Truth Stranger Than Fiction

The other day I happened upon a list by Rotten Tomatoes of their top 50 films of all time. I wondered if any of mine were on the list, so I scrolled and scrolled until I almost reached the bottom and there it was - number 47 - Spotlight.

Spotlight, with a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, is on MY top 5 list of favorite movies. I have it taped and I watch it several times a year. It never ceases to amaze me that a group of dedicated people from the Boston Globe managed to uncover a secret decades-long coverup of widespread and systemic child sex abuse by numerous priests of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.

The acting, the passion, and the horror this film portrays is gut wrenching. It took years for the truth to emerge, but in the end, it did. Obviously, pedophiles still exist. (White House) And cover-ups continue. (Epstein Files) When will it ever end?

 22 Year and Counting

Traditional gifts for the 22nd wedding anniversary are typically made of copper, symbolizing durability and flexibility. Two characteristics of a long-lasting marriage.

Since I am currently on my "No Spend June," I couldn’t take the easy route and go shopping for an Anniversary gift. But hey, I’m a crafty gal and open to the challenge. Can I make something that would celebrate our marriage at zero cost?

I started by searching for 22 copper pennies. Found them. Next, I had to clean them with vinegar, salt and water. Done. Lastly, make an Anniversary Card.

PS. Tony loved the gift, and we celebrated at North Italia - pizza plus a Lemon Drop Martini for me and a Dirty Martini for Tony. A perfectly delicious afternoon!

Ain't She Sweet

For close to ten years, I worked at the Motion Picture & Television Fund. I liked the job but was never passionate about the organization.

However, one thing I did love was working for/with my boss Andrea. She was a very special person, and I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to know her. She always made me feel as if I had the ability to reach the stars. She also had the talent of asking people questions and then listening, as if what they said was important.

We have lost contact, but I occasionally see her post a photo, so I know she is doing well. That makes me smile.

 

Another reason to support Minnesota

I never tasted an avocado or dinned on Mexican cuisine until I moved to LA in the 70’s. I remember my first Mexican meal. After just one bite I was hooked, line and sinker. Where have you been all my life?

A few years ago, I heard about Taco Tuesday. I found out that the phrase became popular in 1989 when Taco John’s, a restaurant chain in Wyoming, began using it to attract customers on typically slow Tuesdays.

A lot has changed since then. They currently have almost 400 restaurants in the Midwest, and their headquarters are located in Minnesota!

I have tried endless times to make tacos, but the shells drive me crazy. They just fall apart so easily that I always served Tacos with a fork. Which got me thinking. How about a deconstructed taco? So, I invented Taco Tuesday Salad. Iceberg lettuce, shredded cheese, tofu sprinkled with taco sauce, corn, cilantro, sour cream, salsa, tomatoes all topped with a generous serving of guacamole.

I know, I know it’s not original but damn, it is so DELICIOSA!

 

You Can Try, But You Can't Break My Spirit

I am officially onto my 9th week of healing from my proximal humerus break. I still can’t use roll on deodorant without a ton of pain, but it seems every week there are definite improvements.

I no longer wake up during the night in pain, so it’s farewell for the need of ice packs. I am also now able to lie on my side and sleep. Granted just for short periods of time, but hey, that is a win. Lastly and more importantly, I no longer need pain pills.

I wish I could say that every week I saw improvement. Not so. However, I am healing. And that is a Mastercard Moment.

 

NO SPEND JUNE

A no spend month is a financial challenge where you commit to eliminating all non-essential purchases for (choose one) 28/29/30/31 days to reset your spending habits.

By focusing on core necessities, you can effectively curb impulse buys (Dollar Tree/Amazon) and build financial discipline while identifying areas where your money often disappears on items you do not truly need. (You mean I didn't need that new cactus purse charm?) WRONG!!

 

 

The other day Tony asked me if I wanted him to pick more lemons...the rest is history. Introducing Traditional British Lemon Curd!

Ingredients

3 large lemons (zest and juice)

¾ cup sugar

3 eggs

½ cup butter (cut into small pieces)


Directions

Step 1 – Prepare the Lemon Mixture

In a saucepan, combine lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, and eggs.

Whisk the mixture until smooth.

Step 2 – Cook the Curd

Place the saucepan over low heat.

Stir continuously as the mixture begins to thicken.

Add the butter pieces gradually while stirring.

Continue cooking until the curd coats the back of a spoon.

Step 3 – Strain and Cool

Remove from heat.

Strain the curd through a fine sieve for a smooth texture.

Pour into a jar and allow it to cool before refrigerating.

 

TWO 79 YEAR OLDS GO ON A DATE

We don't go to the movies often, so when we do I give a silent prayer that the flick is worth the time and money. BINGO! The Sheep Detectives was wonderful! We topped the day off with a Lemon Martini and Italian Chocolate. Who needs to go to Italy? Not us :-)

 

TAP DANCE UPDATE

Let's Do the Time Warp Again ✔

I am proud to report that despite a broken arm I aced the 3-minute routine. To celebrate the occasion, I purchased a pair of Rocky Horror Picture Show Socks to go with my Time Warp t-shirt. 

Excited to start my next routine. Dancing Tapping Through Life. 

Lemon Brownies

INGREDIENTS

3 eggs

2/3 cup sugar

lemon zest from 2-3 lemons

1/2 cup + 1 tbsp unsalted butter

1/3 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup flour

2 + 1/2 tbsp lemon juice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Melt butter & white chocolate chips in microwave. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, add sugar, eggs, lemon zest. Whisk. 

3. Add melted butter/chocolate to the egg mixture. Whisk.

4. Sift flour into the batter and add lemon juice. Whisk.

5. Transfer the batter into lined/greased 8x8" pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

6. Cool on wire rack.

LEMON GLAZE

1 cup + 2 tbsp powdered sugar

2-3 tbsp fresh lemon juice

7. Combine lemon glaze ingredients and glaze evenly over brownies. 

8. Allow the glaze to harden.

SLICE & ENJOY!!

 

The Three Bears

A few months ago, Miriam Webster's word of the day was Goldilocks.  I was surprised to read that Goldilocks is a noun - a person with golden hair - and not just the name of the 3 bears nemesis. Goldilocks is also part of the email address of my cousin Ellen Betty, who was born just a few weeks after my birth.

My childhood is filled with memories of the two of us. Getting into trouble. Laughing. Dancing. And always wishing we were more than cousins. We wanted to be sisters.

We have lost contact and although I have tried several times to reconnect, Ellen Betty was never ready. Now at 79 I don’t hold on to the hope that she will ever be ready. So, instead of feeling sad, I savor the happiness I feel knowing we got to spend our childhood together.

 

WEIRD?

When I was around 13 my parents gifted me a bedroom redo. I remember going with my mother to a large furniture store in Newark, NJ to pick out new bedroom furniture. The store was owned by the Schaffer family, and my mother and Mrs. Schaffer, who worked at the store, immediately hit it off and became good friends.

The Schaffers had one child, a son named Bill who was brilliant, but a bit weird. Since I was also a bit weird, we quickly bonded. We used to talk on the phone, and I remember one night he asked me what my favorite word was. Back then it was witticism - a cleverly witty and often biting or ironic remark. I loved the way it sounded and of course loved the meaning.

Looking back, I wonder how normal it was to have a favorite word. Favorite song, yes. Favorite color, favorite movie star, even favorite food, but favorite word?

Although I don’t have the gift of verbal dexterity, since January I have subscribed to Merriam Webster so every day I receive an email with the new Word of the Day.

Told you, I’m weird.

 

Remarkably Bright Creatures

A couple of weeks ago, I saw the trailer for Remarkably Bright Creatures. I was immediately hooked, line and sinker. Since the film wouldn’t be out for a week, I wasted no time and purchased the book on Kindle. The book was delightful and I was halfway through when the film was released on Netflix.

I assumed the film would be as good if not better than the book, but I was wrong. It lacked the character development of the novel and felt a bit flat for me. But what I missed most were the wonderful soliloquies of Marcellus the octopus.

Octopuses are such intelligent characters, and I just hope viewers who loved the film take the time to read the book. I promise, you'll be glad you did!

BTW my favorite octopus is Cassandra Rosebeetle – photo above.

 

 

Beach Therapy

Beach books are usually light, engaging novels that are easy to read while relaxing by the water. I am definitely not at the beach, but figured a light, engaging novel is just what the doctor ordered while I recuperate from my accident.

My first read was Yesteryear and although I was at first hesitant to spend $15 for the Kindle version, I bit the bullet because the reviews were really good. The book was a fast read and for that I was thankful because the story was neither believable nor memorable. The writing was okay, but the ending was bizarre. Worth the price? Definitely Not. Would I recommend it? Definitely not.

#2 was The Love of My Afterlife and it cost me $2.00. Yes, the price was better, but it was just plain awful, like a very bad romantic movie on Hallmark. Not deterred, I went on the hunt for an inexpensive Beach Book that was well written and could capture my heart.

#3 We are Not Like Them. Cost was just $.49 and I literally could not put the Kindle down. The novel told the story of two lifelong friends - one white and one black. It explored important themes through social commentary and believable relationships. Five Stars *****

This unscientific experiment proves you get what you pay for ain’t always true!

 

Dreams Do Come True

Because it wasn’t commonplace in the 80's to have an ultrasound when you were pregnant, I had no idea if I was carrying a boy or a girl. It was no secret that I dreamed of having a blond-haired blue-eyed baby girl, but no one knew how scared I was that my dream wouldn't come true.

It’s not something I’m proud of, but my fear was I wouldn’t be able to love a baby boy. I carried my deep dark secret the entire pregnancy as I did everything possible to prepare for the birth of a boy. His name was to be Daivid. We painted the nursery a pale yellow and I knitted an aqua sweater and bonnet to take him home from the hospital.

Forty-six years later, I can close my eyes and still hear the doctor say, “Congratulations, you have a daughter.” My dream came true at 2:34 PM when Cassandra was born.

 

Mets - 5 

Angels - 1

My very first baseball game was a double header at Shea stadium in 1964. What I cherish about the day was that although most of us in the bleachers were strangers, we sang together, we cheered together and for a few hours we were the best of friends. That was the day I fell in love with the Mets.

This past Sunday we went to Angel Stadium for a dual between the Angels and the Mets. They Mets have been having a not so good season so far, but I had faith they could make a huge comeback from a very bad April.

I had a hard time clapping every time they hit a homer, but pain be dammed.

                            E. E. Cummings

                            Poems

                            1923-1954

42

love is more thicker than forget

more thinner than recall

more seldom than a wave is wet

more frequent than to fail

it is most mad and moonly

and less it shall unbe

than all the sea which only

is deeper than the sea

love is less always than to win

less never than alive

less bigger than the least begin

less littler than forgive

it is most sane and sunly

and more it cannot die

than all the sky which only 

is higher than the sky

 

Maud Lewis

Back in the 70's, I had a friend named Henry. He was a sweet guy whose hobby was creating folk art paintings. No shading and very simple stick figures, but oh so pure and innocent. I wish I had his talent but no matter how many times I tried, my paintings never resembled his.

Fast forward 20+ years and by chance I discovered Maud Lewis. A Canadian folk artist, her life was like a novel. Disabled and a life filled with poverty and heartbreak, but she never gave up. In 2017 one of my favorite actresses Sally Hawkins starred in the film Maudie. It is one of my top ten movies of all time which is fitting since Maud Harris is also one of my top ten favorite artists.

Back in 2025 one of my goals was to complete several paint-by-number kits. I painted Frida, RBG and retro Volkswagen bus. Mission accomplished, but I was left with close to 50 small tubs of paint. Then I happened upon a few tiny canvases on easels for just $1.25 each at the Dollar Tree. Kismet. 

My new goal is to copy a Maud Lewis painting with just a tad bit of EllenB flair. Wish me luck!

 

“I paint flowers so they never die.”

I discovered Frida Kahlo in the 1970's. It wasn’t just her art that fascinated me, but her life story. She endured endless physical pain and yet she transformed her suffering into extraordinary art. At close to $55 million, she holds the record for the highest amount paid for any artwork by a female artist.

I went to the Frida Kahlo Immersive Experience when it came to Los Angeles. One thing I loved about the Experience was seeing dozens of girls wearing Frida Kahlo accessories, like flowers in their hair and Frida Kahlo t-shirts. Count me in, because I wore my Frida earrings and bracelet.

I have seen every film made about her plus, have read and own countless Frida Kahlo books – from her biography to her cookbook.

I have learned so much from Frida. She had a lifelong philosophy of courage and determination. And most of all, she taught me to take off my blinders and see the world as she did – in full color.

Thank you, Frida.

 

FOUR THINGS THAT HELPED

1. SLING - At Urgent Care, after X-rays confirmed my broken arm, the nurse brought in two slings. A size small and a size large. I was in so much pain that I didn’t ask but assumed they were out of medium slings. I was fitted with the large sling…and it was, Large. Too large. I was in so much pain that I could barely talk, so didn’t complain. But the very next day I went on Amazon and ordered a size medium sling.

2. PJ’S - My sleep outfit has always been an Xtra Large T-shirt and cotton pants. But because I couldn’t bend my broken arm, putting on a T shirt was impossible. I ordered 3 sets of the cheapest short sleeve button down pajama sets I could find on Amazon. They do the job, and I am looking forward to donating these to goodwill.

3. SHORT SLEEVED BUTTON-DOWN SHIRTS - Prior to the accident I practically lived-in long-sleeved flannel shirts. I tried rolling up the sleeves on one of my shirts, but I still couldn’t bend my arm enough to get the shirt on. I ended up purchasing my first Luau shirt off Amazon. Wish I was vacationing on the beach in Hawaii instead of recuperating in Canoga Park!

4. A CARING HUSBAND - Every day since the accident Tony has made me breakfast, lunch and dinner. At night he brings me ice packs. He never complains. He has done all the shopping. All the laundry. He has been encouraging and sympathetic. I could go on and on, but I think you get the drift. BTW I didn’t find him on Amazon, but Veggiedate.com.

 

How I broke my humerus

It was a normal day. Up at 6:00AM, breakfast and then off to the Beehive for an hour on the Treadmill. Next on my TO DO LIST was a quick Target trip for household paper goods.

Made it home and started unloading the car. Our indoor ladder is barely 3 feet high, but I needed to be on the top rung to stack the 2 large 18 rolls of toilet paper in the garage. One down and holding onto the 2nd packet and as I tried to place it atop the first it slipped and instinctively, I tried to catch it. Missed.

It felt as if I was falling in slow motion, but it only took a few seconds for me to land on the hard concrete floor. 

Screams. Blood. Tears. 911.

 

 

Follow Your Heart - I did!

I have a long history with the Follow Your Heart Cafe. I first heard about it in the 1970’s and although I didn’t live in the San Fernando Valley, I drove the distance to sit at their counter and dine on one of their vegetarian delights.

My first date with Tony was at FYH. What I remember about the night wasn’t the food or conversation, but that in the parking lot he gave me a rose from his garden. Our visits to FYH continued throughout our relationship. So much so, that we chose to have FYH bake our wedding cake.

Twenty-four years may have passed and we still love FYH. And Tony still picks me flowers from our garden. Yesterday it was a gardenia.

On Saturday to celebrate my first outing since my accident we had brunch at FYH. Some things never change - lots of love and laughter. 

 

 

Elderly Young at Heart Perfume

My all-time favorite perfume is Shalimar by Guerlain. I wore it for so many years, that it became my trademark. After my divorce I switched to a vanilla perfume. It was expensive but it was worth it to smell like a cookie. I say that because I once attended a play where the lady in the seat directly in front of me, turned to her companion and said, “I am craving a chocolate chip cookie!” In retrospect, I think I might have used just a tad too much perfume that night.

Over the years I went from $$$ perfume to $ Bath & Body Works Calypso Clementine Perfume Spray. I love the scent of orange blossoms, and it fitted my “retired elderly” lifestyle. But then everything changed last August when I went to NY and discovered Desert Kush by Dilo. I know zilch about the psychology of perfume, but it made me feel young again. 

I then started thinking about the power of something as simple as a scent and wondered if there was such a thing as a school for budding perfumers. Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather! There are actual schools in France and throughout the US where you can learn the art of perfumery.   

I now have a new respect for the complexity of perfume. I used to only wear perfume when I went to work or someplace special. Not anymore. Someone worked damn hard to create Desert Kush and I will proudly wear it every single day.

 

Why Did I Buy It?

When I go shopping with my daughter Cassandra, I seem to lose the rational part of my mind. I’ll try on something, she’ll say it looks great you need to buy it, and I do. More than once I have regretted my purchase, but the one item I can barely look at is the infamous Kelly green top.

I literally don’t know what came over me. First off, it’s a color that I never wear. Secondly, it’s huge. Thirdly, it’s not my style. And fourthly, it cost $350!!!!!

Hurts to admit, but I have NEVER worn it. Once I tried to sell it on Poshmart, without success. Every now and then I take it out of the storage bin and sneak a peek. Nope, still hate it.

So, to sum up this sad blog post, what would I do with the $350 if I could take back time? What else, but go on another shopping adventure with Cassandra.

 

Why Did I Sell It?

Years ago, while in NYC, I happened upon a wonderful little shop called Bettie Paige. Bettie, the quintessential pin-up star from the 50’s, was a playboy model and winner of the prestigious Pin-up Girl of the World contest. Her style was the essence of sexy, and her clothing represented her naughty girl style.

It was a fun shop filled with retro clothes, and I ended up purchasing a retro, light-weight leopard cardigan sweater with ¾ sleeves. Perfect for Los Angeles.

I loved the sweater, but I didn’t wear it much. Actually, “much” is an exaggeration. I only remember wearing it once. Several years later, during a closet declutter, I decided to bid farewell to my Bettie sweater and listed it on eBay where it sold in a matter of days.

A few more years passed and while looking for a new purse on Amazon, saw this darling yellow purse (see photo above). Click. Love the purse and immediately went to look for my leopard sweater. And then I remembered. I sold it.

It would have made such a cute outfit. Picture it: black boots, jeans, leopard sweater and my yellow purse with leopard trim. Cause that is what it will always be – just a picture in my head.

Next up – Why Did I Buy It?

 

This is a Story

We love The Broad Museum. It’s been around since 2015 and is dedicated exclusively to postwar and contemporary art, emphasizing works created primarily from the 1950’s onward.

It offers free general admission with a small fee for special exhibits. A few years ago, we saw a wonderful exhibit of Keith Haring and last week we went to the Robert Therrien exhibit that featured 120 pieces of his art from simple drawings to super large pieces.

One thing I love about his work is that he chose to leave most of his works untitled. His reasoning was that the viewer was supposed to figure that out for themself. Okay Robert, I christen this exhibit Alice EllenBee in Wonderland Wonderful!

 

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."

Last week I suffered a bad fall. Diagnosis: Closed nondisplaced fracture of greater tuberosity of left humerus. Despite my depressingly painful condition, I am going to a baseball game today, well, sort of. Hot dogs, fries and watching 42 from the comfort of my bed.

42 is the story of Jackie Robinson, starring Chadwick Boseman, and one of my all-time favorite films. Once a year, on April 15th, the MLB honors Jackie Robinson on the anniversary he made his major league debut. The year was 1947 and it ended approximately 80 years of baseball segregation.

Thank you Jackie for making a major impact on all our lives. 

 

Kennedy #3
Jackie and Me

Many years ago, when Jacqueline Kennedy was in the White House, I read an article about her iconic fashion style. She admitted to the writer that whenever she found a clothing item she loved, she would buy it in several colors.

I don’t know why that sounded like a brilliant idea, but from that moment forward, her clothing philosophy became a part of my life. Case in point shoes. I love Naot shoes and bought 3 identical shoes in different colors. T- shirts – I have the same one in 5 colors. But I don’t stop at clothes. Placemats – I have the identical set in grey, yellow, black and blue. I could go on and on but think you get the idea.

As I often do, I checked with Google to see what this peculiar trait might mean and found out it runs the gambit. It could be as simple as a way to express my style, or OCD, where individuals feel compelled to acquire multiples of the same item, even if unnecessary.

Well, that’s a relief. I know it’s not OCD, because I definitely needed 3 pairs of identical shoes, 5 identical t-shirts and 4 identical sets of placemats!

 

Kennedy #2

My mother loved JFK. She not only kept up with the daily news, she also kept up with the state of their marriage. I recall the day my mother told me that Jackie and JFK had had a fight. I asked how she knew and she smiled and said, because during an outing together neither JFK nor Jacqueline looked at each other. Not once. My mother knew because she and my father fought. A lot.

The day he was shot my mother was heartbroken. I remember my parents having a long conversation about whether we should all go to Washington DC for the funeral. They eventually decided not to go because of the crowds, but our family mourned together in my father’s den watching the news. No smiles that day.

Three horrific events. The assignation of JFK, the Northridge earthquake and 9/11. All three have left a scar on my heart.

 

Ring-a-Ling

It was rather windy the other day and our windchime was singing a song that brought to mind a sweet memory. The sound of the Good Humor truck calling out to all the kiddos on the block that dessert was now being served.

The Good Humor man knew not only our names but also our favorite icy delights. We were also friends with the Fruitman and the Milkman, who both made weekly deliveries to our house.

My favorite delivery truck however was the Dugan’s Bakery man, who delivered my all-time favorite cupcakes. Each box contained six vanilla cupcakes, which meant that my two sisters and I each got to devour two. No cupcake I have ever tasted since, as ever been as good as Dugan’s. The secret was the frosting. It was one inch thick and tasted like a chocolate candy bar. Nirvana.

Tonight we had TJ’s Red Velvet Chocolate cupcakes for dessert. Yes, they were decadently delicious, but not as good as Dugan’s.

 

Kennedy #1 

I was in 9th grade when JFK ran for President. It was an exciting time, and life was filled with endless possibilities.

My boyfriend at the time – and all through high school – was Mark S. He was not only dreamy looking, but also smart as a whip. Truly, my first love.

Anyway, back to the story. Mark and I went to the JFK headquarters in Elizabeth and managed to score a stack of free bumper stickers. We then spent the afternoon going up and down our neighborhood sticking bumper stickers on every car parked on the street. To our relief no one caught us in our act of criminal mischief. 

I remember the night JFK won the election. One of my school friends was a gal named Julia. She had long brown hair and she told me that if Kennedy won, she was going to dye her hair red. On November 9th she walked into class with bright red hair. It was temporary dye so eventually her brown hair returned.

We may have been too young to vote, but together our voices mattered.

 

Treasure Hunting

The other morning, I needed to pick up a few things at the mall. First stop was Sprouts, and as I walked there, I was surprised to see a line forming at the store FIVE BELOW. It was not even 9AM and FIVE BELOW doesn’t open until 10.

When I left Sprouts, the line had grown and curious as to why this was happening, I asked one of the gals who was in line. She shared that everyone was there early to buy a popular viral stuffed animal. I just laughed, shocked that anyone would arrive one hour early for a bit of fluff. And then I remembered.

The year was 1985 and the must have toy of the moment was the Cabbage Patch doll. The only place to find one was at Toy-R-Us and I, along with every other mom in the neighborhood, would stand outside the store before they opened in our quest to find this chubby cheeked doll. By the end of 1983, nearly 3 million dolls had been adopted, making it the most successful new doll in toy history.

Unfortunately, I was one of the unlucky moms because I never managed to adopt a doll for Cassandra. I don't think it scarred Cassandra for life, but me? That's another story. 

Third time is a Charm – No Kings #3

Two days ago, and just 1.2 miles from our house, thousands convened to express our opposition. Some like me have been protesting since last April, but for many, this was their first protest. All ages attended, from babies in strollers to seniors in wheelchairs. Democrats, Republicans and Independents were welcomed with open hearts.

There were signs, music and a strong sense of comradery. Eight million people around the world in 6 continents spoke with one voice. We the people stood together to proclaim the United States of America is a Democracy, not a Monarchy. 

 

When Life Gives You Tangerines Part Two

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." Henry Ford

After much thought and careful consideration, I decided to begin my Tangerine Dream by making glazed tangerine muffins. Sounded yummy and with an easy recipe I figured I'd have them in and out of the oven in no time flat. No pun intended. 

The first step was to cut the tangerines into small pieces (skin included) and blend until liquified. This is where the easy peasy did a U-turn. The reason I had a problem was because these tangerines were very tiny and overflowing with very tiny seeds. So, when I removed the seeds there was little left of the tangerine segments. Obstacle, yes. But I was determined to not let this minor (or so I thought) inconvenience ruin the inaugural Tangerine Dream event.  

After about a half-hour of prep, and since there were no raw eggs in the mix, I tasted the batter. Sadly, all I could taste was the sugar, so I added more tangerines. Cut and blend. Cut and blend.

Shall we cut to the chase? In the end, I was left with a sink full of dirty dishes and a dozen rather awful tasting muffins.

Moral of the story...dreams can become nightmares or use larger tangerines.

 When Life Gives You Tangerines...

Tangerine Jam. Tangerine Marmalade. Tangerine Tarte. Tangerine Cheesecake. Tangerine Sorbet. Tangerine Cake. Tangerine Pudding. Tangerine Jello. Tangerine Cupcakes. Tangerine Muffins. Tangerine Upside Down Cake. Tangerine Pound Cake. Chocolate Dipped Tangerine Slices. Tangerine Mousse. Tangerine Cookies.

???????

 

Purple - The Royal Color

Back in January, I went through angst over the red glasses I eventually purchased. But it was a good decision, because I wear them every day and simply love them. So, when my new insurance entitled me to a pair of glasses as long as I capped the cost at $250, off I went to the America's Best Eyeglasses for a new pair of distance glasses.

My first frame color choice was green, second was blue, and last but not least was purple. I searched and the two gals working there searched, but we couldn’t find anything that fit the bill. And then I spotted them. A bright purple pair in my price range. They were perfect, except for one teeny tiny thing. They were not women’s frames, but youth frames.

Could I get away with it even though I was 79 and not 9? In my defense I am young at heart. So, in the end, I figured these are the perfect pair for me. Just call me Queen EllenBee.

UPDATE - I hate to admit it, but the frames were so small that I couldn't wear them more than a few minutes before they screamed, "Take me Off or I will pinch your head!" They won the fight and I sadly exchanged them for adult women's glasses. 😞😢I have been dethroned. But the good news is they are BLUE! Hey, second place ain't too bad.

 

 

AMAZON REVIEW #3

How was this item?
Resist Bear Only You Can Prevent Protest Men Women T-Shirt

★★★★★

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I protest once a week and have a lot of protest t shirts. Was looking for a new shirt to celebrate the 3rd No Kings Protest. By far, this is now my favorite shirt. It's so soft and just the right amount of weight to wear alone or with a sweatshirt. Bought two so my husband and I can protest together. 

Title your review (required)

Smokey the Bear may be Old - 80 - but he's Still Fighting (Wars, Inequity, Ice etc.) 

Submit 

 

AMAZON REVIEW #2

How was the item?

Longing

★  

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I longed for this film to end…quickly.

Seriously folks, this is one of the worst films I have ever seen. I don’t know who gets the credit. The Writer? Director? Actors? Or all three?

*SPOILER ALERT* If you sadly lost your beautiful daughter to suicide, and met a man whose son died committing a crime, would you hold a pretend wedding so that they (who had never met when they were alive) could spend their afterlife together in holy matrimony? If you said yes, then this is the film for you.

One of the worst things about this movie that really disturbed me was that the so-called wonderful son, drugged an old sick lady so he could have sex with her 13-year-old granddaughter.

And please don’t get me started on Richard Gere’s character. An emotionally closed off man goes to a high school class and obviously mistakenly thinks he is visiting a therapist, so confesses that his father beat him every day of his life until he was seventeen. Can imagine a conversation between a parent and one of these students. Parent, “So, how was your day? Did you learn anything?” Son/ daughter, “Yep. In French class I learned that the father of a former student was beat up by his father.”

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This is no Pretty Woman comedy. This is an Ugly Man tragedy.

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AMAZON REVIEW #1

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LISYIZ Women's Ankle Combat Boots Lace Up Booties with Side Zipper Low Heel Fashion Combat Booties for Fall 

★★★★★

Now that the weather is changing, (brr) my converse sneakers just weren't making it. My old Doc Martin's had died a slow painful death, so it was time for a new pair of boots. EEK! The cost of new Doc Martin's would be $150+ so I was on the hunt for a pair of very reasonable priced boots. Found them! These boots are made well and more importantly, budget friendly. Easy to get on and off with the zipper and so comfortable that I can wear them all day. 

FYI although they advertise them as combat boots, I did not wear them into battle. Unless that is, you consider Trader Joe's and the mall a war zone. On second thought, maybe I did go into battle. Am happy to report I emerged victoriously and best of all, no blood was shed. 

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These Boots Are Made For Walking!

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I wanted to know ow much exercise a woman my age, 79, needed to do to stay fit and healthy. So, of course I asked the internet AKA AI. “Older adults need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. Or they could get an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity.”

Suggestions include:

1. Mow the lawn or rake the leaves. And fire our wonderful gardener? No way. We love Raoul.

2. Learn a new dance. I am learning to tap dance, so this is a big time YES.

3. Walk to the store. I did say that when the new Dollar Tree opened, I was going to walk there and back. It’s only a 3-mile trek and very doable, so that will happen! Eventually. One day. Soon.

4. Hike a trail. Wednesdays, weather permitted.

5. Do active forms of yoga (such as Vinyasa or power yoga). Never a yoga gal, much prefer Pilates.

6. Ride a bike inside or outside. Don’t like the bike solely because the seat is always uncomfortable. Ouch.

7. Join a water aerobics class. Unless I’m wearing a cap, the water makes my hair frizz.

Guess I’m sticking with my Treadmill and rower.

 

You Don't Stop Working Out When You Get Old.

During Covid I said good-bye to the gym and hello to transforming my craft studio affectionally called– The Beehive - into a backyard gym.

I replaced my large craft table with a treadmill, and my many storage containers stuffed with crafting misc. for a rowing machine. Then I filled the 10’x12’ room with things I love. My Frida Kahlo shrine, my RBG collection and a half dozen photos of my daughter Cassandra. Alexa took up residence in The Beehive for non-stop music and with 4 windows and a glass panel door, I never feel claustrophobic.

IMO the 5 best things about having a home gym are –

1. Wearing old, tattered gym clothes. Nobody sees, nobody cares.

2. Singing out-loud with Alexa. Current favorite duet is with Frank Sinatra – NY, NY.

3. Not having to store my purse in a locker. 

4. Not having to tell the front desk that I forgot my locker code. Again.  

5. Not having to see mature ladies exercising like they are teenagers, wearing make-up and Lululemon gym clothes.

 You Get Old When You Stop Working Out.

 

Monday, Monday 

So good to me

I try and workout 5 times a week. One hour on the Treadmill while watching a movie, and then 15 minutes on the Rower listening to music.

Last Month, when we had that horrendous rainstorm, I asked Alexa to play songs about rain. My favorite has to be “Singing in the Rain” by Gene Kelley. Although, I also love Umbrella by Rhianna and of course “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele. And wait, what about Barbra Streisand and "Don't Rain on My Parade" and then I can't forget "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" by B.J. Thomas.  Okay, so maybe I don't have just one favorite.

Meanwhile, back to the story. The 15 minutes flew by, and in what must have been a delusional moment, I decided to make every Monday on the rower a themed music workout. Great idea, yeah?

Just checked the calendar. Uh oh, there’s a problem here. It seems there are 44 Mondays left in 2026. Change of plans. Perhaps one Monday every month? That's only 9 themes. Yes, very doable.

April's theme is going to be New York, featuring music by Sting "Englishman in New York", Frank Sinatra, "New York, New York", and Bruce Springsteen, "New York State of Mind".

May is Peace, June is California, June is...

 Book Reviews

I used to be a various reader. Now I find that when I read, I either get tired or my eyes burn. It’s official, old age and dry eyes have arrived.

Book #1 – 107 Days

I love Kamala and was a volunteer for her first and second Presidential campaign. I was deeply shattered when she lost, but I still proudly wear her Kamala for President t-shirt.

Having said that, I was a bit disappointed with her book. It read like excerpts from a day planner. I wish she had added more personal tidbits.

Book #2 – Raising Hare

I found this non-fiction book an easy read. It’s a story about a woman in England who finds a lost baby Hare. She never gave the Hare a name, because her goal was for the Hare to live in the wild and not end up as a pet. Her connection with the Hare opened her heart to the wonders of nature – a wonderful lesson for all of us.

Book #3 - The Other Bennet Sister

I recently read about an upcoming BBC series called The Other Benett Sister. Since I couldn’t see the series unless I was transported to England, (Dr. No, you out there??) I immediately purchased the book on Kindle.

Since I love all things Pride and Prejudice, I expected to also love this book. And, for the first 100 pages or so I couldn’t put my kindle down. And then things changed. It became more a romance novel than a Jane Austen novel. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of Lifetime movies or romance novels.

Onto Book #4

 

To return or not to return, that is the question:

I’m definitely out of the loop. Until recently I had never heard of the Shopping Cart theory. Developed in 2020, the author of this theory claims the humble shopping cart is a way to judge one’s moral character. Who knew?

I’m not saying I’m better than other people, but even if I have frozen food in the car, and it's 100+ outside, I take the time to return the cart. Where I shop, I rarely see a lonely cart. So, do people who shop at TJ’s and Sprouts have better morals? 

IMHO I'd wager that folks who regularly don’t return carts feel entitled. They figure someone gets paid to return the carts from the parking lot to the store, so why should they have to do that person’s job. Maybe so, but they are missing something important. That good feeling one gets when they return the cart. It's like finding something a stranger dropped - like a wallet or a phone - and handing it the store manager. You don't get a thank you, but you know you have done the right thing.

Okay, I get it. It is moral character. 

 

Ding Dong Ditch

This past Friday at around 9:00PM, Tony and I were snuggled in bed watching The Forsythe Saga on Netflix. Since all the lights in the house were out, a passerby would probably think we were asleep.

All of the sudden, we heard loud banging at our front door. Really hard and furious, which scared the bejesus out of me. Tony ran to the door, opened it and saw 4 young people running down the street. I grabbed the phone thinking I might need to call 911, but they didn’t return.

We had no idea what was going on, so I had no choice but to ask AI. It seems we had been the subject of Knock, Knock, Ginger, Ding Dong Ditch. Historians believe this prank started in England in the 1800's. As it spread across the globe, it birthed additional names such as Runaway Knock, Runaway Ring Doorbell Ditch and Doorbell Dixie.

I have absolutely no idea how it got to Canoga Park, but it's here to stay like a nasty bug. I'm thinking about putting a sign on our door. Do Not Knock Unless You Are From Publishers Clearing House. Think it might work?

Luscious Lemon 

Since the late 1970's I have been a loyal Trader Joe's customer. One lesson I learned over the years is if you love a product they carry, buy in quantity. It's all about the price. If they cannot get a store product at a good price, they will stop carrying it. That is why I bought 3 boxes of my absolute favorite pasta, pictured above.

I searched the internet and found the easiest sauce recipe that I promise you, is restaurant quality. 

1. Cook pasta in salted water. When cooked, drain, but SAVE 1/2 cup of pasta water.

2. In a large skillet melt 2 tbsp butter, add 1 tbsp minced garlic and cook for a minute or two. Do NOT burn the garlic.

3. Add the cooked pasta, the saved water, 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese and a large handful or two of freshly torn spinach. STIR after adding each ingredient.

4. Add the juice of half of a lemon. STIR. Add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese. STIR. 

5. Top with a bit of lemon zest and/or freshly ground pepper.

6. Serve and Buon Appetito!

Does a Tree Have Feelings?

One of the things that I love about our backyard is our big, OLD, glorious apricot tree. I remember one spring there were so many blossoms that when they dropped it looked like the patio was covered with snow. I dreamed of making three ingredient apricot jam. Just apricots, sugar and lemon juice – sweet and a little tart.My mouth still waters when I think about apricot jam over butter on toast, or what about crepes filled with my homemade apricot jam? Organic sugar – check, organic lemon – check, organic apricots from our tree, nope. Never happened.

Despite always having blossoms, we aren’t that lucky with the actual fruit. I think the most apricots that have ripened has been a lucky dozen. Here’s the problem, I think. Squirrels, bad soil, and no fertilizer.

Every spring, early summer TJ’s sells cartons of large ripe apricots. I once bought a carton and Tony complained that they weren’t as sweet as ours. Perhaps. But the apricots from our tree are few and far between and so tiny that they resemble cherries, not apricots.

Today while shopping at TJ's I noticed they had just put out jars of organic apricot jam. I was tempted. But I feel guilty, like I'm cheating on our tree.

Dreaming of Fresh Grapefruit & Vodka

The Orcutt Ranch Horticulture Center is a 210-acre Historical Culture Monument located in West Hills. Just 3 miles from our house, we had only visited it one time in the last 24 years. But, as of this past Saturday, our visits have increased by one. Which now makes it two visits in the last 24 years.

Twice a year they open the ranch early, at 7:30 AM, so that neighbors can pick grapefruits in February and oranges in July. The cost is $3 per bag – bring your own – and they have fruit pickers to rent for just $1. This being our first fruit picking experience we had no idea what to expect, so we got there at 8:00 AM just hoping for the best. 

As you can see from the photo above, Tony was grinning from ear to ear. The air was crisp, the grapefruits were plentiful and we frolicked in the orange and grapefruit orchard.