As I write this, I am on hold with my bank. The repetitive music loops back on itself at remarkably frequent intervals. Every 15 seconds I am invited to speak to a customer representative. Nothing new about this experience. The question is why am I bothering right now? After all, it is well known that this waiting on hold, particularly with a ghastly repeating music soundtrack, is like driving a rusty nail into your head. Still, I am determined, absolutely determined. I can deal with the matter Read more [...]

I just emerged from a delightful midday session in the Conservatory, a.k.a. greenhouse, surrounded by my favorite companions, vis-à-vis tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, more tomatoes, lettuce and, of course, spinach. One thing about my photosynthetic friends…they are very quiet. I have encouraged them to open up, let it hang out. But to no avail. What’s on their little green minds? Actually, I’m afraid to find out.  One thing high on the list might be the onslaught of a terrible rust Read more [...]

In writing this blog I have had to tear myself away from a very interesting web depiction of Crossrail, London’s new 13-mile rail link. Sorry, but I do have to go on. Crossrail is 13 miles of tunnels, and that’s just the main tunnels. Actually, it’s much more. But, never mind, let’s say it’s 13 miles. And the whole thing was being planned as recently as 2008. The project got its first £1, billion influx of funds in 2009. And, if you wanted to know, and you probably didn’t, the first Read more [...]

“Is it raining yet,” Jane asks as I emerge from the office. I roll into the kitchen, drop my tea mug in the sink and consider the matter. Outside nothing is happening. The skies are gray, but the deck is dry. I recall the morning’s radio forecast. Actually, I also recall the fact that the morning one-hour talk show on our local NPR station has promised a major storm, preparing everyone for power outages. In the late morning, Jane checked her iPhone weather app which warned of a deluge at Read more [...]

Since this blog is coming back to life, is the same true of me? One hopes. Two hope also, such as my brother and his wife who just got coronavirus vaccinations. Hard to say why these are apparently more or less readily available in Seattle but not here in San Francisco. But in another dimension, it’s not hard at all. We will be living with the aftermath of the Trump era for a long time. The rest of my life, probably. And that aftermath will entail malfeasance, confusion, violence…and relief.  As Read more [...]

It almost made me cry to be finally out and rolling down the hill to go shopping. Pandemic measures are loosening in San Francisco. The virus transmission rate has been low enough long enough for the city health department to decide, okay, so go ahead and have your haircut. Just do it outside. Want some sushi and a little sake? Same thing, resulting as Jane and I observed near the bottom of our hill in a sidewalk expansion of our local Japanese restaurant. No one in this burg has been inside a restaurant Read more [...]