Sunday, October 4, 2026

     I have been bragging to my family that Monterey has great ocean side weather. I swallow these word as the hot weather arrives yesterday. Not as hot as Southern California, but uncomfortably warm. And no fog. Heat should last for a couple of days. We are not exempt from the weather.

     Quiet day doing usual chores.  The Tall man visits, another friend visits. And the day warms up.  Fan in the living room is helpful. I finish the last of the antibiotic pills. Read and take napes.

     This morning, from my bedroom window, I watch my neighbor walking her small dog, while using her cane.  A deer with large antlers stands on the street watching her also. He is standing his ground. He looks like he might shoot us if he had hands and a gun. My neighbor walks quickly avoiding the challenging deer.

     In the evening, we watch several more episodes of EAST OF EDEN, on Netflix. It is high drama and emotion. I am exhausted when I go to bed. It is not an easy show to watch.  I am reading A TRUCE THAT IS NO PEACE by Miriam Toews, a favorite author. Non fiction. Of course, it is wonderful. We also watch some earlier THE DAILY SHOW broadcasts to laugh a bit. Voting starts Monday.  I am ready to throw out all stupid, fearful, corrupt politicians.

 

Saturday, October 3, 2026

     I am fine today. The procedure goes well and no lumps or bumps are found according to the doctor. NED (no evidence of disease). There will be a pathology report next week. I am tired of being afraid and am ready to be alive again. Fears around cancer just arise and then retreat.

     The Urology clinic is in a new building, Building E at Ryan Ranch. Modern, spacious, loud art on the walls.  Urology and surgery clinics occupy the building. Mostly old men waiting to be seen.  Two old men arrive on transport cots looking very sick. The tall man is with me and we have a lively conversation about agriculture in the Salinas Valley. I am tired of talking about cancer.

     In the afternoon I take a long nap.  I am tired.  I am ready for expanding my interests.

     We watch the first episode of EAST OF EDEN, on Netflix. A dark brooding story of two brothers and a corrupt brutal father. And then more of PLURIBUS a frenetic anger driven story of viruses and aliens. Don’t do much reading. Sleep really well last night and wake up to the barking of the sea lions on the San Carlos beach.  The corrupt president’s barking is disgusting but the sea lions are inspiring.

 

Friday, October 2, 2026

     I live in a quiet subdued neighborhood, mostly old people who have lived here for decades. We hear an occasional dog barking and the crows raising a fuss. The visiting black cat is silent creeping around the yards. The military airplanes fly low over the neighborhood.

      The high school is a block away.  Now the stadium lights for the football field light up the early evening several times a week. The morning announcements occur daily.  The voices are loud but the words are garbled. Cars line up near the school to deposit the kids. Sometimes they walk through the neighborhood on the way to the park. Sometimes a stranger will come down the street and then turn back when the street dead ends.

     This morning, I am up early, getting ready for my 9:30 medical appointment. It is a familiar procedure but I am still nervous. I am one of nine patients today getting the cystoscopy treatment. I am part of a crowd of sick people. The experience fills my whole mind and body, but for the doctor I am just one of many. An uneven relationship. Maybe all relationships are uneven.

     I have been distracted this week and have not read as much as usual.  Still reading THE WEDDING PEOPLE. More books waiting. What I do I really, really want to read next? Tonight, the new series on netflix starts, EAST OF EDEN. I am excited. The boring, stupid, old president rants on and on, as if we are interested in what he has to say. He is giving a bad name to the wise and kind old people I know.