Tuesday, February 23, 2021
As I re-read Caste, I'm thinking about the 12 generations of slavery in America, which equals approximately 250 years of history, followed by 100 years of Jim Crow, or 5 additional generations. That equals 17 generations of white supremacy by 1963. If we're in our 3rd generation of post-white supremacy in America, no wonder things look so dire and appear so hopeless. That's a lot of white supremacy of untangle. Reading the Atlantic's "Inheritance."
Monday, February 22, 2021
Up early in preparation for an 8 a.m. WebEx call, but it was pushed to tomorrow. Had plenty to do until our 5 p.m. elders meeting in which we discussed future guests. A busy day.
Delighted with this:
Sunday, February 21, 2021
We went to San Rafael in the morning for a sweet bike ride along the Bay near the Richmond Bridge. We rode to downtown San Rafael and back, having lunch at a great little Indian restaurant on 4th Street. So good!
Spent the rest of the day relaxing on a warm, sunny Sunday.
Saturday, February 20, 2021
In SF early and began with a McMuffin for me and Austin, and a homemade latte. Yum! We went to Irving St. to pick up vegetable and Costco for gas, then read the rest of the day, though took a few hours to play bridge with Kevin in the afternoon.
Ordered this, which should arrive Wednesday.
Friday, February 19, 2021
A cold, rainy Bellingham-kind-of day, which meant I had to bake cowboy cookies to offset the gloom. I ate one and gave the rest away to neighbors in the building. A quiet day at work, which meant I could read a few pages of Caste and Mediocre. Also watched several Masterclass videos featuring Roxane Gay. Wonderful!
Thursday, February 18, 2021
I'm thinking about the Black Church PBS documentary by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. So much history packed up into a four-hour presentation. The Black American story is so rich, heartbreaking, inspiring, and necessary to know.
Rereading Caste for our March 31 Hanson Bridgett book club. That will be an event.
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Busier at work today. Plowing through items, reading about the market, studying bridge and poker, writing. Lots going on.
Talked with Karin Duval briefly this morning. I'd overlooked an email she sent, so instead of responding two months too late, I called. It was nice catching up with her.
Ordered this:
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Kind of quiet at work today, allowing for some catchup time with news, books, ideas. Created two orders for tomorrow from Instacart. I enjoy Instacart a lot, and sometimes there are some good coupons to go along with the service. Alice made yummy ramen for lunch today. I love ramen. Cold the past several days. Gearing up for a second reading of Isabel Wilkerson's Caste, and first reading of The Warmth of Other Suns. It's such an important book and I haven't read it yet. There's a new PBS documentary by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. about Black Churches. Looking forward to it.
Monday, February 15, 2021
Love Mondays off! We extended our relaxing weekend with another enjoyable day of reading, completing chores, and playing a little bridge. Kevin and I played for an hour or so in the evening, and Alice played with her group in the afternoon.
Enjoyed this great skit on SNL this past weekend. Well done, I thought.
Sunday, February 14, 2021
Happy Valentine's Day! Alice actually received two bouqets of flowers, one from me and one from Dad and Sue. How nice!
Another easygoing day with nasty weather outside. We had takeout for dinner tonight, dumplings and chinese food, a scrumptious feast! Yum!
Saturday, February 13, 2021
Up early to pick up flowers for my Valentine sweetheart, then off to SF at 8. We went to Costco at 9, filled up Alice's car with gas and got a few things, then headed home for a day of reading, chores, and hot pot with Austin and Hannah. We played two rounds of mahjong, then watched a few videos before calling it a night. A very cold, rainy, lowkey sort of day.
Learning all the rules to mahjong is tough, especially when there are no set rules, just country and home rules.
Friday, February 12, 2021
Busy today. Made stew and bread, and cleaned up a few more drawers and shelves. I'm ready for the impeachment to end so we can all move on and not think about Trump until he's arraigned on all his financial criminality. Reading through BASS 2020. Good writing!
Love this clip of Tom Brady tossing the trophy from boat to boat. Hilarious!
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Day 3 of the 2nd impeachment. I'm ready to move on from this travesty of justice. Trump should be convicted, but he won't be. Weird, strange and sad. There are many times about this country that I just don't understand. Trump is certainly one of them.
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Sarah Palin never disappoints. Piers Morgan was having none of it on his show Good Morning Britain.
Day 2 of the 2nd impeachment trial. I logged in another few hours. The assembled video of the riot was intense.
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Day 1 of the 2nd impeachment trial. I watched a few hours while working. Today was all procedural, voting to confirm the legitimacy of the trial. It passed 55-45. The real day 1 begins tomorrow.
Monday, February 8, 2021
I stayed in Oakland this week. I'm still cleaning up spaces, organizing corners. Work was quiet today, so I read, went through papers, and studied a little bridge.
I also caught some sports reactions to yesterday's Super Bowl.
Trump's 2nd impeachment begins tomorrow. That will be interesting. I'll watch as much as I can.
Sunday, February 7, 2021
We spent the morning walking along Trestle Glen, then went to the Garden Center later that day and hung out at the Rose Garden for an hour or so. Another spectacular day!
I made cowboy cookies the day before for the Super Bowl. We headed over to Richard and Lisa's at 3. Alice stayed until 3:30, then drove back to SF while I stayed with R, L, and Sophie, watching the Bucs beat the Chiefs 31-9.
Tom Brady was amazing, and in claiming his 7th Super Bowl title in 10 tries, cemented his legacy as the greatest football player of all time. I wouldn't be surprised if many consider him the greatest sports team athlete of all time. What he accomplished today at 43 is simply unbelievable. Few if any predicted this outsome. I certainly didn't.
It was so nice hanging out with Richard and Lisa for a few hours. I miss not being able to hand out with friends.
Saturday, February 6, 2021
Alice came over early and we went to Trader Joe's and IKEA. We were planning to go to Berkeley Bowl but the line was so long that we moved on. We also went to Sprouts later in the afternoon, and swung by Peet's and Arizmendi on Lakeshore for a walk to Lake Merritt and back. It was a beautiful day to hang out in Oakland.
Friday, February 5, 2021
A full day of cleaning, vacuuming, zoning, organizing, repacking and moving things into the garage. It's been a while since I cleaned this vigorously. Feels so good!
Looking forward to the Super Bowl this Sunday. We'll meet outside Richard and Lisa's back yard and watch the game from there.
Work was busy as it usually is on Fridays.
Loved Bill Maher's New Rule this week:
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Studied and played a little bridge with Kevin tonight. Bridge is a language that's good for my brain. I wish things would stick a little better, like conventions we sometimes use and the nuanced meanings behind each bid. I struggle with that sometimes.
Good Breakdown episode tonight.
Spring cleaning has begun!
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
I see much spring cleaning in my future. We used the Romba to clean all the rooms in SF and Alice burnt a little sage in each room to give it a sort of cleansing/healing essence. I'll do the same in Oakland.
Great Lincoln Project political ad - The Squalid:
Josh Hawley's nickname is too funny!
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Had a morning meeting with Fred and Chris re Grandudes next steps. We'll update and send to contests this year. I could see formatting for a two-season, ten episode series.
What the heck is the deal with the My Pillow guy? He always struck me as insane. How'd this guy become the guy he currently is?
Saturday, January 30, 2021
Read a couple of stories in BASS 2020 and studied up one a couple of bridge conventions. If I don't use them, I'll forget them. Still reading A Promised Land.
Friday, January 29, 2021
There's something about Matt Gaetz that I really don't like. It goes way beyond his politics. He is capable of saying anything and say it with conviction, even if he believes the polar opposite. He's the kind of sociopathic frat creature who somehow manages to slither out of any situation he finds himself in. What kind of colleague goes to another colleague's state to mount a disinformation campaign? Not that I have any soft spot for Liz Cheney, but even I found this beyond the pale. Matt Gaetz, what a creature.
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Talked with Nicole this morning. Another powerful conversation about family, memories, Christmases past. She struggles with the disappointments of her mom. Jill said to me a few months ago that the only way to interact with Gwen is to have zero expectations of her. So true.
Watched The Breakdown tonight with Susan Page. Great interview!
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Reading this year's crop of great short stories.
Started off with T.C. Boyle and The Apartment, followed by Marion Crotty's Halloween. Both very good. I love T.C. Boyle. His old-fashioned story of a French apartment owner how makes a deal with a neighbor that doesn't pay off is eerie and sly and fun. Halloween is about bad love gone badder. Great writing here.
What is going on with the Republican Party? More crazy times ahead.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Yeah, I won't be leaving California anytime soon.
I like the ocean too much. And good weather. And living on the West Coast. Sure, the state has massive problems, but what place doesn't. I like the mild summers and winters. The yearly fires are a concern, but I don't see SF or Oakland affected anytime soon. Homelessness and blight are a problem in certain areas. What do you do with the addicts on the street who have irreparably blown up their minds?
Monday, January 25, 2021
A long list of ideas, activities, books, programs to get into. It's finance time...time to look over finances, make adjustments, figure out where to best manage risk/reward. Keeping up with poker and bridge. Grandudes, short stories and my old manuscripts. So much to do.
Watched this excellent video with oil expert Art Berman:
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Went to Home Depot in the morning to repair an outdoor screen.
Played mahjong with Alice, Austin and Hannah this afternoon. Fun!
Saturday, January 23, 2021
Went picked up hamachi at Pier 45 this morning. Sunny but cold. Went to Trader Joe's and Safeway afterward.
Relaxing afternoon. Listened to a few minutes of Rick Wilson explaining Republicans. He's always on point.
Thursday, January 21, 2021
21st day of the 21st year of the 21st century. Wow.
Still enjoying the day off yesterday. Appreciate Jen Psaki.
Went total nerdy and watched a little of this:
Then rounded out the day with a guilty pleasure at The Breakdown:
Monday, January 18, 2021
Quiet, wnjoyable day off work, celebrating MLK Jr. Played a little bridge with Alice's friends and met with our Elders planning group.
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Spent the morning going through my portfolio while listening to this great interview with petroleum guru Art Berman. Is it time to take a position in energy? Maybe.
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Sea Point Park with Alice today, along with a little Panda Express for lunch. So nice riding.
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Great compilation in the Wall Street Journal on how the Capitol riots unfolded.
Monday, January 11, 2021
I agree with Garry Kasparov. We're lucky that Trump was such a buffoon, but that it's a bad sign that such an incompetent could attain the office of the presidency. We're vulnerable to someone more strategic and cunning.
Impeachment is the best protection against any futher would-be dictator. Makes sense to me.
Friday, January 8, 2021
Is this where we are?
I hope so. I've been waiting for the turn for a while now. Perhaps this is it. I can't stop watching videos of protesters (insurgents) storming the Capitol. It brings to mind the white mob mentality that stormed courthouses and overtook guards in order to lynch the black man arrested for suspicion of assaulting a white woman. Seeing the frenzied mob stirred up and acting out their own violen cosplay fantasy at the U.S. Capitol Building is surreal.
Second impeachment? Yes! Absolutely.
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Wow, what a day. It first began with this:
But then turned into this:
I know everyone's all embarrassed and ashamed and feeling real low about what happened today, but to me it was a fitting and welcome conclusion to the insane, crazy, racist illusion of Trump and Trumpism. This bogus ideology as represented by Trump's Braveheart army of mostly white male misfits stormed the capitol building, occupied seats of power for an hour or two, took selfies, then left. How perfect. It was good that we all got to see who these Trump zealots actually are. I do enjoy American crazy. Today did not disappoint. Bye-bye, loser Trump. Bye-bye Trumpism.
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Work picked up a bit. I have tasks to complete, many of them, but what's the priority. I struggle with that. I need to redistribute and balance my finances. I do this at the beginning of every year, but with no safe haven to sock away funds, I'm unclear what to do. Watched a few more episodes of High Stakes Poker. What a fun show!
