December 2011

Congrats to ALIVE for starting their 7th season. Keep up the good work. In keeping with this theme we submit the following:

1. Who was the Oscar winning actor who played the killer in an unbilled part in “Seven?” (displayed as Se7en on the marquee)?
2. The most famous starting line in the late 30’s (they played both offense and defense in those days) was the Fordham line of 1939. One of their players was Vince Lombardi. What were they called?
3. Colossus of Rhodes and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are members of what famous group?
4. “Seven, that’s the time we leave at seven” are lyrics from a Doris Day hit song. What is that song?
5. When do baseball fans take a stretch during a game?
6. What was the name of the misfit gunmen hired to save a Mexican town, led by Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen?

November Answers

1. Anaheim, Azusa and Cucomonga
2. Senator Claghorn
3. Edgar Bergen
4. Hudson High
5. Cecil B. DeMille
6. The Mystic Knights of the Sea

WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate at The Uptown Cafe in downtown Danville, compliments of Ben Fernandez!
Entries must be received by December 20, 2011. In the event of a tie, the winner will be drawn at random. Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 3200A Danville Blvd., Suite 204, Alamo, CA 94507. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible.
Restaurant may be changed without notice.

They say the middle child makes the best comic. And just my luck, I happen to be that child. So maybe I was predestined to be the funny-maker in the family, or maybe, just maybe, on my birth day, I just came out funny.

Either way, I was born on the same day John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and while that part is not so funny, I did manage to find humor in it by telling people “ask not what I could do for you, but what you could do for me!”

Making ‘funny’ comes easy for middle peeps. We want all the attention (due us), and if it takes the stage to get it, or an elevator, then as my mother always said, “by all means.”

I look back at my growing years and think yah, it’s my turn now.

My older sister, by 10 months and 13 days (but who’s counting), was the pioneer. She forged through familial territory, carving out a place for herself in the home and hearts of others. She owned the bragging rights. She made headlines.

My younger brother (by two years and one day) stole gender rights. He made the sports page, above the fold.

I made the business page in sub-headlines, smaller font, page 10 or 11, depending on which daily; a section no one reads anyway because all their attention was lost on features or sports.

Stuck in the middle, I was sort of like the belly of the fam. I was not the cherished head, nor the spoiled feet, but the uncomfortable middle, the love handles (that no one really “loves”) — the donut roll with the first button unlatched to make room for lunch.

So I had to break out, break free; I’ve gotta be me (enter song made famous in 1968 by Sammy Davis Jr.) and there you have it—the middle-but-mighty. Okay, the poetic rhyme was completely unintentional, but you get my drift. ‘Attention-getter’ – that was my new “middle” name. Not Barbara.

As the funny middle child, my first break in “stand-up” with an audience came in the fifth grade. While the teacher wrote on the chalkboard, his back to us, I jumped out of my front row seat (not sure I’d have had the guts if I were in the back row), and gave my best imitation of “Mr. Lee at the blackboard.” The young crowd loved it, but my teacher decided to be the heckler who killed my set and sent me back to my seat, show over.
Still, the punishment was worth the reprimand. Laughter was my paycheck, even though it came from 10-year-olds. At least no one was drunk (except for Ellen, I had my doubts). For the most part, it was honest-to-goodness positive feedback on my then, raw talent.

I had nowhere to go but up from there. However, it wasn’t until years later, (oh, say about 25), that I would find myself on a real stage with a real audience and a real microphone (instead of chalk). Sound was much better.

At a comedy competition in San Francisco, where I was an audience-member, not a contender, I watched this one kid kill the audience (so awesome), with his mother sitting in the row directly in front of me. She asked me to watch her tan corduroy sports jacket (which I felt was way outdated at that time) while she visited the restroom. I agreed to be top notch security guard of her garment, but asked her what size it was, in case anyone should ask. She probably thought to herself, great … everyone’s a comic! I thought to myself, she had no idea how many of “us” are out there.

When she returned, jacket still draped around the back of her seat (because really, who would want such a thing), I asked her if she had other kids, to which she nodded yes, but added that this was the only one doing stand-up.

I had to ask her one more thing, which I was sure I knew the answer to. She replied, “Yes, he IS the middle child.”

With the holiday season upon us, my thoughts always return to the same thing every year. At the risk of sounding syrupy, I am grateful for my four “Fs”—my faith, family and friends, and for living in a country that provides the greatest measure of the fourth F to be found anywhere on the Earth—freedom. As a nation, even in light of the circumstances in which we find ourselves; with considerable challenges and difficulties, we still have so very much to celebrate and be thankful for.

In the spirit of the season, I believe it is long overdue that we recognize one particular group — one profession, to which it is no exaggeration to state that our entire system, indeed, our way of life, depends. Members of this profession have been mocked and maligned — the butt of numerous jokes — for as long, I would say, as relationships between people have existed.

Like anyone who has lived and worked for more than a “few” decades, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with a vast numbers of individuals of different professions; many with impressive resumes that include advanced degrees in their particular field — engineers, lawyers, doctors, accountants, educators, psychologists…you get the idea. By their accomplishment in earning their various professional ranks, by definition, all of these individuals have achieved “success.”

And yet, without exception, the degree to which these individuals have been able to use their advanced, specialized knowledge and training in productive ways has always been dependent upon other skills that, to my knowledge, are not included in any curricula of the aforementioned professions.

I am referring, if you haven’t already guessed, to the profession of sales. The act of “selling,” is a relational skill — many would say an art—which everyone possesses in some measure. Every job applicant must “sell” their prospective employer as to why they should get the job as opposed to other applicants, and when your group of friends decide which restaurant you’ll visit for your Friday night gathering, the one you go to will likely be determined by the individual with the most persuasive argument.

While we all possess a measure of sales ability, some have chosen sales to be their vocation — to sales “professionals” it is their passion. The fact is, professional sales people comprise much of the membrane between what is and what will be, as it is through effective selling that every new idea is advanced.

Sales professional ought to be appreciated and held in high esteem. So this holiday season, I pay a special tribute and thanks to sales professionals everywhere. You make all of our lives better for the work you do every day.

“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas, just like the ones I used to know. Where the tree tops glisten and children listen – to hear sleigh bells in the snow.” With these words and that song, Bing Crosby brought tears and joy to the thousands of GI Joes in World II. The song reminded them of home and of a childhood in the snowy Northern Hemisphere. But wait!  One half of this planet doesn’t get snow in December. For those who grew up in the Southern Hemisphere, December brings sunny days, warm beaches, and long, lazy days. Several of my trips have taken me to the Southern Hemisphere in November or December, and I was always taken aback when I saw holiday preparations being made while the folks were wearing shorts. Let me share a couple of these jolts with you.

The first time I realized my perception was a bit out of whack came during a visit to Santiago, Chile in late November. We came out of our downtown hotel in shorts and t-shirts into a pleasant, warm day. We stepped around a ladder where an employee was stringing colored lights. “Must be getting ready for some sort of a party or celebration,” we conjectured. “Yep, looks almost like Christmas,” we chuckled. A few blocks later reality set in when we passed a decorated Christmas tree in a store window. The surprise went on. Santas standing in shorts next to donation buckets. Very much like Christmas, except for the weather.

Another equally jolting revelation came to us in Sydney a few years later. We were relaxing one late afternoon in a German Hofbrau-style restaurant in the area of Sydney known as “The Rocks.” A chorus of lederhosen-clad lads and dirndl-wearing maids arrived and began entertaining us with songs in German. After a melody or two, we realized they were singing Christmas Carols. Hey – it’s eighty degrees outside and not a flake of snow in sight. We also enjoyed a little side show here. There was a church which had erected a fair-sized stage near its entrance. The curtain was closed, and a sign proclaimed, “Coming soon.” A few days later we passed by and the curtain was drawn open – and a full-sized nativity scene was displayed.

A humorous scene happened in Dubai. Admittedly, this city is not in the Southern Hemisphere, but it hasn’t had a snow storm in recorded history. Outside that is. At the Mall of the Emirates it snows daily inside the enclosed area where people can ski in twenty seven degree weather, while it hovers in the nineties or higher outside. They don’t decorate the fake pines in this enclosed area, obviously due to the overwhelming Muslin population. But as you meander through the shopping part of the mall you are exposed to some Christmas sights. For example, we saw a fully-dressed and decked-out Santa Claus – but instead of the usual red outfit this guy wore bright blue!

One more for good measure. This one was in Quito, Ecuador. The country sits right on the equator, but it does have very high ice-covered peaks in the Andes which surround it. Nevertheless, it is warm and sunny at Christmas time. Being a very religious nation, Ecuador is crowded with churches and cathedrals which are almost as prevalent as they are in Europe. Once again, we found ourselves surprised when the stores began displaying lighted and decorated Christmas trees in November. Here though, the emphasis was more on wise men, nativity scenes, and angels hovering over babies in cribs. Santa and his elves apparently do not travel this far south. Fortunately, all the trees we saw were of the plastic type as pine and spruce are not part of the Ecuadorian environment.

Diversity on this planet always surprises me. These Southern Hemisphere holiday manifestations contrast so much with my visits to cities like Heidelberg and Nuremberg in Germany. I suppose we adapt to our locations and tailor our memories to fit the surroundings.

Nissan introduced the Rogue compact crossover back in 2008. The 2012 Nissan Rogue compact SUV is pretty much a carryover of the 2011 Rogue that was refreshed mid-cycle. For 2012 the Rogue receives a new grille and front fascia, chrome-accented door moldings, rear spoiler, new color options and new features including Bluetooth and a USB port.

The 2012 Rogue is placed between the larger Nissan Murano and the smaller Nissan Juke. The styling has remained true to itself over the previous four years. A redesigned version is due next year as a 2013 model.

The 2012 Nissan Rogue is offered in two trims: S, and SV. All models come standard with front-wheel drive and an optional all-wheel drive system. Nissan Rogue crossover SUV adds a new Special Edition package for 2012, along with revised content for the various option packages. The Rogue is one of the best-selling vehicles in the Nissan lineup.

The new high-value Special Edition package ($1,200) includes steering wheel audio controls, Rear View Monitor, 4.3-inch audio display, USB connectivity, satellite radio, fog lights, and privacy glass. Other enhancements for 2012 include the addition of a new “Sport Mode” switch on all models, new 17-inch (SV) and 16-inch (Special Edition) aluminum-alloy wheels, and one new exterior color, Graphite Blue. Also, the SL Package adds the innovative Around View® Monitor.

The Rogue is among the lengthiest compact crossovers. Nissan describes the exterior as “an image of modern sophistication.” I would say the styling follows the general Nissan conservative theme; this is not to say that it is boring. This vehicle is actually quite nice; just not over-the-top. The front and rear wheel wells have dramatic arches with a belt line that sweeps upward at the rear creating a line that meets up with the swooping roofline.

The Rogue which seats five has a rather spacious interior for the front passengers and average for those in the rear. The cargo capacity ranges from 28.9 cubic feet to 57.9 cubic feet with the second row seat folded down. The interior was fairly comfortable with soft points on a rounded dash. Controls were easy to access and use with silver trim.

Performance on the Rogue comes in the form of one engine offering: 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder that delivers 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. The engine is tuned to provide ample torque in the low-to-mid rpm range for a smooth and powerful acceleration. Every Rogue trim comes standard with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT™. A new Sport Mode switch is added for 2012. Fuel economy is rated at 22 mpg City and 28 mpg highway for the front wheel drive models and 22 city/26 highway for the all-wheel drive models.

Room for improvement:

• Maximum cargo volume could be improved

Cool Features:

• New Sport Mode
• Optional Around View® Monitor feature, which utilizes four small superwide-angle cameras – mounted on the front, side and rear of the vehicle – to provide a virtual 360° view of objects around the vehicle

Handling response is enhanced with an electric power-assisted steering system. The Rogue comes equipped with 4-wheel independent suspension and wheel sizes that range from 16-inch to 18-inch.

The standard safety equipment for the 2012 Nissan Rogue includes six standard air bags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, brake assist and vehicle dynamic control with traction control system.

In Summary – The 2012 Nissan Rogue is a fun and attractive crossover. The only question might be whether to wait for the all-new version due in 2013. You might also consider waiting to see Nissan offers special price promotions on the 2012 inventory to make room for the 2013 models. Either way, the 2012 Nissan Rogue is a fine value.

Specifications

2012 Nissan Rogue S FWD with the Special Edition package

Base price:  $21,530 as driven: $23,730 (including destination)
Engine: 2.5-liter 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 170 @ 6000
Torque: 175 foot pounds @ 4400
Transmission: Continuously Variable (CVT) with Sport Mode
Drive: Front Wheel-Drive
Seating: 5-passenger
Turning circle: 37.4 feet
Cargo space: 57.9 cubic feet
Curb weight: 3292 pounds
Fuel capacity: 15.9 gallons
EPA mileage: City 23 / Highway 28
Wheel Base: 105.9 inches
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper

Also consider: Dodge Nitro, Ford Edge, Honda CRV, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep  Wrangler, and Toyota Rav4

 

 

 

 

“Just win baby,” the famous words of legend, Al Davis, still motivates the players of the Oakland Raiders. The “must win” attitude of all professional athletes is “why we play the game,” so it goes. Winning at all costs seems to be the measure of success for many coaches, athletes and programs, throughout the world.

It is easy to get caught up in this thinking, and I too, love to see my favorite teams and players win. But winning is a by-product of a combination of many things, built around one fundamental principle: improvement.

In the profession of golf, if someone’s goal is to win, many things need to be broken down, analyzed, built back up and kept in a proper perspective. Golf is a number’s game and, obviously, winning means shooting the lowest score. A golfer will need to develop many aspects of their game to be at their best. This will include their focus and concentration. There are many levels in the golf competition ladder so I will assume, whether the player is a junior, amateur or professional, the level is appropriate for their skill level.

I am a big believer in setting long and short term goals. I am also a big believer in setting goals of improvement in all areas and maybe choosing a weak area to attack first. Let’s say, for example, that a player is trying to learn to hit the ball farther. It’s important to address with that player the benefits, but to also point out how that will directly relate to short term scoring. The number one player in the world recently admitted that since he stopped trying to hit the ball further, his scores have improved.  He set a goal to hit the ball farther, believing it would help him shoot lower scores and win more tournaments. The current number one in the world, Luke Donald, now say’s that was a mistake. So, if a player decides that they want to increase club speed, it’s important for me to help them see the big picture and how that may or may not be beneficial.

I have a few students who do have all aspects of their game in order and their improvement has been impressive. They still are hungry for “wins.” They are in a place where they are learning how to win. Perhaps it might better be called “conditioning their minds to perform at the highest level possible, to be the best they can be.” These players often let the importance of winning get in their way. They have the tools but get into situations where they don’t quite perform well enough to finish first, or at least play their best. They are “getting in their own way,” or, “beating themselves.”

I recently heard a coach of the 49er’s say, “WIN broken down means WHAT”S IMPORTANT NOW.” I translate that to mean, “playing in the moment or playing one shot at a time.” This is most certainly a way to improve focus and concentration. Thinking ahead or dwelling on the past breaks your concentration. These never have beneficial results. What’s important now challenges us to stay in the present and maintain focus. So if you’re competing for a win at any level, whether that’s to win your flight or to qualify for some event, remind yourself to focus on what’s important, now. That will help you to stay focused and not get ahead of yourself.

Please contact Dave at 925 997-3683 or ddelongolf@aol.com for lessons or program information. Gift certificates are also available.

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?
Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition in which there is damage to the peripheral nervous system, which transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. This can result in pain, tingling, loss of feeling, and inability to control muscles. As with any other condition, there is no “one size fits all” remedy for those suffering from this malady and treatment may vary depending on the cause and severity. However, many individuals find relief using natural remedies.

Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition that affects people in every walk of life. It is estimated that 20 million Americans and 60% of diabetics suffer from this disorder. There are hundreds of different kinds of neuropathy, the symptoms of which include burning, tingling, weakness, numbness, paralysis, and dull to excruciating pain – especially in the limbs.

Although many neuropathies have no known cause, neuropathy is often associated with another condition, such as: Diabetes, HIV, shingles, toxins, autoimmune disorders, neurological conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome, and malnutrition. Statin (cholesterol) drugs and chemotherapy can also cause neuropathy.

While medications can sometimes help with the symptoms, they cannot be relied upon to restore the health of the nerves. Most often the drugs that treat Neuropathy leave the sufferer feeling intoxicated and hopeless to lead a normal active life.

Understanding the Nervous System
Nerves carry the electrical signals that allow us to move, feel, breath, digest, detoxify, respond to our environment, and much more. Nerves are the electrical wiring of the human body. Plain and simple, if the nerves do not work the body will not work, in some capacity. It is also important to understand that unlike other tissues, the primary blood supply to nerve tissue is actually located WITHIN the nerve itself. So, if a nerve becomes impinged or compromised, so does the blood supply to the nerve. Without proper blood supply, the nerve does not receive the energy and nutrition that are needed for the nerve to heal itself. Over time neural impingement leads to a painful chronic condition called Neuropathy.

Natural help for Neuropathy sufferers
For the past eleven years Align Healing Center has been offering many natural therapies to soothe and heal painful neuropathies. In 2009 we began using Class IV Laser Therapy and the results have been outstanding! Class IV Laser Therapy allows the practitioner to stimulate healing within the nerve tissue by delivering the necessary energy directly to the injured area. During each painless treatment, laser energy increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. Laser therapy is a photochemical process that is able to bypass the arterial “highway” that has been compromised. During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level and metabolically increases the activity within the cell, improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. In other words, NO MORE Pain, NO MORE Numbness, NO MORE Tingling and NO MORE Burning! Depending on the type and severity of neuropathy we have witnessed patients begin to get relief after the first visit and with continued care receive complete relief long-term.

Dr. Niele Maimone of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA has been active in natural health & wellness since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

Q. My wife bought a pale, lavender Clematis vine last summer and planted it along a south-facing fence. The new growth is on the top three to four inches of a seven-foot long, pencil thin stem that’s burned to boot. Should we cut it down really short and hope for the best next spring?

A. I wouldn’t be overly concerned now, as the foliage probably has turned yellow, as the plant has gone dormant. While dormant, prune off all the growth at the base. This can be done now or you can wait until March. You should select the time that’s most convenient for you. Most Clematis varieties are deciduous, so they drop their leaves and the new growth emerges from the base in the spring. There are two varieties, Armandi and Avalanche, that are evergreen with white flowers. Clematis thrives in a southern exposure as long as its roots are kept cool, moist and insulated from the afternoon sun, June through September. The roots should be shaded during the heat of the day but it’s okay for the foliage to be in the sunny afternoon exposure. A two-inch layer of mulch is the recommended method of protecting the surface roots. It should be spread evenly from the trunk to beyond the drip line. This is especially important when the temperatures are over eighty-five degrees. This may explain the scorching or burnt stems last year. Also, the lack of vegetation will expose the stems to sunburn on those very hot days. A good balance fertilizer provides the nutrients necessary to encourage the growth through out the growing season. I’d make my first application after pruning and follow up with regular repeat applications. You may need to transplant the Clematis if the present location isn’t adequate. This can be also done in March or earlier. Clematis is watered three times a week and more often when the temperatures are over eighty-five degrees. They do not develop large thick stems like other vines so the pencil thin stem(s) is typical. Deciduous plants big advantage over evergreens is that they shed all the mistakes from the pervious year. So, you start fresh with the new year.

 
Q: I have a nice sized Boston Fern but I found on the back of a single frond these perfect dots the other day. They’re a rusty, brown color and in perfect rows. I’ve removed the frond. What are they and how do I prevent it from reoccurring?

A. Ah, Mother Nature is wonderful. What you were witnessing is the beginnings of the plant’s reproductive cycle. Unlike other plants that produce seed, ferns produce spores. The spores are the reddish brown dots; however, they’re sterile so they will never produce new plants. This is typical on many varieties of ferns. Tissue culture and/or plant divisions are the primary method of reproducing ferns. The sterile spores have an aesthetic value so I wouldn’t remove the fronds. Besides, they’re going to continually form naturally anyway.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 94523

 

The Bay Area is hardly a college football hotbed.

The local schools ostensibly competing for the national title, Cal and Stanford, have stringent admission standards which make it difficult to attract enough elite athletes to compete at the highest levels. And unlike places like Norman, Oklahoma and Tuscaloosa, Alabama; there are loads of professional sports and other entertainment alternatives that tend to distract the focus of local sports fans.

Thanks to Stanford football and its quarterback Andrew Luck, this year could be a major exception to the usual state of affairs. Instead of being a college football backwater, the Bay Area could find itself as the home of the Heisman Trophy winner, the top pick in the NFL draft, and a contender to play in the BCS Championship Game next month.

Stanford was undefeated through October and faced mostly home games the rest of the way. Luck was a Heisman Trophy finalist last year and has been touted as the 2011 frontrunner since he announced last winter that he would return to Stanford for what technically is his redshirt junior season.

Luck’s story is especially compelling. He was widely expected to be the number one choice in the 2011 NFL Draft, which can be worth upwards of $30 million. The only college head coach he had known, Jim Harbaugh, had left to lead the 49ers. Despite all that, he chose to stay in college to pursue his degree in architecture and enjoy the college life for one more year.

“I am committed to earning my degree in architectural design from Stanford University and am on track to accomplish this at the completion of the spring quarter of 2012,” Luck said in a statement at the time of his decision.

And while Luck has been portrayed as an excellent student who fits in well as part of the Stanford community, it is unusual for someone who has been a Heisman runner-up, a finalist for several other prestigious awards, and MVP of the Orange Bowl to come back to college football and accept the risk of injury and the loss of millions of dollars. Even if he did not get hurt, Luck was risking the fate of Matt Leinart who returned for one last year at USC after winning the Heisman and the National Championship. Leinart slipped a bit on the field, fell in the draft, lost some money, was a disappointment with the Arizona Cardinals, and is struggling to regain his touch as a journeyman backup in the NFL.

Unlike Leinart, Luck has been better on the field this year, is avoiding injury and is still in position to cash in. His father, former NFL quarterback and now Athletic Director at the University of West Virginia Oliver Luck, said: “This is a win-win for him. He gets to spend another year at Stanford, be part of a highly-ranked team, finish his degree and enjoy Palo Alto. It’s not like the NFL is going anywhere, it’s one of the best run leagues in the world. It will still be there when he graduates.”

By Dec. 10 Luck will know if he won the Heisman. The BCS Bowl games take place in early January, and Stanford is in line for strong consideration to get a bid. The 2012 NFL Draft which will tell Luck where he will be playing and living the next few years is in April, and the negotiations that could set him and his family financially for several generations will last through the spring. Through all this he will try and finish his degree.

Yes, the next few months will be some of the most memorable of Luck’s life and will put a unique and unusual spotlight on Bay Area college football.

 

In a perfect world I would spend this month leisurely baking cookies, tying tartan ribbons around the hundreds of(imaginary) jars of jam I made last summer, and writing personal notes in every single holiday card. But the reality of December is an entirely different matter. In addition to my regular work schedule, there are dozens of parties to attend, an inordinate amount of cooking and entertaining at home, and lots of time spent with friends with whom I may have lost touch during the year. Paired with endless trips to the grocery store and last-minute shopping for gifts, it’s easy to become frazzled and lose sight of what’s really important. I know. I do it every year.

An early morning excursion to the farmers’ market is my personal form of therapy, however. No nasty traffic jams or cranky shoppers at that hour. No fluorescent lights or recorded carols to raise my anxiety level. Just warm people and nature at its most beautiful, in the crisp morning air.(If the truth be told, I secretly enjoy the rainy mornings even more, when only the most discriminating shoppers show up.)

While I pick up what I’ll need for weekday meals and potlucks, I scout out the many bargains available at the market. Along with fragrant wreaths and seasonal flowers, gifts of good taste abound. Our farmers’ market carries much more than perishable produce; there is locally produced extra virgin olive oil, vinegars, artisan jams and preserves, and glistening jars of sun-dried tomatoes. All make deliciously practical gifts.

As I linger over all the little bags of freshly dried fruits and nuts at the market, my mind always wanders back to the kitchen. Gifts from the kitchen show you care—but procrastinators like us don’t have much time for starting a new project mid-December. Then my mind turns to chocolate bark. Homemade candy in less than an hour. No thermometers, no marble slabs, no sugar that refused to caramelize. Easy breezy.

Face it: this is a chocolate-coated month. There is simply no way around it. But joining the masses doesn’t mean you can’t sneak a few healthy ingredients into the mix. And it’s the quality of the ingredients that give this recipe the edge.

Good chocolate abounds in the Bay Area, and buying in bulk makes it affordable. As far as all the bumpy little goodies that lend personality and flavor to your bark, shopping at the farmers’ market ensures the nuts are part of this year’s crop—not something recently liberated from a warehouse freezer—and the dried fruit is consistently plump and moist.

Packaging is also key: I opt to pack homemade bark in either clear cellophane bags tied with red-and-white bakers’ twine, or plain white Chinese takeout boxes. (Most restaurant supply stores sell them in large plastic sleeves for next-to-nothing.) Or, when I find small tins that aren’t festooned with crazy caricatures of snowmen and reindeer with red noses, I stock up on them. If you’re a thrift shop or flea market kind of person, you can usually find great prices on single china plates—so pretty to pile a mound of bark on top, and wrap in clear cellophane with a festive bow.

A custom-made gift has never been simpler.

Chocolate Bark with California Nuts and Fruit

• 2/3 cup unsalted California slivered almonds, coarsely chopped walnuts, or pistachios
• 1 to 2 teaspoons coarse sea salt or kosher salt, to taste
• 1 cup dried California fruit, such as chopped apricots or figs, cherries, or dark or golden raisins
• 1 pound semisweet or other favorite chocolate, finely chopped

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the nuts in a pan and bake, stirring once or twice, until just golden and fragrant, 7 to 9 minutes for almonds or walnuts; or 5 to 7 minutes for pistachios. Sprinkle with salt and toss gently to coat. Set aside to cool.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a heatproof bowl set over a pot of barely simmering water, add about two-thirds of the chopped chocolate. Cook over low heat just until melted. Remove the bowl and add the remaining chocolate; stir gently with a rubber spatula until melted and smooth.
3. Pour the warm chocolate onto the parchment paper and spread into a rectangle that roughly measures13-by-9-inches. Working quickly so the chocolate doesn’t set, scatter the salted nuts and dried fruit evenly over the top; then gently tap the baking sheet on a counter to remove any air bubbles and allow the toppings to sink into the chocolate slightly. Refrigerate until firm, at least 15 minutes. Break the bark into irregularly shaped pieces. Serve at once, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Makes about 1 1/2 pounds—enough for 3 generous gifts.

Some thoughts on making your bark as good as your bite:

• Most people agree that chopping chocolate can be tedious, but it makes the whole melting process go such much faster and efficiently, you really don’t want to take a shortcut here. I find a serrated bread knife makes the job a little easier.
• For a change, top the bark with chopped crystallized ginger and/or candied orange zest.
• Or add a little zip to the chocolate by stirring in a teaspoon or two of chipotle or other chili powder and a generous pinch of ground cinnamon
• For those who choose to gild the lily, melt a little white chocolate and drizzle it over the completed bark. A holiday homage to Jackson Pollock.

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com.