friends,, magnolias and some rain

 I met Bette for lunch at Pacific Catch yesterday for another lunch of steak tacos and lots of catch-up talk because she still works full time at the museums. Then I took a lovely solo walk in the Botanical Gardens where I used to take my lunch often when I worked at the deYoung. The Magnolias are almost gone this year but it is always such a pleasure just to BE there and to get some deep breaths and appreciation. We are getting some more rain but not gulley washers this go-round.

more air fryer talk

 Behold my new GE microwave which includes an air fryer. (Not frier, except in the UK.) My previous microwave was old/tired and so I splurged on this new model that does everything. The so-called manual is a joke and I spend a lot of time pushing buttons and wiping down my mistakes. But I'm learning and yes, this was a good decision. I also bought a toaster for $20 and that I can handle. Best Buy with free delivery. Yay!

walking solves everything

 Also Motion is Lotion. I like solo walks and also love going out with Jen and the Two pictured here. Charli is wearing (and hating) the blue donut thing after surgery and Birdie is free to do her thing. We are having a break before the next rain storm so the air is clear and the skies a bright, bright blue. And today I wish Sister Jane a Happy Birthday ~ how lucky we are to have her in our lives!

future tripping and travel

 Sister Jane has visited the Blogmaid and me and my crazy family three times and now we are considering a trip back to Sharpsburg, Maryland, in the early Fall. It was the Blogmaid's idea and I am starting to plan and get excited. I have more biological family back there. Yesterday I took an online tour of Sharpsburg, and it is filled with all sorts of Civil War history that I have conveniently forgotten over the decades. In case you forgot (and how could you?) I was born in Towson, Maryland, and transported as an infant by train to my new family in Pasadena, California where I grew up. All families = complicated. Right?

such a joyful performance

 Local girl makes good! Thanks to the Blogmaid for introducing me to Alysa Liu and the other skaters during the Olympics this week. I applaud Ms. Liu who yesterday won the first U.S. singles gold since 2002. Alysa is a native of Richmond (across the Bay) and trains here in SF. If you missed Alysa on tv you can watch her on YouTube. She is something to behold. Goosebumps.

back to my museum life

 

Several friends have recommended this book. All the Beauty in the World is the memoir of a man who was a guard for ten years at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I tried a sample on my LindaKindle 4 and then downloaded the entire book a few minutes later. Patrick Bringley is the author.

steak tacos at Pacific Catch

 From the left: Neti, Jeanine, Pat and your blogger in the often seen red vest. We celebrated Pat's birthday at Pacific Catch on 9th Avenue yesterday and that was a great choice as it was not too busy and we all enjoyed the good food and reasonable (truly!) prices. It was a bright spot in a very rainy day.