I have the cat

I believe today officially begins the dreaded HOLIDAY SEASON. I
will ignore all the goblins, witches, devils and concentrate on candy and
my cat who is currently snoozing next to me.

progress and poetry

Everyday I try to pack-up and donate or toss a few things. Creating space
and making this little home mine. I brought together my collection of
poetry books and now they are here in the upstairs back room where I
spend so much time. My office downstairs needs work and I use it now
mostly for financial stuff and storage. The office of Husbando still requires
a lot of work, but I just do a few things until I can't and I close the door
once again and return to my upstairs world with cat. No rush.

goblins on the train

I decided to take my daily walk up to Cortland Street yesterday, completely
oblivious to the fact that there was a Halloween Happening and everyone
was out, mostly in costume. It felt right to be there.

the expedition of 1869

Carlini was ushering at the Strand yesterday so I bought a cheap ticket
to see this play Men on Boats based on Major Powell's expedition of
the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. The unknown back then.
It was an all-woman cast and there was talent, but really it was a bit
frantic and not my favorite play this year.  Thankfully it was only 90
minutes and then we walked up Market Street for an early and very
good dinner at Nordstrom's. I was home by 6pm to feed a hungry and
impatient girl cat and to watch the Dodgers lose again.

art and the single woman

This was a BFD for me. I bought a new oil painting just because I love
it and because this old house needs to be updated. The artist is our
neighbor Robert Schwarzenbach and I had seen his work a couple of
years ago at Open Studio in Hunters Point. When I went again last
weekend he told me he doesn't really embrace pink, but this reflects the
whole current women's resistance narrative. Would Bill like this? I'm
not so sure, but he would applaud me buying this just for me. And
the artist hung it perfectly, so that counts too.

food, friendship and art

The Great Plotnik at The Morris

Linda with Anne the artist of this glorious painting

Our birthday celebration for Doug yesterday was at The Morris on Mariposa.
A lovely time, as per usual. Then later I went to the gala Bombay (gin) art
event down at 111 Minna Street. Anne Herbst is a favorite artist and I
hope her piece here won the Big Prize. The music was a tad (ahem) loud
so I was forced to leave early, but I am glad that I went. (I'm not good with
crowds and noise yet, not that I ever was, come to think about it.)

Back to yesterday ~ a new OLIVE novel by Elizabeth Strout will arrive
in 2019, just in case that wasn't picked up on your computer. Very good news!

re-do, re-do (from Linda D.)

holiday help

Thanks to the Blogmaid for the nudge last night to go to this Pathways
Hospice workshop on getting through the holidays. Alas, no easy
answers, but the eight of us shared ideas and Kleenex® and the three
counselors were so kind and helpful too. Some of the basics: there is
no right or wrong, accept that this will be difficult and draining, cry if
and when you need to (I'm good at this one), know that I will survive
the holidays and that this all does get easier. My favorite: have a Plan
A and a Plan B and let people know that I might change my mind
at the last minute.

my new grand dog

Here we have Honey Stein who lives in Buffalo, New York, with my
youngest stepson, Rob, and his wife, Sarah. They are empty nesters
although Samantha (bottom photo) came home for a visit recently.
Rob is in the middle picture. They have never had an animal before
and probably are surprised to learn that it is a bit of work and worry,
but still so wonderful for everyone. And Honey is very happy.

over at the pie place

A million thanks to Dancing Jen for our most excellent yesterday when we
sat in fabulous seats and thoroughly enjoyed Waitress at the SHN Golden
Gate Theatre on Taylor Street. Music, dancing, laughter and tears ~ what
more could we ask for? It's playing now through November and I urge
you take a tasty pie break and go!

Neil and Buzz and the moon

Terri arranged tickets for us at this fun Alamo Drafthouse movie theater
yesterday where I have been wanting to go. It is a GREAT way to see a film ~
little tables and good food and a really friendly staff. We saw First Man,
the story about Neil Armstrong and the landing on the moon in 1969. A
bit long in parts (bump/bump forever in the capsule, for instance) and
even I tired of Ryan Gosling's blue eyes, but still, one fine movie.

ain't nothing like it

I had scheduled myself to attend a Lit Crawl event tonight, but of
course I scratched that and I will be watching the Brew Crew and
the blue scum-sucking Dodgers instead. I so feel for the Great
Plotnik who has to endure this agony and for his sake I hope the
Dodgers win. Plus the East vs. West Coast World Series would
be great fun.

more cat posts, please!

OK, I hear you. Today we feature the kittens Eleven and Hopper. They
belong to the Blogmaid and her family. Could they possibly be any cuter?

writers gather again

Nice time at Suzy's last night. My favorite was her long piece about
a three week road trip to the East Coast recently. I have not yet been
able to read aloud in public, for some reason, so I don't. This mourning
thing is odd and exhausting, but I try to stay positive and just keep on
doing what needs to be done. Friends are life savers, that's for sure.

basketball is back

I enjoyed the ring ceremony last night and then bounced back and forth
between the Brewers-Dodgers game and the Warriors. No national news
or sleepy politics so it was one fine TV night. The Dodgers won in 13
innings, but I couldn't stay up for that. The Great Plotnik was pleased...

town hall meeting

Last night was a meeting with pizza for the hundreds of SPCA volunteers.
I had never attended one before, but I now force myself out at night when
possible and I'm glad I attended this just to learn a few things. That is
the brilliant and funny President, Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, in the top photo.
The SPCA is a huge success and many other shelters across the country
follow our no-kill policy. We have more people wanting animals than are
available in SF (!) so now they reach out and import the many, many
abandoned dogs and cats in rural and under-funded communities such as
Stockton, Fresno, Tulare, etc. Dr. Scarlett stressed the importance of
medical care at reasonable prices because that is why families often
abandon their pets. Oh, and YES ON 12.

back to Pennsylvania

Yesterday I spent a whopping $25 for a front row balcony seat at ACT
to see SWEAT and I'm so glad I did this. One of our favorite local
actors, Rod Gnapp, has a major role as the bartender and the rest of
the cast was great too. It's the sad story of a steel mill closing in Reading,
PA, and the final scene was surprisingly moving. My parents came from
McKeesport, PA, and that was another dirty mill town. The once good
paying jobs disappear and people's lives are ruined. The theme resonates
that sometimes hard work does not pay off.

books begone

We have 40 or so years of books here. Currently I'm taking bags of
paperbacks to the Salvation Army, but I'll purge the hardcovers at
some point too. I never re-read books and now I'm so in love with
my LindaKindle2 that even though there are some wonderful books
and memories here, out they go. I do keep the poetry and some
travel books and anything with the handwriting of Husbando inside.
It would have made sense to do this while he was still alive and
could help, but that's OK, a bag or two at a time. I like to picture
the customer's delight when he finds one of our books at a bargain price.

getting global

On Wednesday I visited the Asian Art Museum and was a bit underwhelmed
with their new Painting Is My Everything exhibit featuring 17 contemporary
artists from India's Mithila Region. Not as bold and colorful as I was hoping
for, but of course I'm glad that I did this. My pal Joe is having a glorious
time visiting India right this moment.

The Day of The Dvorak

Yesterday Ginger and I went to the Symphony and the joint was alive
with colorful and fun exhibits. We had reasonable front row balcony
seats to see and hear Prokofiev (Cello Sinfonia) and Dvorak (Symphony
#8). The latter was beyond exuberant and the whole afternoon a huge
success. I had some happy memories too of when Husbando and I
had season tickets. He had a great appreciation and ear for music.

a true story

Last night the Great Plotniks were kind enough to take me with them to
see The Black Klansman way over at the Balboa. Great movie about
an undercover detective who infiltrates this hate group in Colorado
Springs back in the 70's. Not easy to watch this Spike Lee film, but
worthwhile for sure. Then dinner across the street at the Shanghai.
Good to be out with friends and gratitude reigns this morning.

this very week

Copenhagen

Three dear friends are traveling in exotic places and I benefit from their
photos and comments although I haven't heard from Joe yet and I worry.

Dancing Jen ~ Copenhagen
Marsha ~ Amman, Jordan
Joe ~ India

Later I will go to Safeway on Mission Street.

back to Sunday

Neti was my date for this production at SF Playhouse. Two young
couples facing complicated marital and work problems. Many topics
were covered and although this wasn't the BEST play ever, I enjoyed
the back-and-forthing. Neti? Not so much. But pizza at Bambino's
on Cole Street afterwards was a huge success.

the grand daughter returns

Ceci and her friend Zach spent Saturday night here and yesterday we had
breakfast down at the Precita Park Cafe. They were here for the famous
Hardly, Strictly Bluegrass Festival in GG Park. Annabelle especially loved
Zach and I know now that he speaks Catlish.

a walk to/fro dinner

Last night I met Terri at the new Old Jerusalem and we dined outside
in the patio. The restaurant was busy and our chicken dishes with
sides delicious. And enough for future at-home meals too. Grand
dot Ceci and her friend Zach are here for the Hardly Strictly and
they brought home burritos from La Taqueria later last night. This
morning Annabelle and I are camped out in our bedroom, being
quiet and waiting for "the kids" to get up. Wisely I prepared the
coffee before gong to bed.

a hop away on BART

Yesterday I met Pamela at Maison Bleue in Berkeley and we were able
to sit outside to enjoy our omelets and latte. We had not seen each
other for a few months and we had a lot of ground to cover, and we
did. Some cat chat, of course, because she and her husband have two.

next the grapefruit diet

Well, Annabelle gained weight since our last visit. And here I thought I
was cutting way back on food and my cat believed that too. But the
SPCA vet this time has a really chubby grey and white (I saw her
photo) and so she couldn't very well give me a lecture. We are good
for a year until our next appointment, but now I will need a mani/pedi
place for my brat cat. Annabelle prefers the two living room chairs.

Annabelle and the blue ball

That's a puzzle feeder for cats who eat too much or too fast. Or both.
It dribbles kibbles (good one!) and Annabelle has emptied it quickly
here and wants more. I learned about these kinds of feeders at the
SPCA where hungry dogs use them more effectively than Annabelle.
Today we go back to the vet and I hope to avoid the "you are feeding
her too much do you want her to get diabetes?" lecture. I will tell
you, dear readers, that I did NOT expect to fall in love so completely
with this bratty little always-hungry creature. But I did.

13 innings

No, I didn't stay up to watch the finish, but I was hoping those feisty
Rockies would win and they did, even with all those Cubs fans
at Wrigley. I love the playoffs, especially sudden death games
like last night. Tonight we hope the A's beat the Yankees in the
same kind of situation in New York. Fun stuff, crazy fans.

the return of THE magazine

On June 12th, using Husbando's suggestion, I wrote the New Yorker
and asked them to suspend sending us their weekly magazine which
we both loved so much for years and years. Life was overwhelming
back in June and only recently have I felt that my powers of con-
centration were good enough to read non-fiction. Plus I am missing
our New Yorker. Bill would always read them first and make notes
like "This is great!" on an article or the question mark ? on a cartoon
that he didn't get. Just for the record, I sometimes got one and had
the joy of explaining it to him. But that was rare. This morning I
wrote to the New Yorker and said, "Bring it on!"

writers gather in Napa

This might have been the best day I've experienced since Husbando died.
Laughter, tears, contentment and too much food. And Betty the Boxer,
such a love. I wrote a "safe" piece about Annabelle, Blaze and Sarah are
knee deep in great fiction, Doug celebrated Barb and their 48 year marriage,
Eric wrote about New Orleans, Will had a beautiful 7 part poem and
Hedi wrote about helping refugees in Tijuana recently. We know each
other so well because our writing and gatherings are nothing if not deeply
personal. That is the way it should be, or so it seems to me. Gratitude to
Chef Sarah for hosting once again in her beautiful home and to the Great
Plotniks for driving the VW clown car with five of us inside.