all systems GO

TV works, computer works and house is VERY clean in preparation
for daughter, Nancy, and grand daughter, Ceci, who are visiting
today and tomorrow. They have been up in Placerville where CC
lives and where it is hot. Here in SF that is not the case.

my technical Thursday

I needed Husbando's advice and support today because my little
bedroom TV wouldn't work and then I couldn't post on my blog
and yikes. Husbando always just told me to relax and know that
I can do anything I put my mind to and he was right. Plug in here,
reboot there, try this and that and it's OK to curse. The moment I
dialed Direct TV the picture came on and then just as I said, "OK,
no post today, my poor bereft readers," I figured out how to over-
come the blog obstacles and behold these words. So wonderful
seeing REAL Presidents today at the funeral for John Lewis.

what's to like?

I'm trying to stay positive during this pandemic. Not easy. I hate living
with fear and I miss my real life. But a few of the good things:

• I can drive and park downtown ~ imagine
• Slow Streets ~ a program wherein many streets are now car-free
• Outdoor dining
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Time to think and prioritize
• Old People shopping hours at Safeway
• No me-spending means more $$$ for charities
• Golden Gate Park, the ocean, Crissy Field ~ walking still works
• Friends!
• Annabelle 

fog and fire

Here is the view this morning. The fire is at Folsom and 13th Street,
according to the wonderful free Citizen phone app. Wow, now I can
even see flames! Scary shit.

a new old book

I've never read or seen The Enchanted April book/movie because I
thought it was some dumb romance novel. My wonderful neighbor
Heidi was raving about it the other day and Libby at the Library
provided me with an online copy, so here I go. It's about four
women who spend a month in a big old house in Italy. Hooray!

a moment of peace

This is an iPhone photo contest winner. Sunrise in Spain. We so need this...

possible? for sure!

Safeway finally had the Impossible burger in stock (about $10) and
I grilled 1/4 of the package for supper last night. Excellent with
cheese, lettuce, relish, mustard. I have had it out (pre-pandemic)
and although I have tried other plant-based meats, this is the best.
It doesn't smell as good as the real thing when cooking, on the
other hand my stomach was and is full and grateful. I am an
enthusiastic Impossible fan,

some find them puzzling

Annabelle says, "I was here first."

Eleven is one of the Blogmaid's menagerie 

email from a friend of a friend

(thank you, James!)

Report from Portland (July 22, 2020). 

Being of Medicare age, I have stayed away from the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that I support. But Trump’s dispatch of federal storm troopers to my city was too much. Last night, I had to go to show my repudiation, even if at a social distance.

I arrived at about 9:30 P.M. at the downtown federal buildings. There were 2-3 thousand there. The crowds had been declining until Trump sent his men in camouflage. Now they are growing again. Most were very young except for the several hundred Wall of Moms. It was spirited with chants of Black Lives Matter and Feds Go Home.

I thought, it would really be stupid for the men in camouflage to attack this crowd. And I thought that they too realized that and were nowhere to be seen. For sure, they were in the basement of one of the federal buildings. But at least they were keeping prudently out of sight. After an hour and a half prowling around at a distance from the edges of the mostly masked crowd, I left. The feds, I thought, had come to their senses and would not be attacking this night.

I was wrong. This morning’s Oregonian newspaper reported that the men in camouflage attacked the dwindling crowd three times after I left with gas and pellets. For what purpose since the demonstration was already winding down?  Good question. The only one I can think of is that Trump wants to look tough on protesters.

According to the newspaper account, some demonstrators attempted to take down plywood barriers and the men in camouflage used that as an excuse to attack. Were those demonstrators actually police agents, agents provocateurs? Quite possibly. It’s also quite possible that they were anarchists looking for the excitement of a street fight with Trump’s loathed federal storm troopers. Either one is possible with either one supporting Trump’s faux narrative.

The demonstration will be larger tonight.

fashion during the pandemic

footwear

whatever happened to this project?

I wore my new Tubman tee shirt to Pat's Grove yesterday for lunch.
The Blogmaid had gifted me with the adorable socks and they
speak the truth. Most days. Yes, I should be in Vogue Magazine.

baseball is back (sort of)

Just the wonderful background summer sounds of our great announcers,
the smack of the bat and the little side stories we love so much. For
instance ~ our brand new Skipper Gabe Kapler kneeling for the national
anthem!  Then the first ever full-time female coach, Alyssa Nakken,
was there at first base looking like she truly belongs. Cardboard fans
and big teddy bears in the stands ~ and oh yes, we beat the A's last night.

slugdom

I could do some writing on old photos and whether I should toss them
or let my stepdaughter do the honors when I croak. Pain and pleasure,
memories abound. I do try to toss a few things everyday, often going
back into the trash can the next day to retrieve something. This is week
#19 of our Shelter-In-Place and I should be getting more done. OK,
back to the current jigsaw, then some yoga and breakfast. Power to
the slugs...

the afternoon froth

Sometimes even I get tired of the basic latte. Shocking I know.
I've been trying assorted chai blends and so far this is the best.
Usually my 3pm reward, very special after a nice long walk.
The elecronic froth appliance was one of my best purchases
so far. We hate Amazon, thank you Amazon.

lunch on Sanchez Street

Yes, please...

Udon noodles with shrimp

Across the street

It's 11,000 iPhone steps to/fro Doug and Barb's and great walking weather.
Doug's udon was delicious and he used his Japanese class notes to figure
out how long to cook the thick noodles from the market in Japantown. We
talked of many things and had a few laughs too. More gratitude.

more Netflix foreign drama

The Twelve

Another good one and more applause for The Flix® please! The Twelve
is a Belgian courtroom drama based on a true story. I've only watched
two episodes, but they were terrific. I like to cleanse my mind with a
murder or two after the evening news.

innovation SF style

We are seeing less parking space and more of these clever and often colorful
outdoor dining spots outside of restaurants. In the past the city would
require permits for outdoor dining, but now this is encouraged because
there is no indoor activity at all in my city that suffers currently.

my life outdoors

Lots of social distance space in Pat's back yard where we gathered
again yesterday for a light lunch and some positive (mostly) chit
chat and giggles. Pat on the left, Marsha and her two dogs and
also Neti (not shown) ~ our sunny, shady haven. This is week #18
of our isolation. Sigh.

my life indoors

Yesterday I finished jigsaw #6 ~ it was easier than some, or maybe/maybe
I am getting better? I have the next puzzle on the dining room table, still
in the box. An essential activity for me on the "corona coaster".

life and baseball aren't fair

I've been reading this new 24 book of history and common
sense by Willie Mays and our local sportswriter, John Shea.
Good stuff. We need inspiration during this wretched pandemic
and Willie provides it. Husbando loved baseball because to him
it was much like life. From our beloved Willie Mays: "If you
give your best effort, don't get down on yourself if things
don't work out. Be happy with yourself and move on."

when writers zoom

Eric's poem is on the screen 

Here is the piece I read yesterday on our two hour long (!) zoomfest:

SHE SAID WHAT? (the prompt)

I love/hate Next Door. Love when someone finds a lost animal, hate the

thinly veiled racist rants. And then a lot of parking bullshit. Whose car

is this? It’s been here for 73 hours and I’m turning it in. So many small

minds in this enclave of elite white upper middle class citizens. Oh, yes,

and someone put THEIR garbage in my can for pick up. So?

Anyway, when we moved here 50 or so years ago (Bill would know the

exact date, he was one of those people), Bernal Heights was a poor

area, very near the infamous Army Street Projects. Lots of crime, dirty

streets. Cheap homes. Heaven.

Now it is chi chi. The projects were redone on Cesar Chavez, which used

to be Army Street. They are beige-upon-beige homes that look

like condos in Walnut Creek. Our little house is probably worth a million plus,

again Bill would know exactly HOW much. We have a lot of young

all-white, boring families. Bernal turns up in the New York Times as

one of the Best Neighborhoods in America. 

But in Next Door today I read some very good news. The loud and nasty

Fleet Week celebration that chokes the city every October has been canceled.

Hooray! Along with outdoor dining, another blessing from the Pandemic.

Mr. Sleeze

How low can they go? If you haven't watched the Roger Stone documentary
on Netflix, you might want to do so now that the Lyin' King commuted
his prison sentence. Vote November 3rd.

old office, new yoga studio

upward cat approves of downward dog

I think Husbando approves of Annabelle and me turning his office
into my morning exercise spot. Have I thoroughly cleaned out
everything here? Hell, no, it's only been two years and he left
a mess of papers, photos, boxes, secrets, cartoons and books.
YouTube has a bunch of free yoga practice sessions ~ hooray.

another nod to Netflix

Alas, only two seasons of Imposters, but this program is saving
my sanity this week. Clever, funny and totally delightful. Enjoy!

grass rooting

I was introduced to Sister District by a neighbor. This group focuses
exclusively on state legislative seats. So I will be sending 50 hand
written post cards to women voters in Cottonwood, Arizona. This
makes me feel good, I'm also supporting an online auction, with
money, not the bidding business.

steps and sights

circa 1915

old Vics in a row

My watch and iPhone keep track of my steps and I try for 10,000 a day ~
(one mile = 2,500 steps). Since I had a lazy weekend, I walked 16,000
steps yesterday, over to Douglas and 24th Street and back. That felt good.
And the iPhone camera is such a blessing on a walk. And beyond.

#5 (I think) ~ finished

This was a good one and Annabelle did not eat one piece. And I listened
to an audio book while I "worked" yesterday, so a double accomplishment.
Sort of. Today I need to get stuff done, including a long walk in this
beautiful weather. Onward.

red, white, blue, green and sunny

Neti and our hostess, Pat

A lovely 4th of July picnic in Pat's back yard ~ hot dogs, coleslaw,
chilled corn soup from Chef Sarah, watermelon and happy chatter
yesterday. We did all complain about the horrid and loud rogue fire-
works this year. Argh.

upper deck feast day

Chef Sarah and Doug

Barb, Doug and sunshine

On Thursday Doug and Barb drove to Napa to pick up our weekly lunch
from Chef Sarah. I know you remember that we are all part of the
writing group, Tiapos (aka Fluf for Fucking Love You Folks). I picked
up the tab because for once I wanted to treat my friends who cook
for me and treat me like a queen every week. (Oh, Tiapos = This Is
a Piece of Shit, in case you forgot. The writer never does.)

So yesterday we had a delightful salad and macaroni lunch, with
Sarah's pimento spread and snacks to start. Carrot cake dessert.
Coffee and lots of leftovers. I'm taking Sarah's chilled corn soup for
my social distant picnic today, in fact. There is also Sarah's chili in
my reefer for tomorrow. Hooray.

See my hands. I'm wearing all six rings and two bracelets. My first
dress-up in sixteen weeks. Worth it.

OK, the Chef Sarah story will warm your heart. All her winery events,
catering and livelihood stopped dead when the strict pandemic rules
started. She has a commercial kitchen and a staff and a vast email
list and she went to work. Success! Sarah's take-out business is strong,
healthy and she is so happy and we are all very, very proud of her.

nature in the city

Mitch McConnell

Stow Lake once again 

Ginger and I had our coffee in this calm setting yesterday morning. Stow
Lake still isn't too crowded during the week, I understand that the
weekends are different, of course. Then of course we walked around
the Lake and chattered away.

birds of prey

I just started a new book on my LindaKindle4 ~ Falcon Thief by
Joshua Hammer. A fascinating, true, fast-moving story about the
world of falcons and the people who steal their eggs.

fortunate creatures

Annabelle and I appreciate our quiet life. Here she is surveying her
kingdom. She moves around with the sun spots and I follow with
the camera and a smile.