61 Going On 20

I have an addictive personality. So I generally avoid temptations like video games, slot machines, chocolate*, vicodine... But in the interest of "self improvement", I gave in to buying a Nintendo DS Lite, for the primary purpose of "training" my mind with the Brain Age software.

According to Brain Age muse Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, "Simple math...and saying answers out loud activates the brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex, which governs the most essential living functions for humans, such as cognition, emotion and memory." So for the past 3 weeks, I've devoted at least 20 minutes a day to his brain training via simple math, word puzzles, and memory games.

At the end of each session, I get a "Brain Age Check". On Day 1, I clocked in at an embarrassing 61 years...(no offense, >61-year olds). Today, I'm 27 with synapses flaring, working towards Dr. K's recommended brain age of 20, and engaging in some healthy competition with my guy who can't accept that his older wife may have a keener mind. Give up, old man.

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*I lied. I rarely avoid chocolate.

Are You Prepared?

I was lying in the hallway with my guts hanging out, surrounded by a dozen others - some crying out in pain, others moaning in semi-consciousness, and a few silently deceased. James, an SFFD paramedic, moved swiftly among the scattered bodies, assessing the severity of our injuries and expertly tying colored triage tape around our wrists - yellow for non-life-threatening injuries; red for life-threatening ones; and black for the already-departed. The few green-tagged "walking wounded" helped calm the live victims with soothing words. Though I was tagged red and promised high-priority passage when the ambulance arrived, I knew -- as I gazed down at the bloody entrails on my lap -- that there was no hope for me.

This was one of several similarly dramatic scenes around SFO today during the airport's Earthquake 2009 Full-Scale Exercise. As a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)-trained volunteer, I had the chance to get moulaged as an injured victim (along with >100 others) for this drill, which simulated rescue efforts after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake. On October 17, the Bay Area will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, the last "big one" that hit the region.

According to SFO Director John Martin, "While federal law mandates we hold a major exercise only once every three years, SFO holds one every year to ensure that all emergency responders and our mutual aid support agencies are current and familiar with every facet of the airport's emergency response plan."

No matter how well-coordinated the responders, though, the main take-home message from this exercise, the CERT training, and Hurricane Katrina (etc.) is this: We the average citizen should expect to be "on our own" for at least 3-5 days following a major disaster. Time to restock those emergency supplies and revisit our family disaster plan.

Mad About Mendhi

I love mendhi (or henna), at least the way professional mendhi artist Deepali adorned our hands with it at last night's pre-wedding party. While the ceremonial designs looked best when the greenish black ink was first applied -- and then expertly accented with flourescent glitter, as a modern touch -- this ancient art reveals itself in the ornate patterns that endure on the flesh for days, sometimes weeks, in a deep orange hue.

Deepali, a self-taught 15-year veteran, estimated decorating 20 to 25 hands during her 2-hour shift. Her smooth and skilled control of the "cone" - a fine-tipped triangular tube filled with henna paste -- not only awed each woman receiving the treatment; she also drew a captivated audience who gawked in hushed silence and snapped photos without flash so as not to disrupt the artist's concentration.

Afterwards, we stood around in statuesque poses, holding our arms like opera-singers as we shrugged our shoulders to upbeat Indian music. As my mind wanders back to the question, "Do I like these temporary tattoos enough to make 'em permanent?" Hmmm...

Kickin' it Old Skool

We recently checked out Sunday Brunch at Cora Jean's Old Skool Café, a 1940s-themed "youth run supper club" that employs young folk from the surrounding Bayview-Hunter's Point community. Teresa Goines, a former correctional officer who founded the faith-based violence prevention program in 2004, named it after her mother, the source of her inspiration.

Temporarily borrowing space from Emmitt Powell's Soul Food Restaurant every Sunday through September 20, Old Skool Café is serving up a Gospel Brunch Series to raise funds to transform the abandoned 1912 Potrero Hill Police Station and Jail (pictured) in the Dogpatch district into their permanent home. Among their goals: to "re-connect the village" and "provide solid alternatives to a life of crime and poverty...through intensive mentoring, life skills and professional development."

We were met at the door by Ms. Goines' inviting smile, and efficiently ushered to our table by our nervous but amiable waitress Ashley, donned in a cute black dress and impressive red hat. The bustling atmosphere was comfortable and friendly, like one big cheery family. So it was apropos that our party of 3 ate "family style" and shared our main dishes (BBQ beef ribs, fried chicken, and fried snapper); and sides (mustard greens, red beans and rice, mac 'n cheese, and mashed potatoes), before diving into our own servings of peach cobbler for dessert. All the while, we were treated to some stirring musical talent that made us raise our eyebrows at each other in awe. I found 11-year old A.J. especially captivating as she belted out a gospel song, pulling the mic away from her with a deep frown and closed eyes as she hit the loudest notes.

They still need to iron out some kinks in their customer service -- like neglecting our complimentary cornbread muffins as we gazed forlorn at our neighbors'; and mixing up table checks -- but otherwise, at a prix fixe of $20, this was an afternoon well-spent on a good cause.