Saturday, December 31, 2011

We had 19 people for dinner, many of them kids. Now some are watching a movie. and some (kids) running up and down the stairs, slamming doors and jabbering. the adults are quiet, gathering their energy to pull together and leave. I am sitting in my room and wondering if it is too early to go to bed.

Friday, December 30, 2011

I'm back from four days with my family at Asilomar. Although I did not have to travel far, only 5 miles it still was a whole other world. Glad to go and glad to return. Now I am sitting in front of the fire at home deciding what to do next.

Monday, December 26, 2011

The four of us girls went to Pt. Pinos Grill for lunch today. One is ten and the others are adults. We wanted to include the ten year old so she could learn what the women do in our family.

Well we laugh a lot and have perfected the word "what?" to mean many things. We also tell stories about each other. We know haw to have a good time.

Sunday, December 25, 2011


I finally realized that the garden is dry, dry, dry. No rain in the forecast for the next seven days. I pulled out the hose and watered it all. I could hear the plants whisper thank you.

I wonder if we are going to have more rain this winter.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Lots of excitement around the house as my sister and her helpers were cooking all morning. This evening we are going to my son's house for a Mexican food dinner for Christmas eve.

Spent some time this afternoon at the occupy meeting at Colton Hall. Sometimes I feel so sad at the state of the world.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Now that holiday family is visiting I am eating out much more. I always like eating in restaurants but now I am full. I eat much simpler when I am on my own.

We continue to be fascinated by the current series on Dr. Who. Watched for several hours this afternoon. We have a lot more episodes to go.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

cold windy day. Spent most of the day at home reading a mystery story. I had things to do but didn't do them. Tomorrow.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

My daughter flies into Monterey tomorrow night at 11:30pm. I want to go pick her up but I am not sure I can be coherent enough at that time of night. Its now 8:30 and I am dropping quickly. she offered to take a taxi but I feel I am not a good enough mother to let her do that.

I'm going to bed now to think about it.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

I am loosing the fight with the rodent in the house. Last night he gnawed at my bedroom door and tore apart the rug. I cowered in my bed until morning. This morning I went to the hardware store for stronger weapons. This is war. It is beginning to feel personal. There is no food in my room but me.

Monday, December 19, 2011

There was a dead baby deer along the side of Holman Highway on the way to Pacific Grove. We have a herd of deer in our neighborhood lately. Nothing is safe from the deer in our yards, unless the fences are high.

and don't even start me on the racoons. They walk across my skylight at night on their way someplace.
Up early this morning for morning zazen at the cherry Center. Hard to motivate myself and then it turns our great. Looks like ti might rain, overcast cold. Oh yes I remember it is winter, not summer. It is supposed to be cold and damp. How quickly I forget.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Last night as I was sitting in my room reading I heard a group of people coming down the street singing Christmas carols. Laughing and talking and then breaking out in song. And with the singers were a couple of little boys who were just screaming and making noise. I think they were self conscious about this effort to singing in the street.

Somehow it was all comforting.

Friday, December 16, 2011

I have unopened boxes and stacks of books on my bedroom floor and I just can't make myself do something about this. I am unmotivated. Usually I do what I need to do, pay bills, take out the garbage, do the laundry, wash my dishes. but clean my bedroom just doesn't get done. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe not.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Suddenly tonight we are flooded with Christmas lights. The puddles are reflecting the lights creating quite a display.

Our local police station is awash in lights to cheer up anyone who comes or is brought to the station. I think they should have a bit more decorum to reflect the somber feelings of having to be at the police station.

Oh well

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Went to an early movie with some friends but it turned out that the movie was sold out so instead we went to dinner at Victorian Corners and talked for hours. Eating and talking without any hurry. What a treat. I didn't even miss not seeing the movie.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

the full moon keeps waking me up in the middle of the night. So bright. but now it is waning. I am blaming the moon on my restless sleep but maybe it is the bowl of gum drops I ate that digested so slowly. Maybe it is the garbage cans be pushed up the ally, maybe the Christmas lights glowing into my window, maybe it is just getting old.

Monday, December 12, 2011

My skin feels so dry in this cold weather. I rub moisturizer on them everyday but still they look flaky and dehydrated.

Went to the Sports Center this morning and was working on the treadmill listening to Mozart piano sonata. the person next to me started coughing. I pushed the stop button and left and washed my hands. I don't want to catch any of the colds that are moving around town.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

I just wanted to spent an hour watching TV while the rain was coming down. Sitting in my recliner with a blanket. I couldn't find anything but cooking shows. So I watched Jacques Pepin cooking potatoes. Yes I want to eat better. I need to start doing more cooking. First I will watch the shows and then I will cook.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

I didn't see the eclipse this morning but I did think about it and imagined it in my mind while I was lying in bed. Maybe that is good enough.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Today I was usually tired. No reason that I can see. Went to my regular Friday noon time zen sitting at St James Church. The whole event was so sweet. the silence and the talking were great. We are completing two years of Friday sittings and will begin our third year in January. Came home for a nap.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

I am still undecided about whether I will watch the evening news. I am so tired of the news and yet the habit of watching every evening is hard to break. Maybe I will just peak a little. Maybe there is some good news.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Went to see the movie JACK AND JILL. I don't recommend it. However the eleven year old boy laughed at all the farts and stumbling. I laughted too but somewhat more self consciously.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011


Spent the morning with the Plein Air writing group at Pino's Italian cafe. We talked,wrote and read to each other. the temporary Ice Skating ring was just opening as we left.

the morning started cold and then the sun warmed us up.

Monday, December 5, 2011

It is cold outside and this drafty house does not hold any heat. I have a fire in the fireplace and the heater on. couldn't find anything on the TV so the house is quiet.

Took a nap this afternoon. I wonder if I will sleep tonight.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Sc9ott and I watched the movie Fargo on
TV tonight. Now I want to lock all my doors. It is such a perfect winter movie. It hasn't aged at all. Such beautiful scenes of snow.

Last night it was so cold here in Monterey that I had to get up and get another blanket for my bed. Tonight I will be prepared.

Saturday, December 3, 2011


I can't find anything good on TV to distract myself. I have a fire going, the house is heating up. A dog is barking outside. Guess I will settle in with a good book. Maybe the dog will stop barking.

Oh yes the mouse trap is set again to night in an attempt to catch it. the trap has been set for weeks. Soon we will be lucky.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Went to see the DESCENDENTS at the Osio tonight. I liked the movie a lot. Downtown was hoping with cowboys. It's cowboy poetry festival this weekend. A crowd of young men were holding up signs in front of Well Fargo for Occupy Monterey. Lively town.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

I see a lot of fresh piles of dirt in the front year. The gophers are digging in. I'm thinking they will eat the weeds and leave the real plants alone. But maybe I am wrong.

I have one little seedling that I am protecting. If it survives it will be a massive oak tree and will shade my skylight form the summer sun.

I planted the acorn two years ago and now it is about ten inches tall. I can only hope.