all aboard

 I'm working up the courage to try Ojai, Waymo's newest driverless car. It is a small light blue van and has been roaming SF for months without passengers. By now I am a huge Waymo fan although I also rely on Lyft and taxis. Oh, and I do drive for short distances. So grateful to have so many transportation choices. Buses and BART count too, of course. 

we spent a day in Half Moon Bay

 The three Big City Women (Pat, Neti, Blogger), on the right, met Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid for lunch at It's Italia on Main Street yesterday and yes, we had a delightful time. HMB offers lots of charming gift shops, free street parking and benches everywhere which is just so civilized. After lunch we walked and talked and had coffee because we simply did not want to leave. 

the holistic approach

 Acupuncture is not a miracle cure for anything, but my treatment yesterday helped me on so many levels. I guess I've been going to Dr. Sparrow now for about five years. I ask her first when I have any new aches and pains and she is such an important part of my life now. Feeling gratitude, feeling calm...

avoiding the news

 Hmmmmm, do I want to watch Trump embrace North Korea or do I want to watch Christopher Chung (from Slow Horses) in My Brilliant Career on Netflix? Australia in the 1900's ~ a lovely escape. Try it...

brunch at Starbelly

 Dancing Jen (left), Terri and I had a great time yesterday and yes, I promise NOT to wear my new Costco black and white shirt for a few days here. We three worked at Borders and so there was a lot of "did you hear about SoandSo?" kind of conversation and (mostly) laughter. A very fine Sunday indeed.

The Marsh and The Paprika

 What a delightful evening with Karen (left) and Suzy last night. Karen's friend, Janet Thornburg, was performing her brand new show at the Marsh and we all thought that she was terrific. Then a yummy dinner at Paprika where we wolfed down Chicken Paprikash, mashed potatoes and salad. Yes, I am very lucky to have wonderful friends!

we keep walking

 A few aches, pains and "mobility issues" these days, but there is always something to see and yes, I often have to force myself out of this comfy house with the non-stop lap cat. Fogust is a challenge but there is usually a bit of sunshine in the early afternoon. And always, the many joyful sights in this crazy city.

the walk-through

 Amy and I are hosting a small memorial for Ginger on August 28th, and our Crissy Field pre-planing yesterday was a success and a relief to us both.  The Warming Hut will supply coffee and tea (we can run up a tab there) and guests can park behind the picnic tables where G and I always sat. All good...

all so civilized

 Karen is here from NYC and I met her (bottom photo) and Suzy for coffee plus at Cafe de la Presse yesterday afternoon. We had a good long catch-up and they headed off for a hike and ended up at Hog Island Oysters at  Ferry Plaza where they sent me these happy pictures. We will get together Saturday night again for some small theatre and dinner.

keeping up with the Kahans

 The Blogmaid is a big Noah Kahan fan and I was curious, so I watched the documentary on Netflix last night. This engaging man from Vermont is a poet who is so very open about his feelings and emotions. Noah is a guitar player, singer and song writer and I now see what all the "fuss" is about. I'm glad that the Blogmaid gets to see Noah in person at the ballpark this month. Yay!

a glorious movie

 Damn, I can't remember who recommended Tuner to me, but I sure owe them an email of gratitude. So nice to see Dustin Hoffman again and I loved the rest of the cast so much too. It's way more than a film about a piano tuner. I rented this on Prime and that was very smart of me. 

it's okay to be different

 This colorful musical addresses racial intolerance and body shaming that occurred in this play back in the 60's and has been emboldened today with the rise of the current demented president and his pals. Hairspray began in 1988 as a John Waters movie and then was adapted to become a Broadway musical. This SF Playhouse production is fabulous with the singing, dancing and elaborate costumes. See it if you possibly can!

The Jewel and some bad baseball

 But at least there was sunshine. Nancy had not been to our ballpark and I haven't been this year, so it was a good experience except for the fact that our Giants did not play very well. But still, a fine time for we three Stein women. 

Friday in the fog with mixed menus

 Nancy, Ceci and I wandered around the Botanical Gardens all morning, then we had lunch at Ebisu (I had noodles, they both love sushi) on 9th Avenue, a restaurant that has been there forever and is still very popular. One would think that we wouldn't be hungry again for dinner, but one would be wrong. We met Samantha and Luke at Celia's Mexican Restaurant in San Bruno and that was indeed a happy gathering, despite the fact that we were saying goodbye to Luke and Sam who are moving to Florida this Monday. Grrrrrrrr. On the other hand, pure luck brought these two into my life three years ago and I so benefitted.

our SF family day

 A busy Thursday including a meeting with our lawyer, walk on the beach, lots or coffee and chit chat and then a fabulous dinner at Zuni. Despite the fog in the top photo, we did see some gentle sunshine yesterday. Today to the park and dinner with Samantha and Luke. Good times!

there is no lake on 24th Street

 Wonderful having g.dot Ceci and step dot Nancy in town and we celebrated at the Grand Lake Kitchen, so named after their Oakland place by the Lake? I guess. Anyway, a busy few days ahead so I will try to get in a few words and photos along the way. This was a good place for dinner, by the way. 

black and white and strong

 

The Blazer

Fleda Brown

I am ordering clothes because the senator was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed. I ordered a black blazer because I am in mourning for the those shot in Minnesota. I also ordered a white shirt, so I am going on in spite of mourning. I will look official, like a police car, dressing up to keep my backbone straight. The army has to stand straight to follow orders and to show they’re not afraid. A priest wears black for humility, white a sign of how God scrubs everything pure, you could say. I might look like an army lining up these words. Each word has its own squiggle, to show it’s different from the others, but united. They march, too, they hold their signs. My blazer is stylishly wrinkled to show I’m not really an army. I am squiggling between the soldiers. You might not notice me, but the soldiers will feel me brushing their legs. They’ll remember the soft furriness of being human.

tea for four (er, five)

Inspector Annabelle did not stay for the duration, but she approved of tea time with Heidi, Laurence and my new renter Lisa who will be staying in Emma's Room. It's great for me because she just wants two or three nights during the week when she comes in to SF to swim and do city stuff. You will meet Lisa later and you will like her a lot too. The fog this morning feels like bliss when I read about other parts of the world and the horrible fires and floods. Sending healing weather thoughts to all...

blogger leaves home!

 Yes, I walked two doors down for Rob's chicken piccata and pasta last night. Other than that, I just had the best time puttering and putzing around this little house that I love. Step daughter Nancy arrives this week and I always make sure that she knows that I don't live in Gray Gardens (a 1975 film). Grand daughter Ceci too, this will be a good week. They all are, really.

yes, this is inviting indeed

 Tenant #2 (Laura) left early yesterday morning and I spent a very satisfying Saturday preparing for my next guest in Emma's Room. I have told many people (who yawned a lot, haha) about how very proud I am for hiring Handy Jan to build this wonderful little space. Laura called it her Dorm Room. I am meeting a prospect tomorrow afternoon, a friend of Heidi's, and we shall see how that goes. This space is just too nice not to be used and appreciated. 

our splendid Golden Gate Park

 Dancing Jen took the top two excellent photos and I snapped the not so great one of my wonderful friend in the bottom picture. It is just so pretty there in the Japanese Tea Garden, one forgets. And we had such glorious weather.  Then we walked down on 9th Avenue to the book shop (that is our mutual heritage) and on to lunch at a Burmese spot on Irving Street. All very, very lovely. Feeling gratitude, as per usual.