Saturday, May 23, 2026

     The image on the iPhone screen surprises me.  Yep my face is reflected back to me as I hold the phone. so many winkles. I shouldn’t be dismayed. Not surprising for a 85 year old woman. I don’t know what to do with this new information.

     It’s not that I don’t like to travel. Traveling means giving up some local activity, activities I am committed to at home. So, I make a choice to not travel. There are many interesting places for a day trip here at home.

     Watching Paul McCartney talk and sing with Stephen Colbert I notice his hair style, longish thin grey hair hanging around his neck. We are in our 80’s, so why shouldn’t we have the same hair style. I definitely have more winkles.

     Another book by the Irish woman, Anne Enright, ATTENTION, Writing on Life, Art and the World. A collection of entertaining essays, many about Irish authors. Well written essays are the best. My TV life is centered around MS NOW news and detective shows.  I am ready for something new and funny and well written. A friend recommended the movie, BELFAST, good movie.

 

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.