The Jewel sparkled

I haven't been to a night game in years. We barely managed to win last night, but it was fun to be part of the excitement with Marci and Jesse from Grief Group. I took BART to the Embarcadero and walked along the bay and that was delightful. The magic number is down to 3 and we so want to win the West and not have to face the do-or-die-one-game wild card thing. Damn Dodgers won too.
 

what is so rare?

 There was NO fog yesterday morning so Ginger and I took our coffee down to the Marina Green to sit on a green bench and wonder about the yachts and the people who own them. Lots of walkers with dogs and strollers and we did our 7,000 steps or so as we congratulated ourselves on being here in this city that we both love so much. But you already have ascertained that...

my, this feels good

 Yesterday three house cleaners came to do all those things that I ignore: stove, microwave, window blinds and under furniture mopping and vacuuming. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? For sure!

reserved for two

 I tossed around some cheapo furniture yesterday so neighbor Heidi and I could have tea and do some real world problem solving. One would have to request The View Table in a fine restaurant. The top photo proves that a certain cat (over on the left) was included. 

out for dinner again

 

I so enjoyed meeting Doug's brother and sister-in-law last night. They drove up from SoCal for a feast of grilled lamb chops, corn, beans, tomatoes, rice and way too much wonderful food. I was just a bit rude (as was Doug) because we had to keep checking baseball scores. Another WIN. Hooray.

more Angel Island stuff

Well, I could tell you about my trip to the dentist yesterday, or I could chat some more about Angel Island. Across from the barracks is a beautiful memorial wall for the descendents of the Chinese immigrants who came through here before entering the United States. Very touching thank yous in Chinese and English and alas, I only photographed a small portion of the wall.  And here is a whimsical map which, to my huge relief, featured the cafe. 

 

leaving the City for a day

 Angel Island is our Ellis Island ~ from 1910 to 1940, Chinese immigrants were processed here in grim barracks on this beautiful spot where they could see SF in the distance. Pat (see photo) and I took the terrific tour and had a long and delightful day. The round trip ferry is $11 for seniors (we qualify!) and thankfully there is a friendly cafe on this California State Park. I sprinkled some of Husbando's ashes here as we had visited about 40 years or so ago. Glorious weather too.

book club celebration

 I've only been a book club member for about 5 or so years, but three of the women here were founders. We had a lovely pot luck celebration at Gini's yesterday. I want to recommend the book here again ~ A Woman of No Importance. 

retirees need a day off now and then

 Annabelle and I canceled all plans yesterday to read and nap and take care of our bodies, minds and emotions. And then the Giants game last night took FOREVER and we won in the 9th inning, as per usual. Lordy. A good night's sleep in November, or so it seems now.

four widows in the Grove

 This is our warm weather time and Neti and I joined Pat for dinner last night. We had drinks and snacks outside as the sun went down. Roberta joined us, she recently lost her husband and and is now a member of this club that no one wants to belong to. I hope we were able to comfort her. Time heals, sort of...

monsters galore

 The top photo is the poster in my office created by the ultra talented Linda Davick, previous owner of the original LindaKindle. It still makes me smile on a daily basis. So how could I NOT order these monster stamps that she featured on her blog? Linda and Tom are happy living in Albuquerque and one day I will visit them. Oh, the monster stamps are from the USPS and not Linda's design, second best.

between baseball games

 My Life is Murder is an Australian detective series on Acorn. I like it. Alas, the main character is named Alexa and somtimes my Amazon Echo Dot responds when someone asks her a question and it is all a bit disconcerting to say the least. My Alexa gives long, peculiar answers to assorted strange questions ~ maybe I should cover the Dot with a pillow? A murder of sorts.

Belden Place = delightful

 Dancing Jen and I had a garlic-filled, delicious lunch yesterday at B44 in Belden Place, a wonderful street (alley?) in the financial district with Russian, French, Spanish and American restaurants. All outdoors, some with roof top coverings, some not. Another "why I love SF" kind of day.

it is shrine season

 The top photo features the Mother of All Shrines Ever with the Blogmaid's creation at Apple. All the wonderful bobbleheads and schedules and the big orange thumb. I'm not sure of the date ~ maybe 2010? The baseball email group believes in shrines and I do too. Here is my half-assed attempt this week on the mantle above the fireplace. We have lost two games since I installed this...

Pamela, Judy and me

 Yesterday Pamela and I met at the deYoung to see the Judy Chicago exhibit ~ honestly the place was almost deserted and we had a fine time with coffee (show your Vax card and ID!) in the cafe afterwards. We were bummed to start the exhibit with the Death business (the artist, her mother and our earth) but then Judy covered almost everything else. The Holocaust stained glass window in the top photo was my favorite and yes, I am so glad we did this. Ms. Chicago works with glass, pottery, watercolors, oil, tapestry, embroidery and photography. So much talent. Yes, I recommend it!

huge waste of money

 Who did they think we were? How dare they try to recall Gov. Newsom with an election coming up next year? Yes, all at taxpayers' expense. Congratulations to California and our ex-mayor. Back to work...

Built for October

 The Giants are going to the Playoffs. Who is more surprised? The fans or MLB or the gamblers in Las Vegas? Built for October is on the new tee shirts the team is wearing in the photo. I want one.

for today's front porch

 

10,495 steps

 A perfect day for a walk. Up busy, bustling Mission Street to 17th Street where I discovered this outdoor cafe with a view of the new (to me) housing on Shotwell. Robin's Cafe was just what I needed after my long "oh look at that" walk and I will return for another sandwich and a latte. Shotwell is a Slow Street (no car traffic) so I had a very nice and peaceful walk home. Today I be lazy and that is easy...

today is for quiet reflection

 

pins and needles

 I believe in acupuncture and my traditional Kaiser doc is in favor of this too. So yesterday I started with a Dr. Sparrow (yes!) who was recommended to me by Gini. Already my knees are better. I will go again next week and soon I'll be running a marathon. 

one group purrrrr bench

 Of course you can't read the not so clever sign, nor can you see Ms. Snugglebutt in her carry cage, circa 1977. Everything is a big deal now days with the masks, but we were both happy to get the Wellness Exam out of the way and yes, Annabelle has a couple of love handles. (As does her owner.)

1-2-3 vaca over

 The Zoom exercise class from SF Park and Rec started this morning again after almost two weeks of freedom. I promised myself that I would continue to stretch, lift and balance during the off time, but did that happen? One would think that I would have a bit more discipline at my age, but one would be wrong. So my day was extra busy with class, then an early lunch in the Grove and finally a Wellness Exam for a certain girl cat who was not happy about this one bit. Annabelle is 100% fine and so am I. 

Eric and Jillian (people), Buddy and Ruby

 Doug and Barb and I went for a long lunch and cat appreciation day over in Concord yesterday. Eric is in our writing group and we had a good time talk/talk/talking. It was HOT over there, one forgets that SF is fog-filled and cool until we get out of town once in awhile. A lovely day indeed.

new uniforms

 For the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. And no, I won't mess with Texas, except to be very critical.

Labor Day weekend

 

Chinese Workers

Xiao Hai

Translated from the Chinese by Tammy Lai-Ming Ho

I am a Chinese workerOur revolutionary comrades are found in every    corner of the EarthPerhaps consciously or perhaps unintentionallyWe truly stand hereTraveling the world’s ups and downs with our    hands that feed horses and chop woodI am a Chinese workerLurking inside the desire of tall mansions in steel    and concrete is our captive cut-priceYouthThe changes of the season are not oursFood and vegetables don’t need our attentionAll we can do is let the mystery of the words    Made in ChinaFiercely flood every river leading to the four    oceans and seven continentsAnd at every intersectionTake the spoils of the October RevolutionTo exchange for much sought-after ticket stubs to    return home at year’s endI am a Chinese workerLet those days of monotonous workshop/factory    life explode and tumble in the cogwheels of    timeOn the quay, the suitcases that have crossed    oceans and seas are stuffed with ourPenniless and ephemeral pursuitsThe sparks of the years howlTorrential rain in the heart, endless windsBetween lightning and thunder we ask ourselvesWhen will we give our lives a wild runEight thousand miles is too farThree thousand miles is too nearWe are in this vast land, nine million six hundred    thousand kilometersSurviving the nightI come from a villageYou come from a townBoth of us fight barefoot in this dreamy big cityAgainst the gunfire of the Second Industrial    RevolutionI wish to write those blond-haired yuppies with    blue eyes across the oceanA letterA letter that can’t be deliveredTell them of the blooming of spring flowersTell them how high birds flyTell them those walking in the streetsWear clothes that appear decentOh, but they make us feel embarrassedWe sleep ashamed on the warm beds in the    workshopWithout warning we wake up in shockFull of incomprehensionFull of drilling painI want to ask themWhy is the dawn sun covered by dark cloudsWhy isn’t there a rainbow after rainWhy are nights in the city bright as dayWhy are rivers, once grand, now sparkling goldA shining place or somewhere with overgrown    grassThere grow Chinese workers standing side by    side like the Great WallThere grow Chinese workers covering mountainsThere grow Chinese workers holding bronze toolsThere grow Chinese works who smoke and puffThere grow Chinese workers who are armoredThere grow Chinese workers quiet as a riddleThere grow Chinese workersThere grow Chinese workersThere grow Chinese workersI am a Chinese worker

the puzzle organization

 I invested a few $$$$ in these jigsaw puzzle boxes and also a felt cloth for wrapping up the unfinished almost masterpiece. I sorted most of the pieces based on color and I'm sure I will decide to re-do some of these when the rains come and I get back to "work". For now, nice to have the dining room back.

honest to god

 Can't we do ANYTHING right? Must there be profit and/or greed every step of the way?

"The burst in digital borrowing has helped many readers, but it has also accelerated an unsettling trend. Books, like music and movies and TV shows, are increasingly something that libraries and readers do not own but, rather, access temporarily, from corporations that do." The New Yorker: An App Called Libby and the Surprisingly Big Business of Library E-books.

the second time around

 I was in the third row and could hear every word this time. Too wonderful. An usher told me that the reason Hamilton was only here in SF is because they had to close back at the beginning of Covid and the stage set and costumes were all here and most of the cast, too, waiting and raring to go. Everyone wore masks and there wasn't an empty seat. Now I will ask Alexa to play the sound track again for me. 

quiet beauty across the bridge

 Ginger and I went to Tiburon yesterday ~ that little town is packed full of memories, all of them wonderful. We walked around oooohing and awwwwing during the lovely clear day, then had burgers and fries (and salad!) at good old Sam's Cafe, out on the big back deck, of course.