SWIM A MILE 2015

Last weekend was the 20th annual Swim A Mile for Women with Cancer, a two-day event to raise funds for the Women's Cancer Resource Center in Oakland, CA.  

This was my 18th Swim A Mile and I raised over $2700 with sponsorships from friends and family. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

I swam with Harriet, Janet, and Amy. The four of us were a team called "Beverly's Angels." Our team raised over $7300 and we know more donations will be coming in over the next few weeks (donate online at wcrc.org, click on the Swim a Mile button and search by name for "your" swimmer).

Here we are, ready to dip our toes (and heads) into the pool.

The swim takes place in the beautiful Mills College Pool in Oakland, CA.

We all did the mile in well under an hour. Here's Harriet on her victorious finish.

This year, I swam in honor of 40 people and in memory of 28 people. This is the board where we swimmers post the names of those we honor/remember.

Something new this year was that everyone who completed the swim was personally awarded a very nice medal. We really felt honored.

With wet heads and swim suits, we savored our accomplishment.

And, then, we dug into the array of tasty food and enjoyed some time together.

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Until next year, Beverly's Angels!!!

Back at the Rosie the Riveter Visitor Center

When my friend Diane came to visit me for a few days this week,our big outing was to the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Park in Richmond, CA.  It is one of my favorite and most special places to go.

Because it was Diane's first visit, we spent all of our time in the Visitor Education Center where there are educational and interactive exhibits.

Every Friday at least 4 or 5 Rosies who live in the Bay Area are there to tell their stories and to chat with visitor.

Since we went on a Thursday, I emailed my Rosie friend, Marian Wynn, to ask if some of the Rosies might be there for some special event.

Immediately, Marian offered to come over to spend time with us.  Marian is typical of the Rosies in that she has retained her energy and enthusiasm and "I can do it" spirit for her entire life.  She was a welder at the Richmond shipyards during World War II a year after she graduated from high school.

What a special treat it was to have her meet Diane who now has an up close and personal insight into what awesome ladies the Rosies are and were.

There are always National Park Rangers at the Visitor Center and we lucked out this visit to have Betty Reid Soskin there telling her stories. Betty, at age 94,  is the oldest active full-time National Park Service Ranger. She grew up in Richmond and did office work in the all-black auxiliary of a segregated boilermakers union.  During her wartime working career she was not working with the Rosies at the Kaiser Shipyard and admits that she really didn't know what was going on right at the shipyards. As she puts it, the story of the Rosies is "really a white woman's story."

Later in life, Betty was part of the planning group for the Rosie the Riveter Park. In this period she became a Park Ranger. Now she is stationed at the Visitor Center and gets to tell her story as well as to talk about what the city of Richmond was like during the booming World War II period and to talk about the Rosies.

The Visitor Center is staffed by National Park Rangers, all of whom are passionate about this park. They are eager to share their knowledge with visitors.

Of course, we had lunch at Assemble, the wonderful restaurant in the building that was the Ford plant where the Jeeps and tanks for the war were built.  It's just a few steps from the Visitor Center.

All told, a wonderful day...and thank you Marian for making a special trip to be with us.

Eating Well in and around Palm Springs

In addition to enjoying beautiful views wherever we look, including this one as we walked down our street, heading toward Mt. San Jacinto and our condo, we've been eating well.

These are highlights of our first four dinners since our arrival.

EL MIRASOL

El Mirasol has become our traditional first night dinner in Palm Springs. It's a local favorite located a short distance out of the main downtown. We both had a combination of grilled Prawns and Scallops in the house made Pipian Sauce. We started with some guacamole and drank "Skinny Margaritas," a version of the traditional with no sweet and sour, just tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and a splash of soda, instead of lots of sweet and sour. Jim really liked the Skinny Margarita; I wanted a little sweet and our waiter brought me a glass of sweet and sour to add as much as I wanted.

CORK & FORK

On our second night, we met friends Mary and Bill for dinner at Cork & Fork in La Quinta.

Cork & Fork is a very new restaurant which is owned by one of my classmates from last summer's cooking tour/class In Provence. Classmate Jane Angwin Is also proprietor of Cooking With Class, a cooking school next door.

Jane's daughter, Andy Hubka, is the chef at Cork & Fork.

I was anxious to try Cork & Fork and am delighted to have discovered it.

The menu is mostly small plates that are perfect for sharing. Between the four of us we shared the Local Date Plate, the Farmers Market Salad, Thai Shrimp Cakes, Braised Beef Short Ribs, Cheese Risotto, and the Rustic Pizza.

For dessert, we shared Butterscotch pot de creme and the Pistachio ice cream sandwich.

Our meal was delicious and each dish was creative, inventive, and a true taste treat.

Unknowingly, we dined here on a Wednesday, when the happy hour menu is offered all evening, instead of just from 3 to 6 p.m.

Several of our selections, including our wines and Bill's Margarita, made with a Japanese wine, were from the Happy Hour menu.

The dining room was packed throughout our meal. The staff was efficient and very friendly. We had a great time at Cork & Fork. It's high on my list for a return visit.

LULU

Thursday night is Village Fest night in Palm Springs. Palm Canyon Drive is closed to traffic and the street is a mix of arts, crafts, food stands, and a Farmers Market.

Village Fest was started by Sonny Bono when he was mayor many years ago. Jim and I were at the very first Village Fest and return every year.

We chose Lulu for dinner while we were at Village Fest last night. It's an enornous glitzy restaurant, right on Palm Canyon Drive, seating up to 500 people!!! Lulu describes itself as a California Bistro. It's menu is huge, with a great variety.

Jim had BBQ Baby Back Ribs and I had Acorn Squash stuffed with Quinoa.

We were both pleased with our selections.

In addition to its fun and tasty food, Lulu has what it claims is the longest Happy Hour in the area; it goes from 11 a.m. (!!!!) until closing time.

My favorite Village Fest vendor is Chick Picks, a company owned by two women who make earrings out of guitar picks. They display their earrings on lamp shades in their booth. I own several of their creations.

TRIO
Trio, in Palm Springs, has been one of our favorites since their opening a few years ago.

We try to dine there for their Early Dinner which is a three-course dinner, featuring many selections from the regular menu, for $19.

That's what we did this evening.

Our first courses were Fried Artichoke Hearts and Fried Calamari.

Jim's main course was the Australian Sole Sandwich. I has the Fish Tacos.

Our desserts were an Ice Cream Sundae and a Brownie.