Salmon Sisters

It's becoming more and more important to understand our food and its sources. For example most seafood is fraudulently mislabelled as being something other than it really is. Most fish in supermarkets travelled through Chinese factories where it was frozen and re-frozen several times, with unknown additives put into it. Scary stuff.

Which is why it's beneficial to your health and better for the world to eat good seafood. Wild, not farmed, and from trusted sources who care about sustainability.

Last year I discovered a small company started by two sisters who commercially fish in Alaska and sell directly to consumers (Salmon Sisters). Their fish is fresher and better than what's sitting in the supermarket. Plus they sell cute clothing celebrating nature's bounty. (I gave some of their shirts to friends as holiday gifts) I've had good success with their products and encourage you to give them a try. They ship everywhere.

The Beach In Winter

From Spring through Fall one can travel by motorcycle with ease and comfort. Winter is different: everything is harder. This time of year, just getting to Jones Beach is an accomplishment.

I rode there today and faced numerous obstacles on the way. Besides scary potholes I encountered a mine-field of debris on the LIE. Cruising at 77 mph around a bend I suddenly saw a dozen objects in my path. They probably fell off a truck. Hitting one of those large items was survivable in a car but, on my sport-bike, they definitely would have sent me airborne. Like Superman but with a bad landing. Fortunately two of my strengths -- sharp reflexes and composure -- enabled me to quickly find a twisty path through the stuff. Whew!

All I want when I go out is relaxation but sometimes unexpected challenges pop up. Ah, life...

How do you handle dangerous surprises?

Chef Jacques Pepin

It saddens me that we give attention to people when they die but not before then. We should celebrate people while they are still alive. Let me tell you about one cool cat I admire.

I first saw Jacques Pepin on television forty years ago and found him charming. Despite being THE BEST IN THE WORLD at what he does (cook food), he was notably humble and gracious. Now approaching 80 years old, he still is. In a field of rabid ego-maniacs and publicity-seekers, Jacques is a welcome breath of humility.

Jacques was just profiled in an online magazine and asked about his life and growing old. He said something wise: "[I]n our world, you know, of living people, you get old. I’m old now, but yet, I’m not a star in Hollywood, and so I don’t have to keep my figure and my face. I can keep cooking if I get older and fat, or whatever! So yes, for us it is good.”

The profile is here.

Black-and-White

There are many b/w dresses in the world but this one appeals to me a lot. Its clean style, clever design and surprising fit make it stand out. I found the dress at a retail-store (Fox's) which offers deep discounts on designer clothes. This beauty, on sale, is only $19.

Dresses are my favorite item so when one works for me, it really works. This dress puts a sincere smile on my punim. What do you think of it?

Victoria, BC

One thing I do before traveling is research my destination. The more I know about the place, the better time I have because I "see" more during my stay.

Inspired with desire to visit a good friend -- extraordinary blogger Sheila -- I plan to go to a place in Canada called Victoria. It's on an island west and separate from Vancouver. Sheila says you can't drive there: you have to take either a slow ferry or a fast seaplane. (I'm doing the latter.)

Researching Victoria is teaching me fascinating facts, like how it's the most densely-populated city in Canada despite have a small population. And it's geographical location -- Victoria is actually SOUTH of the Northwest corner of the U.S. That's because the island on which it sits (at the island's southernmost point) extends below the U.S./Canadian border out in the ocean. I recognize an American city in Washington state (Bellingham) and Victoria is actually below it. Plus, Victoria is only 60 miles from Seattle. That reminds me of how Toronto (another big Canadian city) is less than an hour's drive from Buffalo. Most of the populated areas in Canada are right over the U.S. border because it's warmer there than further north.

Have you ever been to the west coast of Canada?

Sheila has one of the best fashion blogs around. She creates amazingly original outfits and posts with enviable regularity. Her clothes and shoes are striking and she combines them with the skill of a pro. The education I've gotten from her during the past decade is invaluable; I really ought to pay her tuition.  :-)

Winter Riding

I know bikers who shudder at the idea of riding in 40-degree weather. "Oh, that's too cold!" they say. Well, cold is relative.

Today's bright sunshine lured me out into 20 degrees. Aside for ice patches, the only real problem is your helmet fogs up. A cure for that, opening the visor, is worse than the disease -- blasts of arctic air freeze your face like liquid nitrogen. Oh well... YOLO.

Groundhog Day

Today is Groundhog Day! The day has special meaning for me as it reminds me of one of my most cherished memories.

Twenty years ago I took my first long motorcycle trip, from New York to North Dakota. Four thousand miles in eight days. On the way home, I rode east with no plan other than to head in that general direction. I wasn't looking at a map, it was before GPS and my route consisted of unknown small roads.

Riding through western Pennsylvania I suddenly saw a big wooden statue of a... groundhog? Yes, a groundhog. How odd. Then, I saw another. And another. Without warning, I'd entered Punxsutawney which is the worldwide capital of Groundhog Day. It is where groundhog Phil rules the weather forecast. I stopped and walked around: the entire town is devoted to groundhog-worship.

A few years ago I returned for another visit. Punxsutawney is a small rural town in the middle of nowhere but they've adopted a theme and it draws tourists from far away.

Do you believe groundhogs can predict the weather?