Fabulous Dinner with Friends at Willard Hicks Steakhouse and Grill in the Heart of Downtown Campbell

Always open to try new places, Cecile thought Willard Hicks had potential and thought our friends Nelson and Susan Bye whom we have taken many trips with might enjoy it too.

As usual Nelson brought a bottle of wine from his stash. This time it was Montague: The Baron Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, a rich, luscious full-bodied wine with flavors of red and black currents, plums and mulberries.

We shared a Spoonable skillet of poblano cornbread drizzled with jalapeño honey butter, a dish of sautéed wild mushrooms, and Cecile, Susan and Nelson shared Coconut Crusted Shrimp with sweet peppers, scallions, Thai curry broth, mango, micro greens and peanut and macadamia nuts. Unfortunately, I had to abstain as I am allergic to shrimp. Nelson also had a cup of French Onion soup.

For our entrees Cecile and Nelson enjoyed a Spicy Asian Mambo: Jalapeño teriyaki marinated filet, fire roasted peppers and spring onions with fresh chopped romaine hearts inn creamy Padilla pepper dressing. Susan had Grilled Bone-in Pork Chop: topped with apricot chutney, accompanied by crispy Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes and balsamic drizzle. I devoured a rich tasting Pappardelle Pasta: served with stroganoff style braised short rib, white wine cream, demi-glace and balsamic glaze. For dessert, Susan and Nelson and Cecile and I shared a Butter Cake with fresh strawberries and vanilla bean ice cream shared, and I had a Decaf Cappuccino. The service was excellent. Our waitress Melanie was a delight and made us feel at home. The only negative critique we had was even though we were on the other side of a spacious dining room the DJ was loud and it was somewhat difficult carrying on a conversation. However, we definitely would come back on weekday nights to try more of their offerings.

About the Owners:

Willard Hicks is one of a chain of restaurants conceived by owners Molly and Marcus Adams. After years of working at high-tech companies and startups back in the day, the married couple reportedly decided they wanted a change of pace and retired from high tech to pursue food service businesses that was inspired by their love of fine dining. Marcus, who once worked at networking company by day was a former DJ at night brought his love of music into Willard Hicks with DJs perform during the weekends.

Celebrating our 46th Wedding Anniversary: Where Did the Years Go?

“I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.”

—Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Forty six years have passed us by.

Forty six years of we, not I.

Forty six years we shared our lives.

Forty six years as man and wife (plus three living together)

Forty six years of love and joy

Forty six years, one loving girl and boy

Forty six years two precious granddaughters to love and adore

Here’s wishing you and I many years more.

Dearest Cecile, according to many surveys, couples who travel together

find more satisfaction in their lives. They experience better communication and have longer-lasting relationships.

Shared experiences have deepened our connection with one another. After each trip the everyday world

we live in is subtly changed. We have been blessed to travel world wide and have passed on that love

of travel to our kids, Jason and Michelle. We linger over memories of our adventures, including overcoming

the ordinary and sometimes extraordinary obstacles that can complicate any kind of travel. In the end

we celebrate the planning and scheduling that made the trip happen and the exhilaration of giving into

the impulse to escape whether with family or friends or just ourselves. I think you’ll agree that traveling with

the one(s) we love sparks the imagination and helps us remember one of the things that drew us to one another in the first place. I am looking forward to another destination, placing another pin on the map, and more photos to relive the experience. In the meantime, enjoy the photos of our travels as a couple that accompany this post.

Happy Anniversary, my love!

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

“Happy Saint Patrick’s Day,” said the little green man behind his Shiny Silver UFO. As I stared at it in disbelief he said: “I may be otherworldly but I celebrate St. Patty Day too.” Okay, I kissed the Blarney Stone one too many times. The true story-so help me God-is retired commercial airline pilot named Bob placed this on the front of his green lawn in our gated community for the neighbors to see for the sole purpose of making us smile. Thank you Bob for placing a new installation on your lawn for each holiday.

High Winds Downed Trees & Power Outages & Flooded Bike & Pedestrian Trails

“Without minimizing widespread storm damage and attending hardship, it is nice to see the hills green again…”

—Andy Gere, The Mercury News

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “Tuesday was the worse single day for Bay Area outages in almost 3 decades.” Cecile and I thought it was a good day for some savory, rich, restorative Vietnamese Noodle Soup (Pho) and after a busy morning we attempted to drive to our favorite place: Le Quay. Within minutes of driving, it was like riding an obstacle course. The 40 to 50 mpr winds (85 mph at higher elevations) wreaked havoc on the trees within our gated community as well as the next one Arroyo Rinconada in Los Gatos where a large tree facing the street was downed and practically took up the width of Pollard Avenue. This scenario was repeated several times including a tree downed near El Camino Health Los Gatos Hospital which blocked our ability to pass. Another tree was completely uprooted next to Westmont High School. It felt like the sky was falling. The howling of the winds made it all the more worrisome.

We made it to the restaurant but it was for naught, the interior was completely dark and it was forced to close. We found out later that 300,000 customers in the Bay Area were without power including many restaurants that were forced to close. We had to circle back closer to our home and finally went to our old favorite Effie’s for lunch, one of the few places open. We discovered later, that nearly 300,000 PG&E customers in the Bay Area were without power. When the winds died down by more than half later in the day, I decided to ride my bike on the Los Gatos Creek trail. The creek has continued to overflow one section of the paved trail that spanned over 200 feet. It was blocked off on either side.

Across from the trail there were other downed trees. That said, I felt far safer riding my bike on the trails than I did when Cecile and I were attempting to find a place to have lunch. Across the street from the creek trail I met a woman walking her dog and we were were checking out a tree that was downed near her condominium. Fortunately, it fell away from the building. She said her home was without power for the last five hours. Even Wednesday, there were still tens of thousand of people suffering through power outages.

I posted some photos of the flood waters and downed trees, some blocking some entrances and exits forcing me to double back and seek out alternative routes. Finally, just as I thought I had seen the most spectacular roaring waterfall from the Vasona County Park Reservoir Spillway, the near continuing rain storms since last December was a sight to see, as more lanes were open to accommodate its flow downstream.

A Fun Way to San Jose: A 24-mile Bike Ride & a Relaxing Outdoor Lunch at San Pedro Square Market

I believe Einstein who once said: “Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving,” would agree that the bicycle is the best invention for humankind. More and more, it has become an important form of exercise for physical and mental health when overwhelmed by the news of the day. Something as getting on a bike and finding a nearby trail helps to get your blood pumping and eases your mind when you find you’re getting stuck in unproductive thoughts that lead you astray. I believe I can speak for my riding buddy Bill, whose is a veteran rider and has shown me many of fun trails over the years, that biking plays a major role in experiencing personal harmony with nature and relief from the monotonous routines of the day.

It was a perfect sunny day to ride for what ended up being a 24-mile bike ride. My friend Bill and I began our excursion from the Los Gatos Creek Trail heading towards San Jose at 11:30. The paved trail ends at the beginning of Willow Street where we continue passed downtown Willow Glen to Three Creeks Trail. A replica water tower sculpture with the number 3 on it, marks the entrance to the paved l trail system that connects to the Los Gatos Creek Trail, Guadalupe River Trail, Highway 87 Bikeway, and the Coyote Creek Trail, also referred to as the western alignment.

The trail was formerly a Western Pacific railway line as part of the Willow Glen industrial lead of the San Jose Branch line. Bill and I continued to the Willow Glen Trestle Bridge that was built in 1921. A train used to travel to and from the iconic del Monte Cannery and was later demolished. It was recently rebuilt as a pedestrian and biking trail that leads to downtown San Jose. After passing Barak Obama Blvd, we covered a lot of ground from there including many of the city’s landmarks like the Children’s Discovery Museum, Monopoly in the Park where we watched commercial planes flying in overhead en route to the San Jose Airport, the Civic Auditorium, Montgomery Theater, San Jose McEnery Convention Center, the 18—story tower San Jose City Hall with a glass rotunda, and the San Jose Museum of Art. We also passed by the controversial plumed serpent sculpture (see postscript) By this time we worked up an appetite and had an outdoor lunch at the spacious San Pedro Square Market, a spot where you can always find what your looking for among an abundant variety of exciting food vendors. Bill had a fresh robust salad from On the Roll. a Vietnamese fusion restaurant influenced by Thai cuisine, and I had a half order of Neapolitan pizza and Arugula salad special Pizza Bocca Lupo. The pizza is made in a hand-made brick oven imported from Naples. Afterwards, we rode around the campus of San Jose University and from there made our way back to the trails for our ride home.

Celebrating our Granddaughter Emmy’s 2nd Birthday at Michelle and Kyle’s Home

In the words/lyrics of Stevie Wonder singing about his beloved granddaughter: “Isn’t she lovely, isn’t she wonderful, isn’t she precious…"

Two year ago today you were born. Now look at you and all that you have learned! You laugh and play and learn in your own special way. Joy to you on your second blessed birthday!Just think: You have doubled your age in one year, an event in your life that will never happen again. What a magical time to be two years old. Not a care in the world as you explore, learn, and grow. Milestones reached, boundaries pushed, and precious, giggly smiles for your second birthday. To our shining star, how we all enjoyed your first steps, first smiles, first words. Peel-a-boo, you’ve just turn two, and we all love you to the moon and back. Though today is Emmy’s official birthday, we all gathered at our daughter Michelle’s and Kyle's home last evening to celebrate. It included the grandmas and the grandpas: Lollie (Kim) and Pop (Al), Grampy (Ed) and GG (Gerry), and Nonnie (Cecile) and Papa (Dennis), Kyle’s brother (Uncle Chip) and last but not least, Emmy’s big sister and our much beloved first granddaughter, Lyla, age 4.

At age 2, like most toddlers, Emmy is talking, eating, climbing, jumping, running, and just flat out bustling with energy, and proud of it. Of course this means her fighting with gravity and her share of boo boos along the way, most of which she shrugs off as if they were of no consequence. She is absolutely fearless. She has become more and more independent, shows occasional signs of defiance as she begins to push boundaries and explore the world around her, partly tutored by her big sister, Lyla. Of course like all our family celebrations, there was good food and a home-made birthday cake. With lights off, Kyle brought out the cake with 2 candles while Emmy—with Lyla’s help—blew them out. Presents were opened with much excitement and joy. In this moment, Emmy, like her trailblazing, first- born big sister before her, knew she was surrounded by love—the gre

Enjoying the Rare Snow—Capped Mountains & the Roaring Waterfall Under the Bridge & the Playful Cloud Formations

“I don’t ride to win races nor to get places. I ride to live in the moment, find peace within myself, and to be free."

In the last two days, I have had to wear a jacket, two coats, full-length gloves and ear muffs while taking my late afternoon/evening bike rides. Last evening, I got caught in freezing rain. Rare snowfall hit the Greater Bay Area, including our quaint little town of Los Gatos, CA which is nestled in the lower foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Highway 17 was closed between Los Gatos and Scotts Valley early this morning due to snow and fallen trees. Even the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk was dusted with snow and a rainbow appeared in the backdrop (photo) of the Santa Cruz Harbor. In the foreground someone from the Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol place a small snowman with a hat and a badge.

Fortunately, we are below the 1,000 foot elevations and are not nearly as affected by the snow unless you work in Santa Cruz. I was able to appreciate the beauty of the snow capped mountains around us, and the amazing showy cloud formation that followed after yesterday and today’s rain and the sun that followed. The National Weather Service are predicting more snow to come over the weekend.

Postscript: I took all of the photos and video clip in this post with the exception of the photo of Santa Cruz beach where I have taken many a bike rides around with friends. That was taken by Gayle Brubaker and the one of the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor with the little snowman was posted on Twitter by the (@SantaCruzHarbor) The video clip was taken of a spillway under a pedestrian and walking crossover bridge that until recently had uneasy access until the path was cleared of debris. To access it, I had to climb down a 45 degree angled ravine. I had to position my hands above the cyclone fence that in the past blocked my view. It was well worth it.

Visiting the Amazing Sunnyvale Community Center Park: An Artisitic, Musical, Cultural & Historical Refuge

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”—Margaret J. Wheatley

While taking my Model 3 to the Tesla Service Center in Sunnyvale, I spotted this sprawling piece of property with a large peanut-shaped pond, waterfalls, and vertical fountains shooting water towards the sky in the backdrop. The frontage was covered with manicured lawns and an old Coastal Live Oak Tree in the front, with gaggles of geese, seagulls, and ducks resting in the shade provided by its canopy. It turned out to be the Sunnyvale Community Center Park. After getting a loaner from Tesla I decided to circle back to see what else there was to see. I parked and entered on the corner of Remington Avenue and Michelangelo Road.

I soon discovered this was not your usual run-of-the-mill community center. It is more a full service recreational campus with a creative arts center, indoor sports and general recreation buildings, a senior center, and a historical museum. The Center is spread out around an enormous peanut-shaped pond and a beautiful fruit orchard, reminiscent of the time before the advent of what would become Silicon Valley. My mother’s Sicilian-born first cousin John Trina retired to the the valley for health reasons after living in the harsh winters in Ohio. The Performing Arts Center comes equipped with a 200-seat Sunnyvale Theatre and dance studio, fully rigged with lighted stage that accommodates plants, recitals and concerts. There is also a good sized park in the back. There is plenty of space to play frisbee, badminton, and other games. Some people come to picnic, read, walk their dogs, do yoga, or simply sit, and contemplate on the benches or one of many stone structures around the pond. Heck, you can even get married here.

I spent most of my time visiting the Creative Arts Center which offers art classes, open painting and pottery studios for young and old alike. I also visited the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum which is a replica of the home of one of Santa Clara Valley’s original settlers, Martin Murphy Jr. It includes a permanent display depicting the area from its agricultural heyday to today’s bustling hight tech metropolis it is today. The hardest thing about writing this post was editing the photos I took, which were abundant, beginning with the stainless-steel sculpture by Dan Dykes called “Matrix,” created in 1984, and metallic sculpture by John Battenberg, called "Murphy Street Scene,” created on my day of my birth, August 26, to name a few. The sculpture is a salute to the workers and natives of the Sunnyvale area, both past and present. Several of the figures represent the orchard workers before the transformation to a high tech center.

It was fun capturing the images of people resting near the pond taking it all in and I enjoyed stopping to play the oversized xylophones next to the Creative Arts Center to “ring” in the rest of my day.

Valentine's Day Dinner Celebration with Friends at the Dry Creek Grill

“Love is what happens when two hearts find their happy place right beside each other.”

Cecile and I shared an intimate dinner with good friends, Susan and Nelson Bye at the Dry Creek Grill (DCG).

The place was packed, but we were seated right away in a semi-private section where we could easily

carry on a conversation. We had been to Dry Creek Grill well over a year ago, and boy were we happy to have

made a return visit. The setting was peaceful, the service was great and the special ala cart menu was awesome

all the way through; a refreshing change from a boring fixed menu. It is an absolutely great place to share with your significant other and friends.

We started our gastronomical journey with a Lemon Drop cocktail and ordered Fried Brussels Sprouts with sweet, dried cranberries, blue cheese and garlic aioli; Baked Brie Cheese wrapped in Philo and a side of poached pear, almond caramel sauce. Cecile and shared a Heart Beet Salad with goat cheese yogurt, aged ricotta and hazelnut brittle. Nelson and I had Fresh Onion Soup with beef sherry broth, butter croutons and topped with gruyere cheese.

For our entrees, we Cecile ordered Pan Roasted Salmon with potato dumplings, baby turnips and sugar peas, Nelson enjoyed a Filet Mignon with parmesan potato gratin, heirloom veggies, bordelaise; and Susan and I had Australian Lamb Chops with Harissa carrot puree, grilled cam-bray onions, green olive gremolata lamb jus.

To accompany our dinner Nelson brought a bottle of Chappellet voluptuous full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from his collection.

For dessert we shared a Classic Creme Brûlée and Molten Lava Cake with salted caramel gelato.

One way to define the DCG is a luxurious sports bar and classy restaurant without being snobby. In my view it is definitely one of our top ten restaurants.

Postscript: Valentine’s Day, also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or Feast of Saint Valentine, originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine. Through later folk traditions, it has become a significant cultural and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.

A 28-Mile Bike Ride on the Stevens Creek Trail to Shoreline & the Palo Alto Bay Trails

“Nature is the purest portal to inner-peace.”

—Angie Weiland Crosby

My friend and neighbor Bill Rothenberg and I loaded up our bikes on the back of his Suburban and drove to the bicycle and pedestrian ramp at the intersection of Dale Avenue and Heathersone Way in Mountain View.

This gave us access to the nature-centric Stevens Creek Trail that leads to Shoreline and beyond. Thanks to a series of bridges and underpasses, this route is a devoid of any car traffic—which is essentially a bicyclist’s dream. Thanks to planners and conservationists we are blessed to have some of the greatest walking a biking trails.

Bill and I passed the futuristic Google building and its unique canopy roof design that provides natural light to the interior spaces, while at the same time providing energy efficiency and fosters good heath for its employees. Nearby is the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh Trail, Shoreline Lake, Golfing links, and two restaurants, bird sanctuaries in the Palo Alto Baylands including such species as Barn Swallows, Green-winged Teal Ducks, Double-Crested Cormorants, Shorebirds, Seagulls, Egrets and many more. We rode the gravel and dirt paths to the Palo Alto Airport to watch the small private planes depart and land on the runway right over our heads.

We made a pit stop at the Art in the Park exhibit at Byxbee Park Public Art Installation that provides a place for visitors to reflect on how nature and art interweave and enhance the experience of this open space. There is also the City of Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve and Lucy Evans Nature Center.

Bill and I enjoyed Cheeseburgers and salad for lunch at the Bistro at edge of Shoreline Lake before continuing another several miles back to the car for our drive home, feeling rejuvenated and at peace.

Taking our Granddaughter Emmy to the Westgate Center's Indoor Kids Play Area was a Hit

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”

—Kay Redfield Jamison

Over the years Cecile and I must have passed this amusement and play center with flashy and colorful coin-operated kiddie rides and play structures for some time. The other day it occurred to us what a great place to take our granddaughter Emmy, especially during the rainy and cold winter months whereby the local park doesn’t make it an ideal option. She loved it, and it was such a fun thing to do during our babysitting day. What makes it extra special is that just under two years old, Emmy has been putting together strings of sentences and has such an engaging sense of humor. Kids are always drawn to flashy rides that include sounds and music as it engages their brain and sensory systems. Seeing her happy makes us happy.

Dinner at Royal Taj India's Cuisine with Good Friends & Memories of Visiting the Taj Mahal

“My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport.” —Steve McCurry

Our good friends, Sarah and Bill Rothenberg asked Cecile and I if we would like to join them for dinner at the recently remodeled Royal Taj.

The first thing I saw after we exited Bill and Sarah's SUV was a full moon. In Hindu literature and folklore, the moon is associatd with romance, friendship, pleasant nights and kinship. For starters we had Papadam, a deep fried Indian cracker, Onion Kulcha (Naan bread stuffed with onion). For our entrees we collectively feasted on Chicken Tikka Masala; Gosht Vindaloo (Lamb with hot spicy sauce with potatoes); Saag Lamb (Lamb cooked with spiced cream spinach); Saag Paneer (Fresh spinach with herbs and homemade cheese); Saffron flavored basmati rice garnished with peas, and Raita (Cool whipped yogurt with cucumbers) a nice accompaniment to neutralize the spicy Indian dishes. In other words it cools the palate, and has a myriad of probiotic health benefits.

Bill and I shared Taj Mahal Premium Lager Beer which has a rich full body, smooth, refreshing flavor, and unique aroma. It too is a nice accompaniment to the spicy and delectable dishes mentioned above. It was my first alcohol drink since Christmas Eve, and I savored every drop. This beer is a connoisseur’s delight. The label on the bottle depicts the heavenly beauty of its namesake, the Taj Mahal, a monument erected in Agra by the Shah Jahan in memory of his beautiful wife between the years 1631 and 1648. This jewel of Muslim art is one of the universally admired masterpieces of Unesco World’s Heritage Sites.

It is funny how the mind works. I made three pilgrimages to India and when I looked at the picture of the Taj Mahal on the colorful label on the beer bottle it brought me back to the Himalayan Institute USA’s Spiritual Excursion I took in February 2003. We stayed at a yoga and meditation center on the Ganges River. One of the first sites our group visited was the magnificent Taj Mahal (see group photo)

After the Storms: Witnessing Nature Interrupted During Yesterday's Bike Ride

There were park closure warnings posted on the Los Gatos Creek Trail recently, advising walkers, runners and bicyclists like myself that the risk of tree falls and mudslides will remain in effect for the next few days. There were barricades along the trail to indicate flooded areas. Yesterday was a great day for a bike ride. It was cold to be sure but the sun was out to take the edge off the the 40 degrees temperature. There were still barricades and detour signs and there was debris everywhere. After years of severe draught, Mother Nature is making up for it all in one go. I always wondered where all the birds go during heavy rains? Well, it depends on the type of bird. Some of the larger seabirds like gulls and pelicans are capable of riding out of a storm by flying out of a storm’s path. Land birds take shelter in bushes and trees. For some birds like ducks, heavy rain is an opportunity. Flooded fields provide new territory for them to search out lots of insect larvae and worms that come to the surface to eat. Then there are insects that come out to dry themselves are easy pickings for birds. Birds will begin to sing, an indication the weather has improved and a bountiful feast is at hand. I spotted cormorants, a white swan, an egret and a multitude of ducks. The creek beds were filled and spillway from the reservoir had opened further to allow more water to flow downstream. What I have learned from birds is to be accepting of the storms [short of being catastrophic], singing in the middle of it, and grasping the reality of the feast that is to come our way.

Postscript: Though I didn’t ride with my friend Bill who was visiting family in Ohio, I bumped into him along the way as he was returning from his ride and I was just beginning mine (photo), we had a roadside chat just off the trail.

Dress Up Costume Party & Take—Out Lunch from the Saratoga Farmers Market

“Fashion is such a fairytale and it is such a fantasy.”—Marc Jacobs

The dress up party was unplanned. Nonnie Cecile had searched her stash of costumes from when our daughter Michelle was a child. It was amazing there were enough there that our granddaughters Lyla and her baby sister Emmy could wear. It brought back memories of when Michelle was in a musical theater summer camp at the Jewish Community Center directed by Laurel Perelman-Cohen.

Our take-out lunch from the Saratoga Farmers Market was delayed as the girls got in character and spontaneously showcased their costumes. Lyla dressed up as Minnie Mouse and Emmy dressed up in a pink tutu which she called her “princess" outfit, and then added a witches hat, and a court jester. I founded it interesting and comical that at the finale they used our fire place hearth as center stage together to show their costumes. They were having so much fund and delighted us to no end. The late Kate Spade once said: “As far as I’m concerned playing ‘Dress Up’ begins at the age five and never truly ends.” Emmy proved her wrong, Emmy is almost two, which shows you're never too young to play dress up.

The girls enjoyed their Salvadoran papusas from the Tio Santos Mexican Stawl, and Cecile, Michelle, and I loved our vegetable crepes, chicken pot stickers and steamed barbecued beef buns.

Sicilian Dinner from Italian Brothers Restaurant with Friends & Lunch with our Daughter & Granddaughters

"Food taste better when you eat it with friends and family."

Saturday evening Cecile and I, and our good friends Nelson and Susan Bye ordered some great dishes

from Italian Brothers Restaurant in Los Gatos that we had delivered to our home. It is a genuine family owned business founded by two brothers from Sicily that offer truly authentic cuisine. Marco, the Maitre D’ and one of the brothers arrived in America from Palermo, about six years ago. After working in his uncle’s restaurant, he had a dream of opening his own, and convinced his brother Giacomo who is the executive chef to bring his family over to join him in his venture. Having spent much time visiting family in Sicily over the years, it brought back some fond memories.

Cecile put together an antipasto plate of roasted eggplant, prosciutto, salami, cheese, crackers and pita bread and a side of nuts. Collectively, we ordered minestrone soup, Brussel Spouts with pancetta and garlic and brandy sauce, meatballs in tomato sauce, rigatoni pasta with peas, onions and olive oil, pappardelle Rustica in meat sauce with peas and mushrooms, grilled fresh Salmon with roasted patatoes and broccoli, Chicken Parmigiana, and a generous portion of heated Italian bread slices.

For dessert, Cecile made a berry crisp that as usual was hit. She also prepared a plate of colorful French Macarons and Zabar’s Jewish Homestyle Rugelach, and the Byes brought some See’s candies.

We had Sunday brunch at Effie’s classic American restaurant with our daughter Michelle and granddaughters Lyla, and Emmy. The girls loved their Mickey Mouse pancakes.

A Solo Evening Bike Ride: Witnessing the Roaring Vasona Reservoir Spillway Ushered in by the Storms

“Waterfalls are exciting because they have power…they have songs, and they have boldness and craziness!” —Mehmet Murat ildan

Finally, we had one day without rain. After running some errands with Cecile, getting take-out food for dinner, I decided to take a bike ride. I intended to ride five miles to beat the 5:15 PM sunset. It was frigid out, but I was dressed for it. Five miles turned to ten, as I decided to check out the Los Gatos Creek and Vasona Reservoir Spillway. Based on past experience, I knew it would be a sight to see. The falling rain from from virtually nonstop storms have made the water in the Los Gatos Creek along the protected riding trails running deep, wide and fast. It even flooded part of the walking and riding trails. Vasona Lake Reservoir is rising and turning the spillway into a rather magical—albeit violent, roaring waterfall, the likes I have never seen before. I made my way down the muddy embankment off the biking trail to get an alternate view from at a safe distance. The white egrets and other birds were loving it, and so did the few walkers and bicyclists like myself. A spillway allows water to flow away from the reservoir during normal operation and during a flood. It should do this in a way to protect the integrity of the dam. By the time I made my way off the trail, past the back part of Netflix Headquarters and and passing Bay Club—where I’m a member—it was dark. The stunning spectacle I just witness made me feel alive as did riding in the night.

Happy New Year 2023: May it Be a Year of Peace, Joy & Freedom

“Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction” Every moment is a fresh beginning. Life’s not about expecting, hoping, and wishing. It’s about doing, being and becoming.”

—T.S. Eliot

Though Cecile and I are bit under the weather literally (serial rain storms), and will be spending New Year's Eve at home, we and our family wish you a New Year of peace, joy, and a sense of freedom. In the words of Neil Gaiman, “May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art—write, or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”

While you’re contemplating the new year enjoy the youtube video clip by recording artist, Jon Batiste called “Freedom.” [see link below]! It’s about breaking through barriers, like James Brown or Elvis Presley did to become who they wanted to be and in the

process allowed black and white people to become who they wanted to be by “unlocking something in people that they were trying to hold in. These people became beacons of freedom, and you look at the way they move and the way they express who they are onstage. That becomes the way you want to be in life.”

Whether you are going out or staying in for New Years Eve this recording will make you feel like dancing your way into 2023.

Postscript: “Freedom” earned Job Batiste nominations for Grammy awards for ‘Record of the Year” and ‘Best Music Video.'

https://youtu.be/3YHVC1DcHmo

Thanks to good friends, Jimmy and Jennifer Hunter for forwarding me the Batiste video clip

Amazing Asian Art and Sculpture Collection and Whimsical Lush Gardens at the Hyatt Regency Maui

One of my favorite things to do during our annual family vacations to Maui is to mindfully tour the extensive Asian museum-quality art and sculpture collection throughout the corridors and amidst the lush manicured gardens and lagoons of the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa. The sculptures—many of them Buddhist—seem to go along with the wise words of one of the most celebrated religious figures in the world: The legendary Siddhartha Gautama, also know as Buddha, who once said: “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.” The simple message and the inner peace that the artworks that accompany this post inspire, are responsible for the appeal of the Buddhist art among people around the world. In the fourth and fifth centuries B.C., the time of the great thinkers such as Plato and Socrates in Greece, Lao-Tzu, and Confucius in China, India had its own great philosopher, thinker, and inspirational teacher: Buddha, who achieved enlightenment while meditating under a banyan tree.

Happy Hanukkah Day 3 (A Jewish Festival of Lights) & The Hanukkah Gifts we Brought Our Granddaughters

"Hanukkah is about the spark of the divine in all of us...”—Suzanne Fields

This past Sunday there was a Chanukah (alternate spelling) San Jose event for family, friends and the community

at Santana Row’s stage area where there was live music, dancing, singing including the children, and lighting of the menorah by Rabbi Mendel Weinfeld of Chabad House Almaden in San Jose, and others. A free Menorah and Candle kit were given attendees upon request. We had been invited to attend by Mendel whom Cecile and I have come to know over the past year. He is a real mensch and knows how to bring people, families, and a community together. It made no difference that I am not a Jew, though Cecile is, and our children were raised in the Jewish tradition and were Bar and Bat Mitzvah’d. However, in past years, I have worked with rabbis in interfaith dialogue, led meditation services and spiritual readings before Shabbat services, and even sang in a temple choir at Shir Hadash, a Reform synagogue. All this to say, I have a deep respect for the tradition and have done self-study in Judaism.

Unfortunately, for personal reasons we weren’t able to attend the grand event. But after, we got back from vacation in Maui

with our family including our granddaughters, I received a heartfelt message from Mendel, informing me that the event drew close to 2000 people. He added that had been thinking of me and said he was sure we were going to have some beautiful upcoming family celebration this year and wanted to take this moment to wish me and our family a happy Chanukah. The Rabbi ended with “May the light of the Menorah that shines so brightly continue to shine for you and your family.”

Speaking of light, Cecile and brought some Hanukkah gifts for our granddaughters Lyla who goes to Jewish preschool and her little sister Emmy who will begin part time in January. The custom is to give one big present and smaller presents for each of the eight days of Hanukkah. But, the light in our hearts that they place there, are for us, the most precious and joyous gift of all.

Origin of Hanukkah: It is a Jewish holiday which commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the larger Syrian army. It also celebrates a miracle that happened during this time. During the dedication of the Temple, there was only enough oil to burn the candles for one day. However, the candles burned for eight consecutive nights, giving the Jews time to find more oil. The eight days of Hanukkah celebrates this miracle and it teaches Jews, and perhaps all of us, not to curse the darkness but to light a candle, for if you keep your face towards the sunshine in the midst of adversity, the shadows will fall behind you.

In the Company of Exotic Birds on Maui: A Metaphorical Gateway Drug to Learning More about Nature

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has song.”—Maya Angelou

I love being in the company of birds. From the time we landed on Maui, they made themselves known, especially when we were lounging around the lush vegetation near the pool and every time we had dinner in open air restaurants. At the Marriott Ocean Club, they have a cockatoo named Kukui (photo) who loves to whistle, and charm passersby by talking to them or mimicking their speech. It was heartening to notice that they kept Kukui mostly outside his cage. He is popular with the kids and adults alike and is well taken care of by the staff. I visited him before and after yoga classes. Our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy got to see and hear Kukui on the way to their art classes in the activity center.

There is an amazing on-site African Black-Footed Penguin habitat at the Hyatt Recency Maui, as part of their wildlife program that include exotic cranes, black and white swans and flamingos that hangout in the lagoons and ponds. Our daughter Michelle and Kyle took our granddaughters to visit them at their 9:30 feeding in the Atrium Lobby. I visited them recently before my yoga class. On average these playful creatures consume 100 pounds of fish every week. They are fun to watch swim, sunbathe, dig burrows in the sand, and just waddle around. This species of penguin is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) red list of endangered species due to a combination of threats they face in the wild. I actually got to be in the midst of these beautiful creatures during a camera safaris in South Africa. African penguins are one of 14 species that live in warm climates. They can hold their breath over two minutes, swim more than 12 mph and dive over 400 feet. They are nicknamed “donkey pegs” for the braying sounds they make. One a year they lose all their feathers, a process that is referred to as molting.

The Black-Crowned Night Heron named Henry, is not an official part of the penguin habitat. He is basically a wild bird the visits so frequently that he has become part of the family. They can fly up to 35 miles per hour and can be seen surface swimming, diving or walking through shallow water.

Mynah Birds with yellow beak, feet and around the rim of the eye, were a constant presence. They are native to Asia.

One bird I was surprised to see while taking a walk, was a mother hen teaching her chicks how to eat earthworms in a patch of grass she unearthed. Apparently, baby chickens can eat mealworms beginning at around one to two weeks old. The high protein value makes words more nutrition than any other treats. You can’t really see the worms, but it is apparent this what is taking place.

"One reason…birds matter—or ought to matter"—says Jonathan Franzen, "is that they are our last, best connection to a natural world that is otherwise receding. They’re the most vivid and widespread representatives of the Earth as it was before people arrived on it."