Stories from Lockdown

June 30, 2020

Del Mar, CA

 

Pandemic Notes

 

  

 

 

Press: President Trump has information about Russia’s bounty on American soldiers long ago. Why did he not address that issue?

 

Barbie: The President is a busy man. As you know, he is not a reader. He has golf to play, tweets to tweet, and payback schemes to plan.

 

                                                                              

And so, it goes in the White House and out on the streets with Karens and Kens. On the local front, the raccoon catcher came today and set traps. Signs of the animals are all over our backyard. The abundant rainfall in the last couple of years has provided an ample food source for the animals, and they are flourishing in San Diego County. As soon as we see one in a trap, we can call the catcher, and he’ll be on his way.

 

 

 

Today we met Lou and Elinor Mone at Mimmo’s a restaurant in Little Italy. Our outdoor seating was very private, and we all enjoyed an excellent lunch of calamari fritti followed by eggplant and Italian subs. The bread was homemade and the ingredients fresh. For dessert, Vicki and I shared a wonderful cannoli. The Mones have experienced a number of recent health problems, but they are resilient, gracious people, who have great senses of humor and loving hearts. We will rendezvous again soon.

 

 

                                                                                    
                                                                                     

 

 

 

Stories from Lockdown

Del Mar, CA

July 13. 2020

 

Notes from the Pandemic

 

 

The days run into each other here, one after another. Darkness, light, darkness light. Morphing and merging. Saturday is Tuesday and Tuesday is Sunday in the Pandemic for retired people. But, you know, it isn’t so bad!

 

I play golf most days, swim laps the others, see friends in outdoor venues, and try to engage in creative activities. Whereas in the past I might have looked forward to an exciting trip, now I wonder what we’ll cook for dinner! Though we live in an urbanized suburb, it feels like we are out in the country. Life is simpler.

 

I try to be cautious, limiting my social interactions, wearing a mask, and using good judgment. However, I can’t help but wonder if a stray bullet is going to get me. If I don’t feel well some days, I jump to,” Has COVID made an appearance.” Like soldiers, we all wonder if our time has come. That part of the pandemic is not so great.

 

                                                                           

 

Like most people, we have been cooking more. I grew up eating breaded cutlets, a favorite dish. Why it took a pandemic to get me to cook them, I don’t know. They are easy to make and very tasty. I make them with veal, pork, or chicken. Here is a recipe.

 

Buy a package with 4 or 5 thin cutlets. Pound them with a wooden cooking mallet to thin them out. On one plate, break and stir an egg. On another, pour in some Italian seasoned bread crumbs.  To the crumbs, I add additional salt, pepper, seasoned salt, basil, and a little garlic salt. I then add some grated cheese. Use parmesan or try grating some sharp cheddar into the bread crumbs. I also add some white vinegar to the egg.

 

                                                                    

 

While you are preparing the bread crumb mix, have a large frying pan on high heat with Extra Virgin olive oil covering the bottom of the pan. Dip the cutlets into the egg mix and then run it through the bread crumb mix. Make sure the cutlets are fully covered. Drop them in the pan and fry them, turning the cutlets often. They don’t take long to cook.

 

Stories from Lockdown

July 14, 2020

Del Mar, CA

 

 

Notes from the Pandemic

                                                  

 

Before the pandemic, retail shopping was undergoing a change largely due to the Internet. As the country locked down, Amazon boomed. I live in a small neighborhood, and suddenly Amazon vans were everywhere. Did they come to our house? Of course, on a regular basis. 

 

Amazon promotes laziness I suppose. It has been a rare time when  I haven’t been able to find an item on Amazon that I wanted to buy. Recently I was ready to go to the hardware store to buy some lawn fertilizer. I thought, I wonder? Sure enough, it was delivered by Bezos’s guys within a couple of days. Oil-based tuna? No problem. We buy it by the case from Amazon.

                                                                                        

 

         

 

Free shipping for Prime members makes a difference. I often buy golf gear from Amazon because of the lack of shipping costs makes it less expensive than ordering from golf websites. And it saves gas!

 

The downside in some ways is that it keeps us home,  and reduces competition and the diversity of shopping possibilities. But it is an evolution that was bound to happen. Other companies like Zappos,  L.L. Bean, and Patagonia have also flourished since the arrival of the Internet, but none as much as the Bezos place.

 

 

Here is another recipe that I created. It has played well amongst friends in California. It is a different way to make a guacamole dip.

 

Guacamole Italian Style

 

 

                                                                                

 

 

Mash some avocados in a bowl. Leave the mix chunky

Add chopped tomatoes and chopped white onion

Add juice from a fresh lemon

Add a little white vinegar

Add salt,  basil, pepper, seasoned salt, and garlic salt.

Mix well

Serve with robust chips