Life List Day 274 - Try a New Restaurant and Sanddabs

There's a restaurant on the Redondo Pier called Kincaid's Bayhouse that I've been meaning to try for years. Today, I was meeting my book editor, Sally Kim, for dinner (she lives in New York but I get to see her when she visits her family on vacation...she grew up right in my neighborhood!). Anyway, she said for me to pick the place, so that's what I picked.

The menu was fantastic - with things like Lobster Mac & Cheese and Asiago-Almond Encrusted Sea Scallops - but I went for the sanddabs because you rarely see them on a menu and I've never had them before. They're not a very popular fish, and I don't know why ... mild, nice texture, good flavor. I'd order them again.

(And thanks, Sally, it's always great seeing you!!)

Life List Day 268 - Try Sprinkles Cupcakes

There's a chichi cupcake store in Beverly Hills called Sprinkles that I've been wanting to try. There's apparently always a line to buy these cupcakes, which run $3.50 each and are supposedly divine.

Today while I was in Beverly Hills getting my hair cut, I walked the half-mile or so to Sprinkles to try them for myself.

There was a line of about 10 people ahead of me - when I got into the tiny bakery, it smelled outrageously good - not sugary good, but something buttery/fatty/cakey good. Each day, they offer a dozen or so varieties, rotating the selection. I bought a red velvet with white icing, a white cupcake with coconut, and a chocolate with peppermint.

So far I've split the red velvet with my son. The icing was really delicious (and in fact, you can buy a "shot" of icing only for 75 cents) but, to be honest, the cakey part was just okay. Then again, I've never had a red velvet cake, so maybe this is all there is to it.

To give the other flavors a fair shake, I may have to take bites out of them before they get stale.

The sacrifices I make for this life list...

Life List Day 246 - Try a Martha Stewart Recipe

I often watch cooking shows but never make anything from them.

Today, I tried a recipe I saw on Martha Stewart. I've been trying to find better ways to eat veggies, and this seemed really easy.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Clean & cut in half brussels sprouts
Toss in olive oil
Add sea salt

Roast about 10 minutes in the oven, tossing once.

They looked just like Martha's...and they were yummy!

Life List Day 235 - Do Yoga in the Comfort of My Own Living Room

I ordered a yoga dvd from Amazon (MTV Yoga, which came at the recommendation of my niece). It's been sitting on my countertop for a week and, I'm not too proud to say, I've walked past it quite happily without the slightest temptation to open it and actually do it.

Today, I gave in to lack of temptation and tried out the yoga dvd.

It was a pretty good workout - and nice to be able to get my ya's out on a rainy day without having to go to the gym.

I'll do it again (and even if I didn't, the dvd was cheaper than a single class).

Life List Day 234 - Attend a "Passion Party"

Tonight, my friend Erin was hosting a Passion Party - one of those parties where a bunch of gals get together in someone's home and shop for sex toys, massage oils, etc.

Trust me, if it weren't for this life list, I'd never have gone. There's no man in my life, and I refuse to put myself in a situation where my only boyfriend has batteries.

Still, it was pretty amusing. The woman showing us her product line had her work cut out for her: Bascially, they get you to relax by getting you all liquored up, but there's that fine line between a crowd of ladies that's loosened and one that's unruly. I showed up a little late, and there was already a lot of whooping and laughing going on. The Passion Party Lady (kind of like a Tupperware Lady, only discussing how to make sure you have the "big O" rather than how to burp your lid to keep freshness in) nonetheless managed to keep everyone in line.

I felt compelled to buy SOMETHING (the people who host these things always say you don't have to buy anything, but they don't mean it). I bought a cologne called Pure Instinct, which is basically pheromones and essential oils. I tried a sample of it, and it smelled pretty nice. It's supposed to attract men like crazy.

I don't know about that...but when I stopped on the way back to have a drink with friends while I was picking up my son, a female friend kept saying, "You look so pretty today...doesn't Jill look pretty? And you smell so good. Did you do something to your skin? You're radiant." So much for it attracting MEN.

Life List Day 231 - Vote

Today being election day, I exercised my civic right (or is it performed my civic duty?) and headed to the polls.

Since there wasn't anything "big" on the ballot - just city council and school board - I nearly blew it off. But then I remembered a few years ago when a city council position was decided by TWO VOTES. Yes, that's how small my town is, and how important every vote can be.

It was a good thing I went. They didn't have me registered for some reason. I was able to cast a provisional ballot, but now I know I'd better go check on my registration - I sure don't want to miss out on the upcoming presidential election. For that one, I plan to vote early ... and vote often.

Life List Day 230 - Create a Menu for the Week

My son, Danny, and I have had more than our fair share of dinners consisting of frozen entrees or such culinary delights as cheese melted on Triscuits. I often WANT to make a good dinner, but I don't have the ingredients I need. Or I can't think of anything.

Today, as part of my effort to eat more healthfully, I made a menu of meals for each day this week. Then I used the list to do my grocery shopping.

So now I have everything I need on hand.

Tonight's dinner: Veggie burgers and "Oprah fries."

I've never planned meals ahead like this before, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Danny is already loving it: he can't wait for Thursday - that's chili night, his all-time favorite.

Life List 228 - Go See Live Music

My friend Irina and I met for a drink tonight, and instead of going to one of the usual places, we picked a bar called Grog - for the sole reason it was in the neighborhood, we've never been there, and they promised an '80s band. It's been a while since I've seen live music in a bar.

As it turned out, the band wasn't an '80s band, but more specifically, a Tom Petty tribute band.

Yes, TOM PETTY.

I'd have liked to have been in the room when they decided, "Hey, let's only do songs by Tom Petty." Is it just me, or is that rather obscure?

The entire evening, my friend and I were trying to come up with what tribute bands we'd put together that might be on par with the Tom Petty band.

She was going to start a Rick Springfield band.

I made a joke about being in a Carpenter's tribute band thinking that was ridiculous but, the more I thought about it, that'd be pretty bitchin'.

Life List Day 227 - Try Heirloom Tomatoes

I actually bought heirloom cherry tomatoes before, but they went bad before I got around to eating them because I used the prettier, red, perfect tomatoes I had on hand first.

Today, I bought a pack of heirlooms from Trader Joe's and made it a point to break into them right away.

Heirloom tomatoes, I learned from Wikipedia, are open pollinated, which is why - in the absence of cultivating for characteristics of what we define as tomato perfection - they can be kind of freaky looking.

I tried the greenish and the brownish looking one first. Not bad! They definitely tasted tomatoey - which I enjoy in a tomato - maybe not as much as I expected, but more than the supermarket ones I've been buying.

I'll try them again.

After all, don't ugly tomatoes deserve to get eaten, too?

Life List Day 226 - Lunch at Costco

I often grab samples when shopping at Costco. Today, just for the heck of it, I stopped at Costco for no other reason than to make a lunch out of the samples.

I had some sort of ravioli thing, a chicken sample, a dip, and - my favorite - a sticky rice (I thought about going back for seconds on that one, but I was afraid the samples lady would recognize me).

Life List Day 222 - Go to a Pumpkin Roll

Today for my list list, I went to a "pumpkin roll" in Manhattan Beach, which was described as a race in which people rolled pumpkins down one of the major city streets that leads to the beach.

My first instinct had been to participate, but I wasn't entirely clear on what a pumpkin roll WAS, so I figured this year I'd just spectate.

I should have brought a pumpkin and raced. Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

It was so mobbed I could hardly tell what was going on, but apparently a pumpkin roll involves decorated pumpkins placed on wheels and thrust down the street.

It was all very dorky and silly - just the sort of thing I love being part of, hence my disappointment that I hadn't looked into it more thoroughly & participated.

Life List Day 220 - Shop for Produce Locally

Inspired by the book I'm reading, Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan - which looks at how the dominance of "industrial farming" is affecting our health and our world - I decided to finally check out the local farmers market, which is every Friday noon to 4 p.m. The market promises "fruits and vegetables that are fresh picked, vine and tree ripened, and sold by certified farmers who grow the products at local farms."

I was overwhelmed by the tables and tables of heaping, unwashed food (I'm soooooooo spoiled by "salad in a bag" and Trader Joe's semi-prepared foods).

I bought some assorted vegetables. If I actually wash and eat them, I may just try the market again. It made me feel so supportive of my local farmers.

Life List Day 219 - Buy 800 Threadcount Pillowcases

I have a feeling the next few days of my life list will be fairly uninspired: the ashy air is making me a giant sneezy, wheezy ball of snot. If I can hardly breathe here at the beach, I can't imagine how people closer to the fires are faring.

Anyway, today I decided that my delicate face might enjoy sleeping up against a softer pillowcase (which is an indication of how well my experiment to sleep on my back is going...sigh). I went to Bed Bath and Beyond and bought some 800 threadcount pillowcases. They were pricey - $49 for two standard pillowcases - but I decided I'm worth it.

I haven't slept on them yet, but I held them against my face ... they make my old pillowcases feel like burlap sacks.

Life List Day 217 - See Wicked

Tonight, I went with my friend Michele to see the musical Wicked at the Pantages Theater. It's not something I'd normally do (I'm not big on musicals) but my friend said she's been wanting to see it, and I thought, "what the heck."

Actually, I read the book Wicked - which I loved - but wondered how on earth they were going to make play out of it without making everyone leave and slit their wrists. It wasn't exactly a cheery tale.

To my surprise, the play was funny, and a salute to friendship. The production numbers were entertaining, and whenever I see live theater I'm always amazed how these people can remember all their lines...plus sing them! I enjoyed myself quite a bit (although word to the guy in front of me with the world's largest head: SIT STILL).

Life List Day 215 - Make a Mummy

I'm getting into the Halloween spirit & decided to try a new recipe idea that I read about online: Mummies made with hog dogs and crescent roll dough.

Here's the finished product!

Basically, all I did was wrap a roll around a dog, cook it at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes, and add dots of mustard for the eyes.

I think they look pretty mummyish.

My son proclaimed them absolutely delicious - but he may just be saying that to be nice because he loves his mummy.

(Sorry...couldn't resist.)

Life List Day 214 - Go to a Clean House Garage Sale

Today I was sitting at a traffic light near my house when I noticed a sign for a garage sale...but not just any garage sale: One for the TV show Clean House on the Style Network. Immediately I was all atwitter - it's one of my favorite shows! Basically, a team of experts goes into the house of someone with an extraordinary amount of clutter, makes them get rid of stuff at a garage sale, and then uses the profits to decorate their house.

I raced home, threw on some makeup (just in case I wound up on TV), and headed over to the sale.

It was almost noon when I got there, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they had good stuff there earlier, because what a bunch of crap! I'd expected it to be mobbed, but there was just a handful of other shoppers.

Still, it was exciting - I saw the host Niecy Nash get into a van (if I'd have been even a minute later I'd have missed her), camera crews were everywhere, and the other "stars" Mark Brunetz (pictured above running some of his lines) and "Yard Sale Diva" Trish Suhr were there.

I chatted with the homeowners (who seemed shellshocked and exhausted) and made a point to buy something ($5 for a 5-CD set of jazz greats and a pyrex bowl) just so I could feel like I participated.

They weren't filming any shoppers at that point so I won't be on TV, but I can't wait to see the episode air!

Life List Day 213 - Go to Grow Market

There's a new produce store in Manhattan Beach everybody's talking about called Grow. Today, I finally got around to checking it out.

I've never seen such a tiny, perfect, clean little market in my life. I swear they must polish the vegetables. Of course, the prices reflected how pristine it was: kind of like when you go into some fashion boutique that only has a few racks of clothes and you know a sweater probably costs $3,000.

Actually, that's about what I paid for a pack of strawberries and raspberries.

OK, I paid $10, but still. $10!

They sure were perfect-looking though.

Life List Day 212 - See the Dixie Chicks and the Eagles in Concert

Loved it loved it loved it.

I can't remember the last time I went to a concert where I knew every song (and where everybody there was my age or older).

Anyway, the Chicks were awesome, as expected, at least by me.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Eagles. It was touch and go for a while - they opened with four songs from their new album and I feared they were doing that "we're tired of doing our old stuff, we've moved on" garbage - but then they moved into Hotel California (my favorite) & pretty much rocked the haaaouse after that.

Did I mention everybody was my age or older?

Life List Day 211 - Read the Obituaries

For my book club, I'm reading the book "The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries" by Marilyn Johnson. It looks at obits of all kinds - from those of celebs, "ordinary Joe's" and even the new type of obit created as a result of 9/11 and the desire to honor so many deaths at once.

I realized I've never really sat down and read the obituaries, so today I did.

I went online and read some in the LA and NY Times. It was fascinating! I read about Pavarotti -who was the big name I recognize recently - but then also about Werner Von Trapp (one of the sons in the Von Trapp family that inspired The Sound of Music), a stunt cyclist, a minister known for her hip-hop Friday night service, a crossword puzzle writer, an American Indian who protested the use of Indian names for sports teams, a haiku poet who survived WWII internment camps...and even Robert E. Lee.

I can see how people get hooked on reading these. There's a bit of history, some trivia...and even a tear-jerker here and there.

Life List Day 204 - Go to a Dive Bar With My Dad

For probably 15 years now I've been meaning to check out a local dive bar called The Mermaid - one of those places that opens to thirsty patrons at 7 a.m.

Today, my dad and I went there to have a beer.

It wasn't as divey as I'd expected it would be. As far as the other clientele: If I'm ever looking to meet a guy in his mid-fifties with a scruffy beard, no job and a possible drinking problem, I now know where to find a whole bunch of them to choose from.