Friday, May 22, 2026

     Foggy cold morning, of course I live near the ocean in Central California. I grew up here wearing warm clothes all summer.  I was surprised when I attended the University of California at Berkeley to learn about the summer heat.

     So few birds this year. I wonder why our neighborhood is not attracting the flocks of birds now. A solitary black crow and a young blue jay come and go. I did see one humming bird last week. We do have squirrels and deer showing up. But flocks of song birds, no.

     Next to the stack of library books the packages are piling up on the dining room table waiting to be opened.  No surprises here, mostly restocking food I eat regularly, almonds, sun flower seeds, licorice, dried fruit, and of course incontinent supplies and mail order medicines.

     In stead of the news this week I watch the last of the Colbert shows. I am discouraged he is forced to leave his show. And it’s the fault of the cowardice of CBS in responding to the old president’s inability to take a joke. So many public political events to be sad about lately.

 

Thursday, May 21, 2026

     Unexpectedly I find an intriguing book in the library pile on my dining room table. I have no idea who recommended it. HOW IT FEELS TO BE ALIVE, Encounters with Art and Our Selves, by Megan O’Grady. Maybe I am the last to find this book. I can feel the cobwebs in my mind shake and begin to break apart. And I have only read the introduction chapter.

     I haven’t filled out my California ballot yet.  I am torn between voting for my first choice the talented Katie Porter, or following the advice to wait and vote for the highest polling democratic candidate. I am sitting with this until some clarity arises. I really don’t know what skills a governor needs to be effective and who has these skills.

     After three sunny mornings, the coastal fog returns. First more wind and then creeping clouds coming over the hills. This is the pattern I grew up with. The news from the White House continues to be scary.

     I watch the last episode of MARGOT NEEDS MONEY last night. Very satisfying series which includes many views of a cute lively baby. Supposedly they use twin babies for the episodes. I would love to see how they actually created this show with the babies.

 

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

     The science section of the Times newspaper has a long article about human frailty. It is a condition of old people and is irreversible. A wake up call  for me to look at how I am living my life. I feel like I have been drifting lately. I am not sure what I am going to do but I am attentive to my activities.

     Sometimes I am just too tired to get out of my chair. I sit there half reading a book that no longer interests me. A writing friend tells me she buys her books rather the using the library. She likes to make comments in the book as she is reading them.

      It has been ten months since my last difficult cancer treatment. So maybe I am going to live a bit longer.  What do I want to do with my wonderful life now. As I write this a slow moving airplane flies over head filling my room with roaring engine noise.

     I watch an Britbox series, DEATH IN PARADISE. A slow moving series set in the Isle of Capri. My roommate is out in the evenings for awhile so I get to choose what to watch. I also saw the John Stewart Monday night monologue. He is so good. I have put down several books that I started. I am looking for the next book to capture my attention.