we keep on walking

 Sure, the arthritis kicks in but I use a walking stick now for the hills and bad sidewalks. There is always something new to see like these sturdy purple flowers on Precita Avenue and the new mural on Florida Street. And often a latte reward along the way. Life is good.

Poder Latinx

 A huge party of (mostly) old lefties yesterday and we all decided that 34 is our new favorite number. The featured speaker and the hostess (bottom photo) were fund raising for Poder Latinx to help immigrants in the Central Valley of California. Poder = Power, but you probably already guessed that. Great food, sunshine and lots of talk about that Felon who used to believe in Law and Order. Successful party on many levels.

Tom, Jeff, Diane and more

 The critics aren't loving A Man in Full on Netflix, but it is a great escape for me. This is from a Tom Wolfe novel and stars Jeff Daniels and Diane Lane, two of my favorites. The setting is Atlanta, Georgia and the characters are certainly interesting. 

a jury of his peers

 The fact that this psycho was convicted of all 34 felonies does not mean that he won't be our next president. But still, what if these 12 good people had found him innocent? Even worse.

oxtails on a sunny day

 I introduced Doug and Barb to the Farmhouse yesterday and yes, they loved it too. This time we added oxtails (bottom photo) to the excellent starter menu and wowza, yummy. They are leaving soon for NY and Italy so we needed a little catch-up conversation time. 

it runs in the family

 Annabelle and I both have dental problems (so does my sister, Jane) and in the top photo you can see my girl with her "I trusted you, I was wrong," look as we wait in the Cats Only Room at the SPCA Veterinarian Center. I do like this place, she doesn't. In a few weeks my roomie will have an all-day dental care day and neither one of us wants this. Behold the ancient cat carry case which always gets comments from humans. Other than teeth, Annabelle is 100%.

Memorial Day celebration

 Jen and Stacie (in photo with two dogs) over fed me last night with all the traditional American foods that we love: potato salad, corn, baked beans, BBQ chicken, roast beef...way too much delicious food. These women are very, very good to me, but I do not complain. In fact I walked home happily last night with a full bag of To Go cartons. Yes, I am spoiled.

back to Berkeley

 We celebrated Pamela's birthday yesterday at Zut on 4th Street. This year Lauriel joined us and that made our day extra special. From the left: Joe, Pamela, Lauriel and your blogger. A busy Memorial Day weekend with lots of traffic and Carnival right here in my neighborhood making things crazy, but colorful for sure.

working for the Mayor

 Two hours in front of the bustling Farmers Market in Noe Valley. Signs and buttons on top of the ironing board. My partner Jack and I listening to assorted complaints about MY city and Mayor Breed. But a few interested and nice people listening to why we like London. This will be a tight race, but that's usually true here in our (ahem) interesting city.

watching last night's game today

 Well, just the highlights, but what fun. Our Giants are on some kind of unexpected rally winning streak and last night's game with the Mets was so great after the come-back from behind four run homer and then that dramatic out in the bottom of the ninth. So maybe I'll just watch that video one more time. A nice way to start the day. Try it.

on my To Do List

 Not me in the above photo, but you guessed that. I need to find a new exercise routine because my teacher on Zoom from the Park and Rec Department is retiring. Victor is 65 or so. Damn. Of course there are hundreds to choose from on YouTube, but what I need is the set schedule or I will find other "important" things to do. So June Resolution ~ find an exercise regime and just do it. I walk everyday but need to work on strength and balance. Onward...

ye olde book club

 We had a reunion yesterday at Gini's and yes we talked about books, but not in an organized (bring your notes) kind of way. The weather was gorgeous and we sat in the sun porch and the grand girls visited us to add a few insights. A very nice day.

no longer shocking

 There are a ton of self-driving cars in the city now. The other night while my almost step grandson, Luke, was taking us to Tadich Grill, the car next to us asked us to lower the window to ask if he was crazy or was that a car without a driver. Luke assured him that he was fine and that there are lots of driverless cars in San Francisco. Honestly, they work better than some of the reckless drivers and they actually stop for red lights and pedestrians. I would not be afraid to take one, but I am a loyal Lyft fan.

book clubbing

 We met here Sunday night to thoroughly discuss What you are looking for is in the library, my selection which was loved by all. I provided overdone ramen and Laurence brought miso soup, Suze with a huge salad and Heidi a dessert. Two women with other plans, but we four had a lively evening. Flowers courtesy of my dear step daughter, Nancy. We are already trying to find a free meeting day/night for all in June (not easy) and our book to read is above, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Getting out my ear buds now. 

her grandpa's DNA

 G. dot Samantha and Luke and I celebrated her belated birthday at Tadich Grill on Saturday night. This was always one of Husbando's favorite restaurants and I'm happy to report that it was filled with happy people AND they had reasonable ($15) valet parking. This very old SF fish restaurant features the dark wood and white tablecloths and friendly waiters ~ plus excellent food which we three gobbled up. Petrale sole with too many vegetables and I did order creamed spinach as Bill would have done. A lovely time. Sam reserved a booth so we could hear our latest news and discuss our busy lives. 

finally ~ to the Fillmore

 I volunteered at the big re-election kick-off rally yesterday morning at the world famous Fillmore Auditorium. I don't think I had ever been there in my feckless youth. The place was packed and I exited before the speeches since it was SRO. Mayor Breed is far from perfect but I admire her and do not like the rich white guys who are running against her. My fellow volunteers? Impressive!

friendship and cajun food

 I met Dancing Jen for lunch at VoodooLoveSF in Belden Place yesterday, that wonderful restaurant alley that is coming back to life. I had the giant steak (there is some in my refrigerator today) and she had shrimp. So good to see the most wonderful Jen and we talked of many things, all important: Life, death, family, books, travel and Lyft drivers.

what is FELTING?

 The central character in What you are looking for is in the Library is usually found "felting" until she is asked to help someone find a book or a forward path in life. Curious, I ordered this $10 kit from Amazon for the book club meeting here next Sunday night. And I found this definition which doesn't really help, so we shall see:

The continued process of poking the barbed needle in and out of the wool, pushes the fibers up and down thereby interlocking them.

You can do this by hand with a single needle, or with a tool using multiple needles. There are small felting machines, about the size of a regular sewing machine as well as very large, table sized machines which create huge sheets of felted wool using hundreds or even thousands of needles.

WHO KNEW? 

cooking school

 Amy came over to teach me how to make crust less quiche and green pea salad. She loves to cook and I don't, but I do appreciate the talents and efforts of others. The results? Delicious and we had plenty of time to chat while she worked away. I did the dishes afterwards, so there.

let's define PATRIOTS

 I usually prefer fiction, but I'm fascinated by/with Sedition Hunters which tells the story of a loose-knit band of volunteer sleuths who worked with the sometimes recalcitrant FBI to track down hundreds of rioters from the Jan. 6th invasion. Domestic terrorism is a rather new concept to our federal government and so is citizen crowdsourcing and these determined people who have sent so many to justice and jail. One volunteer even voted for Trump twice, until the assault on our capitol and democracy.