a roomful of writers

Saturday night was the launch party for Jane Underwood's poetry book
When My Heart Goes Dark, I Turn The Porch Light On and she would
have been delighted with the turnout and all the book sales. Four people
read their favorite poems and remembered her fondly. It was held at
the new home of the Writing Salon out on Balboa (in the fog). The book
is on Amazon and the profits go to breast cancer research.

a treasure in the fog

my dates

a pretty setting too

I've always wanted to go to the Treasure Island Flea Market which occurs
the last weekend every month. So yesterday morning I met Carlo and Joe
(from my museum days) down at the Transbay Temporary Terminal and
we hopped on the #25 Muni for the happening. It was crowded and noisy
and only costs $3.00 to get in. Lots of food, music, shoppers, dogs and stuff
to buy, which we didn't. It was fun and exhausting and I'm glad we took
the bus because the driving and parking on that small island is not easy.
Despite the fog I got sunburned ~ grrrrrrrrr.

my day downtown

I met Barb at SF Moma for some Edvard Munch yesterday and then
we had lunch at the Bistro in Nordie's which forever answered the
question "Where to have lunch?" Now that's a large and fine place
and it was a lovely experience. Then I went to the V Boutique
which just opened at 418 Sutter Street ~ it's owned by my
yoga teacher (from days gone by) and her goal is to give her
profits to community and charities. Fashion and compassion and
yes, of course I bought something to help the cause ~ a lovely
selection of designer clothing at discount prices. Go! Shop!

women who drown

I'm wading into this mystery novel and so far I am lukewarm. Into
the Water takes place around the Drowning Pool (cute) at some
river somewhere in the (I think) midwest. But I will try to stay
afloat and paddle onward.

yes, worth watching

I was planning to work on a piece of writing last night while Husbando
watched Supermensch on the Flix®. I stayed for five minutes and then
I watched the entire thing. It's the true story of Shep Gordon, talent
manager and friend of many stars over the years. Fascinating life.
He pretty much invented the whole celebrity chef thing and has always
been best friends with Alice Cooper whom he also invented. An
entertaining visit to an unusual life.

scouts' dishonor

Every single day seems to get worse with this Trump idiot. Here he is
bashing Obama and Hillary in front of 6 million Eagle and Boy Scouts.
Hitler Youth comes to mind and I hate the whole horrible scene.

tonight we finish

Jason Bateman and Laura Linney move from Chicago to Missouri
(the Redneck Riviera) in Ozark. He has to launder money (much
like our Trump family one wonders?) for a Mexican drug lord
and there is a lot of scary stuff. This reminds me of Breaking Bad
because it can be dark and sinister and yet there is warmth too ~
and complicated family issues. Ten episodes in Season One. Go
ahead, get hooked...

we are what we are

We had such a fabulous time yesterday at the SF Playhouse where
La Cage Aux Folles was presented in all its glory and glitter.
The songs, costumes, dances, sweetness and sadness too. This
was a big time production on a small stage which makes it even
more impressive in my humble opinion. It's important to support
this kind of theater when tolerance and compassion are not
exactly supported by the national leaders.

another park, another scene

Yesterday in Precita Park ~ it's what I call Graffiti Appreciation Day and it's for
the under 30 crowd. Someone (who?) provides paint spray cans and these big
easels. There is food, beer, sunshine and not enough rest rooms, judging from
the signs on nearby homes begging people not to pee on their door step. This
is an annual event and seems to get bigger and noisier every year. But the
participants all have a great time so I try not to be too judgmental.

scene from a city

My friend Joe still works at the deYoung and he snapped this yesterday
on his lunch hour. I do miss Golden Gate Park and the surprises that
always seemed to await us there. Everyone appreciates this park and
it is especially wonderful with the sun and music from all over.

meet Roger Stone

Get Me Roger Stone is a Netflix documentary about this despicable man who
has wanted Trump to run for president for decades. He has no integrity, no
moral center and is just so hateful that one wonders how he survives. But,
alas, you will learn even more about Trump, our country and the whole
money game in America. Scary shit.

view box 302

way before the game ~ time to meditate

We were forced to pay more for better tix yesterday because the Cleveland
Indians were in last year's World Series. So I bought these splendid seats
before the Giants tanked but it all worked out because not only could
we see everything beautifully ~ our team won! It was a very exciting
game and renewed my love of baseball for another week or so. When
Mighty Buster came to bat in the bottom of the 8th the Jewel was
totally silent and then, and then...

after the fire

It's been more than a year since the big block fire on Mission. We lost so
much including Cole Hardware and so now the long process of rebuilding
begins. Here from our local online blog, Bernalwood Journal:

A local artist came up with the design for The Cole Hardware fence: 2000 plastic pieces make up the lettering that reads from across the street, or passing by on the bus, THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE.... You get to fill in the blank. Home? Cole Hardware? Whatever is special to you?

So many merchants and residents lost their businesses and homes. Where did they go? This really changed our community, and we hope they can come back. During the install, everyone who walked by had a story to tell about what they needed from Cole.

a new Elizabeth

I just started this last night having finished the book with the eyes
that I didn't really appreciate. But I love Ms. Strout's writing and
her scenes of small towns with characters filled with all sorts of
good and bad personality traits. Anything is Possible already holds
great promise on my LindaKindle2.

What is Doctor Who?

It was bound to happen. After I sat at the Dr. Who table at Dr. J's wedding
I just knew the stars were starting to align for my eventual watching of
this old BBC program. Yesterday it was announced that the 13th Dr. Who
will be a woman and I know Jodi from Broadchurch. The Blogmaid and
family are big fans and she answered my email question this morning:

Hi Mary Om-

TARDIS stands for "time and relative dimensions in space" (thank you, RR}. It’s his 

space ship, disguised as an old Police Box. It’s bigger on the inside than on the outside.

That’s all you need to know!

a bit more Sophie

Yesterday I visited the FraenkelLab at Fell and Market where Sophie
Calle's thoughts and photos about death are beautifully curated. The
name of the exhibit: My mother, my cat, my father, in that order.
I had the gallery to myself and was enchanted, despite or because
of the subject matter.

heavy is the head

The Crown is so great on so many levels. Acting, photography, colorful
details and I love that no expense is spared for crowd shots and location
scenes. We are on episode 3 of 10. Husbando was reluctant to watch this,
but now he is hooked. The Blogmaid is my go-to English Royalty expert
and she reports that most of this glorious series is true.

outdoor piano power

We went to the Botanical Gardens yesterday for the first day of Piano
Flower Power and it was beautiful indeed. The pianists come armed
with sheet music and are far from professional (those arrive over the
weekend) but they have such a good time in this gorgeous setting.
I had not been here since the Great Rains over the Winter, so just being
out in the gardens was a total delight.

Dear Sophie

how the show opens... (hard to read, sorry)

much to see and think about

Sophie is a French photographer who receives an email from her lover.
He is breaking up with her and Sophie gives the letter to 107 women
who help her understand and heal. Photos, videos, comments on copies
of the letter, anger, humor and so much understanding. Ginger and I did
not know what to expect at this Sophie Calle exhibit down at Fort Mason,
but it was beyond wonderful and we will return before it closes on
August 20th. Women readers will LOVE this one. Go!

Munch at Moma

Yesterday Husbando and I hopped in and out of Lyfts so we could see the
Edvard Munch exhibit down at SF Moma. It's a small show (under 50
paintings) but certainly worthwhile. The painter was not a happy man,
but he was talented. The Scream is not here, but that's OK, we all have
seen (and felt) that one enough times. There are several paintings of
that bridge where he had the breakdown and they are haunting, of course.
This Dance of Life (bottom) was my favorite of all his work.

whoosh, it works...

My old cheapo Epson printer finally conked out and I bought a nice
new cheapo Epson printer. It really does connect wirelessly to my
MsBook Air. How exciting. I only needed to make ONE exasperating
phone call to "Ron" in Bangladesh and he was of no help whatsoever
and I get all the credit for installing this mother. I hope it isn't quite
as thirsty as its predecessor, but that's the price we have to pay to
keep the ink manufacturers happy and busy. Feeling proud.

Sunday laws still exist

...to protect us from ourselves, I guess.

Blue Laws

In my town blue laws still cover everything,
so I take a walk out to the end of nowhere,
I pass the owner of a black Ford with a hood up
but he doesn't answer when I speak to him.

I pass a man leashed to a little white dog.
It's hard to tell which of them is wheezing,
so I say hello, but there is no answer. So,
I go down the hill where the magnolia blossoms,
white stars like a gunfight at sea, too far away
to hear, but explosions clear enough, the gods
trumpeting and chest-beating as is their way.

By now my arms are working up to a march,
lifting and falling, you can almost hear
Sousa come around the corner, the innocents
turning their heads, tired doves fluting away.

I'd like to enter a bar and put my fist down
around an iced draft beer, to protest the words
a blonde slim as a coat hanger spits freely.
I'd like to stay there into the blistered dusk,
maybe some fries, the door letting in exhaust.
Then I'd walk home, knowing you were there.
I'd really like that.

DAVE SMITH

Five Points 
Vol. 18, No. 1

more summer reading

One wonders WHY I selected this book ~ maybe those eyes? But I
tested it on my LindaKindle2 and got hooked. It's the story of a man
kidnapped in Pakistan and he is forced to relive his life and the
writing is excellent.

a non-Apple product!

Husbando doesn't DO computers, but he has an iPhone and then he
read about this $50 tablet from Amazon. He likes how I check my
handy iPad every hour or so for the news and we decided to give
this Fire 7 a try. Well, it isn't intuitive like Apple usually is, so I
ordered the book. We are such traditionalists. It is helping because
one can underline and use the bright yellow marker and stick post-
its with question marks on every page. Just another hour or so and
we will both be experts...

the bookstore biz

I was expecting a little summer junk reading, but Camino Island is
interesting because it revolves around a thriving bookstore in Florida
(I think). There is a stolen manuscript and the characters are either
writers or booksellers or thieves ~ or a combination thereof. I've
always liked Grisham and this mystery is no exception.

that garden fork

I adored this book ~ The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Haddon. Yesterday I met Ginger at the Golden Gate Theater for our
"Goldstar Seats" up in the balcony and they were fine. The price? Terrific.
I do recommend this play. It tells the story of an autistic teenage boy
and because of the flashing lights and stage direction we can feel his
confusion and one-dimensional way of perceiving the world around him.

friends on the 4th

the setting

the grill

the luscious steak salad dinner a la Plotnik

Thank you Great Plotniks for such a delicious dinner. Don't be fooled
by the top photo, the fog came rolling in and the fireworks were a
blur. But that's OK, it was a lovely celebration with these dear friends.

it's Jacaranda Season!

We won't have these purple beauties for very long, but they are glorious
now after the rainy Winter. You can barely see, but there is another
admirer under the trees, taking a photo which I'm sure is better than this one.

the bounty ~ four so far

March 25, 2017

June 28, 2017

for last night's BLT 

Not an overwhelming crop this year, but there will be more. And yet,
considering how much water these three plants take I sometimes wonder
if this is a really great investment. Then the first tomato appears, we
bring in a big bright red one and it all seems worthwhile. And yes, they are
delicious and so much better than store bought. And no poisons to
worry about. I like NOT washing them, how about that?

I heard it on Muni

Zoe's

the passing parade - no extra charge

Coming home on the #10 from the ballgame last week ~ the woman next to
me lives in our nabe (I'd never seen her before) and recommended Zoe's
on 24th Street and Folsom. We've passed it a million times and it looks
like a boozy dive. But yesterday we both wanted a burger and decided to
give Zoe a try and besides, it was a nice time to walk for a bit. We opened
the joint, the chef only spoke Spanish and we had a front row seat
watching the world go by on 24th Street. Delightful experience and the
burgers were really terrific, just as my bus-mate told me they would be.

a soothing good-bye

The father of the Blogmaid was a Major in the Air Force in Korea and
received a military send off yesterday at the Sacramento Valley National
Cemetery in Dixon, California. It was impressive and we were all lucky
that it wasn't too hot. Then we gathered at the Blogmaid's church in Rancho
Cordova for a buffet lunch with lots of memories (top photo) and time
to appreciate all that Major Luce contributed to this world. Special thanks
to Claire (Ponytail Power) for driving me to/fro ~ so nice.