eggs and flour

Time for a food post so you know that we both still cook. Restaurants
preferred, of course. On Sunday nights we get to have BACON (five
slices each) and I have the joy of not making a salad. But what to go
with the bacon, other than decaf espresso? Waffles, pancakes or
French toast work, but last Sunday I made a German pancake. First
time. Last time. But it's pretty to look at ~ cardboard flavor. I grew up
in a home featuring big Sunday lunch after church, still in our dressy
clothes. Then always a light Sunday night dinner, casual. I am reliving
those not-so-great days, it seems. Or is it just the bacon? Hmmmmm.

the return (finally)

I started missing the deYoung recently so I took the plunge on Tuesday and
returned for the first time since I retired. The Danny Lyon photography
exhibit is terrific and I really liked the new installation in Wilsey Court
too. Leonardo Drew is the artist and it is HUGE and impressive. It was
good to see some ex-coworkers, but the art is what I missed a lot.

oh, yes

We finally saw Moonlight Monday night ~ a DVD from the Flix®. It
is everything and more ~ sad, warm, tender and so overwhelming that
I had to take a ME day yesterday, all to myself, just to ruminate and recover.
Yes, that worked, but it is a movie that will never leave me. Glorious.

Joe Day on 3rd Street

Wool: Nature's Technology

exotic wood and string elephants

First we had brunch at Serpentine (great!) and then we hit the Museum of
Craft and Design to view Felt Decoded (thought about you, Anna) which
explains, with detailed photos, how felt is made. Then Wendy Maruyama
and the wildLIFE Project ~ we must preserve these magnificent animals
who are slaughtered for their ivory tusks. Such beauty.

two Sunday winners

Congratulations to RR and George who won many lovely ribbons at
the horse show in Moss Beach yesterday. And great photography, dear
Blogmaid. These two sure make an elegant team, don't they?

tomato talk

We took advantage of the sunshine yesterday and covered our back deck
with tomatoes and flowers. I still have a little dirt under my fingernails
and that feels good. Early Girls work best for us and you will be able
to witness the growth, as per usual. Yes, the cages are a bit premature,
but we are optimists ~ always.

finally ~ a win

Speaker Paul Ryan couldn't muster the votes for that mean health (not care)
bill and so maybe, maybe we are one step nearer to universal single payer
healthcare like the rest of the civilized world. Now to impeach this
Russian-inspired President and we can keep moving forward...

and always ~ the books

This year, the first full year of retirement, I started a book folder on 

my desktop. The big one is "want to read" and then the "finished"

list, which is growing slowly. South of Broad takes place in

Charleston and (surprise) San Francisco ~ Pat Conroy was a very

special writer and I thoroughly enjoy his work. I just started

the Frankel book, I believe I read about it in the New Yorker. 

Both on my Lindakindle2, of course. This is how it Always Is

tells the story of a doctor and her writer house husband and 

their five (!) sons. Wisconsin is the locale at this point. Yes.

now on the Flix®

Last night we finished the final episode (#10) of this OJ story. Neither of
us wanted to watch it because like the rest of America we were saturated
with this drama during real time and our memories are strong here. But
about 10 minutes into the first episode and we were hooked. Great
acting and lots of details that have come out since that tragic time. Great TV.

purple paella eaters

The Blogmaid gifted Husbando with an Open Table gift certificate which
we used last night at Contigo on Castro Street. We had a delightful
dinner with all sorts of appetizers and this amazing paella pictured
above. Oh, and dessert was chocolate and churros ~ yum, yum. Thanks
for this treat, dear Blogmaid. (We did not dress like this on purpose.)

The Mission car parade

Saturday afternoon and the sun was shining. I walked 24th Street and then
heard the noise of loud engines, honking and quick bursts of sirens. Some
of these old cars have illegal sirens! So much care and beauty ~ families
showing off their treasures. I am guessing maybe 10 to 12 cars going up
and down the streets, back and forth. In the top photo you can see the
woman in curlers who came out of the salon with the stylists to enjoy the show.

golden star birthday

Wonder Woman b..day cupcake

Wonder Woman

Jen and Jon

We Borders folks had a fabulous time celebrating Jen's birthday yesterday at the
Golden Star in Chinatown. Our ex-boss, John, was there too but no photo of
him, alas. Jen is off to Scotland this week so I'm glad we could all get together
to laugh and gossip a bit before she leaves.

glass, steel, flowering trees

Peet's on Post and Montgomery

Union Square across from Macy's

After the museum on Friday it was wonderful to walk about town a bit.
Such a contrast ~ part of the joy of city living. In the eight years I worked
at Post and Powell I never saw these trees really blooming before and I
bet it was all the rain and our fine city gardeners at work.

exceptional exhibit

Wow, I can't say enough glowing things about this exhibit at SF Moma.
If I lived (say) on the East Coast I would make a special trip here just
to see these treasures all together in one fabulous space. And having been
to some blockbusters in my past life, I want to commend Moma for
the outstanding organization and ease. We never felt crowded or had any
problems reading the didactics (ahem) and Husbando even snuck back in
through the exit to see it all over again. Do not miss this one, do not.

the Suzy celebration

Wednesday night was our writing group and Suzy provided her own cake
because her birthday is coming up but she will be traveling and will
miss our next meeting. We had our usual delightful time as we read
our work, laughed and teared up a bit too.

two dog day

Marsha likes to drive (!) and we went over to Tiburon for lunch. Of course
it was a restaurant that welcomed dogs on their back deck.  So we had
tasty Mexican food at Guaymas and then walked around town so Rosa
and Duca could sniff and poke around. The dogs are so easy to be with,
and Marsha even more so. Nice day, despite lack of sunshine. Those
big outdoor heaters are life savers for restaurants and guests.

Bouquets to Art

No, I didn't go to the deYoung for this annual event that is happening this
week. I grew to hate it when I worked there ~ especially the customers
who were too numerous and rude. But a couple of friends texted me
these glorious displays ~ delightful indeed. My friends visited the
galleries before their fellow art lovers were allowed in. Gratitude...

little walking wonders

Just try to google "art gallery SF" and it is overwhelming and something
else to love about city living. I fell into the above while walking last
week ~ brought home a brochure and promptly misplaced it. Alabama
and 23rd Street, I believe. The front window string installation might
be better without the green garbage can, or maybe not? Anyway, both
pieces by a young woman artist who will be recognized, I so hope.

yesterday

(thanks to Rachel for posting this on Facebook, of all places...)

Today

BY BILLY COLLINS

If ever there were a spring day so perfect, 

so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze 

that it made you want to throw 

open all the windows in the house 

and unlatch the door to the canary's cage, 

indeed, rip the little door from its jamb, 

a day when the cool brick paths 

and the garden bursting with peonies 

seemed so etched in sunlight 

that you felt like taking 

a hammer to the glass paperweight 

on the living room end table, 

releasing the inhabitants 

from their snow-covered cottage 

so they could walk out, 

holding hands and squinting 

into this larger dome of blue and white, 

well, today is just that kind of day.

our picnic guest

It was one of those unusually beautiful Spring days and we took a little
lunch out to Aqua Vista Park (who calls it that?) right next to the
Mission Rock Resort. There has been a lot of growth over there so
we saw young families and joggers on the pathways. But yes, still
people fishing out on the pier and no one to get in the way of our
total enjoyment.

public service announcement

finally ~ Rectify #4

We have been waiting for the Flix® to give us this most wonderful TV
program and so now we are way down in Georgia again, with a side
trip to Tennessee. Rectify tells the story (as you may remember) of
a man who spent 19 years in solitary for a crime he probably didn't
commit. It might be the best program ever on TV. Trust me...

women in red

It was a beautiful day for a rally ~ too bad the microphone wasn't working
very well. Of course I'm glad I went to support my sisters and to feel
hope and strength again.

a double pin day

International Women's Day means a lot more this year than it has ever
before. I am so pleased to see young women getting so involved in
their futures ~ stepping out to wave flags, ask questions, march and
RESIST. I will hit City Hall this morning just to add to the head count.

Ruby and Rosie

Our beloved Linda Davick illustrated this new book and Ruby has her
copy of "We Love You, Rosie!" thanks to Amazon's quick delivery.
It's for ages 3 to 7, if you know a child who needs a new book ~ every
kid does, of course. Rosie is a sausage dog, by the way. Linda is
a major talent, by the way...

Elias and Jenny

It was worth my $20 balcony ticket yesterday just to see this crowded and
colorful bed-and-breakfast setting in the play entitled John at The Strand.
Imagine my surprise to learn that this is a three hour play with two (!!)
intermissions. Imagine my surprise to find myself glued to my seat.
This is a very strange play by Annie Baker and I would not recommend it
to many people, but I am so glad that I saw it. Elias and Jenny are not
getting along well and decide to spend a couple of nights at this B&B
in Gettysburg, PA. Their hostess is a bit eccentric ~  both haunting and
yet comforting to and for this couple. There is a lot of sweet humor too...

too much bad history

Here are all the actors from Assassins now playing at the Alcazar Theater.
Carlini treated me to this musical, so first I took him to lunch at Colibri
on Geary. We had front row seats for this Stephen Sondheim musical
and before it started the director mentioned that the gun business bothered
some people, especially those who had served in the military. Honestly
it bothered me and they shot LOUD blanks and I flinched every time.  I
can't recommend this play despite the fact that the acting/singing is
excellent and we do want to support the cast who works so hard.

when writers meet

Eric and Doug

I neglected to tell you about Tiapos Wednesday night. Here we are in Suzy's
delightful home which has about ten warm and colorful Tiffany lamps spread
around the dining and front rooms. Dark wood interior, but so warm and
welcoming with lots and lots of photos and mementos from the past. Suzy
lives in a very diverse neighborhood in Oakland and Doug kindly drives
me there every two weeks where we sit around her lace tablecloth-covered
dinner table and talk about our words and our lives. Lucky me.

rewards galore

cooking our burgers at Joe's

the lake is filled

We finished our taxes yesterday! Easy with Turbo Tax and our simple life.
For the past two weeks we kept saying, "OK, as soon as taxes are done
we will have lunch at Original Joe's in Daly City." Done and yum. Then
an outing at Lake Merced which is full due to all the rain ~ lots of ducks
and I even saw two bold raccoons strolling around as if they owned the
place. They did, I think. All in all, a very nice day after the tax stuff.

over and out

Yesterday was our final day of Fromm school and we learned all about
Mussolini who ruled for 22 years. He still has fans in Italy and, in fact,
his grand daughter is active in politics there today. He and Hitler admired
each other, learned from each other and protected each other. The
Germans did say that the Italian tanks had rear view mirrors so they
could watch the fighting as they rode away. I will miss school, but
it is baseball season and first things first...

DISRUPT

There is a brand new mural wall on Bryant Street, near 20th or 21st, as I
remember. The artist is familiar to me by now, but I don't know his or
her name. I will try to find that out and report back. I love the colors
and the action and the politics here. And the line at the coffee shop, of course.