black and white and strong

 

The Blazer

Fleda Brown

I am ordering clothes because the senator was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed. I ordered a black blazer because I am in mourning for the those shot in Minnesota. I also ordered a white shirt, so I am going on in spite of mourning. I will look official, like a police car, dressing up to keep my backbone straight. The army has to stand straight to follow orders and to show they’re not afraid. A priest wears black for humility, white a sign of how God scrubs everything pure, you could say. I might look like an army lining up these words. Each word has its own squiggle, to show it’s different from the others, but united. They march, too, they hold their signs. My blazer is stylishly wrinkled to show I’m not really an army. I am squiggling between the soldiers. You might not notice me, but the soldiers will feel me brushing their legs. They’ll remember the soft furriness of being human.

tea for four (er, five)

Inspector Annabelle did not stay for the duration, but she approved of tea time with Heidi, Laurence and my new renter Lisa who will be staying in Emma's Room. It's great for me because she just wants two or three nights during the week when she comes in to SF to swim and do city stuff. You will meet Lisa later and you will like her a lot too. The fog this morning feels like bliss when I read about other parts of the world and the horrible fires and floods. Sending healing weather thoughts to all...

blogger leaves home!

 Yes, I walked two doors down for Rob's chicken piccata and pasta last night. Other than that, I just had the best time puttering and putzing around this little house that I love. Step daughter Nancy arrives this week and I always make sure that she knows that I don't live in Gray Gardens (a 1975 film). Grand daughter Ceci too, this will be a good week. They all are, really.

yes, this is inviting indeed

 Tenant #2 (Laura) left early yesterday morning and I spent a very satisfying Saturday preparing for my next guest in Emma's Room. I have told many people (who yawned a lot, haha) about how very proud I am for hiring Handy Jan to build this wonderful little space. Laura called it her Dorm Room. I am meeting a prospect tomorrow afternoon, a friend of Heidi's, and we shall see how that goes. This space is just too nice not to be used and appreciated. 

our splendid Golden Gate Park

 Dancing Jen took the top two excellent photos and I snapped the not so great one of my wonderful friend in the bottom picture. It is just so pretty there in the Japanese Tea Garden, one forgets. And we had such glorious weather.  Then we walked down on 9th Avenue to the book shop (that is our mutual heritage) and on to lunch at a Burmese spot on Irving Street. All very, very lovely. Feeling gratitude, as per usual.

BBC on Prime

 Well, who does not love British detective dramas? GONE is very good ~ six episodes, four of which you can watch now. Cat and mouse with a murder and lots of fun family stuff. Thanks to the Blogmaid for recommending this one!

back to the Blue Plate

It was warm enough to dine outside last night at the Blue Plate. Well, coats and sweaters were needed, but still, such a lovely setting. Rob, Heidi, Doug, Barb and your blogger ~ still celebrating Rob's birthday. An added bonus ~ we could all walk to/fro our homes. A really special evening for sure. 
 

new art on the Great Highway

Heidi and I admired this on Saturday and here are some relevant details:

 "Unsafe to Swim" is a shark-fin-shaped public art installation by artist Oleg Lobykin located at the Southwest Lincoln Entrance of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, near Ocean Beach. The surface of the fin is embedded with recycled aluminum cans to highlight the dangers of ocean pollution. 

Artwork Details

Artist: Oleg Lobykin
Location: Southwest Lincoln Entrance (Great Highway & Lincoln Way), Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Unveiling Date: July 22, 2026
Partners: Big Art Loop, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, and Building 180 

and now you can see us!

 Over there, on the left, outer rim of circle. I'm in the pink cap and Heidi is wearing the faded purple. Ice is Evil. That flag is huge and needs a whole bunch of people to lift and spin it slowly. Human Banner reports that there were 708 of us and that the next event will probably be for a future No Kings protest. No date as yet. Don't Look Away.

Sunday on the Embarcadero

 Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid kindly included me in their adventure to the Ferry Building yesterday. SF was a bit messy thanks to the Marathon, but we made it in time for lunch at Gott's and then to Book Passage for an author event, a friend and neighbor of the Blogmaid Family. Callisto Lodwick and her first novel. The top photo is a brand new and very cool mermaid next door to the Ferry Building. It was adorned and appreciated by the Blogmaid yesterday. A very nice SF day. 

a banner Saturday

 I wore my protest tee shirt and Ice Out button yesterday when Heidi and I joined the folks down at Ocean Beach for our first Human Banner. It was all very well organized and fun and we had sunshine (!) and sang protest songs. This Land is Your/My Land, etc. We gathered at 11:30 and we were home by 1:30 ~ that's how well they do this now. A drone captured the scene and I will show you how it all turned out when those images are available.

Emma's Room update

 My second tenant, Laura, will be leaving a week from today. Her new grandson, Leo, is doing well ~ one of 13 brand new babies in this little neighborhood. Must be the water. Anyway, having Handy Jan build this bedroom and bath was one of the smartest things I've ever done. The cleaning out of our offices was one of the worst chores EVER, but now, well worth it. Housing in SF is so limited and I already have some prospects for tenant #3. Applause, please.

we must also accept joy

 This was the sunrise that I was privileged to see often when I opened the Big Box Borders store downtown. And here is a poem that I have not read before. Mary Oliver is having a resurgence, maybe because we are constantly worrying about the madman dictator in the White House. Ms. Oliver (now deceased) reminds us that all is never lost. My friend Karen (from our bookclub) gave a eulogy recently for her beloved sister and concluded with this much needed poem. 

Don't Hesitate by Mary Oliver:

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,

Don't hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty

of lives and whole towns destroyed or about

to be. We are not wise, and not very often

kind. And much can never be redeemed.

Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this

is its way of fighting back, that sometimes

something happens better than all the riches

or power in the world. It could be anything,

but very likely you notice it in the instant

when love begins. Anyway, that's often the case.

Anyway, whatever it is, don't be afraid

of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.

big bash birthday party

It was neighbor Rob's special day and Heidi gave him a lovely celebration with both of their sons and their girl friends in attendance, plus Roxie's parents visiting from Lompoc. Lots of good food and conversation until (for me) the wee small hours of 9pm. Again, so grateful to be included.
 

the house on York Street

 Remember when I used to take the bus out for my museum job? Well, I passed this colorful house every time and I'm sure I posted about it. Anyway, it's a tribute to local Mission District rock musicians and now the city is going to give it some sort of Landmark Status and the owner (who has lived in this house forever) is ecstatic. Not everyone loves this wild house, but I do. 

more for LindaKindle 4

 We can't go wrong with Elizabeth Strout or John Grisham. Summer reading in the fog. 

one l-o-n-g soccer match

 Above ~ the house across the street. Rooting for Spain. Who knew? I had the television on for the Fifa finale yesterday as I was taking care of a few house tasks. And wouldn't you know it? I missed the ONE goal. I will never be a REAL fan, but that's OK, it is a fun game for millions around the world. And the good and visible sportsmanship with all the rivals hugging after the game. Back to baseball...

best and bravest girlfriends

 Well, this is more ME and a good remedy for whatever might ail anyone, even Laura Ingalls Wilder. Ride or Die stars Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) and Olivia Spencer (The Help) and is a lot of fun as well as some blood (mostly bad guys) along the way. A lot of fun scenes in London. Also great to see Bill Nighy again as the M16 (?) Director. This is called a Spy Thriller, but it's way more. On Prime. 

mani/pedi with Miso

 I tried a new nail salon in the neighborhood and despite some minor language difficulties, I was pleased with the results. Of course I really loved having this sweet lap dog hounding me. This place is within walking distance and that is a plus. Success. I will return.

the local news

 This was horrible, and unusual. The SF Bay is usually calm and boat accidents are rare. And this was a 49 foot cabin cruiser with three decks that capsized and sank quickly last Tuesday afternoon. Local boaters and fishermen and the Coast Guard rushed to help but it seems like 4 died while 17 were rescued. Such a tragedy for the passengers who were scattering aches and honoring someone who had passed away.