SF Playhouse

 So good to start a new theatre season yesterday with Neti and Pat and the great playwright Paula Vogel. Indecent was not an easy/carefree kind of play although there was music and singing and some humor. This was co-produced with the Yiddish Theatre Ensemble and tells the story of a controversial play by Sholem Asch. Some parts were rough and sad. It was intense and I'm so glad that we saw it.

Blogmaid Saturday

 We had such a wonderful SF yesterday. First to Dodger Doug's (bottom photo) to feed the birds and pick up all those damn political fliers (flyers?) and then to good old Fisherman's Wharf to make sure the hotel where my new Sister and my new Nephew will be staying is good enough for them. Hotel Caza is a find and right in the heart of everything. Excellent choice, dear Sis. We did a little smart shopping and had a light lunch and honestly, the day could not have been better. Oh, yes, the tourists are back and happy and so were we. Thank you, Blogmaid!

politcal violence argh

 I did watch the TV news a lot yesterday and am of course disgusted by all the hate rhetoric and I feel for the families of politicians and what they must endure. This was attack was so, so awful.

here we go again...

 I want dear Dusty Baker to finally get his World Series ring. I love the city of Philadelphia, but those fans can be a bit mean. All fans can, come to think about it. Fanatics. So it all begins tonight. Go Dusty!

women who walk

 Hoka® brand shoes have been recommended to me by probably four of my women walking friends. Then yesterday at Sports Basement a customer told me that her doctor wears Hoka® and suggested that she buy them too. They have a huge selection there and I selected these basic black almost-dress-shoes and will give them a test run today. The Best Cat in America approves of my purchase thank goodness.

not Bansky, but not bad

 Yesterday I rode the #49 Van Ness up to Ginger's and we walked over to Japantown. But I snapped these photos from the bus on Mission Street where this art is not discouraged. There were a lot of empty buildings and our local street art has exploded since my last time here. 

a return to never normal

 Our bus system (aka Muni) is pretty good, for the most part. It is free for seniors and young people and helps keep people out of their cars. The drivers are patient and kind and god knows how they put up with all the crazies. Now that I can't get Ken the Toyota out of the garage due to sewer street work, I am once again a Muni rider. The buses I rode yesterday were crowded and not everyone was wearing masks. Sigh.

and another marriage

 My next door neighbor Allison married Peter ~ two wonderful people. Big reception down at the Firehouse at Fort Mason. Glorious weather and great Mexican lunch from the food truck. Lots of fun and joy and no more weddings for awhile please. Hermits need days off too...

our local clown treasure

 Bill Irwin has acted in Waiting for Godot all over the world and has become an expert On Beckett, the impressive one act play I saw yesterday (with Neti and Jeanine) at ACT. The first part was a tad dull as Mr. Irwin recited his favorites from Texts for Nothing, but then he eased into clown mode and man, such a talent as he interpreted and resurrected the characters from Godot. He acted with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane and knows every word and nuance of this (to me) difficult play.

back to school on Hulu

 Abbott Elementary is a gritty not-so-funny-really TV series about a public school in Philadelphia and the truly dedicated teachers have to always try to find money for basic supplies and treats for the mostly Black school kids. This program one an Emmy or two so I decided to watch it from the beginning. Good choice!

we like this holiday

 Halloween is still fun despite my horrifying experience managing a Spirit store back in 2000. Yesterday I met Terri for coffee and on the walk home we popped into the little pop-up library (ours is being remodeled) to admire the altar. I'm good with plain old gourds and little orange lights too. This year I am thinking of doing the Day of the Dead walk again. I will check out the date now...

poetry is a necessity

 

Improv

On the morning of the drive from sea-level to the mountain, I asked if we could stop for melted cheese! at the Mexican place in Truckee. Then I worried, does Bob think I’m a diva?  Am I always asking for things? And I thought of Toi’s letter,  and I know she is the locus of a gift—  and I am too, a spiral of energy, a genie, a dust-devil, I was born with it, a life force,  it does not belong to me, or to anyone else,  I’m the container of it, the guardian.  And I love to let it out toward people—  nectary nosegay gusts of it.  My mother would ask me to rub her back,  she said that I had Vivian Hands, like her college best friend’s—  the palms of my hands would listen for what  my mother’s muscles wanted—as now,  I seem to be writing, but I’m listening for what you want,  it would be my joy to give it to you.  There is so much joy on the earth even as it is being dis-inhabited  by the other animals, and over-inhabited by us—as it is being  knocked off course and smoked and drowned.  While we have food, let us share it and eat it.  There is so much action required of us now.  And pleasure is required of us.  O my darlings, so much pleasure is required of us.

                    

                  Sharon Olds

outdoor bird art

 I don't get it, but I like it. Top ~ on a truck. Middle ~ garage door in the nabe. Bottom ~ Ashland.

what I learned on the bus

 I can't get Ken the car out of the garage due to street mess, so I took Lyft to meet Ken the person at Starbelly, a fave restaurant of mine. After we celebrated his birthday, I walked and bussed home and on the way I made a discovery. This blog sends me an email (and some readers have signed up for this feature) and when I opened it on my iPhone I could muck around and enlarge the photos. What next?

a trashy beginning

 Back to Manny's yesterday morning to partner with Emma and put on our orange disco vests. This eager volunteer group expands weekly and this makes us all sooooo happy. Then there was yet another street fair on Valencia Street with music and happiness in the unusual October fog. OK by me!

not our usual kind of book

 Our book clubber Madeleine (Mad Rose) selected this very interesting novel by John Grisham, one of my favorite authors because he is SUCH a great story teller. I started the audio version yesterday. Sooley is a basketball player with raw talent who lives in Somalia and travels to the U.S. to follow his dream.

October 14 ~ Macy's San Francisco

 Say it isn't so. All over the six floors of merchandise. I imagine the retailers are so eager for customers and ringing cash registers that they are pulling out all the stops this year. A bit early but at least NO background Hark the Herald Angels music. Yet.

here she is ~ my velcro cat!

 A loyal reader requested a photo of Annabelle. Here she is yesterday on my lap as we worked our Wordle and other word puzzles. She prefers solitaire, but knows that we have to keep our minds working. Since my return she has been following me and snuggling on my lap whenever I sit down. Purrrrrrrr.

books, women, food

 I neglected to take photos yesterday so I must resort to stock stuff. Our book club met at Colibri (new to the Presidio) and we had a few laughs and some a very good lunch. Not cheap. What is? We discussed Death and the Penguin as best we could because there is a lot of symbolism in that UkraInian author's novel and we have all outgrown that sort of nonsense. 

two views = stark reality

 The top photo is from my breakfast spot at the Bard's Inn in Ashland. Then we have the giant water and sewer project on Mullen Avenue ~ the tube thingies are parked right in front of my house. Noise and dirt will end in November. I try to accept these things that we can not change.

Home! Cat! Fireplace!

 But I need to get to the grocery store for provisions and do the laundry and cuddle with Annabelle. It was a glorious time. There is a To Do List that needs starting. No parking on my street as the SF Water Department is installing huge cement tubes and shit like that. Deep breath...

the big finale

 We head home in a couple of hours. My neighbor and cat sitter, Mary, reports that Annabelle is missing me. The feeling is mutual. Once on this Island was a delight yesterday with an almost all-Black cast and terrific singing and dancing. Scrumptious dinner at La Briccola, a new upscale Italian restaurant with a famous chef from L.A. I was needing pasta. This has been a splendid week away ~ I'm ready for home.

King John & Sherlock Holmes

 Yesterday was busy and delightful. First, the photos: top is a block of Main Street here that I like a lot, full of color and usually busy with walkers. Middle one is Mary and John's patio at the Ashland Inn ~ a posh and serene spot two blocks from my home. Then the bottom photo is from last night at the Oregon Cabaret Theater where we had dinner and then a fabulous and fun Sherlock Holmes play. I had never even heard of this place until coming this year. Next year again for sure. So, lunch on their patio (leftovers from our dinner the night before) then on to King John which was an all-women presentation and very well done. It did take some time for me to figure out who was who as I'm not all that well versed on the English kings and their complicated families. Anyway, one more play today and home tomorrow. xoxoxox

great theater Friday

 OK, another really fine day and this time I can report that a new one act play Confederates (bottom photo) is edgy and quite funny in parts. Sad in other places, needless to say. Mary and I had another nice morning walk and this play was a matinee, so we had a splendid dinner at a new restaurant, Bar Julliet, with enough left over that we will meet for lunch at their spiffy Ashland Inn by the Creek today before we head to King John for more drama. Annabelle is doing fine, I know you were all worried...

no theater Thursday

 We went to Jacksonville (bottom photo) for lunch, but I had breakfast with Nancy and Scott first before they took off for Spokane. Road Warriors. Then for a good long Ashland solo walk where I admired the small cottages and big fields and quiet small town life. Mary and John and the Tesla (and I) went 15 miles to Jacksonville and that little tourist town seems to be surviving somehow these days too. Dinner last night at my old favorite Greenleaf by the Creek and that was very pleasant. Early to bed, I needed that. Matinee today and it is supposed to be a good one.