The Mission car parade

Saturday afternoon and the sun was shining. I walked 24th Street and then
heard the noise of loud engines, honking and quick bursts of sirens. Some
of these old cars have illegal sirens! So much care and beauty ~ families
showing off their treasures. I am guessing maybe 10 to 12 cars going up
and down the streets, back and forth. In the top photo you can see the
woman in curlers who came out of the salon with the stylists to enjoy the show.

golden star birthday

Wonder Woman b..day cupcake

Wonder Woman

Jen and Jon

We Borders folks had a fabulous time celebrating Jen's birthday yesterday at the
Golden Star in Chinatown. Our ex-boss, John, was there too but no photo of
him, alas. Jen is off to Scotland this week so I'm glad we could all get together
to laugh and gossip a bit before she leaves.

glass, steel, flowering trees

Peet's on Post and Montgomery

Union Square across from Macy's

After the museum on Friday it was wonderful to walk about town a bit.
Such a contrast ~ part of the joy of city living. In the eight years I worked
at Post and Powell I never saw these trees really blooming before and I
bet it was all the rain and our fine city gardeners at work.

exceptional exhibit

Wow, I can't say enough glowing things about this exhibit at SF Moma.
If I lived (say) on the East Coast I would make a special trip here just
to see these treasures all together in one fabulous space. And having been
to some blockbusters in my past life, I want to commend Moma for
the outstanding organization and ease. We never felt crowded or had any
problems reading the didactics (ahem) and Husbando even snuck back in
through the exit to see it all over again. Do not miss this one, do not.

the Suzy celebration

Wednesday night was our writing group and Suzy provided her own cake
because her birthday is coming up but she will be traveling and will
miss our next meeting. We had our usual delightful time as we read
our work, laughed and teared up a bit too.

two dog day

Marsha likes to drive (!) and we went over to Tiburon for lunch. Of course
it was a restaurant that welcomed dogs on their back deck.  So we had
tasty Mexican food at Guaymas and then walked around town so Rosa
and Duca could sniff and poke around. The dogs are so easy to be with,
and Marsha even more so. Nice day, despite lack of sunshine. Those
big outdoor heaters are life savers for restaurants and guests.

Bouquets to Art

No, I didn't go to the deYoung for this annual event that is happening this
week. I grew to hate it when I worked there ~ especially the customers
who were too numerous and rude. But a couple of friends texted me
these glorious displays ~ delightful indeed. My friends visited the
galleries before their fellow art lovers were allowed in. Gratitude...

little walking wonders

Just try to google "art gallery SF" and it is overwhelming and something
else to love about city living. I fell into the above while walking last
week ~ brought home a brochure and promptly misplaced it. Alabama
and 23rd Street, I believe. The front window string installation might
be better without the green garbage can, or maybe not? Anyway, both
pieces by a young woman artist who will be recognized, I so hope.

yesterday

(thanks to Rachel for posting this on Facebook, of all places...)

Today

BY BILLY COLLINS

If ever there were a spring day so perfect, 

so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze 

that it made you want to throw 

open all the windows in the house 

and unlatch the door to the canary's cage, 

indeed, rip the little door from its jamb, 

a day when the cool brick paths 

and the garden bursting with peonies 

seemed so etched in sunlight 

that you felt like taking 

a hammer to the glass paperweight 

on the living room end table, 

releasing the inhabitants 

from their snow-covered cottage 

so they could walk out, 

holding hands and squinting 

into this larger dome of blue and white, 

well, today is just that kind of day.

our picnic guest

It was one of those unusually beautiful Spring days and we took a little
lunch out to Aqua Vista Park (who calls it that?) right next to the
Mission Rock Resort. There has been a lot of growth over there so
we saw young families and joggers on the pathways. But yes, still
people fishing out on the pier and no one to get in the way of our
total enjoyment.

public service announcement

finally ~ Rectify #4

We have been waiting for the Flix® to give us this most wonderful TV
program and so now we are way down in Georgia again, with a side
trip to Tennessee. Rectify tells the story (as you may remember) of
a man who spent 19 years in solitary for a crime he probably didn't
commit. It might be the best program ever on TV. Trust me...

women in red

It was a beautiful day for a rally ~ too bad the microphone wasn't working
very well. Of course I'm glad I went to support my sisters and to feel
hope and strength again.

a double pin day

International Women's Day means a lot more this year than it has ever
before. I am so pleased to see young women getting so involved in
their futures ~ stepping out to wave flags, ask questions, march and
RESIST. I will hit City Hall this morning just to add to the head count.

Ruby and Rosie

Our beloved Linda Davick illustrated this new book and Ruby has her
copy of "We Love You, Rosie!" thanks to Amazon's quick delivery.
It's for ages 3 to 7, if you know a child who needs a new book ~ every
kid does, of course. Rosie is a sausage dog, by the way. Linda is
a major talent, by the way...

Elias and Jenny

It was worth my $20 balcony ticket yesterday just to see this crowded and
colorful bed-and-breakfast setting in the play entitled John at The Strand.
Imagine my surprise to learn that this is a three hour play with two (!!)
intermissions. Imagine my surprise to find myself glued to my seat.
This is a very strange play by Annie Baker and I would not recommend it
to many people, but I am so glad that I saw it. Elias and Jenny are not
getting along well and decide to spend a couple of nights at this B&B
in Gettysburg, PA. Their hostess is a bit eccentric ~  both haunting and
yet comforting to and for this couple. There is a lot of sweet humor too...

too much bad history

Here are all the actors from Assassins now playing at the Alcazar Theater.
Carlini treated me to this musical, so first I took him to lunch at Colibri
on Geary. We had front row seats for this Stephen Sondheim musical
and before it started the director mentioned that the gun business bothered
some people, especially those who had served in the military. Honestly
it bothered me and they shot LOUD blanks and I flinched every time.  I
can't recommend this play despite the fact that the acting/singing is
excellent and we do want to support the cast who works so hard.

when writers meet

Eric and Doug

I neglected to tell you about Tiapos Wednesday night. Here we are in Suzy's
delightful home which has about ten warm and colorful Tiffany lamps spread
around the dining and front rooms. Dark wood interior, but so warm and
welcoming with lots and lots of photos and mementos from the past. Suzy
lives in a very diverse neighborhood in Oakland and Doug kindly drives
me there every two weeks where we sit around her lace tablecloth-covered
dinner table and talk about our words and our lives. Lucky me.

rewards galore

cooking our burgers at Joe's

the lake is filled

We finished our taxes yesterday! Easy with Turbo Tax and our simple life.
For the past two weeks we kept saying, "OK, as soon as taxes are done
we will have lunch at Original Joe's in Daly City." Done and yum. Then
an outing at Lake Merced which is full due to all the rain ~ lots of ducks
and I even saw two bold raccoons strolling around as if they owned the
place. They did, I think. All in all, a very nice day after the tax stuff.

over and out

Yesterday was our final day of Fromm school and we learned all about
Mussolini who ruled for 22 years. He still has fans in Italy and, in fact,
his grand daughter is active in politics there today. He and Hitler admired
each other, learned from each other and protected each other. The
Germans did say that the Italian tanks had rear view mirrors so they
could watch the fighting as they rode away. I will miss school, but
it is baseball season and first things first...

DISRUPT

There is a brand new mural wall on Bryant Street, near 20th or 21st, as I
remember. The artist is familiar to me by now, but I don't know his or
her name. I will try to find that out and report back. I love the colors
and the action and the politics here. And the line at the coffee shop, of course.

a little news, a big concept

24th Street and Bryant 

The little news is that Vans the chihuahua with the broken leg and bad teeth
was adopted and I'm guessing it was to that volunteer who couldn't put
him down. And then I do like to think about a world without borders.
Try to imagine...

off to a good start

A nice way to begin our week, isn't it? A photo of RR yesterday riding
her gorgeous George and appreciating the sunshine despite the threat
of more rain. Her joy warms our hearts.

what the FUF?

For years we have supported Friends of the Urban Forest and yesterday
we received a delightful new tree because our old plum expired due
to age and the drought. FUF is a group of mostly volunteer gardeners
and they contribute so much to our city. Now we have a ginkgo and
we are already looking forward to Fall and some brilliant yellow leaves.

back to Bisbee

Here, from an email from my friend Mary:

Since I don't do 'social media' I'm sending out my occasional group 

news concerning life down here at the Border in Arizona.  There are 

lots of wrong assumptions about the Arizona folks living at the 

Border in Arizona. As one woman recently put it - "We don't 

want folks in the Rust Belt thinking they know what's good for us.  

We've got it good down here.  Just leave us alone."  

A lot of us cross the Border for vision care, dental care. derm care  

and prescriptions.  Everybody on the other side has always been 

extremely polite and kind.  The hateful rhetoric coming out of Trump's 

mouth and echoed by his followers makes life tense down here and 

we don't appreciate it.  

See link below to local news

Nogales mayor weighs in on border wall and immigration

my Oakland roots

Ferry terminal at Jack London Square

When I first moved to the Bay Area after college I lived in Oakland and I
have always loved that city. Yesterday after a successful dental visit to
Right Wing Wong I walked from 20th Street down to Jack London Square
hoping to catch the ferry back to SF. Alas I would have had to wait for
two hours, so I walked back to 12th Street for BART. But it was a
beautiful day and I was in a superb mood, so I enjoyed every step on
my walk back into the past. Some things the same, many changes too.
That's how it works, Ms. Stein, accept this and rejoice.

of caves and bulges

Burial cave is waaaaay down in bottom chamber

Yesterday in class Dr. Debra Bolter told us all about this wonderful
discovery near Johannesburg, South Africa. VERY old bones found
in a burial site so tiny that six small women anthropologists were
recruited to slide up and down chutes to the Rising Star Cave where
15 bodies were found. An important link between chimps and man,
but still a lot to learn. Fascinating!

In the afternoon we returned to Germany for the Malmedy Massacre
and the Ardennes Campaign, aka the "Battle of the Bulge". Finally
Hitler and Eva marry and for the honeymoon he gives her cyanide.
Then we covered a few post-war trials and committees and here we
meet Senator Joseph McCarthy. God help us.

dim (more than) sum

The Great Plotniks treated us to a fabulous lunch yesterday at Yank Sing
in the Rincon Center. Dish after dish of buns, balls, pork, chicken and so
many shrimp creations that we lost count and Dodger Doug just kept
saying, "hmmmmm, one more of these, please." Once again we wondered
why the place was so packed on an almost-rainy Tuesday, but it was.
Must be the food, service and lovely ambiance. Grateful? Oh, yes...

raining dogs and cats

Man, this rain keeps on coming down. Good thing our house is sturdy
and the roof was recently renewed. The top photo features Vans
and a couple of volunteers who adore him, as do I. The tuxedo cat
in the VW is just one that I am pre-shopping for Carlini and his
Calico who might be getting a playmate soon. An uneventful SPCA
day, all in all, except of the eternal question of why a dog will jump
into a mud hole and yet hates the rain? Bless the dog walkers...

it's Showtime

I'm a little embarrassed to confess that we decided to spend an extra
$10 a month just for Showtime so we can binge on this glorious
series entitled The Affair. We had seen the first year and missed
these characters and their love/hate relationships ~ now we are
deep into Season Two and Three is waiting for us. The writers
are great and keep adding new and colorful characters and soon
there will be a trial. We love courtroom drama...

a trial run

I've seen a LOT of Diane Arbus and her amazing photographs over the years
and there is a big exhibit here now down at our MOMA. So I popped in
yesterday but, my lord, the museum was filled with people and the lines
were long. My eight years working in museums spoiled me because I
used to sneak in early or late and have the art almost to myself. I don't
share well, art-wise, it appears. But I was happy to be downtown with
too many people who also love art and I will get together with Diane
at a later date and during the week for some quality time and appreciation.

with his sardonic beak

Gentleman Crow

Pacing to and fro
Along the autumn shore
Among the wrack and reek

With your arms clasped behind your back
And sporting your grey frock-coat
Trimmed in black

And your black hat and your lean long-legged stride,
Up and down the strand perusing
The headlines of the tide:

Casualties and statistics, futures, stocks,
The thousand natural shocks,
You clear your throat

Inspecting the ink-black seaweed tossed among the rocks
Like obsolete typewriter ribbons, rusty widow’s weeds,
Scanning the flotsam for

Morsels cast up by the remorseless gossip of the sea’s
Éminence grise,
How elegant you are, everyone concedes,

Gentleman Crow,
With your gimlet gaze, your sardonic beak,
How omnivorous, how sleek.

Life is a joke you crack,
Wry and amusing,
And death a dainty snack.

A. E. STALLINGS

Subtropics 
Fall/Winter 2016

such a winter

tuesday

friday 

rain forests and 7/20

Dr. Meg Lowman of the Calif. Academy of Sciences works in Ethiopia
trying to encourage girls there to become scientists and to save the
dwindling (necessary) rain forests. Fascinating. I bought her book on
Amazon and that funds the printing of it in the Ethiopian language.
Dr. Lowman maintains that women are the stewards of the environment
and honestly, I am totally inspired. Five of the eight science professor
lecturers this semester are women ~ amazing, no?

My Fromm afternoon was spent in Germany where Professor Large
covered Hitler and the assorted attempts on his life. 7/20 (1944)
was the big one and had it worked god knows how many lives would
have been saved in the final year of that horrible war. 7/20 is
celebrated every year in Germany and Angela Merkel always attends.

Valentine's Day report

surprise flowers

Oyaji ~  out on Clement Street

A few years ago Doug and Barb treated us to Oyaji and some fine Japanese
food. Husbando has been thinking about the steak and onions which I enjoyed
(and he didn't) ever since then. So yesterday we both ordered this dish and
have enough left over for a future meal. I wisely wrote "surprise flowers"
on Bill's Trader Joe's shopping list, hence the flowers. We both accept his
shortcomings and work around them. Marriage 101.

even more puzzling

Yesterday I wrote about NOT finishing the damn puzzle and here is
the response from my writing partner, Suzy:

so, does this mean you took it apart and put it in it's box and gave it away, or do you 
still have it out?  and will you do another one?  and if so, will you do one that is easier -- 
less people, more colors, less clouds?  how many puzzles on average do you do a year?  
do you do them alone or does someone help you?  how many minutes, hours a day do 
you spend on them?  do you keep records on the puzzles -- how long it took to put 
in the past 30 years?  do you obsess about them when you go to bed at night? do 
you have a certain set-aside time when you work on them?  do you ever work on 
more than one at the same time?  do you work with friends or always alone?  what 
do you do with the puzzles when they are finished?  where do you get your puzzles 
from?  do you have a favorite type of puzzle?  do you have an all time favorite puzzle?  
do you think doing a puzzle is a good thing or a bad habit?  do you ever work on 
your puzzle instead of doing something more pressing?  do you treat the puzzle as 
a treat, i.e. i'll will finish this task and then i'll work on my puzzle?

OCD conquered!

There was a time when I would have finished this damn puzzle come hell or
high water. The dear Blogmaid granted me permission to take it down
because I was getting so bored with the blue sky and endless fog and or
clouds. I loved the boats, buildings and people and the project was good
for my soul. Diego our cleaning guy comes today and I was eager for
him to polish the dining room table. And yes, Notthat, I was sure two of
the edge pieces were missing and they weren't after all.

splendid indeed

Yesterday I met Marsha and we DID this play at ACT. This is the story
of strong women and their powerful friendship despite hardships that
most of us privileged Americans can't even imagine. A Thousand
Splendid Suns translates beautifully from the book by Khaled Hosseini
and tells the story of Rashid and his two wives: Mariam and Laila.
When the Taliban takes over Afghanistan everyone suffers, but
especially the women. The wives hate each other at first, but when
their love for each other grows it is a beautiful thing to see. Yes, I do
recommend this play, it is exceptionally well done and touching, but
not easy as there is much sorrow and violence.