yumyumyumyumyum

... food, glorious food, to quote a tune from my earliest favorite movie, oliver, from the novel by the great social activist-writer & performer charles dickens... i am very lucky because unlike oliver twist & unlike far too many on this earth, i often get to enjoy good meals. am reading a book called $2 A DAY. many ppl do not get to have the food choices i have, or maybe that you have, if you are reading this. it is a startling, gut-punch of an eye-opening read, highly worth grabbing, if you see it. have had to take it in small sections bc the book's info steals one's breath & haunts sleep, the way tragedy does. ... yesterday we mealed with the gia family at a posh place near the kern river canyon. its entry featured the largest wrought iron chandelier i've ever seen, a stunning killer of a thing. the walls were adorned with lovely art, particularly a california impressionist painting of now i can't remember. the service was glacial. niece maddy said, rich ppl don't rush. i don't know if that's true. i've thought rich ppl want what they want, when they want it, & they get it. maybe she means europeans. that's what classy papa said as we exited, about 90 mins after the meal started: instead of, my god, your service was terrible, i'm never coming back here again, he smiled & said, you're giving diners the european experience, letting your patrons take their time & not feel rushed while they eat. yes, dad was super happy with the whole thing. he wanted james to try to get a gig there & even brought it up to the proprietor, but james kept catching my eye & mouthing "no." "i would be fired before we finished the first set," he said, & i realized james the blue comedian blues shouter, yes, this tidy chichi low-energy spot of giant windows with rolling vineyard views & politely coiffed country clubbers sipping wine, no, that's no spot for f-bomb king james, the baudy sorceror of sound, nor for me since i don't wanna be anyplace he is not accepted. ... he & maddy both ordered the same dish & their food was not good, but my tacos were one of the yummiest dishes i've ever had. the order was a risk because the name was gross: mushroom & onion tacos. yech. but from the first bite, the tacos were pure succulent umami flavor, shockingly delicious. i had to refrain from groaning with pleasure with eat bite -- they were that good. ... today we sailed, then stopped, then sailed in the accordion formation that is socal traffic, heading for sister sherri's in north orange county. we had such a great day! staying married this long has made for the best life i've ever had. james regaled with story after story, & we sang & air-played along to chuck berry, making googoo eyes as we barked & yelled out our favorite song lines & loudly sang the solos, even, a team in our chuck berry knowledge & fervent fandom. today was yes, the most fun ever one-dayer with james! ... sherri & ben took everyone to sizzler where i again got tasty food, especially the vegetable-heavy salad topped with raisins & sunflower seeds, then splashed with oil & vinegar. sizzler's cheese toast was just as salty-fatty delicious as i remember. the best part was, i got to order from the sr menu so my portions were reasonable. i always make sure i order the cheapest item, no matter who pays. they might not know, but i do. i'm lucky that way, knowing pretty certainly that i will have another meal coming. so i do not have to take advantage of anyone who buys me a meal, & i never will. ...i've taken advantage of people in other ways, of course, but i'm working on making up for those sins & errors. i will at least not commit them today, & if i watch myself, tomorrow, either. one more delicious item to eat: at michoacana ice cream in bakersfield, they sell not just food items like mouth-watering tortas, but paletas, which you must know are creamy mexican popsicles. last week i ordered a PISTACHIO paleta, crammed with chunks of the nuts, absolutely wonderful, & as i turned to leave, noticed they also sell paletas made with pecans... and pine nuts! --- here is a nice pic of james that dad took at the chichi restaurant. i had been crying all morning (it happens about every 9 months or so) & don't look so good, but he sure does, so i publish it here.