The Wonderful Pomegranate

There has been a lot of buzz about the pomegranate over the last few years, as it's benefits have been marketed heavily in the US since 2004. This unusual fruit provides a large amount of polyphenols, which may have antioxidant effects for us.

Although sometimes difficult to eat (peeling and picking out those little seeds can sometimes be frustrating), they are delicious. The juice is great, and can be mixed with many other liquids (more on that in a moment).

Interested trivia about the pomegranate, according to the website jewishrecipes.org, there is a lot of symbolism with this fruit:

1. It is said to have 613 seeds, the same as the 613 commandments of the Torah.
2. Ancient Egyptians were buried with pomegrates.
3. Grenada was named from the Spanish and French words for pomegranate
4. The hand grenade was named after the pomegranate, largely due to the shape, seeds(fragments) and color.

So here's one of my favorite things about pomegranates: the juice, mixed with vodka makes a damn good martini. Good for you, too.

Jane's Pomegranate Martini recipe:

3:2 ratio of 100% pure pomegranate juice (I use Langers from Costco)to vodka (I use Skyy).

sugar to taste

Shake well and freeze. It develops a nice slush. Let it sit out for 10 minutes or so before consuming. Serve with fresh pomegranate seeds if possible. Drink responsibly.

OK, it's not really a recipe 'cause I make it to taste, but you get the general idea.

More Kiwi Puppy Class

So here is more puppy free play time at puppy kindergarten. It really is code for "let's pick on Kiwi time".

Old Friends

Dan & Terri

Greg & Sarah

Colleen

Over the last week or so I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing several old friends. I always feel lucky to see one old friend, but 5 or 6 in just over a week is extraordinary.

First, I got to see Colleen. I've known Colleen since about 1992, well since 1996. Our kids are 2 days apart and we are often (luckily for me) mistaken for sisters.

When we were in Santa Cruz, I got to see Judi, my old boss, mentor and friend. She graciously let us stay in her wonderful beach house. I've know Judi since 1993.

This past weekend back in North Carolina, our great friends Terri & Dan returned for a visit. We met them as we were building our first house in Chapel Hill, way back in 1999. They moved almost a year ago back to Iowa and we miss them terribly, this is their first time back.

I recently reconnected with an old high school friend, Lisa. Although I didn't get to see her, I had a nice long computer chat with her last night. Great to catch up, especially when you're still on West Coast time!

To top it off, one of my graduate school friends came through town this weekend. I've known Greg (aka Chewy for his large stature and formerly longish hair) for almost 20 years (wow). He lives in Canada and was passing through town with his lovely wife Sarah. It was great to see Chewy, haven't seen him in more than 6 years.

I'm thankful that these great folks take time out of their travel schedules to see us...we're lucky. Very lucky indeed.

More Vacation Photos...

This is the view from the top of Mt. TamalpAIS in Marin County, CA. Note San Francisco downtown financial district, the Bay Bridge, etc.

Top of Mt. Tam: Donnie, Ashley and Jane. Note the lack of "Bunny Ears" in this picture.

Jane and Colleen at Muir Woods in a giant redwood.

Well, this was where I slept. I thank Ben for giving up his bed during my visit. Colleen thought it very ironic that we were going to a race and I was sleeping in a racecar bed...


Wonder which one is more comfy...

My First Day at the Races....

Ok, so many of you might I'm referring to horse racing, but alas, it's auto racing. Not typically my scene, but I have to say it was really interesting.

I was visiting my friends Colleen & Adam and Beth in the Bay Area this weekend. Coincidentally, my friend Donnie Barnes (a racecar driver) was racing this weekend at Laguna-Seca in Monterey. Colleen and I were invited to witness this great event...all I can say is Wow.

We were very fortunate to be able to stay at my friend, mentor and former boss Judi's beach house in Santa Cruz. Ahhh...so soothing and wonderful to be staying on the ocean. We saw dolphins and a whale today (but I digress-- thank you Judi & Jay)

The race was the Mazda Mx5 Championship (I think) and was a 45 minute race with a field of 30 racers. We were able to see the cars and drivers in the paddock before the race, and then Ashley (Donnie's wife), Colleen, Hilary, Scott and I went to the grandstand to watch the start. OK, so Ashley was a cool as a cucumber (she's watched a lot of NASCAR) but Colleen and I (being new to the racing thing) were a little on the nervous side. Glad we didn't see the "metal to metal" contact that happen. We were happy that everyone was safe and sound at the end. Donnie did really well, moved up to 12th from 19th position at the start. Unfortunately, due to certain penalties...they bumped him back to 13th. I'm sure he'll eventually explain on his blog if you want to know the details.

On the way back from the race we visited everyone's favorite fast food place, In-N-Out Burger. While I won't say if I actually consumed dead cow, but it was fun none the less.

Colleen and I resisted the urge at the track to buy a sweatshirt that said "Race Chick" but Colleen is starting a new fashion trend by wearing Piloti racing shoes. Such a fashion diva, that Colleen.

All in all a fun day at the races. You never know, I might even be hooked...

For those of you that may not understand (Colleen), below is a video. Just push the arrow button and watch the action!

I Love Our Nation's Capitol

World War II Memorial
Korean Veterans Memorial

Washington Monument

Recently I traveled to Washington, DC for a short weekend meeting. Most of my time was spent in a hotel conference room, but I was lucky enough to spend some time outside, and even luckier that our hotel was fairly close to the Mall (not the shopping type, but rather the one by the Smithsonian).

Saturday morning I went for an early run around the monuments. It was one of those days, just enough chill in the air that you don't get hot and just the right amount of sunshine to make you feel good about being outside. I saw the WWII Memorial, est. 2004, for the first time as well as the Washington Monument, the Capitol, and the Lincoln Memorial.

That evening, at about 9pm, my long time friend Marlene and I went walking around the monuments at night. We saw the above ones as well as the Vietnam Memorial and my personal favorite, the Korean Veterans Memorial. These are the words on the ground next to the statuary garden:

Our nation honors her sons and daughters

who answered the call

to defend a country they never knew

and a people they never met.

and nearby:

"Freedom is Not Free"

Wow. Statements like these, and the monuments themselves never fail to amaze me when I go to Washington. They have a huge impact on me and my general overall impression of the country. It also brings to mind that no matter how much you disagree or agree with a war, the ones fighting for us deserve our respect.

As an aside, as I was running I wondered what I would say if I saw George W out running with his secret service (I didn't, but I did see someone who looked a whole lot like Karl Rove). Finally, I came to the conclusion that I would tell him that running on these concrete paths is terrible for your joints, and they should think about a rubberized surface for the trails around the monuments... At this point, what else can be said?

There's always next year...

Well, another year of baseball has come to a close for Cubs fans. Sadly, it didn't end in the way we wanted it to. It never does. Never.

Living with disappointment is something our group learns to accept. This year was almost as painful as the five outs away from going to the World Series/fan (who I will not further name because I really feel sorry for that guy) interferes with catching the ball year, 2003. Billed as the best team in both the National and American Leagues this year, the Cubs were predicted to win the World Series. They didn't even win a game in the National League Division Series. At least we didn't get our hopes up for too awfully long this postseason.

We used to identify with Red Sox fans, but no longer. They seem to have won a few World Series in recent years and thus have broken their curse.

Our curse, The Curse of the Billy Goat, began in 1945, the last year that the Cubs went to the World Series. they ejected Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis and his pet goat (pictured above) from Wrigley Field due to fans complaining about the odor. He stated at that time there would never be another World Series at Wrigley Field. The last time the Cubs won the World Series was 1908. One hundred years ago. *Sigh*

I have been alive for 40 years (yes, I admit it, I am 40) and have been waiting my whole life for the Cubs to win the World Series, or at least go to the WS. I really feel sad for my Dad. He's 79 and he's been waiting his whole life for a Cubs WS win. I hope he gets to see one in his lifetime. I hope I get to see one in my lifetime.

Puppy Kindergarten

We are lucky enough to have a great puppy, a six month old Golden Labrador (that's a cross between a golden retriever and a yellow lab) named Kiwi. Overall, she's a great dog. Family friendly, food motivated and fun. The part about being food motivated should make it easy to train our 50 lb. friend. The problem though, is the excitement level she raises herself to when she enters the training facility at the Orange County APS.

Sniff, sniff. Tug, tug. Pant, pant. Bark, bark. We usually spend most of the hour trying to avoid choking the poor creature from her pulling on the leash. Of course that's why we're there, but you feel just a little bad when she can't breath.

As long time dog owners, we appreciate a good dog training class, with plenty of owner education on how dogs think, socialize and interface with humans. We also appreciate the exercise our furry friend gets.

One of our favorite things about this Senior Puppy class is puppy playtime. All 8 dogs in the class are let off the leash and have the run of the room. There is such a wide variety of dogs...a goldendoodle, a jack russell, a boxer, a golden retriever, etc. Kiwi sometimes gets picked on...she often rolls in a submissive position and lets the other dogs have their way with her. She goes home exhausted with exhausted but happy parents.

This cell phone video shows Kiwi and a few others...one of her tamer moments at the class.