a jury of his peers

 The fact that this psycho was convicted of all 34 felonies does not mean that he won't be our next president. But still, what if these 12 good people had found him innocent? Even worse.

oxtails on a sunny day

 I introduced Doug and Barb to the Farmhouse yesterday and yes, they loved it too. This time we added oxtails (bottom photo) to the excellent starter menu and wowza, yummy. They are leaving soon for NY and Italy so we needed a little catch-up conversation time. 

it runs in the family

 Annabelle and I both have dental problems (so does my sister, Jane) and in the top photo you can see my girl with her "I trusted you, I was wrong," look as we wait in the Cats Only Room at the SPCA Veterinarian Center. I do like this place, she doesn't. In a few weeks my roomie will have an all-day dental care day and neither one of us wants this. Behold the ancient cat carry case which always gets comments from humans. Other than teeth, Annabelle is 100%.

Memorial Day celebration

 Jen and Stacie (in photo with two dogs) over fed me last night with all the traditional American foods that we love: potato salad, corn, baked beans, BBQ chicken, roast beef...way too much delicious food. These women are very, very good to me, but I do not complain. In fact I walked home happily last night with a full bag of To Go cartons. Yes, I am spoiled.

back to Berkeley

 We celebrated Pamela's birthday yesterday at Zut on 4th Street. This year Lauriel joined us and that made our day extra special. From the left: Joe, Pamela, Lauriel and your blogger. A busy Memorial Day weekend with lots of traffic and Carnival right here in my neighborhood making things crazy, but colorful for sure.

working for the Mayor

 Two hours in front of the bustling Farmers Market in Noe Valley. Signs and buttons on top of the ironing board. My partner Jack and I listening to assorted complaints about MY city and Mayor Breed. But a few interested and nice people listening to why we like London. This will be a tight race, but that's usually true here in our (ahem) interesting city.

watching last night's game today

 Well, just the highlights, but what fun. Our Giants are on some kind of unexpected rally winning streak and last night's game with the Mets was so great after the come-back from behind four run homer and then that dramatic out in the bottom of the ninth. So maybe I'll just watch that video one more time. A nice way to start the day. Try it.

on my To Do List

 Not me in the above photo, but you guessed that. I need to find a new exercise routine because my teacher on Zoom from the Park and Rec Department is retiring. Victor is 65 or so. Damn. Of course there are hundreds to choose from on YouTube, but what I need is the set schedule or I will find other "important" things to do. So June Resolution ~ find an exercise regime and just do it. I walk everyday but need to work on strength and balance. Onward...

ye olde book club

 We had a reunion yesterday at Gini's and yes we talked about books, but not in an organized (bring your notes) kind of way. The weather was gorgeous and we sat in the sun porch and the grand girls visited us to add a few insights. A very nice day.

no longer shocking

 There are a ton of self-driving cars in the city now. The other night while my almost step grandson, Luke, was taking us to Tadich Grill, the car next to us asked us to lower the window to ask if he was crazy or was that a car without a driver. Luke assured him that he was fine and that there are lots of driverless cars in San Francisco. Honestly, they work better than some of the reckless drivers and they actually stop for red lights and pedestrians. I would not be afraid to take one, but I am a loyal Lyft fan.

book clubbing

 We met here Sunday night to thoroughly discuss What you are looking for is in the library, my selection which was loved by all. I provided overdone ramen and Laurence brought miso soup, Suze with a huge salad and Heidi a dessert. Two women with other plans, but we four had a lively evening. Flowers courtesy of my dear step daughter, Nancy. We are already trying to find a free meeting day/night for all in June (not easy) and our book to read is above, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Getting out my ear buds now. 

her grandpa's DNA

 G. dot Samantha and Luke and I celebrated her belated birthday at Tadich Grill on Saturday night. This was always one of Husbando's favorite restaurants and I'm happy to report that it was filled with happy people AND they had reasonable ($15) valet parking. This very old SF fish restaurant features the dark wood and white tablecloths and friendly waiters ~ plus excellent food which we three gobbled up. Petrale sole with too many vegetables and I did order creamed spinach as Bill would have done. A lovely time. Sam reserved a booth so we could hear our latest news and discuss our busy lives. 

finally ~ to the Fillmore

 I volunteered at the big re-election kick-off rally yesterday morning at the world famous Fillmore Auditorium. I don't think I had ever been there in my feckless youth. The place was packed and I exited before the speeches since it was SRO. Mayor Breed is far from perfect but I admire her and do not like the rich white guys who are running against her. My fellow volunteers? Impressive!

friendship and cajun food

 I met Dancing Jen for lunch at VoodooLoveSF in Belden Place yesterday, that wonderful restaurant alley that is coming back to life. I had the giant steak (there is some in my refrigerator today) and she had shrimp. So good to see the most wonderful Jen and we talked of many things, all important: Life, death, family, books, travel and Lyft drivers.

what is FELTING?

 The central character in What you are looking for is in the Library is usually found "felting" until she is asked to help someone find a book or a forward path in life. Curious, I ordered this $10 kit from Amazon for the book club meeting here next Sunday night. And I found this definition which doesn't really help, so we shall see:

The continued process of poking the barbed needle in and out of the wool, pushes the fibers up and down thereby interlocking them.

You can do this by hand with a single needle, or with a tool using multiple needles. There are small felting machines, about the size of a regular sewing machine as well as very large, table sized machines which create huge sheets of felted wool using hundreds or even thousands of needles.

WHO KNEW? 

cooking school

 Amy came over to teach me how to make crust less quiche and green pea salad. She loves to cook and I don't, but I do appreciate the talents and efforts of others. The results? Delicious and we had plenty of time to chat while she worked away. I did the dishes afterwards, so there.

let's define PATRIOTS

 I usually prefer fiction, but I'm fascinated by/with Sedition Hunters which tells the story of a loose-knit band of volunteer sleuths who worked with the sometimes recalcitrant FBI to track down hundreds of rioters from the Jan. 6th invasion. Domestic terrorism is a rather new concept to our federal government and so is citizen crowdsourcing and these determined people who have sent so many to justice and jail. One volunteer even voted for Trump twice, until the assault on our capitol and democracy.

when Tennessee Williams speaks

 This play has always been a favorite of mine. Sure, it's dated now but when you see The Glass Menagerie at different stages of life it resonates. Neti and I went to the Sunday matinee and it was VERY well acted and for the first time I understood the over-bearing mother who was stuck in the traditional role for women back in the bad old days. At the SF Playhouse ~ many stars.

back to talking trash

 There is a community garden stuffed with flowers and veggies on our trash walk and we were lucky to gain admittance yesterday. Those amazing poppies. Emma and Heidi and I had a lovely talk-and-walk on a grey morning. Yes, the sun emerged eventually. I'm still smiling after Emma's and Natalie's visit. Very special young women.

Emma and Natalie

 Last night Heidi and Rob hosted a dinner party for Emma and Natalie who are visiting from Portland. A wonderful evening filled with questions, answers, laughter and warmth. This morning we will pick up trash together which is how this whole unlikely friendship began a few years ago. (To refresh your memory, Emma is on the right in the above photo.)

we loved the novel and now...

 ...Ewan McGregor is fabulous as "his Excellency" in A Gentleman in Moscow now streaming through Showtime. I've only watched one out of eight episodes so far because there is a lot to process and I don't want to rush this heady visual and emotional experience. Five stars or more.

back to the ocean

 Another gorgeous day in Half Moon Bay yesterday. I walked with the Blogmaid and her family and two dogs after we had a fine lunch and strong tea. We remarked on all the fancy new remodels and building going on down there ~ and not always in the most complimentary manner to be honest. I tend to be partial to the old and funky, but wealth marches on. 

my chef friends

 A gorgeous day and very nice evening. Jen with two dogs grilled lamb chops and we had an interesting conversation over a delicious dinner. She and Stacie have this lettuce tree (lower right corner in bottom photo) out on their deck and it is pretty amazing. We discussed the pros and cons of all the coyotes in SF ~ good thing my Annabelle is an indoor/spoiled kitty. 

say hey kid's birthday

 Willie Mays was watching the Giants lose (again) on his 93rd birthday, May 6th. He received greetings from all over the world and many, many people inside and out of baseball love Willie who joined the Giants in 1958 and still comes to games to inspire our players. 

pins and needles and more

 My acupuncture doctor and I discuss many things and I always feel very good after I leave our appointment. Yesterday she urged me to check out The Killing, a Danish thriller with many episodes on Prime TV. And so I did. Excellence. 

our almost clean city

 During the Pandemic one man named Vincent (out in "the Avenues") took his two bored children outside to pick up trash and this movement exploded. These days thousands around SF go out in orange vests with bags and picker-upper sticks and what a difference. Yesterday Heidi and her son Evan and I went back to Manny's and whereas in the beginning we would have two stuffed bags each, these days we barely get enough trash for one bag. During the week employers downtown encourage their workers to collect trash. The DPW provides whatever is needed and this is just such a fun and easy way for people to connect and do some good. Often restaurants will provide free coffee and food so yesterday we had a yummy brunch at Manny's after our work shift. 

shallow Sunday thoughts

 Here in front of the fire after a rainy Saturday at home. A good day. I do like living alone, if anyone is wondering. Bright sunshine today and I will get moving soon. I have been thinking about our downtown and whether SHOPPING should be the reason we go there. I think not. Food, music, people ~ yes. In any event, I often have to either defend Amazon or keep my big mouth shut because so many claim to hate this big monopoly. Amazon has changed the world and for me it is a godsend. So there, I just had to say that here. Today.

Hooray for Season 3

 The fabulous Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder return for another fun/sad season of Hacks on Max and they do not disappoint. Often the characters weaken or wear out their welcome as the program progresses, but this is not the case here, thankfully.

beats Texas tornados

 I returned to Half Moon Bay yesterday to visit with the Blogmaid's mother and Mr. Blogmaid too. He fixed us lunch and we had a stroll down by the ocean. The air was so clear and really, it seems like another world down there. So beautiful and serene. 

great price & purple rice

 I met Terri at the Farmhouse on Florida Street yesterday for a feast of Thai food and lots of good catch-up conversation. Their taster menu was $28 and included all sorts of unusual flavors and we started with a sweet and sour soup, not pictured here. On these colorful plates you see fried chicken, samosa, pork, curry and spring rolls ~ all with superb sauces. Thanks to Terri for suggesting this restaurant after reading my blog post when I passed by here the other day. Yay.