Halloween 2020 = scary

 Aren't we lucky that the Blogmaid decorates so creatively for this holiday this year? The top photo is a greeting card that I received and yes, it says so much about everything. I am going to an outdoor party today so we will have something for tomorrow's post. No more soup cans for a spell. Boo!

Catch this birthday celebration!

 It was a pleasure to treat the Great Plotniks to his birthday celebration at Catch yesterday. We had mussels topped with fries and yummy creme brulee for dessert. We are getting used to eating out in these clever boxes that take up so many parking spaces. A bit noisy, a bit better than my own kitchen ~ by a mile.

slow re-openings

The Legion of Honor is now open a few days a week, but alas, no Pompeii exhibit because they couldn't get the artifacts out of Italy before the pandemic slammed us. Still, nice to wander around and remember my old life there and yes, beautiful art still remains intact. Then Neti and I had a late lunch at the Park Chalet with the new Linda-green umbrellas. They have expanded into Golden Gate Park and they were busy because we are all so ready to try to have a normal life again. Safely, of course. 

If it's Tuesday: morning, noon, night

 

Yesterday the light of dawn was so bright on some of the downtown buildings! The photo never does it justice, but I keep on trying. Noon at Pat's Grove was a cheese sandwich, and then dinner from Chef Campbell. It's fireplace weather every morning and Annabelle and I do our fair share of purring. Of course I do some complaining too, but never on the blog. Almost never on the blog.

far superior to the old hippie beads

So check this out. My friend John R. down in Encinitas (also Mexico) found this beaded doorway on Amazon (where else?) and installed it instead of a door to his bathroom. I wonder if it would keep a cat out. Clever, in my opinion.  

let's go to Ireland

 A retired Chicago cop moves to Ireland in The Searcher by Tana French. Strange things begin to happen in the rustic country location as we learn more about his life. More escape on my LindaKindle4.

Carlini and his two cats

Yesterday I drove to Walnut Creek to have lunch on Carlini's patio. Fake mice were one of my hostess gifts and yes, a hit with both Miss Puma (calico) and the new Bessie Coleman who is still a feisty kitty. Just the idea of getting in the car and driving to have lunch with a friend seemed like a huge pandemic breakthrough. It was. But I was amazed to see so many cars on the road. A lovely time indeed.

creating during the shut down

Not me, alas, but my friend Pamela finished her novel and wrote some piano pieces to accompany the story. I will start reading this morning, in front of the fire. The White Deer, by Pamela Prince. 

lots and lots of postcards

 Here is what we volunteers did to get out the vote. Sister District sent the results. Hooray! Fingers crossed that people are willing to stand in long lines in states that try to suppress the vote. 

just when I need it most

 Several friends have recommended A Place to Call Home on Acorn. I knew it would be a commitment, so I waited until now, when too much politics could make me crazy. I've now watched three out of many episodes and I pronouce it "Splendid!" and so I can now suggest that you to watch this juicy Australian drama with intriguing characters, a big old rich house, romance/broken hearts and a few animals too, of course. Better than watching tRump flail about.

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Annabelle and I spent a LOT of time on this colorful jigsaw puzzle ~ we were sugar-crazed at the end. I'm ready for a change of scene ~ after I vacuum the "work area" today because it is filled with cereal crumbs. 

Lila, the great little pumpkin

 Remember the wedding I went to in Chicago? Well, now the bride and groom have Lila and I have another great grand. Nancy adores her first grandchild and Aunt CC will see her niece at Thanksgiving. And yes, she is indeed a cute baby!

almost like Paris (France, not Texas)

What a pleasure to go OUT, at night (!) and eat and talk just like in the pre-pandemic times. Finally we could celebrate Joe's birthday at Al's Place last evening. Outside, of course, but I prefer that now. We enjoyed five luscious courses including french fries and warm cookies with our coffee.  Cod, pork belly, very fresh salad and lots of gossip because Joe still works at the museums. I had planned this birthday dinner carefully in March and wham, it was canceled and the world locked us in place. Off and on with the masks, but we are so adaptable. Right. Totally delightful time at Husbando's fave restaurant.

Netflix does it again

Well, yes, I so recommend The Trial of the Chicago 7 which is filled with great acting and some humor! 

public transportation at its best

 Yesterday Ginger and I took the 10:15 ferry from the Embarcadero over to Larkspur. A glorious day filled with sunshine and fresh air. We used our Clipper Cards ~ such a bargain. We walked and had coffee in the huge outdoor patio space in Larkspur and then ferried home in the afternoon. LOTS of fresh air! The ferry was overly cautious with the Covid-19 Beware! seating, in my humble opinion. We were all wearing masks, of course, one must these days. Back to Hot today, alas.

who needs this now?

I feel sorry for the fans. Life is just too stressful currently to go through the playoffs and the World Series. But of course I watch and root for no one except Dusty Baker, without his smart ass Astros team. Well, maybe eventually I will give my valuable support to the Rays. Maybe. The Dodgers are the BEST team in baseball, except during the playoffs. Explain that, if you will.

fall feels almost normal

 A nice walk in the sunshine, a latte with some reading time and of course these bright orange not-sunflowers to cheer this city woman recluse. Lovely indeed. 

living twice

 When the artist David Park knew he only had a few months to live he painted his memories on this long roll of butcher paper ~ you must see it to really appreciate it. I have been writing everyday for almost 20 years and my teacher/friend Jane Underwood would say that writers are allowed to Live Twice as we record our memories. Husbando started his memoir audio taping back in 2003, encouraged and enthused by my writing. He loved the whole process and at the end he asked me to toss all the tapes. No way. I'm sure he didn't really mean that. It's a VERY personal process, meant mostly for the writer/speaker/painter. And yet so wonderful for the survivors to have all these glorious memories.

2020 Nobel Prize in Literature

Congratulations to Louise Gluck! I have been reading her poetry again since the announcement and I think you will enjoy this one:

The Red Poppy

The great thing

is not having 

a mind. Feelings:

oh, I have those; they

govern me. I have

a lord in heaven

called the sun, and open

for him, showing him

the fire of my own heart, fire

like his presence.

What could such glory be

if not a heart? Oh my brothers and sisters,

were you like me once, long ago,

before you were human? Did you

permit yourselves 

to open once, who would never

open again? Because in truth

I am speaking now 

the way you do. I speak

because I am shattered.

~ Louise Gluck from The Wild Iris

hermit woman gets dates!

It's been decades since I have even tasted a date, so this was a lovely gift from my friend John R. down in Encinitas. He and his family are date farmers, among other things. John and Susan (with the Fevered Brain) are friends and neighbors when living in Mexico, and both of them read this blog. Intellectuals. I wrote Susan after the dates arrived and she gave me lots of good advice on how to use them ~ this morning I will plop a couple into my fruit smoothie, for instance. Thank you, John. Truly.

 

"Open" exhibit at the deYoung

After seeing Frida (again) on Friday, Ginger and I went to the new, huge exhibit of Bay Area artists ~ 877 pieces to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Fine Arts Museums here. These are all from "amateur" local artists, but only a few works looked like they were. I vowed to return a few more times because there is just really too much to see in one visit. Overwhelmed, in a good way.

don't tell a soul

The top photo is dear Tom, Linda's husband. When she sent me this photo I was forced to admit that I really dislike sunflowers and she found this to be funny (and odd, I'm sure). I think I started hating these prickly show-offy flowers on my first cross country trip ~ they are just so Kansas/Nebraska and now here they appear in Albuquerque. Linda also kindly sent me the Charlotte Mendelson clip, which I love.

porch decor for Dummies

Annabelle and I welcomed Fall this week ~ the flowers are from my garden, how about that? We usually get one more blast of hot weather in October and then prepare yourself for all of my fireplace posts.

an early birthday gift

Our friend Sally sent RR these delightful dolls, or action figures, if you prefer. Ryan will be 17 in November and no, I can't believe that either. So ~ three dolls in this photo. Good one, M.A. 

I heart Kaiser

Yesterday I got the flu shot and the needle technician said they are busy early this year with lots of first time vaccine customers. I have zero patience or tolerance for people who do not appreciate the work of doctors and scientists who try to make our lives better. There is one bloated dictator (Trumpolini) who loves that White House balcony that every U.S. president has avoided forever ~ he thinks he knows more than the dedicated medical experts and he is going DOWN on Nov. 3rd. Please. (Cool new heart sculpture in front of Kaiser so of course I wanted a photo for my hundreds of readers.)

puzzles past

I have failed to keep my faithful readers updated on jigsaw hi jinx here on Mullen Avenue. You can see that I have accomplished a lot. Currently I have one with many, many cereal boxes and of course you will see the finished product at some point along the way. So soothing to have this activity always waiting for me on the dining room table when I am mostly stuck at home. 

Ms. Rowling, I presume...

She writes this series under the Robert Galbraith name. Troubled Blood is a fine mystery and I will devote some time today to Robin and Strike as they dash about London solving a cold case for the daughter of the missing woman. Good stuff. On my LindaKindle4, of course.

back to SF Moma

I've always appreciated David Park, a California Bay Area artist in the 60's, but I had no idea that he did all this work that is exhibited at Moma now. A fabulous show. I love how carefully the museums control the number of masked art lovers, so it is easier to see and enjoy each painting. 

watching the swimmers

 Aquatic Park ~ one forgets it's there. With four hours FREE parking too. A short walk to and through empty Fisherman's Wharf (top photo) and then back to the concrete grand stands for coffee with Ginger yesterday. We guessed these are daily swimmers with their brightly colored swim caps and muscular bodies. You can see that our sky is still suffering from the wildfires up North.