I was born. Everyone who knows me, knows I don't celebrate my birthday, never have and not about to start now either.  So I hoped my dad would forget. Well he did for a bit till the Daquari kicked in at La Floridita, another haunt of old Mr. Hemingways. I have to say we were WAY underdressed for this place.  Everyone was in white Tuxedo jackets drinking cocktails and enjoying the music. Us three stroll in in our shorts and dollars and sit up at the bar and order us some drinks. I am sure Luis thought this all so wasteful. We'd had an emotional day, but still wanted to take advantage of seeing Cuba. My dad decides to inform everyone it's my birthday and well I got serenaded by the musicians and wanted to crawl under the bar.

At the end of the night we would walk down the streets of Old Habana watching people listening to the music, catching a quinceanera celebration and just enjoying the atmosphere. This was one of my favorite moments absorbing everything with all my senses, I often dream of this little walk and the image below is one of my favorite of the trip.

Cuba A Bittersweet Tale - Part VII

There is much to say about Family. Fathers and mothers can be particularly difficult to articulate. While I don't pick special days to call out my parents, I felt that I needed to continue this story about my father and his trip home to Cuba. This seemed an authentic time to share. 

Can you imagine being forced to leave your home and your parents and little brother when you were 14? Emotionally I know at 14 I would not have been prepared for that. Can you imagine coming to a country where you do not speak the language and you are not living with any blood relatives? What about leaving a tropical island with amazing beaches and blue water and ending up in the hot desert of the New Mexico sun?  To put yourself in that place cannot be easy. This was my dad's journey.

When we traveled to Cuba all I could see was the romance of this forbidden island. I cannot for the life of me imagine the emotions you feel to come home to a place where you no longer fit in, where your parents and brother are old and in the case of your mom, she has passed. The last time you saw her she was a young woman.  The emotions weighing in on my father must have been intense. I think I've mentioned that the full two weeks we were here there wasn't a day that went by that we didn't cry.

Life hasn't been easy for Dad, but he's managed to carve out a decent life in America. While my relationship with him is not normal he has a great "family" support group. There is much I appreciate about this man. For one he's cool, he's an amazing artist, and he does genuinely care about people. While he never saw his own mom again, he's shown an amazing support for my mom's side of the family. Though my parents haven't been together since the 70's, recently my 94 year old grandmother needed some extra care. My dad still calls her Mom and he willingly volunteered to spend a few mornings a week to support my grandmother and help my mom out.  I had to call him and thank him.  I found this very touching and can't recall many in his shoes that would show such concern for their in-laws.

On this particular day in Cuba I took the image above of him sitting in the living room of his parents home.  He was soaking it all in. So much to do and consider. What were you thinking this day Dad?

There is a story behind the image above, while I speak of my own Dad, he also had an interesting relationship with his Father. As you can imagine after 40 years their own relationship was strained. Usually when my Dad called Cuba he always talked to his mother, never his father. Resentment, anger, who knows.

However, this particular day we got my grandfather outside of the house. We had to rent a car since they only allow new cars to drive thru the tunnels here. Can you imagine an old 1950 Chevy getting stuck in these tunnels. Abuelo was not well and in much pain, but he came anyways. We drove to Soroa resort. There is a waterfall in lush surroundings.

Once we got there we drove up to this very high hill, Dad and Luis had to help my grandfather get out of the car to overlook all the lush tobacco fields and feel the sun. I vividly remember this scene and feeling very emotional. I stayed back and captured this moment on film, I knew this would be the last time my grandfather would ever see this scene and that this day would never be repeated. He and my dad would be in this place for the last time that contained so many fond memories. It was just a feeling and is now a reality. Less then a year after this visit my grandfather, my dad's Father passed away. I hope he'd remembered this day and of all the great memories with his son before he left this beautiful island. 

As usual my dad neglected to tell me we were going to hike to this waterfall. And this day it rained, rain like I have never felt before. Buckets of water felt like they were pouring over me. I was so unprepared in wedge sandals, no rain coat and my Canon AE-1 manual camera loaded only with B&W film. I managed to keep my camera relatively dry. Only Dad and I hiked to the waterfall and later met up with Luis and Abuelo. Abuelo was not to happy that my Dad managed to get me soaked. I was fine and enjoyed watching this family dynamic. 

A few years back I had made a deal with my dad to swap paintings of Cuba. He is a very talented artist and I didn't own anything he's ever painted. Mostly he painted as a hobby. I've told him for years he could make a living at it. Today he actually does do paintings and murals for clients in addition to other work. I chose an few images to piece together and paint, bright and colorful, with vibrant oils. It's how I viewed Cuba. When I was making a trip home to New Mexico I told him I had his painting in hand and that he'd better have something for me.  He took two days off and did the pastel pencil image above. His was muted and soft, mine was in rich vibrant colors. Two different views of the same trip.  I thought it interesting that he choose to put two people in the image, he and his father. They use to sit here on the Malecon viewing the Habana harbor entrance and the El Morro fortress.

I have so many questions that I would have liked to ask my grandfather. Where were you born, what year, why did you move to Cuba, how did you meet my grandmother, when and where did you get married, do you have any brothers, sisters, aunts, why didn't you come to America? Ah families are interesting and our curiosity is endless. Embrace your family, Fathers, Mothers all of them while they are still alive, even in all the dysfunctional parts, you know you still love them. 

This post is part of a promotion with FamilySearch.

Mindless Monday

After two weeks of volunteer work which is always rewarding we are back home to our regularly scheduled events....called LIFE.  Also back to my own cooking and city. I have adventures to share from one of the city's I was in for a week, to be shared later this week, i really like San Pedro.

One of my goals has been to lose a good 50 lbs.  It's been a struggle and getting older doesn't help.  So today is the day I start a 48 hour cleanse.  Why you may ask? Well one I got my annual physical test results back and my cholesterol needs to come down and if you've been following me on Instagram know I've been engaging in quite a few baked goods lately.  So this is a jump start to getting back on a normal healthy eating program with a cheat once in a while and not so daily or weekly. After this cleanse I have a good healthy eating program that has worked for me, it's really based on the South Beach diet, which I hate to call a diet, but it's a good way to eat balanced healthy meals.  For the initial cleanse I did a  little research and seemed to like Dr. Oz's suggestions the best.

Here's why I've chosen Dr. Oz's 48 hour cleanse, because:

1.  It's only 48 hours.

2. The foods he choses are naturally good for your liver and kidneys, none of this artificial stuff it's all things you can get at your local market or better yet Farmers market.

3. I thankfully work from home to make all this food.

4. I thankfully work from home for the other obvious reasons that a cleanse may cause.

I'll let you know how I feel and if it helps jump start me on the road to healthy living. Have a great week everyone.

Tech Tuesday

Before I get into my technology post, I wanted to let my small amount of readers know I have to take a bit of a break from this space. My husband and I have been involved in some volunteer work the past couple of weeks that requires our full attention. I'll be back to a more regular schedule in a few weeks.

In the meantime, my tech Tuesday is about Podcasts. I have to say I'm slightly addicted to these. When I walk to do my errands or just go for a bit of real exercise I drown out the noises of the street and dive into one of my favorite podcasts. If you listen to podcasts on your iPhone, you'll have to download the Podcast app from the App store (looks like the image to the right) and download that to your phone. It's free as are all the podcasts I feature below.  If you have an Android phone you'll need to download a podcast app to listen or subscribe to them, Mashable has 5 they recommend, a few are free the rest you have to pay for. You can either listen to individual podcasts you like or subscribe to one you know you'll listen to often. It should automatically download the new ones when you click on the app. However, I had subscribe to one podcast, but find I'm not listening to it that often so it doesn't download the news until you start catching up. When I'm at home I listen to the podcasts on my computer thru my MacBook on iTunes. Whatever works for you,  just give them a chance.

Here are a few of my favorites:

As every hipster in LA and probably NY already knows This American Life is a great way to start listening in podcasts. Ira Glass is a great story teller and brings to the plate amazing fictional and true life tales. They are usually told in three acts.  Sometimes these are first person stories. David Sedaris is a regular guest, and well he makes me literally laugh out loud, his story about music lessons brought me to laughter tears. Occasionally, This American Life host a live Radio Show, I have yet to get to one, but listening to them is the next best thing. My favorite one was the story about Tig Notora running into Taylor Dayne, you'll laugh your head off as did the audience and Ira always narrates what we can see so you feel like your still there.

I am an avid History fan, always loved it and still do.  This is a great podcast hosted by Holly Frey and Tracy Wilson called Stuff You Missed in History Class. They take a historical subject, do the research and present the facts.  Sometimes blowing the doors wide open on the myths.  My favorite history lesson so far was the two part series Loving vs. Virginia, a fascinating true story about the laws on interracial marriage in the United States, this case went all the way up to the Supreme Court and forever changed the laws in the United States, though some states have taken longer to get these antiquated laws off their books.

RadioLab is new to me, but so many of my friends really love this show.  They take a subject and patch together people, music, culture, stories and experiences around that subject. I've enjoyed the podcasts so far, still trying to pick out a favorite.  

As everyone who reads this blogs knows, food is a topic I chat about frequently. Over the past year I've found myself working from home and closer to a farmers market that I can walk to every Wednesday. I frequently listen to this podcast, Last Chance Foods on my iPhone while I walk to the market. It contains information on seasonal produce that's at your local farmers market, what's about to go out of  along with some great stories from local farmers on their produce.

So far my favorite episode has been Last Chance Food: Chicken to Eggs.  Everyone I follow in the blogasphere have chickens. Small houses to large acres, chickens are cool. I laugh because 17 years ago when I first got married all my husband wanted was chickens. Seriously, chickens in our 3x9 patio was not going to happen, I chalked it up to his Latin roots and my lack of appreciation, plus a few close calls with chickens in New Mexico didn't make me a believer. Now that I eat eggs pretty much everyday, this so wouldn't be a bad thing to have, plus Martha has great Araucana Chickens that hatch the amazing blue eggs, who wouldn't want one of those for breakfast. We still have a 3x9 patio, but maybe one day we'll have a bigger space for chickens.

This podcast, Stuff You Should Know, can be on just about any subject from the duckbill platypuses to how marriage works, how coffins work and how fair trade works. Josh and Chuck host this and it's a similar format as Stuff You Missed in History Class. This podcast reminds me we can never be bored of learning there is so much stuff out there to try to understand if you even care. The key is balance, sometimes we can get information overload and have no idea what to do with it.  Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy...maybe.

My friend Deborah of My Life at Playtime recently introduced me to this podcast, called The Moth. Thse are first person stories told in front of a live audience, that range from 15 - 20 minutes. In fact in Santa Monica at Zanzibar tonight they are recording a live broadcast, I think it's not to late to buy tickets. Writers and story tellers alike tell true life tales that are fascinating and fun to listen to especially with a live audience reaction. It becomes a shared experience with strangers and the story teller. I think I'd like to add this to my bucket list of things I would like to do, once in my life.

Studio 360 is hosted by Kurt Anderson.  Each week he focuses on pop culture and the arts. Sometimes it's a book, movie or music or all three. So far my favorites have been about the American Icons: The Great Gatsby. There are great story/interviews with different actors, it's a much more relaxed setting, which brings some good insights into the art crafts.

While these are my current favorites, don't be limited to these, they are just suggestions. One of my friends loves podcasts on cars and another on photography. There are so plenty of options out there, just enjoy!

Tech Tuesday

So have you ever had to teach a non-tech person how to use a smart phone or a tablet?

If you haven't, be prepared. Many, many, years ago my husband's granny got a computer, she was in her 80's and was bound and determined to learn it.  Oh the joys of SB's visits and trying to explain simple tasks to her, he's a patient man, but he had limits. Finally she gave up, she had decided it wasn't worth trying anymore.​

Well recently my mom (not in her 80's) decided to get indoctrinated into the world of Apple. First with an iPhone 4S. Trying to explain to her how this works, was hilarious, and then she got the iPad. Oh, the joys.​ Let me start off by saying my moms old phone(s) were just flip phones, old Motorola or Samsung.

I say phones because she has a knack for putting them in the "warsh" that's her way of saying "wash." And then there was the time it slipped out of her pocket and fell in the toilet. Seriously, she's a SMART woman, college educated even, but these little mishaps make me shudder. If there is a body of water around her phone will find it. When she said she wanted an iPhone all I could see was a $200 piece of equipment sitting in the loo. Not ideal.​

First off I had to show her Face-time, since she lives in the boonies of New Mexico and cell service isn't great, she kept putting the phone up to her ear to hear me.  All I could see was a giant eyeball and the rim of her glasses.

Me: Mom, are you putting the phone next to your ear?​

Mom: Yes, so I can hear you. But why can't I see you?​

Me: Uuh you have to pull the phone in front or you?​

Mom: ooooh....

​Then last night she emails me from her new iPad at midnight her time, she wants to chat about how to use her new iPad. I said I'd call her today and walk her thru some basics.

After trying to explain to her which icon to push I realized the simplest way was to Face-time her on our iPhones and put it over my iPad to help her learn out to do this. Seriously there is nothing like face to face meetings, I so wish I was sitting there with her, because trying to explain how to bookmark a website she goes to and put the icon on her homepage screen was like trying to solve for world peace.​

Then I want to know which kind of tablet she got.

Me: Did you get a mini or original?

Mom: The big one, take a look (puts phone over the iPad).

Me: All I can see is your hand.

Mom: Oh here. (moves the phone all over the place)

Me: Mom, all I see is the ceiling now, what did you press on your phone?​

Mom: I don't know.​

Me: See the camera icon on the lower right side with the arrow, push that.​

Mom: oooooooh, I wondered why I couldn't see you.​

Seriously....thankfully me and my mom have a sense of humor because at the end of our conversation I just broke down and laughed with her. I can't wait till I have to explain Instagram to her, she will SOOOO not get it.

One last conversation.​

Mom: I ordered a phone cover and an iPad case, you know I'm clumsy so I'm kind of afraid to use my iPad.​

Me: Mom, you need to bubble wrap that bad boy in waterproof material.​

Mom: Laughing I KNOW!!!​ I got me a waterproof one.

Oh the joys of new technology, we so take for granted that we know how to use this stuff. Our kids are growing up with technology. I didn't learn how to use a computer till I was a senior in high-school and that was basic DOS programming.

I love a good story, share your technology tales and did you show someone how to use a smart phone, tablet, Mac, or PC. How did that work out for you?

Most of all be patient and be ready to laugh, we all had to start somewhere.