Snapshots from the Week

                                                                            1.

Still battling insomnia,  I've signed up for six sessions with a sleep therapist.  I'm afraid he's young enough to be my son, but he's very pleasant and knows a lot.  As of this week, I have reading assignments, and I have to keep a log of my sleep each night.

The therapist's office is near Diesel Books and Bittersweet on College Avenue in north Oakland.  I never come home without a new book or some chocolate (each of which can lead to insomnia).

                                                                         2.

 

On Tuesday, my friend Valerie and I took her sister-in-law and my friend Ellen to the Lake Chalet restaurant on Lake Merritt in Oakland  for her birthday.  Delicious food, eaten indoors or out.  Here's a picture of Ellen blowing out a candle on her tiny cheesecake.

 

                                                                              3.

A not-so-good photo of a dish that's become a go-to around here:  Pesto Roma Tomato Boboli.  People have told me about simple pizzas you can make with Boboli crust, but only my friend Lin had dictated the recipe.  Hurray! I use artichoke pesto instead of basil and sprinkle some sliced black olives on top:

Buy a prepared Boboli crust (I use whole wheat)
Spread pesto sauce over it
Cut up Roma tomatoes and lay on top (I use 2)
Sprinkle a package of shredded mozzarella cheese (I use half a package and add cheddar, too)

Cook according to directions on Boboli package.

                                                                               4.

                                                            
A harrowing but addictive read: "Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots."  The portrayal of a woman growing up in a strictly religious sect of orthodox Judiasm who finally breaks free.  I recommend it but not for bedtime reading.

                                                                                   5.

Taking a break from British television crime shows, we watched and enjoyed these two documentaries this week:

"How to Live Forever," an investigation of how people live to be 100.  Funny, sad, and occasionally hilarious, such as when filmmaker Mark Wexler interviews a Japanese man who stars in "elder porn" movies, very popular in Japan.  This film ultimately validated my contention that there's no point in seeking immortality and why make an ass of yourself trying?

"All in This Tea"  follows a West Marin tea specialist, David Lee Hoffman, who treks around China seeking "handcrafted" teas, which seems to mean organic and made by small farmers.  He sells his  tea at Peet's and online at Phoenix teas.  He's indefatigible and something of a crank who's made a pest of himself to his neighbors in Lagunitas (this I found out during  follow-up reading online).

                                  

                                                                              6.

I'm still pretty tense about the election and didn't watch the second debate. I  found this Immigration Kit at Bittersweet in north Oakland, if worse comes to worst:                                                                     

 

 

 

                          A selection of chocolates,  a Canadian Immigration Form. While supplies last.

 

 

Also featured: The Obama blend of coffee.  Note the countries contributing beans.

 

 

 



 

7.

 

 

 

Quilt by Jessica Ogden (about $630; made in India)

 

 At first glance, I thought there was a screen in the background, but it's a quilt.  The photo is from The New York Times Magazine, which featured a page of photos of Tina Seidenfaden Busck's gallery in Copenhagen.  Gave me ideas.