dinner at Nopalito

 Nopa = North of the Panhandle. Great Mexican restaurant and lovely time. We are getting to know Leah who is marrying Britney, Barbara's niece, in September. Doug and Barb are so good to me. I skipped lunch yesterday because I wanted to overdo at Nopalito on Broderick Street. Done. The joint was jumpin'.

the ocean heals

 There were very few of us strolling along the ocean in Pacifica yesterday. Ginger and I had a fine walk and then some coffee and a sweet. We stared at the waves and talked about nothing/everything.

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.