Wednesday, July 22, 2026

    The heat surprises us on Tuesday, unexpected, not predicted.  I check the weather predictions most days to be prepared, but I am not ready for 90 degree afternoon heat in my living room. We just wait it out with a fan and wet towels. This morning the fog is back and no heat around.

     I drive my roommate to an appointment and then park at Lake El Estero for two hours. I find a shady parking space. Flocks of Canadian geese move around the lake. Another flock of seagulls stay in the distance. I listen to an Ezra Klein podcast about climate change. Perfect for this hot day.

     A young fluffy blue jay is grooming himself outside my window this morning.  Last night I heard the owls again, with soft hoots.  Two owls I suspect. My roommate spent hours watering the garden. Tomatoes are ripening. We eat a home grown artichoke for dinner.

     We watch another tense episode of season two of HIJACK. I am reading the delightful new book by Ann Patchett, WHISTLER. Unable to fall asleep in the evening I read for hours until 2am. Nothing new to say today about our incompetent criminal president today.

 

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

     This morning, I have a short conversation with my roommate where neither of us really hear what the other is saying. Sometimes, I yell to her from the kitchen, I can’t hear you, when she is talking from the living room. I have good hearing but both of us are a little off. I hear best when we are in the same room and can look at each other. Yes of course I should get my hearing checked.  Really, I just need my ears cleaned.

     I have three sets of exercises I plan to do each day. Usually, I do one and maybe two. Monday, I did two, walking on the deck and sitting in the front garden doing my chair yoga exercises.

     Storm clouds in the sky this morning. We are on the edge of a southern hurricane. Birds flutter in the bushes.  A stillness settles on us as the clouds hold steady high above us. Sunflower plants keep growing taller. No flowers yet.

     We continue to watch season two of HIJACK, an intense compelling thriller. Suddenly subways feel really dangerous. Season one was about airplane flights being dangerous. Another creepy show I watch is season one of GRACE, a detective show. These shows are not as creepy as our violent president’s war and corruption.

 

Monday, July 20, 2026

     On the deck, outside in the fog with my nail clippers. Suddenly I am too warm. The sun appears and my winter clothes are uncomfortable. I quickly cut both my toe nails and finger nails, and then rush back into the cooler house.

     The green sunflowers plants are growing higher than the fence but still no flowers. The tomato plants are on the verge of flooding the neighborhood with tomatoes. And the gophers, what are they up to today.

     I am influenced by Paul Aster’s book THE NEW YORK TRILOGY which explores the misuse of words. Last night when I can’t fall asleep, I wonder if I have outlived my name.  Kathy is a young person’s name, maybe it is time to find a better name.  I go through a long list of names, none of which work. So, I will stick with the name I have. I do like the names of weather conditions, storm, fog, sunshine, wind, stars, moon, sky.

    I watch the first episode of Britbox’s detective series called GRACE. Such a chilling story of a live man trapped in a coffin. Gives me the chills. I will probably continue to watch the series but earlier in the evening. And the old crazy president has not been impeached yet.  I am hopeful, as the judges turn against his crazy criminal actions.