The lady in the chair

Frances Natalie Pearlman is the lady in the chair.

My mom, who went by the name of Natalie her entire life, passed away from this world Sept. 16, 2008, one day short of age 75 1/2.

My mom was my best friend, there for me until the end.

How grateful i am that i was there beside her holding her hand as she took her last breath.

Full of life, full of laughter, full of love for all her friends - and mine as well.

She was honest, kind and generous... almost to a fault, but she was never a martyr.

She loved clouds and the ocean and a good book - a woman after my own heart!

She always helped her family and friends when we needed it... and many when we didn't even know we needed any help at all.

She had a wicked sense of humor - she could laugh at herself!

She had an eye for a bargain - she loved showing off how well she saved with coupons at the grocery store.

And somehow she was able to find the best in everyone, even in some of the worst of people, even at some of the worst of times.

Always wanting to work from the moment she was able to do so, she kept her photography business thriving with her youngest brother long after her Jan. 1, 2008 diagnosis of cancer.

She was a teacher by profession and also by the way she lived her life - she always taught whomever would listen, but at the same time, she always wanted to - and did - learn.

Though her spirit is with us, my family grieves...

The lady in the chair was:

A wonderful wife for my father for 53+ years,

A shining light of a sister to her two brothers,

An amazing mother to me and my two sisters,

The best Bubbe (grandma) to 12 adoring kids,

A doting aunt to her two nephews,

The one cousin who stayed in contact with dozens of relatives...

She was a friend like no other - her pals from California and from back when she lived in Chicago have made my broken heart heal a little bit... i have smiled after being regaled by/with stories of her devotion and humor, her intelligence and insight; i am only now beginning to find out about the lives she touched around the world.

http://legacy.com/SignOnSanDiego/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=117626992

Mom, i miss you and shall never forget you.

Rick Springfield got it right:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls0W4K7VuYA&feature=related

MY FATHER'S CHAIR

My father's chair still standing there

All alone since the long night

Now it's three years on and I still feel

He'll come home, we'll be alright

So where's this healing time brings

I was told the pain would ease

But it still hurts like the first night

That night my brother, my mother and I

Were looking up at a distant star

And wishing we could reach that far

And back in the house

And alone for the first time

We told each other we cared

We avoided my father's chair

I watch my family, we hold on

We are strong and we'll be alright

The clock continues counting down,

All the while

And every child will share the long night

But do the spirits meet again

Why am I still so filled with doubt

Is my soul everlasting

And the far distant future

When I knew you'd be gone

Came too fast and stays too long

Why do they leave the weaker spirit

And take the strong

But when the world turns sour

And I get sick from the smell

And I can find no comfort there

I climb into my father's chair

Where is everyone?

Beach time!
Hope everyone is doing well out there!
xo Mattie
(and K)

Healthy, Happy Holidaze!

The fires in San Diego

Hello from a place that feels like what Hell must be...

It's bad here, really bad.

i want to send out a big thank you all for text messages, phone calls, e-mails, Facebook notes, MySpace messages, regular mail, all of it...

It is scary, very much so right now, so incredibly frightening... so to have support and concern, prayers and good thoughts sent this way right now means EVERYTHING.

As i write this, Mattie and i are safe and all right as is my family here. Peter, who just the other day adopted an older Labrador, and his family are all right as well. Unfortuanately, that could change at any moment. I think the entire county of San Diego is on fire.

This is incredible, tragic, frightening, frustrating. The things i have seen are horrifying, and i am worried most about the animals, both pets and the wildlife, many (too many) of which have perished, in some horrific ways.

Working in the newspaper business has been my dream come true for the last 20-something years of my life, but right now, it's painful to the depths of my soul to be in the newsrooom, to be surrounded by FACTS.

And the fact of what is happening right now is this: devastation.

If you want to help the animals, and if you can, please do:

http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter__HarrisWitchcreekFire

I'm doing what i can to help here...

Please think good thoughts.

I'll be back when this nightmare is over.

Hugs,
Karen (kleo)

http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/2007/10/help_for_animals_in_the_fires.html

http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/

http://www.signonsandiego.com/

Goodbye, sweet Heidi

"As the sun hides his head
For another night's rest
And the wind sings
His same old song

And you on the edge
Never close, never far
Always there when I needed a friend

Yet it's hard living life
On this memory-go-round
Always up, always down
Spinning 'round and 'round and 'round

And all this could be
Just a dream so it seems
I was never much good at goodbye

There once was a time
Never far from my mind
On the beach, on the 4th of July

I remember the sand
How you held out your hand
And we touched for what seemed a lifetime

Now it's hard
Leaving all this behind me now
Like a schoolboy so lost
Never found until now

And all this could be
Just a dream so it seems
I was never much good at goodbye

Yet it's hard
Living life on this memory-go-round
Always up, always down
Turning 'round and 'round and 'round

And all this could be
Just a dream so it seems
I was never much good at goodbye

And all this could be
Just a dream so it seems

I was never much good at goodbye

Goodbye."

-"Goodbye," Night Ranger

http://www.dogster.com/dogs/246638

Bee-ing kind stings sometimes

Hmmmmm... i loooooove this Bizarro!

Strange i never saw anything like this when i went to college in the 1980s. For sure a chart worth studying:

*****************************************

"Sorry to get in yer face but i wanted to make sure you recognize me!"

Mat sez: "Hello!! *sigh* i am still dealing with my haircut..."

Peter took time out from his running training to give Mat a big ol' hug... he's got a little bit of a scary look here but Mattie doesn't seem to mind!

*******************************************


The bat talk was fantastic! Peter & i spotted this license plate in the parking lot of the library where the talk was given. i learned a lot about these amazing animals and have renewed appreciation for them.

What was the coolest was the 40 or so kids who were there for the discussion... they have knowledge and with that, i hope, compassion... and that gives me such great hope!

*****************************************

i got stung by a bee yesterday on the ring finger of my right hand and it's blown up huge and pounding like crazy. i was trying to rescue the bee from drowning in the swimming pool at my condominium. Go figure!

Bee-lieve it or not, here's the latest buzz, honey, i'll certainly chance it again to help one of these guys out.

Oddly enough, about 2 weeks ago, i smashed the ring finger of my left hand in my closet and that finger's been huge and sore since, so you can imagine my typing isn't too great of late...

ANYway, no excuses! i apologize for not being around Blogland much! i have been thinking of my online pals and will be sure to drop by every buddy's blog this week! *HUGS*

*********************************

My dad's 77th birthday is Wednesday (tomorrow) but we celebrated with brunch Sunday in Coronado at Il Fornaio, an Italian eatery that my parents like. i can't say i was looking forward to eating in a non-veg restaurant but it was a family thing so i went... with a smile.

The exceptional view from our table:


In a pleasant surprise, Il Fornaio offers a vegan minestrone soup and their homemade bread is vegan, too. Guess what i had... i took a photo but it wasn't anything particularly spectacular.

At my parents' house, things were bright & beautiful, festive & fun:
My niece, Shoshana and my nephew, Rubin.
"We are ready to par-tay!" My fam has rockin' & rollin' parties, really.

A close-up of the cake:

My sister Elyse made the cake. It was fab!

As you can see, my dad goes many titles... Len, Dad, Zaidy (grandfather in Yiddish) and Elf, for his volunteer work bringing books to those less fortunate:
http://www.thebookman.org/Volunteers.htm


Anyway, digressing back to Il Fornaio:

Me & the birthday boy.


My uncle Herb and his sister (my mom, Natalie). They have owned their own photography biz in SD for 20 years but i got to take the family photos this time 'round.


Shoshana and her parents. (My sister Elyse and Larry, who was visiting from Idaho - he got to meet Vicki's hubby Art a few weeks ago!)


Bro & sis, i love these two!

*****************************************

Recently took in the art at the San Diego Convention Center:

http://www.portofsandiego.org/sandiego_publicart/nikidestphalleccart.asp


Called "Coming Together," by the late, great Niki de St. Phalle
http://www.nikidesaintphalle.com/



(We like to work out over there, too! Peter is clothed, i swear.)

*******************************

Bowling for the Animals update: Across from the SD Convention Center is Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. Rubin's "Bowling for the Animals" tix to the Padres game were finally used during a day game at Petco. Rubin invited my uncle Herb, my dad and i to go. YAY! Amazing seats. Never sat so close to the action! i had to leave early to get to work but it was a great game and the Padres won 11-0!

Did i have fun?

Would these feet lie to you?


Um yes, this chick used to be a card carryin' major league groupie. Never mind, that was a long time ago. i swear. Heh. This shirt says "83 - lives saved per year by going vegetarian." i figured it would be a good idea to spread the message of compassion to the Padres faithful.

*****************************

Your thoughts, please, on this, a vegan butcher:
http://www.theunion.com/article/20070813/NEWS/108130133/-1/rss02
Woah. i do believe i've heard it all now.

And, at last, an honest food pyramid/guide for all of us!

http://www.honestfoodguide.org/

One more cool site: Eat kind! :o)

http://eatkind.net/

*************************************

WISHING THE BEST TO ALL! AND TO ALL THE BEST...

Beaches, a book, a bistro & bats

An acquaintance passed away recently and a get-together celebrating his life was held at one of our bays on Friday afternoon.

After that, i decided to go on the other side of the bay (the Pacific Ocean!) for a run on the beach called South Mission Beach, something i had not done for some time.

Here's where i started...


Lotsa these around on my run:

Jellyfish!

Plenty of this, too:

Seaweed! Dinner, anyone?

... the end. (i ran about 3 miles out and then came back.)


Leaving that beach (boo! believe me, i did not want to leave!), one passes the grand, historic and fun roller coaster called The Giant Dipper.

http://www.giantdipper.com/

**************************************************

Not far away from the coaster on the beach (how Californian, 'eh?), the next city up the coast heading north is Pacific Beach (Vicki's old digs!), where The Vegan Zone is. Peter & i ate dinner there last Wednesday night - more on that further down.

After dinner we walked to the beach and there was this tile mural there, which i somehow had missed before:


Cool octopus! Original, touchy-feely public artwork (especially when it's the likeness of an animal) like this makes me smile.

*********************************************

A brilliant, witty writer and super cool gal - my friend! - Sara Bongiorni, wrote a book that came out this month: "A Year Without 'MADE IN CHINA' " It's receiving rave reviews! i'm so proud of her!



http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780470116135&itm=1

Sara's childhood home is down the street from my sister. We used to live just a few blocks from one another when we wrote at a smaller newspaper together in the San Diego area about 15 years ago. She now lives with her husband and three kids (and dog!) in Louisiana.

She was actually on "The Today Show" today... NBC flew her out to NY. So amazing!! i had Peter tape the show on VHS (how old school am i?) at his parents' house since neither of us have TVs. i haven't seen the show yet...

*************************************

Sara is on a book tour and made a special appearance Saturday afternoon at the Barnes & Noble less than a mile from where her mom still resides! i had lost touch w/her and was thrilled to reconnect.

**************************************

i also got to meet her mom and hear Sara read a chapter from her book. It was a trip, for realz. The book is very, very good. Funny, thought-provoking, insightful, clever. i read it in four days. My mother read it in three days! My mom brought along three ladies from her book club, all of whom bought the book and had Sara autograph it.

**************************************

Sara and her mom, how cute are they?:


My mom took this photo of me & the author extraordinaire:

********************************************

OK, so i took Peter to Vegan Zone - self-titled "The Exotic Vegan Bistro" - and it was good the second time around for me. Nice to have company this time, and he liked it too.

***********************************

The prices were decent, our waitress attentive, the food delicious and there were plenty of choices on the menu, but there was something missing... maybe i'm just spoiled by SIPZ... It was super dark inside and just not very friendly-feeling.

************************************

Especially for being just three blocks from the beach where peeps are cool and casual, it seems a little out of place. i hope it makes it though - a vegan restaurant is always a welcome thing.

************************************

A huge painted wooden face inside The Vegan Zone:

The Vegan Zone menu cover, which is a lot cooler than the odd, quixotic menu inside:

Pretty decent crispy won ton appetizers ($4):

(My *cough* great food photography striking again...)

"Garlic Lover" ($8) for me:

"Rice baked with mushroom" ($8) for Peter:

Peter also had a glass of Thai iced tea. Refreshing! No desserts on the menu, but that was just as well. We were stuffed.

(Of course later we managed to eat some Trader Joe's Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. HA!)

**************************************************

Bats.

*****

*****

*****

What do you think of bats? i think they're fairly adorable, and very misunderstood... and unfortunately feared because of ignorance.

*****************************************

Peter and i are going to a "Bat Talk" tomorrow at a local library, and we're both pretty excited. i was invited as part of my job at the newspaper to attend by a woman named Cynthia Myers, who is a bat aficionado with a Web page to prove it: http://home.earthlink.net/~cmsquare/

*****************************************

Last night Cindy sent me some photos and a story about her recent trip to a place called Bracken Cave in Texas. i'll meet her in person tomorrow - and some bats as well i hope!

************************

************************

The cave, before the bats come out (No Adam West to be found!):

**************************************

Cindy likes these bat sites:

http://www.batrescue.org/

http://www.batworld.org/

**************************

**************************

The bats emerge:

Part of the story of her experience:

"The emergence started when we were still around the back of the property and we all rushed back around to the front of the cave. It was absolutely spectacular! (local volunteer) Fran Hutchinson said that this time of year there are about 30 million bats flying out because the pups are starting to fly out with their moms, and it takes the entire colony about 5 hours to exit the cave.

"We figured that, just while we were there, we saw at least 100,000 bats per MINUTE flying out and over our heads, on their way to eat about 200 TONS of corn earworm moths each summer night! So many little wingbeats that they created a nice breeze for us bat tourists."

*******************

And away they go!!:

Bat Conservation International: http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp

***********************************

***********************************

Go Dan Piraro:

May the week ahead be healthy for everyone (well, except Michael Vick & other animal abusers).

Hard to believe August is around the corner. Just like a bat, time flies.

PEACE!

You can't spell evolve without love

My friend Marina, Chicago-born (like me!) but Californian at heart (same, natch), came for a visit last week, dragging her bro and & Germany-born mom, who i'm pretty sure fell in love with SoCal.

i had small parts of only two days to show 'em around San Diego County and we hit Point Loma, Coronado, Ocean Beach & more. Their fave place was La Jolla - and it's hard to blame them:


Mat was feeling in the pink (HOORAY!) and joined in on our adventures:


Is Mat smiling (above) or is it my imagination?!


***************************************************
***************************************************

Thanks to Vicki's husband, Art, for the head's up on Vegan Zone in Pacific Beach. I took Marina & co. there but they weren't feelin' the love so i was the only one to order from this fab little eatery. i got a pepper steak wrap that was divine.

i left my camera in the car so i didn't get to take a photo but i'm sure my pal Peter and i will hit this spot again and i'll def take pix. For now, here's Art's take on this place:

http://veganvice.blogspot.com/2007/07/restaurant-review-vegan-zone-san-diego.html


*******************************************
*******************************************

Sunday was Peter's mom's 86th birthday. EIGHTY-SIX! This angel of a woman wanted to go to my fave veg restaurant SIPZ so we did! Great stuff as usual there. i ordered something new to their menu, BBQ "chicken"... which was outrageous... but of course i left my camera behind (again).

i grabbed the photo below of her and Peter's dad (who turns 88 next month) on their couch at home after we got back from our delicious outing. They have four other children and two of them sent flowers from out of state. Lovely.

Can you believe that last month they celebrated 62 years of wedded bliss?! SIXTY-TWO years. Wow.


************************************************************
************************************************************
If you have a minute, this is a sweet animal-lovers Web site:

http://www.afa-online.org/

As if you didn't already know:


*********************************************
*********************************************

Dan Piraro and Bizarro, always right on:

http://www.bizarro.com/vegan/index.htm


i feel fortunate to've been touched by so many... thanks.

Big hearts, some art & SMARTIES!

A big thank you for the love shown here & elsewhere for Mattie.

THANK YOU!

Your thoughts helped me, which in turn helped Mat, i'm sure!

She's doing a lot better, but still her veterinarians don't know what has been the reason for her issues, which involved some gastrointestinal woes (including ongoing infections that she's had since i adopted her four years ago) and subsequent pooping problems that were frightening.

My poor punkinhead was on six pills a day for a time, and it was a struggle having her take the bitter meds. There was no fooling her by hiding them in food. It was much like this cartoon:



Not only is my little 12-year-old girl deaf, she is, ummmm... stubborn. She's down to one pill a day - and so we press on and it is my great hope that she has many healthy years ahead.

Awesome blogger pals:

Vicki of Vegan Vice http://veganvice.blogspot.com/ sent me this adorable doggie card and a goodie bag for Mattie (and me) filled with doggie biscuits, huge SMARTIES, lavender packets to use as a sachet and for baking cookies, lavender jelly and lavender lip balm. Plus Buddha Mints! Yes! Blew me away... typical thoughtful Vicki.

i got to bring Mattie over to Sheree' 's http://boosveg-a-nut.blogspot.com/ house last week and we had a great time! There are photos of some of our brief adventure over at her blog... it was Mat's first time hangin' out with a dog other than her best pal, Heidi, in a loooong time, and she dug Sheree' 's Shiloh big time. Must be a blonde thing!!

And again thank you to everyone who commented here (so many!!) and on Facebook (Laura!), MySpace (Bazu!), through e-mails (Melody! Candi! Emmy!), snail mail (Vicki!), text messaging (Leslie!) and everywhere (Carrie!) to lend support. What big hearts you all have...

*************************************************************

A few weeks back, i grudgingly went to the San Diego Fair in Del Mar, which i have problems with because of their hypocrite behaviour and the way animals are housed, shown, then weighed and sold. Heartbreaking.


But... i did get to watch a couple of horses away from the main "housing" area and on a "kids' farm" play place, have a good time with one another. It was very sweet.


i had gone to see "Weird Al" Yankovic early on in the fair's 2007 tenure, but i returned about a week later, with my mom and dad (aren't they cute? just celebrated their 52nd anniversary!) to look at some of the art, and here's a small sample of what i saw.

Woodworking, file under amazing:


This painting is supposed to be scary but i couldn't help but laugh:


An artist's rendering of the "Urban Alphabet":


Turning the (picnic) tables, this was cool:


i love this painting, it was so "relate-able":


*****************************************************
This story, called "Where's the Beef?" was cool to see, from the newspaper i wrote for in college:
http://media.www.thedailyaztec.com/media/storage/paper741/news/2007/07/16/HealthFitness/Wheres.The.Beef-2923750.shtml

*****************************************************
Wanted to share a few comics i've been lookin' at from the "Cartoon Bank" that made me smile:













************************************************************

i met this sweet young lady during Peter's and my trip up the coast, in Arroyo Grande. i forgot her name but she was happy to have me photograph that bag. And even tho i can't say "hate" is a good word to use when describing meat eaters, it had a point to make:

This puts a little more positive of a spin on a similar thought:

Anyway, love makes the world go 'round...

i hope everyone has a great week. Thanks again for showin' so much compassion...

From Mattie

Thank you for your prayers, support & healing thoughts!


It's been a "ruff" two weeks but i am on the mend...

Mommy is looking forward to visiting everyone this week.

Think good thoughts!

Mat's been quite sick. i'll be back around these parts at some point. Please keep her in your prayers!

Animals & Veg*nism go paw in hand

This was my family's first dog. Born in 1974, when i was 8, Misty was mostly Golden retriever with a little bit of German shepherd and a wee bit of Collie. We adopted her as a puppy from my family's best friends, whose dog, Shamber, had a litter of pups... Misty lived a very happy 15 years, five in Illinois and 10 in California.

i adored dogs as a kid... i loved all animals, really, which is why, after a visit with classmates on a field trip to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago at age 10, i stopped eating lamb. It wasn't until age 16 that i eschewed all meat; at 21 i nixed eating fish. Still working on kicking out from my diet products that have whey in them and an occasional bit of ice cream... i don't eat cheese and i'm allergic to eggs...

My fave show when i was a kid was a short-lived Saturday morning series called "Animals, Animals, Animals" with Hal Linden http://www.skooldays.com/categories/saturday/sa1395.htm Not sure if anyone knows that show... i also loved Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/W/htmlW/wildkingdom/wildkingdom.htm


When Peter and i went on our trip last month around coastal California, it seemed that we were constantly around animals in one way or another. Camping led us to some close encounters with wild animals and we made friends with dogs everywhere we went it seemed! i was able to get some snapshots of a few of our doggie pals.


Kota the 4 month old, who reminded me of Misty!


Ralph, our 4-legged next-door-neighbor at Limekiln State Park for 2 nights. i adored this 9-year-old retriever mix. i was decidely not a fan of his "family" of four as they left him out in the cold both nights while they got snuggly in their tent. i spoke up on his behalf but was met with disdain and some quizzical looks. Not surprising... the "dad" had murdered a fish and left it hanging in front of my car (with all those veg*n stickers on it) at Peter's and my water spigot. Incredibly horrifying for me...

Anyway, i digress!


This gorgeous gal waited for her fisherman father come up from his boat at Morro Bay. i thought she was a Chesapeake Bay retriever but she was a very sweet, chocolately Labrador!



This is Blue, who lives in Pacific Grove, lucky boy!

*********************************************************

In yet another coastal town in which we stomped around, Cambria, we stopped at what we thought was a fresh fruit stand but what turned out to be something much bigger... Linn's Fruit Bin Farm Store. http://www.linnsfruitbin.com/


One of the Linn family's 10 dogs... on the prowl.

The Linn family owns and operates this cute little store and among other things, makes preserves, jellies, jams and pies from all sorts of fruit, including the "olallieberry" which is a confounding, confusing (make believe?) berry that i'll leave this place to explain: http://www.linnsfruitbin.com/faqs#1

They also had 10 dogs - and a peacock - on site.



Another Linn family dog. Ralph Nader's his name!


Peter and i snuck up behind the store up a semi-private road to catch a closer glimpse of the Linn family home, check out the view (amazing!) and the farm (so many trees, so little time) and to meet some more of their dogs. We had befriended three of them at the store as well as the peacock, which seemed to like hopping up on the roof and jumping back down again. And again. And again.



The Linn family peacock. Gorgeous.

We decided to eat lunch at the family restaurant "Easy As Pie Cafe" back in town, a few miles away from the store. Not a lot from which to choose, but they had a fantastic roasted veggie/hummus wrap that was a tasty, filling treat!

i also got to meet Mrs. Linn and one of her sons, who runs the restaurant. i told them we'd met quite a few of their dogs and they kind of raised their eyebrows... good thing i didn't tell them about the road less traveled to their home. (Can you say "illegally trespassing"?)


Tasty vegan wrap at Linn's Easy as Pie eatery.


Some last few memories of our trip...

A goat right next to the road in Cambria, and on a leash... Why?
A sweet goat, i wanted to "kid"nap him for REAL.


A wild turtle in San Simeon State Park.



Peter in Pismo Beach, trying to help... too bad it was only a mural!


Peter looking the wrong way in Morro Bay, where we picnicked. The rock is truly AWEsome, isn't that right, Crystal? http://www.slostateparks.com/morro_rock/default.asp


Where all good hikes in Limekiln State Park end. Stellar waterfall.

***********************************************************



HERE'S TO A HEALTHY, HAPPY & COMPASSIONATE WEEK FOR ALL OF US!

Vacation eats & delivered treats

*********************************************

*********************************************

During our camping travels up the California coast last month, Peter & i had the opportunity to eat out a few times. In Pacific Grove, we happened upon the Central Avenue Bakery, not far from the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium.

This is a terrific bakery and restaurant, with tons of vegan options. It's also kosher, which was pretty interesting and rare. I talked to one of the owners, Tina, at length about her place and she was candid and refreshing. She also made her own vegan cheez which i sampled and then bought. So good. Highly recommended: http://www.centralavenuebakery.com/

They had a couple of bookshelves making up a nice library with books galore on everything from central coastal California to John Steinbeck (my fave author!) to vegetarianism and animal activism to kids' books and a bunch o'chairs and couches on/in which to read, snack, chat & lounge! How cool is that?

The view looking out the window.

The view toward the kitchen where chefs & bakers work magic.

I ordered the vegan pizza which was outrageously good. Peter had a breakfast burrito (and an Odwalla). For dessert we snacked on samples of their vegan Mexican chocolate cake. They were sold out of 'em so we only got to have a few bites (which is why there's no photo) but they were stellar.

****************************************************

In Morro Bay (hi Crystal!!), another fave place of mine, we stumbled upon Sunshine Health Food and stopped in twice, both on our way up the coast and again on our way back down (the second time just to eat there!). A terrific health food store, they also have a sweet little eatery in the back. "Shine Cafe," with its solitary wood picnic table that everyone shares in the back in sort of a group setting, is very fun! Both times we ate there we ordered the same things because we so enjoyed 'em. Peter had amazing pancakes while i had two of the hugest, best tofu scrambles ever! (One is pictured below.)

A great place with cool peeps working there. Highly recommended!!

*******************************************************

Thank you to that great gal at http://thehouseofsimon.blogspot.com/ for my groovy CARriE package of Canadian sweets. My mailman delivered the box these goodies were in right to my door and handed it to me, swooning over the words "chocolate inside" so i gave him half of the Coffee Crisp. After i had a bite of it, i was REALLY sorry i had shared! HA! It was that good. The card was super sweet and the Canadian magnet & pins are SO cool... And she knew i'd been having a hard time finding Primal Strips so she sent me four different kinds!! Those maple leaf cookies are my faves...

************************************************************

Here's an excellent read from The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer:

http://www.charlotte.com/192/story/166532.html

***************************************************

***************************************************

A link to get info sent to you on veg stuff - books, clothes, food (even vegan dog food!), etc.:

http://www.mediabrains.com/client/HomeBPub/LM1/lm/rsdefault.asp

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Ewe are what ewe eat

Central coastal California, Big Sur, Pacific Grove, i miss you so...
That's Peter, above, as we both stood awe-struck staring at the sunset.


A sweet seal basking in the Pacific Grove semi-sun...
saw him on a nice little afternoon run...
(see next photo)


Oh, hey! Just passing through with a message or two:



--->VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN<---
Fun quiz time! Go for it! http://www.veganstreet.com/funhouse/virtualvegan.html
--->VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN<---


A Web site that's tough but terrific:
http://www.rootsofcompassion.org/
ROOTS OF COMPASSION




Peter & i heard and saw "Weird Al" Yankovic in concert last night. (At the [icky] San Diego Fair [icky because of the animal abuse and the hypocrite behaviour that goes on at county fairs]). Such a great show he puts on. And i love him more for his animal-loving, vegan WAYs...

http://weirdal.com/

http://www.myspace.com/weirdal

i've written it before and i'll type it again, Alfred's an engaging, witty artist, a bit tied to the past (he's got that '70s vibe i'm attracted to) while fully engaged "in the present" with a keen eye on the future.

If he's comin' to a venue near you, what can i tell ya? GO! Really. Trust me. He's got a rockin' band behind him that blows me away. But be warned, Al seems to attract bookish, somewhat eclectic (read: odd) "word nerds" (such as myself)... *shrugs*... there are worse things, to be sure...






Uh, can i just say for the record?
i love peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. always have.

hewwo wittle, pb&j. i wuv u.

Saving the world one PB&J at a time...
http://www.pbjcampaign.org/

Who knew?And thank you, Dr. John McDougall...
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2007other/nytimes.html


***************************************************

Click it (if you have Adobe Acrobat) for a coupon for $2 off the Minis:
http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/eCard/miniscoupon.pdf




Or visit their site:
http://www.turtlemountain.com/products/minis_vanilla.html

*************************************************

Which witch is which?


Have a stellar weekend!
(i'm gonna be visiting blogs this weekend! YAY!)

a STOP OPTS POTS SPOT TOPS POST!

... and be grateful for the things that make life grand!

This sweet, tweeting little birdie was spotted taking a breather atop this stop sign as my pal Peter & i opted for a break during our recent week-long travel up the coast of California.

HOW ARE YOU!?! i have been thinking of every one of my blog pals so much of late...

I got an e-mail from a friend of mine who lives in Minnesota today and i am hopeful that you will indulge me in "finishing this sentence" (sentences)... i would LOVE to see your answers, either here or on your own blog or e-mail me... these are mine from earlier this a.m.

1. I love...
... my family... my dog... my friends... animals... happiness... music... sunshine... long runs... laughter... kind people... cookies... honesty

2. Right now I want...
... peace in the world... Twinkies to be vegan... to swing on the swings in Pismo Beach


3. I feel like...
… singing... laughing... dancing... crying...


4. I hate it when...
… people hurt other people... animals die needlessly... things go wrong... i get lost


5. I fear...
... war... rejection... hatred... angry people... losing loved ones

6. I'm lonely without...
… my family... my friends... my dog... writing

We had a fun trip. Here we are in "The Natural Cafe" in San Luis Obispo.

7. I need...
… to be healthy... to be happy... to write...

8. Today I...
... am enjoying the morning and day

9. Tomorrow I'm...
… going to celebrate my nephew's 15th birthday - how did he get this old so soon?

10. I just...
… sent a bunch of my vacation photographs to myself

11. I want to meet...
… Barry Zito again

Hi Barry! He was an awesome teen.

(i didn't take this photo... but i wish i had!)

*****************************************

12. I'm hungry for...
… a huge tofu scramble from Sunshine Cafe in Morro Bay and a Mexican chocolate brownie from Central Avenue Bakery in Pacific Grove

13. I love it when...
… the sun is shining and i'm out enjoying it... peeps i love are happy and healthy... my dog wags her tail

14. I'm afraid of...
… fighting... war... anger... mean people... hunters

The buck stopped here... safely... in San Simeon State Park!

15. I'm listening to...
... birds outside my door singing, my dog snoring

16. I'm wearing...
... a long-sleeve Arcata High shirt, cutoff shorts, white sox and running shooz

17. I wish I was in...
… Hawaii (never been there... they tell me it's nice!)

18. I'm craving...
… a day on the beach


19. I want to get...
... my hair cut soon

20. I can...
... do anything if i set my mind to it


21. I can't...
… deal with life sometimes


Street sign in Pismo Beach... Mattie's famous!!!

22. I have...
… too much clutter


23. I haven't...
... done so many things i want to...

24. I'm nervous...
… about the future of the world

25. My Mom thinks I'm...
… the greatest and i'm so honored to be so loved


26. My Dad thinks I'm...
… in need of a lobotomy

Nah, not really, but he doesn't quite "get" me...

27. I think...
… people need to think about others more than they think about themselves


28. I'm happy when...
… i know my loved ones are safe... i'm eating something i love... i'm running free

29. I'm sad when...
... there's unhappiness/unhealthiness in a loved one's life


30. I like eating...
… just about everything that's not animal-based and i have for 25 years!

This gorgeous cow, like so many others i saw behind "enemy lines" from the road... my heart went out (and goes out, still, and always) to them all...

31. I hate eating...
… animal products (so i avoid them!!)

32. I love watching...
… sunsets

Stellar sunset just south of Big Sur

33. I love listening to...
… birds singing... my dog snoring... (as i am at the present time!) ... the roar of the ocean... animal noises... my family and friends saying "I love you."

34. I love playing...
… Boggle with my mom... catch with baseball gloves... football... ping-pong (thanks for the reminder, Vicki!)... Scrabble with friends... anything with my dog... tennis... "hide the keys"... Red Rover... crossword puzzles (do you "play" them?)...

35. I hate waking up to...
... a loud noise... people arguing... trash collecting in my Dumpster... drunk peeps being obnoxious in the hot tub under my window at my condo at 3 a.m.

36. I can see...
"… clearly now the rain has gone - i can see all obstacles in my way"

"Hold on to 16 as long as you can, changes come around real soon, make us women & men." - John Cougar, and there i am livin' it up at 15 on the "L" in Chicago with my friend of 34 years and counting, Heidi (a vegan living in Arizona who sent me this 26-year-old photo!)

37. I'm glad that...
… i have a lot of living left to do and family and friends to share it with


38. I'm disappointed that...
... many of my family and friends have gone away, one way or another...

39. I look like...
… i need less sun... i'm going to have a long week ahead


40. I wish I looked like...
… Natalie Portman for a day...



Photo taken in "Gum Alley" in San Luis Obispo.

Bowling for the animals...

... chocolate & strawbs for the peeps!

I spotted the beautiful brown fountain of chocolatey goo and the luscious ripe berries right away in the conference/meeting room at the bowling alley in the city of Vista this past Sunday, part of the fun side notes during the ninth annual "Bowling for the Animals."

As i've mentioned (ad nauseum?!), this is an annual fab, fun fund-raiser for four extremely worthy animal groups... http://www.bowlingfortheanimals.org/

Before we went bowling, we were offered an array of the most tantalizing vegan food, served buffet-style, and given the opportunity to peruse literally hundreds of items available via raffles. Um, i went a little crazy with the food, and then nutty trying to win some of the prizes.

How COOL it was knowing that anything and everything there was not just vegetarian but vegan. Wowza! My plate, below...

My 14-year-old nephew, Rubin, went with me. His plate:

There were over 50 groovy groups of items being raffled off!
I lost track of how many tickets i bought... trying to win some of the items you see below.

The peeps in charge asked me to pick the winning raffle tickets, so i obliged, kinda hoping i might pick one with my name on it! i looked away each time i picked, just so i wouldn't be tempted to "cheat."

Ha! Like i would cheat! Not! Really, how would it have looked if i did pick my name, anyway?

The following two photos were taken by a woman at the event (link to all of her photos is at the end of this post).

My nephew, who bought a bunch of raffle tix won! Four Padres ducats, two baseball caps, a big bag o'peanuts and a magnet in a nice basket! Here's hoping he takes me to that game. Hee hee.

Oh yeah, about the bowling...

This is me below - Rubin's still learning the digital camera thing!

A bit better, Rubin, way to go! I had about 10 people sponsor me, and i was able to contribute a little bit to the cause... no matter what we all bowled (i had a 79 then 134), it was the animals who won!

More photos here, if anyone wants to see more of the event:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3quartermoon/sets/72157600158105728/

Unfortunately, i have a killer cold right now, but will be visiting everyone soon!

Hope you all have a great week/end!!

Heidi & Mattie (not unlike Confucius) say:

Everyone have a safe, fun weekend!

Earth day is EVERY day...

...but it was nice to celebrate it "officially" at Balboa Park in San Diego on Sunday. Lots of peeps, myriad environmentalist-run tables offering info on everything from tree planting to vegetable oil-run Mercedez Benz cars...

There was an area where there were Hare Krsnas chanting, a place where there was Mexican wrestling, more peeps, great booths from Last Chance for Animals and Farm Sanctuary (which i "worked" last year!) and some vegan food (not enough!).

There were voter registration booths (including one touting a grass-roots presidential campaign: 'Al Gore in 2008'), a kids' area with lots of hands-on stuff for the younger set, and, did i mention?, a lot of peeps.

"San Diego Earth Fair" - http://www.earthdayweb.org/

This artist wasn't part of the official festivities, but he was not far from the fair, doing great work...


A finished mural from Saturday, done mostly by kids! Beautiful.


Recycled tires make great purses, who knew?!


Peter's half-eaten veggie burger 'n' fries (we shared the fries w/the dogs!)

Peter, a one time hard-core vegan who eats both omni & veggie, totally enjoyed that vegan Boca burger. i had one, too, and it was excellent!


If you click on the photo below, you can see Heidi & Mattie in one of his sunglasses lenses.


There were quite a few vegan choices for food, but this was the place we chose, and so did a lot of others:

They don't get points for spelling (SMOOTIES!) but they were popular! We waited 45 minutes for our burgers! i bought a big bag of kettle corn to get us by till the food was ready.

Their official Web site: http://vegnout.net/

Nice father-daughter team took orders & money:

(i traded them a bunch of $5's and $1's)

Neuter is cuter! Spay is A-OK!

Mattie cozies up to a live recycling bin.

How about those sexy, pouty pink lips & lavender eyeshadow?

**********************************************************

Heidi loves her daddy and you can see that... "down to Earth":

Sign of the thymes

Ah, mmm... That felt kinda good. Wanna try?

http://signgenerator.peta2.com/index.asp

There're a lot of other things i'd really like to say beyond this rather mild opine, but i try hard to keep this blog "Rated G." And i do <3 chickens...

Happy Mail, "Weird Al" & eBay goes vegan

Mattie spies some of the goodies i got in the mail over the last couple of weeks from some super terrific friends of mine, the kind Candi http://candi2400.blogspot.com/ and generous Vicki http://veganvice.blogspot.com/! THANK YOU SO MUCH! It's always a treat to get non-bills/non-junk mail, especially notes from friends, and it's beyond awesome to get goodies like these in the mail. I'll be proverbially "paying it forward" very soon. Stay tooned!


Thanks for the recipe books, Candi! A super cool Chicago Diner (where i've been lucky to dine twice!) Cookbook AND Nava Atlas's soups (and accompaniments). Both very enlightening books.


Thanks for the dog biscuits (one eaten and totally enjoyed by the Matster, but i saved the wrapper) and delectable vegan cookies, Vicki!

And speaking of happy mail, if you have a minute, do check out Wanda Embar's wonderful Web site and its vegan e-cards (for all occasions, and even some "non occasions") that are free & easy to send as e-mail:
http://www.veganpeace.com
or just click here to see the various e-cards that you can send to brighten someone's day:
http://www.thisiscool.org/ecards/

************************************************************

As seen on eBay, the following (suggested listening... animal-loving, long-time veghead, "Weird Al" Yankovic's "eBay" from his fun CD from a few years back called "Poodle Hat" - lyrics below):

Sung to the Backstreet Boys' "I Want it That Way"

Yeah

A used ... pink bathrobe

A rare ... mint snowglobe

A Smurf ... TV tray

I bought on eBay

My house ... is filled with this crap

Shows up in bubble wrap

Most every day

What I bought on eBay

Tell me why (I need another pet rock)

Tell me why (I got that Alf alarm clock)

Tell me why (I bid on Shatner's old toupee)

They had it on eBay

I'll buy ... your knick-knack

Just check ... my feedback

"A++!" they all say

They love me on eBay

Gonna buy (a slightly-damaged golf bag)

Gonna buy (some Beanie Babies, new with tag)

(From some guy) I've never met in Norway

Found him on eBay

I am the type who is liable to snipe you

With two seconds left to go,

whoa Got Paypal or Visa,

what ever'll please

As long as I've got the dough

I'll buy ... your tchotchkes

Sell me ... your watch, please

I'll buy (I'll buy, I'll buy, I'll buy ...)

I'm highest bidder now

(Junk keeps arriving in the mail)

(From that worldwide garage sale)

(Dukes Of Hazzard ashtray)

(Hey! A Dukes Of Hazzard ashtray)

Oh yeah ... (I bought it on eBay)

Wanna buy (a PacMan Fever lunchbox)

Wanna buy (a case on vintage tube socks)

Wanna buy (a Kleenex used by Dr. Dre, Dr. Dre)

(Found it on eBay)

Wanna buy (that Farrah Fawcett poster)

(Pez dispensers and a toaster)

(Don't know why ... the kind of stuff you'd throw away)

(I'll buy on eBay)

What I bought on eBay-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y

Awesome vegan "Weird Al" & his poodle.

(I've seen WAY in concert once - a blast!)