Monday, November 10, 2025 

     Last night at bed time a huge explosion shakes me and my house. Loud with a strong energy release. I listen for sirens, none. Sea lions barking, some dogs barking but no sirens. I check my facebook emergency information page. Hundreds of reports from the Peninsula and Salinas about the blast. Lots of theories, not fireworks, maybe a bomb? a meteorite smashing into the earth? an earthquake? a sonic boom? speculations. Some reports of sirens in Pacific Grove but not here in Monterey. This morning the police report something dangerous fell off a ship and landed on Monterey Beach.  The bomb squad blew it up. There must be more to this story.

     In the morning when I stop thinking of the news, I notice the sun is warming up the house. The plants are thriving, And yet, the desire to find out what is happening is pulling at me. The task is to find the balance.

     My Instacart order arrives at noon with no surprises. Everything I order arrives. I place an order twice a month, when I am out of milk.

     In the evening, I watch more episodes of the Spanish show, OLD DOG NEW TRICKS. This show just gets better and better.  I am continuing to read WE SURVIVED THE NIGHT by Julian Brave Noisecat.

 

Sunday, November 9, 2025

     An epidemic of community kindness. Popping up on my facebook feed are announcements from local bakeries and restaurants offering free food to hungry food stamp people. We all want to help.  Even Meals on Wheels is offering free meals to hungry people. Photos of long lines of unpaid federal employees and poor folks waiting for a box of food. The government is shut down and the president refuses to fund the food programs.

     In my neighborhood of older residents, life is quiet. An occasional car drives by and then turns around in the short dead end street.  The High School stadium lights turn on at dusk after years of conflict over using these lights in our neighborhood.  I am restless and suspect that there is a different life happening away from my quiet neighborhood.

      In the evening, I watch the first episode of PLUIBUS, a new sci fi series on Apple plus. Fast moving, startling, I think I will like it but not sure yet. Then I continue with another Netflix episode of the silly OLD DOGS, NEW TRICKS, the series about a cranky animal doctor in Spain.

      I can’t seem to stick with any one book.  I pick up WE SURVIVE THE NIGHT, a non fiction book by Julian Brave Noisecat. Both a memoir of his life and an exploration of the role of coyote stories in his native community. Yes I am restless.

 

Saturday, November 8, 2025

     The electrician shows up on time in the morning. My new heater needs a better electric outlet in the basement. He is a mature Italian guy. I was raised by an Italian mother, so immediately we could work together, or rather he could do the work and I could talk. For several hours I listen to the pounding coming from the basement. A good experience.

     Lyng warm in my bed, moonlight coming through the skylight I remember so many people in the past who I was close to, Family, coworkers, friends. I wonder what happened to them. I miss these people. It is hard to remember that being alive means life changes. These absent friends were important in my life and then, they move away or die or get a new job. Sigh.

     I am watching two TV series now that are quirky and only interesting when I am in a special mood. OLD DOG NEW TRICKS, a Spanish dubbed series about a disgruntled pet doctor and his young niece. The second is LONG WAY HOME, a documentary with two mature men who ride old motorcycles through Europe.

     I have started rereading Qiu Xiaolong’s latest novel, LOVE AND MURDER IN THE TIME OF COVID. The last of the series with Inspector Chen in Shanghai. It is not that I don’t have a stack of unread books, but I am looking for comfort reading today.