Tuesday, July 28, 2026

     I can only be bored and restless for awhile before something new comes.  From my second story deck I watch my 95 year old neighbor slowly pull his garbage bin up the hill to the road. He balances himself with his cane. I so much want to help but I too have difficulties with the garbage bins.

    I write out three checks for the bills.  I walk outside slowly with my cane to the mail box with the three sealed envelopes.  My roommate takes the bins to the curb. Still two sunflowers at the back yard fence.  More coming.

    My comcast system is failing and I need to call for help.  But I don’t like to negotiate on the phone. I forget key words in the heat of conversations.  At least once a week when I turn on the cable TV, the sound does not come on. I have to unplug the TV and reboot the system. The sound then returns.

     I start reading the latest Bruno, chief of police novel. A MURDER IN SPRINGTIME by Martin Walker. Now I am in the middle of two compelling books. While my roommate is on a zoom meeting I watch another murder episode of ELLIS. And when she is done we watch and laugh watching TRYING. Both good shows. Rachel Maddow reminds us that we will all survive this horrendous president.

 

Monday, July 27, 2026

     Another cool foggy morning.  I must have written this a hundred times this year. This tiny area of California Central Coast is holding out against the summer heat waves. I don’t want to complain because the weather is perfect.  But perfection is boring after awhile.

    I am slowly becoming agoraphobic.  I still walk on the deck and check out the progress of the sunflower plants.  Two sunflowers blossoms today. The rest of the day I am in the house, doing household chores, reading books, taking napes. I have two long conversations on the phone with friends.

   I talk to my roommate about buying a new better recliner for the living room.  Something even more comfortable than the one I have. She agrees to help and then, I realize that I don’t need one, I need to get outside of the house. She is so patient with me.

     I start to read Lena Dunham’s memoir FAMESICK. I don’t recognize the names of the many people she talks about. but the story of being a young confused adult is compelling. I want to watch GIRLS again. In the evening, I watch an episode of THE LAST SHIP and FOR ALL MANKIND. I almost like them.  My roommate is out to a fancy diner, so I can’t watch our favorite shows.

 

Sunday, July 26, 2026

     It’s 9:30 in the evening.  I am sitting in my bedroom reading.  And the dogs are barking.  I am not sure which neighbor has these dogs. They bark frequently. Is there is a danger someplace or maybe a neighbor needs help. There is nothing I can do. An airplane slowly flies over the town. I turn back to my book to continue reading. And the barking stops. And then the barking starts up again.

     The sun and the fog are playing with each other this morning I am wearing my puffer jacket. I complain to my roommate that I am just not going outside enough. She offers to help me make the outside more comfortable.  I respond no, I need to make the inside less comfortable. It’s the stairs that are the obstacle. I can climb them but with some difficulty.

     Still only one sunflower near the fence. The others are still growing. I see clusters of flowers scattered through out the garden. The roommate spends hours each day watering and planting.

     We start watching a new thriller, THE CAPTIVE, recommended by my Santa Fe writing friend. And then we watch two episodes of the silly funny TRYING, an antidote to the thrillers and detective stories. Our community is slowly preparing for the ICE invasion into the California Central Coast. It is the courts slowing this demented president down some.  Maybe the dogs are warning me.