Brunch at Effies and a Visit to See the Animals at Westmont Agricultural Farm with our Granddaughter Lyla

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”

—Anatole France

Since our granddaughter Lyla, had off from Jewish pre-school due to first night of Passover, she hung out with Cecille, myself and her uncle Jason.

She wanted to play in my home office which she refers to as Papa’s room (She tells everybody I have the best toys). She loves to play my Brazilian box drum I acquired during my travels. This time she played it while singing her ABCs (video).

Then she played with my medical bag instruments (Stethoscope, reflex hammer, and blood pressure cuff) and examined and pretended to treat all my hand carved animals I brought home from Kenya. She made me wear my grey surgical cap while she wore my green one backwards and me to tie the strings. She’s either going to be a veterinarian or musician. Next she wanted to see videos of “fire of all things.” She mentioned she heard about a cat that was saved by fireman. I assumed she heard something at her preschool. So I showed her clips of firemen saving cats from trees and apartments. You could see the joy in the firemen’s faces as they retrieved the pets and returned them to their owner. Lyla was moved by what she saw. She kept repeating, oh, "that’s so nice”

It’s a mitzvah (a good deed in Hebrew). Then, she followed my lead and kept saying. “It’s a mitzvah."

When Cecile came back from the grocery store we all went to brunch at Effie’s. Afterwards, we took a ride to Westmont Agricultural Farm in Campbell to see the animals. The first thing we saw was a black cow beinng washed and groomed by a young man. We were allowed to roam the farm to our hearts content. There is no charge for visitors. Some of the friendly farm hands and students were accommodating. One young woman offered to bring out a baby bunny for Lyla to see and pet, after we visited pigs, cows, lambs, and chickens. The earthy smell always brings me back to my visits to family friends in Italy who had a farm and raised chickens and cows and made fresh mozzarella from the cows milk.

The two-acre farm is located across the street from Westmont High School not too far from where we live. It seems out of place in a suburban area that values high technology. Many students from the high school who study agriculture grow greenhouse plants, raise animals for show as part of a program that keeps the area’s rural history alive. The farm is the last Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter in Silicon Valley that harkens back over a century ago when the valley was filled with orchards of apricots and plum trees.

Dinner with Friends at Neapolitan-Style Locanda Sorrento in Historic Downtown Campbell Bring Back Childhood Memories

Cecile and I invited our friends, Bill and Sarah Rothenberg to join us for dinner at a relatively new restaurant called Locanda Sorrento located in historic downtown Campbell. Though it wasn’t stated anywhere on the menu or website, I could see, the word “locanda" in Italian means Inn, which in former times meant a house providing food and lodging for travelers. Locanda Sorrento recently took over the space that was previously occupied by another Italian Restaurant, Tigelleria Organic which Cecile and I used to frequent and is now closed. Locanda Sorrento is one of several restaurants launched in the Bay Area by Restaurateur, Enzo Rosano over the years that specializes in Neapolitan offerings based on his mamma Carmela's recipes that he learned to cook while growing up in a town just outside of Naples.

We enjoyed some beer and cocktails (Aperol) and sliced bread with a green dipping sauce and a Pizza La Florita: Zucchini Flower, Mozzarella, Pancetta & Provolone Del Monaco for the table. It has as tender and light crust that didn’t bend or collapse when picked up.

Sarah enjoyed a very colorful and tasty Insalata Locanda: Butter Lettuce, Artichoke Hearts, Watermelon Radish, Pomegranate Seeds, Toasted Almonds, Goat Cheese & Champagne Vinaigrette, and Guazzetto: Manila Clams, Peinnoplou’s Tomato, Garlic, White Wine Sauce EVOO Crostini. We ordered two dishes of Polpette Della Mamma: Wagyu Beef Meatballs, Tomato Sauces, Parmigiano—Reggiano & House-Made Crostini. Bill and I loved Enzo’s Favorite Branzino Dish: Panko Breaded Mediterranean Sea Bass filet (no bones to pick) with Lemon EVOO Vinaigrette over Tricolor Cauliflower. I was impressed that most of l the staff spoke Italian. The ambience was colorful and the presentation was excellent. Our waiter was attentive, the servers were friendly, and the most important thing is the food was delicious. The meatballs could have been hotter, and Sarah felt the clam broth didn’t have much taste. Bill agreed it was worthy of a return to try some other dishes. They even have plant-based selections.

There is a framed watercolor painting that caught my attention (see photo) of a map of Naples including of all the places I used to visit family and friends such as Sorrento, Positano, Ravello, Amalfi and the Isle of Capri, collectively known as the Amalfi Coast. The fact that Enzo named all his restaurants after these wonderful places didn’t escape me. There is also a bride and groom riding a red Vespa (I used to own one). My uncle Lillo taught me how to ride his in Sicily when I was 13 years old. Our family friends Rosa and Mimi (or shall I say Rosa’s aging parents) owned a hilltop villa in the village of "Saint Agatha of the Two Gulfs” overlooking the Gulf of Naples to the north and the Gulf of Salerno to its south. We always had an open invitation to visit.

Instead of having dessert at the restaurant, we decided to go to the Creamery down the street for ice cream. The old Campbell water tower was lit in pink, providing a nice contrast against the night sky. There was also a beautiful wall mural of LOVE on one of the buildings with the words “From Historic Downtown Campbell” that added a bit more romance to an already romantic evening.

Golden Gate Bridge Bike Ride to Tiburon & Ferry Boat Back to SF After I Fell To the Ground

“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely...but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke...and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a ride!”

—Hunter S. Thompson

Bicycling the San Francisco is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States. Riding across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most exhilarating things to do. In fact, Bill and I, friends Jimi Hunter and his wife Jennifer have done a variation of this ride several times together. This time I invited my son-in-law Kyle Lewis, an avid cyclist to join us. We hooked up with Jimi and Jen—who were spending the weekend in San Francisco—near Fort Point. The views of the San Francisco Bay and the bridge are utterly breathtaking.

Once crossing the bridge that is famous worldwide for its signature orange-rust color and immense size, we made our way to the quaint city of Sausalito in Marin County. Jimi recommended to Bill, Kyle, and I to see the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Bay Model Visitor Center which has a large functioning 3D hydraulic model of the Bay Area.

We continued riding and when we reached Harbor Point in Marin County, I hit a bump while attempting to grab an energy bar from the back of my jacket, lost my balance and crashed into the ground (photo). Everyone was at my side. I was dazed and confused, had pain in my ribs on the left side of my body, the palm of my right thumb, scraped knees, the tops of my hands, and upper left arm. Frankly, I didn’t remember going down, and was in a state of shock and confusion when I was assisted in getting back up on my feet.

I noticed the right side of my bike helmet with MIPS technology my son Jason gifted me was abraded. The MIPS brain protection system is a helmet-integrated with a low-friction layer designed to reduce rotational motion transferred to the brain from an angled impact to the head. Bill had told me later, he was amazed I was able to continue riding ten additional miles to Tiburon—albeit slowly—to catch the Ferry back to San Francisco. While Bill rode his bike back to the parking lot to get his SUV—so I didn’t have to ride anymore—the rest of us had lunch at Red’s Java House, a waterfront landmark since the 1930s. We ordered take-out for him. On the way home, Bill offered to drop me off at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara to be checked out. After spending three hours in the ER, the doctor on call reviewed the X-rays of my right hand and chest, as well as ct scan of my brain. The diagnosis was a concussion, rib contusions and possible fracture(s) and abrasions of my knees, and hands which were attended to before I called Cecile to pick me up.

Postscript: I won’t sugar coat it. Physically, I feel like I went a round with Mike Tyson. However everyone agreed it could have been worse. Emotionally, I view it as being in a state of Amor fati: A Latin phrase that roughly translated means “loving your fate.” It is used to describe an attitude of accepting and embracing the conditions of your life exactly as they are. I will ride again, I told myself. I felt grateful for the commraderie of friends who had my back and the joy and beauty I experienced on Saturday before the incident. One would never know looking at all of the photos taken of me after the fall that I was wounded.

The following is a Vimeo video narrative reenactment of my fall at the "scene of the crime" by my good friend and former competitive racer, Jimi Hunter, who has had his own share of thrills, spills, and injuries over the years, much more serious than mine. He and Jennifer video all their rides.

https://vimeo.com/695513655/e45a91524e

A Solo Windy Bike Ride Before the Recent Rain

"Sometimes the things we [see and] feel on a bike [ride] can be sublime.”

—Justin Coulson

I hesitated about going out for an evening bike ride. It was cold, very windy and rain was forecasted.

But I elected to take the window of opportunity while it was still dry, an hour before sunset. I dressed warmly and as per usual I didn’t regret it. I made my way to the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Competitive

bike riders have all these strategies to be more efficient when encountering wind which can have a drag on speed.

But, I enjoy riding with or against the wind especially in a protected area where there are no cars. As a lover of nature, I often stop to take photos. In this case the abundance of cloud formations is what often interest me.

Edmund Burke’s Philosophical Enquiry (1757) connected the sublime with experiences of awe. He saw nature as the most sublime object, capable of generating the strongest sensations in its beholders which proved influential for several generations of artists. The definition of sublime is something majestic, impressive, and elevating one’s spirit.

When I ride solo in nature, I never feel alone. I never get bored. Nature is throbbing with life. Time alone in nature provides time and space to step back and reflect on my relationship to the natural world. I love taking photos of clouds, especially when they are abundant and moving as they do during a windy day.

Most of these photos were taken on the Los Gatos Creek Trail, a couple of miles from home. The one of me in front of the mural was taken on the caged pedestrian and biking bridge over Highway 85. The rest of the photos were taken on the trails and streets of Rinconada Hills, the gated-community where my wife Cecile and I live. Speaking of Cecile, when I arrived home she had a nice Italian meal waiting for me: Buitonni Sweet Italian Sausage tortelloni with marinara sauce and parmesean cheese and meatballs.

Celebrating our 45th Wedding Anniversary: Where Did the Time Go?

“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”

—Audrey Hepburn

“Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same.”

—Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Cecile and I are celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary this 25th day of March 2022. Breaking it down we have been in love for 16,435 Days; have spent 394,461 Hours together, not counting three additional years of living together in my beloved’s home town of Chicago. We moved to San Jose, California inn 1975, and together open my Podiatric Medicine & Foot Surgery Practice. Though she was an elementary school teacher by training she became my medical assistant and office manager. Our patients loved her sincere, welcoming presence and smile.

We decided to get married in 1977. We were blessed with having two wonderful children (Jason and Michelle) and further blessed with two adorable grandchildren (Lyla and Emmy) and a wonderful loving friendship with our son-in-law Kyle and his wonderful family. During this time we had countless happy memories and magnificent travel experiences together as well as with our children and grandchildren.

A wedding anniversary reminds Cecile and I about one of the most important days of our adult lives. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on our relationship, and come together to celebrate. We are well beyond doing something that outdoes the preceding anniversaries in our younger days. Our celebrations are much more carefree. Our anniversary serves as a heartwarming reminder of the day we met and doing something special to affirm our commitment to one another and congratulate ourselves for getting through the challenges that life has placed in our path. Marriage is not all rainbows and unicorns. It is full of ups and downs. As unwelcome as the downs can be they have given us the ability, wisdom, and strength to weather the storms. All of our experiences good or bad are part of our personal storyline and getting through the difficult times has only deepened our connection.

Dearest Cecile,

Our Wedding Anniversary is a time to look back,

Remembering our first meeting, first date, first dance, first embrace, first kiss.

To think of all the things we’ve done and the places we’ve been.

The joy, the tears, the doubts, the fears

The wondrous things we’ve seen together, the two of us as one.

We have learned that love is a living thing and true love never dies.

May each of us continue to see that love in one another's eyes,

So as we celebrate today, recalling milestones from our past,

With the full understanding that in the years to come

Our love will always last.

Happy Anniversary,

sealed with a kiss,

Dennis

Bicycling the Los Gatos Creek Trail to Lexington Reservoir Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains

“On the bike I savour everything to the full. I live every moment. I discover places that otherwise I could not see. When I get on my bike I feel no boundary or limit. I am a conqueror, and every time is a little great quest, body and mind.”

—Paola Gianotti

At a mild 84 degrees, it was a great day for a ride. After Cycling to the Los Gatos Creek Trail with a pit stop at Jamba Juice, Bill and I continued our ride to Lexington Reservoir County Park, a scenic 950 acre park and reservoir which includes a 338 acre man-made reservoir available for shoreline fishing. The reservoir is also open to hand launch vessels only, including canoes, yaks, float tubes and standup paddleboarding (SUPs). Below the Lexington Reservoir exists a ghost town called Lexington which was once 550 feet above sea level. Due to draught conditions the water level is low. That said, it is still a sight to see while riding around the top perimeter looking down. The photos were taken on Tuesday and a previous ride we did last month. The ride around Lexington Reservoir itself is 7.8 miles, though Bill and I rode a total of 19 miles roundtrip from where we live.

A Middle Eastern Style Birthday Luncheon for our Granddaughter in our Daughter Michelle & Kyle’s Backyard

“Stay close to and be loving to your children and innocent grandchildren. Bask in their light. Do what you can to make grace happen for them. It’s not what we have in our life, but who we have in our life that matters.”

Happy Birthday to Emmy, the cutest little angel who brings love, light, and joy into our lives and is worthy of another celebration.

After all, in my view, if Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth can have two birthday parties several weeks apart so too can our little Princess Emmy.

So when our daughter Michelle and Kyle invited some family and friends who weren’t able to celebrate Emmy’s first birthday the end of February, we were all in. They decided to have a Middle Eastern Luncheon delivered by Dish-dash.

Aside from our daughter Michelle, husband Kyle, daughters Lyla and Emmy; Cecile and I, and our son Jason; Kyle and his brother Chip's mom Kim and Al, their dad Ed and Gerry; Michelle and Kyle’s close friends and neighbors, Kayvon and his wife Behnaz; Kyle and Chip's friend Vince Grosso and his four-month year old Graham were part of the festivities.

Thanks to Kim and Al, Emmy got her first American Girl doll; Lyla was enjoying being pushed on the swing, playing ball, and being read stories to. Emmy was very engaged, scooting around in her cute little white flower-fringed tutu, we enjoyed watching both girls open up their presents. Yes, even Lyla received some gifts, so she didn’t feel left out. The food was awesome, the company was wonderful, and all the grandma’s and grandpa's got to spend special time with our granddaughter’s, Lyla and Emmy. My heart melted when Lyla came up to me and asked: “Papa can you play with me? ”What could be better than that?

Dinner at Kings Fish House at Westfield Valley Fair with Friends: The Ultimate Seafood Experience

Dinner at Kings Fish House at Westfield Valley Fair with Friends: The Ultimate Seafood Experience

“Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”

—Anthony Bourdain

I was always taken by this provocative and irreverent quote by Bourdain, the late celebrity chef, author, and vagabond who explored international culture, cuisine, and the human condition. Though in principle I believe the body “is" the temple of the spirit from an Eastern and Western perspective, I simply saw Bourdain’s quote as a metaphor for enjoying food from different traditions.

This past weekend Cecile and I were invited to join our friends and our travel companions Nelson and Susan Bye for dinner at Kings Fish House at San Jose’s Westfield Valley Fair Mall’s newly renovated dining district, a first time for all of us. We were seated in a tented area at the front of the restaurant with heating lamps to ease the chill in the air. As usual and gratefully, Nelson brought a bottle of California Red Wine called Eight Years in the Desert (2019) from his private collection to enjoy with our meal.

Susan ordered a hand cut Lobster Crunchy Roll with crab salad, asparagus and cucumber with a bowl of New England Clam Chowder while Cecile enjoyed Wild Eastern Sea Scallops with a side of roasted Organic Carrots and deep-fried Brussel Sprouts, Mac ploy, and bacon lardon. Nelson and I enjoyed a Macadamia Nut Crusted Wild Alaskan Halibut with orange ginger butter sauce which included two side dishes. I had Sautéed Fresh Spinach and the Brussel Sprouts. The food did not disappoint.

For dessert, our waiter—without hesitation—recommended "Butter Cake!" I was skeptical at first. I never heard of butter cake. When it was brought to our table, it was a sight to behold. From the first bite we knew this buttery moist spongy cake with vanilla ice cream, berries and fresh whipped cream was going to satify our sweet tooth.

Postscript: King Fish House in San Jose is the first Northern California concept restaurant of the acclaimed Southern California-based restaurant chain that boasts having some of the freshest seafood that is sourced directly in-house form King’s Seafood Distribution. It offers a changing menu depending on what is in season. For those who don’t eat seafood they also offer pasta dishes, filet mignon, burgers and chicken. The chic main dining room that is across from Bloomingdale’s features two awesome 300-gallon saltwater tanks, stocked with live seafood from around the globe.

A Fabulous Dinner with Friends at the New Upscale & Casual Shepherd & Sims Restaurant

“You know what’s better than blabbering about food? Yep, eating it! And, this place was worth eating at and writing about."

This past weekend, our friends Bill and Sarah Rothenberg agreed to try a new restaurant for a change-of-pace and settled on Shepherd & Sims. I know what you’re thinking, the name sounds more like a law firm than a restaurant, but don’t let that dissuade you. It is dining at its finest. The new eatery, a creation of Jim and Angelique made its’ debut last September. The couple who also operate a number of other restaurants including the Table in San Jose, Vesper cocktail lounge in Campbell and Forthright in Campbell, took over the former location of Aviva’s Restaurant, next to the neighborhood Whole Foods in Los Gatos. They transformed it into a nicely appointed restaurant with two dining sections and a full service bar. The menu had been reported to reflect the food the couple likes to eat. Jim was quoted in the Mercury news last October as saying, “We want to enjoy life and we want people to enjoy life with us.” The Stumps partnered with chef de cuisine, Robert De La Mora, to create a menu containing California ingredients infused with flavors from Mexico. The ambiance was a blend of French bistro and familiar warmth of a classic New American neighborhood eatery.

We began our culinary adventure with cocktails and beer. Sarah and Cecile ordered a lemon drop and Bill and I enjoyed a nice cold 20 oz Ruekeller Helles lager draft beer from the Bruery in Orange County, CA. We liked it so much we shared another round. The $3.00 bread service included a dollop of ricotta cheese, and Seka Hills olive oil. We also shared and order of pork pate with golden raisins, cornichon pickles, mustard seeds, lemon verbena, chive and micro greens served with toasted rustic batard bread.

Cecile and I shared a pear salad with endive frisée, candied spiced pistachios, gorgonzola dulce with burnt honey vinaigrette. Bill had a Shepherd & Sims salad that included organic lettuces, arugula, red onion, fennel, heirloom tomatoes, avocado, potatoes with a zesty red wine vinaigrette. For our entrees Sarah enjoyed Olive oil poached Spanish octopus seared on the plancha [grill], marble potatoes, green Spanish Mojo-confit [duck], heirloom cherry tomatoes, marinated avocado, and smoked paprika oil.

Cecile ordered the gruyere cheese Parisian gnocchi with wild mushrooms, madeira, creamy grand padano sauce and kale. Bill and I feasted on a sumptuous Pork Chop with Koji (fermented rice) with roasted apple, apple relish and roasted parsnip. Though I don’t eat it often this was the best pork chop I have ever eaten.

We were satisfied enough with the food that was prepared with great care and attention that we opted out on dessert. I can’t wait to return to try some of their other dinner and luncheon offerings. If I had any negative critique, I would say it was difficult to carry on a conversation during the 7:30 seating due to the echoing chatter of all the patrons and would consider an earlier seating. Other than that it was an excellent dining experience.

Granddaughter Emmy's Hot Pot Birthday Dinner Party at the Chiens

The dinnner party began with drinks for the adults and playtime with Emmy, the birthday girl, and Lyla. Our granddaughters enjoyed the play structure swings, and sliding pond Al (Pops) and Kim (Lolly) had installed for them in their spacious back yard. Emmy was also enjoying crawling on the synthetic turf, playing with the stone rabbit family, and sitting and standing on the trampoline. A traditional Chinese Hot Pot set-up adorned the dinner table consisting of raw foods ready to be cooked in the hot flavorful broth. Raw ingredients such as brocoli, tofu, halibut, shrimp, scallops and beef were available for self-cooking. The cooked pieces are then dipped in dipping sauces soy or hot sauce for additional flavor. The broth which is brought to a boil is then left simmering for the duration of the meal. It was a fun, casual way to stretch out our time together. Though hot pot is considered a main course, Al also added Chinese-style vermicelli noodles also known as glass or cellophane noodles which are transparent in into the metal cooking pot.

Cecile and I brought fresh-baked cupcakes from Marvel Cake created by Maryam Menari for dessert, one of which was set aside to place one candle in it for the birthday girl. Since Emmy is not at the age to be able to blow out the candle, our daughter clapped her hands in front of the candle to extinguish the flame, a little trick she learned from her mom. We sang Happy Birthday to Emmy and afterwards, we sat around engaged in conversation while the girls engaged if free play. I don’t expect Emmy was entirely sure what was going on or what the fuss was all about, and will not remember her first birthday but when she is older she will be able to see all the photos and know we all lovingly gathered together to celebrate her first year on this planet.

Happy Birthday Emmeline (Emmy) Lewis. We love you.

Happy First Birthday to Our Granddaughter Emmy & A Poetic Offering in her Honor

“A baby’s smile is a dancing flower of twinkling stars.”

—Apollo M.

Experts say that a baby’s voluntary smile indicates a social activity to express warmth. During crazy times like these, you need to see a baby’s smile as a reminder that there is good in this world. The photos included in this post were mostly taken recently while babysitting

Emmy.

The exception was a photo and a short video clip I took of Emmy socializing—or shall I say engaging in parallel play—with a baby named Hana in the shallow side of a kids swimming pool at the Maui Marriott Resort on Kaanapali Beach this past December during our annual family vacation. Emmy was wearing a pink sunhat that Cecile and I bought her and Hana who was wearing a long-sleeved flower print top were splashing the water in front of them with their hands. They were smiling and staring at each other as if they had known each other from a previous time.

They were supervised of course. Hana’s dad was holding her arm on one side, while Nonnie Cecile was watching Emmy on the other side. Behind Emmy sat her protective big sister Lyla. According to her parents, a Persian couple who reside and teach college-level engineering in San Diego, Hana was named after the East side section of Maui known to be home of Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools), the Hotel Hana Resort and huge stretches of lush coastline, waterfalls, and vast rainforest. But the most amazing discovery was that Emma and Hana were not only one year olds but by the magic of coincidence happened to be born on the same day and the same year (February 27, 2022,). So, Cecile and I would like to extend our birthday wishes to Hana and greetings to her parents in San Diego. We look forward to celebrating Emmy’s Birthday with the rest of the family.

Dearest Emmy:

Your heart-melting smile is so divine

Everything you do makes our lives worthwhile

Your untouched innocence is so sweet

Your magical charms can’t be beat

Your eyes are blue as the sky above

That look at us with trusting love.

Your chubby cheeks and rosy lips

And dainty little finger tips

Every unfathomable word you say

Touches our lives in a heartfelt way.

Your actions are beyond being cute

They lift our spirts like a parachute

It’s hard to believe how time has flown,

You started so small, but how quickly you’ve grown.

From rolling to sitting and a quick little crawl.

To your first little steps and standing up in your crib,

You’ve conquered it all.

We wish you a very Happy First Birthday

Papa and Nonnie

A Delicious Tapas-Style Dinner with Friends at Newly Opened Teleferic Barcelona

“Small plates are called Tapas. They are plates for big hearts, love, and people who believe in inclusion and sharing kindness. In Spain, It isn’t just a style of eating, it’s a celebration of life!”

—Jose’ Andres, Chef, Humanitarian & Founder of World Central Kitchen

Our friends Bill and Sarah recommended this restaurant to celebrate a belated Valentine’s Day. I say belated because they were out of town visiting family during Valentine’s Day and Cecile and I had a new electrical main panel and a charging station installed in our garage for my new Tesla and Valentine’s Day was earliest they could schedule the work. Sarah made a reservation for outdoor seating and baby was it cold outside, even with the heat lamps. The young woman who seated us offered Sarah and Cecile a comfy blanket to ease the chill. Tapas are Spain’s traditional small plate snacks and has become popular all over the world including right here in California, most often accompanied by a drink. Cecile, Sarah and I had the restaurant’s signature homemade Sangria (actually I had two) and Bill had a Spanish beer.

We feasted on Ham Croquetas: Croquettes with Iberian ham, piquillo pepper sauce and aioli; Pan con Tomato: Spanish loaf, tomato dressing with chorizo butter; Roasted Chicken empanadas with spicy aioli; Spanish Meatballs with Canary Masala sauce and friend potatoes; and Secreto Iberia Paella: Acorn Fed Black Pig Fillet, pork belly and mushrooms. For dessert we indulged our sweet tooth with a Trio Selection of Teleferic’s most popular desserts: Arroz Tres Leches: Rice pudding with cream Catalana foam and jelly; Torrid: French toast, Catalan cream, banana and vanilla ice cream; Churros con Nutella: and Barcelona street fried dough with Nutella.

Teleferic Barcelona’s owner Xavi Padrosa along with his sister Maria Padrosa just opened their newest restaurant in the Old Town shopping center in Los Gatos, CA on January 12. It offers tapas, homemade sangria, paella and their authentic Spanish market and deli, El Merket is stocked with a large assortment wine, specialty imported Spanish products, and food to go. The modern open-spaced Mediterranean style decor creates a warm, eclectic ambiance. It has been reported that most of their employees are trained in their locations in Spain before they came to the United States. This was brilliant planning on their part considering how the pandemic shuttered many restaurants.

Postscript about the History of Tapas: Legend has it that it was first invented in the 13th century. While recovering from a sickness, King Alfonso X of Leon, Galicia & Castille was only able to drink and eat small quantities at a time. By so doing, he unwittingly created small plate eating, similar to tapas.

Apparently, after dining this way, he figured that always getting some food with every drink would help reduce the drunken behavior of peasants and so decreed that small snacks eating should be served with every drink, across the land. As peasants were poor and seemingly preferred to spend more money on alcohol, rather than buying food, this seemed like a reasonable solution.

Happy Valentine's Day to Cecile: My Partner for Life & Our Friends and Family Especially our Granddaughters

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”

—Oprah Winfrey

The limo breaking down is a metaphor for someone who sticks by you through thick and thin no matter what. My wife Cecile, embodies that

kind of love. She is my true soulmate defined by someone who does not judge you for your flaws or your jagged edges. A soulmate is someone who upon witnessing those things, chooses to stand by your side; always encouraging you to heal on your own time, in your own way, and if there was any doubt would always say, “We’re going to get through this together."

Valentine’s Day is one of those days when I realize anew how lucky I am that that Cecile and I found each other. It's not like I forget on the other days of the year, but at this special time, it becomes much clearer to me that being with her since the early 70s has been a blessing.

So to the most important woman in my life I want to add thanks for being you and for being mine. My best friend and the love of my life

You’re the most amazing, thoughtful, compassionate woman I know and I am fortunate enough to call you my wife. Thanks for bearing raising two wonderful, well-adjusted humans (Jason and Michelle) who work hard, are enjoying a good life, and still enjoy traveling and being with us. Last but not least for being a devoted grandmother to Lyla and her baby sister Emmy that have given us so much joy during the advent of our golden years.

I end with a short poetic offering by John P. Read called:

‘Our Love’

L is for ‘laughter’ we had along the way.

O is for ‘optimism’ you gave me every day.

V is for ‘value’ of being my best friend

E is for 'eternity,’ a love that has no end.

Cecile and I wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. May you celebrate love in whatever form it may come, including your furry friends and most of all loving your self.

Visiting Bubba the Celebrated Wood Carved Bear After our Stevens Creek Reservoir Bike Ride

“Art gives joy to the artist; that it pleases others is pure gravy.”

—Larry E. Santucci

After making our descent from the Stevens Creek Reservoir, Bill and I visited Bubba the Wood Carved Bear on the corner of Bubb Road and Yorkshire Drive in Cupertino. It has become somewhat of a ritual especially during the holidays and special events. Let me explain! Bubba, once a tree that didn’t survive the drought is the artistic creation of Sarah Kopy, who has lived at her one-story house since the age of 12. Instead of getting rid of the tree, after getting permission of the City of Cupertino she hired a carver from Humboldt County. When the carver asked which way Kopy wanted the bear to face, she said toward the crosswalk on Bubb Road so it can watch the children. Bubba was conceived or should I say reincarnated on October 10, 2015. Since its’ unveiling to the public, Bubba has become a local attraction to the community and beyond. Children and biking enthusiasts like ourselves will sometimes go out of their way to see Bubba, the Bubb Road Bear. Why? Because Kopy dresses Bubba up for major holidays like the Fourth of July, Halloween, Christmas, New Years, Valentine’s Day and currently the Lunar New Year 2022 (Year of the Tiger) which after a 15 day celebration ends tomorrow. Tigers are particularly auspicious as they represent stength, boldness, fearlessness and dominance

The Lunar New Year is one of the most significant celebrations of the year among east and southeast Asian cultures.

People may know the holiday as Chinese New Year, Vietnamese Tet Nguyen Dan or South Korea Seollal.

The United States is also home to some celebrations. 1.5 billion people across the world will partake in the festivities.

Each year in the lunar calendar is represented by one of the 12 zodiac animals.

The animals consist of the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

While last year the Year of the Ox, this year is the year of the tiger that represents strength, assertiveness, generosity, courage and the clearing away of evil. Celebrities who were born in the year of the Tiger are Queen Elizabeth II, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Bill Murray, Martin Short, Garth Brooks, Tom Cruise, Jon Bon Jovi, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jimmy Fallon, Penelope Cruz, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, and many more.

Yours Truly is a Tiger (born in 1950), as is my daughter Michelle (born in 1986).

Postscript: Kopi’s artistic holiday celebrations reminds me of our neighbors near our former home in Saratoga who celebrated the holidays or special events in a similar way, by decorating a 300 year old tree in front their home. I didn’t realize how much joy it brought to our neighborhood and to me personally until they moved.

Background Credit for the story of Bubba: Kalpana Gopalkrishnan and Avni Prasad, elEstoque, Monta Vista High School, February 8, 1917

Crossing the Teakwood U Bein Bridge on the Outskirts of Mandalay To Witness the "Mother of All Sunsets"

“The World is a book and those who do not travel it read only a page.”—St. Augustine

After visiting more monasteries containing bigger than life statues of the Buddha and other legendary deities, I crossed the historic U Bein Bridge with Maybelle’s daughter, Michelle MhuMadii who I have haven’t seen in eight years. She has grown into a respectful, pretty and delightful young lady.

The U Bein bridge was built over 150 year ago and is believed to be the largest teakwood bridge in the world. It stretches out to 1.2 kilometers across the Taungthaman Lake in the ancient capital of Amarapura on the outskirts of Mandalay. It is one of Myanmar’s favorite adventures for fun-loving tourists from around the world. U Bein Bridge was named after a mayor who had it built. It is supported by over 1000 teakwood poles is an Important part of everyday life in the community. It makes it possible for villagers to get their kids to school, fisherman to catch their fish and for locals to reach religious sites and food markets. Like many people present, we were there to experience the magnificent golden yellow sunset together. When we got to the end of the bridge, I hired out a boat so Michelle and I could obtain a better vantage point to see the sun gradually melt below the horizon. Afterwards our oarsman took us to shore with a colorful flotilla of boats where we met Maybelle for the drive back to the hotel.

What’s interesting about bridges is they symbolize hope. If you can just get over that bridge, you just may find yourself in a better place. Some bridges are harder to cross than others. If you are afraid of heights they can be scary. If feeling the bridge shakes beneath your feet—as it did mine—makes you unsettled, then crossing can pose a challenge. If a bridge is narrow and has no guard rails like U Bein, it can make you pause. On the other hand, the prospect of better things to come on the distant shore gives one hope. In this case the reward was the sunset for all those who were present. As actor, director and producer Woody Allen said: “The secret of success is showing up.”

Postscript: There are so many monastery dogs that sadly look malnourished. I took a photo of these two cute puppies that appeared to be from the same litter cuddling one another. There is also a photo of a group of young monks who appear to be making a getaway with a cart, but in fact they are really doing their chores—sweeping the monastery grounds—which is a meditation in and of itself.

Postscript: This post was originally posted on Facebook by me on January 29, 2018, during a visit to Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma) with my wfe Cecile. We spent a week visiting Maybelle and her daughter Michelle MhuMadii prior to a tour of Southeast Asia. Michelle is now living with her aunt in Allentown, PA, and working for Amazon. Myanmar was recently taken over by a military junta during a brutal and barbaric coup-d’ E’tat.

A 27-Mile Bike Ride Across the Iconic San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge & Other Magnificent Sites

“If you Love life, don’t waste time. For time is what Life is made of.”—Bruce Lee

Bill and I met friends Jimi Hunter and his wife Jennifer at the Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant in San Francisco at around 11 AM yesterday, parked the cars, and offloaded our bikes. We began our exciting adventure riding past the Cliff House near the Sutro Baths just north of Ocean Beach to the paved Golden Gate Bike Trail. Biking across Golden Gate Bridge is a great way to get an up-close and personal experience with one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. This exhilarating ride also offers a birds-eye view of the beautiful bay, Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, and the San Francisco City skyline. Though it can be windy and foggy, we had sun and blue skies all day long.

On the return back across the Golden Gate Bridge, we rode through the Presidio, China Beach (tucked in between Lands end and Baker Beach), and historical Fort Point (see video) offering one of the most spectacular views of the bridge. The old Civil War fort sits right under the southern end of the bridge. The Presidio has dramatic ocean overlooks, hills, historic forts, and beautiful natural ecosystems unique to the area. We visited the Jedi Master Yoda Fountain at the headquarters of LucasFilms in the Presidio Park and R2D2 in the lobby. We continued our ride to the Wave Organ, a wave-activated acoustic sculpture located on a jetty that forms the small Boat Harbor in the Marina District. The sculpture is known to offer “liquid music” made up of hisses and gurgling notes that ebbs and flows during the changing of the tides and restless movement of the Pacific Ocean.

At about 2:20 PM we rode through Haight-Ashbury, the famous 60s hippie hangout and former home of the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and more. You know when you hit Haight Ashbury when you inhale a whiff of pot and incense, and see very colorful eateries, murals, and people. At the recommendation of Jimi and Jennifer, we at VeganBurg, home of award-winning Vegan Burgers that are 100% plant-based. Out of eleven to choose from I enjoyed a mouth-watering crispy Avocado Beetroot with fresh avocado, beetroot, lettuce, Aussie onion, and creole tomato on a soft artisan whole wheat bun with a side of fries sprinkled with seaweed flakes. The manager was kind enough to let us park our bikes at the back right end of the restaurant.

On the way back to the Beach Chalet Brewery where the cars were parked, we road through Golden Gate State Park, passing Stowe's Lake, and pausing at the Botanical Gardens. We stopped for photos of the parks’ Peacock Meadow special exhibit of lights that will run through March 5, 2022. White during the day, and a burst of color at night, the exhibit designed by SF artist, Charles Gadeken is called "Entwined." We also stopped at the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District, which is an extravagant neoclassical icon which features a classical Roman rotunda and curved colonnades in an idyllic park setting on land belonging to the Presidio. Bill and I clocked 27-miles on our Strava app and made it home traffic free at 4:30 PM.

Natural Bridges & Wilder Ranch State Parks & A Colorful Coastal Bluffs Mountain Bike Ride in Santa Cruz

“You are one bike ride away from a good mood [and a great day].”

—Sarah Bentley

Someone one once told me if you smile when you see a butterfly, you have happiness in your soul.

It has been a long stretch since Bill and I had been to Santa Cruz. Our first stop after off-loading our bikes was a ride to the Monarch Butterfly Nature Preserve at Natural Bridges State Beach. We walked our bikes down the boardwalk ramp before it winds into a tree-filled canyon where thousands of monarch butterflies seek sanctuary along the branches of eucalyptus trees. We found ourselves in a community of others including an adorable young girl with her mother wearing a monarch butterfly cape. We also spotted a large owl sleeping on a tree limb. We continued our ride to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center located at UC Santa Cruz to see the outdoor Gray whale skeletan exhibit (photo), and circled back to hook up on a dirt trail to Wilder Ranch State Park north of Santa Cruz. After going through some brushy areas and agricultural fields, we came to the beginning of a series of some magnificent coastal bluffs with awesome ocean views heading north towards Bonny Dune. We saw pelicans, cormorants, seagulls, harbor seals, and sea lions lounging on the rocks and beach for about 10 miles round trip out of our 18-mile journey. Except for a few couples, friends, and families hiking and a few bicyclists on the trail, we had this mixed mellow terrain all to ourselves. Upon our return we I met a horse named Bo taking a stroll with its' handler, and then made our way to Steamer Lane for a late outdoor lunch. While we waited for our order, we went to see another monarch butterfly refuge in eucalyptus trees in the back of Steamer Lane located in Lighthouse Field across from the surfing museum. I’ll let the photos and short video clips of the ocean crashing into the bluffs tell the rest of the story.

Bike Ride To Best Artisan Empanadas (BAE): Multicultural Delights to Die For

“If you were Columbian, you would have your own version of an empanada…and then in Ecuador, you’ll find more crispy-fried empanadas, so yeah, every culture has there own version of empanadas.”

—Jose Garces, Ecuadorian American Chef

I received a text recently from my biking buddy Bill that read, “I’ve got a new lunch place in Campbell. Ride there 11:30 or 12 PM.” What followed the invitation was a preview of what Best Artisan Empanadas (BAE) had to offer, and it looked promising.

When we arrived there, it was the perfect set up: Outdoor seating to keep an eye on our bikes and a mouth-watering menu of sweet and savory offerings. It was a gem of a place.

Bill enjoyed a Panzerotto, a turnover that originated in Central and Southern Italy, with mozzarella cheese, sausage, pepperoni, and tangy

marinara sauce with a salad; and, I ordered a Spicy Thai empanada with diced chicken breast, carrots, sweet baby corn, pease and bell peppers in a pleasant coconut-infused yellow curry. It was delish.

Best Artisan Empanadas wants you to know that it was born from the aspiration of bringing people together through empanadas.

We were happy to discover that they use wholesome and fresh ingredients and are cooked and baked at their location in Campbell everyday.

What we especially liked was their dough stems from Peruvian style pastry, and their recipes are inspired by the diversity of cultures,

including Mexican, Greek, Italian, Greek and Southeast Asian. They also serve artisan pastries and sweets, breakfast empanadas, pizza, calzones, and salads. Finally, they have partnered with two local roasters that offer its’ customers the highest quality of coffee and quality crafted espresso drinks, They also offer beers, cocktails and preferred styles of wines to complement their empanadas, frappes, ice drinks, smoothies and milkshakes.

I was so happy with my Thai empanada, I bought some to take home to share with the family.

For my New Jersey Friends, check out the highly recommended Empanada Guy, Carlos Serrano, who was raised in Newark who began his empanada business in the garage of his home and now has five food trucks and a restaurant to boot.

Recalling Our Visit to the National Civil Rights Museum In Memphis While Observing Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday

“The quality, not longevity of one’s life is what is important.”

—Martin Luther King Jr.

I was only 13 when Dr. Martin Luther 'King Jr.' gave his historic “I have a dream” speech in 1963. The struggles of the civil rights movement during the 60s were hard to digest as a young boy. I remember being moved by his inspiring and passionate oratory skills and non-violent protests. During a riverboat cruise in the spring of 2018, with a final stop in Memphis, Cecile and I, and our friends, Nelson and Susan Bye spent an emotional morning visiting the National Civil Rights Museum. 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. It looks much like it did on April 4, 1968, when James Earl Ray fired the fatal round from the boarding-house window next to the Young and Morrow Building directly across from Mulberry Street. A funeral wreath of red and white carnations hangs on the railing outside room 306, making it a symbol of the civil rights movement and becoming the first Civil Rights Museum in 1991. In its’ day, the Lorraine Hotel hosted such entertainers as Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, and B.B. King. The vintage cars in the parking lot represent the vehicles parked at the Lorraine Motel when Dr. King was killed. While musicians were welcomed to perform. Though his birthday actually falls on January 15, it is officially observed on the third Monday in January which is January 17.

I chose the following poem which in my view best remembers, honors, and celebrates the life of one of the greatest Civil Rights leaders of

our time.

Standing Tall

—by Jamie Mckenzie

Some kings rule their kingdoms sitting down

Surrounded by luxury, soft cushions and fans

But this King stood strong, stood proudly, stood tall

When the driver told Rosa “Move to the back of the bus!”

When the waiter told students “We don’t serve your kind!”

When the Mayor told voters “Your vote don’t count!…” And,

When the sheriff told marchers “Get off the streets!”

Using fire hoses, police dogs, and cattle prods to move them along

The King stood strong, stood tall, speaking of peace, of love,

Children hand-in-hand, as he yelled free at last, free at last.

When some yelled for violence

For angry revenge

An eye for an eye

And a tooth for a tooth

He stood his ground

Preaching peace

And when some spit out hate

He stood there smiling

Spreading love…breaking down the walls

Ringing the bell joyfully for Freedom

While standing on the mountain top

They shot him coldly

Hoping to see him fall

Hoping to put him away

To bring him low.

But this King

Even in death

Even today

Stands strong, stands proudly

Stands tall

And we remember

[This is a modified excerpt taken from Mckenzie's original poem]

Our Granddaughter Emmy: The Incredible Lightness and Joy of Being Discovers the Beauty of a Camellia

"A child is a flower that grows in the garden of life. Some grow taller, some are different colors and some will change how the view the world. Each one is special. Each one is beautiful. Each one is unique. Each one is to be loved.”

—Dave Hedges

Most of these photos were taken yesterday with the exception of Emmy wearing her pink headband curiously examining the pink

camellia last November, that matched the flowery print pants she was wearing. We love the way our daughter Michelle dresses Emmy. When she or our son-in-law Kyle drop her off for the day, it is like receiving precious cargo, which of course she is. She loves being taken for a stroll around the lake at Rinconada Hills where we live. By the time I took over in the later afternoon watching and being with Emmy, her Nonnie Cecile got her 8500 steps in strolling her around the grounds and needed a much deserved break.

It is cooler now here in Northern California than it was in November, and we have Emmy covered up like the bundle of joy she is in her yellow knitted blanket. We sat by the pond with the waterfalls roaring in the backdrop. We talked with our neighbors. We stopped to pick a camellia, and when we got back to Nonnie and Papa's townhouse, Emmy and I sat in the atrium. I made an offering to the white Buddha statue, laying the camellia on its lap as I had done with her big sister Lyla in the past. She was pretty talkative at this point and I decided to take a video clip of her joyful chatter after which I played Ringo Starr singing: “We all live in a Yellow Submarine…" which she listened to and watched with that calming, joyful signature smile of hers.

Postscript: A Camellia flower symbolizes love, affection, and admiration. Due to its’ beautiful blossom and symmetrical accuracy, it's a symbol of perfection and excellence.