a celebration, of sorts

This will be blog post number 3,000. It's hard to imagine. I write here everyday, as
my loyal and greatly appreciated readers know. I don't always want to, as you
can well imagine. But now, if I don't feed and care for Commano early in the
morning, she nags at me all day until I do. See, there are good habits too.

Sometimes this space is useful to me. Yesterday I couldn't find my Sour Cream
Waffle recipe and I researched it here only to find that I gave it to you twice.
Once in 2006, and again last year. And yes, they were delicious once again.

delete, delete, delete

Last night over a fine dinner at the Pig and Pie (what, no photos?) we were
discussing the joys and sorrows of computers with the Great Plotnik and
the Great Ducknik. I was inspired to go into my iPhoto here on MsBook
this morning and my god, did I have a lot of SPCA animal photos or what?
Of course I could no longer remember the names of any of the cats or
dogs that I loved briefly, each of whom is now living happily ever after in
their forever home, but there were probably more than 100. The other oft
photographed (quickly forgotten) category is food, so I deleted a bunch
of those photos too. People and places will remain because one never knows
when I'll need to appreciate those again. Anyway, I have a cleaner computer
this morning and I knew you wanted to read all about that on a Sunday morning.

from last Saturday night

(this is one of the pieces that I read at the Writing Salon gathering at Progressive)

EGGS

People feel strongly about eggs. I'm pro ~ they are beautiful in their delicate
white, dangerously thin shells. My husband hates eggs and will make a
most unattractive face when anyone even says the word "egg". When we
go out for lunch and order, for instance, a Cobb Salad, Bill will bellow (my
perception), "...and NO EGG!" He startles small children, the wait person
and even the grumpy ass chef who is banging around back in the kitchen.

Often when I cook  for myself at home, I'll fry up two eggs and
make some whole wheat toast to dip into them. It's fun to plunge the
bread into the yolk in front of Bill because he will look at me with intense
disgust and then avert his eyes. "Yummmmm", I say, waiting for him
to look back at my plate so I can glop up the second egg with the
remaining toast, Oh, we long-marrieds have fun, don't we?

We don't go out to brunch very often, because I work weekends, but
when we do I usually order Eggs Benedict. "Do you have anything without
eggs?" the husband will ask the waiter. Sometimes he has to order from
the lunch menu because we live in an egg-friendly, egg-only world before noon.

What's ironic and vaguely amusing is that Bill does most of the cooking
here in casa bonita and naturally many recipes call for eggs. I'll be
sitting comfortably reading Ms. Magazine or watching the Giants or some 
girly movie and hear, "Sweatheart, can you come here and break a couple of 
eggs for me?" And this from a man who squishes bugs and spiders without 
thinking twice, or making one "yikes" kind of sound.

bad choice

His, not ours. The Words is a movie about an author who finds an unpublished
book in an old briefcase. Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons and Dennis Quaid
are quite good in this film about wanting something so much that one steals
to get it. Fame and fortune do come to Rory (Bradley), but of course it
isn't worth the price. Or is it? Writers will especially enjoy this movie, now
on DVD.  Paris and NYC, need I say more?

on the first of May

I need to practice posting with the iPad, so here is one garden photo
from yesterday. Three itty bitty tomatoes, new parsley and some basil.
The weather is unbelievable, so of course I also walked, read, did a
LITE workout, made a salad lunch, fabulous scalloped potatoes for
dinner and man, it was a great day!

Early Girls settle in...

(I still had to come back to MsBook to fix this post, meaning I'm not quite
ready for that 3 month trip to Europe with only my convenient little iPad. Drat.)

two books at once?

I do this sometimes, read two books at the same time. It was a rather slow
start with Orphan Master's Son, but now I'm hooked. At work we sell
Season of the Witch by David Talbot, so I can't put this down either.
It's out in paperback now and I bought a copy for Husbando since we
lived through those perilous times here in SF. David Talbot has done a
fabulous job researching and condensing the 60's, 70's and 80's and I must
say, we had our fair share of bombings back then too. I guess the difference
was that these were home grown radicals, not TERRORISTS from foreign
countries. Horrible times, yet fascinating too. I'm reading and remembering
Patti Hearst and the SLA now, talk about crazy. Do I recommend both
these books? One fiction, one non-fiction.? Yes indeed I do!

a touch of orange

Her name is Carpool and she is just one year old. I think she'd be an
interesting addition to almost any home, don't you? There are some
adorable new puppies too, but by now we know that they move too
quickly to photograph. Not so with cats, of course.

In the afternoon I forced myself to the 24 Hour Fitness LITE and
felt better (in a smug sort of way) afterward. I do think it helps with
the sleep issues. Another beautiful day here in SF ~ lucky us.

internal strength, external talent

Harrison Ford becomes Branch Rickey who hires #42 Jackie Robinson in
1947. I am forced to say NICE things about the Dodgers here, for their
courage, but they were still in New York then. This is a wonderful movie
and we both loved it and enjoyed seeing all the action on the big screen
with lots of popcorn and (for me) two Kleenex®. Go see this, be inspired!

SF literati

Blonde Bombshell and Chef Pickle

Writers gather with food and drink

Chef Pickle wows the audience!

What a nice time we all had at the Writing Salon gathering last night at
Progressive Cafe on Bryant and 21st. I read last and by then I was v.
nervous, but everyone was so supportive that I was glad I did this thing.
Congrats to Jane for all her work getting us all together for such a
pleasant evening.

outside my window

This is an old daily write that I read for Tiapos last Thursday night.

It's still dark out but I see a pink haze which means, yes folks, the sun will
come up again today. We have this spectacular view and I can see that the
city, my city, is not yet awake. No lights to speak of, except the occasional
glowing window or street lamp.

Remember all those mornings when I had to open the downtown Borders
store at 6am? God, how did I do it? Up at 4am, a little computer work,
fix my lunch, eat breakfast and out of here. I'd get to leave work at 3:30pm
and everyone would say, "Going home? Oh, lucky you." I tried not to
snap at them, but that so pissed me off. Exhausted every night and in
bed shortly after 8pm. I think of it as the 401(k) time because those eight
years were when I concentrated on building up our retirement funds.

Today I work part time and I don't have to be out at the Legion of Honor
until 9:30. And yet it will be a rush and I consider it a huge imposition.
Work disrupts my schedule of daily newspaper reading, noodling
around on the computer, coffee drinking, walking, gardening,
puttering and looking out my window at the San Francisco skyline.

07/31/12

 

watching us

This noble guy (crane?) was out at Crissy Field yesterday and I think he was
waiting for the sun to come out. In the meantime, the foggy walk with Ginger
was splendid and we had a delightful time at our favorite outdoor spot.
Last night was Tiapos and that was also very special. Today is (what?) work...

I'll be reading...

You're Invited: Saturday Night Writer’s Special –

Next Reading: April 27th

We hope you can make it!

Time: Saturday, April 27th, 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Progressive Grounds Cafe, corner of 21st and
Bryant streets, San Francisco Mission District
Cost: Free (but donations gratefully accepted)
Theme: “FOOD”

(Need I mention that I'm already nervous?)

on my Lindakindle®

This novel recently won the Pulitzer and I've hard a lot about The Orphan
Master's Son for some time now. It's a novel that takes place in North Korea
and that is certainly timely, isn't it? So far, so good...

appreciating April

Eagles

It was a sixteen-inch ling cod that the eagle
dropped near our feet
at the top of Bagley Creek canyon,
at the edge of the green woods.
Puncture marks in the sides of the fish
where the bird gripped with its talons!
That and a piece torn out of the fish's back.
Like an old painting recalled,
or an ancient memory coming back,
that eagle flew with the fish from the Strait
of Juan de Fuca up the canyon to where
the woods begin, and we stood watching.
It lost the fish above our heads,
dropped for it, missed it, and soared on
over the valley where wind beats all day.
We watched it keep going until it was
a speck, then gone. I picked up
the fish. That miraculous ling cod.
Came home from the walk and—
why the hell not?—cooked it
lightly in oil and ate it
with boiled potatoes and peas and biscuits.
Over dinner, talking about eagles
and an older, fiercer order of things.

~ Raymond Carver

(I've been so busy with my garden, pesky knees, books, husband and friends that I
haven't acknowledged that it's Poetry Month. I get some treasures in my email
folder every April. This is a new one to me. Mr. Carver was one of the best...)

knee-saving device

Behold the kneeling bench (Amazon ~ $40) which allows a person with knee
issues to weed and garden without too many groans or complaints. I spent
a few happy hours in the warm sunshine yesterday, listening to our Giants
win and pulling some stubborn weeds. A great invention, why did it take me
so long to discover it?

my friend Linda

This is a glorious children's book by Linda Davick. She wrote and illustrated
it and you can buy I Love You, Nose! on Amazon.com. Lucky, adorable Ruby
already has her copy, but every child under (say, seven?) will want one.
Great job, dear Linda...

two new SF places

morning

noon

Thanks to the Ducknik, I'm going to join the 24 Hour Fitness LITE on
24th Street in Noe Valley. A little cardio and a few other machines ~ best of
all, the customers were not young and beautiful, they were older but in
good shape. And no "lifetime" membership, it's month-by-month.

I did a little computer work (ahem) for Neti and she took me to lunch here
at Noeteca on 28th and Dolores. Quite nice indeed, and I'll be back.

Finished Benediction (wonderful) and started The Orphan Master's Son
in between TV watching of the Boston chase of Suspect #2. I had such a
fine three days off and accomplished almost everything on the ToDo List.
Back to the deYoung today, off tomorrow, thank goodness.

as promised...

Here's the newly flowered-up back deck. If I remember to water every day, it
should last until the Fall. Note all this sunshine, the best weather year ever
here in SF. One could even have lunch outside.

I don't mean to ignore the Boston Marathon bombing, but there is not much
to say. Just puzzlement. Last night I listened to too much radio as they
chased the brothers. Next they'll get their computers and try to figure out why
they hated this country so much. I will say that President Obama is one fine
public speaker, it's just so sad that he has to attend so many memorials. No
wonder he has aged 20 years since 2008.

time to garden!

Flora Grubb on Jerrold Ave,

Flowercraft cat-in-a-box

We went to two garden stores yesterday. Flora Grubb is huge and includes a
coffee stand and lots of chairs so you can sit and appreciate all the plants
and the beauty of the place. It's heavy on succulents so I did all my plant
purchasing at Flowercraft on Bayshore. If you are all well-behaved I will
show you some of the flowery results here at Casa Verde. Now be patient...

best novel this year?

Oh, my ~ this is a winner. Read it on your Lindakindle® or iPad or even hard
cover, it is soooooo terrific. Not just the words, but how Kent Haruf unravels
the plot, a little bit at a time. Benediction is fabulous, read it...