Can we talk about Dr. LAURA? Please?

I heard it on the news today that "famous Dr. Laura" will be quitting talk radio...
Not soon enough if you ask me.

Apparently, she was caught last week using the N word with some black,female caller who is married to a white man. She called in because she was annoyed that every time a friend or family member came over, she would have to hear comments like do black folks do that etc...It bugged her.

Dr. Laura responded with those comments are not racist. In fact, she said that her bodyguard is an African American. Dr. L was interested in a game of B Ball and here was the exchange between her and her bodyguard: "Listen white men can't jump. I want you on my team."
She tells the caller that in her opinion "that was not a racist comment". As an added bonus, she says that the African Americans voted for Obama only because he is black.
And to make matters worse, she goes on to say how if one turns on HBO to see some black comedy, the N word is used freely while folks with low melanin using that same word are called racists?
She was apparently making a philosophical point!?!??

Deep breath.
Sigh.
Questions running through my head.
Is she for real? Did she really say that out loud? As a Jewess who should understand persecution, does she NOT get it? Are we really going to miss her? Is she all THAT and a loaf of wonder bread?

Here is my opinion:
Has entertainment in this world gone so off the deep end that we need people like Dr. Laura with her narrow minded, bigoted thoughts to be diffused all over the air ways? She reminds me of a clean cut version of Archy Bunker. Do we really want our society to be ingesting and pondering on Dr. Laura's limited thoughts?

A day at an Alpaca Ranch...

On Saturday afternoon, my relatives and I headed to my cousin`s alpaca ranch not far from a gold mining town in Julian. Upon arrival to this 14 acre property, you are greeted by close to 47 alpacas, Tika the Anatolian Shepperd which can also double as a pony with TEETH, four chickens, two moody cats named Ginger and Cotton tail and the friendly neighborhood coyotes. Thank God they were chilling in the mountains until the stars came out.

Walking through the ranch, you can't help but notice how relaxed you quickly feel. Tall trees, the scent of nature, the silence of city life, the gentle sounds of nature, the fluffy alpacas roaming in their gated space while eating hay and rolling on the ground enlighten your senses.

My sons decide to climb into the female alpaca zone and are greeted by Vanessa the friendly one of the bunch. Rub her on her neck and belly, and you will soon experience a hug from the furry creature. Human and alpaca necks entwine and all seems right with the world.

We were blessed with a feast to make our ancestors, homo-erectus, proud! All sorts of beef treats on the grill, ribs, tenderloin and delicious baked potatoes on steroids with farmer's butter and finely diced chives to please the senses.

Having a full fledged adolescent in my world, my son managed to convince my cousin to show him how alpacas breed and so with an audience around the stud, my cousin lassoed Daisy the female alpaca and delivered her to do the deed!!! A sight indeed!
It made National Geographic TV channel seem like child`s play. To some extent it appeared a violent act. Five minutes into it, we began to walk away while teasing my poor cousin with "is this what YOU do all day long?"

Once the first star came out, the kids went on a bumpy tractor ride to scout the ranch. My youngest son was happy to be bringing home a sample of coyote spinal bone in a Ziploc bag. Show and tell on the first day of school will sure help him stand out amongst his peers.

As we began to make our way home, one last look at the sky and you are showered by a slew of bright stars! The kids and I were overjoyed with the experience of it all.

The gift of meeting new faces...

A couple of nights ago, I had the pleasure of finally meeting a virtual friend whom I have known for a year. Online, he portrayed himself as an intellectual, well travelled, well read and somewhat adventurous, thinking outside of the box.
We had "met" online on a dating site and due to our wide geographic location, we didn't pursue it any further, other than a friendship.

Thanks to his Facebook status, I noticed he was going to travel to San Diego around the time I was visiting with relatives. We both agreed to meet face to face, one afternoon when my cousin was kind enough to entertain my boys for the evening.

I was so pleasantly surprised to meet my virtual friend. He looked like his pics, he spoke like his virtual online voice,and the evening went by quite naturally. Reason I am surprised is, that often we are told to be weary of who lurks online. People are fakes, they exude a different personna and create a mirage for the virtual friend.
I am happy to report that my virtual friend was real, his pics were true, his demeanour to be similar to his online activity. So not all virtual friends are a mirage, is my point.

My friend from St-Louis was pleased to see that I too was true to my exchanges...I looked like my pics and my personality was authentic too.
We spent the better part of the afternoon sharing a drink, discovering Torrey Pines Reserve State Park, me in my white Birkies and skirt hiking the trails. It was a sight indeed. We then shared a great meal and this is the part where I had an AHA moment.

Every person that walks into your life brings a gift to your existence. My virtual friend brought me a new sense of adventure. He has this uncanny way of ordering his meal at a restaurant. He empowers the chef to choose his meal for him and surprise him with a feast to grace his eyes and palate.
My virtual friend went on to tell me about his most recent need to experiment life in surprising ways, doing things he would not have necessarily done before...He has eaten a brain stew, zip lined, and is now looking forward to jumping off a plane.

What I took from his tales....leave your heart open to try things on this planet, plan less, experiment more, try new thngs everyday, surprise your instincts as much as you can....LIVE life!

Thank you My Virtual Friend from St-Louis!!!
It was great meeting you face to face.
I have learned a great deal.

facing fears...for some, in California!

My relationship with San Diego goes as far back to when I was fourteen. My dad, had decided he wanted to go visit his brother who lived on the sunny coast...and so we began our crazy, intense road trip to California. To this day, that first trip strengthened my ties to my cousins.

I began going back for my sixteenth birthday and continued on every few years to see them. Communication with them is free flowing; ties are tight; we are there for each other, for things that matter, for special events and for difficult times too.

Since my split, I had stopped going partly because of my mobility issue. Unlike other cities in the States, San Diego has no subway system, has some semblance of a tram, some buses; cabs are expensive and many renegade cabs (meter-less) take full advantage of the situation. Hence the use of a car is a must. Here lies my problem.

Up until this trip, I had never driven out of my comfort zone. Montreal, Vermont area, up North was as far as I would go. Funny thing is I have no issues roaming the streets less travelled around the world, but driving did become an issue in my head.

And so I faced my demons this summer. I rented a car and thought to myself: get over this fear...you love it in San Diego and you need to get past the idea that the X was your means of transport while there!

I am proud to report that I feel empowered and thrilled to drive the highways of San Diego! My boys have noticed the transition from fear, to nervous, to "OMG she's back to her road rage attitude"...Music 90.3 with a Rihanna and Usher, blasting while I meander my way around.

Moral of the story: Face your fears...you will feel overjoyed and elated!

Some people leave you with a lasting impression...

I was sifting through the vast collection of music on YouTube and I came across a clip by Colin Hay. Some of you may remember the Scottish/Aussie lead singer from an 80s Australian band called Men At Work.

On a more personal level, one of his songs hit home. There are some people who enter your life, for a short period of time, yet manage to leave a whopping imprint on your existence. You cherish those moments you once shared together; you find yourself daydreaming, wondering what became of them and you question if you had that same magical appeal on their lives. You find yourself smiling at a moment's notice remembering magnetic exchanges...sitting back and relishing those special sparks.

The following clip from Colin Hay talks about those tender moments once shared with that special someone, with the full knowledge that life does go on...but "don't think I'll ever get over you..."

My thoughts on Italy...

Having had the pleasure of visiting South of Italy (namely Rome, Naples, Sorento, Amalfi, Capri, Anacapri and Positano)three years ago, versus this trip in the Northern part of Italy, I have come to realise that my temperament matches the southern part more.

This trip, as a general rule, was scenic, architecturally invigorating, and culturally eye opening. The locals were not as playful, friendly and flirtatious as the Southern part. Along the Amalfi Coast, also a tourist attraction, the locals are inviting and helpful beyond words. Their motto is to leave you with a lasting impression.

Here in Venice and Florence, they are also mulled by too many tourists coming through, but the local temperament and their rules of hospitality are harsh and less "serviable", less catering-to. They were also "surprised" by solo female travellers. To them, folks like me were aliens, a puzzle. If you travelled alone, you were more likely to be offered "a date with benefits". My favorite line of all from a male Fiorentini, who didn't understand why I roamed alone on holiday, was "but why?"
Puts things into perspective, doesn't it?

These places have a lot to offer. The sites alone are charming to any foreigner coming through. With a tiny bit of added charm, care to please attitude and a dash of sex appeal, this place could be magical.



Just my two cents worth.

Ciao, Ciao Italia!

This trip wouldn't be complete without voicing my thoughts on Amerigo Vespucci Aeroporto. OMG!!!! OMG!!!! In simple terms, the Dominican Republic Airport is more impressive than this tiny, run down, poor excuse of a fly zone.

An hour and a half before the flight, the check-in attendants are nowhere to be found. There is a line-up from here to there, some odd workers that seemed to have been responsible for unlocking the main doors to this joint.

Then the trail of lovely blue suits arrive, slowly, oh so slowly to tend to their desks. This was Italian time at its best. Boarding is also interesting...does not matter if you have kids and strollers, are in Executive or First Class seating, back rows first...the name of the game is push and shove at 6am!

Arrivederci Italia!