Lake Perris

Lake Perris is located in the Inland Empire area of Southern California. It was built in the early 1970's to serve as a reservoir in the California Water Project in order to provide drinking water for Southern California residents. It is in the process of being partially drained to allow for repairs on the dam. This does not seem to have affected its popularity. Lake Perris can be very crowded on hot days as well as long weekends. This recreational facility offers camping, boating, fishing, horseback riding, picnic areas, hiking and biking trails.. There is a bicycle trail which nearly goes the circumference of the lake, about 9 miles. Just off this trail is a rock displaying pictographs by Native Americans. There is also a Native American museum which is open on weekends and Wednesdays. A day use pass costs $10.

Congressional Health Care

I understand that many people are afraid of health care reform. Generally speaking, people prefer the status quo to the unknown. No problem. Do you know what kind of health care our Congress people get? It is called The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). Under this plan, they are able to choose from " Consumer-Driven and High Deductible plans that offer catastrophic risk protection with higher deductibles, health savings/reimbursable accounts and lower premiums, or Fee-for-Service (FFS) plans, and their Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), or Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO)." What this mean is that unlike most of us who have to choose between a small selection of plans (assuming we have insurance at all), they are given options which include plans offered by health care providers from all over the country such as Blue Cross, HMOs, even labor unions. They do not have a waiting period and are covered for any preexisting conditions. Our representatives have some of the best health care benefits in the country. 75 percent of this is paid for by the government, yes that means the taxpayers! So how about getting rid of this "public option" idea and instead give us the choice of keeping our own insurance or using the plan that is already in place, The Congressional Health Plan Option! It is not a new plan so no one needs to be afraid of it. Congress can not possibly object to this idea. After all, aren't the people who put them where they are today deserving of the same plan they have? Why don't you contact your representative and ask him or her to support the idea of allowing Americans the same health benefits they have been enjoying. https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Do You Remember?

Those of you shall we say "of a certain age" might remember this house. Here is a hint: "The plane. The plane" Of course this is the house where Hervé Villechaize ( Tattoo) would call out those famous words announcing the arrival of the latest guests to have their fantasies fulfilled on the long running television program, Fantasy Island. This Queen Anne style house is just one of the treasures you will find at the LA Arboretum in Arcadia. The gardens are divided into different regions such as The Americans, Africa, Asia, and Australia. There are art displays, plants, trees, and even a lovely waterfall to enjoy. You can also learn about the Tongvas who are Native American people said to have greeted Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo in 1542. You can see examples of their houses called kiys. For lunch there is the Peacock Cafe, peacocks included. Saturdays at the Arboretum are popular for weddings. We found ourselves dodging large gatherings more than once but all in all had a great day.

Huntington Library

Is this Japan? No, it just looks like it. We recently visited the Huntington Library in San Marino. This wonderful oasis is part of a nonprofit research center which was founded by Henry E. Huntington in 1919. This facility houses one the country's largest collection of rare manuscripts and books. Its research library is used by scholars world wide but the general public has access to many treasures including one of only 11 copies of the Gutenberg Bible printed on vellum as well as a vellum manuscript of Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

The Huntington Art Collection consists of French and British artwork from the eighteenth century and American pieces from the eighteenth to mid-twentieth centuries. The galleries contain paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and decorative art. It is here that you will find Thomas Gainsborough's most recognized work, The Blue Boy.

120 of the 207 acres are available to the public in the form of a botanical garden. It is divided into regions ranging from a lush sub-tropical setting to relaxing Japanese and Chinese retreats, Zen garden included. There are waterfalls, a lily pond, even a bamboo forest. With plenty of benches available a shady spot is easy to find. Unfortunately picnics are not allowed so the only dining options available are over priced and the choices are few.

If you would like to visit, check their website, linked above. They are only opened from 10:30-4:30 during the summer (closed on Tuesday) The first Thursday of every month is free with advanced reservations.

Los Angeles, Farmer's Market

We went to 3rd and Fairfax today. This farmer's market is an historical landmark that has been around for 75 years. It began as a place where farmers could sell their produce but has undergone many transformations since then. While there are still stalls where you can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, there is also a myriad of cuisines to sample. We usually gravitate towards Moishe' Restaurant for Middle Eastern food as well as Pampas for churrascaría which is a Brazilian style of barbecue. Whatever you are craving, you will most likely find it here, from gumbo to omelettes, or just plain hamburgers. Be forewarned though, this is cafeteria style food. Most of the tables are outside and there are very long lines. The food, however, is worth the wait. If you prefer a more formal setting, there are other restaurants in the newer adjoining shopping area called "The Grove." Here you will find chain stores like Barnes & Nobel, Banana Republic, Gap, Sur La Table, etc. It definitely lacks the character of the older section but serves it purpose nonetheless. Many events take place here. Today we were treated to a sampling of the Cirque du Soleil.


Future events will include live musical performances, movies, and arts & craft workshops.

Disneyland Economics

Everyone in Southern California knows that every few years an occasion arises that causes you to make a trip to Disneyland. Sometimes visitors come in from out of town and you find yourself playing tour guide. Or else there are small children in your family and inevitably one of them will beg to be taken for their birthday. Maybe you just need a little make believe. Whatever the reason, it is difficult to avoid. Our turn came this past weekend. We needed something to do and tickets fell into our hands. So we battled the traffic and steeled ourselves for the certain crush of people we knew would be there. We always eat at the Carnation Restaurant just inside the gates. The prices are better than the other restaurants in the park and the menu options are good. This day would be no different. Or so we thought. The first thing that we noticed was that the menu had changed. There were fewer things to choose from. No matter. The others chose soup and sandwiches. Unfortunately I ordered the salad. My biggest regret of the day, besides ordering the salad, was not taking a picture of it before sending it back. Now I am not in the habit of sending my food back. I understand how difficult it is to be in the service industry and I have tremendous respect for those in it. That being said... My salad was fine to look at. Once I began eating, however, I noticed that the leaves were getting more and more wilted. No, it was not from salad dressing because I did not use any. By the time I had eaten a third of it, I found a clump of leaves that were so spoiled, they looked as if they had come from a pre-packaged bag of salad mix that had been forgotten in the back of a refrigerator for a week. Actually that is probably what it was. I called the waitress over. She looked at it and did not look surprised at all. She simply asked if I would like another. No apology. I said "no thank you." She asked if I wanted anything else but the entire time seemed to be bored with the conversation. All I wanted her to do is seem at least a little disturbed by what had happened. An apology would have been nice. We paid our bill and yes, even left a tip. Determined to enjoy the rest of the day, we went on the first ride. Long line but no surprise there. What was surprising was the amount of trash around. I have been to Disneyland enough times to have noticed how meticulous these people are about keeping the park clean. This is why it was so shocking to see so much litter. We went on The Pirates of the Caribbean. The ride itself was fine but I was stunned to hear the people behind us complaining that they had been on three rides since the day before that were not operating properly. They joked about whether it would be safe to go on many more. On to the next ride, The Haunted Mansion. We were stuck on the ride for about 10 minutes. How about the canoe ride? Closed. Splash Mountain? More than an hour wait. That's ok. It is prime tourist season. We expect to wait. Space Mountain? Same. We went to Innovations and enjoyed ourselves. This was the turning point. Next we went on the Indiana Jones ride; then came Fantasmic. This is an incredibly clever event featuring projections on fountains of water combined with live action and fireworks. Nicely done! We could not get out of the park because of the crowds, so we finished our evening with the silliness of the Enchanted Tiki Room. After a rough beginning, a good time was had by all. I guess what I am trying to say is that Disney did what Disney does best but maybe it is starting to feel the same economic pinch as the rest of us. If that is true, then that is a shame because even though we aren't the type of people who enjoy visiting theme parks very often, it is nice to be able to count on a fantasy when we want one.

NOAA's new ship, the Okeanos Explorer

A new ship called the Okeanos Explorer is about to begin a project which will map out previously unexplored areas of the ocean. This ship features a permanent ROV or Remotely Operated Vehicle. Hopefully we will be treated to some remarkable discoveries soon.

Apollo 11

For anyone interested, BBC News has included an interesting segment about the impact of the Apollo 11 mission including little know facts as well as how it continues to affect us today. Power and fury of US Moon rocket

Wireless Charging Device

I just read an article which says that a company called Witricity is developing a device that will be able to charge things such as cell phones, laptops, etc. wirelessly. No more messy expensive power cords! I can't wait.

Manassas, Virginia

We went to a little town called Manassas to learn a little more history.

Manassas, Virgina

We ate at a restaurant called, Okra's Louisiana Bistro. We had the soup sampler which consists of your choice between Crab and Corn, Seafood Gumbo, Okra's famous Gumbo, or the Soup de Jour. We also ate their incredible muffaletta and crab cakes. Everything was great. If you happen to pass through the area, it is a good place to eat!
Okras Louisiana Bistro

Baltimore, Maryland

We went to Baltimore a few months ago. I wanted to explore the historical sites in the area, but because we needed to make it back to our hotel in Virginia before nightfall, we only made it to two places. The Barnes and Noble bookstore and a seafood restaurant nearby for crab cakes. I have been trying to remember the name of it because they were delicious but all I know is that it was close to the store.

Website Explaining How to Build your own Apollo Guidance Computer

Build your own Apollo Guidance Computer

Solar Eclipse Slide Show

See a solar eclipse slide show.

Kindle

By the way I do have a Kindle, version one. It is a great device that I enjoy very much but I still end up buying many non-digital books because I spend a lot of time in bookstores and tend to shop impulsively. My only complaints about the Kindle are the way the back cover keeps slipping off; how often it decides to "update" while I'm in the middle of reading something; and the fact that Amazon promised us books for $9.99 then proceeded to raise the prices. I am also less than thrilled about this: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/technology/companies/18amazon.html


Once I've paid for a book, I expect it to be mine!

Books I've Been reading

Because I hate the hot weather so much, I tend to spend more time reading so I can forget just how miserable I am. Consequently I finished five books these past few weeks:
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A Novel
Kafka on the Shore
After Dark All of which are by Haruki Murakami. I am ashamed to say that I had not heard of this author until http://twitter.com/donttrythis (Adam Savage) mentioned him. I was looking for something unusual to read and these books fit that criteria. They are captivating, surreal, and interestiing. At the same time, I would not recommend them to anyone with a closed mind. They require thinking and imagination. If you are looking for a light read, keep looking. Incidentally, I enjoyed them enough to buy two more of his books.

Because I have difficulty sleeping, I chose a lighter book for those seemingly endless nights. Blue Shoes and Happiness is the seventh book in Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Series. It is light, fun escapism at its best.

I also read David Lebovitz's The Sweet Life in Paris. It is a wonderful little book that describes his experiences living in one of the world's more delightful and complicated cities. Funny book with great recipes.

My next books will be: The Last Days of the Romanovs Tragedy at Ekaterinburg by Helen Rappaport,
Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, South of the Border, West of the Sun, both by Haruki Murakami,
The Gift of Fear by Gavin Becker,
Ratio The Simple Codes to Everyday Cooking by Michael Ruhlman,
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith,
and finally The Meaning of the Night by Michael Cox

Space

For those of you who are interested in space, there are many wonderful sites to explore. http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov/ is just one of these. This endeavor is the first mission in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration.

For conspiracy theorists, I give you this:

http://www.examiner.com/x-1551-Fringe-Culture-Examiner~y2009m7d21-Forty-years-after-Apollo-11-Google-Moon-puts-a-conspiracy-theory-to-rest

If this doesn't convince you, then I can't help.

Someone You Might Want to Follow on Twitter

http://twitter.com/LiberateLauraSF

Find out what you can do to help captured journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee.

In Honor of the Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing

A fun quiz!


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090721-apollo-11-moonlanding-quiz.html

http://www.instructables.com/

If you or your children are looking for some fun things to make, try this site. It has many creative ideas for fun.

http://www.heifer.org/

I know that money is tight for everyone right now, but if you or your organization is looking for a worthy cause, check out this one.

Health Care Initiative

A quick comment on health care. If you are happy with your health care provider, you will be allowed to keep it, If you do not have any insurance, you will be able to get coverage. The amount of money spent on this program will be offset by the amount of money the uninsured is costing us already. It does work in other countries. I know this as a fact. Will there be problems at first? Of course. There will always be difficulties when something new is created. I know that change is hard to accept, but the state of health care in our country is shameful. Just my opinion.

Bastille Day

The 2009 Bastille Day Festival was held in Los Angeles today! Unfortunately it was way too hot! Despite the best efforts of those in charge of the event, it did not do justice to the real "Quatorze de Juillet. There were a few food stands, none of which sold beverages. One sold hot dogs, hamburger, and paella. None of which are french. Another sold paninis ( Italian food). There was a stand which sold French baked goods as well as one which made crepes. Finally there was a Morrocan food stand and one that I believe sold cupcakes. If you wanted something to drink, you had to walk some distance and wait in yet another long line for the privilage of paying $4 for a small bottle of Oramgina. There was some music. We heard several Sinatra songs. We know how French he was! Anyway next year we hope to go to Santa Barbara, since we hear that they provide a more interesting event. Or better yet, France. Bonne Fete just the same!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day! I hope that everyone had a safe and happy one. We had the traditional family barbecue followed up by an evening of fireworks.

Big Bear

For anyone looking for something to do this weekend, Big Bear offers a chance to enjoy some picturesque scenery.

Inauguration 2009

Regardless of any political viewpoints, Inauguration 2009 was awe inspiring! So many people brought together in fellowship. All ages, races, and so many different countries joined in celebration of what might be.

Starting a New Path

Welcome

I intend to use this blog to share information I find interesting. I enjoy many topics including art, science, travel, do-it-yourself projects, as well as cooking. If you are interested in creative recipe ideas, please take a look at my other blog: http://njgcooks.blogspot.com/ From time to time I will include links to other sites That you might like. I hope that you enjoy this blog but in any case, thank you for taking the time to visit!