Up from the depths

Posted on by June 24, 2017  

the only way I can describe this past week is like a deep well. It has been a combination of the chemo hitting me, the house construction with the jack hammering and pounding to the point where it seems like my whole body vibrates to a complete lack of interest in people and/or food.

I think I am starting to get it together which means that I will release the last weeks worth of blog posts as soon as I have a chance to go back and clear out the worst of the evil thoughts and bad languages.

Tonight I am allegedly participating in a class over at Rodeo Beach on the Marin headlands on night photography. The only challenge, besides going completely manual on my camera is going to be if the fog – aka marine layer – doesn’t cooperate enough to let us see the sky. It is pretty hard to photo the night sky when all you see is a blur of white descending to the tips of the closest dunes and hills.

It is still noisy

Posted on by June 17, 2017

Both at home (where they are almost done blasting out the foundation. I will try to post the “completely hollow” pictures tomorrow and at the game.

It was a fireworks night. George came along, we drove and were able to escape the noise and madness actually rather easily. Unless going with a group that actually wants to see fireworks – it was a much better option than either leaving early before the BART overpass is closed or attempting to catch the shuttle busses which turn out to take longer than just staying for the fireworks. Of course, my decision might be easier if I wasn’t sitting in the bleachers which have to be cleared prior to the fireworks start.

Anyway – there were actually over 30k worth of fans, at least a third of which were rapid Yankees types. With the exception of one complete dick. Aaron Judge tossed a fly ball that he caught into our section of the RF Bleachers. An “adult” looking somewhere in is 30s grabbed it out of the hands of a young kid of about six who was looking just totally stunned with happiness. There was no question in our minds he took it away from the boy. His excuse that he wanted it for his son (aged 2) just didn’t fly. Security attempted to get him to give it back, then they invited him to leave when he refused.

Will, one of our regulars, had caught a ball during batting practice. He dug it out of his bag and gave it to the young man. It wan’t the same, but much better than going home without anything. Another ball tossed up, caught by a Yankees fan was traded for the batting practice ball. The Yankees fan was perfectly fine with the replacement ball for his nephew; it was fair to him that the boy who had actually caught a ball should have one that was thrown.

Yankee fan – terrific kudos. Will – always generous and long standing member of the Right Field Bleacher Die Hards. The As fan who grabbed the ball? Needs to find a moral compass. It is one thing to tussle with your peer group over a ball. And completely something else to steal from a child.

Oh – the As actually won 7-6! And Cassilo managed to actually hold off the Yankees in the top of the ninth.

Take away the gulls

Posted on by June 16, 2017  

For those who aren’t familiar with the location of the Oakland Coliseum let me just let you know that is is not all that far from the Oakland docks and water front. Which means there is a seagull problem on the occasional day.

Someone came up with a brilliant solution. It works, but they didn’t think it all the way through.

But first –

But first – this is NYC vs As with a guest appearance from the Quakes

Now, back to the gulls – or not –

up in the sky

and a closer look –

Besides the usual crew in RF149 – we were visited by Stomper & Q.

The challenge on the pest control front turned out to be a small amount of lack on understanding on the As part. Once it is dark, falcons normally don’t fly. But the presence of the Falcon kept away all the swallows. Now, moths are better than seagulls but still….

The As fielding was good, the batters were hitting. Frankly, the pitching sucked. The early lead was given away and it was a struggle after that. I was completely wiped and left after nine innings with the score tied. The next inning took forever. In fact I was almost at North Berkeley when the run scored by the Yankees in the top of the tenth was overcome by Khris Davis actually coming through and scoring two runs for a win. (you know Khris – the one who struck out in the top of the ninth in Florida with the bases loaded and two outs? The one who did the same earlier this game?)

It was time for sleep and planning on my escape after the game tomorrow to avoid the fireworks crowds…

Dinner with Daughters

Posted on by June 16, 2017

Two of my three are relatively local to me. Well, one is really local, living across the hall. The other lives just down the road in Richmond. Last week we got together for dinner. No fool, I buy the groceries and let them cook.

Dani picked the menu this week with an Asian flavor – there was spicy Thai beef salad –

on a bed of romaine

 

a lovely mushroom soup with Udon noodles

sprouts and a bit of tofu for protein

 

and quick grilled peppers because I thought they looked pretty in the bag and brought them along –

which turned out to be mild and nice

we made it an early evening. The As had already managed to loose to the Marlins..

and cycle 6

Posted on by June 16, 2017  

of just about all poisons but one. By mutual consent (my doc and me) we dropped the Vincristine this time around. I was just starting to get some symptoms that could be attributed to side effects. Or – I was willing to admit that I was having side effects from the drug and there was no good reason for me to risk them getting any worse.

It was a long day – George bailed me out and we stopped for supper on the way home. I was glad there wasn’t a home game tonight. OTOH, well the As are not exactly operating at the top of their abilities. On the rare time they win… oh never mind.

And what did I do while hanging out at the infusion center?

worked more on my fractal but forgot to take pictures….

 

No crash today

Posted on by June 12, 2017  

And the house is almost ringing with silence. I say almost because the dogs seemed to be honorbound to make up the difference in decibels with their barking.

I stood it for a while, then gave up. End result is that I took my audio book upstairs and hid out for most of the day.

Progress was made on the fractal

Just imagine that you are looking at it vertically.

Another day

Posted on by June 10, 2017  

and another pile of debris –

todays dig out

which provides a slightly different view than out and down from the living room window. The smeary glass is obviously the result of dog noses…

down on the right side toward the steps

toward the left and the debris pile

and lastly a bit more toward the middle featuring steel beams and the top of one of the stacks

I took it easy today, mostly reading but also back at the fractal-54 after organizing a few supplies –

10 June 2017

Gaping Hole

Posted on by June 9, 2017 1

We have this gaping hole where the lower level and foundation used to be.

From the driveway it doesn’t look that bad –

Upper level, bracers below

It is just when you get up close and personal –

and see the water and sewer lines

just sort of hanging free that a slight chill starts creeping up the back.

I guess it is comforting to know that there is plenty of bracing, altho it doesn’t look all that sturdy to me

the last of the foundation on the forward corner

I would not advise walking under the house –

unless you are comfortable with also seeing electrical connections reminiscent of the snarls one saw in Delhi or Kathmandu, just on a smaller scale.

but we do have lights and wifi!

 

You can also see the steel beams across the tops of the bracers. Me? I did play with Lincoln logs but still…

The noise is getting to me. Time to escape to the upper floor. I just try not to think about the house accidentally coming down….

Slip Sliding

Posted on by June 8, 2017  

Would you believe it is raining? Here in California where we never see rain between early in the year and Nov/Dec? When someone yesterday told me the forecast, I had a tough time believing it. To tell you the truth while the rain might be good for the plants and gardens the reality is appalling.

You remember me talking about construction right?

We have this gaping hole where the lower level/basement used to be. The guys have been good about hauling away dirt and debris on a regular basis. Nevertheless, the local version of dirt which turns out to have a moderate amount of clay has taken to hanging out on the drive way. Wet, it becomes extremely slippery.

Alex and I carefully made our way down it this morning proving that not fun is a more than apt saying. I have more errands to run (post office for packages going on, weaving supplies to drop off, library books to return, socks to exchange, BART pickups x2 plus used books to sell).

I may wind up putting off all but the BART runs till tomorrow….

Defeat from

Posted on by June 8, 2017  

the jaws of potential victory.

It seems like the As pitchers just can’t stand to have a winning streak. After the previous two good games, the As pitching left a bit to be desired. Of course, the starting pitcher didn’t get hung with the loss because he was not the idiot who proceeded to deliver balls that turned into Blue Jay home runs.

I didn’t see the end of the game. For Oakland it was cold and the wind was blowing. For once common sense applied and I left after 8 innings when the score was tied. I didn’t have to watch the As lose and I didn’t spend money on another sweatshirt or jacket since I had stupidly left mine at home.

Had a lovely evening spent with The Eldest and Ms Runner where they tried out three recipes from a new cookbook and I had a chance to haul the Spiral Fractal from where it was languishing and add a few stitches.

no t-shirt needed

Posted on by June 8, 2017  

seriously. I am not whining that badly. I don’t need a t-shirt that says “my husband went to Vienna and all I got was….”

Instead, I spent a day running errands before heading to the Coliseum for the game. For a change I decided not to even think about the Food Truck Mafia  and both ate a late lunch and packed munchies.  The game was great, our section made more than enough noise for the rest of the stadium (Canadian Fans are polite – what can I say?) and Healy hit two home runs – responsible for all five of the As runs.  The As pulled off a win, in spite of the closing pitcher managing to turn batters into base runners before finally getting the last out.

I forgot the baseball tonight – which explains why I ran into the Toronto couple on my way back to BART. Where were they tonight? Oh – they attempted to sit up on Deck 3 to get an overview, but nothing was accessible. The box office said the seats were, so they spent the first couple of innings getting back down and getting seated else where. Everyone was so embarrassed  that they comp’d them tickets for tomorrow game.

Oh! Where can I find you?

Section 105 – or if that doesn’t work – 111.

Ok – and I explained about wanting to pass on the baseball.

I was pretty tired by the time I arrived back at North Berkeley complete with my armload of banners.*

*RF 149 usually puts up banners. We also use them to block off seats for the flag wavers. Most of the rest of the crew won’t be able to arrive till right before the 1235 start tomorrow. I can come early.

He goes to Vienna

Posted on by June 8, 2017  

and all I get is a baseball game.

It could be worse, much worse.  I am thinking a four day turnaround involving plane changes in both directions and a nine hour time zone difference would be more challenge that I really want.  Now, if I could stay a couple of weeks and travel around…..

Never mind.

Instead, I entertained myself my going to the game.  I have taken to going in the ADA gate since it is the closest to where I sit, easily found from BART and has the advantage of avoiding completely both ramps and steps. On those days where I am short of breath going down ramps is fine, it is coming back up that is the …..

Anyway, there are a number of us hanging out in line waiting for the security people to decide that it is ok to check us in while the lines at both main gates have been entering for the last few minutes. Next to me in line is a couple from Toronto.  As I understood, they were on vacation the location of which just happened to be San Francisco. And they just happened to go to the Blue Jays games at AT&T Park over the weekend and have planned to come to the Coliseum for today and the next couple of days. I think I see a pattern here. Perhaps the vacation days just happened to be when they could catch their home team in two stadiums? In any case, they were going to be headed up to Section 221 to catch the game.

Hanging out early and watching in the Jay’s batting practice a few balls were tossed up into our section. One landed on the overhang just below where we sit. There is an engineering minded guy in the group. When he come back from finding food he takes out his lightbulb changer, fixes the basket to the end of his flag and easily collects the errant ball. I figure – why not? Taking off to find the Blue Jay’s fan – I check in 221. Nope, not accessible. Not in 220 or 210 – the two areas on second level where you can wheel in. While I was at it, I checked 111 figuring that as the sensible alternative. Nada, and no one claimed to have seen an avid Blue Jays middle aged male fan wheeling along like mad.

Took the ball home and am planning on trying the next couple of games.

Oh – the As actually managed to win it! 4:1 in spite of the Blue Jays by far out hitting the As.

Heartbreaking

Posted on by June 8, 2017  

The final score today was Washington Nationals (your might just remember them as the Montreal Expos)

Nationals 11, Athletics 10

FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9      R H E (24-32)

WSH   0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 5      11 11 0

OAK    0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 6      10 10 0

It was painful for all of the As fans. To lead for a number of innings, then have your pitcher get tired. Then to tie it up. Then to have the relief pitcher lose it. Then to come back a run. Then to have your next relief pitcher really lose it. Sad when 6 runs in an inning just isn’t good enough.

Oh well. Tomorrow it is the Blue Jays. They aren’t doing much better than the As. Might actually be a chance to win a game!

George spent the day at the Berkeley Book Festival. I skipped it in favor of going to the game. Like I need to buy more books? He was with friends who we wound up joining for supper (after I zipped home and changed. Fan gear just doesn’t look great in a decent restaurant! )

 

 

 

Who are you?

Posted on by June 8, 2017 1

This dude (dudette?) came into our garden, pecked around for a few minutes then took off. I can’t find him in the quick guide to birds in the Bay Area and otherwise know little about identifying birds. I noticed him because of the intense blue to his body. The black crest on top wasn’t visible at first.

If anyone has any ideas?

Small things

Posted on by June 1, 2017 2

There are those days where the important accomplishments are small things:

  • a box of patterns dropped off at Lacis
    a daughter gotten to a job interview
    guest taken to a couple of sports stores and the Rosie the Riveter Museum
    a nap or two
    an audiobook finished
    finally finding a skein of #720 DMC so that the empty spots in the current Fractal can be filled before moving on to the next page

I still have a long list of things which need to be accomplished and little energy.

Ah well – there is always tomorrow…

It’s a long walk

Posted on by June 9, 2017  

AT&T Park

a long, long walk in fact from A T & T Park where the Giants play back to the Montgomery Street BART Station. I would put in a “long” for every one of those more than nine blocks, but even I would find it a bit much.

I enjoyed the game (would have taken Christian who is visiting to an As game out of preference but they are busy losing on their road trip) and didn’t mind at all that the Washington Capitals managed to out hit, out run, out pitch and out field the Giants. I am hoping that they get worn out before Friday when they come to my side of the Bay.

Meanwhile, it is late, just short of midnight since the other affect of lateness was having to change trains as well since the direct ones to Richmond don’t seem to run after ten.

Memorial Day

Posted on by May 29, 2017  

Memorial Day when I was growing up was the 30th of May. In fact, it didn’t become a floating to Monday holiday until 1972 which explains my memories of parades and cemetery services being on various days of the week.

I had no family who served in the US military in WWI – either too young an immigrant or too old when the war started. In WWII, my father served but wasn’t let out of CONUS due to age and perhaps attitude. He served as a combat photographer for the 10th Mountain Division. Something that I verified when I was stationed at Ft Drum as his scribble was tucked into the corner of a few of the training photos from the Colorado Mountains prior to the division beings shipped to the Italian front.

I spent Viet Nam in University and Med School, the first Gulf War first in Eckenbach for Golden Python and then later at Ft Drum. After that I managed to get through 6 months plus multiple trips to the Balkans, 15 months in Kuwait & Iraq and 7 months in Afghanistan without getting myself killed. In fact, I don’t think I have any US family members who have died in military service. For that matter, I don’t think I have had any family members other than my father who have ever served. Military service was traditionally for men – lots of small families with daughters only, and it made for a really, really good reason to leave Czarist Russia. 25 years conscription was not a good thing for anyone and did only rarely return anyone to home.

For me it is a good day to stay home. I can recognize the sacrifice of others without going somewhere, doing something. It is not like living in Europe where visiting the WWI and WWII cemeteries made sense. I can recognize the sacrifice of self, family and country.

And I don’t have to be bombarded by all those commercial enterprises which disgracefully dishonor the sacrifice of so many in countries service by turning the holiday which was traditionally one of respect into just another sales opportunity.

Not fit for civiliazation

Posted on by June 8, 2017  

It is not that I have fallen off the face of the earth exactly. It is more that the bounce after steroids this time was slightly beyond belief. I won’t tell you that I am ever the most even tempered individual, but but being totally and completely evil is not what I want to think of as my normal mode.

Especially once the temper gets out of control and doesn’t easily want to be reined in.

What really doesn’t help (ok, lets just be honest here and say that it makes things even that much worse) is if the individual with whom I started a discussion starts to argue with me.

Hello? I am the mom. Even if I could be wrong (which of course never comes into consideration), I am still the MOM and therefore right.

I think it is time to go and hole up once more…

27 May 2017