Easter in Taiwan

Our local movie critic is reviewing Netflix and Amazon Prime movies
now and he and I both appreciated Tigertail ~ a story mostly about a
father and his daughter. Touching. And I also had a zoom meeting with
Doug, Barb and Mr. Bumble in Idaho. We discussed theater and what a
sad state it is in currently. Also a good walk and split pea soup from
neighbor Heidi. All in all, an OK Easter. Next year will be better.

Easter 2020

I was planning an Easter dinner party ~ invitations were mailed before
the shut down for shut ins. It's ok. Grey here today again, so I had better
get out for a walk now, before I get too lazy...as I did yesterday. The
Blogmaid promised not to slug shame me. Anyway, this huge lilly was
growing in my dank backyard where no one could see it, so I snipped
it and brought it to Annabelle's courtyard in the front. A walker
woman snapped her photo the other day and we both felt so very proud.

hooray, a new book!

Based on the solid suggestion from Susan with the Fevered Brain.
This time I chose audio because Juliet Stevenson is reading Once
Upon a River and she has the most beautiful voice. So far I am
enthralled and grateful.

a shear success

the van of torture

an exhausted victim

I usually haul Annabelle to the SPCA for nail clipping once a month, but
of course that is not happening now, so we used Shear Pets yesterday and
that was a very good and very expensive undertaking. One hefty woman
does the driving and all the pet care too. My girl got a dry shampoo and
a good brushing and the much needed mani/pedi. Was she happy? No.
Was I happy? Very.

solo seder celebration

Doug and Barb delivered a lovely brisket dinner (along with a box of
Matzos) to me yesterday so I could join with others to celebrate
Passover. It was really not a great day to be alone, but the food was
delicious and today is a new day and I feel fine. I don't cry much
anymore, but yesterday was an exception. I really missed Husbando
and all the memories sort of collided and that's okay ~ "every
tear has meaning," my friend Eddie said when he called during
my Kleenex® time. Today is a new day ~ onward to Jerusalem.
Or maybe Safeway?

full moon and poetry

THREE TIMES MY LIFE HAS OPENED

Jane Hirshfield

Three times my life has opened.
Once, into darkness and rain.
Once into what the body carries at all times within it and
    starts to remember each time it enters the act of love.
Once to the fire that holds all.
These three were not different.
You will recognize what I am saying or you will not.
But outside my window all day a maple has stepped
    from her leaves like a woman in love with winter, dropping
    the colored silks.
Neither are we different in what we know.
There is a door. It opens. Then it is closed. But a slip of
   light stays, like a scrap of unreadable paper left on the floor,
   or the one red leaf the snow releases in March.

grey inside and out

Much gloom yesterday ~ rain off and on and dark skies. I did not walk.
I never made the bed, I was often inside it with my book and assorted
electronics. Chicken broth for lunch, from a can of course. I think this
is all part of the process, one has good and bad days, but they are
magnified now when housebound.

From my friend Carlini:

Here are 10 affirmations for letting  go of perfectionism during a pandemic.   Today, I’m not judging myself or others.  I trust myself to navigate this moment.   I release any need to compare myself to anyone else.  Things don’t need to go exactly as planned.  Small steps are still forward progress.  Good enough is actually good enough.  I can observe chaos and uncertainty without fear.  I am already worthy.  I let go of expectations from myself and others.  Less is more.

anything is possible

My friend Susan (with the Fevered Brain) suggested this about a week
ago. She thought maybe Cuomo would be nominated during the
convention. He is an impressive leader that we sorely need ~ what
a contrast to tRump.

my un-zoomed dinner spot

me and my Samsung

Coffee (right) and Kareem (middle)

Yes, I too like the fancy single setting when I zoom, but here is my usual
dining spot ~ it's all about the TV from 6 to 9pm. And that's OK, I'm
OK. Last night I watched the silly Coffee & Kareem on Netflix, but it
was better than more/more/more corona virus news. We have rain here,
as you can see, but I still get a walk in for sanity sake. My garden is
lapping up all this most needed moisture.

mother never taught me

Another Zoom dinner with Doug and Barb and even though I really love
these Costco Shoyu Ramen frozen dinners, one should not eat noodles
when friends are watching (and eating basic American food) at a fancy
Zoom dinner. And, if I may share this with you, one's table manners sort
of take a hike when eating alone in front of the newspaper, LindaKindle4
or the evening news. (Chris Cuomo and/or Rachel Maddow never judge me.)

early morning romp

this blogger's Instacart

Precita Park ~ Husbando's favorite go-to spot

Yesterday I avoided fireplace heaven and hit the streets with my cart. I
must applaud Safeway for the Old People Hour on Tuesday and Thursday ~
well organized and safe, or so I hope. Everyone keeps their distance and
the produce is fresh, the shelves somewhat stocked. I like to buy one
expensive Honey Crisp apple every week to have with cheese, so this
is where I am able to find that. Has the weather here EVER been more
beautiful? The light and air as appealing as during these strange days?

all kinds of escape

Our heroine Esty (Esther) is now married and her head is shaved as a part
of the oh so strict rules and taboos of the Hasidic community in New York.
Unorthodox is the mostly true story of Esty's escape to Berlin and my great
need to avoid the nightly news and horrors of the corona virus. This is on
Netflix and has my valuable recommendation. Plus I'd like to go to Berlin
one day, so it's fun to sightsee.

I'll be back in July

so grim ~ even Stalin would approve

the bounty did not make it worthwhile

Well, that was a depressing way for me to start my yesterday in what a friend
called the Gulag line for old people hour at Costco. The clerk in charge (poor
man) said they started lining up at 6:45am. I was there a little before 8am
when they opened. What fresh new hell was this? But once inside it was OK
and then I came home to half ass disinfect stuff. I guess the plastic carries
the virus for 150 days or WHATEVER. But today the sun is out and I have
everything I need to stay sane. The garden has become a surprising little
spot of salvation and the jigsaw puzzle is coming along nicely, even though
a certain four legged furball likes to explore up on the dining room table
and steal a piece or two to nibble. We can do this thing.

the stately homes of Frisco

I've loved this big old house for years and discovered it again yesterday
with the impressive cloud background. What's interesting is that this
is that it is in a "good" neighborhood, about a block away from lots
of low income housing. Why we love our city ~ let me count the ways.

as we enter week #3

yesterday

today

I did walk yesterday and bought a couple of gift cards to support one
of my favorite nabe restaurants. This playground is usually PACKED
and will be again ~ come June or July? Who knows? Not the ignorant
and dangerous tRump, that's for sure.

Today I will study from a real book, all about my new watch. So far,
even though I am clueless, I love it. It reminds me to stand up when
I have been sitting too long and my back appreciates that.

rainy Saturday, no frogs yet

more bears for the picnic

all bases covered here

Barb got into the teddy bear theme big time yesterday! I believe the
Great Plotniks are closet cleaning.  I didn't walk in the rain, but I
should have and will today. Note how eclectic this tiny nabe cottage
is and the wind chimes might irritate some, but I have always liked
them. One could remove one's shoes and enter this home and have
an herbal cup of tea and some gluten-free tasteless cookies and
some gentle conversation. I K R (I know right)

where's the picnic?

We train our eyes for details when walking becomes the one all-important
outing during the day. I'm guessing that cannabis sales are up here in my
very quiet city by the very quiet bay. Sleep becomes an issue, alas.

thank you again, Steph (and Anthony)

Check out our local hero (Steph Curry) talking with our national hero
(Dr. Anthony Fauci) on Instagram. This is a true public service spot
without tRump's lies and bullshit.

And then you get to see Folsom Street and Precita Avenue during my
afternoon walk yesterday. Lately the skies are so bright and blue that
they almost hurt my eyes. I've never appreciated walking more. You?

let's walk, let's Zoom

gargoyles ~ Bernal style

oh, that's right, it's Spring

superb chicken dinner with friends 

I think I will take Husbando's walking sticks today as I explore the nearby
hills that have become steeper since last I did this kind of exploring. Some
of the old standby homes have gentrified, some not.

Zoom chicken dinner thanks to Doug and Barb. Delightful to catch up
with them and I was and am so gratified. We had a lot of catch-up to
cover including a little gossip. We are not alone.

Today. Happy Birthday to dear Dancing Jen who is working at St.
Anthony's boxing up food for the less fortunate. Hard work, good woman.

it still sets, it still rises (so far)

night falls in Half Moon Bay

morning becomes this cool, grey city of love

Thanks to the Blogmaid for her top photo and to the city I adore for the one
on the bottom. Even though I am not spending money for restaurants or
travel, I tend to be sending a bunch to assorted unusual charities. That's OK. I'm
one of the fortunate ones. Time to salute the front line workers in the health
care field, grocery stores, etc. We listen to the scientists, not to the self-
serving and ignorant idiot tRump.