Sitting in the chair at supercuts I asked the young woman to make me look normal. then I looked at her and wonder what she thought was normal. Ii don't have any tattoos or piercing like she did. I want to look normal for my age not her age. the man in the chair next to me was having his hair cut while talking money on his cell phone. He must not make a lot of money if he is at Supercuts. My hair cut cost $14, a deal. but I don't look normal.

Kids wrote in the Tassajara dust on my car, wash me. Made me laugh. Tomorrow I am having the car washed and then get the oil changed. I am embarrassed to bring in such a dirty car to Jiffy Oil. I do have some pride after all.

I am so glad to be home from Tassajara. I am really not a traveler and yet periodically I forget. My garden needs watering, my books need reading and my comfortable chair needs sitting. Tassajara just doesn't have any comfortable chairs, natha, really. I am too old to do without my comfortable chairs.

I am going to Tassajara Zen Mountain Center for several days for a writing workshop. there is no internet . I will write when I come back.

All the day the wind has been gusting through the town. At the library leaves and trash had piled up at the door. Every time a person walked in or out more leaves would blow into the building. And it is still blowing. It is relentless.

I am reading THE OBAMAS by Jodi Kantor. Yes, it is pretty compelling reading to learn how the Obamas are doing in the White House. Like maybe a reality book. I wonder how she knows all this and I wonder if it is true. Makes me like them even more.

Driving along Lighthouse Ave near noon today on the part of the road that is split into two one way streets. a deer and twin baby deer walked out into the street and jumped into a bushy yard. The babies stilt had their spot on them. They stayed close to their mom. They did not seemed concerned at all that the cars had to stop for them.

The eclipse may have happened this afternoon. The day got dimer but the sun didn't seem any dimmer. I still couldn't look at it without my eyes hurting. The fog was coming in. My roommate and I kept saying is this really it or are we making it up.

Across the street the young women started gathering in their formal long dresses. The guys showed up in a bus, They came out in their formal suits to pick up the girls. Lots of giggling and moving around. they all got on the bus and drove off. It must be prom night. The parents looked happy.

I parked by the blue heron rookery this morning. High in the pine trees I could see the nests and some heads of the birds. Nothing much was happening except for the low rumble of chattering from the birds. I had to turn off my car engine to hear them. I always feel happy when I see that they are thriving in this neighborhood of houses, kids and cars.

Staying home all day today I noticed how dirty my windows are. I have been planning to call the window washers for months now but somehow I don't do it. I don't know what keeps me from getting this done. The windows are not going to clean themselves are they?

I've just started reading Hilary Mantel new book,BRING UP THE BODIES, the second of three books about King Henry the eight, I loved her first book, WOLF HALL. And this book has a good beginning. I think I will like it.

It's dusk, a cooling breeze is coming in the window. Crickets and dogs making noise. So peaceful why am I on the computer when it is so beautiful outside. No one has an answer,

Went to write for a couple of hours at the Works in pacific Grove. I go there a lot. the barista said, the bathroom is broken. what. How can you drink coffee and write and not be able to pee. I survived but just barely.

long slow Sunday. The twelve year old was blowing his nose a lot. He said he had a cold. the ten year old was engrossed with a book. No they did not want to do anything or go anywhere. So we did nothing all day. Tomorrow they will be in school and I will do a lot. One do nothing day is enough for me.

I went to see THE HUNGER GAMES for the second time today with the 10 year old and the twelve year old. We all liked it even though it was pretty intense. I don't think I will see it a third time.

The fog is coming in after a warm sunny day. Nice to have a cool evening. I am getting prepared for my two grandchildren staying with me for 4 days.

Want to take them to the movies. Have to check the paper to see which ones will be good. I want to think I am cool, that I take them to unusually good movies.

I don't know if this will happen.

I can't think of anything that happened today. I was busy, running around all morning and home in the afternoon. But I feel I am all written out. Read an essay at the Writer's Circle this morning and now I have nothing to say. Words will come back to me in the morning.

I just got from the library the newest Donna Leon mystery story set in Venice Italy. I love her stories. Such a treat to spend an evening reading this book. The name is BEASTLY THINGS.

Went to the Sports Center this morning and listened again to JEFFERSON AIRPLANE on Pandora., even thought I make myself suffer through exercise , I can't see to get enough of that music.

The young boys n the alley are playing something that involves screaming on the top of their lungs. they are in the first grade and are intent on something.

I hear scooters and a wagon being dragged around. I love hearing those sounds.

In Monterey today the temperature was at least 80 degrees and in my house even hotter. but in Pacific Grove just over the hill is was 60 and no fog. I had lunch sitting outside with friends and we were freezing. I said we should come to Monterey where we could be hot. Now it is beginning to cool off as the sun goes down.

Went out on the deck last night in the dark to see the full moon. I could hear some cackling and squaking noise. Was that my neighbors? What was it?

Finally I realized it was the hungry baby blue herons in the nests across the gully.
I was no longer annoyed with my neighbors. All I could think was, Oh how sweet.

Drove to Santa Cruz this morning. Artichoke fields were being picked. Poppies and mustard seed plants along the road bed. Beach traffic made driving slow.

I kept turning on my air conditioner and then turning it off. I couldn't quite get the best temperature, too hot, too cool. Same with the radio stations. I kept looking for one I wanted but didn't know what it was so I never found it.

The visit with my sister was very good.

I keep thinking it is spring but the summer fog seems to have moved in. I have planted several varieties of tomatoes, sunflowers, sugar peas, mellons, squash. I wonder what will actually grow. The apricots are getting bigger and bigger.

I am reading the new biography of Catherine the Great of Russia. I am surprised to find it so interesting. What a hard time women had in the 18th century and other centuries.

Maybe I can appreciate my life and times more now that I have something to compare to it.

Happy foggy May Day. Spent the morning at Point Lobos writing with friends. So beautiful. Big red fire truck came down to Whalers Cove and parked.

I thought the firemen need to use the bathroom but no they were working on their zodiac rescue boats. Nice to know they keep their gear in good shape.