Thursday, April 30, 2009

The neighborhood third grade boys came by today to sell me some flowers. They were dragging a wagon filled with flowers and branches. One boy carried a rusty cutters in his hands. None of the flowers looked like they were from my garden. they said that a bunch cost $3.00. I said I would buy a $1.50 worth. they conferred with each and then put together a bouquet for me and I gave them 6 quarters.
They were very happy.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Drove to Salinas on highway 68 during the dinner hour. today at 5:30pm , no traffic jams at all, reasonable traffic. I guess there are fewer people working and commuting.

Near Toro Park the hill sides were filled with clusters of blue lupine, so beautiful.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

While waiting to meet a friend for lunch I started reading an abandoned paperback book by John LeCarre, A PERFECT SPY. Now I read this at least 25 years ago. What a great book. I can hardly wait to read more and then find more abandoned copies.

Monday, April 27, 2009

The fog stayed all day. I had the heater on in the morning. Went to lunch with my friends. Long conversations about the economy, about real estate prices and the propositions on the up coming election.

Nothing looks good but we all like each other and like to talk.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Had a wonderful dinner with two people I like. We had a spirited discussion about what to do about medical insurance for all.

We disagreed and yet we could listen to each other. We did find a resolution or a plan but we did feel the bonds of affection increase.

Saturday, April 25, 2009


I seem to be reading memoirs lately. LOVE CHILD by Allegra Huston. I spent the afternoon with my nose in the book. Very interesting. Took a long walk in the morning and then went to Bakery for coffee and writing.

Friday, April 24, 2009

At noon today driving by the high school I was almost hit twice by teenage guys driving loud big cars.

what should I have expected, the sun is out, the girls are moving around.
these guys did not have their eyes on the road.

Had the tires on my car rotated for free from Sullivan's tire store. One tire was low and I couldn't figure out how to put air in my tire, a lost skill for me.I need to go back to remedial life skills school.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Busy day. The fog was in and out. I went from one activity to another until evening when I was able to stop. this feels like I have a job again. Glad to have the house quiet and I can settle down to read a bit.


I look at my garden everyday to see which seeds have sprouted. Just a few hints of green, another week and everything should be starting.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009


Went to a conference this afternoon about climate change and what cities can do to help. This was the first time in a long time where the crowd was young, not just white haired folks. Lots of enthusiasm and energy to try to change our lives. It was all very hopeful.

The fog did come in this morning and we ware back to more normal cool weather.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Third hot day, and I am beginning to adapt to it. Took my lunch to Lovers point in Pacific Grove. It was cooler there by the water.
But still hot.

I suspect the fog will come in tonight.

Monday, April 20, 2009

I don't know how to live when it is so hot. 100 degrees in my living room. Outside it is now down to 90 degrees/ The tomato plants all wilted elven thought we watered yesterday evening. I watered them again at noon. I lie on the couch with a wet wash rag on my head moving the rag to my hot feet. back and forth.

A toddler down the street is crying her heart out. Her mother is trying to calm her. Everyone is hot.

I am holding out for the fog, it has to be coming soon.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

I read in the current New Yorker that Eleanor Roosevelt read 4 books a week, serious books. Somehow I am encouraged since reading is a great pleasure for me and I sometimes wonder if I read too much. Eleanor is my new hero.

Saturday, April 18, 2009


Warm still day, very warm. Sitting outside again this afternoon. A blimp floats by my house with a painted sign on the side, Fly with me and then a phone number to call. UMM. I don't know. I have never seen this blimp before.

Then two baby blue jays came and drank water out of the plant saucer. They have tiny squeaky voices. Just wait until they grow up and start squawking for real.

Friday, April 17, 2009

lately I have been sitting out front in the late afternoon, hat on, in the sun, reading whatever I'm reading. I can hear the neighbors coming home, dogs barking and the incessant call of the spring birds.

I have fallen in love with the lavender and Rosemary blooming now. And the bees that are nosing their way through the blossoms and branches.

And the sunlight warming my body as I sit and read.

Thursday, April 16, 2009


t three this afternoon as I was getting ready to pick up the kids from school a huge racket started, dozens of crows were flying around the old pine tree, cawing and calling. There seemed to be some danger and birds were on it. So many birds. I couldn't see what the danger was, so drove off to pick up the kids. When we got back the streets were quiet.
The birds were gone.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Another day of intense wind. UMMM? April.
Spent the morning talking to various people, talking and listening, sometimes talking too much, sometimes not listening.

Now I am home listening to the wind wondering if my plants need some water or maybe I need some water.

The sun shines through the skylight warming my room. It is icy cold outside.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Strong gusts of wind shaking the house, all day. Too cold to take much of a walk. /feel kind of sick. Stayed home and read most of the day, the new Donna Leon mystery story set in Venice, Not such a bad day.

Monday, April 13, 2009

This morning before the 7am sitting I walked slowly around the sculpture garden stopping every few steps to pull my targeted weed. I am determined to eradicate this one weed species in this garden.

Of course no one has asked me to do this.

I am a hidden volunteer.

Then I went and sat for 40 minutes. Such a good girl.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Drove with my son's family to Mountain View for an Easter picnic with family. One of the best parts of the trip is the one and a half hour car trip where we all talk together. The picnic was also good. I was unexpectedly tired when I got home.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

The sun finally came out after a heavy cold morning fog. Went to my favorite wonderful library and picked up some DVD's to show tonight to the 7 and 9 year old children who are spending the night. Pizza and movies who can complain.

Friday, April 10, 2009

drove to Carmel Valley nursery to buy plants for the veggie garden in the back yard. The two raised beds are now ready. So many people, flowers, plants. I wanted everything but settled for three tomato plants., I have seeds for the rest of the veggies. Monday is the day we plant the garden, yea.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Thursday morning, time for my weekly writers circle. I love and hate it, I have to have something new every week to present. I like listening to the other writers present their material and I like reading mine.

Spent the afternoon with the nine year old boy talking about magic and eating oreos.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Had my hair cut today. Always seems like a hassle and I keep putting it off. And then after the cut it feels like a mistake and takes me a couple of days to get used to it.

Went to Ocean Sushi for dinner and ended up in a long conversation with an old friend from my work days.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

My friend Robert suggested that I read Dexter Filkins book - THE FOREVER WAR. At first it was too grim but now I am into it and it is wonderful book on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. the writing is wonderful, the wars are terrible. I wish I could write so clearly.

I finally planted some seeds int he front garden. I have been carefully weeding the patch for months. Too much exposed dirt, so I planted some squash seeds, That will give some variation to the garden and cover the exposed parts. I am waiting for today's rain to activate the seeds.

Red sunrise this morning filling my house with warmth.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

This afternoon two older men in bicycle outfits were chopping wood with an ax at the neighbor's house across the street. I wonder if they would hurt themselves but they didn't. They did look tired when they were finished.

At the wharf I saw fishing boats loading up with crab traps. The season must be beginning.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Started on my taxes today. Did the first round, finding all the papers and pieces of information, filling out the forms. Tomorrow I will do the forms again to make sure I got them right.

Always a fearful job but once I start them it all works out ok. I know the IRS will correct any mistakes I make,

Friday, April 3, 2009

I had an unexpected holiday from my car. A short trip to the garage to fix a brake light stretched out to the end of the day and still the brake light is not fixed. The replacement part will not be in until Tuesday. So now I am driving very carefully to avoid getting a ticket for a broken light. Did a lot of walking back and forth from the garage.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

The sidewalk along Bonifacio street sparkles in the sun light. Little diamonds embedded in the cement catch the light and reflect back into my eyes. At least that is what I thought 60 years ago when I first walked on this sidewalk. It still is magic but I no longer believe in the diamonds.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

I continue to weed the front yard, a never ending job.

I am reading the Paris Review interviews with writers and finding these interviews to be really wonderful. I recommended the book to my book group. I hope they too like it.