lunch in Terra Linda

 Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid picked me up at 6:30am yesterday to visit the Kaiser Dermatology Center in San Rafael, of all places. So grateful to them as the procedure was painless and necessary and we were able to have a hearty lunch at Monk's Kettle before heading back across the Golden Gate Bridge for home. Many thanks for these dear friends...

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. 

don't tell Bobby

 My afternoon walk yesterday was to/fro Kaiser for my flu and covid vaccinations. Same arm, no pain whatsoever. The very nice woman there informed me that this was my 11th covid vax ~ I had no idea. At this point, no charge, but we all know that might change. (Oh, I didn't walk from home, I parked on 16th Street which beats that busy Kaiser garage with impatient patients.)

the good, the not so good

 I so enjoyed the walk to BART with new SF artistic whimsy along the way. Thank you to citizens who take the time to paint flowers on their stairs for others to appreciate. Then a too long dental visit, but hey, that was yesterday and today is new and pain-free and life is good. Onward!

heading north this morning

 My doctor cleared me for this trip with a few warnings about masks, etc. The first play is tomorrow night so by then I will have my Ashland bearings and it seems that my appetite has returned and all systems GO. Just a bit tired, but that is why god gave us naps, no?

I am packed (sort of)

 I'm waiting for the doc to give me the green light to go to Ashland tomorrow. Still tired but OK. Still testing positive ~ damn. Fingers crossed!

and, of course, a good book

 I just started The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese and it's a winner. I'm feeling better this morning and hope to sit on the back deck for some fresh air later this afternoon. 

the inevitable?

 On Monday I tested positive for Covid. I thought for sure I would not get this damn thing, but at least I'm up to date on vaccinations and now I'm taking Paxlovid to speed along my recovery. Next week I go to Ashland so I want to be 100%. Worry not, I am OK!

pardon me? what?

 I've been wearing these hi tech (to me) Widex rechargeable hearing aids for a few weeks. To my huge surprise I really like them. Applause to Kaiser Hearing Center for all the good work and to the clever iPhone app that allows me to set the sound for concerts, theatre, etc. Yay!

knee knonsense

 I have to work on these damn knees. Kaiser offers a lot of good advice but I have to get serious about exercising and strengthening the leg muscles and I will. Arthritis. Boring.

my holiday message

 Get your FREE Covid tests from the US Government. Mine arrived in about four days and I like when the folks in charge work for the citizens. We will be doing a lot of testing, of that I'm sure. 

feed a cold

 I took myself to Tam's in Pathetica for won ton noodle soup yesterday. This messy bronchial thing hangs on and I have been house bound and hungry. I need to be 100% for one week from today. Onward!

print and clip and save

 From yesterday's Chronicle. A friend taped this inside her medicine cabinet. It is already a bit of a rough winter, isn't it?

best laid plans (and table)

 Last night was supposed to be the annual tamale dinner party here but I was forced to cancel due to this cold thing I developed. NOT Covid. The table is so pretty that I'm just leaving it up for a day or two. We have much needed rain here and I'm sure the guests were not unhappy to stay home and healthy.

go home, stay home

No surprise here and no huge sacrifice for those of us with a roof over
our heads and some working electronics. The almost 7 million Bay
Area citizens will shelter-at-home for three weeks. Years ago during
a rough time I learned the mantra I have everything I need to be happy
and indeed I do. Yesterday I went downtown to pick-up my new fake
tooth and my god, SF was deserted. I took Lyft, but I could have driven
and parked. Then the dentist who was going to extract/replace called and
canceled my Thursday appointment after they learned that all non-
essential businesses must close. So I'm in front of the fireplace with
a cat staring at me and a list of things I will get done around the
house after I do my yoga and my daily writing, emails, etc.  Or not.

and the world stands still

Be sure to check out all the music in the neighborhoods of Italy. I might
go and start singing on my back deck. Even my little book club was
canceled this week as we all hunker down and wait until things return
to normal. As if. It's such a good thing that I have always liked my
own company and I will be fine. You will be fine. It seems like a fine
week to have a tooth extracted. Some things don't go away.

isolate with gratitude today

And be very grateful that we aren't stuck in an airport waiting ten hours to
get tested and go home. And maybe Annabelle won't want to help me with
the jigsaw puzzle today. Still loving "Wanted" on the Flix®. Everything
is OK, all in all.

acceptance

Our Mayor Breed (whom I support) says no crowds over 100 people, so
all museums are now closed and even the small theaters have gone dark.
My calendar is filled with cross-outs and forced social distancing. So
yesterday I cleaned and organized my office, spreading (with apologies)
into Bill's space and scrubbing down the surfaces. Some of them. Then
I set up a jigsaw puzzle on the dining room table, much to Annabelle's
delight. This too shall pass.