oh so binge-worthy

I keep looking for a GREAT series and finally found one, I think.
Giri/Haji takes place in Tokyo and London, a mystery, of course.
But not too bloody so far. Kelly Macdonald stars too, she is so
fabulous. On the Flix. Grateful.

well, that was easy

I usually splurge on a manicure/pedicure once a month, but my nails
were getting too long to type, so I did it myself. A friend colored her
hair roots for the first time and another friend is buying a hair clipper.
Times, they are a changing...

a welcome change

lush Plotnik garden

SF view from Plotnik perspective

Yesterday Doug and Barb invited me over for coffee on their back deck
and it felt so good to walk with a purpose. We kept our social distance
and talked of many things, lots of people. Yesterday began Week #7 of
our Bay Area Isolation and yes, it takes its toll. So good to just sit and
talk with friends yesterday. Gratitude. Freedom here at the end of May.
Freedom with trepidation, I betcha.

the literary guide to covid-19

begin at the upper left to right...

an uphill battle and pleasure

Yesterday's walk was around the nabe. Nothing very exciting, except
maybe the pink house. My day of quiet was okay, I have a new jigsaw
puzzle on the dining room table and that brings me great comfort. It
is warm enough currently for me to sit here in the back room instead
of huddled in front of the firepalce when I get up to greet another day
of solitude. SNL provided much needed fun last night.

three long miles of beauty

Spreckels Lake

What a beautiful day for a walk in Golden Gate Park yesterday. Lots of bikes
and people, but lots of space too and of course, free parking. No model
yachts sailing around Spreckels Lake, alas, but the natural beauty here is
so lush that my whole being rejoiced and I walked and plotted my next
trip here, which will include a chair and picnic lunch. Oh, and the new
"baby" bison are now living with the big kids. All is well, bison-wise.

who is that masked blogger?

Honey and Sam (same size?)

It's official. We must wear masks in SF now. In the nick of time grand daughter
Samantha (Rob's oldest) sent me this beauty. I had been using scarves and an
old dispensable mask, but this bright pink one is perfect and for some reason
my glasses don't fog now. How quickly our world has turned topsy turvy.

old dog keeps learning

Yes, we have a huge Cuisinart® and a decades-old blender, but they
take up a lot of space and are a pain to wash. So I splurged on this
little 3.5 cup size Kitchenaid and it arrived from Amazon just in time
for me to mash up my morning fruit and yogurt in order to protect the
space where the tooth used to be. My first smoothie and so very delicious
and see, even a woman under house arrest can find happiness. This is
so small that it sits proudly on the counter and is a snap to wash. Hooray!

pesky tooth removal

Powell and Sutter

Comfort soup on the TV tray

I finally had the fractured tooth extracted yesterday. Downtown is just
too depressing in all its emptiness. The Blogmaid's potato soup was a
life saver last night and I am just fine, but a bit tired due to restless
sleep last night. I have no plans for today, oddly enough.

the shut-in gets out

missing my ocean something fierce

a basketful of cat

Yesterday afternoon I met the Blogmaid in Pathetica and she gave me a
basket of her homemade potato soup and some fruit and jigsaw puzzles.
I did a lovely solo walk and do notice how glorious the ocean is ~ that
stark, dark line from deep to light blue. Is that caused by the light? Kelp?
Covid-19? The simple act of driving to Pacifica was a joy and seeing my
dear friend made all the difference in my mood. Annabelle appreciated
the basket too, as you can see. The soup? Deeeeelicious.

a song for the times

Doug (aka The Great Plotnik) wrote and sort of sang this piece on
Saturday. I look forward to sitting around their piano again to hear
it as it should be heard. It is quite wonderful though...

Say it Again

Rest your head upon my arm

Kill your phone and your alarm

Tell me that you love me, then

Say it again

Say it again

We’re not cool and we’re not clever

We need each other more than ever

Say we’ll stay together, then

Say it again

Say it again

We’re livin’ to the rhythm of the dog

He’s barking at the seagulls in the fog

He’s got you and I am right behind you 

Right behind you

But I am scared, I turn when people pass

An alien disguised behind my mask

And in my dreams, you’re lost and I can’t find you

Can’t find you

Sequester days are stretching into June

We’re living to the motion of the moon

So tell me that you love me, then

Say it again

Say it again

You fix the closet, I knead and bake the bread

We’re self-sufficient ‘til we’re almost dead

I hope we’re not breaking, only bending

Just bending

But as Day One grinds into Day Two

Who am I supposed to pray to? 

I’m trying hard to write a happy ending

A happy ending

The sky is blue the sun shines bright

We’ve made it through another night

So tell me that you love me, then

Say it again

Say it again

4-18-20 dak

when writers gather via Zoom

Chef Sarah reads her touching piece 

Poetic Karen H. and her lights

The Great Plotnik arranged a giant Tiapos gathering yesterday afternoon
and there were eleven of us! Chef Sarah in Napa has a huge garden, as you
can see in the top photo. Karen H. in Brooklyn noted that my little lights
were on and sent me this photo of her place and now I am inspired to add
more to Mullen Avenue. Also present, Karen S. in Idaho, Mary Ann M.
in upper New York State and the rest of us scattered around the Bay Area. I
am not one of those people who loves Zoom, but I try to connect. Do I say
the wrong thing? Often.

just keep walking

Nature seems to be going wild in our newly quiet city. Coyotes howl,
raccoons are getting brazen and Spring brings us promises of how
life will be again. I so appreciate my hour long daily walk, even with
disposable gloves and a face mask ~ life is still beautiful. Mostly.

books and staircases and me

To save my eyesight and my back, I tried to limit myself to five or six
pieces a day. Annabelle chomped on a few pieces and toward the end I
was sure she had swallowed some. I love jigsaw puzzles, but I wanted
this one to last for awhile, and it did. It was only 500 pieces, but it
seemed like many more when I started. Today I will take it down, after
I run my hands over it a bit more. I get another one from the Blogmaid
on Monday, so I will vacuum (what?) the living and dining rooms over
the weekend. Why? You might ask...

our hero and the bear

It's so good to have a strong governor in California when we have such a
weak moron in the White House. Governor Newsom's press conferences
are filled with facts and he does not sugar coat this pandemic. But the
Blogmaid and I are usually distracted by the bear on the California flag
that climbs up Gavin's shoulder to nibble on his ear.

Modigliani and Beatrice

One of the highlights of these strange days is going on YouTube for
the Barnes Museum's daily Art Takeout. From seven to ten minutes
about one artist, one painting. Wonderful stuff. Of course you will
remember that I've been to the Barnes in Philly twice. Of course.

And I like this quote from Paulo Coelho:

Life has many ways of testing a
person's will, either by having
nothing happen at all or by having
everything happen at once.

Been there.

the fan club, the tulips

here kitty, kitty

all of a sudden ~ tulip joy

The little ones liked Annabelle, but it was not reciprocated. We wonder where
she picked up that trait? Check out the surprise white tulips from this
morning's walk ~ an unassuming little front garden is suddenly magical.
Not much to say today, but happy to be healthy and ready for my afternoon
tea and an escape to the river book for a few hours. And damn, the New
Yorker zines are piling up again. Busy, busy...

Easter in Taiwan

Our local movie critic is reviewing Netflix and Amazon Prime movies
now and he and I both appreciated Tigertail ~ a story mostly about a
father and his daughter. Touching. And I also had a zoom meeting with
Doug, Barb and Mr. Bumble in Idaho. We discussed theater and what a
sad state it is in currently. Also a good walk and split pea soup from
neighbor Heidi. All in all, an OK Easter. Next year will be better.

Easter 2020

I was planning an Easter dinner party ~ invitations were mailed before
the shut down for shut ins. It's ok. Grey here today again, so I had better
get out for a walk now, before I get too lazy...as I did yesterday. The
Blogmaid promised not to slug shame me. Anyway, this huge lilly was
growing in my dank backyard where no one could see it, so I snipped
it and brought it to Annabelle's courtyard in the front. A walker
woman snapped her photo the other day and we both felt so very proud.

hooray, a new book!

Based on the solid suggestion from Susan with the Fevered Brain.
This time I chose audio because Juliet Stevenson is reading Once
Upon a River and she has the most beautiful voice. So far I am
enthralled and grateful.

a shear success

the van of torture

an exhausted victim

I usually haul Annabelle to the SPCA for nail clipping once a month, but
of course that is not happening now, so we used Shear Pets yesterday and
that was a very good and very expensive undertaking. One hefty woman
does the driving and all the pet care too. My girl got a dry shampoo and
a good brushing and the much needed mani/pedi. Was she happy? No.
Was I happy? Very.

solo seder celebration

Doug and Barb delivered a lovely brisket dinner (along with a box of
Matzos) to me yesterday so I could join with others to celebrate
Passover. It was really not a great day to be alone, but the food was
delicious and today is a new day and I feel fine. I don't cry much
anymore, but yesterday was an exception. I really missed Husbando
and all the memories sort of collided and that's okay ~ "every
tear has meaning," my friend Eddie said when he called during
my Kleenex® time. Today is a new day ~ onward to Jerusalem.
Or maybe Safeway?

full moon and poetry

THREE TIMES MY LIFE HAS OPENED

Jane Hirshfield

Three times my life has opened.
Once, into darkness and rain.
Once into what the body carries at all times within it and
    starts to remember each time it enters the act of love.
Once to the fire that holds all.
These three were not different.
You will recognize what I am saying or you will not.
But outside my window all day a maple has stepped
    from her leaves like a woman in love with winter, dropping
    the colored silks.
Neither are we different in what we know.
There is a door. It opens. Then it is closed. But a slip of
   light stays, like a scrap of unreadable paper left on the floor,
   or the one red leaf the snow releases in March.

grey inside and out

Much gloom yesterday ~ rain off and on and dark skies. I did not walk.
I never made the bed, I was often inside it with my book and assorted
electronics. Chicken broth for lunch, from a can of course. I think this
is all part of the process, one has good and bad days, but they are
magnified now when housebound.

From my friend Carlini:

Here are 10 affirmations for letting  go of perfectionism during a pandemic.   Today, I’m not judging myself or others.  I trust myself to navigate this moment.   I release any need to compare myself to anyone else.  Things don’t need to go exactly as planned.  Small steps are still forward progress.  Good enough is actually good enough.  I can observe chaos and uncertainty without fear.  I am already worthy.  I let go of expectations from myself and others.  Less is more.

anything is possible

My friend Susan (with the Fevered Brain) suggested this about a week
ago. She thought maybe Cuomo would be nominated during the
convention. He is an impressive leader that we sorely need ~ what
a contrast to tRump.

my un-zoomed dinner spot

me and my Samsung

Coffee (right) and Kareem (middle)

Yes, I too like the fancy single setting when I zoom, but here is my usual
dining spot ~ it's all about the TV from 6 to 9pm. And that's OK, I'm
OK. Last night I watched the silly Coffee & Kareem on Netflix, but it
was better than more/more/more corona virus news. We have rain here,
as you can see, but I still get a walk in for sanity sake. My garden is
lapping up all this most needed moisture.

mother never taught me

Another Zoom dinner with Doug and Barb and even though I really love
these Costco Shoyu Ramen frozen dinners, one should not eat noodles
when friends are watching (and eating basic American food) at a fancy
Zoom dinner. And, if I may share this with you, one's table manners sort
of take a hike when eating alone in front of the newspaper, LindaKindle4
or the evening news. (Chris Cuomo and/or Rachel Maddow never judge me.)

early morning romp

this blogger's Instacart

Precita Park ~ Husbando's favorite go-to spot

Yesterday I avoided fireplace heaven and hit the streets with my cart. I
must applaud Safeway for the Old People Hour on Tuesday and Thursday ~
well organized and safe, or so I hope. Everyone keeps their distance and
the produce is fresh, the shelves somewhat stocked. I like to buy one
expensive Honey Crisp apple every week to have with cheese, so this
is where I am able to find that. Has the weather here EVER been more
beautiful? The light and air as appealing as during these strange days?

all kinds of escape

Our heroine Esty (Esther) is now married and her head is shaved as a part
of the oh so strict rules and taboos of the Hasidic community in New York.
Unorthodox is the mostly true story of Esty's escape to Berlin and my great
need to avoid the nightly news and horrors of the corona virus. This is on
Netflix and has my valuable recommendation. Plus I'd like to go to Berlin
one day, so it's fun to sightsee.

I'll be back in July

so grim ~ even Stalin would approve

the bounty did not make it worthwhile

Well, that was a depressing way for me to start my yesterday in what a friend
called the Gulag line for old people hour at Costco. The clerk in charge (poor
man) said they started lining up at 6:45am. I was there a little before 8am
when they opened. What fresh new hell was this? But once inside it was OK
and then I came home to half ass disinfect stuff. I guess the plastic carries
the virus for 150 days or WHATEVER. But today the sun is out and I have
everything I need to stay sane. The garden has become a surprising little
spot of salvation and the jigsaw puzzle is coming along nicely, even though
a certain four legged furball likes to explore up on the dining room table
and steal a piece or two to nibble. We can do this thing.