Day 1753

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

I left work early and rode the bus home with Rossana.  It's Halloween and I haven't even been over to see Richard's set and run through the new skit.  I changed, packed my silent violin and came over around 6.  The show started at 7.  We ran through the new skit "Bloody Mary" two or three times before finally getting it.  The show ended up being terrific, as always, with a really good special effect at the end. 

We ended things at 9 and I went home around 11.  Another great Halloween night.  24 years and counting!

Day 1752

Monday, October 30, 2017

Carrying all this cruise weight made me pretty tired today.  It wasn't too bad at work, which was nice.  After plowing through my emails, I went through one long job after another.  I have three really large documents to convert...after that, I'm caught up.  The rest of the week is going to be brutal.  Tomorrow I have Halloween duties, then on Wednesday I have my first symphony rehearsal in 20-something years, followed by my quarter-final match against Ramon Thursday night.  Too much stuff going on!  I want back on the cruise ship.

I did get a wonderful surprise in the mail today. A book I'd ordered from Italy finally arrived.  It took six weeks to get here.  I've been waiting for this book a while now.  It costs $100 to order through Amazon, but I got it for $45 through a book seller in Italy.

Day 1751 - Arrival in San Francisco

Sunday, October 29, 2017

We returned to San Francisco early in the morning.  We took Lyft back to Alice's, then Alice drove me home, where I unpacked and took care of an entire day's worth of things to do. The coming week will be brutal, with Halloween, first Mahler rehearsal, and my quarter-final playoff match.  The fun never ends!

Day 1750 - At Sea

Saturday, October 28, 2017

During our final at sea day, we attended an art auction in the Explorer's Lounge.  We got good seats and free mamosas.  I had a $250 gift certificate I'd won, and waited more than two hours to make a purchase.  On one of the final auctions, there were six paintings going for $199 each that we could take off the ship.  I got one and Alice picked the piece she liked the most that night in the art gallery.

It's a cute piece on aluminum, fully framed and everything for free.  What a deal.  The art auction was a bit strange.  There were paintings selling for $20,000.  Who wants to buy a huge painting on board a ship? 

Our final day at sea was relaxing, easy going, and lots of fun.  The ship leaves for Hawaii tomorrow.  I could easily go.  I'm not ready to go back to reality just yet, and I'm certainly not ready to read what's going on in the world. 

Day 1749 - San Diego

Friday, October 27, 2017

We spent a wonderful day in San Diego, taking the tram to Old Town, having lunch in the University district (Alice wanted Vietnamese, so we went to a great little place on Fifth St.).  Old Town was fun, but the day was so hot it was hard to enjoy walking around.  Alice found a really nice necklace that was half off.  She was happy. 

I found some saltwater taffy and ate a few pieces.

When we came back to the ship, we found some bicycles to rent and rode to the end of the pier and back.  It was a great one-hour adventure. 

For dinner we ate at Sebatini's, one of the specialty restaurants on board. It was a very good meal.  We stayed up until 11 or so exploring the ship, hanging out at the nighclub on the top deck, and sipping Isaacs. 

Day 1748 - Ensenada

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Alice's birthday!

Our day in Ensenada was very simple.  We left the ship around 9 a.m. and took a shuttle bus to downtown.There were many things to buy and lots of opportunities for tequila shots, but neither of us bought anything, though Alice looked for jewelry.  We went back on board around noon and had lunch, then had our second formal dinner (lobster!). 

Day 1747 - Long Beach

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

We spent the day in Long Beach.  Alice and I took the bus to The Pike, a new shopping district.  We walked around for a bit, but it was so hot that after an hour we took the bus back to our ship.  We had lunch, then I went out to investigate the ship docked next to us:

This grand old ocean liner has been moored in Long Beach since 1967.   I walked around the ship, poking inside cabins and down hallways, taking in all the details and magnificence of this great slice of history.  It's a functioning hotel now with suites that appear very comfortable.  I wouldn't mind staying a night or two on this ship after our September cruise is over. 

Lobby Area

Promenade Level

Bar

Bar in the front

Hallway on Deck 5

Alice and I hung out the rest of the afternoon and had a relaxing dinner.  On our way to Ensenada tomorrow.

Day 1746 - Santa Barbara

Tuesday, October  24, 2017

Today we tendered in Santa Barbara and took a big bus to Solvang. 

Alice and I love Solvang!  The only problem was on the day we were there it was 102 degrees outside!  It was so hot we had to walk in the shade most of the time.  We had a great afternoon walking the streets, buying souvenirs, and eating some great Danish food.  We ate at the Red Viking.  Yum!

It was a buffet, so I pigged out!  Alice had really good deep fried scallops.  This place rocks.  I ate my fill of pickled herring.  So good. We went to a bakery for dessert but I was so full I couldn't finish my apple strudel. 

Back on the ship, we napped, then went to dinner and caught a hilarious comedy show in the Princess Theater at 8.  A really fun, awesome day!

Day 1745 - At Sea

Monday, October 23, 2017

Our first At Sea day of the cruise.  We're on the Grand Princess, a massive ship that's about 19 years old with new updates last year.  Each Princess ship is slightly different, I've noticed.  This ship has Alfredo's, a really good Pizza place on the Piazza (Deck 5).

Alice and I did our usual thing on sea days.  I woke up early and exercised in the fitness center, then joined Alice for breakfast in the dining room.  Afterward we hung out at the International Cafe, our favorite spot on the ship, and had our morning lattes.

I then went around the ship and collected stamps from various locations for the traditional Treasure Hunt drawing that all week-long Princess ships do.  Alice won two coffee cards on the Regal Princess, and ever since I've made sure her ballot is in the box.  She's lucky.  After collecting all the stamps, I placed our ballots in the big wooden Treasure Hunt box an hour or so before the drawing.  Well, running around the ship certainly paid off, because my ballot was selected first and Alice's was selected second!  I won a $250 Auction credit at one of the art auctions on board and Alice won another coffee card.  Amazing!

We spent the rest of the day lounging, reading, having lunch, napping, then getting ready for our first formal dinner.  Alice aunt and uncle and two of their friends (Steve and Judy) were also on the ship, so we all had dinner together.

It was a wonderful first full day of our cruise!

Day 1744 - Depart San Francisco

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Alice and I left for  our one-week cruise out of San Francisco this afternoon at 12:30.  We took Lyft to Pier 27.  So convenient.  Our cabin is small but comfortable.  It's my kind of route, easy and relaxing.  This week we're doing all the things we want to and nothing at all...a perfect week off.

Itinerary

Day 1743

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Woke up early and got everything ready for tomorrow's cruise.  Alice arrived at 9:30 and we headed for IKEA.  She's turning her downstairs in-law into an Air B&B and wanted some ideas for the rooms.  I think she'll do very well as an Air B&B host.

We arrived in Fairfield at noon for Louanne and Chris's 70th birthday party.  It was a swell affair with lots of family, food, drink and great bonding as always.  Leo & Louanne have such a comfortable back yard.  The weather was perfect.  I ate way too much food, but I couldn't help myself.  Chris's potato salad and Louanne's coleslaw were like a seriously addictive food drug that I couldn't stop eating.  It didn't matter how many calories they were.  By the time cake and ice cream arrived, I was done.  Good times seeing my mom and her brothers together!

Day 1742

Friday, October 20, 2017

Sore all day from last night's grueling play.  Now I have a week to prepare for the playoffs.  I'm looking forward to my routine on the ship next week.

Came home, did laundry and packed up.  Went to bed early.  Hope to read a lot of material on the Grand Princess.  Weather should be perfect!

Day 1741

Thursday, October 20, 2017

Tonight was our last league night at Active Sports and I finished strong, losing only one game to Noah and winning the rest.  I should finish second in the league and will play Ramon, Noah or Carlos in the quarter-finals in two weeks.  Steve and probably Tyrone will in all likelihood round out the top three and Kirk and Ron will be seeded 4 and 5.  I think that's how it will play out.  I'm hoping to get in a lot of strength training and weights on the cruise next week.

Day 1740

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Received the violin part to Maher's 4th today and printed off the pages.  There are some sections that will be tricky, but I think I can handle most of the symphony.  I'm really looking forward to playing in a symphony again.  It's been about 28 years! 

Chris and I talked in the evening.  He and Elizabeth leave for Fairfied tomorrow for his and Louanne's 70th birthday party.  That should be a lots of fun. 

The Harvey Weinstein stories are still coming out.  

Day 1739

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

A busy day at work today with IPD documents from start to finish.  I was so tired when I came home that after dinner I went to bed at 8:15.  That's early, even for me!

Day 1738

Monday, October 16, 2017

Racquetball in the a.m., work, dinner, relaxing.  Bed at 10.

Day 1737

Sunday, October 15, 2017

I had the day to myself, so I talked with Margaret at Starbuck's, then met Richard and Lisa.  We chatted about the NFL and their stance on taking a knee.  I think they'll do the right thing.  I spent the rest of the day cleaning up and organizing things.  Enjoyable day today.

Day 1736

Saturday, October 14, 2017

The weekend is already going by so quickly.  We did our Saturday thing, chores, food, dinner, more chores.  Next week we're on our cruise, which will be so relaxing.  I can't wait!

Day 1735

Friday, October 13, 2017

Went into work early this morning and then met with Alice and Dr. Chan at 10:45.  Dr. Chan gave Alice a complete exam and took an X-Ray to see how her hip has improved.  Her x-ray looked very good, so there was nothing to really explain why she continues to experience so much pain.  He'll write a detailed note that will override the checked box he marked last month, which will greatly help in our appeal to Alice's long term disability insurance.  I anticipate she'll be on long term disability most if not all of next year.  She's in all likelihood looking at a hip replacement.  According to nearly everyone I've talked to, these procedures are very routine these days.  Alice has a lot of anxiety about the procedure, but I think it will dramatically improve her life. 

Went to dinner with Lillian and Murry at Mona Lisa after work and that was great fun.  It's wonderful hanging out on Columbus St.  I don't do that as much as I should.  Murry had some choice Wendel stories to share that kept Lillian and me laughing nonstop.  Some things never change!  We had a nice walk back to BART and home for me by 10:15 or so.  I talked to Alice, then went straight to bed.  Tomorrow morning I'm in San Ramon for their club racquetball tournament.

Day 1734

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Tomorrow, Alice and I see her operating doctor Dr. Chan to discuss Unum denying Alice any long term disability coverage because of one checked box Dr. Chan made on a form Unum sent him.  Hopefully, the appointment will go smoothly.  I spent my lunch hour reading more Unum documents and it has been a real education seeing how these insurance companies manipulate details, omit details, and cherry pick facts to make their case to deny coverage to clients.  They will stop at nothing to make their case.  In our appeal, we will hit this unethical company with we have and scream bloody murder until Alice is properly protected and entitled to what she deserves.  If I were going through what Alice has gone through this year, there's no way in hell they'd deny me coverage.  It's another privilege that comes with being a white male.  Everything takes what you say seriously instead of minimizing and dismissing it, as Unum has with Alice.

We had our 6th league night tonight and I won the first 7 games, but ran out of gas and lost the last two.  Still, I'll take the score. I have one final regular season league night next week before the playoffs.  I played well overall and my shot selection improved.  My passing shot were accurate tonight.  I play better when I have 20-30 minutes to warm up. 

I came home at 10:30, had a quick dinner, talked to Alice, then went right to bed.

Day 1733

October 11, 2017

It was a very simple, quick birthday, my favorite kind.  I went to Alice's after dinner and we had ramon noodle before going to the movies to see the new Blade Runner film.

The tone and atmosphere were spot on in the film and Ryan Gosling is really fantastic as always.  He's consistently a great actor.  The storyline was intriguing and certainly captured the spirit of the original.  It's a long film, however, and the final third could have been trimmed a bit...it felt like an art house film in the same way The Arrival felt atmospheric and moody.  I liked the music.  All-in-all, I enjoyed the film but it did feel slow toward the end.  The conclusion was satisfying.  I need to see more films.  I don't get out as much as I used to.

Day 1732

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Tomorrow is bulky pickup day.  After work, Justin and I helped move an old TV and old rug out into the sidewalk.  The downstairs crawl space is not pretty empty.  Studying Alice's insurance documents.  The fires in Northern California are horrendous and have destroyed entire neighborhoods.  It's worse that the Berkeley Hills fire in 1991.  It's stunning how devastating these fires have been.  I still can't believe some of the images I've seen.

Day 1731

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Oh these fires are unbelievable, destroying entire neighborhoods in Santa Rosa and Sonoma.  SF was so smoky today.  I renewed my driver's license and took a written test in Pittsburg in the morning.  Glad that's behind me.  Some of the images of the barren neighborhood blocks are so heartbreaking.  These fires happened so quickly Sunday night.  Monday morning I could smell what seemed like a lingering barbecue smell even inside the racquetball courts.

The there's the Hollywood fire with more women coming out about Harvey Weinstein.  What a monster.  Talented monster, but still a monster.  His company is no more.  He was the company, so it's done. 

Day 1730

Monday, October 9, 2017

This morning when when left for racquetball, the air was so smoky I thought someone still had a barbecue going.  And at the club, the air was so bad my eyes were watering.  Steve, Kirk and Glenn also mentioned the smoky air and the fires that were going on in Napa and Sonoma.  It wasn't until later in the evening that I learned the extent of the destruction and how unmanageable these fires were.  The world is angry not letting up these days.

Came home and took care of a few things before going to bed early.

Day 1729

Sunday, October 8, 2017

I left San Francisco after getting my haircut from Ivy and spent the day organizing all my belongings underneath the crawl space.  We're doing a bulky pickup on Wednesday and getting rid of all kinds of things.  I don't have a lot of stuff down there, but it's enough.  Then in the evening, I went out for dinner at Shakewell with Howard Varinsky.  It's always great hearing his insights about the world and this country.  We spent a lot of time talking about Ken Burns's Vietnam War series.  To Howard, that war was the most profound event of his young life and it still riles him up when he talks about it.  That's when he learned never to trust the government.  We spent a couple of hours together.  It was a very enjoyable evening.

Day 1728

Saturday, October 7, 2017

The Blue Angels are in town and Alice and I watched from Bill and Vicky's porch on Green Street.  It was a great show and they flew over our heads at least three or four times.  Very loud and thrilling.  It took 30 minutes or so to find parking.  I think we located the last remaining MINI spot in the area.  After the show, we headed back to Alice's for a bit, then went to a dance performance to see one of Marissa's choreographed pieces.  It was an interesting evening featuring several dancers and choreographers.  We got home around 10 and I took a shower and fell fast asleep.

Day 1727

Friday, October 6, 2017

I love Billy Crystal.  He's so good on Bill Maher tonight.

Clearing up my iTunes tonight.  It always takes longer than I'd like.

Day 1726

Thursday, October 5, 2017

So the New York Times has a story of Harvey Weinstein and his tales of sexual harassment.  And he writes an "I'm sorry" letter in response, hoping to be a better person.  Whatever.  I don't have much faith in white men in power changing their ways.  Just like Fox News folks.  Just like Roger Ailes.  Just like Bill O'Reilly.....White males in power wanting to bully and intimidate.  This is a type of Bill Cosby predator...sick, selfish, abusive.  I'm getting real tired of these sociopaths.  Over and over, we see old white males using their power and authority to.  And we turn the other cheek.  In Silicon Valley.  In Washington D.C.  And we have this white male narcissist in the White House who's cut very much the same way.  Where are his tales of sexual harassment and do we even care anymore?  You know who's almost as bad as these sick white male fucks?  Their pathetic weak low-life enablers.

I channeled a little of my outrage on the racquetball court tonight in our AA league and went 9-2 again.  Nice.  Catching up, slowly but surely.

 

Day 1725

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Seriously?  What an ass.  What a total loser.  Tossing paper towels into a crowd of citizens who have lost everything and are looking at $80 Billion in damage on their destroyed island?  What kind of human being does this?  I know I shouldn't watch such jaw dropping examples of boorish inhumanity, because it only depresses me.  What is wrong with this nation?  Instead of tapping the best and brightest to lead this country, we're stuck with the absolute worst.  With the gun laws as they are and no call to action from our leaders, we have to endure a sense of shame and embarrassment that this nation is broken and run by con artists, sellouts, and billionaires who lack all sense of common decency and humanity.  Paper towel toss.  What kind of ugly, empty, pathetic human does such a thing?  Anyone who supports this man is reprehensible to me. 

Day 1724

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

My feelings exactly!

If Only Stephen Paddock Were a Muslim


RIP Charlie T. Wilbury, Jr.

Day 1723

Monday, October 2, 2017

There's something wrong with this country.  Really wrong.  Profoundly wrong.  I'd heard about the Las Vegas incident last night on television, but had no idea 58 people had died and another 500 were injured.  When I read about the details I thought only in America with the gun laws the way they are.  I don't know what it will take for logic and reason to return to us.  It's as if everything's turned upside down.  It's so depressing and discouraging.  The gun laws in this country are insane.  I feel so badly for the victims of last night's evil carnage.  It's unbelievable that these sorts of events happen at all in the real world.

Day 1722

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Another morning painting the deck.  In the afternoon, I rested and watched a little football.  Pete and Carol came over with cocktails and it was fun chatting with them for an hour or so.  Alice made her famous ribs for dinner.  I spent a few hours this weekend reading through Alice's disability report from her disability insurance company.  Due to a technicality outside Alice's control, she was denied long term disability insurance.  We're appealing that horrendous decision.  It's interesting to read through all the internet memos by the insurance company.  They engaged in a very clear strategy to cherry pick details and find any reason within their arsenal to deny Alice's claim.  It's disgraceful, but unfortunately the law of the land in the business world in the year 2017. 

Day 1721

Saturday, September 30, 2017

October already?  Wow.  Went to Alice's at 6:30 and met up with her at 9th and Irving for coffee and bagel.  We then went to Home Depot for paint supplies.  We spent the morning putting a coat of solid weather stain on the back deck.  After noon, we went to the Dim Sum Club with Vicky and Bill.  Marissa was there was well!  It was nice catching up with her.  We left around 2:30 and I came home and took a long nap.  We ate so much for lunch that we just had cereal for dinner.  We watched the first hour of SNL.  Funny!  I thought the cold open was hilarious. 

Day 1720

Friday, September 29, 2017

Super sore from last night, but a good sore.  Work was slow, thankfully.  I came home after work and cleaned, did two loads of laundry, and watched Bill Maher on my iPhone will folding clothes.  I was planning to go to the City tonight, but didn't finish stuff until midnight, so I went to sleep and told Alice, I'd be in the Sunset before Sunrise.

Day 1719

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Finally, I had a good league night, going 9-2 in 2.5 hours, all games to 11.  I should have gone 10-1, but lost to Carlos, who came from behind and got a couple of aces to close out our game.  It felt great beating Steve, Ramon, Tyrone, and Jorge.  I have three weeks of play left before Alice and I leave for a week of R&R on the Grand Princess.  It's a week long and in and out of San Francisco, which is nice.  Alice's uncle Bill and auntie Vickie will be joining us.  Bill is fun.  We'll have a good time.  I'll exercise, eat, go in the hot tub, read, write, and watch TV with Alice.

I came home at 10:30, sore and hungry.  I went to Safeway and bought a Marie Callender chicken pot pie and Life cereal.  I gobbled it up while watching the opening of the final episode of the Vietnam War.  

Day 1718

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Alice and I went to her doctor appointment this morning at 9:15, Dr. Mayle, who's a hip replacement specialist.  He suggested waiting another four months, a full year after Alice's arthroscopic procedure, and if Alice's pain is still this strong, about the only thing that will eliminate the pain is a hip replacement.  Alice is not at all interested in surgery and fears it won't work.  She's been in pain so long that it's become part of her life.  She'd rather endure the pain than rest making things worse.  It's a normal fear, but I've had several racquetball friends, including Robbie and Barry, who's have hip replacements and they've been very successful.  But whatever Alice is comfortable with is fine with me. 

Work was steady but reasonable today.  While working on one job, I watched last night's installment of the Vietnam War.  This is such a powerful, amazing television event.  I don't think I've ever seen such a sustained series of images that illustrate a narrative.  At 18 hours, there's something overwhelming about such a colossal series of bad decisions, horrible thinking, and lies.  If this country can survive the '60s, we can survive the naked emperor.  When this country makes mistakes, it really goes big.  

Day 1717

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

If America can survive the 60s, I'd sure like to think we can survive the Trump years.  That's my big takeaway on Ken Burns' Vietnam War.  What a brutal decade and horrible example of leadership.  Why did Johnson got into that horrendous war in the first place?  Why didn't he learn from the French, who'd created their own Vietnam mess?  The blindness of leaders is ever-present.  I don't think I've ever watched 18 hours of sustained images strung together to tell a story in such an intense, stirring way, and with such a powerful soundtrack.  This is a tough series to watch, but important.  Necessary.

Day 1716

Monday, September 25, 2017

I woke up at 6:50, showered, got ready for work, then let Alice continue to sleep as I closed the gate and headed toward Judah and the N line.  Work wasn't too bad.  I took care of a few things, plowed through my emails, made it through the day, then came home to Erie, unpacked, logged in receipts, then went to bed around 10:15.  I was beat by the end of the day.

Day 1715

Sunday, September 24, 2017

I slept well, a good seven hours.  We had breakfast early, then hung out in our hotel, packing up and getting ready to go to Heather and Rick's for brunch.  Mom was ready at 11, so I checked out of the Best Western and headed over to the North side of Calgary, about 20 minutes away.  There was so much food at the brunch and it was all delicious.  Carol, Heather's friend of many years, took care of the food.  It was a wonderful spread and of course I ate way too much.  I grazed all morning and afternoon.  Jackie opened presents and cards while a few of us hung out in the living room.  I was ready to take a nap by 2 p.m.  Instead, we gathered in the TV room and talked for three hours about everything and nothing.  It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon.  Rick prepared pulled pork sandwiches for us at 4 and Alice and I had one each, then split another.  By 5, we were ready to go to catch our flight home. 

We left Calgary at 7:45 p.m. and arrived in SFO at 10.  By 10:30, we were home in the Sunset.  It was a very enjoyable, relaxing wedding in which I didn't have to babysit anyone, nor did I have any obligations other than being a guest.  It was heaven!