Thursday, May 28, 2026    

     Wednesday morning activities create chaos for me. Four things are wrong.  A high School kid is parking in my driveway, the bank refuses to accept the state tax refund check, the voting ballot is confusing,(I did vote for Katie Porter), And something else I can’t remember. Oh yes, my prescriptions are on hold because the medicines are temporally unavailable. Due to war or to the tariffs, or did I do something wrong? Of course it is demented president’s fault.

     It is all too hard. I write a complaining text to family. And the tall man comes by at lunch time and fixes two of the problems. A note on the kid’s car saying don’t park here and a trip to the bank resolving the deposit issues (state’s fault, not mine). So easy and effective.

     I used to be able to solve problems easily. Is it my age or the difficulties dealing with AI responses. I haven’t kept up with modern life and now modern life is moving beyond my reach. Sigh

     I give in this morning and turn on the heater to combat the damp cold weather. I am reading Elizabeth Strout’s latest book THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY. The story about life in today’s crazy world is right on. The problems of secrets and loneliness.   My lovely roommate is back and life is better.

 

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

     Another cold damp morning here in Monterey. A text arrives from my sister traveling in Europe. We send messages back and forth. Lots of hot weather there. I am stunned at the speed of messaging with a person 6000 miles away. Although I have read the explanation, it still doesn’t make sense to me.

     Today I plan to mark my ballot and take it to the secure box outside the library. So many decisions to make. And they are my decisions. Difficult to talk to friends about politics lately. I think we are all afraid of the future.

     I order from Instacart to deliver some supplies and some special foods. I particularly love deep dish frozen pizza and good cookies.

     I finish reading ATTENTION, WRITING ON ART, LIFE AND THE WORLD, a collection of essays by Anne Enright. She does a good job with her essays. The Beat with Ari Melbur is still my favorite TV news. Maybe the frightening reign of the current president is failing.  I hope so

 

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

     A short shower at dawn, damp cold weather. Dogs barking up the street. Sirens move around the town. A new day is starting. My hands are really cold this morning.

     While waiting in the car I listen to a podcast writer, Ezra Klein and Pema Chödrön. Both well known to me. I have read all of Pema Chodron’s books.  Her voice is so different, so unexpected. She sounds unexotic, so American. And the conversation is wonderful. Maybe Pope Leo sounds like a down home man from Chicago rather than an exotic pope.

     I meet a friend for lunch at Sweet Elena’s in Sand City. I avoid the holiday traffic by driving lesser known roads. We talk and eat slowly.  It has been years since I have been able to just go for lunch with a friend.

     I find the evening television not so interesting now that I have visited with a live human. I am starting a book by a favorite author, Miriam Toews, SWING LOW, a memoir of her father’s struggle with depression. I have hopes for it.