lunch and a play with laughs

 I met Amy at the old reliable Sears Fine Food restaurant yesterday for lunch because it is good, basic food and it is also right around the corner from the SF Playhouse where we had a great time with this fun farce of a play: Peter Pan Goes Wrong. It felt wonderful to laugh for two hours. Then home to watch our Valkyries lose (again) to the Atlanta Dreams. No fun that.

for the next book club

 My LindaKindle 4 (or 5) has accepted Land by Maggie O'Farrell and I am struggling a bit trying to get hooked. It's all about Ireland, a land (get it?) that I love, but I seek interesting characters to get me intrigued. I need to focus and really start reading this novel. Maybe tomorrow?

just a few blocks away

 A Russian spot in the heart of our Latino district at 24th and Alabama. Cinderella operates a famous bakery out on Balboa Street in the Richmond District of SF and now we have our very own cafe within walking distance of my home. A most welcome addition to the nabe. (And NOT to get political, who me?, but how dare tRump support Putin and not the Ukraine? Grrrrrrr. Where is Congress?)

little theatre rocks

 Yesterday I met Andrea and Kathy at Z Below, a small theatre near me. We saw two Russian love stories which were very well done, both illustrating the difficulties of Russian immigrants trying to adjust to American culture. Word for Word does a great job and we had a delightful afternoon. Then pizza and salad at my house ~ I keep it simple these days. One fine Sunday for sure.

our Human Banner

 They used drones and a helicopter to capture our No Kings Vote Early gathering yesterday at Ocean Beach. Heidi and I almost changed our minds because it was hot and we were busy and the Valks were playing, etc., but in the end we were glad that we kept our commitments and the result was impressive with thousands gathering together. There were other rallies throughout the city, the country and the world and somehow we will get our country back on track. 

two cats on the move

 Yesterday Ozzie (bottom photo) and Annabelle went to the SPCA for their yearly check-ups. Heidi did all the heavy lifting as you can clearly see in the top photo. Clean bills of health although one cat needs to lose a few grams of weight. I will let you guess which one. Ozzie is an outdoor/indoor cat and his situation is a bit different as he contends with fleas and also he was a VERY vocal traveler. All four of us were very happy to get back home.

the book, the food, the friends

 

Book Club at Heidi's yesterday and we barely had time to discuss Whistler (which we all loved) because each of us had been traveling and, in fact, Laurence just returned from Turkey the night before. So there was much to discuss as we devoured Heidi's delicious meal. Land is the book for our next meeting and I just ordered it on my LindaKindle4 (or 5). Whatever. 

the group photo!

 The Tiapos (aka Fluf) Gang last Sunday. Such a delightful day in and on Chef Sarah's patio. This was late in the day and it was getting a bit chilly so our hostess, on the end (left), was wrapped in a blanket. But still a lot of warmth all over and throughout the day.

in less than 3 weeks

 I have a bit of work to do before I fill out the ballot and mail it in. Mostly the confusing propositions and just a few of the lesser candidates require some research. Well worth the effort to keep our democracy alive, especially during these perilous times.

there is potential here...

 Still waiting for Doug's group photos, but in the meantime...last night I watched some Animals on Netflix, with Ben  Affleck and Kerry Washington. So far, so good and more tonight.

Sunday in Napa

 So much food and fun, thanks to Chef Sarah. Another perfect Tiapos with delicious food, as always.  We await the group photos from Doug's camera, but until then you do get a glimpse. My piece was about my "new" family on the East Coast and of course folks were intrigued. Top photo is Sam with his art, he is always such a great addition to our group and his fresh garden tomatoes? The best. Also grateful to Doug who did the driving and did not get lost once. Feeling blessed again.

and now, the Finals!

 I saw a lot of purple on my walk yesterday afternoon ~ men and women and kids wearing the colors of our amazing Valkyries Women's Basketball Team. So much fun and such a lovable and joyful group of young women who are giving the Bay Area a huge bolt of energy. Go Walks!

meet my "new" parents

 Catherine Beall and Charles Flook of Frederick County, Maryland. How did they meet? Was it a romance or a one night stand? They were not teenagers, in their twenties. We think Mom was in college. My adoption was private and at 10 days old my Aunt Kit of Mckeesport, Pennsylvania, brought me to Pasadena, California, on the train. I cried all the way. I still well up quickly and way too often.

back on the Farm

 Yes, I'm home in SF after this whirlwind trip. I did want to show you where Sister Jane spent the first nine years of her life, dodging cows as she walked a long way to catch the school bus. Flook Farm is now a lovely park in Frederick County, with an official plaque dedicated to the Flook Family. So very beautiful here with walking paths and picnic tables. And, of course I'm happy to be home and Annabelle has forgiven me for leaving her and we are pals again. Now the laundry. Grrrrrrrr.

a day with Father Flook

 

I have a ton more photos and words from yesterday, but MsBook Air and Ms. Stein are both slow this morning. Yesterday started with a lavish breakfast at Sister Jane's beautiful home right by the Potomac. (We do not share the cooking gene.) Then she kindly drove us to the Flook Farm which I will show you tomorrow when I am home and the internet will be stronger. Then to the lovely cemetery where the relatives on Jane's side reside. Dinner last night at Bistro 112 in Shepherdstown and so nice that Sister Carole (on the maternal side) joined us. A treat also to have nephew Tanner and the two boys ~ we sat outside, good food and fine service. We fly away today and my head and heart are bursting with all that I have learned. I promise lots of pictures tomorrow after a good night in my own bed. None of this would have been possible without the Blogmaid who started this whole thing ("let's find your biological parents!") and what a trip it has been. Kristin organized this whole thing, did most of the driving and made sure I was a ok as she handled everything with aplomb. Right word? She is now OFFICIALLY a member of the Flook and Beall blended family. I could NOT have had a better time. Truly. Deep gratitude to all.

now picture Pennsylvania (mostly)

 

The day started beautifully at the Airport Grille in Hagerstown where we met Sister Jane's friends Candy, Laura and Karen 2 (or maybe 1?) Wonderful women! Then the Blogmaid and I went to Gettysburg to try to find where her second great grand uncle, Willian Philander Cromer, from South Carolina, died in battle in 1863 at Seminary Ridge. We had a full day first at the National Park (fabulous!) then toured the Lutheran Seminary which became a hospital for the many wounded during the bloody battle. Also walked around the charming town of Gettysburg and ALMOST had dinner at the Gettysburger, but drove back to Hagerstown for the Blogmad's beloved Cracker Barrel (5th photo), which was actually rather good. (Shhhh, don't tell anyone I said that.) It was a long, full day and we both learned so much. For instance the cool wooden fences seen all over here are called worm fences and were used in battle. Feel free to Google them as I have run out of words and space here. Today is Wednesday, home tomorrow. Or as one fun young woman said when we told here that we were from San Francisco, "ah, the Promised Land."

this amazing life

 Well yesterday started at 11am when sister Carole (on my biological mother's side) met us at the Quality Inn for the first time ever. We liked her at once, meaning she passed the strict and often fatal Blogmaid and Blogger test ~ lucky Carole! Then sister Jane (whom we have loved for three plus years) joined us and we all learned about Mother Catherine, or tried to. This woman told no one about me, what a burden she carried. Women back then ~ well, we know from reading about their lives dominated by men and society, but hey, not today, Ms. Stein, let's DO the blog. So we four had a fine lunch at Rumsey Tavern (cool place) and then the photo sessions, thanks Blogmaid. Carole and Jane tried to figure out how my parents met, leaving us with so many unanswered questions. After lunch the Blogmaid drove (bless her!) to the Mt. Olivet Cemetery where Carole's parents are buried and we paid our respects to Mother and gave her a little  plant to thank her for all she endured. I learned so much yesterday, almost too much to comprehend. Carole was open and forthright and painted a picture of our mother that I won't soon forget. She was a good mother who smoked and read fiction a lot and did not care about how she looked. What a day. OK, the 4th picture should be on the bottom but after blogging for decades I still can't figure out how to move it. This was our dinner from the Food Lion across the street as we watched SNL on the Blogmaid's computer. So much we learn so late, etc. We were both exhausted and I bet Carole was too. What a day! (Oh, p.s., lovely sunshine and blue skies all day. Yay.)