They call me: stein, msmas, mush, m.a., mary ann, mary lou, mary om, or just plain mary (and you may too)
Sunday, October 31, 2021
tea with Ozzie (pre-Halloween treat)
Happy Halloween. My yesterday was extremely pleasant, ending with tea at the neighbors. You can see that I didn't have to fix dinner after the soup and potato yummies, so I could enjoy early ice cream when I returned home to Annabelle. I started watching Maid on the Flix® ~ wait until you see Andie MacDowell...wowza! Her beautiful real life daughter stars in this too and yes, I am hooked.
Saturday, October 30, 2021
warm scenes from Mullen Avenue
Yes, it is Winter Grey outside this morning, but we are warm and cozy here by the fire as we plan our day. I think: laundry, dishes, clean cat box, daily write and a good long walk with a veggie sandwich reward. Oh, don't forget the latte.
Friday, October 29, 2021
always simply the best
Here is the view from Victoria Pastry in North Beach where I enjoyed my latte yesterday morning. Then I walked with Luckey who knows everyone and then later I went to an art gallery reception for a friend of Neti's. If I were doing it all again I would start out in North Beach and probably stay forever.
Thursday, October 28, 2021
The Blue Plate
We celebrated Doug's birthday out in the delightful patio at the Blue Plate last night. Wonderful friendship and good food.
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
so clever ~ back in the day
These insults are from an era before the Englishlanguage got boiled down to 4-letter words and 2 are "like", for those under 25.
A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease.""That depends, Sir, " said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or your mistress.""He had delusions of adequacy." Walter Kerr on Justin True Dope"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices, which I admire."Winston Churchill"I have never killed a man; but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure."Clarence Darrow"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary."William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it." Moses Hadasslastnight"I didn't attend the funeral; but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it."Mark Twain"He has no enemies; but is intensely disliked by his friends." Oscar Wilde"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend, if you have one." George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is one." Winston Churchill, in response"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." Stephen Bishop"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." John Bright"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." Irvin S. Cobb"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others." Samuel Johnson"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." Paul Keating"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." Charles, Count Talleyrand"He loves nature, in spite of what it did to him." Forrest Tucker"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?"Mark Twain"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork"Mae West"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." Oscar Wilde"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts, for support rather than illumination".Andrew Lang (1844-1912)"He has Van Gogh's ear for music."Billy Wilder"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But, I'm afraid this wasn't it, as the duck did not come out of the ceiling."Groucho Marx
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
crime in word and TV too
This is the time of year to sink into deep detective work. I've been watching Unforgotten, a British TV series and reading The Judge's List by John Grisham on my LIndaKindle4. Today I will dress warmly and go walking with Ginger. The city is still cleaning up after the great rainstorm cycle bomb thing.
Monday, October 25, 2021
we were clobbered
Cozy and dry inside our little home, but traffic is a mess this morning and there will be a lot of tree clean-up around the city today. That was one big Atmospheric River Rain, also known as a Bomb Cyclone and no, I did not go out yesterday, but Nancy and Scott did a little ocean sightseeing. I like how the weather experts are so creative with colorful new expressions. The worst is over ~ that works for me.
Sunday, October 24, 2021
back to Al's Place
Step daughter Nancy and her husband Scott and I had a lovely outdoor dinner at Al's Place last night. Way too much good food and lots of catch-up conversation before they head out tomorrow. Today will be fireplace and football (not for me) before they head north tomorrow in the rain. Check out the group having dinner across from us last night ~ Pepper visited us too. Sweet.
Saturday, October 23, 2021
winter weather chef stuff
Yesterday I made a veggie soup featuring 15 different kinds of beans that I actually remembered to soak the night before. Today step daughter, Nancy, and her husband, Scott, arrive and we will need some back up food. They live in Illinois so this rainy weather is not exactly a treat for them the way it is for us. And the house is clean and Annabelle on her best behavior.
Friday, October 22, 2021
pleasure to meet you, Ms. Mitchell
I didn't know Joan Mitchell, but Neti admires her work, so we met at SFMoma yesterday and now I too am a fan. Ms. Mitchell began in the abstract expressionist movement in New York in the 1950's, then moved to France and painted almost every single day of her life. Bold colors and feelings ~ this is a big exhibit with eighty or so masterpieces. Very well attended, I'm happy to say. Yes, I recommend this!
Thursday, October 21, 2021
bistro in the rain
Yes, honest ~ we finally have rain here. HUGE relief. Yesterday the book club met at Cote Quest Bistro down on Baker Street. We sat out front under the awning and it all felt very cozy and French. We made short shrift of the boring book on Mona Lisa and discussed important things like museums and cats.
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
monsters and memories
One of the worst jobs I ever had (and god knows I've had some) was running a Spirit Halloween store in SF. I made great money with a fat bonus. The year was 2000. I put Bill on the payroll to receive shipments and organize the back room. Oh, and to walk with me to the bank with huge cash deposits. Sigh. I got this job because Bill knew Joe Marver. I get a quesy feeling everytime I see a Spirit Halloween store. But the history of this pop-up chain still interests me.
Spirit Halloween was founded by Joe Marver
In 1983, the entrepreneur owned a women’s clothing store in California, per Vox. A neighboring costume store did very well during Halloween — and when that store shut down, Marver pivoted his own business to costumes.
The “Spirit” name was pure coincidence. Marver wasn’t inspired by Halloween ghosts, but by the name of his shuttered store (Spirit Women’s Discount Apparel).
That first year, Spirit Halloween made $100k in 30 days. Over the next 16 years, Marver built Spirit Halloween into 60+ locations that were only open in the months leading up to Halloween (August, September, October).
Mall retailer Spencer’s Gifts…
… acquired Spirit Halloween in 1999 and growth exploded. Today, it runs 1.4k pop-up stores across Canada and the US.
According to Vox, Spirit’s real estate team works year-round trying to secure the best locations. While landlords — primarily mall operators and commercial real estate holders — prefer long-term tenants (5-10yrs), many accept Spirit’s temporary leases if nothing else materializes.
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
by rail and foot
SF should charge more for riding the J car with these outstanding views. Yesterday I walked and rode to meet Ken at the Wooden Spoon on Market Street. We had a lovely catch-up lunch for his birthday and I heard all about his job and applauded myself for being a retired person once again.
Monday, October 18, 2021
theatre re-opens
I met Neti at SF Playhouse yesterday for The Great Khan which was well done and fun. A Black teen age boy is helped by Genghis Kahn, the renowned Mongolian leader. It works...
Sunday, October 17, 2021
post pandemic paint
All these colors helped my spirit during my neighborhood walk yesterday. We try to avoid the Tyranny of Beige whenever possible. Nice blue sky too. All in all? Excellence with a latte, of course.
Saturday, October 16, 2021
first we take Manhattan
It will be impossible to describe the Leonard Cohen exhibit at the Juseum. Is is art? Not really. It is an experience and so profound and mesmerizing that all I can do is urge you to see it if possible. I'm still feeling a little wobbly from all my emotions. I remember the time that Dancing Jen and I saw Mr. Cohen in person ~ what a wonderful night that was. Gratitude abounds.
Friday, October 15, 2021
thud
Okay, we lost. A great, tight game and now all of October opens up for me and I don't have to work around the baseball schedule. Damn, this one will hurt for a little while, however.
Thursday, October 14, 2021
trending now
The moment the Blogmaid mentioned Squid Game on Netflix I read and heard about it all the hell over the place. I am a fan of South Korean movies and TV programs, so I know I will watch this at some point. I tried yesterday and it was a bit depressing for me, but I will try again. Eventually it will take.
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
coffee by the sea
Ginger and I walked down at Pathetica yesterday and then had our mini brunch at a picnic table. It was gorgeous and just a bit cold, but bracing. Our Giants lost to the horrid Dodgers last night and so we have to endure Game 5 tomorrow night. Do or die. Or die.
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
the mall ~ over and out
Much as I dislike the suburbs, I loathe malls even more. But yesterday I hauled ass on BART to go to Sears at Tanforan in San Bruno. Big mistake. Sears and half the other stores and restaurants are gone and my big treat was a turkey sandwich from Subway. It was a semi-holiday for Indigenous People and Columbus, so what I noticed was all the fathers there in the food court with their kids. I could not wait to get back on BART and return to my city. We won last night's ballgame by one point. I can't take this...








