into the fog

 I almost forgot to report on Tuesday's adventure with Ginger. Crissy Field is our default location and it had been awhile since we visited there. You can barely see the bridge or the city skyline, but know that the air was clear and our coffee hot. We secured the front row table, as per usual. 

like we had a choice

 

My writing partner this week sounded a little derisive when he asked why we called our 2000 Toyota KEN. I'm pretty sure we hadn't named any of our other cars except maybe the Fiat. Fix It Again Tony. Bill's favorite was the Rover, wonderful when it wasn't in the mechanic's garage. Toyota? Perfection.

a good deed ~ for one hour

 Please note that we wore "disco vests" courtesy of Manny and his restaurant and event center ~ our clean-up Sunday headquarters. A good way to start my often busy Sunday ~ so trashy. 

Water by the Spoonful

 Neti, Pat and I met at the SF Playhouse yesterday and even though this wasn't the best play ever produced, we stayed until the end and it did get better. GREAT acting, the script was a bit confusing, but then I rushed home to watch the Oscars and I saw The Slap. Now I need to see CODA and soon.

Dancing Jen's birthday lunch

 Il Casaro Pizzeria is in the top photo and Jen and her birthday pizza in the bottom. Then some photos that I took along the way practicing capture-the-sense-of-wonder theme from Karen S. This city (all cities?) is rich with creative and colorful details. The sunshine helped everything too. A delightful time.

the essence of wonder

  The essence of wonder. A big secret indeed. I think it’s the ability to notice, to observe, to stay open. To delight. But maybe it doesn’t come easily to those of us who are depressed or sorrowful. Or awake to the grim reality of the world and our own country.

But it’s worth trying. It’s worth watching a bumblebee and saying the word bumblebee which is a wonder word if there ever was one.

It reminds me of one more thing I did with Wednesday’s yoga class. We sat on our mats, closed our eyes, and played with “bumblebee breath” for a few minutes. Breathe in through your nostrils, pause, then hum as you exhale. Repeat and repeat. Any tone, any length. You are your own hive master. Its very wonderful.

Let me try try try to find some wonder from today to write in this space at the bottom of this page. Lunch out on our patio, with the welcome warmth of sun. There is nothing like spring sunshine when your body remembers the cold winter and when the weather is still chilly. That moment or half hour of warmth on your shoulders and back — that is enough wonder for any March day.

(from my writing partner, Karen S., yesterday. Wonder used to be easier for me, but it is still there.)

dreamer, showman, father

 A lovely movie about Richard Williams, determined father of tennis stars Venus and Serena. This was on HBO Max and I enjoyed King Richard thoroughly. We will see during the Oscars on Sunday!

Seven plus three from afar

Well, my assistant (bottom photo) and I have some clean-up/put-away work to do today, but we had a very successful belated St. Pat's celebration last night. Neti was a huge help because my timing isn't perfect and she took charge of the big pot to make sure things were cooked properly. One of the guests took my iPhone home but Alexa (!) called and all is well now. Feeling the after glow this morning.

 

Sutro Park

 Ginger and I had our walk and coffee way down here at Sutro Park yesterday. Beautiful. This is off the beaten path for both of us and we had a nice time exploring and enjoying the sun.

the house next door

 Hmmmm, I neglected to get a before photo, but it was ugly and delapidated looking. Trust me. Now I'm getting used to the pink. It does go nicely with my green house, shown on the right. I hope one day this will appear in the juliegeb Instagram #ihaveathingwithhouses, a local photographer. Check her out!

ah, Spring

 Even though we have the prettiest winters possible here, we always welcome Spring. I bring out the Rilke quote every year and today we also have Gini's kitchen to admire. 

lunch in a parklet

 I met Jesse and Marci yesterday at Starbelly, one of my favorite spots. I had to ask Husbando's help to find parking and he complied at once. 

A French Village

 Pamela recommended this 8 (!) year long French series which is on Amazon. I have watched two episodes as the Nazi's invade this tiny French town back in 1940. Not easy to watch what with the horrors of Ukraine, but I already appreciate the characters, the courage and how some are able to live and love.

St. Patrick's ~ delayed

 I'm having a small (to some, not to me) dinner party next week. Our gather dates were messy so it will be a week after the actual holiday. A good chance to thoroughly clean my small house and start the set-up as seen in the top photo. Then I saw this flag on my afternoon walk. Very cool.

on BART to Berkeley

 I had been missing my friend Pamela and so yesterday I took BART to meet her and we had a lovely lunch out in the garden (above) at La Note on Shattuck. Lots of catch-up and good food and then she drove me over to Vine Street to visit my friend Julia at her beautiful store Pot-Pourri. I'm happy to report that there were a lot more people on BART and in downtown Berkeley too. It appears that they are working on the sad homeless situation there as we are here in SF. In any event, it looked and felt cleaner and better than it did two years ago. A full and really nice day for this traveling (ahem) woman.

Patrick Kelly at the deYoung

 I need to report on this exhibit before it closes next month. Patrick Kelly was the first American and first Black designer voted into the prestigious French fashion association. Bold, whimsical and fun fashion in the 1980's. A remarkable designer who died way too young. 

the decision was made

 The talented and delightful RR will be attending the Savannah College of Art and Design in September. I will avoid the so soon? she was only four last week! kind of thinking and just celebrate Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid's daughter and the many adventures that lie ahead for her. Sincere congratulations!

more trash talk

 I worked for a fun hour yesterday picking up trash. We met at Manny's, a restaurant and event space at 16th and Valencia. Note the bathroom photo ~ what a treat. Really, it takes so little to make a difference.

my kind of time change

 Almost all clocks have been moved ahead this morning. Of course it's easier with so many digiatal devices that do this for us. And I can stay up later with the big kids.

Alice Neel at the deYoung

 What a fabulous exhibit. I will return. The bottom photo is one of Alice Neel's sons, ruined by the corporate world, she said. Yesterday I met Terri for a good long museum day. Terri had been to see Alice's work at the Whitney, back in the 70's, and she added a lot of insight for me. Alice Neel (1900-1984) lived and painted in New York most of her life, so it is a treat to have her work here in SF. 

filthy fun

 Yesterday I was reading a January New Yorker and Righteos Gemstones was featured in the TV Section. John Goodman heads one of those big mother phony televangelist churches and of course there is great disfuntional family fun with his two sons and one daughter. 

the poetry of travel

 Long ago, it now seems, we used to love to explore the world. Here is a poem I wrote in 2008, and even though it needs work, I like it. No title yet.

Packing for a trip to Europe

with our lists and books 

and Bill repacking for me

and making it all so neat.

Sitting on the long flight

trying to sleep, holding hands

and complaining about how 

uncomfortable it is ~ poor us.

“Pinch me” we say back and 

forth as the plane lands and we

see Paris, London, Rome or

Dublin. Exhausted we deplane.

Jet lagged and tired, no matter

what time of day, we try to sleep 

or walk or drink coffee and get

lost so many times we lose count.

The second day is one big slice

of heaven as we explore and explain

and analyze an entirely new world

for us and “Hey, look over there!”

Foods so rich, people so different

and our maps are tattered by day three.

Even in London the language throws us,

but soon we feel at home, or so it seems.

under the windmill

Ginger and I visited the tulips in the park yesterday ~ so lovely. Then we found a picnic table in the sun for our coffee and blueberry muffins. This is what retirement is all about, no arguments there.
 

She Day

 March 8th ~ we all celebrate and salute the many changes and progress for women. Yes, there is still a long way to go, but it is doable. I will wear my special Women's Day pin today. 

happy dim sum to you

Neti, Jeanine and I celebrated Pat's birthday yesterday at Shailai Seafood Restaurant out on Geary Boulevard. Lots of food and VERY reasonable. Restaurants here in the city have become expensive since the pandemic and the much needed staff raises, but this lunch was certainly the exception. A fine time for we four women, especially for Pat, or so I hope.

 

Oscar worthy movie

 Drive My Car is so unusual. This Japanese film is loosely based on a short story by Haruki Murakami and I recommend it just because it is so powerful. A widowed actor needs a driver when he directs Uncle Vanya ~ I know I missed many of the detailed and nuanced scenes and conversations, but I loved this film and can't get it out of my mind. I watched it on HBO Max with cat-on-lap. 

too cold to walk

 The Blogmaid and I met in Pathetica and honestly, we were almost the only ones there because it was so windy and the ocean was wild and dangerous and all splish-splashy. I did see one man carrying his dog and that seemed unproductive. So we had lattes and a bagel at the Chit Chat Cafe, watching out for any huge wave that might take us out. We spoke of RR and her college plans and life and animals and the sorrow of Ukraine. Annabelle would prefer that I never leave the house and here she was at the top of the stairs when I returned. A treat and some lap time turned that scowl to a purr.