One place that is nearby and good for a hike this time of year is Arastradero Park Preserve at 1530 Arastradero Road, 1/4 mile north of Page Mill Road. (http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/community-services/nat-arastradero.html) In the summer months, this park can be uncomfortably hot unless you get there in the early morning or later in the evening. But in this season, it's quite comfortable and less crowded than The Dish and the Baylands. I've seen coyotes at this park a few times. Once I wasn't paying attention and my daughter put out her arm to block me from moving forward while a coyote crossed the trail directly in front of me. I've also seen wild turkeys and lots of other birds. I haven't seen any mountain lions. But they have been sighted here and elsewhere recently. So the city has posted warning signs here and even at The Dish to be alert and avoid walking alone in the early morning or closer to dusk.

 Yesterday, I was walking on The Dish in the mid-afternoon (between 3-4). My friend was telling me about a recent mountain lion attack on some goats at Hidden Villa (http://www.hiddenvilla.org/), which is another nearby spot with trails and eco-environmental educational programs for children.  At the Dish, there are generally enough people on the walking path that I think the risk of attack is very unlikely. But on our way down the last portion of the trail, we did pass some women who nervously asked us if we'd seen any mountain lions. We admitted to being disappointed that we hadn't seen any.

Short Confession  

After an initial burst of activity on my Palo Alto blog, I skipped town for a while. First to a folk-dance workshop. Then for a long overdue visit to the San Diego area.

My husband and I did visit the still beautiful, historic but vibrant Hotel Del Coronado while there. Now that's a hotel that I'd love to stay in! Unfortunately, it doesn't quite fit our budget.

When I returned to Palo Alto, the weather was frosty and I was busy catching up on coursework for the short-story and memoir classes that I've been taking this semester at Foothill College. Yes, your part-time Palo Alto Blogger and Young at Heart Diva (see www.tangodiva.com for my articles about travel outside of Palo Alto) is actually a wanna be fiction/memoir writer.

In my spare time, I go to yoga three times a walk, dance two nights a week, take numerous walks on The Dish and the Baylands. I've been meaning to go on for a walk at one of the other local places that I like to hike--so I could take pictures to post on the blog.

I decided to go ahead and tell you about them anyway. I can always post pictures later.

Born in Jerusalem in 1939, Oz is well-known as one of Israel's most outstanding writers (he was awarded the Israel Prize for Literature in 19 and a leading proponent of the peace movement. 

Location for the Step Out event is the Los Altos Youth Center , 1 North San Antonio Road , Los Altos ,  which is directly behind the Los Altos City Hall .  Doors open at 11:30.  Deborah Rhode of Stanford University Law School will speak at the rally.

Today's matinee performance was sold out. But tickets are still available for other performances.  http://tickets.thepear.org/

"Ambition Facing West"
Presented by TheatreWorks. Playwright Anthony Clarvoe adapts his own family history in the exploration of the immigrant experience. Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.; Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 and 7 p.m. Jan. 17-Feb. 11; $20-$60. Call 463-1960 or visit www.theatreworks.org. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View

Dreams of freedom and fulfillment send a family ever westward throughout the past century, from turn-of-the-century Croatia to 1940s Wyoming and finally to 1980s Japan. Full of riches for the mind and heart, it is a wise and wonderfully evocative exploration of the immigrant experience, an intriguing tale of heritage and identity spread across generations of parents and children caught between holding close and letting go.

or

The newest addition to the local theatre scene is located in downtown Palo Alto, between University and Hamilton Ave. You can eat at one of the many wonderful downtown restaurants and stroll over to the theatre afterwards:

"Humble Boy "by Charlotte Jones
Comedy goes on a journey of garden variety through black holes, bee hives, and brilliance. Thu.-Say., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Jan. 12-Feb. 4. Email tickets@dragonproductions.net. for tickets. Cash and check only at door. $13-$25. For more information, call Meredith Hagedorn at 493-2006 or e-mail tickets@dragonproductions.net or visit www.dragonproductions.net. Dragon Productions, 535 Alma St., Palo Alto.  

...a modern-day Shakespearesque dramatic-comedy about broken vows, failed hopes, and the joys of beekeeping. 

After watching Al Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth, we broke down and bought a hybrid car. I keep hearing about melting glaciers, etc. I know some of the possible disaster scenarios, floods, etc. But I haven't heard or don't remember much about the impact of global warming on our health.

Curious? Try checking this out:

Dr. Judy Klein of UCSF will discuss the impacts on human health from global warming. Jan. 16, 7-9 p.m. $5 members/$10 general.

For more information, call Ellen Wilkinson at (650)962-9876 ext. 306 or e-mail ellenw@acterra.org or visit www.acterra.org. Peninsula Conservation Center, 3921 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto

I missed seeing "Who Killed the Electric Car?" when it was playing in the cinemas. But it got good reivews. Tonight you can see it for free.

"Who Killed the Electric Car?"
Film showing and discussion with actor Chelsea Sexton, Stanford University's Sarah Jain, and David Kirsch from the University of Maryland. Free and open to the public. Light snacks provided. Parking is free on campus after 4 p.m. Jan. 16, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. For more information, call Rosemary Rogers at (8 270-2911 or e-mail rrogers@stanford.edu or visit HPST.stanford.edu/colloquia.html. Cubberley Auditorium, 485 Lasuen Mall, Stanford

"Images of Spain"

Beauty Clinica
200 A California Ave.
Palo Alto
(650)326-3442
http://www.beautyclinica.com/

Facials and massage are also available. See their website for more information.

One of my favorite cosmeticians is Natasha. But she was on jury duty this week. So I tried someone new, Alex, and was very pleased. During the pedicure, she gave me a great foot massage. After all the hiking and dancing that I do, my feet really appreciated it.

Kishimoto replaces outgoing Mayor Judy Kleinberg.

A long time supporter of energy conservation and getting people out of their cars, Kishimoto can often be sighted biking around town.

For more information on Kishimoto, see

http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=4312

and

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/16425209.htm