Día De Los Muertos

My brother wanted to visit my niece, and asked if I wanted to go along. And of course, my answer was yes. Driving down, we ran into a lot of car issues, and got there late.

We took the elevator up, and met a new rambunctious family member named Jordan that my niece recently adopted form a shelter. He does not replace Bisci. Bisci will always be in our hearts. But Jordan is a welcomed addition. I've never seen a cat who fetches a ball. Ellie thinks that the spirit of Bisci is in him. Who knows? I've seen so many strange things in my life that this idea may not be that far off.

We decided to have dinner at Old Town San Diego, a short drive from where my niece lives. What we did not expect were the crowds, and the long restaurant lines. At first we thought it's because it was Sunday. Wrong. It was Día De Los Muertos—The Day of the dead celebrated On Nov 1-2 in honor of family and friends who have passed on.

We didn't feel like waiting in long lines, and circling the area for parking. So, we ended up at Old Town Tequila Factory. The food was meh, and lacked flavor.

I had vegetable Fajita, my niece, the steak, and my brother chicken quesadilla. The menu is limited, and if you're vegan, skip this place because they don't have much to offer. On top of that, the service is super slow.

On the positive, our server had a good sense of humor, and was super nice, and the views were pretty. However, to give them time to get their act together, it's best to wait six months to give this place a try, .

After dinner, we went for a walk to check out the celebration and the shops.

They have face painting. You can watch women make tortillas from behind the window. Or you may want to roam around the various small stores.

The atmosphere is festive. Everyone is relaxed, and in fun mood. It felt good to be there after weeks of being sick, seeing three different doctors for an eye infection that would not go away, and not being able to see or do much because I couldn't open my right eyelid.

Moving on to The Day of The Dead. Families set up an altar with marigold, candles, picture of the departed, and an offering of food and drinks that the deceased used to enjoy.

Orange marigolds are to attract the dead to the offerings of their favorite foods, families visit the cemetery to celebrate the dead, clean their grave, and bring food to share with their ancestors. They eat special foods like Pan de Muerto (bread of the dead which is sweet bread), tamales, mole negro (chocolate and chili sauce), and red pozole (a stew of chicken and pork).

Monarch butterflies are another symbol of Día De Los Muertos. They symbolize the spirit of the ancestors, because they arrive in Mexico around the same time as this holiday celebration.

Disney wanted to trademark the name Día De Los Muertos in 2013 for their Pixar film. Feeling that this was a disrespect to the day devoted to their ancestors, activists made a lot of noise, and got more than 20,000 signatures to stop Disney from moving forward. Disney was eventually pushed to change the name of their Pixar to Coco.

 

Biscuit

My brother and his family had a fourteen-years-old Maltipoo named Biscuit. He was an important part of our lives. When my nieces were little, they pulled together their Christmas money we had given them, and purchased Bisci. He was just a baby. At the pharmacy, the pharmacist would say, Biscuit Pourasgari, your medicine is ready. So you see, he wasn't just a dog. He was a person, no different than a human family member. 

Lately in the mornings, my sister-in-law would put him in the yard for ten minutes so that he could roam around freely. The yard is gated, and even though he could run away by squeezing himself from under the gate, he wouldn't do it because he was old, and liked to stay close to the house.

About ten days ago, my-sister-in-law put him outside, and within minutes, she heard a cry. When she went out, he was gone. My family checked all their neighbors' homes, went to all the nearby shelters, put signs on trees, and asked social media, and Nextdoor for help even though they knew that there was a 99.9% chance that nothing would come out of it. Because more than likely, a cayote or an eagle had grabbed him. It was such a horrible death.

We never imagined him to go this way, and we're all heartbroken. So, if you have a small pet, always put them on a leash. Never let him roam freely outside unless you're right there with him. And if you're thinking, well that's being too protective, it will never happen to me, think again. Cayotes, and eagles are much quicker than you could ever respond. It is painful when your pet dies of old age, but it is much much worse, when they are eaten by another animal.

St. Patrick's Cathedral and Marsh's Library

If you're a writer, and happen to visit Dublin, there are two places that you should not miss because of the literary history behind it. One is St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the other, Marsh's Library. They are next to each other, and you only have to pay once to see both.

Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin has been around since the late 12th century, and is where the Irish writer, Johnathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver's Travels, is buried. I remember reading Swift's book in Farsi when I was a kid, and getting lost in his story.

 

Swift's companion, an Englishwoman named Esther Johnson aka Stella, who died before he did, was the first to be buried at the cathedral. Swift had a difficult time handling her death, and asked to be buried next to her upon his death. So, was it a love story, or a friendship? There have been speculations that the two were married secretly, but no one can verify it. History just refers to the two as being "close friends," or having a "deep friendship."

There was a wedding going on, and the staff had roped off a section. Everyone had to wait before they were allowed in. 

Ireland's first public library, Marsh's Library, was built in the early 1700s, and carries rare, and unusual books dating back to the 16th century. Before this library, access to libraries usually belonged to scholars, clergymen, and the upper class. For more than 100 years, this was the only public library in Ireland. The picture on the wall is Arch Bishop Narcissus Marsh who founded the library.

Legend has it that the ghost of Marsh walks around at night, looking for a letter that his niece left him. His niece fell in love, and eloped with a sea captain, because Marsh didn't approve of him. She wrote a letter to her uncle, asking for his forgiveness, and left it in a book that he never found.

The librarians also serve as custodians who work hard to preserve the library, and the books. The books are located in the same location where they were hundreds of years ago.

It's a small Library. People were allowed to use it, but due to theft, researchers must now make an appointment to use the reading room. Bram Stoker, James Joyce, and Oliver Swift visited the library for literary research. There are library cages where readers were locked in to prevent theft. Some books have bullet holes from the 1916 Easter Rising when the Irish rose against British rule. In the late 18th century, an Egyptian mummy—a man with a missing head and partial arm—was found in a cupboard. The staff named him Maurice.

Passion vs. Trends

(Image by Stockcake)

As a writer: Would you compromise your passion for trends? I was reading an article the other day about how romance books sell much better than other genre, and how, many readers today prefer writers who write in first person even when they're writing a steamy sex scene. One of the readers who was interviewed said that she only reads books written from first person perspective because she can connect better to the story. She also said that she liked uncomplicated books because she didn't want to think. She just wanted a place where she could escape. So, should all writers rush to write from first person point of view, or write simplistic stories?

As a writer: Okay, let's hold off on that response because I want to introduce something else. I was at a writers conference awhile back, and one of the speakers was a screenwriter named Gary. He was funny, and cracked a lot of jokes. But one thing that stuck in my mind from his lecture was the story he told us about his friend who was also a screenwriter. His friend was looking for work, and started to call around to find someone who was interested in him writing a script about G.I. Joe action figure. He was told that someone else had already been commissioned to do that, but if he was willing to write about this other toy—let's call it Molly—they would consider purchasing his script. Months go by, and one day Gary calls his friend to see how he was doing. His friend said that he was about to hang the doll, and himself, because he was tired of staring at a blank page.

As a reader: Years ago, a friend of mine, who loved to read, and write, gave me a book she had enjoyed reading—Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. I have never been into vampires unless it's Halloween, and I want to dress as one, but my friend who knew this about me, insisted that I read the book. I picked up the book reluctantly, and before I knew it, I finished it in two days. I enjoyed the writer's voice, and found the plot fascinating. So, Anne Rice drew me into her story, and I couldn't put the book down.

As a business: Yes, writing is also a business, but should you kill your creativity, and write what the trends dictate? It's a tough decision when you have bills to pay. Yet, at the same time, it squashes the creative process. And I'm sure that there are writers out there who write manuscripts that they are not passionate about. There is no judgement here. We are all different, and our needs, and desires are different. Nothing wrong with that.

As for me, I have to be passionate about what I write. Otherwise, I would produce mediocre work, at best. I rather have another job that would support my writing career, than to write just to please others. Because I think if I write an intriguing story, I can open up the reader's mind to a whole new world, by drawing them in.

I think a writer's job is not just to tell a story, but to let the reader learn something new, something they didn't know much about. And if done right, the reader can still sit back, and lose themselves without being forced to think. 

Tchaikovsky and Acrobatics

When my friend and I first arrived, we both had a long day. We joked about how we almost fell asleep in our seats when the lights were turned down, the night fell upon us, and the relaxing music started.

The conductor, Chloé Dufresne, who is also the music director of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and who recently debuted with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led the orchestra. When Chloé spoke, she read with a French accent off of the notes in her hand. She said that she had just moved to the U.S, and what surprised her was that everything was so much bigger. Everyone laughed. She was humble, talented, and continued to use humor to talk about Tchaikovsky's music, and his background.

Performers were members of Troupe Vertigo, based in Los Angeles. They work with different orchestras, and coordinate their movements to the musical composition of the ensemble. Their artistic director, Aloysia Gavre, is the former director of Cirque du Soleil.

I had to cut, and compress these videos in order to fit blogger, which means that I had to pick and choose. Everything I posted here, according to my opinion, were some of their best work.

The fireworks at the end were absolutely beautiful, and better than last year. What was incredible was the coordination of the fireworks with the music. Oftentimes we sit, watch a show, and then get in our cars and leave. But we don't think deeply about how much work has gone into a performance. And I have to say, from the choreography, to the music, and the stage set up, a lot of work went into this magical night of performance. In the past, I didn't attend the Hollywood Bowl much, but the more I go, the more I appreciate their performances, and their hard work. 

Moving to La Jolla

Well, not me. My niece moved to La Jolla late August for her grad studies, and work. She says that she has always wanted to live in San Diego. She said the same thing about Kauai/Hawaii when she moved there a few years back for work, but got homesick, and moved back to L.A. So, not sure for how long her San Diego fever will last, but for now, she is enjoying it. And I'll be visiting La Jolla more often, because I always have an amazing time with her, and with my younger niece as well except that she is up at Berkley.  

We had sushi at Shiku for breakfast because that's what Ellie wanted. Then she wanted to hangout by the beach. We started at Coast Walk Trail on an excruciating hot day with a ton of visitors, and a big line to see Sunny Jim's Sea Cave. She couldn't believe that all those people were willing to wait more than 30 minutes to see a grotto for a fee. She said that she has seen many grottos in the past, and they were free to visit minus the crowd.

I was there on a Sunday. During the week, it's quieter. We still had a nice time. The crowd were patient, sociable, and friendly.

After moving about for some time, the high temperatures, and humidity started to wear us down, and so, we ended up back at her apartment. Ellie is a great artist. I don't know, maybe I'm bias, and a proud aunt. She started taking art classes at the age of four. She paints everything, including her wall decors, trainers, and skates.

There is a whole story about the skateboard in the photo. When Ellie finished her undergrad at NYU, she was overwhelmed by the amount of packing she had to do, and decided to throw out her skateboard. I offered to take it with me to L.A. So, I carried it through JFK with people staring at me. The airline stewardess rolled her eyes when she saw me with it. At LAX, a teenager asked me if the board was mine. I told him that it belonged to my niece. We both had a good laugh about it.

She uses a labor-intensive special method to do her paintings. A large piece takes her at least six months to finish.

We were both really tired, not because we did a lot, but because it was so darn hot outside. I crashed on her sofa, and took a short nap. She relaxed on the carpet. Soon, we both realized that if we don't get up, and get some coffee, we'll fall into a deep coma. Before leaving though, I had to find out the story behind her painted guitar.

Philz Coffee. My first time there. She had the Mojito, and I, the Tiramisu which was definitely decadent, and I highly recommend it.

We ran a bunch of errands after our mandatory dose of caffeine. I tried to find her a coffee table as a housewarming gift. No luck. Will keep looking. But no visit is complete without a stop at a bookstore. We went into B&N, and I bought a book from one of my favorite authors, Eckhart Tolle. OMG, I have so many unread books at my house. I need to seriously stop shopping, and read what I have in stock before getting something new.

 

Time for dinner. We weren't that hungry, but the day was coming to an end. Ellie had to get ready for her first day of meeting her instructors and classmates, and I had to head back home. We went to Puesto La Jolla. It has a pretty front patio, but we opted for air-conditioning.

The classic guacamole, summer enchilada, and passion fruit margarita mocktail were excellent. We ended up taking food home, and having it for dinner the next day.

 

Matanuska Glacier, Anchorage (Part 4/4)

When I learned about hiking the Matanuska glacier, I was hooked. I wanted to try it out, because it was such a different experience. I have already skied, very poorly I may add, on the Matterhorn Glacier when I was 14. I also have fallen down on my behind on ice as a kid in Tehran when I tried to cross the street from my parent's home to the market, but I have never tried hiking on ice.

On our way to the glacier. Ben was driving, and told me to sit up front. Couldn't argue with that. I had a perfect view of everything. He was an efficient guide, talked about his native heritage, and tried to pace the ride so that we would get to the glaciers on time.

A scenic stop.

There was road construction going on, and one of the rangers stopped us for about 25 minutes, allowing the cars coming downhill to go through first. The "Pilot Car" led the way. Our van, and all the ones behind us, were not allowed to pass the pilot car, and had to follow it whereever it meandered. Its purpose was to keep everyone safe.

So, Ben was explaining that moose eats the vegetation because it's vegetarian, and I told him that that means I'm a moose 😀

To get to the Matanuska Glacier, You walk downhill for about 15 minutes before you get to a bridge. There are different groups of hikers, and each group has one guide.

In the above photo, our guide, Jason, is handing out ice cleats—a plastic gadget with spikes that go around your shoes, and provide traction. This makes your shoes like track shoes with cleats, so that when you walk on ice, you won't slip and fall. As for me, I had an injured right ankle before I went on this trip, and if it weren't for Jason, I would have never made it through. Besides being painful, an injured ankle, throws the balance off, making it difficult to stabilize yourself on the asphalt, let alone on ice.

So, why did I do this hike with an injury? I was pissed off at myself. It's always something, the back, the knee, the ankle, and so on. I refuse to give in, and let these setbacks stop me from doing what I want. I wasn't sure if I could make it through this hike, but I went ahead anyway. Jason said that if I reach a point where I can't continue, he would call it in, and put me on an easier hike. But that never happened, because I was stubborn, and determined to do this. Anyhow, Jason, if you happen to pass by my blog, many thanks for all your help.

A great great bunch. We were all from California. Also, our group was mostly Korean with the exception of myself, and a mom, and her son. Everyone was so wonderful, down-to-earth, and got along well. We had so much fun, and I felt like I was hanging out with family, and close friends.

Jason used an ax to chop chunks of ice for us. The 600-years-old ice was pure without all the pollution you find in our water today. And I have to say that, it was pretty darn good.

Despite Jason's warning, a few of the guys wanted to climb this slippery slope for the challenge, the fun of it, and a photo opportunity.

Frozen water has ice patterns with cracks, and abstract design caused by temperature fluctuations, and repeated freezing and thawing. Moving water shapes the ice surface, forming veins, ridges, or smooth patches. Our guide knew where these were hidden beneath the frosted overlays as he cleared them with his hands to reveal nature's artwork.

Glacial ice is different from regular ice. Where there is fresh snow, the color appears white because it allows all lights to travel through it. However, in areas where ice has been compacted for many years, and is dense, the structure of the ice is different. This ice absorbs all colors except the blue wavelength, causing the ice to appear blue or turquoise.

It wasn't easy to walk with spikes on water and rocks. The water makes it slippery, and you have to be careful when you walk on gravel, and rocks. You kind of need three different types of shoes.

 

Jason told us that it's easier to do this hike during winter because snow is easier to walk on. And I agree, as I have walked on thick snow. It's more doable than on ice. 

On the way back, you turn in your ice cleats, and hike uphill for about 20-25 minutes to get to where you started. I would say that anyone can do this hike if they are not injured, and if they have a good balance. 

Tips: 

• During summer, wear a long sleeve cotton turtleneck, a windbreaker or a puffer jacket, water proof pants with fleece lining, a pair of gloves, a baseball cap, and a good pair of tennis shoes.

• Wear a windbreaker with zippered pockets, put your wallet and anything important in your zippered pocket, and leave your backpack in the car. That's what I did. People in our group were complaining about the weight of their backpack. Remember that no matter how light your backpack is, it's a whole different experience when you're moving on ice. Just take a small water bottle with you. Your guides, who are used to hiking on ice, carry a 30 pound emergency backpack. So, make sure you tip them for all their hard work.   

 

• If you feel that this hike might be a bit challenging, ask them for a trekking pole. Also, do as I say, and not as I do, meaning, if you have an injury, wait for it to get better before you go. My ankle has still not recovered from all the abuse I put it through 😏