a sign in my neighborhood

 Walking, thinking, taking a photo here and there. Inspired.

Memorial Day 2022

 I am much more solemn about Memorial Day now than I was when I was young. It used to be a good old 3-day weekend. Today I think of all the young men and women who gave their lives so that we could say and do non-patriotic things which are necessary in a Democracy. Gratitude. 

ultra clean and organized

 The three young women took charge of Chez Stein for six hours yesterday. Man, what a wonderful difference. They even made sense of the rat's nest charging station here in the back porch. Nothing missed their diligence: stove, refrigerator, medicine cabinet, under furniture, ceiling cobwebs, etc. I am one happy woman today. Never underestimate hard working women. 

good spy story (and true!)

 Last night I watched Operation Mincemeat ~ a World War II movie with intrigue and romance from Netflix.  Good cast: Colin Firth and Kelly Macdonald and others, all holed up in London plotting revenge on the Nazi's. Perilous times ~ then and now.

China's premier couturier

 Guo Pei is dramatic and remarkable. I so enjoyed her exhibit at the Legion of Honor yesterday afternoon. The lavish embroidery, over-the-top designs and obvious fun this designer has as she hits the Paris and Beijing fashion worlds. A lot of crystal and sparkle ~ displays are not only only in the official exhibit but spread throughout the museum too. Well done!

the pod reunion

 It's been quite awhile since Doug, Barb and I had lunch down on the shady "bottom deck" of their lovely home and look how their garden has grown. The glorious bird feeder and sweet peas are new. Our weekly pod gatherings during the Great Pandemic of 2020 probably saved my life more than once. Gratitude.

turtle karma

 Uvalde, Texas and another massacre with assault rifles. Too awful. I shot these guys on the log earlier in the day before the news. Ginger and I went to Stern Grove and it was so beautiful and peaceful yesterday. Impressive speeches from Coach Steve Kerr and President Biden, but now it's time for gun laws. Now!

parklet at Luna Park

 Nancy and Scott returned from Placerville last night and are already on a plane back to Chicago early this morning. We had a pretty good (not great) dinner at Luna Park on Valencia Street. I heard all about CC and Zac's wedding plans and lots more family news and gossip. Never a dull moment with Nancy and her three brothers and that is how it should be. 

this poet is a doctor

 We all want to avoid hospitals, but this poem is just too spot-on not to share with you today.

Little Pharma on Rooms

Laura Kolbe

She thinks in a smaller hospital She would remember each face With some embarrassment She can remember all the rooms 1421 From whose eaves pigeons tumble Its permanent winter of shit Where she would like to put a thin strip of suspended garden Something in love with guano like hay Some ruffling infancy of color 707 Where a couple lay in bed, one sick The two now faceless in ozone hoods The room wore its stretch of curtain Tight and broad like a bandeau in June Unspeakable honeymoon Ringing for ginger ale all the time 1603 With its own sitting room A surplus of telephones One almost expects a little home bar Silver shakers a cigarette tray 707 Where a couple lay in bed —was the smaller one sick Is that just farm logic— Its stretch of green curtain Smooth and stiff like a banker's lamp Amortizing a fixed account 830 She thinks somehow she belongs there Its shadows and somnolence appeal to her The clock runs behind The television sometimes stuck on a Mass Just its own digestion Plasma and diode It is what she will ask for when sick 1118 Snow falls to water The nurse's badge Clicks on the bedrail with a bell's tread The green fixtures spell nausea Like a lighthouse one sees the swing Begin before the beam's upon

from the book LITTLE PHARMA / University of Pittsburgh Press

two new hires

 Yesterday I met with two young (key word) women who will be coming to clean my house every other week. What a relief. They work in the neighborhood and I know that they are punctual and efficient and have good references. Alas, I have never liked cleaning and when the vacuum was out for a week or so around the holidays a friend suggested I decorate it with xmas lights. 

a new daily addiction

 I play 7 Little Words and Monkey Wrench on my iPad twice a day ~ trying to keep my mind sharp. The Blogmaid helped me figure out how to work Wordle last week and now I am hooked. It is a clever game and I am so very pleased to join the Wordle world.

a very old pin

 I wore this back in the dim dark past before abortion was legal. The main reason I support a women's right to choose is because there always have been and always will be abortions. The procedure needs to be a safe medical decision between a woman and her doctor. Sigh.

a quiet spot to sit and talk

 This is Peace Plaza at the Japan Center which is very close to Ginger's home. It was such a gorgeous day for a walk and some pleasant conversation and contemplation. Two old friends who still love this crazy city. We both know how fortunate we are. 

here from Chicago

 My most wonderful step daughter, Nancy, and her hubby Scott stopped here on their way to visit CC up in Placerville. The 2nd Wedding of the Century happens on October 1st and the mother-of-the-bride is eager to see the couple's new home and maybe push the invitation writing along. I will see these two again next week when they fly back to Chicago. We had lunch at "the Mexican place down by the park." Yum.

no commas in videos

 This one warmed my heart yesterday. I hope you can see and enjoy the kids. You will let me know if you can't and I will be annoyed.  No, I promise to keep trying.  💕Your techie blogger...

this is why

 I will never be able to finish the Great American Novel (remember Ellen and her murdered husband, Seth?) and it is not easy to post on da blog nor send bitchy emails most days. Annabelle resents MsBook Air and prefers me to concentrate my ALL only on her. Only when she wants, of course.

RR goes to the prom

 How beautiful is RR? Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid have done an outstanding job raising this delightful young woman and soon she will be off to college in Savannah. I have about 150 prom photos and videos here to enjoy ~ oh, what a night. Next we have graduation and I too have a new dress. More later...

and more TV

 Sometimes we need a good old fashioned detective story. Lincoln Lawyer (he drives a Lincoln Town Car) fills the bill for me. Netflix fun. Do not expect ultra clever, just pleasant and predictable.

HACKS is back

 Second Season ~ I love the series Hacks on HBO Max. It's a comedy-drama with the wonderful Jean Smart and her friend/enemy Hannah Embinder who at age 26 is already a great actor. Great fun with substance too. Enjoy!

busy Thursday

 Sorry I'm late. Sometimes there are surprise complications in this life. Perhaps you have noticed? My wonderful step daughter sent me these flowers for a belated Mother's Day gift and Annabelle was, as usual, intrigued. May is zipping by, yeeee gads!

my favorite restaurant

 Back on the back deck at Doug and Barb's yesterday for lunch. We had much catch-up to do. Doug was horse as he had gone to the Warriors game Monday night. It was another gorgeous day and so nice to be back with my pandemic pod mates again. 

while I was away

 I follow Julie Geb on Instagram and you should too. She has an eye for SF houses and the details that convince us to continue to love this city, despite everything. Soon she will be here to photograph the house next door and will feature the new garage door, I'm sure. I'm sooooo lucky with wonderful neighbors who not only appreciate  color, but take very good care of me,  providing food and friendship.

public service announcement

 I wish this was easier to read. The Blogmaid's step daughter Claire is an extremely talented coach and offers one week leadership seminars for girls 14 - 17 beginning in July. In Moss Beach. For more information you can google this. Highly recommended!

we are both purring

 You've never seen Ginger's spacious backyard with hot tub and orange trees ~ we had breakfast out there yesterday morning before the airplane returned me to an annoyed Annabelle. She eventually forgave me and we are once again in front of the fireplace with the Sunday paper to look forward to. A good SF walk this afternoon will do the trick. Happy Mother's Day to all!

museum day and fire pit

 BIG exhibit at the Santa Barbara Art Museum yesterday ~ Van Gogh and his contemporaries (now they would be called influencers, I guess) and not too crowded to my surprise. Then we had coffee and a walk on State Street and picked up some Thai food for dinner. Ginger has a big back deck and we enjoy the fire pit during cocktail hour. Packing for home is always easy, right? Just stuff it all in...

fireplace and fog

 Shally in the expensive leather chair tells the story of yesterday. We did get out to Padaro Beach for a good walk, but mostly we quietly read and relaxed. We both needed that. Today is sunny and we will head for the museum this afternoon, then a walk downtown. I have many happy memories of Santa Barbara and this place never disappoints. Home tomorrow. Ready.

walks, talks, sitting, eating too much

 Well, in no special order: lunch at the Summerland Beach Cafe, walking the dogs in the nabe, Ginger2 napping with her pals, Betsy's living room in her delightful home in Carpenteria. Relaxing day for me and today we jumped (ha!) into the hot tub and the fireplace is going. More tomorrow!

beautiful Santa Barbara

 Top photo is lunch at Padaro Grill ~ one of my favorite places. All things airport and airplane worked smoothly, what was I worried about? Ginger and her two dogs (Shally and Skylar) made me feel right at home and I had a busy and happy yesterday. Ginger is playing tennis now and I will go out on the back deck soon to relax and refresh and do some reading. This is wonderful.

SFO to SBA

 Lordy, I used to be an easy, well-organized traveler. This morning I fly to Santa Barbara to visit Ginger Two and I'm a nervous nellie. (The above is a stock photo.) Mary next door will take care of Annabelle and the cat is not pleased. I know I have over-packed and have forgotten some essential. It's a short flight and Ginger's welcoming home awaits me and I so need this. Off I go!

zounds! back to Zut...

 Every year Joe and I travel to Berkeley to celebrate Pamela's birthday at Zut's on 4th Avenue. Wowza, that area has really returned to life and we had an excellent brunch and a good time. Then we raced back home to watch the Warriors win by ONE POINT in yesterday's playoff game against Memphis. Yikes.

back to British TV

 The Outlaws is great fun. Seven lawbreakers from very different backgrounds work together to re-mo a derelict building in Bristol. Great acting: Stephen Merchant, Christopher Walken, Rhianne Barreto and lots more talent for you. Amazon Prime.