my life of/with books

All during 2014 I would jot down the titles of books that I have loved.
I was working on my Top Ten, but now it's way more and I can't leave any
of these out. Then I was going to get the titles perfect and include the
authors' names, but that would be another month. So in NO particular
order and with a few mistakes, here are some of my faves:

• Motherless Brooklyn
• Shipping News
• Billy Lynne's Long Halftime Walk
• Gold Finch
• Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
• Holidays on Ice
• Bel Canto
• Life of Pi
• 1000 Acres
• Map of the World
• Orphan Master's Son
• Cutting the Stone
• Elegance of the Hedgehog
• City of Thieves
• Season of the Witch
• Where did you go, Bernadette?
• Curious Case of the Dead Dog
• Remains of the Day
• Go Ask Alice
• Bean Tree
• Middlesex
• Benediction

despite the drought

...or maybe because of it? For the first time in 20 years we have a REAL
crop of lemons. The tree is a bit bedraggled looking, but these Meyer
lemons are quite juicy and luscious. Yesterday, after a delightful coffee
and talk with Dancing Jen downtown, I came home to weed a bit in
our dank back yard. Husbando has been using our very own compost
in the soil and it has produced lots of weeds, but they are easy to pull
and the red worms have worked their magic. Sunday off, such a treat.

is that you, Seth?

I'm having trouble understanding Seth, Ellen's husband. I can't picture him,
nor can I fathom why he would ever cheat on his wife. Teacher Karen suggested
that I google 60 year old men and I like the looks of this one, don't you? So
next I need to write about him and that will be a challenge. But interesting,
always that...

yes, Virginia...

Last night I went to my first Novel Continuation class at the Writing Salon.
It meets once a month, but one must commit to writing. Oh, that. Karen
is my teacher again and she is one of the best. I was reminded again NOT
to revise anything at this stage - the novel is just a quilt during the first
draft. There will be many blind alleys and it will not make sense. I will
write five pages a week. Truly. Virginia Woolf only wrote one page a
day and that was music to my ears. I feel great this morning!

south of market

I think this is my favorite photo from the new exhibit at the deYoung. I
remember buying my office chair down here many, many years ago. Janet
Delaney's work is a testament to our SF past before the massive Moscone
Center was built. There are 45 color photographs from the 70's and 80's
when Ms. Delaney lived on Langton Street, a blue-collar nabe in a shared
urban environment that just wasn't "pretty" and there are those of us who
don't want the city to be glossy and ultra beautiful. Isn't that for the burbs?
I highly recommend this - through July 19th.

togetherness time

This is touted as the first great TV program of 2015 and after two
episodes (of 8) we are hooked. Amanda Peet is the only star that I
recognize, but everyone is great fun and it's all so Southern California
with the beaches, palm trees, architecture and family squabbles.
Sunday night, of course, when everything important on TV happens...

the dessert, the family

OK, here is the final Napa report. Not great pix, but you get the idea. The
dessert tray included that custard with exploding rock candies on the bottom,
little round donut wholes, marshmallow on graham cracker, dipping sauces
and 40 pounds of sugar. The family from the left: Lauren, Scott, Ceci,
Nancy, Husbando and your Blogger. Morimoto's went all out for us...