and one more from Andrea

 TADPOLES

A tadpole doesn't know 

ir's gonna grow bigger

It just swims

and figures limbs 

are for frogs.

 

People don't know

the power they hold.

They just sing hymns,

and figure saving

is for god.

~ Andrea Gibson

food, friends, poetry

 Our book club focused on the poet Andrea Gibson last night. So fitting because it is National Poetry Month and we each read one of Andrea's poems out loud and then watched the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light on Apple TV. Of course wonderful food was involved (make your own taco) and we had a spirited discussion about Andrea and their not easy life and death. 

a GRAND Saturday

 Grand daughter Ceci and her husband Zak came down from Nevada City yesterday for a concert last night in Oakland. We had a delicious late lunch at The Dumpling Story over on Valencia Street. Then g.dot Samantha arrived at my house as she was joining her cousins for the concert. Manageable chaos with these vibrant souls. 

a big screen must see

 Friends, readers, movie lovers. Get up and out of your comfy chairs and head to see this feel-good movie of 2026. I thank Terri for meeting me yesterday at the Alamo for Project Hail Mary with the amazing Ryan Gosling and all sorts of technical and ethereal wonders from Hollywood. A lovely afternoon indeed.

and more than financial worries

 I'm usually not a fan of crying babies, but Margo's Got Money Troubles is pretty good, in my opinion. I really like Nick Offerman who plays the granddad in this Apple TV miniseries. After Husbando passed I binged Park & Rec and got to know him there. Plus it's good to see Michelle Pfeiffer again and Elle Fanning is an accomplished actor. You can mute the crying baby...

Yesa re Nopa (sorry)

 

The Ferry Building has so many good restaurants these days and yesterday I met my old friend Karen for delicious fish chowder and chatter at Nopa Fish Restaurant which Amy had recommended. Oh, yum. Karen lives in NYC and is happy to be back in her old stomping ground and we will see more of each other in the next week or so. I am still in recovery so a quick trip for lunch and conversation was about all I could handle. But still, great progress. 

a technical Tuesday

 I bought a new refurbished Mini #13 iPhone from Amazon (I know, sorry) because my old #8 would not accept some apps I need in my everyday life. Luis the Mac computer guy and I spent a sometimes tense few hours transferring everything over to the new phone yesterday. Everything works. Success. Exhausting. We both worried that Consumer Cellular would be difficult, but they weren't. Yay!

one year ago

 Such great memories. Here we were on the Danube leaving Budapest. And now, oh happy news, the tremendously resilient citizens of Hungary have ousted the horrid dictator Orban. I just love watching all the celebrations and of course it is a smack in the face to our own would-be tyrant Trump. We who love democracy are feeling such hope currently.

the return of the blogger

 That is my neighbor Cristina in the top photo ~ she works on the ferry boats and this was her response yesterday when I reported that I am really on the mend. Dancing Jen provided won ton noodle soup for lunch and Neti brought lentil soup for dinner. My usual GREAT appetite is finally returning thanks to all of my dear friends. Good sleep last night solves so many problems. xoxoxoxox

the road to recovery

 My wonderful Care Team (Heidi and the Blogmaid) got me in to see my doc yesterday and she dripped saline and water into my depleted body. Plus some anti-nausea meds and today I am thinking that normal life might just be possible again. I have a bit more energy this morning and my outlook is more positive than it has been all week. So grateful to all my loving friends and dear Sis too.

tummy issues

 A few down days here as I recover from some sort of stomach virus. Thanks to Heidi and the Blogmaid for super nurse and advice services. 

the French chef

 My tenant, Ari, prepared Easter lunch yesterday before he hopped on his bike to head out to Baker Beach. He is a delight and so easy to be with and interesting. A lazy Easter for me, for sure.

The Marsh before Paprika

 Yesterday I met John and Mary (of Ashland fame) over at The Marsh on Valencia Street. We thoroughly enjoyed Dan Hoyle who portrays fascinating characters from all over our country. So much talent. Then we walked down to Paprika for some chicken paprikas (with mashed potatoes) and all in all, a really lovely evening. So nice catching up with my friends again. 

Calamari anyone?

 

Granddaughter Lindsay (top, left) is here from NYC and we had a lovely pre-Easter dinner at La Ciccia, a wonderful Italian restaurant over on 30th Street. We had lots of pasta and lamb and the middle photo is a delicious calamari. Lots to talk about and such a happy celebration. The sisters are off to Big Sur this morning ~ Lindsay very happy with our gorgeous weather. A delightful evening for sure.

not an April Fool's joke

 The Blogmaid felt this relatively strong (4.6 magnitude) earthquake but Annabelle and I didn't. Or maybe she did, and just doesn't want to talk about it. This one was centered in the Santa Cruz Mountains and residents down there felt a strong jolt. Somehow, compared to Trump, this seems mild to me.

hers was not an easy life

 For some reason I really like this Andrea Gibson poem above, even though it is not the one I will be "presenting" at book club in a few weeks. That one is entitled How the Worst Day of My Life Became the Best. I  have printed it out and am reading it aloud to get the full benefit. 

next book club = poetry!

 A couple of us were recently intrigued with the poet Andrea Gibson who died in 2025. There is a documentary about her (Come See Me in the Good Light) which we will watch after dinner and after a bit of reviewing of some of Andrea's work. I have been enjoying her poetry in this used book I bought, Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns. I will share a poem or two here later. That's a promise.