NO time for boredom today

Author: sdninaanderson

  • A Vitamin B Shot of French Culture in Fullerton CA

    Last night we attended the first evening of Fullerton College’s annual two-day French Film Festival. We tried it on a whim and wow! We had a fantastic experience. The students and faculty put together an impressive event. Prior to the screening of the 2022 movie The Innocent, the festival offered a great taste of French culture with: freshly made Nutella crepes, French doughnuts and other yummy tidbits. As we sat outside on a beautiful spring evening, we enjoyed a variety of French music while everyone hosting wore fun berets made by the students.

    I cannot tell you how uplifting the night was for everyone attending. I especially enjoyed seeing how enthusiastic the students were as they focused on the attendees and carried out their assignments. The first night had a great turnout; the organizers really set up everything so well that did not feel overwhelmed.

    If you have not seen The Innocent, I highly recommend you do so. It is a combination of a comedy and heist film set in current times. The star of the film, Louis Garrel also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. It was nominated for multiple Cesars Awards (the French national awards) and was screen at the 75th anniversary Cannes Film Festival in 2022.

    Social media is incredibly helpful for spreading the word about upcoming events. In this case, a Facebook posting informed me about a French film festival at college almost two hours away from where we live. This film festival has been going on for 13 years and is delightful. My husband and I were so impressed by the creativity demonstrated. As a result of our experience, I am putting it in my calendar for next year.

    Freshly-made Nutella crepe
    Faculty and students being honored by the city council of Fullerton

  • The Amazing French Cheese That Looks Like Cantaloupe

    A few years ago, my husband and I, along with a few other family members, were invited to a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by a French family temporarily living in the United States. It was probably one of the best holiday meals I’ve enjoyed – even the roasted turkey was fantastic (coated in a mixture of beer and Dijon mustard)! The hosts invited another French couple who were professional cheesemakers. Naturally, this couple brought the cheeses for the traditional French cheese course. Our hosts baked beautiful homemade baguettes to go with the cheeses. The cheeses were served after dinner – before dessert. I do not remember what desserts we ate but I still think about those amazing cheeses.

    Recently, I rediscovered the joy of specialty cheeses. Going back to that Thanksgiving with our French hosts, they served three cheeses and provided a suggested order in which to try them.

    When serving an assortment of cheeses, it is a good idea to include a mixture of cow, sheep and goat ones. In addition, the proper order is to go from mildest to sharpest varieties. Our French hosts served their cheeses with a few grapes and an anise aperitif. Personally, I prefer to pair my cheeses with dried fruit and a ruby port. As of lately, I am really into golden prunes that I buy at a local Middle Eastern market.

    Also, I think it is fun to introduce guests to less well-known cheeses. Recently, I was introduced to the French Mimolette made from cow’s milk and aged for 18 months. The exterior is rough and looks like a mini boulder. In fact, the hard exterior is covered in cheese mites. Consequently, the U.S. banned this cheese for a number years over unwarranted safety concerns. It is best to let this cheese sit out for a while to really enjoy its full flavor. It has a nutty and somewhat sweet taste.

    Finally, I am a huge blue cheese fan. I enjoy it in salads and cheese plates or as its own appetizer with thinly sliced pears, dates or toasted walnuts. It is a strong cheese so it is best to enjoy it last – after eating milder cheeses. Saint Agur is a French blue cheese produced from cow milk in central France.

    The Cheese Course at Our French Thanksgiving Day Dinner

  • A Murder in Hollywood – Fantastic Read!

    This is one of those books that I had to finish quickly. I stayed up late for several nights in a row. It is about the 1958 Johnny Stompanato murder at the hands of either Lana Turner or her daughter Cheryl Crane.

    This famous murder case has so many interesting facets. Was it really Cheryl or did her famous mother Lana Turner kill him? How much cover up did the legendary attorney do prior to notifying the police? Stompanato’s association with the mafia and his partnersip with the infamous Mickey Cohen makes the story even more juicy.

    The murder happened before my time but has alwys intrigued me. I aways thought that Cheryl Crane killed him but this book addresses why Lana Turner most likely killed him. Stompanato was a brutal thug who was an enforcer for the notorious Mickey Cohen. Cohen eventually ended up in Alcatraz.

    Sherman goes into detail regarding Turner’s tough early years. Apparently, she slept with many of her male costars and other famous men, including the notorious mobster Bugsy Siegel. The Howard Hughes and Joan Crawford tidbits are especially entertaining.

    She appears to have been an unfit mother who exposed her daughter to a sordid life filled with a series of vile boyfriends and husbands – including one who sexually abused Cheryl for two years. It is difficult to feel empathy for Turner – not doing a better job of protecting her daughter and letting her take the blame for Stompanto’s murder.

    Turner hired the most definitive powerhouse Hollywood attorney of the time to handle Cheryl’s defense – Jerry Giesler. Other famous cases he handled include: Errol Flynn, Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe and Bugsy Siegel. Supposedly, Siegel had once told Turner to hire Giesel if she ever got into trouble. Interestingly, in his tell all book, Giesler omits the Lana Turner case from his memoir.

  • Artesia CA – A Foodie’s Nirvana!

    I have spent most of my life in California but only recently discovered the food paradise of Artesia. A particularly popular section of the town is referred to as Little India. There is a plethora of restaurants to pick from. On our first visit, I chose The India Restaurant based on online reviews and a personal recommendation from a coworker who is as into food as I am. So far, we have not had one disappointing dish there. I am a big fan of both the garlic nan and cardamom tea. The shrimp masala is another favorite of mine.

    In addition to the restaurants, I cannot say enough about the specialty markets of Artesia.We have tried two of them and found unique items in both. Spices, snacks, grains and even unusual coffees and teas. I’m lucky that my husband is into trying new things; he never discourages me from picking up foods new to us. Plus, I have found the employees are extremely willing to assist and to answer questions.

    Finally, there is an inviting Filipino bakery, adjacent to my favorite Indian restaurant. It’s called Bakes and Pastes and it sells amazing sweet creations as well as gourmet Dubai chocolate that is stuffed with a unique and delicious pistachio filling. I am new to Silvanas but wow! It’s a cookie sandwich on steroids. I especially love the cashew and cookies and cream versions.

    In summary, run – don’t walk to Artesia!

    In front of my favorite restaurant in Artesia.
    The Garlic Nan is Incredible!
    Me having fun at a specialty market in Artesia
    Amazing Silvanas from the Filipino bakery called Bakes & Pastes on Pioneer Blvd.

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  • Unlocking the Middle East with the Help of Nixon

    On a recent visit to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, my husband and I saw a special exhibit about the Middle East.

    The library curated an exhibit that does an excellent job at showing the culture and accomplishments of the people – including some exquisite jewelry, bowls and other artifacts. However, for me, the big takeaway is conflict and missteps in resolution.

    My husband and I are both huge movie buffs and really enjoyed the section about Lawrence of Arabia. If you haven’t seen Peter O’Toole in the 1962 movie, please do so. Thomas Edward Lawrence started his Middle East adventure with high hopes. By the end of the Arab Revolt, he was so frustrated by the British mishandling of the Middle East that he turned down a knighthood from King George V.

    The exhibit is thorough at explaining the Sykes-Picot Agreement in 1916 which essentially divided the Middle East into sections without taking into consideration religion and other cultural differences.

    The background stories of the last Shah of Iran, Golda Meir and Anwar El-Sadat are all covered in this comprehensive exhibit as is the Suez Canal Crisis of 1956.

    Nixon was in the White House during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Hence, the exhibit has numerous photos of Nixon in Israeli as well as in Egypt and Syria. My favorite photo is of Nixon and Sadat speaking with one of the Pyramids in the background.

    Lawrence of Arabia

  • Inspiration from “Tricky Dick” Nixon!

    My husband and I grew up in the 1970s – a time when inflation was high, oil was in short supply and war protests were rampant. I remember sitting in our car waiting on long lines at the gas station on alternate days for gasoline. The final number on your car license plate determined if you were allowed to purchase gas on odd or even days.

    My husband and I are both big history fans; I have a minor in history and John is a retired university history professor. We both know first hand that history repeats itself. Consequently, we are raving fans of the U.S. Presential Libraries and are fortunate to have two of them located in our home state of California. It had been a while since we visited the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda. I read online about a new Middle East exhibit and knew it was time to pay another visit. I will write about this terrific exhibit in my next post.

    I admit that part of my attraction to the Nixon Library is nostalgic. Also, it is a reminder that we can overcome dark times. My husband and I grew up in completely different political environments: I grew up in a household where Tricky Dick was the devil and John’s parents described themselves as Goldwater Republicans who loved President Nixon. I don’t think my mother-in-law ever quite forgave John for becoming a registered Democrat. Both families were glued to the television during the Watergate hearings.

    The Vietnam war section at the museum always holds particular memories for me. There is a collection of POW bracelets on display. I remember people, particularly, teenage girls, wearing them to honor American soldiers being held by the North Vietcong. Each bracelet has the name of a specific soldier. There is a very moving photo of a POW being reunited with his family at a U.S. airport, too.

    I was in elementary school during the war and remember classmates, who lost their fathers overseas, clutching their fathers dog tags and other military items. This is also a time when the number of men pursuing doctorates dramatically increased. Staying in school kept males 18 and over out of the army. My favorite high school teacher told me he was ordered to work at a mental hospital for being a conscientious objector. Draft card burnings were real.

    The Richard Nixon Presidential Library is mix of Richard Nixon’s accomplishments and failures. Opening relations with China was phenomenal. He is also responsible for both Section 8 Housing and Title IX.

    Interestingly, the most popular area was the Watergate exhibit. The exhibit does not gloss over this dark time in American history. In summary, the library is worth visiting and has something for everyone – his former presidential helicopter, his childhood home (made from a Sears kit) and his work to open up China after 25 years of no communication.

    Front Entrance to the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda CA
    Center Courtyard at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library

  • Hello World!

    Welcome to No Time for Boredom Today. I share food, travel, gardening, shopping, book and other fun experiences. I love to travel within the U.S. as well as to other parts of the world. I specially enjoy crime movies from the 1970s. The Seven-Ups and The French Connection are two of my favorite pictures.

  • Avocado Fries Really Exist!

    Avocado Fries Really Exist!

    Never content to stay at home on a day off, my husband and I decided to visit the city of Orange. We have been multiple times but this was our first visit in a few years. I like to describe the town as the So Cal version of Mayberry.

    Usually, we visit the town’s adorable pub but this time I was in the mood to try something new. A few friends had previously mentioned the Filling Station as being a great place. I looked up the restaurant online and saw that it had lots of shaded outdoor seating. Since it was a warm sunny day, I knew this was going to be our lunch destination.

    My husband and I having a running joke about food envy. One of us usually wishes we had ordered what the other selected. This day, we both opted for the restaurant’s French dip – a great choice. That said, next time, we will opt to split one sandwich. The portions are enormous. I have to add that the mango ice tea is a winner, too! It is refreshing without being too sweet. Our waitress nodded in approval when we ordered it – always a good sign.

    Last minute, I ordered the avocado fries as a starter and wow! Our waitress smiled and told us that this is a very popular item. I can see why. The wedges of fresh avocado are breaded with panko crumbs and, I assume, deep-fried. They are amazing. The side dipping sauce is delicious. I think it is a combination of mayonnaise, hot sauce and sour cream. Whatever the mixture – it works!

    The Filling Station

    201 N. Glassell Street, Orange CA