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Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Christmas in Big Sur with Zack and Grace
I picked up Heidi's motorhome and parked it in my backyard three days before the grandchildren arrived - to stock the cupboards and frig, put fresh linens on their 'tippy top' bed, and get the firewood and other essentials loaded. Christmas garland and holly strung all around, with a big sign: "Merry Christmas, McCoys!" taped to the side door. The day after Christmas, Zack, 8, Grace, 5, and I strapped ourselves into our seats, me driving of course, them at the table, each surrounded with their favorite stuffed animals and lots of water and healthy snacks at hand while they plunked down cards and shouted Go Fish! on the way down Hwy One. A half hour into the trip I pulled off onto an ocean lookout and we scanned the ocean for whale spouts. Zack swears he saw one; Grace and I just starred at the big, blue Pacific. We shared a Vitamin Water and some rice cakes, I turned up the heat and we took off again. One more stop, at Big Sur Market, to buy tortillas for quesadillas, stovetop popcorn (Zack loves to see the foil expand before his eyes) and some ice cream. A few minutes later and we pulled into Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground and found our spot by the Big Sur River. No problem backing in and we got the fire going. Zack quickly learned the fine art of fire building: first the tightly, but not too tightly, crumpled newspaper, then the kindling, crisscrossed, then some larger pieces of wood. He was awkward with the lighter but soon figured it out, me offering fire safety precautions. We each found suitable pokers and spent the next two hours poking and adding wood, then roasting marshmallows and making 'smores from a kit their mother had sent along (Grace's favorite part of the fire). We didn't want the evening to end. For the next two days we hiked twice each day, before and after lunch, up to the falls, to the group camp, Valley View, and around the campground. It rained, it misted, it was sunny--we loved it all. Grace, the budding naturalist, counted the banana slugs we spotted (27) and I took some great photos of her, Zack, the banana slugs, and lots of redwoods, river crossings and vistas. Before they left to go home I printed twelve of the photos and made an album for the kids, with a banana slug centerfold. The other 144 photos are rotating as my screensaver!  Labels: banana slug, big Sur, California, camping, nature, travel
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Carmel Authors and Ideas Festival September 2007
Jim and Cynthia McGillen opened the festival schedule of events with this passage: "By participating in the first annual Carmel Authors and Ideas Festival this weekend, we all become part of Carmel's rich literary history. A bohemian spirit and rich, deep running creative wellspring have always been at our doorstep. The tradition of Robinson Jeffers, Frank Powers, Mary Austin and George Sterling continues, with Steinbeck, London and Stevenson serving as the pillars that support this tradition. Roam about and literally breathe in and partake of the writer's spirit first hand, as we share these wonderful moments and celebrate the genius of more than thirty award winners of virtually every prestigious literary award, including Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes. Thank you for joining us to enjoy a true Carmel experience!"
It began Friday evening with registration and a reception to meet the authors, with the opening speech by Frank McCourt, billed as the finest storyteller of our time. With his Irish brogue and sharp wit, telling story after story of his poor Irish childhood and teaching school for thirty years in NYC , among other fine tales, McCourt set the pace and the tone for a swiftly passing two days. He was so captivating I knew I was in for a weekend like no other.
I was not disappointed. The first breakout session Saturday morning I heard Jason Roberts recount an unlikely tale of how a blind man traveled around a world before automobiles. THEN, Elizabeth Edwards was whisked in by the FBI to talk about her "Saving Graces" during her battle with breast cancer during her husband's run for the vice-presidency. A beautiful, gracious, incredible human being. And it just kept getting better and better.
For a complete list of the authors and more details about the festival, please go to www.carmelauthors.com
Thanks to Jim and Cynthia McGillen for one of the best weekends of my life. I was entertained, inspired, and elated, not to mention that I met a slew of wonderful people - authors and attendees, friends, volunteers and presenters - bought several great books and had them autographed, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
It's true, "Storytellers rule the world."
Saturday, June 30, 2007
This just in! New gourmet organic restaurant called 118 degrees is now open in Costa Mesa, 8am to 10pm daily. Please stop in and enjoy their upscale menu.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
10 Days of Los Angeles Sunshine
 This is a great time of year to be in Los Angeles because the weather is near perfect - sunny with a cool breeze. Of course it's much warmer inland, near the valley, and the beaches are cooler, but where I'm staying in Hollywood, it's been blissful. The driving is predictable, after my time here in June a year ago, I know not to leave the house before 9 a.m., and to return before 3 p.m. Otherwise the freeways and main thoroughfares are slow-and-go. However, this time it didn't bother me because I expected it. I just tried to enjoy the warmth and the scenery. I think I'll do a photo collage of all the plants that only grow seasonally or indoors in most of the country that you can see on the streets of L.A.: huge fig trees - I mean 20' tall; spreading schefflera's the same; palms of all kinds; ferns, cyclamen, and more. Today is my last full day out and about. This past week I've been obsessed with mapping my forays and getting out there that I haven't felt like blogging. I have to report that this was a very successful business trip for me. I visited many places in the book, to give them a free sample, and many got greatly excited and decided to carry it in their place of business. I'll post that list later (when I retrieve it out of my sales kit in the trunk of my car). Monday I delivered two books to Becky McLucas, Whole Foods Markets, at their Southern California Regional Office in Sherman Oaks and then immediately began visiting as many of their markets as I could, handing out free books to the Whole Body Team Leader at each location. Every single one got excited about the book so I asked them to please call Becky and let her know to order some for their location. I'll call her next week when I get back to my office. It was interesting to visit their stores, a big variety in age and size. Santa Monica has one of the biggest and Sherman Oaks East the oldest and smallest. Invariably the staff was helpful and friendly. I spent more time in Santa Monica and Pasadena than anywhere else, as you can see by their long entries in "California Healthy." Both picturesque and healthful-minded places to live and visit. Palm trees waving along the boulevards in both towns (actually all over the southland ). I've read that as the palm trees die, due to high maintenance costs and being non-native, the cities are replacing them with different trees so that icon will be disappearing from the landscape. I once lived in Elche, Spain, home of the largest palm tree groves in Europe. They grow all the palm fronds for Palm Sunday (you'd be amazed at how many Catholics there are in Europe). I was in Elche teaching English, and each day would wander among the palms and read from a bench in my favorite forest. I mentioned to my boss how strangely the men leered at me and once she knew where I was going informed me that was where the prostitutes hung out! I found a different favorite bench in a different forest on the other side of town.  Carl Siegman, L.A. escapee, had recommended vintage L.A. restaurants for me to try so here's my e-mail to Carl: "Today I went to all of the places you recommended and it was well worth the effort. First I went to Roscoe's because it was nearest to where I was staying in the Hollywood Hills. I got there at 10:30am after a big breakfast and wished I had brought my ice chest so I could take away some chicken and waffles. Instead I took away the Ta To Pie and immediately devoured it in the car! I just wanted one bite but was unable to stop, it was that good. The place was so clearly a local institution, I loved it.  I decided I'll just have dessert at each place so at Musso and Frank's Grill, close by, I asked the hostess which was the most popular dessert they made there. So I enjoyed the Diplomat Pie, custard on top bread pudding with strawberry sauce, and a latte. Delicious! The staff was so perfectly polite and kind; the decor so wonderfully 50s - I loved it, too! When I left, and before I got to Canter's, I knew I could not eat another dessert - I was stuffed and a little sick from all of the sugar (must have been the sweet potato pie from Roscoe's, but surely the Diplomat Pie contributed). At Canter's I ate half a potato knish and ice tea, while I watched the people come and go from a good vantage point. Seemed to be quite a few show people eagerly discussing and shaking hands. An unshaven young man, hunkered over with cap pulled low, motored in and was greeted by an older, white haired man who stood to shake his hand. They immediately began an animated conversation. He sure looked like Matthew McConaughey to me. Canter's is a L.A. Jewish haven for sure! I loved it! I saved the pickles for you and looked at their pastry counter but knew even if I bought it for you I would eat it on the way home tomorrow. Then to the final spot, The Original Pantry right downtown. There were quite a few suits paying when I came in, but the rest of the people were strictly middle class working stiffs. The coleslaw was perfect and I ate half a tuna salad and the rest for dinner tonight. I stopped at some places to sell books in between, so it was a good day. In hindsight, I would have ended the day up at either Roscoe's or Musso and Frank's; of course, the HUGE pastrami sandwiches at Cantor's also caught my eye, and you had recommended the matso ball soup. So, thank you, Carl, for an interesting and fun excursion. My book promotion work was basically done and it was fun to drive from place to place. At The Pantry, reflecting on all the places I had been today, I saw what diverse tastes you have. None would likely be in "California Healthy," but it's good to visit these types of places occasionally for cultural reasons -- and certainly comfort foods. See you soon, Patricia" Advice for people coming to L.A.? Buy "California Healthy" to find and visit the best places to eat and walk, and branch out from there. L.A. and the surrounding towns are filled with architecturally interesting buildings, delightfully huge tropical plants, and an eclectic assortment of people ensure some of the best people-watching in the world. It is fast-paced, so drive and walk with care, knowing where your next turn is well in advance. If you miss a turn, don't react dangerously,there'll be another chance up ahead. Bring sunblock and use it. Expect the traffic to be slow-and-go. Most of all, enjoy yourself and give thanks for the weather and the colorful people, architecture and food.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Southern California "Victory Tour"
Thursday, June 7
Marketing "California Healthy" is my reward for the three years I spent designing, researching, writing and publishing it. I'm calling each foray out my "Victory Tour." I didn't blog my first trip to San Luis Obispo when the RV broke down (twice) so I missed the LA Times Festival of Books, and when I brought a reluctant tomcat in the RV who kept trying to escape. I did manage to get several new vendors for "California Healthy": in San Luis Obispo there's the Cal Poly Student Union Store, House of Bread, and New Frontiers market; in Paso Robles buy the book at Di Raimondo Cheese Shop and Arroyo Grande Wines; in Cambria it's at Fermentations wine shop; in Arroyo Grande at Verena's Gourmet-to-Go and Grande Health Foods; and in Oceano at Sandy Groundz cafe. My daughter loaned me her car while I was waiting for the mobile RV repairman. After the new fan belt and water tank were installed, I made it to a booksigning at the Ventura Farmers Market - what a great experience that was. I sold 20 books and had two publishers from Devorss Publishing tell me they were impressed with it. Weaver Wines in Ventura also hosted a booksigning for me and my old friend from Landmark Education, Sheila Chimas, and her husband dropped in, shared some wine and bought a book. Weaver Wines, on California Street, has an inviting wine bar and their shop sells not only wine-related items, but supports women in third world countries by reselling their goods.
Last week I finished designing and publishing Dr. J. Richard Gaskill's "This is Yosemite Valley" book, ftp-ed the digital files to my Hong Kong printer, arranged for Mary to cat-sit Tommie Lee Jones Smothers, loaded my car with 15 cases of "California Healthy," some Biron recipe booklets, a variety of marketing materials (bookmarks, sell sheet, review sheet, invoice book, counter display box, etc etc etc), and headed to Los Angeles.
I told Mike Tidwell, my client who is writing a book about global warming, "Climate Trek," that I was going to make my assault on L.A. this week and that intrigued him how I might be doing that. I'm intrigued, too, about how that will develop, and decided it's high time to enter some of my adventures in the new blog my webmistress, Joanne Barker, so kindly set up for me.
Monday, June 4
The first 150 miles (halfway to L.A.) from my home in Pacific Grove and I reached my daughter's home in San Luis Obispo. Driving through the heart of Monterey County is educational with all the row crops in various stages of planting, growing and harvesting. Big harvesting machines were surrounded by dozens of farm workers, bent over the crop, cutting, packing, heaving tons of produce around, their cars and vans lined alongside the fields, their heads and faces covered with scarves and hoods to keep out the dust and sun. I gave thanks for their hard work and thought about the delicious strawberries they were gingerly picking and the big stalks of celery they sliced off and boxed. Huge piles of empty boxes lined the divisions between the fields to show the volume to come.
Two days there and I engaged three new vendors for "California Healthy." In Morro Bay, the owner of Sunshine Health Foods on Morro Bay Blvd. fairly snatched it out of my hand and said, "Yeah, I'll take it!" This is typical of the response I get when I approach retailers to carry the book. Sunshine Health Foods has a photo and a listing in the book and while there I enjoyed the vegan California Sandwich for lunch ($6.50 with half left over). I told him it was on my research trip last year that I got hooked on Kombucha at his lunch counter. Now I'm learning all about brewing my own at www.getKombucha.com. It sounded complicated from their 7-day ezine course, but on the last day (today) I learned they sell a machine that does it all! I emailed Dave to see if I could pick it up at their Santa Monica office on my L.A. tour.
Shark's Grin gift shop on the Embarcadero in Morro Bay also immediately took "California Healthy" for re-sale. The Visitor's Information Center recommended them, so I took a free book to Bill there and told him to show visitors and tell them it's available at the Shark's Grin.
Later in Cayucos I stopped by Kelley's Espresso to show Rebecca, the barrista, her photo that I took last year while I was there researching the book. The new barrista told me Rebecca now worked two doors down at Pier Gifts, so I stopped in and the owner took the book based on her telephone recommendation (he wasn't in).
I said good-bye to my funny and talented grandchildren, Zack and Grace, Wednesday morning and got back on Hwy 101, headed south to L.A. I stopped in Santa Maria to deliver a case of books to TriCo to take to the Navy commissary store in Lompoc. The bookkeeper was intrigued by my sell sheet so I gave her a book, plus two more for the owner and book buyer. Today I got an email that they'll be in the stores tomorrow! This book is disproving what I've learned from 20+ years in the business - that it's hard to sell a book. My ex and I spent 5 years earning our living through the directmail-selling of technicial, practical guides to 5000+ interior landscapers because there weren't any others. (Hamilton's books are still the industry standard for professional plant care.) "California Healthy" is enjoying that one-of-a-kind status now and I am grateful! When I started the book three years ago the 'green' industry was fringe and I was doing the book because it was my own interest; now it's 'in.'
At Gaviota State Beach I used one of my National Parks membership passes and got in free, rested by the Pacific Ocean and are the rest of that Sunshine Health Foods sandwich for lunch. With a day pass at any State Park you can go to all of the others on the same day, without paying again, so I stopped at El Capitan too. There are three State Beaches just south of Lompoc and before Santa Barbara, with beautiful beach access, camping, and a pier.
I arrived in Hollywood at 2pm. I was last here one year ago, doing the research for the book, and through a friend of a friend was able to rent a room in the Hollywood Hills home of an actress and dancer, Barbara Perry. I returned yesterday to do my marketing from here. Right now I'm enjoying the L.A. sunshine and 77 degrees on her back patio, using her WiFi and my cell phone and laptop. So far this morning I've requested on-line book reviews, made contacts to arrange a gourmet "California Healthy" gift basket affiliate, and worked with Hunter Vogel at Kit Fox Winery and chef Bruce Biron to get his "California Healthy" recipes and food photos in the Kit Fox new product launch. Hunter wrote: "I like everything I can see about the book from sustainable foods to agricultural tourism."
So, ten days ahead of me to revisit places I researched for the book, show them their entry, and hopefully have some of them carry it for resale. Wish me luck! (BTW - here are the 4 attributes of 'lucky ' people: 1. expect good luck; 2. see the good luck in bad luck; 3. listen to gut feelings; 4. ability to capitalize on unexpected opportunities. For more, read "The Luck Factor" by Richard Wiseman) Labels: California, camping, Chef Biron, food, health food, healthy, Kit Fox Vineyards, recipes, Sunshine Health Foods, vegan, wine
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Welcome to my new blog!
Welcome to the California Healthy Blog! Experience the food, walks, and beauty with me!
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Home: Pacific Grove, California, United States
About Me: Living my ideal life, doing work I love, helping others, playing with grandchildren.
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