MONTCLARION: November 26, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving! If your life is anything like mine, you’ve got a full tummy and a full house. But as sluggish as you may feel, you’ve got a job to do today, so you might as well get to it.

It’s time to strip the carcass.

There are many ways to fix leftovers and some folks get creative. My favorite recipe is Turkey Noodle Doodah Casserole, a Minnesotan delicacy using egg noodles, turkey, Cream of Mushroom soup and Old Dutch potato chips. Is it good? You betcha! Even better with a little Cheese Whiz on top. Continue reading →

MONTCLARION: November 19, 2010

As you’re sipping your morning coffee, consider this: There’s a way to squeeze eight more hours out of your day.

If you think I’m dreaming, you’re right. Every night before bedtime, I invite myself to dream. Then I place a journal and pen on my nightstand and turn off the lights. The next morning, I recall what I dreamed, write it down and reflect.

This little exercise has led to some interesting self-revelations. For one thing, I now know I’m independent and sexy. My dream about dancing with a tall, furry cat isn’t proof I’ve had too much wine and garlic — it’s a sign I’m in touch with my femininity. Continue reading →

MONTCLARION: November 11, 2010

I met my first turkey hunter today. He’s eaten wild bird and says it’s quite tough. What a buzz-kill. I’ve been fantasizing for years about bagging my own Thanksgiving dinner.

If you think about it, wild turkey should be tender. We pay a premium for free-range chicken and our beef comes from cows that graze in endless fields of clover. Why wouldn’t wild turkeys with an organic diet be tastier than frozen birds trucked in from Turlock? Continue reading →

MONTCLARION: October 29, 2010

Halloween is here, and it couldn’t come at a better time. I think we could all use a break from reality.

Yet despite the silliness of this spirited celebration, we insist on wearing costumes that remind us of the very things we are trying to forget. The National Retail Federation says witches, vampires and pirates are the big sellers this year — along with Lady Gaga. I get enough of these characters in the news — I don’t need to party with them. Continue reading →

MONTCLARION: October 22, 2010

Score one for the good guys. Fed up with a recent rash of home burglaries, Montclair neighbors have helped catch a man who has “copped” to the crimes.

It was a homeowner’s video surveillance system that initiated the search for the thief, who was captured on camera removing property from a house Oct. 7. Less than a week later, a Montclair beat officer spotted the suspect’s silver pickup truck near Mountain and Florence Terrace and made the arrest. Continue reading →

MONTCLARION: October 15, 2010

I’m penning this column in honor of California Writers Week.

At a time when the written word seems muted by talk radio and cable TV, I can’t help but feel a little vulnerable. The ones with the loudest voices seem to survive, leaving me to wonder if I should be writing IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

Yet writers have been around as long as there have been cave walls and rocks. In the Bay Area, members of the California Writers Club kick off their second 100 years in existence this weekend. Writers of every genre and level of experience are welcome to attend the organization’s monthly meetings at the Oakland Main Library. For more information, go to www.calwriters.org. Continue reading →

MONTCLARION: October 8, 2010

Talk about adding insult to injury. You come home to find your house has been robbed — and the city of Oakland has charged you $312 for nailing a board across your front door. It’s like being ripped off twice.

“The simple nailing of the board will bill out more expensive than it cost me to completely rebuild the door frame,” writes a furious reader, who wants his name kept private. Continue reading →

MONTCLARION: September 24, 2010

There are two times of year at my house — football season and spring football season. My husband laughs when he tells that joke, but he’s serious. When you’re outnumbered by men two to one in your home, football dominates your TV and your social calendar. That’s why God gave us girlfriends. Continue reading →

     MONTCLARION: September 17, 2010

     There’s a lot of talk about crime, these days, and quite frankly it’s making me mad. When you live in a city that doesn’t spend wisely and you’re told there’s no money for police – you get a little anxious.

     What can we do as citizens – to protect our loved ones and property? The answers are out there, we just need to pick the one that’s the best fit. Continue reading →

MONTCLARION: September 10, 2010

Are we becoming foodies, or what? We’ve got everything from dolmas to donuts in Montclair, along with two – count ‘em, two farmers markets. Yes – there’s the big one on La Salle every Sunday and a ‘mini market’ on Tuesday mornings (10 am) at Coldwell Banker. 

“It’s more like a bake sale/farmers market,” says realtor Kerry Seo, who says they raised $284 last week for Habitat for Humanity. “We had one bottle of homemade Lemoncello, two bottles of wine, homemade organic chicken and veggie soup, homemade cookies, a homemade pecan rum pie and more.”  The office staff must have been baking and brewing into the night to get ready. Continue reading →