Author: sallykyamada

Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire, March 12, 2019

I went on a bus tour of the Valley of Fire, the first state park in Nevada, and had an amazing time.  We had an experienced and enthusiastic tour guide, Sally, who made our trip enjoyable.  On the way to the Valley of Fire, she explained that she moved to Las Vegas in 1966 from England and has dual citizenship.  On a recent solo car trip from Las Vegas starting at 6:00 a.m. to Los Angeles, she decided to count the number of 18-wheelers going into Las Vegas, and counted over 900!  It was visual proof that just about everything is brought in from somewhere else.  She said that most people assume that palm trees naturally grow in the Las Vegas Valley, but they are in fact brought in from California or Arizona at a cost of about $5,000 each.  Casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard paid over $11 million to have palm trees planted along the Strip.

We learned that Las Vegas has pig and shrimp farms.  Las Vegas leads the nation in shrimp consumption and its residents and visitors consume 22 million pounds annually.

Sally likes the Paiute Indian tribes because they respect their women for keeping their civilization going.  They are a gentle people who have an enormous amount of knowledge about the medicinal value of desert plants.

After we entered the park, we saw erosion and the effects of wind, rain, and violent weather over millions of years that have produced unusual sandstone formations and beautiful colors.  We stopped for photo ops at the Beehives, Elephant Rock, Seven Sisters, and Mouse’s Tank.  We saw ancient petroglyphs.  At the Visitor’s Center, I snapped a picture of a petrified log.

Sally pointed out the creosote bushes that can keep neighboring bushes stunted by using their highly effective root system to draw water for their own survival.  She pointed out galls in trees, black round balls that are home to ants.  We learned that mistletoe plants kill their host trees and saw many examples.

As we ate lunch, two desert squirrels scurried alongside our picnic area, and two ravens eyed our food from the top of a large rock.  We didn’t see any tortoises, but Sally admonished us not to pick them up and move them across the road because they will be traumatized and disoriented.  Their defense mechanism will kick in and release the contents of their bladder and possibly cause them to die in drought conditions.

Sally pointed out the mountain area which shields Area 51, its existence long denied by the government.  She told us that employees drive their cars to work, but higher level personnel are flown in by Janet airlines in unbranded planes that are white with a red stripe.  She told us that Janet unofficially means “Just Another Non Existent Terminal.”

We witnessed magical and alien terrain, the power of nature, and beautiful and unique formations millions of years in the making.  It was cloudy most of the day, but blue skies appeared toward the end of our tour.  Sally and her competent driver brought the sunshine with them and gave us a spectacular day.

Black Canyon River Float Tour

Hoover Dam, a brief history.  Herbert C. Hoover, our 31st president, approved the funding of the construction of the dam, then known as the Boulder Canyon Project.  The goal was to build a dam across the Colorado River on the Nevada-Arizona border to harness the power of the river to generate electricity, fairly distribute water to several southwestern states, and to fuel the economic growth of a burgeoning southern California.  In the process, Lake Mead, the world’s largest man-made reservoir, was created. 

No one company could come up with the $5 million bond required to bid for the contract and six companies subsequently joined together to form Six Companies, Inc., in order to combine their resources and they were awarded the contract.  Concrete contractors realized that if they used traditional methods for pouring and curing concrete, it would take 125 years to cure.  They used 600 miles of thin steel pipes and wove them into the concrete and circulated ice water from a refrigeration plant to cool the concrete.   After the pipes were used, they were filled with concrete and made the dam even stronger. 

The dam was built during the Great Depression and gave jobs to thousands of unemployed men.   An entire city, Boulder City, was built to house the workers.  The early days of the project had many workers in makeshift shanty towns made of tents and cardboard boxes, and a strike occurred in August of 1931 to protest dangerous working conditions and poor housing.  In the summer months, workers endured 120 degree heat and 140 degree heat in the diversion tunnels with exposure to carbon monoxide from the machinery.  The workers demanded adherence to safety laws, better lighting, and availability of water.  Unfortunately, there was sweeping unemployment in the country and the workers did not have any leverage against their employers, and the strike ended after six days.  The Six Companies did expedite the construction of housing and added some safety measures.  Casinos were outlawed in Boulder City and workers were paid with special coins that could only be used in Boulder City to discourage workers from going to casinos in Las Vegas.  The last bucket of concrete was placed in the dam on May 29, 1935 and Hoover Dam officially opened in 1936.

The Black Canyon River Float Tour.  The Sun City Community Association offered a tour of Black Canyon on a river float raft for $125 that included transportation by bus, shuttle bus to the launch, a three-hour river rafting adventure and a box lunch.  It was well worth the money for learning about the fascinating features of Black Canyon, named for the black volcanic rocks strewn about the canyon.

The Hoover Dam bypass bridge was interesting because of its magnitude.  It was the first concrete-steel composition bridge in the United States and includes the longest concrete arch in the Western Hemisphere.  It was named the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge and opened in 2010.  Mike O’Callaghan was the governor of Nevada from 1971-1979.  Pat Tillman gave up his career with the Arizona Cardinals and enlisted in the U.S. Army after the 9/11 attacks.  He was killed in Afghanistan by friendly fire in 2004 at the age of 27.

Our guide, Reid, was experienced and knowledgeable about the terrain and history of the area.  He asked kayakers how they were doing as we passed them and had radio communication in case help was needed.  During the tour, he pointed out turkey vultures flying about and told us to “look alive!” as vultures like dead animals.  We saw turtles not native to the canyon, which meant that humans let loose their pet turtles and they survived.  The only palm tree that is native to the area is the fan palm but we saw a grove of small palms of a different species that was probably started by a bird dropping a seed on fertile soil. 

Reid pointed out red cacti that hold quite a bit of water, but he said you’d have to get through the thorns, the skin, and then mash the pulp in order to taste the moisture that would probably make you sick.  He also pointed out rocks that flew across the river in violent periods of geologic events.  We saw waterfalls, quiet coves, and unusual formations that told their own stories.  We also saw an unconformity rock up close that reflected a missing interval of a geological period. 

Reid did an outstanding job in maneuvering the raft and giving us an informative narrative.   We were soaking wet from the splashes from the river but back home in dry clothes, I’m sure everyone understood the breathless magnificence of the Hoover Dam, the triumphant taming of the Colorado River, and the pleasures the river brings to visitors from all over the world. 

Pizza, Lava Cake in a Mug

Easy Microwave Recipe

I’ve been worried and heartbroken about my son and daughter-in-law’s divorce.  I visit once a month but often see their children, ages 4 and 9, eating crackers, Oreo cookies, and french fries.  They often pick up fast food from local restaurants that don’t include fruits or vegetables.  Well, I learned that some college students have been making meals in mugs and cooking them in their dorm microwave oven.  I’ve done the research and am now testing recipes.  If I could teach my granddaughter how to put the inredients together and cook them in the microwave, their nutrition will improve dramatically.  I’ve been experimenting with a recipe for pizza and one for lava cake (my granddaughter’s favorite dessert which can easily add $10 to the final restaurant bill).

I tweaked the following pizza recipe by using ketchup instead of marinara sauce as it only needs one tablespoon and I know they have ketchup.   I’m not sure if they always have milk in the fridge and the recipe calls for one tablespoon of milk, so I’m assembling a kit that includes powdered Saco buttermilk blend.  While I’m at the house, I’ll put together small bags of shredded Mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices so she can easily put the ingredients together or use as a topping on a baked potato or even toast.  Better than crackers.

 Pizza in a Mug

4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

A pinch of baking powder, baking soda, and salt (she has small hands so I’ll tell her to use about half of a 1/4 teaspoon measure)

1 tsp. SACO buttermilk blend

3 Tbsp. water

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. ketchup

1 Tbsp. shredded mozzarella cheese

5 mini pepperoni (I cut up larger slices)

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients.  Add water and oil and stir.  Transfer to a microwave safe mug.  Spoon on ketchup and spread it around the top of the batter.  Sprinkle on the cheese, pepperoni, and dried herbs.  Microwave for about 2 minutes.

If the kids have fun with this meal, I’ll package the dry ingredients in small plastic bags to simplify the recipe even more.

Lava Cake 

I looked at some recipes on the internet, but this one has only five ingredients and again, I substituted the buttermilk blend for the milk.  Add a dollop of vanilla ice cream at the end and the kids will think they are in chocolate heaven!

1/4 tsp. baking powder

4 Tbsp. flour

1 tsp. Saco buttermilk blend

2 Tbsp. water

2 overflowing Tbsp. of chocolate hazelnut spread (recipe calls for 4 Tbsp.)

Microwave for one minute or less depending on your microwave.  Let it cool a tad before digging in.

 

Food Cures

 Bitter Melon

From time to time, I come across articles about health and fitness that might help me with my Type 2 diabetes.  I read a glowing article about the benefits of eating bitter melon but couldn’t find it at Whole Foods or Smith’s.  Finally, I found it at a Korean grocery store .  Now, I want to try several recipes until I find one that is palatable. (I  don’t like bitter, and I suspect the secret will be in the sauce.)

  I’ve blanched the sliced pieces and put them in a freezer bag so I can try out some recipes when time permits.  I do have bitter melon capsules, but I’m trying to simplify my pill box.

I found a recipe for a basic stir fry sauce with soy sauce, water, cornstarch, and honey.  Grated ginger and minced garlic were suggested but I only had garlic salt so I added a bit of that.  Eating bitter melon is an acquired taste, but well worth it for its many health benefits.  I made beef and bitter melon a couple of days ago and today made a dish with leftover chicken.  I liked both dishes!

 

 

 

Graphoanalysis

The Felon’s Claw

I became interested in handwriting analysis in the late 1980s and took a correspondence course offered by the International Graphoanalysis Society.  I still look at handwriting in cards and letters and notice signatures but don’t mention my hobby because it might discourage people from sending cards and letters.

The felon’s claw is of particular interest because someone examined numerous handwriting samples of prisoners and noticed a prevalence of the formation of letters such as y and g that ended the stroke with a claw-like ending.  Those who write with this formation may not be criminals but have a need to feel guilty.  It is possible that in their childhood, they were punished for doing something wrong and now unconsciously feel guilty.

Search for “felons claw handwriting” and you’ll find many images.

Abandonment

California Girls State

My teachers at Manual Arts High School voted me to represent the school at California Girls State.  It was exciting for me and great fun as well as educational.    I remember experiencing the dorm life at Davis University and touring the State Capitol.  We had a wonderful advisor who told us that everyone wants to run for president but if we wanted our group to be represented, we should pick other positions as well.  I ran for State Superindent of Schools and won!

My mother had asked my uncle to drive me to the Greyhound bus station in Culver City and I remember him saying he wouldn’t be able to pick me up to go home but it didn’t really register with me.  When we returned from our trip, everyone got off the bus to waiting arms and big hugs from mothers, fathers, and families.  I remember all the happy voices and although I didn’t see this one reunion, a mother’s voice said,  “Welcome home, we missed you.”  Her voice was strong and loving and I was bewildered because there was no one waiting for me.  I had to act quickly to approach a girl I knew to go to a relatively nearby school, Jordan High School.  I asked her if she could ask her parents to give me a ride home.  Fortunately, they agreed without asking me any questions.

Many years later when I had retired from teaching, I worked as a volunteer docent at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.  I learned about the hardships suffered by the Japanese Americans during and after WWII.  My parents were always at odds with each other and separated during the time I was in high school.  I realized that it took courage for my mother to ask her brother-in-law to give me a ride and a tremendous sacrifice to give up a week’s pay so she could stay with my little brother and I could go on a trip to Sacramento.

To this day, I am occasionally visited by voice that says, “Welcome home, we missed you.”

The Rosie Project

Don Tillman and Rosie Jarman

I recently read The Rosie Project, a Sun City book club recommendation, and I loved it!  It is Graeme Simsion’s debut novel and a breakout success.  Movie rights for the script have been optioned by Sony Pictures.  Publishing rights have been sold to publishers in over 40 countries for $1.8m.

It is the story of Don Tillman, a genetics professor with undiagnosed Aspserger’s syndrome searching for a wife.  He creates a 16-page doublesided questionnaire to narrow his search.   Roseie Jarman enters his life asking for help searching for her biological father.  Although she lacks any of the attributes he is looking for in a wife, Tillman is enticed into helping her and many hilarious adventures ensue throughout the novel.

The frenzied bidding for publication rights is evidence that Simsion has touched many lives with his novel.  It is more than a romantic comedy and the overwhelming accolades have amazed even Simsion.  The Rosie Project facilitates conversations about Asperger’s and autism and also gives hope for those who are socially awkward, reluctant to participate in conversations, and often miss social cues.  The book engenders kindness and compassion in all of us.

 

 

Young Face of Poverty

Money for a Can of Coffee

One day a small child knocked at our door and asked my mother, “Can I have money for this?”  He was holding up a new can of coffee with hands unsteady under its bulky weight.  I saw his mother watching through a window across the street.

But this child came years too late. Life had already stripped from my mother the colorful fabric of joy, the sheer fabric of spontaneity, and the soft fabric of compassion and replaced them with hard gray armor.

A sometime husband, meals to cook for three small children, garment district sweatshops and the bundles of work she brought home on the bus to earn seven cents for each stitched zipper had darkened her outlook and wrung out the kindness that was there before.

Hurrying home in the dark with groceries, a neighborhood thug knocked my mother to the ground and grabbed her purse.  We saw her bruises and heard her complain about the broken jar of mayonnaise.

So when this hurt woman and gentle child met, her response was cruel and cutting.  “No!” she shrieked, and the boy was chased off the porch by a slamming door.

Now decades later, I still remember that little boy and wonder how many doors he tried before ours, and since.

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116

A Marriage Proposal

I attended a ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Smith Center in Las Vegas several years ago and although the performance was flawless and beautiful, a young man appeared immediately after the company took their bows and asked us to stay a couple of minutes.  He recited this sonnet and asked a young lady from  the cast to join him.  He bent down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage.
SONNET 116
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand’ring bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me prov’d,
I never writ, nor no man ever lov’d.
The purity of his love compensated for his unpolished delivery and awkward cadence.  I don’t recall any parts of the ballet performance but I remember a beautiful heartwarming and heart-stopping moment.  And then she said “Yes!”