I went to the bank this morning to get some cash and also picked up a free bag of popcorn. I ate it all loving the salt and butter.

I like to use cash for my life rather then a credit card. I feel prosperous when I am carrying money.

What I learned at Tassajara is that the raccoons did not return after the 2008 fire but the caution around raccoons still exists. We locked our room at night to keep them out. They used to find any hidden food in the quest rooms.

I wonder if we should start a fund to return the raccoons to the valley.

Still trying to decide what books I will take for my four days at Tassajara. I realize I can leave extra ones in the car in case I choose the wrong ones.

Took the car into Sullivan's tire shop. Had a nail in one tire that needed it to be repaired. Don't want to break down on the road trip.

I am almost ready

Went to get milk out of the old refrigerator. It was silent and the light did not come on. I check that there was still electricity, yep and the fuses were OK. Well, this is an old refrigerator so I went on line to find a replacement.

Scott came home and told him what happened.
We would have to live without a refrigerator for awhile. And then the appliance started up but the light was still out. Scott pulled out the dead bulb and will replace it tomorrow.

Saved by the bell.

Spent the morning with the plein air writing group at Hopkins Marine station in Pacific Grove. The campus is on the edge of the ocean. We were given the use of picnic tables and allowed to walk around the place. It was so beautiful and such a wonder that most of us had not spent time there before.

I feel so lucky to be a part of this group.

We met for lunch at Ken's old orchard. The trees were full of leaves and some had fruit. He still doesn't know what kind of fruit these dozens of trees will have.

This is what happens when you buy an old orchard in cold Pacific Grove. Next month we may know more.

My feet really hurt tonight. I cooked a pasta dinner for the book group and then did all the dishes. I enjoyed the seven people that came. I cooked enough for many more. I just can't figure out proportions. I have left overs for the week.

Before leaving this morning I slowly did all my stretches and exercises. I am committed to doing them so I can keep walking.

Then I went to Red's donut shop to reward myself with a chocolate donut and a crumb donut.

In the afternoon the sun came out and warmed up me and the house..

I lay down on the couch after lunch to read for awhile and fell asleep. a long afternoon nap. I wonder how Iwill sleepl tonight.

Went to the Sports center this morning to do my regular knee exercises. I watch the silent TVs hung high on the walls. Sometimes I watch the written banners on the bottom of the screen and sometimes I try to read lips and see if I can tell what catastrophe is now occurring.

I am reading Henning Markell's newest book THE TROUBLED MAN and loving it except now I feel like I need to keep my doors locked. After reading several mystery stories I begin to feel afraid of the world. I begin to believe the world is unsafe.

Umm need to find something else to read.

Rats, the deer have already started to eat the geraniums I planted a couple of days ago. I thought there was so much greenery around they would ignore my plants but no such luck. I will have to think of some other plants for the front planter box.

My favorite cookie is the oreo but I shop at Trader Joes and they don't sell oreos.
They have Jojo's which are quite similar.

I am slowly eating through the box of Jojo's.

And tomorrow I will buy another box.

Cold stormy day and still the fishing boats are clustered ut in the ocean off Pacific Grove coast. the nets hanging over the sides, lights on in the dark. Squid or sardines, I am not sure which.

I had lunch with friend whose windows open on to this view. I just wanted to watch the boats but they kept calling me back with humorous conversations.

I love the wildness of the ocean.

I am planting geraniums in the front planter box. Last year the deer ate them all. This year I am trying to confuse the deer by planting them with lavender which the deer don't eat. I took the kids to the Carmel Valley nursery to check out the plants. We got a little wet with the rain but it was easy to find a parking place.

A couple of months ago I finished a quilt that I don't much like. It is made from scraps of shirts. I finished it even though I didn't like it. Now I am ready to work on a quilt I think I will like. Since quilts take a long time to sew I have to be careful what ones I start.

We will see if I like this one.

After the workout at the sports center I went to Trader Joes to pick up some food. I was parked in a handicap place. When I got out there was a massive Budweiser truck parked on the street behind me. I could not get out.

I watched the driver down the street at the local restaurant working on his hand held device. And then he came back. he looked tired. I wanted to yell at him and I have to confess I did yell asking him to move his truck. I wanted to jump into road rage but I didn't. He moved his truck. I had had to wait only 5 minutes.

I wonder why 5 minutes seems so long.

Foggy cold overcast days in May make me long for sun and warmth. but not too hot, just some warmth.

Went to the sports center and did the prescribed exercises. Came home and lay on the couch reading and napping. After the sun came out just before it set.

We"ll see what comes tomorrow.

We have had a few warm days of May and now the High School kids are beginning to hang out on my corner.

First this morning it was two talkative cute girls and by noon the boys had arrived.

Finally I went outside and asked how school was doing and they mumbled fine. Then I saw them amble down the street to the park.

I am reading TWIN by Allen Shawn. He has a wonderful writing style and I am really liking the book. He is talking about his twin sister who was retarded and autistic but she was his sister. He is pointing out that she was not a problem to him but to his parents who wanted her to be different then she was and eventually sends her away. I recommend the book

the road has just been reopened to Big Sur. They are busy repairing the cliff where the road fell in. We went to Big Sur River Inn to support the local economy. The place was full. Difficult to find a parking lot. We had a great lunch and plenty of time to talk and laugh.

tonight Scott and I watched Treme on HBO. It is the second season, the second show. I just love the music and the feel of the characters. There are so few shows that I really like. The other series I watch is the good wife. I don't know of any other really good TV series.

I couldn't find the Good earth tea we like for Brown Bag Zen. I finally ordered a case from Amazon. It is now sitting on my desk, enough tea for a year. One less thing to worry about.

We had the last of the Writer's circle classes today. Already I miss them. They will start up again in the fall. I used the classes to give me a deadline to finish essays. Now what will I use. I am basically lazy except when I have a deadline. Maybe I can find another deadline.

A really hot day today. Went to an afternoon movie and saw WIN WIN and really liked it. Good to sit n the dark theater out of the heat and be entertained. then Tasha and I went to Ocean Sushi for an early dinner. The house hasn't cooled down yet.

Some days there is just nothing to write about and so I try to make up something. I can't think of anything to make up.

I'm sitting in my blue recliner, window open to cool off the house. Now I am getting ready for bed. Good night

After nine months of work I have graduated from Physical Therapy. Of course I can go back but now I am on my own knowing what exercises I need to do to stay healthy. and I will do them. I am motivated.

I am going to miss physical therapy. Nine months is a long time. But I can see that my walking has greatly improved and I am no longer one of those limping patients in pain at the Physical Therapy office.

thank you medicare for helping me with this.

I just watched the president announce that we killed Osama Bin Laden, I don't quite know what to feel. It doesn't seem right we should be killing people and yet he was such a dangerous man. I guess I can just feel ambivalent.