Off the I-15

Normally we would have re-written this account in our own words, but Dan Foster, the author of the following e-mail nails it.

I thought this might be an interesting story ? Yesterday, my girlfriend (Joni) who is a 48 year old dental assistant in Barstow, noticed two black men breaking into her new rental car through the window of her dental office. In her scrubs, and leaving a patient still in his chair with his mouth open, she bolted out the back door and tackled one of them and wrestled him to the ground, thwarting the car theft or robbery. The guy was totally surprised and was screaming and fighting to get her off him. She wrestled him on the concrete until he was able to squeak out of his jacket. He got up and ran away. She got his jacket; she handed it to the police officers.

The other guy was chased by Joni’s co-worker (Tami) back into his apt complex. The girls raised enough attention, that the apt manager noticed and was able to identify the men and where they live.

This long, lanky, muscular 48 year old soccer mom has a few bumps and bruises… but a good story to tell.

Thanks Dan and good job Joni and Tami.

The holiday season can be a deadly mix of travel, parties and bad weather for many in California. Alcohol-related deaths on California’s roadways increase between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Agencies across California encourage people who decide to drink to appoint and designated driver and to drive defensively during the season.
Here are some other tips:

How to report a drunken driver

• Call 911 and tell them you wish to report a drunk driver.
• Give the exact location of the vehicle, including the name of the road or cross streets and the direction the vehicle is traveling.
• Give a complete description of the vehicle, such as make, model, color and license plate.
• Describe the manner in which the vehicle is being driven.

How to Spot a Drunk Driver
The following signs can help you detect an impaired driver on the road:
• Turning with a wide radius
• Straddling the center of the road or lane marker
• Appearing to be drunk (i.e., eye fixation, face close to windshield, drinking in the vehicle)
• Almost striking an object or another vehicle
• Weaving or zigzagging across the road
• Driving on surfaces other than a designated roadway
• Swerving or abruptly turning away from a generally straight course
• Turning abruptly or illegally
• Driving slower than 10 mph below the speed limit
• Stopping without cause in a traffic lane
• Stopping inappropriately
• Following others too closely
• Drifting or moving in a straight line
• Erratic braking
• Driving into opposing or crossing traffic
• Signaling that is inconsistent with driving actions
• Slow response to traffic signals, including sudden stops and delayed starts
• Driving with headlights off
source: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Try these non-alcoholic cocktails at your next party. Your non-drinking guests and designated drivers will thank you!

Virgin Bloody Mary

1 can tomato juice
1 ounce lime juice
3 ounces club soda
3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
2 pinches cumin powder
1 shake of celery salt
1 teaspoon horseradish

Mix all ingredients except club soda into a large pitcher.
Salt the rim of a highball glass.
Add club soda to glass, then add the Bloody Mary Mix (from step 1).
Garnish with celery stalk and top with lemon pepper.

Freshing Raspberry Daiquiri

2 ounces Sweet & Sour mix
2 ounces Sierra Mist Soda
4 ounces of raspberry puree
Whipped cream

Place ingredients in blender and add ice.
Mix until desired thickness.
Pour into a tall glass and top with whipped cream.

Tommy O’Collins

½ cup club soda
1 and a half tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon rum extract
1 to 2 packets sweetener 1 to 2 ice cubes

Combine ingredients in blender.
Blend on high for 10 seconds until light and frothy.
Pout over ice into tall glass.
Makes one 8 ounce serving.

Sweet and Sassy Mary

1 cup vegetable cocktail juice
1 to 2 packets sweetener
1 dash celery salt
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
2 drops Tabasco
1 lime wedge
1 cucumber spear for garnish

Combine all ingredients, except lime and cucumber, in an old-fashioned glass and stir well.
Squeeze lime wedge over mixture and add wedge to drink.
Stir and garnish to serve.

Bald Bishop

1 ounce chilled orange juice
1 and one half ounces lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar De-alcoholized burgundy or other non-alcoholic wine

Fill tall glass halfway with ice.
Add orange juice, lemon juice and sugar.
Top off with burgundy.

Chocolate Amaretto Crème

½ cup evaporated milk
¼ cup club soda
½ tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
2 to 3 packets sweetener
¼ teaspoon almond extract
1 dash bitters
1 to 2 ice cubes
Combine all ingredients in blender.
Blend on high for 10 seconds, until smooth and creamy.
Pour into cocktail glass and serve with straw.

Sparkling Julep

De-alcoholized sparkling white wine or non-alcoholic white grape juice
Mint-flavored sparkling water
Sprig of mint
For each serving, combine in champagne flute, white “wine” and sparkling water in roughly equal portions.
With sweeter “wines” use slightly more mint mixer to taste.

Texas Sunrise

8 ounces chilled orange juice
¾ ounce grenadine syrup
Cracked or shaved ice (optional)
Add orange juice to glass and add grenadine.
Let syrup settle on the bottom or stir, as desired.
Add ice (optional) if desired.

Tropical NOT-A-Colada

¾ cup unsweetened pineapple juice
½ banana
2 to 3 packets of sweetener
1 teaspoon lime juice
¼ teaspoon coconut extract
3 to 4 ice cubes

Combine ingredients in blender.
Blend on high for 30 seconds, until smooth and creamy.
Pour into fancy glass and serve with straw.

source: The California Office of Traffic Safety