By the way, my client’s name is Catherine Hailey and she is running for judge in Oakland Ca. I will post her web site when it’s up. She’s a fantastic person, top notch attorney and quite a talented cyclist. (she takes my Spinning Class)
Also note that the awesome mural that is on the side of the Historic building in Oakland, Ca (see photo) is done by Michael and his son John Manente who go to town on a 30 foot mural called the People of Oakland. Watch video to see them at work.
Every year I'm invited to a holiday cookie party and every year I get very excited thinking about which cookies to make. I Google “Best Holiday Cookies Ever” and get tons of information. I click on Grandma's Melt-in-your-mouth cookies first, then I see Paula's Chocolate-Gooey-Butter Cookies next, and then Gingerbread cookies (I like the ones that are shaped like people best), and Molasses Crinkles, Double Chocolate Toffee Cookies, Lemon Raspberry Delight cookies, Maple Snicker-doodles (love the name Snicker-doodle and remember eating them at camp) Peanut Butter with Chocolate Thumb Print cookies, French Almond Madeline cookies and on and on. After cookie internet overload, I venture out to local bakeries to look up close, at the real thing. I walk to The Bread Garden Bakery in Berkeley first and the cookie sales girl is really nice and knowledgeable. I already know about the big, multi-colored Sprinkle cookies cuz my brother used to eat them, Chocolate Chip cookies cuz their popular and so good and I remember making Shortbread Holiday cookies (with frosting and sprinkles) with my Grandma when I was little, but I had to ask about the others. I find out about Granola Nut and Mini Chocolate Chip cookies, Mexican Wedding Cake cookies (traditional with walnuts and powdered sugar), Almond Horns with Dipped Chocolate cookies, Chocolate Nuggets with crystalized sugar and Financiers (almond butter with a texture of a Madeline and Gluten Free!) I notice they sell dog cookies too, which she says are made out of whole wheat flour with 'normal stuff' that's in a cookie, plus beef stock. The cookie salesgirl says that the dog cookies are not very good (she tried them) but dogs love them and beware they are not Gluten free. Next I go La Farine Boulangerie and Patisserie on College St. in Berkeley and the smell is intoxicating. Go there! Everything is amazing and you'll find cookies, breads, pastries and tons more. Next I stop at Bakesale Betty's in Oakland. They are known for their chicken sandwich among other things and cookies. Betty, the owner (the one with an accent and blue hair) tells me they have Chocolate Chip with and without Walnuts, Ginger Molasses, Oatmeal Raisin with Walnuts and Pecan Shortbread. Be careful at Bakesale Betty's because everything is amazing and I doubt it's good for you. Be prepared to wait in line (sometimes they bring free cookies and scones to you while you wait). By this point, I've spent hours on the internet, have been to three bakeries (with out buying or trying any cookies) and still have no idea what I'm going to make for the holiday cookie party. Last year someone made Almond Cranberry Biscotti, another women made Butterscotch and Chocolate Chip cookies and my friend Jamie, from Jamie Living made healthy, Gluten free, Sesame and Anise cookies. Did I mention Jamie was on Martha Stewart Living Radio show this week? Do you see now why I feel pressure? I just want everyone to think that my cookies look and taste the best, but the truth is that every year I buy 2-3 dozen store made cookies for the holiday cookie party. Last year it was Snicker-doodles from Wholefoods which was embarrassing because someone made real home made Snicker-doodles. The year before that I brought Chocolate Star Cookies from Trader Joes and before that I tried to find Entenmanns Chocolate Chip cookies because I think they really do taste like home made cookies. After the Snicker-doodle incident I broke down during my cookie share and admitted that I've been buying store bought cookies all these years and that I don't know how to make cookies and I don't really eat cookies. No one even cared or knew that the cookies were store bought, (I think the lady that made the Snicker-doodles was suspicious) but no one could believe that I don't eat cookies. So for the record, I could make cookies if I wanted to (I did when I was a kid) and I do occasionally eat cookies my favorite are Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and Girl Scout Tagalongs (I can see my Mom saying that she doesn't remember me eating any). But honestly I enjoy looking at the small details and the overall presentation of cookies. For example, one holiday season, my friend Diona made the most beautiful, delicate, perfect looking Hanukkah cookies I have ever seen and I was so impressed with her work that I shellacked 5 cookies with artist spray and saved them. For me they were too beautiful to eat. I'm not shellacking cookies anymore but you get my point. Anyway, this year I'm determined to bring home made cookies to the holiday cookie party. I found two little elf's (friend's kids) to make cookies for me. I don't even care what kind of cookies they make or how they look, well I do care how they look but I can't be too hard on the kids and there's always plan B.
Other Holiday to do's going on in Berkeley/Oakland Ca in December 2011
Berkeley Ballet Theater Nutcracker see site for dates and time
Oakland Ballet – Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker see site for dates and time
Castro Valley Christmas Tree Farm
Valley of the Moon Pottery, North Eagle Gallery and Christmas Tree Farm Please visit my Aunt and Uncle's Christmas Tree Farm and Galley in Santa Rosa,CA!!
Claremont Hotel and Resort Gingerbread House and tree display in lobby!
Rockridge Holiday Jazz and Wine Stroll in Oakland Fri. Dec. 9th 5-8pm
The Crucible's Holiday Gifty Fair and Fire Performances in Oakland Dec 10 12-6pm and Dec 11 12-4pm
Lights, Menorah, Action! A Congregational Hanukkah Event at Temple Sinai In Oakland Sat. Dec 10 3-6pm
Hanukah Festival of Light at the JCC of the East Bay 1414 Walnut St, Berkeley Sunday Dec 11 10-2pm
Almost Chanukah Fair in Berkeley at Netivot Shalom 1316 University Ave. Berkeley Sunday Dec 11 11-2pm
Afikomen Judaica Chanukah Party and Menorah Lighting at Afikomen in Berkeley Dec 25th 11-5pm Menorah Lighting at 4:30pm
I don't even know where to start. On line dating is not something I wish on anyone and yet if you haven't experienced it you're really missing out. You know it's how single (and married but 'available' people) meet these days! We all know on line dating success stories so I'm still trying, maybe I'm just too picky?! I did have one “relationship” from online dating. At the time, I thought he had been “the one”. Until I realized he was not honest about his intensions, sexual past or current codependent relationship with his ex wife even counseling her about her crazy boyfriend. I should have known that he did not want a serious relationship with me from the beginning when he completely became enthralled and very serious about me mentioning kids and marriage right off the bat. By profession he was a doctor but really “acting” and “drama” was more of his style. Did I mention he had a chronic sinus infection that I made him get antibiotics for. Anyway, we were really cute, everyone said he seemed very into me. But on our ten month anniversary (a week after visiting his Mom) he asked to have “the talk” and said “I love you” but he didn't want kids and I would be better off with someone else. A few days later, I received a message on Face Book from his ex wife's boyfriend (who I'm not friends with on FB) saying how sorry he was to hear about blank and I breaking up. Needless to say my now ex-boyfriend went from “I love you” to never talking to me again and I learned we were officially broken up on Face book by his ex wife's boyfriend. I swear I did not make this up! After recovering from the shock, the hardest part for me was not being able to say good bye to his cat, two kids I had fallen in love with and realizing that I had been duped by an emotionally handicapped middle age man that just wanted to have fun. I deserved more. It was painful but in retrospect I had dodged a major bullet. After that learning experience, I decided to used online dating to go and dates and nothing more, not to find prince charming. What I've discovered is that online dating has become a source of entertainment, something to pass the time. Most times I feel there is no real incentive to have a committed relationship because there are so many possibilities and always newer choices on line for me and everyone else on line searching. No one really knows one another outside of being “online” it's very non committal. Then there are men who have online profiles with no photographs. Speaking of photographs, my number one pet peeve is photographs of guys with bare chests and or flexing their muscles in the mirror. Besides looking totally gay, this is a major red flag. Another aspect I find quite amusing is profile names. Some of my favorites are Chaotic Cutie, Teddy Steady, Muffy the Cat, Deep Thoughts Guy, Mr. Kiss Kiss, Very Very Funny Guy and Chef Mensch. I should mention that these particular profile names are men over 50 who messaged me. I have received the impersonal email that appears to have been sent out to more than one woman, everyone gets these right like a group email? And then there is the message that reads more like a short novel providing way too much information like what went wrong with their first marriage, mother issues and how he and his therapist are sorting through his childhood. And I have received the email that says “we seem perfect for each other, when can you meet for a cocktail?” I start to think that this potential online date has not read my profile. I do not drink, would like to have kids and I don't live in Boise, Idaho. I love the message one guy wrote me from New York “guess who's passing thru San Francisco next week.”Even better is the one from the 55 year old, married couple from Boston seeking a threesome. Once I received a message from a guy who volunteered to give me his sperm but wrote, “because of my genetic defect we will have to go thru the in vitro fertilization process.” What?! This was his first and only email to me, I did not reply. Another issue I have is the guy who only wants to IM or text. Once I had texting boyfriend for a few weeks, we had our first 'fight' over a text before we ever met and eventually “broke up” over a text. All said and done, I have met some nice guys on line so far, one guy even took me to a Michelin Star Restaurant on our first date! The presentation and food was fabulous at the restaurant, the guy, not so much.
Going to Temple Beth El with my Dad for the high holy days is always an experience. This year my Mom met my Dad there. My Dad likes to sit in front, but my My Mom likes to sit in back and since my Dad always runs late, they sit in back. They know everyone at the service and everyone knows them. They see Susie and Norman Pappas, who they known since college, and Susie whispers to my Dad “I knew you and Janice would get back together.” My Dad smiles and replies, “Oh Susie, that’s a good one.” See my parents aren’t married or back together, they just act like they are. (They are kitchen designers and have a business together) The first topic of conversation between my parents is about the architecture and design of the building. My Dad looks up and says “stunning, just stunning” and my Mom adds “Yamasaki also designed the original Twin Towers in NY.” It does not matter who is with my Dad at Temple, in no time he is talking. He sees a client and starts talking about her amazing art collection. He asks my Mom if she is making his favorite chocolate chip banana bread for dessert? He sees someone he went to elementary school with and comments on how old she looks and how there’s no reason to look old. My Dad starts digging into his pocket for a mint, offers one to my Mom and continues talking about how much he loves the music and cantor. He says “today the cantor is good but last night at the Kol Nidre service (which they also attended together) she was fabulous!” Then he comments on the flowers, “the flowers look good, but not as good as last year and the flowers that I arrange, look much better. My Mom agrees with my Dad about the flowers. After the service they both call me and tell me about the service. My Mom reports that the only time my Dad stopped talking was when he fell asleep or when he couldn’t get his candy wrapper opened. “Your Father couldn’t open his candy wrapper and during the silent “mediation” (I meant to write meditation) he’s fiddling around, making all this noise and everyone is looking at us!” A minute later my Dad calls and said “I thought your Mother looked great and the sermon was particularly interesting this year, it was on bullying.” They both tell me that after the service my Dad turns to my Mom and says “Jan, oh I mean (my Mom lectured my Dad about calling her Jan, she prefers Janice which my Dad thinks is funny because he’s been calling her Jan for almost 35 years) Janice I think its time for a nice, little snack, don’t some doughnuts, cider and a nice Kosher hot dog sound good to you.” My Mom replies “Gary it’s Yom Kippur!’ They both laugh and my Dad says “You know I can’t fast all day without a snack!” They leave temple together and drive separately to meet each other, at the Franklin Cider Mill, for a snack.
My car’s name is Grey Goose, it’s a Prius and it’s a bit of a flirt. It’s a hybrid mix, making it sorta bi, attracted to both girl and guy cars. It’s quiet and unassuming and in Berkeley, California, where 1 out of 3 cars is a Prius, it blends well into the crowd. But don’t let that fool you, my car has quite a wondering eye, and winks and makes passes at quite a few oncoming cars. You could say that I’m (I mean Grey Goose) is obsessed with the Porsche 911 Carrera. There is an immediate nervous feeling when my car is lucky enough to brush up against one. The gas and electricity controls accelerate and the navigation system takes over. Grey Goose’s head light’s start fluttering and its body turns bright red. My car has crushes on other cars too. You could say Grey Goose is more of a tail light, back bender sorta of guy (gal) then a front body, head light one. But in the case of the new Camaro, it’s in love with the total package. Grey Goose has crushes on other hybrids too. Of course not other Pruis cars, that would be like liking your sister or something. But a cousin like the new Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid is fair game. My car also likes the quiet, modest Electric-Hybrid Nissan in black. What a voluptuous body! The BMW 528i Sedan is always a sure thing, but the M series in black really causes over heating. Speaking of hot, it’s time to cool off, take a shower and primp up for Grey Goose’s next gas station date with the Ford Shelby Cobra Convertible. Vroom, Vroom.
I never thought I was a cat person until I fell in love with my first cat friend, No No (real name Matzoh Ball). He and I bonded immediately. He was handsome, independent, swayed his hips when he walked and was a big hunter. He often brought me presents like birds, mice, rats and gophers. At first, I didn't like the presents he picked for me, but I got used to them. He loved me, especially when he wanted a massage, or when he wanted to play head butt games. At night, he would nudge his way onto my pillow and I would whisper and he would purr, until we got too loud and were told to “quite down”. He was very romantic, yet sometimes got scared and would freak out and hide under the bed. No No loved being outside, it was his arena. But when I'd see him outside, he'd pretend like he didn't know me. But one time I was playing tennis with Benny, the boy who No No loved more than anyone, and he got our attention. All of the sudden, No No was running across the tennis court, back and forth watching us, wanting to play tennis with us! It was really cute. I haven't seen No No for over a year, but I'm sure he's still doing the same routine, sunning indoors, waiting for someone to massage him and hunting outside. No No was a great, first cat friend. Now I have new cat crushes, on two girls, Ahi and Ella. Ahi's birthday is coming up, I'm going to get her an iPad (with this cool game) for cats. You don't think I'm going over board do you? Ahi hasn't updated her status (on facebook) to “in a relationship” yet. Betcha she will after she gets my present! Check this out!
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Some of us go to Trader Joes for the Tempting Trail Mix, others go for the cheap, interesting wine and some go for the Chocolate Chip Dunkers. I go for the free balloons and ready to eat Grilled Strips of Chicken. Last November, my brother Ryan, met the love of his life, Tierney at Trader Joes. What a lucky guy, Tierney is more interesting and better than any of the wines, more sweet than any of the chocolate bars even the Bittersweet Chocolate Pound Plus (with almonds) and even if I tried, I couldn't of picked a more perfect person for my brother. I love them together and think they will have many happy years together shopping at Trader Joes and Whole Foods. (sorry TJ's but ya don't have everything,Tierney is Gluten Free and Ryan pointed out to me that Whole Foods has signs telling you which items are Gluten Free). I love this girl, before Tierney, Ryan didn't even know what Gluten Free was, he thought GF stood for Gary Fried (our Father).
Hi, my name is Karle and I have curly hair. It took me years to say that. When I was young I would pray that my hair would be straight. When I was in middle school, I would spend hours blowing my hair straight only to have it frizz up the minute I went outside. In high school I had long, straight hair extensions (yes in the 80's) to hide my curls. I had straight hair envy which is what they call people like me in the NY Times article, Making Waves with No Apology. If you read the article you'll know why. I didn't like the fact that I had tightly curled, frizzy, wavy, kinky, fro-like, crimped, “BIG” hair. I was especially annoyed when someone asked if I had a perm, or worse, if I'd recently had my hair cut. Didn't they know? I never got my hair cut, and by the way my hair was really three inches longer than it looked! In my late 20's and 30's I didn't care, I wore my hair curly, and to my surprise got compliments. I tried every curly hair product on the market and spent hundreds of dollars. An ex-boyfriend suggested I think about a curly hair product budget. One day, I googled curly hair cut, and found the Madusalon in San Francisco, which changed my life. I found out about Lorainne Massey, who invented Devachan, a curly hair movement based in New York and author of the book, Curly Girl. All the stylists were trained and the products were made for curly hair. They even have their own hair dryer with a cool hand attachment. All the products and services were available at Deva hair salons thru out the country and they were not overly expensive. The first time I went into a Deva Salon I felt like I had walked into Curly Hair Anonymous. The guy sitting next to me and I had the same hair, even the same curls underneath! Last time, I went to a Deva hair salon closer to my house in Oakland, called Vero. Next time I'm gonna try the one in Marin. I just love getting my hair cut now, and even think my curly hair is sorta cool.
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